Once again the ESPN pugilistic traveling circus displayed a total disregard for its Boxing fans … if not pre-empting the announced starting time with a kiddie beizbol game, high school feetball, it’s a NBA roundball playoff contest.

Last evening’s slap in the face, saw the newest touted savior of the big guy division Nigerian Samuel Peter dispatching a made to order fall guy in Gilbert Martinez at 2:05 mark of stanza three. But what got the assid- reflux in motion was in knowing the card was taped, and shown in its entirety over a 2330 - 0130 time frame.

Soothing the belly ache, however, was in seeing a much publicized new face heavyweight, and son of past tough guy heavy Randall "Tex" Cobb - and if "Tex" was bankrupt in the skills department, the 19 year young offspring inherited the handicap. Baby Joshua has to be the saddest excuse of all licensed professional fighters I have ever seen.

The past school footballer enters the ring at a 6-2, reported 250 lbs of soft, tender, loving care - the fall, er "other" guy arrives at age 38, 6- feet @ 229 lbs while sporting a winless 0-1 rap sheet.

Opening bell and Josh baby quickly displays a serious shortage of fistic schooling as he quickly moves to the tentative Javier Diaz - the hint of futility was evident - he not only was working off two left feet, the punches carried zero clout.

Round two, the now big frightened kid was already running short of petrol - and the I wanna go home look grew to mega proportions as the prior resigned Mexican foe found life, and began making it a fight.

And quit he did at 1:42 mark of round three. A pre-fite taped interview had "Josh" saying he didn’t care much for Philadelphia where the boxing idea had been spawned - reason he gave was he’s just a cowboy. Hopefully, he’ll now mount a mare and ride off into the sunset for a modeling career.
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Regarding the "Nigerian Nightmare" Sam Peter’s destruct of a game but clearly outgunned Gil Martinez  that went as choreographed. Chances are good that Peter the Powerful will be seen sometime this year 2005 in a ESPN pay per view at "bargain basement" prices.

But one-sided or not, and with the replays of the Peter left-hook starching of Jeremy Williams, there was definite signs that suggest the 24 year old, 6-2 @ 250 lbs is not close to being title timber. Much too slow of feet and needs fine tuning in putting the combinations together. At this point, the single offensive given is there’s power inside them mittens.

Peter now goes to an undefeated 23 wins with 20 stops while his victim drops to 18-9-3, 8 KO s.
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A curtain dropping busy affair saw jr. welters Oscar "El Torito" Diaz (19-1, 11) by unanimous decision over a game but light punching Jesse Feliciano (12-3-2, 7).  Both 22 year olds are pretty much where they’re at in a division so wealthy in talent.

Was Diaz early as he tossed a shutout over the first five candles, but Feliciano got it going over six thru eight. Diaz then finished by swapping numbers 9 and 10 for the W.

Official numbers went Diaz 97-93, 97-93, 96-93 … my unofficial saw it Diaz 6-4 in rounds and 96-94 in points.

Post Scripts: Cloudy rumblings down the ESPN minor league circuit turnpike is the threat of a summer season return of its schoolyard level talent Tuesday series. Maybe with luck, the pre-empts will be marble shooting contests that finish on the money.

GEL

4-29-2005