WHAT NEXT RAMBO AWARDED A MILITARY MEDAL?

“MAD MANNY” SAYS STALLONE IN HALL OF FAME IS A JOKE!

WHAT NEXT for RAMBO, A PURPLE HEART?
Miami, FL- My question is what is Rocky Balboa, a fictional character played by Sylvester Stallone, getting inducted last week into the International Boxing Hall of Fame? Don’t get me wrong I love Rocky, and yes I agree his movie helped boxing, but what’s next, Rambo getting an Army medal. Also inducted were Julio Cesar Chavez, Kostza Tsyzu, Mike Tyson, trainer Ignacio Nacho Beristain, referee Joe Cortez. All those men deserve to be in the upstate NY shrine.

ROCKY GOT IT’S AWARD WITH THE OSCAR
Rocky belongs in Hollywood, where the flick garnered an Academy Award. But what make’s matter even worse was this fictional character and being given a statue in Philadelphia instead of the fighter who really represented a Philly as a fighter, 1964 Olympic Gold medalist and former World heavyweight champion “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier.
 
JOE FORGOTTEN IN PHILLY WHILE ROCKY IS NOT?
Smoking Joe relentlessness, his heart and never quit attitude became the symbol of a Philadelphia fighter, a man whose statue is on the step of a Philadelphia museum, not Rocky. Joe trained in north Philly when he shook up the world and beat Muhammad Ali. The Joe Frazier Gym was once a Mecca of boxing now its almost abandoned in a city with rich boxing history. HOPKINS HONORED IN FRONT OF HOLLYWOOD SYMBOL Bernard Hopkins after making history in becoming the oldest to win a title in any weight class, 46, Philly recently honored him in front of the Rocky statue. Hey, Rocky Balboa never laced them up, never threw a real punch or won a title. So if there ought to be a statue representing a Philly fighter it should be “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier.
 
JOE HAD VISION PROBLEMS FOR A LONG TIME
A man who fought almost blind out of one eye threw the second half of his career. We all remember The “Thrilla’ in Manila” where both Frazier and Ali fought to near death in that hot arena in the Philippines. In that fight we got to see the heart of both fighters, an encounter fights Ali said it was the closes thing ever he had experienced to dying, and we also saw what a good corner does to protect their fighter no matter what when Eddie Futch stopped him from coming out for round 14.

HOW ABOUT WINNING “FIGHT OF THE CENTURY?”
Even the first fight between the men, the fight Frazier won, this was aN almost true to life Rocky movie, yet still Philadelphia won’t give Joe any props.

“Mad Manny” Cabellero

COMMENTS

1. Manny your absolutly correct and they should show Smokin Joe more Respect and Elect to Erect a Statue of a True fighter And not a Hollywood Man wit’ a Stand In!!!!….Lyrical.
   JON "LYRICAL LIZARD" GUTHRIE on June 16th, 2011 at 3:04 AM
2. I still say Smokin’ Joe won the first two fights with Ali! And one of the things that made Joe so great was you knew what he was going to do, and he just dare you to stop him, and only a couple did!
     Chuck Marbry on June 16th, 2011 at 4:35 AM
3. I agree 100%
     StickItIn on June 16th, 2011 at 8:38 AM
4. I don’t agree at all. Mr. Stallone is being inducted as a non-participant. That means we recognize his accomplishments and contributions to the world of boxing outside of the ring, and those were many. I have no idea how we would begin to estimate how many young kids were inspired to be boxers or to just work out in general. Most boxers I talk to love the rocky movies (must be the montages). Think about the I.B.H.O.F. induction event itself this past weekend. The fact that Stallone attended means that many people came out to the event to see him that otherwise wouldn’t give boxing the time of day, and if we can get more people out to these events that support boxing then more power to us. Nothing in this material world exists without awareness and I want to personally thank the creators of past films and more recent attempts to show the world a glimpse into our boxing world. I hope they keep making more films like “The Fighter”, “Cinderella Man”, and yes the “Rocky” flicks. Look, sometimes they portray the facts incorrecty or over emphasize certain aspects. Hell, sometimes they even portray boxing in a truly negative light, but it doesn’t mean that inteligent poeple won’t soon find out the wonderfull world of boxing if they look a little closer, and if that’s what it takes to spark thier intrest, then so be it. Thanks Rocky
     Dave D on June 16th, 2011 at 11:37 AM
5. Boxing needs all the exposure it can get, so in that light I agree with Dave. However Manny’s right. Why no statue for Frazier but one for Rocky? He’s just a mere fictional character.
     KP on June 16th, 2011 at 12:18 PM
6. I think it would be great to give Joe a statue or some kinda thank you, but I don’t really think he’s at home falling to pieces because he doesn’t get enough props. That’s not his style. Joe knows he’s the man. The kind of recognition Joe deserves, he gets every time we watch one of his fights, and that’s a respect that Stallone will never have.
   Certain all-time great boxers like Joe will NEVER get the recognition they deserve by the mainstream because this kind of sport will never be mainstream, and by staying out of all the bravado and promotion that his rival Ali partook in, he also kept himself from the public eye in terms of popularity, and that’s why he doesn’t get his props. When it comes to boxers and the fans, he gets his due. And sometimes that’s the way it should be.
     Dave D on June 16th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
7. Stallone was elected as a screen writer who help make boxing more popular with his character Rocky Balboa. Was wrong with that? Moreover, Stallone loves the sport and even has a reality show featuring boxer looking for an opportunity to shine. No need to bash the guy.
   Yeah he a steroid taker and all, but he’s no hurting anyone as he is not a real fighter.
     Jesustheprophet on June 16th, 2011 at 1:31 PM
8. It says a lot when the best thing to come out of a city is a cheese steak and a fictional boxing character.
     Alphonso on June 16th, 2011 at 3:21 PM
9. I agree with Manny. Yes Stallone deserves credit for Rocky and creating a great boxing story, but when Rocky came out it wasn’t as if boxing needed his help to make it popular. Boxing was still a phenomenon and was truly an international sport (it’s still an international sport). Also, he’s a proven steroid user, which in my book is a big problem. I understand what they were trying to do and grab a few headlines, but they could have thanked Stallone in a different way.
     Cheesey1 on June 16th, 2011 at 6:22 PM
10. What does a statue in Philly got to do with being inducted in to the hall of fame.Maybe someone should go before the city of Philadelphia and state the case for Smokin Joe… Sly went in as a non participant so i dont see whats the big deal.Two seperate issuse’s I think.
      Rio001 on June 16th, 2011 at 7:30 PM
11. I also Agree with Dave. While Stallone may not have fought professionally, his contributions to the sport of Boxing have been immense. As Dave mentioned, countless individuals have gotten into the sport of boxing in some form or manner because of that movie. I remember Vinny (Paz Man) Pazienza always saying that when he entered the movie theater to see Rocky for the first time, he had absolutely no interest in Boxing, however by the time he exited that theater, he had found his calling to be a Boxer. That sort of inspiration to our beloved sport certainly merits Stallones induction for ‘representing’ Boxing into the Hall of Fame. If Broadcasters and other ‘non-playing’ indivduals can be inducted into Baseballs Hall for their contributions to the sport, then Sly certainly deserves this honor for helping take our sport to another level. Peace.
      Pete the Sneak on June 17th, 2011 at 5:37 AM

POUND FOR POUND THE BEST IN BOXING

NOTES & GREATEST PUERTO RICAN FIGHTERS EVER!

IT WAS A PUERTO RICAN WEEKEND New York, NY- After a weekend where Puerto Rico got a lot of recognition in N.Y, first let me congratulate Joe Cortez, a famous Puerto Rican referee who we all know him by his well-known phrase, “I’m Fair, But I’m Firm” for being inducted to the Hall of Fame that that also they gave fellow Hall of Famer Wilfred Benitez some well deserved recognition. Team P.R. fought Friday and Saturday in NYC’s Roseland Ballroom and finishing with the Puerto Rican day Parade.

TEDDY ATLAS ON PUERTO RICAN GREATS
On Friday night, ESPN 2′S Teddy Atlas offered his opinion on the five best five fighters from the island country, which in my opinion was almost perfect as he mentioned Pedro Montanez, AKA “The Champion Without A Belt.” I’ll talk more about him later. Here is Teddy’s list beginning with Carlos Ortiz Pedro Montanez, Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfred Benitez, and Felix Trinidad. Also on Showtime two months ago when Juan Manuel Lopez lost his belt against Orlando Salido they also did a poll which in my opinion was way off in Felix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto, Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfred Benitez, and Carlos Ortiz. All were great but in the wrong order so here is my top-ten list that included one tie.

LARRY MERCHANT CALLED P.R “THE CAPITAL OF BOXING”

1] Wilfredo ”Bazooka” Gomez (44-3-1, 42 KOs) Born in Las Monjas San Juan P.R (he is the island’s second three-time world champion at 122, 126, & 130 lbs., held the super bantamweight (122) title for six years and defended it 17 times, all by knockout which is still (and probably will always be) a record in that weight class. Fatter than two super bantamweights today, Wilfredo is still oved by and idolized by many. When he fought you knew there was going to be action. Biggest moment I thought was his KO 5 of then unbeaten bantamweight (118) champ Carlos Zarate (66-4, 63 KOs), Worst moment was the beating he took from Salvador Sanchez (44-1-1, 32KOs).

2] Carlos Ortiz. Born in Ponce, he went (61-7-1, 30 KOs) in a career that spanned from from 1955-1972. Ortiz was the second island champion in 30 years, the first being Sixto Escobar. He also became the first from P.R to win three titles. He fought all-time greats like Joe Brown (116-47-13, 53 KOs), Ismael Laguna (65-9-1, 37KOs), and Filipino legend Gabriel “Flash” Elorde (89-27-2, 33 KOs).

3] Wilfred “The Radar” Benitez. Born in New York, Wilfred was 53-8-1, 31 KOs). He holds the record for the youngest champion ever at the age of 17, the first three division world title (140, 147, 154) winner, and he accomplished this all by the age of 22. But in the process of making records, today he mentally ill, another of boxing sad stories. Biggest moment winning title at 17 by UD 15 over Antonio “Kid Pambele” Cervantes (91-12-3, 45 KOs). Worst moment was not training (two weeks?) to fight and lose TKO 15 to “Sugar Ray Leonard” (36-3-1, 25 KOs).

4] Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad was born in Toa Alta (44-3-1, 42 KOs) Champion at 147, 154, & 160. my problem with Tito never got his “groove” back after losing to Bernard Hopkins. After doing some comparing I used to be one who thought Tito should be higher on the list, but he would have had problems with defensive wizard Benitez at 147 or 154.
Gomez and Ortiz after their first loses they got back on top and for me that say a lot of the champion. Biggest Moment 12UD over The Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs), Worst Moment getting shutout and then stopped by Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KOs)

5] Pedro “The Little Bull Of Cayey” Montanez, (91-8-4, 50KOs) Born in Cayey P.R idied April 1914 and passed in June 1996. Is considered by Ring Magazine as one of history most prolific KO winners, also was featured on a Ring cover in 1937, this in addition to winning 88 fights in a row. Fought for the title three times, twice against Henry Armstrong (149-21-10, 101 KOs) and 1 with Lou Ambers (91-8-7, 28KOs). Much loved here there is a Pedro Montanez Stadium in his hometown.

ON TUESDAY, THE SECOND HALF OF MY TOP TEN!

Manny Caballero

COMMENTS

1. You value what Teddy Atlas says? This guy is a loser! he is a LEGEND in his own MIND. He can’t even pick a winner correctly everytime he annotate fights.
     Benny on June 13th, 2011 at 12:54 AM
2. Good stuff Manny; glad to see you have my all-time favorite ‘El Radar’ Benitez at number three. Looking forward to seeing who rounds out your top ten before making any final comments. Thanks for acknowledging the great champions that have been produced by the tiny, but beautiful island of Puerto Rico.
     Sammy Perez on June 13th, 2011 at 9:03 AM
3. Just because you can’t pick the winner every time doesn’t mean you know nothing about boxing. Teddy Atlas has already forgotten more about the sweet science than you will ever know in your whole life.
   boricua on June 15th, 2011 at 8: