White boxers continue to make impressive gains
by Joe Kowalski
Whites continue to dominate the middle and upper weight classes in boxing. Our people currently hold 13 of the 20 belts from middleweight to heavyweight. While this is great news, there is a glaring (and embarrassing) fact that must be admitted. None of the current 18 white belt holders is an American.
But some boxers are certainly getting close to being the first white American champion since 2003 (when Paul Spadafora held the IBF lightweight belt).
Kelly Pavlik (30-0)
Pavlik scored a very impressive knockout of Jose Luis Zertuche on HBO in January. The tough Mexican had never been knocked out but Pavlik sent him to the canvas (and then to the hospital) in Round 8. Rumor has it that the undefeated Ohio native will fight much-hyped Colombian Edison Miranda this summer. The winner should get a shot at Jermaine Taylor’s WBC and WBO championship later in 2007.Paul Malignaggi (22-1)
Malignaggi rebounded from a tough loss to WBO junior welterweight champ Miguel Cotto by winning an easy unanimous decision over veteran Edner Cherry in February. The fight was on HBO, which helped give the Brooklyn native some national publicity. The “Magic Man” could fight Arturo Gatti this summer on HBO. A win will put Malignaggi in line for his second title try at 140.
Tye Fields (38-1)
The 6’9, 270 lb. heavyweight from Iowa will likely fight WBA champ Nicolay Valuev in the summer. Should he win, Fields would be the first white American heavyweight champ since Tommy Morrison held the WBO strap in 1993. In a January fight shown live on VERSUS, Fields beat Kendrick Releford via easy unanimous decision. Though slow and easy to hit, Fields has great power and endurance (like Valuev). He will most likely lose to the massive Russian, but I would give Fields a decent shot at beating Shannon Briggs.
Paul Spadafora (39-0)
The Pittsburgh native was the last white American to hold a title belt and could soon be a champion again. Weight issues and a stint in prison cost him valuable time, but the 31-year-old is back and seemingly stronger at 140. Spadafora knocked out decent veteran Frankie Zepeda in his comeback fight in November. He faces Irish fighter Oisin Fagan on March 9. The junior welterweight division is not as strong as it once was and Spadafora could certainly win a title as long as he avoids Ricky Hatton.
Peter Manfredo (26-3)
The former Contender star faces an uphill battle when he fights longtime WBO super middleweight king Joe Calzaghe on April 7. The fight will be televised live on HBO and is seemingly meant to raise Calzaghe’s profile in America so he can face the winner of the Winky Wright-Bernard Hopkins clash this summer.
In addition to these contenders, several white American heavyweights (who curiously all have last names that begin with the letter “M”) have been or will be involved in some high-profile fights.
Tommy Morrison, former WBO heavyweight champion, came back from a 10-year layoff last month with a knockout victory over John Castle. “The Duke” is 38 but promises to fight often in hopes of one last title shot.
Joe Mesi continued his own comeback with a first round KO of George Linberger in a fight that was televised on VERSUS. The Buffalo resident was the number one rated heavyweight by the WBA in 2004, before a head injury kept him out of the ring for over two years.
Pittsburgh’s Brian Minto has a March 17 match with former European heavyweight titlist Luan Krasniqi. Minto recently stopped former contender Axel Schulz, who was attempting a comeback.
New Yorker Vinny Maddalone has a St. Patrick’s Day date against Evander Holyfield. Maddalone has a good chin and a decent punch but lacks technique.
Chicago’s Mike Mollo continued his winning ways with a victory over journeyman Zack Page. Mollo scored a big upset when he KO’d Mike Tyson conqueror Kevin McBride in October.
Undefeated prospect Mike Marrone improved to 17-0 with a unanimous decision win over veteran Jermell Barnes. The match was shown on ESPN. Marrone has an April 20 date against undefeated Irish heavyweight Malachy Farrell.
Almost every weekend in March and April will feature a white fighter in a big match. Some upcoming fights include:
March 10
Wladimir Klitschko v. Ray Austin (HBO)
Sultan Ibragimov v. Javier Mora
March 16
Jon Duddy v. Anthony Bonsante (PPV)
March 17
Vinny Maddalone v. Evander Holyfield (CN8, Comcast)
Brian Minto v. Luan Krasniqi
Wladimir Sidorenko v. Ricardo Cordoba
March 24
Mikkel Kessler v. Librado Andrade (HBO)
March 31
Henry Maske v. Virgil Hill (PPV)
April 7
Joe Calzaghe v. Peter Manfredo (HBO)
April 14
Nicolay Valuev v. Ruslan Chagaev