The Square Ring

by Howie Reed

Well low and behold, “who would have thunk it, but we got through another year?” By the time that the cock crows on the morrow, which will wake up my pal Wil the Tailor of Pattaya at 5 a.m., it will be a new and glorious year full of promise, hopes and lots of good things in boxing.

In boxing there’s a good chance that 2005 will be a year in transition. Some of the old names will be passing from the spotlight and new ones taking center stage. At least that’s one of the hopes. There’s just as much chance of some of the same old guys making one last stab at fame and fortune. The toughest thing in sport is to quit just before you should. When you hear a retired fighter say he misses the sport and he’s coming back because he feels the needs to compete, mark it down as another fighter that wants more money. In some case’s it’s just he wants some money. In sport, like life, you always remember your first and last love. For boxers they are one and the same. Whether that’s the case with “The Imperial One” Lennox Lewis or not only he and his accountant know. Regardless, I’ll bet a nice tall cold one (#26 walking to “I’ve Been Thinking About You” would do me) that Lewis will be back in the ring in ’05. He’s making those sounds and remember, “if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and looks like a duck...it’s a duck.” Well yes, unless it’s a midget goose.

England is trying something that’s new to them at least for “organized” boxing. The smokers and “underground contests” have been doing this for years. In 2005 Sports Network (Frank Warren) and the British Amateur Boxing Association agreed to promote professional and amateur boxing on the same cards. It’s a three-year commitment at this stage. Some old timers from Southern California may remember that in the late 40s, 50s and 60s the famous Olympic in Los Angeles used this format for their weekly shows. The idea has a lot on the plus side. It lowers cost while allowing the promoter to “promote” his own stable of amateur local fighters that hopefully will turn into something putting paying customers in the seats. The first card featuring Olympic Silver Medallist Amir Khan and Joe Calzaghe defending his useless WBO 168 title. That card’s scheduled for March.

Boxing really doesn’t get back from holidays until late January when a couple of fights are of some interests locally and Internationally. On January 21, WBC Bantam Champ Veeraphol Sahaprom (46-1-2) takes on Edmund Velayo (9-4). This is a joke for the Champ. His opponent has lost 4 of his last 6. Most consider Veeraphol the number 2 Bantam in the world. ‘Bout time he acted like it rather than fight these barely warm bodies in nothing more than a paid workout. The next fight in Miami Florida Floyd Mayweather jr. (32-0) steps up in weight, to jr. welter, when he faces Henry Bruseles (21-2-1). Bruseles is not in Mayweather’s class but it is a step up in weight and Floyd has hand trouble, which might cause he problems at the higher weight. On the 29th of January Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (53-2) defends his WBC Fly belt against Noriyuki Komatsu (19-1-5). The challenger is coming off a narrow loss to Trash Nakanuma (24-5) who the champ handled with ease. Another win for the champ.

Got a sad note to end the year from English Joe who use to provide The Square Ring with information until he went missing.

Last Christmas he went to Amsterdam window shopping for the Holiday’s and just resurfaced in the UK. He emailed with the passing of British heavyweight Peter Bates (31-15-4). I once met Mr. Bates at his tavern in Chesterfield. Very nice guy. In the mid 50s he fought the best out there. Got as TKO (cuts) over a young Henry Cooper (14-2), got KO’d by Ingemar Johansson, lost on points to Joe Erskine and Ko’d by Brian London. Not disgrace, there as all those Heavyweight would be kings with today’s crop. RIP Peter Bates, he was 71.

There’s one thing that lingers around in boxing “the boy would I like to see that match.” That’s part of the allure. As 2004 is on it’s last legs promoter Murad Muhammad tries once more to play with the big boys.

Murad is a guy that loves to take credit for everything positive in boxing. If he was a rooster he’d being taking bows for the sun rising. His latest is to offer Kostya Tszyu $14 million (USD) for four fights. This plan includes Kostya fighting Ricky Hatton in Sydney, then Oscar, Auturo Gatti and finally Floyd Mayweather jr. “I will make Kostya Tszyu, his manager and promoter, richer and more famous than they could be with any other promoter,” said Muhammad.

“There are some huge fights out there for Kostya. Ricky Hatton, Arturo Gatti, Floyd Mayweather and Oscar, and Kostya deserves to be paid as one of the greatest fighters in the world.” What a load of hooey! A fight between Oscar and Kostya would probably bring Tszyu $7-$9 million with Oscar promoting. There is NO way that Frankie Warren is going to let Hatton fight outside the confines of the UK. Nice try Murad!

Murad who takes credit for the success of Manny Pacquiao may lose his marquee fighter. The Philippine Star is reporting that Manny feels Murad had tried to pull one over on him. Seems Murad gave Manny a two-fight contract the promoter had wanted the Filipino boxing champion to sign, including a $1. 75 million paycheck for his probable fight against Erik Morales sometime in July. “Akala yata nila ay hindi ko babasahin, akala yata niya (Murad) ay basta ko na lang pipirmahan ung kontrata,” Pacquiao told reporters. Take that!

Before we get to the point where we tip one to the old year and a couple to the New Year, we should take care of a little business. Let’s end the year by passing around some thanks for the folks that assist in this effort each week. The guy’s at the home office (The Pattaya Mail) Brendan and Dan whose talents as editors are tested each week, Patrick the Fighting Flying Frog for keeping me on the somewhat straight and narrow. Dapper Dave Stewart the Champion of Soi 2 who’s this close to a world championship. Thai promoter Mr. Songchai jr who always has a few words to pass along. Wil the Tailor of Pattaya who keeps me in satirical splendor. Young Chris Jones from the Mother Country who jumped in to fill the void when England Joe went MIA. Most of all I want to thank the fighters throughout the world that carry on the brave and noble tradition of the sport of boxing. It’s that time to tip one or more. “Thank you I will.”

PH3 Run 1085 - Christmas Run

As Monday was the Christmas run - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Here’s to everyone getting thru the holidays with All their appendages. Congratulations to Flying Frog for ascending to being our Monday leader (Grand Master). While I may still have your attention I’d like to stir the pot. My question is Why the hell is Free Willy allowed to Hare Runs?

What a screwed up run on Monday, 2.5 hrs. No checks, people finishing in the dark and people lost in the dark. Isn’t it the Hare Raisers job to make sure the people who Hare runs have a clue?

Hare Raiser, maybe you should have a school on this subject. Remember, run length, 45 minutes to 1 hour and lots of checks. You know the object of the run is to attempt to keep the pack together. Not have a ragtag column stumbling in after dark with children lost.

If I was making the decisions I would ban Free Willy from Haring a run for at least 13 months and ask him to produce his Kindergarten Diploma.

OK, now that I got to spit on paper, I’ll tell you about the circle. I won’t bore you with the run details. Ask Free Willy if you want to know. Great “A” site. Views of the surrounding hills and after a good rain the sea beyond. I’d like to name a couple of the smart people. At least on Monday. Spag. Head and Steamy Lump; short cutters!

The circle started off with Flying Frog (GM) icing Free Willy. Frog asked the circle if it was a good run? Free Willy, rightly so received Hash Sh*t for the run. Next up Flying Frog called in the visitors. Welcome to the Pattaya Hash.

Sun Flower made her appearance to conduct the raffle. I’d buy more tickets if Sun Flower was one of the prizes. She iced Poncho the P. for mouthing off during the raffle. Use that ice power baby! The Good R.A. Steamy Lump (and short cutter) brought in Boy George for bring back lost people and proclaims him Hash Hero. Was this for real? Who did he find? With several trucks parked with their headlights on as beacons for the lost souls it reminded me of wagon train when in the old Wild West, they would circle the wagons to fend off the scalp seekers. Agent Cl*t aka Santa Claus on ice.

Arseholeo and Free Willy join him and Santa’s present to Free Willy is a box or rat poison. Well done Santa! Chicken F. took centre stage to sing us his Christmas Song “We Wish You a Merry Syphilis”. Included as back up singers were Steamy Lump and Needle D*ck, aka Doctor and others. The Good RA (and short cutter) Steamy Lump iced Arseholeo and Needle D*ck. He gave the Doctor an addition to his wardrobe and Arseholeo gets a Bio Waste mask. Well done!

Flying Frog suspended the circle, as he wanted more people to go out looking for the lost souls. I kinda lost the plot for a while there, but according to my notes when the circle reassembled, Flying Frog brought in the Virgins, all 10 of them. Welcome and come again! Next into the circle were the returnees including yours truly. V.V. was iced. It was his wife’s birthday. Flipper on in as it was her 150th run. Also iced is one of our annual visitors Kiwi. Why you may ask, well he showed up at Flying Frogs party a day late.

Poncho’s in charge, and brought in the following couples to sit on the ice: 1) King Yao Yao and Queen Stella: 2) Seaman Stains and Seaman Swallow: 3) Agent Cl*t and Rottweiler: 4) Needle D*ck and Wednesday Adams.

Poncho’s question to each of the cracks was what their boyfriends were giving them for Christmas? 1) Grench-Nothing; 2) Jai Dee- Money; 3) Sugar Daddy- A House; 4) Grench-Nothing. My notes became unreadable, let’s see, Santa fled the scene, Chicken F. on ice. I do remember this! Karamba returned and is a real Hash Hero. He found and brought back the 2 young girls that were lost in the dark, on the run. Agent Cl*t, and I quote “Karamba will always find a girl in the dark”

Hash Hymn and off to TQ for hot dogs. It was a good circle.
On On, Always at your service.
John Sh*thead II
(Does anyone know who the first was?)

Fahprakorb retains Pan Pacific Featherweight title in Pattaya bout

International Boxing Federation #5 Featherweight Fahprakorb Kratingdaenggym (46-3) floored Alwyn Clerino (10-2) of the Philippines in Pattaya in a second round KO.

Fahprakorb Kratingdaenggym celebrates his two round knockout victory against Alwyn Clerino of the Philippines. Fahprakorb retained his Pan Pacific Featherweight title at the Jitrapawan College on December 15.

The bout took place on December 15 at a ring specifically built for the match at the Jitrapawan Buddhist College. Boxing fans, pugilists, promoters and the entourage crammed around the ring to see the international event.

From the outset both Fahprakorb and Alwyn went hard at it with the Filipino boxer landing a sweet glove on the local favorite Fahprakorb sending him to the canvas for a count of 8 before recovering. After learning from the first round Fahprakorb came out the corner with a flurry of blows returning the favor to Alwyn, knocking him out past the count of 10.

Following the relatively short bout, Fahprakorb’s promoter and manager, Ekarat ‘Jimmy’ Chaichotechuang said, “I’m happy to see Fahprakorb retain his belt. I was very surprised in the first round and though we had almost lost it in the first round because Clerino is strong fighter. He trains with Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquaio. It has been a good learning exercise for us today.”

Jimmy went on to say that Fahprakorb will now train for his next bout scheduled next year. He added that at sometime in the middle of 2005 Fahprakorb hopes to take a shot at the world title, which is currently held by Juan Manuel Margrez of Mexico.