Boxing
Steve Argeris
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 12, 2003; 10:30 a.m. ET
Post staff writer Steve Argeris will be in Atlantic City,
N.J., to cover Saturday's pay-per-view card that features the
D.C.-area's William Joppy in a title bout against undisputed
middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins.
He will be online Friday, Dec. 12 at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Submit your questions and comments before or during today's discussion.
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Steve Argeris: Hey everybody! I'd like to get started, because I've got to hightail it to Atlantic City in two hours, so I'm here at the Post's downtown D.C. offices ready to get rolling.
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Washington, D.C:
Do you know when and where the weigh-in will be? If its open to the public I would like to attend.
Steve Argeris: It's at Bally's at 5 p.m. today. Rock and Ruiz weighed in yesterday, so it's everybody else. I assume that even if it's not open to the public, it shouldn't be too hard to sneak in.
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Washington, D.C. Boxing Fan:
Steve,
I enjoyed your article. It was a unique, if heartbreaking, take on the world of boxing. My only small quibble with the piece was that it did not include a mention of Trinidad's illegal hand wrap technique. I know its not a court of law and the evidence that Felix Sr. wrapped illegally in the Joppy fight is circumstantial but I thought it was worth including.
On a separate note, any thoughts on why the DC boxing scene is so small? I mean, Linthicum has a better boxing scene. The city has some good talent (Joppy, Too Sharp etc) but not much of an active fight schedule.
Thanks again for the article and for caring a little about a neglected sport.
Steve Argeris: I assume you are writing about the Joppy story two days ago. Trinidad's hand wraps have long been a source of contention, but the bottom line is Tito was a great fighter beyond just the wrapping technique. Any good trainer would have done the same thing---it ain't illegal unless you get caught.
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Washington, D.C.:
There seems to be a lull in boxing, right now. With no real household names to talk about at the water cooler, who are some of the boxers that could become household names or create excitement for the "country at large," in the near future?
Steve Argeris: Well, I think Jermain Taylor is great, Olajide is fun to watch. Oquendo ain't bad in heavyweights. Rocky Juarez, Jef Lacy, a lot of the Olympians are potential stars. There is the real potential for the 147-160 groups to be very enjoyable for the next 10 years, with the current crop growing old as the new blood comes in.
Plus, DC's own Peterson brothers will turn pro after the Olympics next year. I think they are terrific.
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Alexandria, Va.:
What do you make of the Don King's unprecedented courtroom settlement to Norris? Is this the beginning of the end for King? How do you think the evil genius has managed to remain on top of the boxing world this long?
Steve Argeris: Don King might have money hidden so well even God can't see it, so I assume it's a safe bet that he isn't hurting, $7.5 million or not.
He stays on top because he's smarter and works harder than anybody else. This man is into his 70s and has more energy than me, almost 50 years younger.
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Fairfax, Va.:
I've heard a lot about Zab Judah recently. Who is this kid and how good is he?
Steve Argeris: Zab is very good but very flawed, in the ring and out. He spends money wildly---he had PLATINUM BRACES once when I interviewed him. The Kostya fight was a perfect example---he looked like an all-time great the first round, a chump the second, and a crazy man after the bell was rung. Chop Chop could have beaten him in July if he had stayed on his game plan---ripping body shots like he did in the second round.
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Fairfax, Va. Mike:
Steve,
What's next in boxing? Seems to me there's a lull and there's not the hype there was about a year ago. Who's the next big thing?
Steve Argeris: There's a lot of great stuff from my end coming down the pike. Lewis maybe retiring, maybe getting Klitschko again, maybe getting Roy. Roy maybe fighting Tyson, which would be terrific. That's just the heavyweights.
There are a half-dozen fighters from 147 to 160 that are fantastic to watch, another half-dozen who are pretty good. They're really beginning to face off with each other. I'm not certain who the Next Big Thing is, but there are a lot of Current Big Things who are really good.
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Long Beach, Calif.:
Steve,
Who is in your top 5 referees? Although they're not taking any punches, I'm always amazed they aren't more highly compensated, especially in the big-money bouts with millions of dollars flying around. Thanks.
Steve Argeris: Top five?? I don't know offhand, but Nevada, New York and New Jersey generally don't miss---I haven't noticed officials in recent years the way you used to, which means they're doing their jobs. The guy I see the most often around here is Maleek Waleed. I really admire his style a lot, Kenny Chevalier a close second in DC-MD area refs.
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Virginia:
Steve,
Why is boxing only on pay-per-view? Don't you think there would be more interest and a wider audience if the fights were televised on networks?
Steve Argeris: It's not only on PPV. It's on one of the ESPNs on Tuesdays and Fridays, it's on HBO and Showtime's regular channels usually once or twice a month, and it's on Spanish channels all the time---I only speak un poco Espanol, but you can bet I'll be watching Vargas on Telefutura tonight.
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Arlington, Va.:
Could this mega-event be the beginning of the end for Don King, in light of the Terry Norris decision?
Steve Argeris: How so? Again, while I would never endorse King's ethics, he's a very, very smart man and obviously a ruthless businessman. If he took $100 million from Tyson, as Tyson alleges, imagine how much he's got stashed wherever. Terry Norris got his money, and he deserved it, but it's like spitting into the ocean I think when it comes to King's bank accounts.
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Falls Church, Va.:
How will the recent decision by ESPN not to pay promoters for helping cover their costs for its TV fights affect the industry? What do you think of Max Kellerman?
Steve Argeris: Max is a great guy, very nice in person, very calm actually. He listens to what everyone has to say and doesn't jump all over you. I like him a lot. I disagree with him a lot, too, but he's got a national platform so I think his opinion counts quite a bit more than mine.
ESPN's decision is very very costly. It's so difficult to pay for a boxing show---given the purses, medical tests, venue fees, it easily could freeze out most non-casino cities from hosting ESPN fights.
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Steve Argeris: Well, unfortunately, that was it, so enjoy the fights and hopefully we'll see some good ones.
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DC:
Hey Steve,
Outside of Ballroom Boxing, where do local fans go to see fights in DC?
Steve Argeris: Oh, sorry one more---there is a fight on Saturday night (bad timing) at the new Convention center with Jimmy Lange from Great Falls and Hyattsville's Isra Girgrah. Both are great people, so I'd check it out if you want a live, in person show. They'll have the Hopkins fight on TVs there, so you're not missing out. Otherwise, read the Post and you'll know what's going on.
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