I guess the new Top Rank
lightweight division limit is 147 pounds on the morning of the fight. So
Brandon Rios made this new lightweight limit by half a pound on Saturday
morning. Way to go, Brandon! Today, weight classes are not in place to protect
fighters’ safety by avoiding size and power mismatches. No, silly, weight
classes are there to create more “world champions” and more “title fights”- to
make more and more money, period.
Throughout the history of
boxing, more deaths and serious injuries have occurred due to numerous hard
blows over the span of many rounds. A sustained beating of a “game” yet
overmatched foe by a better and too often bigger fighter. It was bad enough
when weigh-ins were moved to the day before a fight, creating a situation where
fighters are routinely 15 pounds or more over the prescribed limit come fight
time. Now it seems that even the limits themselves are not all that important.
The Brandon Rios vs. John
Murray bout (featured on the Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito undercard at Madison Square Garden) was a joke from the start. Murray “earned” his shot by getting
knocked out by Kevin Mitchell. As Larry Merchant might say, “John Murray is one
big win away from having a big win.” Rios is tough and hard-hitting but not
with one-punch knockout power, the kind that wears down and punishes opponents
over many rounds, kind of like Ray Mancini.
This was an obvious mismatch
before and after Rios failed to make weight and only had to be at the
welterweight limit at 9 AM on Saturday morning. It was a recipe for disaster but
none of those inconveniences bothered the Top Rank brass or the NYSAC after all
the fighters and teams “made a deal.” Why would one expect the NYSAC to get in
the way of profit and profile for something as trivial as fighter safety? After
all, money was trading hands.
When you get a chance, think
of Joey Gamache and wish the best for him.
To no one’s surprise, Rios
battered Murray for 11 long rounds. Murray’s eyes were black and swelled, his
face bloodied while Rios looked as if he’d been wearing a helmet, with hardly a
scratch. I don’t know what Rios weighed as he stepped through the ropes last
night but it was a pretty sure bet he was a middleweight. When he did make weight against Anthony Peterson last year, Rios entered the fight at 152.
John Murray had his moments.
He did land punches and was no doubt a “game” opponent. It seems that he escaped
any serious injury or damage this time. Rest in peace, Duk Koo Kim.