Kirkland Wills Himself to a Decision, Bradley Cruises to Victory
By Gabriel Montoya (June 4, 2007) Doghouse Boxing
For two fights in a row, James ‘Mandingo’ Kirkland has been playing dangerous with his conditioning and Friday night at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Ca. it almost cost him dearly. Kirkland, an exciting and talented boxer-puncher from Austin, Texas was in against a rugged veteran who had lost five times coming into the bout but had never been stopped. Usually when those words are uttered in regards to a rugged veteran, the implication is that the blue chipper he’s facing is supposed to be the first one to accomplish the feat. For Friday night at least, that implication did not play out as expected. Ossie Duran did
not come to the fight with any intention of losing to the young prospect and instead gave Kirkland a valuable experience as he moves ahead in career.

Round one saw a typical Kirkland opening charge. Duran, 23-6 (9), came out looking to box but the speed and combinations of the southpaw Kirkland, who punched and moved around Duran looking to end it early, were to much to adjust to from the outset. Barely a minute in, Kirkland landed a combination that ended with a right hook that clipped Duran just behind the ear as he moved his head down to avoid the shot. Duran crumpled to the canvas but jumped back up quickly on unsteady legs. Kirkland moved in with the patience of a seasoned pro, attacking behind a jab to the head and body but not wasting shots needlessly. Testing his prey, Duran was unsteady on his feet but seemed clear headed. The shot to the ear clearly had his equilibrium off kilter but the Ghana native was present of mind enough to begin pumping his jab and letting his hands go as Kirkland bullied his way in. By rounds end, Duran was all the way back and fighting with authority. The moment that would have robbed Kirkland of the valuable experience to come was gone.

Over the next three rounds, Duran would work his way into command of the fight by using his longer and sharper jab to set up hard shots to the body of Kirkland who round by round seemed unable to generate the storm of activity that sets up his brutal power shots. Heading into round three, a mouse had already formed under Kirkland’s eye. Duran boxed beautifully during this early stretch but also stood and traded with Kirkland, which would cost him later on in the fight. At times listless and a bit confused how to get to Duran, Kirkland seemed stuck in a pattern of little head movement, following Duran around and taking jabs and right hands. In the corner, both Pops Billingsley and Ann Wolfe, would ask Kirkland ”How you doing?” as if to confirm they had a delicate situation in front of them with a fighter not nearly close to 100% prepared for what lay in front of him.

It would be in the middle rounds where we would find out what kind of heart lay beating inside Kirkland as he willed himself back into the fight. Taking whatever part of Duran’s body he could beat on, including several borderline and low blow shots that got him warnings from Referee Raul Caiz Jr., Kirkland is the kind of fighter who takes what he can get and makes it count when he lets it go as he winged shot after shot into Duran’s tight defense in an attempt to make him open himself up for the Austin power puncher. Duran was having none of it as he moved away and popped Kirkland with the jab. By round six, Duran was looking a bit tired from all the punches he had rained on Kirkland early in the bout. Kirkland for his part was looking more and more determined and energized as he hunted down Duran across the ring.

After an even eighth round on cards, it was anyone’s fight as Kirkland had successfully rallied back but Duran looked to have enough in his tank to make it very interesting. In his corner, head trainer Peter Manfredo Sr. urged more from his fighter but told Duran ”You are winning this fight”. Victory was clearly on the table for both men. Round 9 saw some great action as Duran landed his best shot of the night; a left hook that rocked Kirkland momentarily. A three-punch combo from Kirkland kept the round close and both men traded down the stretch with Kirkland landing the final shot in a spirited flurry from both men. Between rounds, Mandredo Sr told his fighter he needs a knockdown to cement things. Kirkland’s corner urged him to use his speed. Both men come out fighting hard behind their jabs but Kirkland was busier, willing himself to let his hands go more often and with more authority than Duran. While both guys appeared tired, Kirkland was the sharper guy and he kept punching all the way to the final bell. Judges at ringside scored it unanimously 95-94, 97-92, and 97-92 for James Kirkland, 19-0 (16). Doghouse Boxing scored it 97-93 for Kirkland. The crowd scored it for Duran as they rained boos on the decision. Though the commentators questioned whether or not they were simply booing the lack of knockout from Kirkland who has fought in this venue a total of 4 consecutive times now with three of those ending early.

In my conversations with both Kirkland’s manager and co-trainer, Michael Miller and Ann Wolfe, there seemed to be a bit of concern regarding Kirkland’s conditioning over his last two fights. I hesitated and ultimately decided not to print it in my lead up piece out of respect to the fighter’s compromised position. ”He sparred 12 rounds for this fight,” said Ann Wolfe, “and 8 rounds for Lyell.“ The feeling from both Miller and Wolfe was that his 2007 inactivity (2 fights to this point as opposed to three at this time last year ultimately finishing 6-0 in 2006) was a serious issue that needed immediate resolving. One has to wonder what change is necessary here. Does Kirkland need to move to another state to get the sparring an up and coming fighter of his quality needs to better himself? The answer is probably yes but at the same time, you run the risk of losing the bond that was clearly evident between Wolfe, Billingsley and Kirkland. They’ve been together all of Kirkland’s career and most of his life and were instrumental in bringing him across the finish line tonight. Both kept him calm and gave sound advice and encouragement. Never panicking in a situation that at times had plenty of reason for it. Should he be fighting often as Wolfe suggests? ”They should do him like Tyson. Fighting every two weeks. Every month. James needs that. If you see him do that, fighting often, you will see the best of James Kirkland,” Wolfe said. She continues, ”It don’t matter if it’s on TV or off or whatever. He needs to fight to get that sharpness.” Like the commentators said tonight, if you had to say anything about Kirkland tonight it was that he lacked sharpness. His lack of preparation showed and hopefully put enough of a scare into Team Kirkland that they can correct this problem. The desire in the ring is clearly evident. James Kirkland willed himself to win tonight besides being visibly below prepared physically. A mental test was definitely passed tonight. But an ominous possibility looms as well.

In the co feature, Timothy Bradley, 20-0 (10), outworked and outclassed Donald Camarena en route to an easy unanimous decision win. Judges scored it for 100-90, 99-91, and 99-91. Doghouse Boxing had it 99-91 for Bradley. It didn’t take long for Bradley to figure out “Too Slick, Too Quick” Camarena. Bradley pressed the action from the outset and put the southpaw counter puncher on the defensive and kept him there, scoring with right hand leads and tying him up in close. By the middle rounds, Camarena was sufficiently tamed and Bradley cruised to an easy win.


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