By Pedro Fernandez

ONE YEAR LATER & “JACK & THE BOX” SET TO SPRING

Faced with the prospect that one of their stool pigeons might cross over, a Task Force consisting of FBI, NYPD, and U.S. Justice Dept. personnel raided the offices of Top Rank and Promoter Bob Arum one year ago.  And while it is indeed an event anytime people bust in with Search Warrants, when they serve them upon a former United States Attorney, (Arum worked under Presidents Kennedy & Johnson) you know the “G-Men” have a case as they would rather not go after a member of their own Federal fraternity. 

ONE POSITIVE & SOME UNCERTAINTY=TWO POSITIVES

Having had a conversation with one of the people readying the case for Prosecution earlier this week, all I can say is that the “Jack in The Box” will spring!  And just like that wind up toy a lot of us had as kids, you can feel the spring tightening week after week.  Will it take three more cranks?  The spring is tightening.  You can feel the tension in each turn.  Three or five, of that we cannot be sure.  The one thing we can be positive of is that this Jack will jump out and do a lot more than startle toddlers.  Oh, and for those of you that doubt my assertions, all I ask is that when it’s all said and done, you do what you can to make sure I get nominated for a Pulitzer!

2004 WAS THE BEST IN A QUITE A WHILE!

There have been many a year of late in which we in the boxing industry have said after a not-so good 12 months, “Well, there’s next year.”  As we enter 2005, we can look back at the prior 365 days of fistic action and hope that we can only do as well this year as 2004 was nothing to sneeze at.  The stars that will explode on your PPV TV screen this year will include Tito Trinidad.  With potential matches against Winky Wright, Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Tito is the man of the hour. 

EVER WONDER WHY TITO HAS “NO SET-UPS?”

Being guaranteed a minimum of $10 million per fight from Promoter Don King, the Puerto Rican superstar won’t be facing any hobos in his march towards a rematch with World middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins.  Looking at the fight from the perch of a handicapper, I’ll make Hopkins a 2-1 favorite in the second-go.  That being said, I’m not sure I’d be backing Hopkins this time around.  The reason being is Bernard, Spartan lifestyle or not, he’s approaching 40 turns of the Roman calendar.  And nothing, nothing can foster the decline of a fighter’s skills and elite status faster than Father Time!

GLEN JOHNSON WAS SLIGHTED BY ME!

After bestowing the honors upon World middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins, the HBO Godfather Larry Merchant said on “Ring Talk Radio” Sunday night that World light heavyweight king Glenn Johnson should have been given consideration for “Fighter of The Year” honors.  As is the norm, the Godfather has a valid point.  Three big upset wins in a row.  The knocking out of Roy Jones, and his beating the man that beat the man in Antonio Tarver, this speaks volumes as to why Johnson should have gotten the nod.

PRAISE GIVEN FOR MORE THAN JUST 2004 CAMPAIGN  

But I will reiterate, Hopkins is being feted not just for winning two fights in 2004 against Robert Allen and Oscar De La Hoya.  We are honoring the Philadelphian for his longevity, tenacity, and the ability to emerge unscathed after swimming unprotected for years in the shark-infested water that is the business of professional boxing.  The lone blight on Hopkins’ fact sheet is his losing a $700,000 “Defamation” Lawsuit to Lou Di Bella.  With that exception, Bernard has been a man clothed in Teflon! 

JAMES “LIGHTS-OUT” TONEY UNPLUGGED! 

James Toney is featured in a new Video segment this morning at www.RingTalk.com When he was asked if his recently transplanted Achilles Tendon came from the dead body of a White man or a Black man, the always quick to respond Toney wasn’t!  Hit this link and catch his response  Video Link 

PULLED OUT OF JAPAN TRIP! 

With both the “K-1” and “PRIDE” having mega events around the New Year in Japan, and a kid that I’ve watched from his fighting for trophy days in 2000 Olympian Jose Navarro vying for the WBC 115 lb. trinket on the 3rd of January, I had all but purchased a ticket to Tokyo.  But one of those offers you can’t refuse arose and it impeded my ability to do both.  That being said, the “Heist” that was perpetrated on Navarro who would lose a Split Decision to titleholder Katsushige Kawashima is “Vintage” WBC bullspit!  Now 28-3, with 18 KO’s, the Japanese fighter was for lack of a better term “Witch Slapped” for the entirety of this 12-rounder for the super flyweight belt.   

SCORES HAVE SULAIMAN PRINTS & HONDA’S GREASE!

Judges Gelasio Perez of Mexico tabbed the contest 115-114 for Kawashima.  That score was matched by Thailand’s Noparat Sricharoen.  The third jurist, hailing from Canada Wiliam Boodhoo, he had the fight 13 points the other way with the now 21-1 Navarro pitching a 12-round shutout 120-108!  One person who watched the contest compared it to some of the great ring robberies of the past couple of decades.  Folks, you are now starting to get a sense I’m sure of why the “Operation Matchbox” case will eventually implicate people south of the U.S.-Mexican Border!  

12-ROUND VIDEO OF NAVARRO HEIST FORTHCOMING!

With the result being compared to fights like Tyrone Everett-Alfredo Escalera & Rocky Lockridge-Wilfredo Gomez, I’ll be interested in seeing the fight and then posting the 12-round Video in it’s entirety for the “Ring Talk” family to score here at www.RingTalk.com THIS WEEK! 

LARKIN & SHOWTIME ROLL OUT “THE BEST OF ‘04”

Executive Producer Jay Larkin should be proud after Showtime completed a stellar year that concluded in December with IBF 168 lb. guy Jeff Lacy & Omar Sheika.  The top Showtime broadcast of the year in my mind was their August match between Diego Corrales & Acelino Freitas.  On January 8th, Senor Larkin and crew roll out the “Best of 2004 Showtime Championship Boxing.”  Check the TV Guide! 

Pedro Fernandez

Note: Mr. Fernandez is not your average boxing writer. A four-time Golden Gloves champion who spent eight honorable years with the San Francisco Police Dept., Pedro Fernandez is a schooled Journalist who has had a byline for better than three decades!  He can be reached with your comments at Pedro@RingTalk.com