Yusaf Mack is Back, Bigger, Stronger, Fitter, Quicker

Once dubbed as one of the hottest prospects in the sport Yusaf Mack is about to explode back on the scene as a Light Heavyweight and finally achieve the ambitions expected of him earlier in his career. Yusaf once linked to fighting the likes of Joe Calzaghe and Jeff Lacy in super fights fell away due to two losses in his last three fights, neither of them a disgrace as Yusaf came in under prepared and severely weight drained. Yusaf has always been between weights, fighting around 171lbs and that final 3lbs to make the super middleweight limited was always difficult with a 6'1" muscular frame. It has more difficult to make the 168lbs limited and with both losses was forced to burn off the last 12lbs in the last few days, leaving him weak and exhausted. But with the chance of big fights he made the sacrifice to lose the weight as not to disappoint his team and the fans. The first of the losses came in a crowd pleasing entertaining fight against Alejandro Berrio the former IBF champion, both men stood toe to toe for an exhilarating slug fest neither man backing down and in the early stages with Yusaf having the upper hand, he was however just not able to get Berrio out of there before the stamina problems hit. There was no significant punch that ended the contest, as both men had given and taken much more earlier in the fight, Yusaf's legs buckled due to dehydration, desperately trying to continue and the mind of a champion desperately trying to fight on his body said no and the referee was forced to end an exciting contest in the 6th round. The second loss once again no disgrace came to one of the up and coming stars in the division and one hotly tipped to go on to be a world champion Librado Andrade, who looks like that chance will come in his next fight after demolishing world rated Robert Steigliz in his previous fight with a an 8th round knockout. Once again Yusaf desperately struggled to make the weight and unreported injuries during training prevented him from getting to the level of fitness required to take on a world class fighter. Once again Yusaf started well knocking down Andrade for the first time in his career with a vicious left hook, a feat that Mikkel Kessler was unable to achieve, but once again the effect from making the weight and poor preparation was Yusaf's downfall, in the most entertaining match up of the night, a card which included Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera squaring off against each other, Yusaf fell in the 7th round 3 times he got up but the referee decided he was not in a condition to continue, once again no significant punch landing, as the drain to make the weight took full effect. Now major changes have been made in Mack’s camp, Yusaf’s former trainer Tommy Gallagher has withdrawn from training responsibilities by mutual consent. He will still play a part in Yusaf’s career, but manager Rory Donadio has recruited British coach John Tandy to take over as head trainer. Tandy, a strict, no nonsense trainer has brought in a whole new modern approach for Mack, with tough strength, stamina and conditioning training, along with a new balanced nutritional diet. Yusaf is ready to reap the rewards, and is much more comfortable making the Light Heavyweight limit. He was huge for a super middleweight, but still carries the advantage of being bigger than most of the light heavyweights out there. Due to the change in training and diet he has remained injury free and is currently in the best shape of his career. Yusaf is confident he can set alight an already interesting Light Heavyweight division. Speaking with coach John Tandy on Mack progress he stated "Yusaf has worked very hard, things have been difficult for him everything around him has changed, he has suffered personal losses with the death of his father during camp, but he has adapted well. He is currently in tremendous condition, we still have a lot of work ahead of us, and improvements to make but we are more than confident that Yusaf will come back and make a huge impression on the Light heavy weight division. The kid has got this far in his career on natural talent alone, now with the right guidance he is ready to take that next step and achieve his potential of being a world champion" So watch out all the Light Heavyweights out there Yusaf Mack is back and this time around it will be different, take a good look at your belts as he is coming for them. Yusaf will be making his return to the ring on the 11th April at The Odeum, Villa Park, Illinois, United States against the tough big punching Mexican Ernesto Zamora who is showing good form after winning his last fight and has won 11 out 15 wins by way of knockout. John Tandy - Editor www.ultimateboxingresults.com

U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada set to conquer ‘Mount’ Whitaker

April 4 headliner on ESPN2 FNF at Twin River Events Center in Rhode Island PROVIDENCE (March 24, 2008) – 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (11-1, 2 KOs), coming off of his dominating win by 10-round decision in January against former world heavyweight title contender Charles Shufford, plans to breakaway from the rest of the U.S. heavyweight prospect pack with a convincing performance April 4 on national television against former NABO/NABA/WBC Continental Americas champion Lance “Mount” Whitaker in the 10-round main event on “Heavy Hitters,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment, Inc. at Twin River Events Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Estrada-Whitaker moved from co-feature to main event on the April 4th ESPN2 Friday Night Fights show when Estrada’s CES stablemate, “Baby” Joe Mesi (36-0, 29 KOs) suffered a shoulder injury forcing him off of the April 4th card. “Fighting on ESPN2 in the main event is one more step I need to take,” Estrada said. “I’m happy – not the way it happened with Joe getting injured – but now this is my moment. I’ve been waiting for this chance. I was going to be on TV in the co-feature, anyway, but now I’ll be the guy in the main event.” The 6’ 8” Whitaker (32-4-1, 27), who has beaten former world champions Oleg Maskaev (KOs) and Al “Ice” Cole, will not be the tallest opponent Estrada has ever fought. Back in the amateurs, Jason defeated a 6’ 9” Cuban fighter and, although it’s difficult to find sparring partners Whitaker’s height, Estrada can’t wait for the challenge. “I have the kind of hand speed Whitaker’s never seen before,” Jason spoke about his experienced opponent. “He’s been around a long time and has a lot of experience, but Whitaker’s also 35 and I don’t think he’s gotten better with age like some boxers. He’s too big and his arms are too long. I’ll be putting pressure on him from the start. I’ll be going forward and he’ll be going backwards. I’m going to keep beating him to the punch. I’ll out-hustle him like I did to Shufford. “We were given a list of opponents. I wanted to fight on TV and said yes right away when his name was brought up. Beating a fighter like Whitaker – he’s big and has a big name -- on national television will accelerate my career. I’m not taking anything away from him. Maybe he’ll come out hungry. Who knows? But Whitaker better worry about me. I’m younger, stronger faster, quicker and more motivated. I don’t care if he’s 6’ 8” because we’re not playing basketball. (Mike) Tyson proved height doesn’t matter in heavyweight boxing.” Estrada, promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), recently opened his own gym, “Big Six Boxing Academy,” in Providence. “It doesn’t get any bigger than this,” Estrada’s father and advisor/head trainer Dr. Roland Estrada commented. “What better way for Jason to prove himself than on ESPN2 in the main event. It will give him an opportunity to impress fans all over. He’s fighting a 6’ 8” guy who has fought just about everybody and only has four losses in 37 pro fights. It’s going to be a nice time to shine and separate Jason fro the pack, into a fight against a top 20 opponent and on the way to becoming world champion. People are going to be surprised at how strong Jason is. He’s been working very hard.” Providence-native Estrada, 27, was one of the most highly decorated American amateur boxers ever, compiling an amazing 261-14 record in U.S. competition. He was the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row. Highlights of his amateur career included representing the United States in the 2004 Olympics and capturing a gold medal at the 2003 Pan-American Games. During his sensational amateur career, Estrada defeated some of today’s leading professionals including former world title challenger DaVarryl “The Touch of Sleep” Williamson (24-5, 20 KOs), unbeatens Malik Scott (30-0, 10 KOs) and Donnell “The Real Touch of Sleep” Holmes (28-0-2, 24 KOs), Malcolm “The Showstopper” Tann (23-4, 12 KOs), and Felix “Bad News” Cora, Jr. (18-2, 9 KOs).

Godfrey fights Kraj Saturday night in Germany

WBC Cruiserweight Elimination Bout KREFIELD, Germany (March 4, 2008) -- Rudolf Kraj is challenged by the American Matt Godfrey in a WBC-Eliminator-Fight at cruiserweight on the March 8th 'Universum Champions Night' at the KönigPALAST in Krefeld, Germany. Things heated up at today's (Monday, Mar. 3) press conference for the big Universum Champions Night card at the press conference in the CineMAXX, Krefeld. In focus also the WBC cruiserweight eliminator between #1 rated Matt Godfrey (16-0, 9 KOs) and #2 Rudolf Kraj (13-0, 10 KOs), who meet Saturday night in Krefeld. Godfrey took some exception to the German translation of his nickname 'Too Smooth' to 'Zu Weich,' which could also be understood as 'Too Soft.' Godfrey stated, 'I'm glad to have the big opportunity here in Germany to take the next step to the world championship. I'm called ‘Too Smooth,’ by the way, not something like ‘Too Soft.’ Like my fight name says, I box very smoothly and elegantly. In the analysis with my trainers, we've seen big weaknesses with Rudolf Kraj, which naturally we won't reveal, but will take advantage of.' 'I have seen three fights of his,' stated Kraj. 'He's a very, very good opponent. He was also one of the best amateurs and is very technically sound. He can spontaneously change the delivery [of his punches]. My big goal is to win and the next day my son Rudolf Junior becomes six years old. I want to give him a victory in this eliminator for his birthday.'

Vinny Paz vs. Micky Ward

“Rumble at the River,” March 14 at Twin River Event Center, RI PROVIDENCE (February 27, 2008) – Two popular blasts from the past, Vinny Paz and “Irish” Micky Ward, will be in opposite corners on March 14 as honorary captains of Team Italy and Team Ireland, respectively, for the Italian-Irish themed “Rumble at the River” pro boxing show at Twin River Events Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. “Rumble at the River,” part of “The Budweiser Night at the Fights” series at Twin River, is promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc., in association with Twin River, Budweiser and Tournament of Contenders. World super middleweight challenger “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr. (28-5, 13 KOs), star of The Contender I television reality series, headlines “Rumble at the River” against Shane “The Irish Hitman” Benfield (17-1, 9 KOs) in the 10-round main event. Paz is a former 5-time world champion who won 50 pro fights, while Ward participated in three “Fights of the Year,” highlighted by his famed trilogy fighting Arturo Gatti. “Vinny Paz and Micky Ward are two of boxing’s all-time great warriors,” promoter Jimmy Burchfield said of the two charter members of CES’ Ring of Honor. “They have both kept their fires burning in boxing, Vinny as a television analyst and Micky as a trainer. Many young fighters, especially in New England, are involved in the sport because they watched these two fighters in action. We’re thrilled that they are involved in ‘Rumble at the River’ as team captains. I’m very happy to call Vinny and Micky my personal friends. They know what boxing has done for them and they give a lot back to the boxing community. They’ll be available to pose for pictures and sign autographs. Our unbeaten heavyweight contender, “Baby” Joe Mesi, will also be there for fans to meet.” IWBF lightweight champion Jaime “The Hurricane” Clampitt (18-4-1, 7 KOs), fighting out of Cranston (RI) puts her belt on the line against veteran contender Belinda “Brown Sugar” Larcuente (23-20-3, 9 KOs), the GBU junior welterweight title-holder from New York City, in the 10-round co-feature. Clampitt is a 3-time world champion, while 20 of Larcuente’s last 21 bouts, dating back nearly five years, have been against world champions. Stoughton (MA) cruiserweight Chris McInerney (9-1-1, 6 KOs) meets former New England title-holder Tim “The Hammer” Flamos (19-4-1, 7 KOs), of Brockton, in a six-round rematch of a bout McInerney won by sixth round TKO last December. Undefeated Russian middleweight Andre Nevsky (3-0, 3 KOs), of Worcester (MA), faces Eric Pinarreta (2-1, 2 KOs), of New Bedford (MA), in a four-round match. USBA No. 4 super middleweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina (20-1-1, 15 KOs), of Providence; light heavyweight “Irish” Joey McCreedy (6-1, 4 KOs), of Lowell (MA); unbeaten Lynn (MA) flyweight Isander Beauchamp (3-0) and Providence junior welterweight Diego Pereira making his pro debut are also on the undercard against opponents to be determined. All fights and fighters are subject to change. Manfredo, Spina, Flamos and Pinarreta are on Paz’ Team Italy; Benfield, Clampitt, McInerney and McCreedy are captained by Ward on Team Ireland. Tickets for “Rumble at the River” are priced at $35.00 (ADA stage seating only), $40.00, $50.00, (Bronze), $75.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club) and may be purchased by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254), going on line at www.cesboxing.com or www.twinriver.com, at the Twin River Event Center (100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI), or any TicketMaster location. Contact CES (401.724.2253/2254/www.cesboxing.com) or Twin River Events Center (877.82.RIVER/ www.twinriver.com) for more information. Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.

“Too Smooth” Godfrey heads to Germany

PROVIDENCE (February 27, 2008) – Undefeated WBC No. 1 cruiserweight contender Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey (16-0, 9 KOs) broke his Hartford-based training camp on Tuesday and departed for Germany to acclimate himself for his March 8 WBC title elimination showdown against unbeaten No. 2 ranked Rudy Kraj (13-0, 10 KOs) in Krefeld. “I’ve been training for this fight since Christmas,” the 27-year-old NABF champion Godfrey explained, “but I really started training camp around the first week of September for a fight (versus Jeremy Williams) that fell out right before Thanksgiving. So, I’m ready for this fight, and I want to go in and let everybody see what all of this hard work and training has done for me. People are going to see the Matt Godfrey who was so explosive against (Shaun) George and (Felix) Cora (Jr), in addition to seeing some different stuff that comes from new conditioning training that allows me to do a lot more in the ring. Click on the results of March 8 and see Godfrey as the decisive victor.” The winner of Godfrey-Kraj not only will become the WBC’s mandatory challenger, it also has additional implications because WBC/WBA title-holder David Haye fights WBO champion Enzo Maccarinelli on March 8 in London. A Haye victory reportedly will send him up to heavyweight, leaving the cruiserweight division wide open, and the Godfrey-Kraj winner possibly the new WBC champion or interim title-holder. “We had the DVD player going every day and we’ve noticed some different things about Kraj that we’ve worked on,” Godfrey spoke about his 2000 Olympic silver medal winning opponent, Kraj. “He’s a solid opponent with good strength and size. He’s the real deal and it’s going to be a great fight. “I’m not concerned about fighting him in Germany. We’re going over there early to get acclimated to the weather and time. We’ll have ample time to adjust. The winner could be the new world champion or interim title holder. The worst that can happen is the winner is the mandatory contender, and that’s why I’m looking at this as a world title fight, whether it is or isn’t.” Matt, second heavyweight alternate on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, had a 194-23 amateur record, capturing six national championships -- four open tournaments including the 2004 Everlast U.S. Championships, plus two in the Junior Olympics – as well as a Bronze medal at the 2001 Pan-American Games, Silver in all four of that year’s national major tournaments (National Golden Gloves, PAL (Police Athletic League), U.S. Championships and U.S. Challenge) and six-time New England Golden Gloves champion. The highly decorated U.S. amateur defeated many boxers who today are outstanding professionals such as WBA middleweight title challenger Randy “The Gentleman Griffin (24-1-3, 12 KOs), unbeaten heavyweight prospect Chazz “Mensa With Muscles” Witherspoon (21-0, 14 KOs), Devin Vargas (14-0, 6 KOs), Corey “Black Ice” Cummings (15-2, 12 KOs), Leonard “Haitian Sensation” Pierre (18-3, 13 KOs) and John Johnson (12-1, 10 KOs).

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All Tall Paul Just what heights can Paul Williams reach? By: Tim Crowley - Brickcity Boxing That is the question to be answered this Saturday night as Paul Williams, who has become one of the most feared fighters in the welterweight division, takes on Carlos Quintana, a genuine barometer for welterweight potential. Williams has looked impressive in all of his fights, and has stood out noticeably because of his enormous height and reach (6’2” — 82”). He has a high punch output and a comfort in the ring that exhibits a solid amateur background, and he has compiled an excellent pro record of 33-0 with 24 knockouts. Williams’ excellent boxing skills are stretched into a huge frame for a welterweight, and his coordinated footwork and ability to keep opponents at bay with his long arms have many wondering if he could be the next king of the welterweights. His physical appearance is truly unique; he almost looks like a giant scarecrow with his lanky bones. But once he starts boxing, it becomes apparent that he carries the frame naturally and with strength. In his most celebrated victory to date, Williams took a unanimous decision over Antonio Margarito for the WBO welterweight title in July ’07. It showed he had the stamina and skills to outbox a championship pressure fighter, and Williams also showed heart in weathering the Tornadoe’s late comeback attempt. But though Williams is regarded as one of the best welterweights today, the suspicion is that he may be stretched too thin, and if a vicious puncher gets inside and goes to the body, Williams will topple. Antonio Margarito was able to score some in their fight, but he was overwhelmed by Williams’ punch output. Margarito wasn’t so much hurt during the fight as he was immobilized. He deflected a lot of Williams’ punches and the ones that got through he handled well. He just couldn’t get inside the reach. And he has stated repeatedly since the loss that if he were to fight Williams again, he would be more aggressive and not give away rounds on points. Williams won a fair decision, though, and is the WBO champ amidst a very talented division that includes, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Kermit Cintron, Oscar De la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Louis Collazo, and Joshua Clottey — all of whom can be dangerous on any given night. The top welterweights are currently singling each other off as Floyd Mayweather, the legitimate and linear welterweight champ, waits for one to attain enough hype to garner the kind of super fight ($$$) Floyd requires. And Williams is lined up to be in the mix with all of them. He was originally scheduled to fight Kermit Cintron, but Cintron pulled out due to a hand injury (adding to Williams’ reputation as a feared fighter). And even a rematch with Margarito could be interesting because Margarito knows he would have to step it up or face the same result again. But most are hoping to see Williams square off against either Miguel Cotto, or Floyd Mayweather, and many are predicting he could one day fight both. But this fight against Quintana will have a big impact on how people view his potential. Carlos Quintana is a very good welterweight, but is regarded as being one step below the aforementioned names. He made a name for himself by coming in as the underdog and out boxing the highly touted prospect Joel Julio. In that fight, Quintana got up from an early flash knockdown to cleverly outbox the hard punching Julio, and by the end of 12 rounds, Quintana had administered a thorough beating to the young prospect. The win established Quintana as a crafty veteran who was not to be underestimated. He was matched up against Miguel Cotto, and though he was again considered the underdog many gave Quintana a chance to pull another upset. Cotto’s five-round destruction of the respectable Quintana has added much to his growing aura of violence. It’s not just that Cotto stopped Quintana — he hurt him. In five rounds Quintana’s face was beaten and blackened, and he was showing visible pain from the body punches Cotto was landing. Even with his own corner pushing him back out for the sixth round, Quintana refused. So with this fight in mind we go to Williams vs. Quintana. We know that Williams has a lot of skill and potential, but we have yet to see him in with the likes of a Cotto. Cotto is currently regarded as one of the best, if not THE best welterweight today, and Williams’ performance against Quintana will say a lot about his ability to fight the best of the best. Quintana is once again coming in as the underdog, but he is used to this position and will not be phased. Quintana always comes in to fights in top form and has a crafty southpaw style that has led him to victory before. The question will be just how well Williams does against Quintana. Cotto has already set the bar pretty high on this one, and Williams will have to have an impressive performance to keep the upward momentum he has earned for himself. He needs to further cement the fact that he can use his tremendous height and reach to cause problems for everyone in the welterweight division, and that he is the man to beat at welterweight. We’re all still seeing how Williams measures up.

Williams Drops a Shocker to Quintana

By: Christopher Roche, Brickcityboxing.com Commentary I remember the feeling I had that August afternoon back in 1987, and it still hurts today. Mark Breland, my indestructible childhood hero, was knocked out by Marlon “Magic Man” Starling. I kept waiting for Breland to turn it on, like he had done so many times before, but for some reason he looked sluggish and out of sorts. Well, tonight, in California, Paul Williams reincarnated Breland’s performance, and he dropped a shocking decision to Carlos Quintana. When I first saw Williams fight, it stirred nostalgic images of Breland because of their similar freakish height and speed, and I openly gushed over Williams’ package of size and speed. However, when Williams could not get a big fight, and he settled for Carlos Quintana, I grew somewhat concerned that he would land in a trap. When I placed a call to Williams’ camp in Puerto Rico, and I interviewed Williams, he said all the right things. He said he was focused and motivated. While I thought Williams would win, I eventually touted the Quintana bout as one of the most underrated matches of the year. I was convinced it would be a good fight. Quintana came out with guns blazing as he hurt Williams several times over the first two rounds. Williams could not block Quintana’s left hand, and he ate too much leather. Williams’ vaunted punch output was limited, and he was sloppy with his jab. Quintana eventually cut Williams over both eyes, and even though he faded in the middle rounds, he rallied down the stretch to pull out a unanimous decision victory. The scores were 115-113 and 116-112 twice. Williams relinquished his WBO belt. Where does Paul Williams go from here? In the unforgiving world of Boxing, Williams is now a footnote. He is no longer in line for a bout with Miguel Cotto or Floyd Mayweather, but if he can get a good win or two, then he will propel himself back into legitimacy. Quintana did just that tonight, and he is fully recovered from his loss to Cotto. It was reported that Williams gained almost twenty pounds after the weigh-in and entered the ring at 164 lbs. If that is true, then a move up in weight class might be a consideration. Otherwise, he will have to wait his turn in the crowded welterweight division. As for Quintana, his future is wide open, and it is so bright that he might have to wear shades!

Nothing to Worry About

Nobody writes -- or cares -- about boxing the way Norman Mailer did, because no one fights anymore. By Chuck Klosterman – from Esquire Magazine – February 2008 I was never a huge fan of Norman Mailer's writing, but I always thought he was a deeply fascinating, impossibly singular, sporadically terrifying personality. When he died last November, people kept claiming he was the "last of a breed," but I'm not sure that assessment is accurate; I don't think there is a "breed" of human who would choose to celebrate New York mayoral runs by stabbing their wives with penknives. He was, as they say, His Own Man. But as I read the countless tributes and eulogies, I was reminded of a cultural shift that has been quietly happening for twenty-five years: the disappearance of major American writers who care about professional boxing. And while I realize this is mostly due to the decline of the sport itself, I suspect it also illustrates a social evolution that has more to do with technology than with typing or punching. At least stylistically, Mailer was the greatest boxing writer of all time, although he certainly had rivals (George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates among them). His obituary in Sports Illustrated reprinted his central pugilistic theory, which originally ran in Esquire in October 1993: "[Boxing] arouses two of the deepest anxieties we contain. There is not only the fear of getting hurt, which is profound in more men than will admit to it, but there is the opposite panic, equally unadmitted, of hurting others." This was the inevitable thesis for all of the Hemingway-influenced boxing writers. What made the sport transcendent was its relationship with the base qualities of being alive. There is nothing contextual about hitting another man, and there is nothing metaphysical about getting punched in the face. For most of the twentieth century, people who wanted to write about primordial reality wrote about fighting. But not anymore. It seems we have finally reached the point where modern Americans have no relationship with primordial reality whatsoever. As a result, nobody cares (or writes) about the metaphoric meaning of boxing. For most of my life, I have been obsessed with two specific athletes: Whoever was heavyweight champion of the world and whoever held the world record in the hundred-meter dash. To me, these individuals represented the competitive apex of the fight-or-flight impulse all humans possess. My interest didn't have much to do with what they were winning -- it was just the concept of a) the one guy who could beat up everyone, and b) the one guy who could run away from anything. There is nothing more visceral than that. Yet as I write this column today, it is difficult for me to remember either individual who currently holds those distinctions. I can't name the fastest man alive -- and I admit this as someone with an inordinate interest in track and field. If a track meet is on TV, I will actually sit in my living room and watch people run. When I was growing up, I viewed certain track personalities (Bruce Jenner, Edwin Moses, Florence Griffith Joyner) as authentically famous. But there has not been a true track superstar since Carl Lewis, and I doubt if there will be one again. The popular explanation for this is that steroids and blood doping have made sprinting a farce. However, I think what happened to track is the same thing that happened to boxing: It lost its abstract relevancy to life. What used to feel central now seems extraneous. Americans no longer need to run from -- or fight against -- anything. Ever. It is common to view the world as a dangerous place, and (obviously) it is. But not compared with the past. Canadian cognitive scientist Steven Pinker sometimes delivers a lecture titled "The Myth of Violence," in which he statistically shows how we currently inhabit the most peaceful era of human existence. Consciously, we've been moving in this direction since before the Age of Reason. But I think the subconscious realization of our rarefied physical security is just galvanizing now. In the aforementioned Mailer quote about boxing, he writes about the sport's relationship to fear -- the anxiety of hitting and the anxiety of being hit. He saw these fears as collective. When Muhammad Ali absorbed a left hook from George Foreman, both men were confronting a universal masculine phobia, and that's what Mailer loved. But that internal fear is gone. The fight-or-flight impulse still exists biologically, but it no longer has a purpose. What is the modern value of being a hard puncher or a fast runner? Virtually nothing. It might help you catch a bus. The only reason normal men lift weights is aesthetics: They want to look better in suits. Our society is preoccupied with terror, but we're generally not afraid of potential fistfights with neighbors; we are afraid of being attacked by machines. We worry about confrontations in which we have no real role. Contemporary nightmares exist outside of human physicality, so boxers no longer symbolize them. If Mailer were a college kid instead of a dead man, it would probably make more sense for him to write about Halo 3 than Roy Jones Jr. Society can no longer relate to the abhorrent purity of boxing. The last fighter who mattered was Mike Tyson, but that wasn't because fans understood who he was; it was because Tyson represented the final break between man and nature. He was so brutal and relentless that nobody viewed him as a regular human being. Journalists wrote about him like he was an animal. And that perception showed how the world had changed: It was no longer possible for the typical American to understand the experience of fighting. Tyson seemed important because we could not relate to him at all. Now, I realize all of this is (obviously) more good than bad. I certainly don't aspire to "relate" to Mike Tyson. I'm happy that avoiding physical confrontation has become so easy that I don't even have to think about it. But I wonder: If the decline of boxing is the product of civilization's detachment from physical fear, what is the accompanying downside? I think one possible answer might be a depressing brand of social overconfidence. It is impossible to deny that the culture is coarsening. Everyone concedes this -- even the people who are happy about it. It is now acceptable to say almost anything, about almost anyone, in a public space, and for no reason whatsoever. There is no line to step over, because such lines no longer exist. And I think those boundaries disappeared the moment people really, truly lost the fear of getting punched in the face. Americans have understood this intellectually for decades, but I don't think we accepted it in totality until now. Adults are now so insulated by technology (and so protected by modernity) that the possibility of a physical consequence for any action is a psychological nonfactor. We have removed interpersonal fear from day-to-day behavior. Today, boxers are the only people who get hit for fucking up. Whenever Norman Mailer encountered book critics, he would supposedly pop into a fighting crouch and put up his fists in a threatening display. When I first heard this anecdote, it struck me as juvenile and histrionic. It struck me as idiotic. But I'm sure it made perfect sense to Mailer. He was born in 1923. He still had the capacity to worry about somebody punching him first.

U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada plans to retire Charles ShuffordJan. 25 at Foxwoods Resort Casino

PROVIDENCE (January 14, 2008) – Strengthened by his devastating knockout of James Northey last October, 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada (10-1, 2 KOs) plans to knock his next opponent, former world heavyweight title contender Charles Shufford, into retirement after their January 25th 10-round, co-main event on “Champions of Tomorrow” at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The Las Vegas-based Shufford (20-7-1, 9 KOs), who fought Wladimir Klitschko for the WBO in 2001, holds victories against former world champion Lamon Brewster, Elieser Castillo and Jimmy Thunder. “Shufford’s going to be my biggest test to date and I love fighting at one of the best casino in the world, Foxwoods,” Estrada said. “It’s going to be a great show with a lot of talented fighters in action. Shufford’s very experienced. He’s beaten one world champion and been in with another. I just want to take advantage of this opportunity and make some noise in the heavyweight division. Shufford’s beaten a lot of good fighters but I’m going to retire him like I did to (Robert) Wiggins and (Najee) Shaheed. “This year I hope to stay injury free and get as many fights as possible. I’m working hard and only took a week off after my last fight. Actually, I was supposed to take a week off, but went back to the gym two days early. I worked through the holidays and started a new tradition, starting training at 11 PM on New Year’s Eve and being in the ring when the clock struck midnight. In 2008, I want to stay busy, win a regional title of some sort, and then take on a top 20 fighter. This is going to be my year.” Jason, 26, was one of the most highly decorated American amateur boxers ever, compiling an amazing 261-14 record, also becoming the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row. Highlights of his amateur career included representing the United States in the 2004 Olympics and capturing a gold medal at the 2003 Pan-American Games. During his illustrious amateur career, Estrada defeated some of today’s leading professionals including former world title challenger DaVarryl “The Touch of Sleep” Williamson (24-5, 20 KOs), unbeatens Malik Scott (30-0, 10 KOs) and Donnell “The Real Touch of Sleep” Holmes (28-0-2, 24 KOs), Malcolm “The Showstopper” Tann (23-4, 12 KOs), Felix “Bad News” Cora, Jr. (18-2, 9 KOs), and “Famous” Michael Simms (19-7-1, 13 KOs). Estrada recently opened his gym, “Big Six Boxing Academy” in Providence, and signed a new promotional contract extension with Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. “I want to help give kids off the streets with lots of energy like I was a place to go and learn how to box,” Estrada explained. “I hope to have 10-12 kids and eventually I’d like to have amateur fights there every other Friday night to start with like I had at the old Coventry where we had fights every Friday. We took care of some issues and I’m happy to still be fighting for CES.” “Champions of Tomorrow,” promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc., will be taped live and air on Saturday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. on CN8 and will also stream online at www.CN8.tv. Following the broadcast, the show will be available ON DEMAND to Comcast Digital Cable customers for at least one week. “Champions of Tomorrow” will also air on Cox Sports Television on February 1 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for “Champions of Tomorrow” are priced at $40.00, $65.00 (Silver), $100.00 (Gold) and $150.00 (Jimmy’s Platinum Club). Two VIP Presidential Suites are also available (call CES for details as well as sponsorship opportunities). To purchase tickets or for additional information contact CES (1.401.724.2253/2254 - www.cesboxing.com) or Foxwoods (1.800.200.2882/www.foxwoods.com). Doors open at 6 PM/ET, first bout at 7 PM/ET.