The five time former welter and middleweight champ Emile Griffith finally hung up his gloves after over twenty years of worldwide glove tossing. I still have firm memories of the time I interviewed the ex champ, even with his being in the twilight of his career. That was the night that Emile Griffith started to look old. He was 32, he had held his own for ten rounds, and then he had wilted. In round 14, Monzon pinned him in a corner for two minute and subjected him to a heavy bombardment. Griffith wasn't seriously hurt, but it also didn't look like he would ever get out of that corner. So it was stopped. Monzon won by Tko14 and Griffith was a knockout loser for the second and last time in his career. That was when the retirement rumors began and I knew that Emile would never be champ again after that fight. And for the first of many times, he was “invited” to retire, the knowing ones insisting that since he would never get one more shot at a title, he shouldn't go on like Ray Robinson or others did, fighting I places like Pittsfield, Mass, and showing only an occasional flash. Well, as I continued to watch him, it was seven years later and the 39 year old Griffith had not retired. And he did not receive one more title shot...he received two. He had lost over fifteen rounds in a rematch with Monzon and over the same route for what then half of the junior middleweight title own by Germany's Eckhard Dagge. But it had been a moral victory. Many people, myself included, figured Emile as the winner in both contests. And he was undiscouraged by them. He had bad patches during the 1972-1977 years, especially when he lost three in a row during 1973-1974 to Monzon and contenders Tony Licata and Tony Mundine. Excerpted from Rng Boxing Magazine April 1978

EMILE GRIFFITH BOXING CAREER ON DVDS

CARLOS MONZON BOXING CAREER ON DVDS

In the year 1941, Joe Louis defended his heavyweight title seven times to prove himself a fighting champion. Thai lefty puncher Shengsak Muangsurin, 25 year old WBC junior welterweight titlist successfully defended his title for the sixth time in a year, as he pummeled Joseph Kimpuani, Zaire, into a gory mess and scored a 14^th round technical knockout before some 40,000 native fans The African challenger was a badly bleeding at the mouth at the time of the stoppage. The cut was opened in round five and was deepened to the bone by Shengsak's furious punching in the thirteen session. I the next round, the Italian referee had a TC physician examine the streaming gash and then awarded a TKO to the Thai champ. Even if Kimpuani had been allowed to go on fighting, he could not have scored a kayo over the tough Thai or be a points victor. Kimpuani, born in Zaire 28 years ago, had registered a winning streak chiefly in Dunkirk, Fran, and proved durable against Shengsak's continued attack as to refuse to go down. Only in the first round was Kimpuani clearly in command, tossing good sharp jabs. Muangsurin, a former kickboxer who copped the WBC crown in his third pro bout via an eighth round kayo over Perico Fernandez in 1975, turned aggressive from the third round on. The portsider often forced Kimpuani in to the corner to catch him with a barrage of punches. In round five shengsak smashed a wicked right to open up a cut at the challenger's mouth. The African kept bleeding as the contest progressed. The tide turned almost completely. Shengsak was furiously in command in every round thereafter. Though Kimpuani fought gamely with his neck and chest covered in crimson, the scrappy champ never softened his attack. From Rng Boxing magazine April 1978

SAENSAK MUANGSURIN BOXING CAREER DVDS

The night of January 7, this year that the Yugoslav boxing fan will rememer for all times. The light heavyweight title (WBC) changed hands. The clock reached 2:43 of the ninth round when a crashing Parlov left cross dumped Miguel Angel Cuello, Argentina, to the canvas where he lay on his stomach as if dead, not moving a muscle.

The world got a new claimant of the light heavyweight title. Mate Parlov became the first man in ring history from an eastern Euroepan socialist state to win a professioanl world championship.

Parlo had said to this Ring reporter over a year ago, “In any case I'll come out as the next light heavyweight champion of the world.”

The former contender kept his word.

One the day before the title fight, defending champ Cuello was proclaiming, “I'm going to destroy Parlov!”

But 29 year old ugoslav had a fair lead for the first seven rounds, scoring with his long right hand leads and periodial left job. Cuello started to come on in round seven, when Parlov was in trouble.

During the first five sessions the shorter Mexican seldom tossed positive rallies, but hit back well timed straight rights whenever Oguma stepped in with strong one twos at Canto's bread basket.

“Don't take that step!” shouted Cuello's countryman Carlos Monzon, sounding surprised. Monzon's warning was justified. Parlov opened up with a barrage of rights and lefts to the head in round nine, and down went the king before the 8,000 spectators in the Palasport. At the count of seven, Cuello made a desperate attempt to regain his feet, but he toppled again.

It was the first time in Cuello's pro career that he had been kocked out. Never beaten, the 31 year old Argentinian had had 21 bouts and 21 wins (20 by ko).

“I was faster. My jab was better,” explained Parlov, who scored his 11^th knockout in 20 victories with one loss and one decking in his professional career.

MIGUEL ANGEL CUELLO BOXING CAREER DVDS

CARLOS MONZON BOXING CAREER DVDS

Crafty Mexican Miguel Canto had a tough time in retaining his WBC flyweight crown for the eleventh time, as he barely won a split, hairline and controversial decision from lefty puncher Shoji Oguma of Japan over 15 hard fought rounds. There were no knockdowns, though the fighters traded plenty of sharp shots throughout the contest.

29 year old Miguel seemed a bit too confident in his training, because it was only 34 days ago that he unanimously outscored Martin Vargas, Chile, in Santiago to break Pascual Perez' record of nine consecutive defenses in the flyweight class.

From the opening moments Canto and Oguma commened the fireworks by tossing fast leads incessantly.

Southpaw Oguma, sent some good body shots to take the second Canto by a slight margin.

Canto, one of the most skillful boxers pound for pound fighting today, has never been a powerful hitter, as he has registered only 15 kayos ine 54 previous wins against three defeats for nine pro years; however Miguel's superb defensive ability is such that he cleverly averted Oguma's positive attack to fight in even terms from the third to fifth rounds.

Canto was perhaps studying Oguma's progress since their first encounter.

During the first five sessions the shorter Mexican seldom tossed positive rallies, but hit back well timed straight rights whenever Oguma stepped in with strong one twos at Canto's bread basket.

The sixth and seventh rounds were taken by Canto, who became a little active with swift right leathers, while Oguma was cautious to watch the defending champ's elusiveness.

In round eight the game flyweights exchanged hot rallies toe to toe to amaze the crowd that had thought Canto would stick to his favorite hit and run tactics. Oguma, who had finished 17 victims in 29 wins against five defeats, kept boring in round nine to take back the pace with continual combinations.

MIGUEL CANTO BOXING CAREER DVDS

SHOJI OGUMA BOXING CAREER DVDS

Two weeks to go for Marcos Maidana and according to his camp it appears that the Argentine is right on schedule for a peak performance on May 3^rd. Maidana, 35-3 with 31 knockouts, is a heavy underdog against the fighter most consider the pound for pound best in the world, Floyd Mayweather.

Maidana and Mayweather appear on Showtime's All Access which will premiere tomorrow, April 19^th.

His supporters point to the fact that Maidana successfully cracked the defense of Broner whose fighting stance is similar to that of Mayweather. Maidana, however, is astute enough to realize that Mayweather presents an entirely different array of problems. In an article on Boxingscene.com, he is quoted as saying that two boxers are different style and technique-wise. He notes that Broner's style is the same only when it comes to the defensive guard. "El Chino" is watching video on Mayweather and is preparing a strategy accordingly.

It has been noted that this is Maidana's first tussle on the big stage but he appears to be taking it all in stride. He concedes that this fight is bigger than any other fight he's had before but that it is all a part of going up in levels...stepping up from Victor Ortiz, to Amir Khan, Broner and now the big show with Mayweather.

“He's (Mayweather) not an extraterrestrial boxer or from another world, he's a common fighter,” said Maidana.

Maidana thinks that conditioning will be the key to victory in this bout and he is working with Alex Ariza. Ariza, who has been deemed as “shady” by his former employer Freddie Roach, stirred up some controversy during Maidana's fight with Broner after it was alleged that he used smelling salts in between rounds to give Maidana a boost.

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FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR BOXING CAREER ON DVDS

The Hands of Stone struck again as Roberto Duran emerged as the undisputed world lightweight champion in his battle against Esteban Dejesus at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas with a KO at 2:32 of the 12^th round.

Duran, the WBA champion from Panama and Dejesus the WBC champion from Puerto Rico met for the third time on a Don King promoted show aptly called “The Combat Zone.”

Dejesus, at 134, and Duran at 134 ½, are long time enemies. The two started their bitter battle on Saturday at the early morning weigh in when Dejesus took a swing at his opponent, and Duran countered with an attempted blow that was stopped by his trainers.

Their mutual hatred was evident from the opening bell of the title fight. Dejesus came out swinging, jabbing and hitting. Duran played a waiting game in the early rounds-a game that proved his mettle as world champion.

Dejesus took the early rounds as Duran circled around the ring countering with some vicious jabs to the body and head. Dejesus was staggered briefly when Duran pinned him against the ropes in the second round.

The third round saw the beginning of an all out brawl as Dejesus worked to Duran's head and the Panamanian countered with body blows.

Dejesus, who was smiling and confident through the third round, became somber and disoriented from the fourth round on. The former WBC champion suffered from a lack of timing. Numerous swings to Duran's head and body missed their target. Esteban began to wear down in the fourth round as he attmepted to dance away from Duran's battering.

Dejesus revived in the fifth round and managed some stunning rights to his opponent's head. Duran countered with brutal blows to the body, and the round ended with a wild exchange of punches against the ropes. Excerpted from Ring Boxing Magazine April 1978

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ESTEBAN DEJESUS BOXING CAREER ON DVD

It is T-minus eleven days for Australia's Alex Leapai as he prepares for his challenge against Wladimir Klitschko on April 26^th

The phrase “puncher's chance” is usually given to a fighter who is facing a more talented opponent but has enough kick in his punch to make it interesting. In most boxing circles, Leapai is not even given that...

Leapai sports a 30-4-1 record with 24 knockouts. His level of opposition as been nowhere near world class. Klitschko, on the other hand, is 61-3 (51 knockouts).

Leapai was a budding Australian rules football player before making the transition to the fight game. He'll be receiving $1.5 million dollars for his title challenge in what many believe will be a very short night's work...For Klitschko...Lepai, is undaunted and vowed to "bash" Klitschko when the two engage in ring center.

“To be honest,” Leapai said. “This one is not going the distance.”

I cannot imagine him going the full twelve rounds either. In looking at some of Leapai's footage I got the impression that he would be hard pressed to defeat Klitschko's sparring partners, let alone Klitschko himself.

But Klitschko is willing to give the press some obligatory lip service and praise his challenger.

“Leapai is the underdog fighting an experienced champion. I can compare him with Rocky,” Klitschko said with a straight face.

“Even though Australia is very far away from Europe where the fight is going to happen, I know how much Australians are supportive of Leapai.

“He is determined, he really wants to make it happen. I look forward to an exciting night.”