Alexis Arguello meant as much to boxing as Michael Jackson did to music. His legacy in the ring and for Nicaragua will be remembered for years to come.
But at least I'm not Drew Fickett.
The once highly regarded and very talented UFC fighter continues to struggle with just living a successful and respectful life. Back in 2005, MMA fans believed Fickett could be one of the top fighters in the welterweight division for years to come. His record was a sterling 34-5 and he had victories over top names such as Josh Koscheck and Kenny Florian.
Now Fickett can't even beat a Breathalizer test (or his opponents since he has lost seven of his last nine fights). But the latest downfall in his embarrassing career came recently after he failed a pre-fight physical when he showed up drunk. That's right, Fickett thought it would be OK to fight drunk.
I wonder why people scoff at the sport and compare it to bar fights. Maybe it's cause a fighter like Fickett is probably more drunk than people in an actual bar fight before he gets ready for competition. It could also explain why he has lost seven of his last nine fights.
I hope Fickett walks away from the sport, gets his life back on track and is able to find some happiness. But he really needs to leave the sport because it's embarrassing to the other fighters, promoters and fans who go to bat to try to defend the purity and sportsmanship of MMA.
But that opening rant was just meant to make me feel better about missing out on updating this blog about some big things that happened in the world of combat sports. I will just touch on two of the bigger stories.
The Ultimate Finale: Fight of the Year
Two big stories came out of the June 20 finale of season 9. One was that mixed martial arts in England is alive and well. Two members from Team UK took home the title of Ultimate Fighter.
Ross Pearson pulled off an upset against Andre Winner and looked tough, but I don't think he is talented enough to ever be a serious contender in the UFC. Likewise, James Wilks really shocked me with his dominant performance over DaMarques Johnson. Wilks displayed very good boxing and composure. He has the chance to keep improving into a fighter who could be tough to beat.
The real story was the classic fight between Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida in the main event. If you have never seen Guida fight, you need to. His cardio is out of this world and he never quits or slows down for anything. Sanchez ran right at Guida at the opening of the round and threw devastating combinations that rocked Guida and had him covering up.
As the round progressed, the fight moved to the center of the cage, where Sanchez landed one of the hardest kicks to the head I have seen and it dropped Guida, but in a moment that could only be described as a miracle, Guida bounced to his feet and kept going like nothing happened.
From then on, the fight was a war. Both men were bloody and bruised and pushed the pace for 15 minutes. At the end of the fight, Guida bounced up to his feet and ran around the cage with energy to burn. Sanchez took the split decision.
It was one of those special fights that only happen once or twice a year, so if you get the chance, check it out. It's what makes the sport so great. Look for Sanchez to challenge for the lightweight championship after the Kenny Florian/BJ Penn title fight.
The Loss of a Legend
The music world lost its biggest legend in Michael Jackson and boxing lost one of the greatest of all-time in Alexis Arguello. Unfortunately, I was too young to see Arguello in his prime when he boxed in the early '80s, but the stories and vinatge videos are legendary.
His fights against Ray Mancini and Aaron Pryor are some of the best ever. His fight against Pryor in Miami could very well be the best match ever. He was a champion in three different weight classes and was one round away from being the first man to be a champion in four.
Technically, he was brilliant. And what Muhammad Ali meant for Americans, Arguello meant for Nicaraguans. He was so politically active in fact, that assassination threats were a common occurrence for Arguello. He even became mayor of Managua.
He was a great ambassador for boxing and was best friends with Pryor, his bitter in-ring rival. A true class act in a violent sport. But like Michael Jackson, he had his demons. He struggled with drug addiction and went bankrupt, forcing him to come back for two matches in the early '90s.
The death is believed to be a suicide. He may never had conquered those demons, and its a tragic and sad end to an important life. But what he meant for boxing and Nicaragua will live on for years to come.
I am going to try to update this blog as often as I can, once again. I hope to succeed ... but if I fail ... well at least I'm not Drew Fickett.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment