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Chris Cozzone: 2006 not kind to local boxers

By Chris Cozzone
Friday, December 22, 2006

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It's that time of year when I normally shout "bah humbug" and push aside the holiday cheer to complain a bit.

But looking back on 2006, it's difficult to play the sarcastic Grinch of boxing.

For the first time in years, there were no obvious hometown decisions. Out-of-state opponents were able to breathe a little easier in 2006 while awaiting the verdict in the ring.

Just ask Mexico's Jose Luis Cardenas (5-7-1, 3 KOs), who edged out Espa¤ola's Tony Valdez (6-3-2, 6 KOs) for a majority decision in Valdez's hometown in July.

Or Mexican Roberto Valenzuela (38-28-2, 34 KOs), who, on the same card, was given the TKO victory over Vicente Garcia (13-5, 9 KOs), whose eye had closed from a punch.

Or David Marquez (3-3-1) of Fort Morgan, Colo., who, in August, gave Albuquerque's Joe Cruz (2-1, 1 KO) his first loss. Marquez said he knew he'd won, but told the crowd he didn't think he'd get the decision in Albuquerque.

Score one for the judges in New Mexico. Another couple years like this and we might actually lose our bad rep.

If only 2006 had been as kind to New Mexicans fighting on the road.

In September, in Tacoma, Wash., Duke City strawweight Jodi Esquibel (4-1, 2 KOs) had to eat her first loss when hometown judges awarded what should have been an easy decision for her to local Melissa Shaffer (9-4, 5 KOs). Even local media gave Esquibel three out of four rounds.

Tonia Cravens (2-5-1, 1 KO) of Albuquerque had a rocky year, losing four out of four out-of-towners. But local reports - and a crowd that booed for nearly ten minutes - suggest her fight with local favorite Heather Percival (9-4, 1 KO) last April in Highland, Calif., should have gone the other way.

Duke City light heavyweight Max Heyman (21-9-4, 13 KOs), might have been ripped off in Vegas when he fought Rubin Williams (29-2, 16 KOs) for a minor belt.

While the aforementioned fights were not personally witnessed, two out-of-town robberies were. It shows that mixed martial arts are not immune to bad decisions.

In April, UFC contender Keith Jardine (11-2-1) lost a highly-disputed decision to favored-to-win Stephan Bonnar (9-4) on a Spike TV-televised show in Las Vegas, Nev. Jardine easily won two of the three rounds and had Bonnar about ready to drop when the bell signaled the end of the fight.

In July on a UFC card in Vegas, Albuquerque's Dan Christison (8-4) was robbed of a decision over former champ Frank Mir (9-3).

Everyone else fighting on the road, and losing, appeared to be on the level - more or less.

Here in New Mexico, a few debatable outcomes come to mind:

I thought Joe Gomez (9-1-1, 3 KOs) of Bloomfield won his six-rounder against El Paso's Bobby Joe Valdez (9-3-2, 4 KOs), four rounds to two. The fight was ruled a draw. The high-action six-rounder in January between Duke City females Yvonne Chavez (3-4-1, 2 KOs) and Tonia Cravens should have gone Cravens' way instead of a draw.

While gift decisions are one thing, gift fights are another and too many boxers failed to fight quality opponents. I'd like to see that change.

I also like to see in 2007:

More people at fight cards.

Incentives - like a reduction in entertainment tax - for promoters to bring more fight shows to New Mexico.

A tax break for new promoters who want to hold cards on city or state-funded venues.

And more talent, maybe another Johnny Tapia.

It's not so much to ask, is it?