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Cozzone: Local fight scene battles on despite loss of coverage

By Chris Cozzone
Friday, September 7, 2007

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With the end of the fight in sight - the likely shutting of The Tribune's doors - it is with great regret that today's column will be the last one for this punchy pen pugilist.

Unless the referee keeps on counting, or the number of rounds swings back to 15, it's looking like a loss by technical knockout in the 12th and final round.

But heck, I don't mind standing up for one more knockdown.

I'm speaking metaphorically, of course, for this writer in his dabbling of the leather-tossing game beyond the safe confines of pen and computer has never been able to do well within the squared circle. At least, not against anyone who has speed beyond sloth and skills beyond the average 8-year-old signing up for his first boxing lesson.

A few punches and a couple of out of breath rounds is all it takes to develop a world of dumbfound respect for the warriors of the sport to which I've been dedicated to the past seven years.

Hopefully, despite the occasional use of terms like "tomato can" and "professional opponent," (a necessity in a sport rife with mismatches), some of that respect has shown through in my four-plus years of columns for The Albuquerque Tribune.

When I agreed to write a weekly boxing column, my chief goal was to give the local fight scene a bit of respect and much-needed recognition.

By the increase in the number of pro fighters and fight cards in recent years, I know this column has, in some small way, contributed to its success. And I know I'm not the only one who is grateful that The Trib has swept clean a space in Friday's sports section for this column these past few years.

Tribune Reporter

and could close if no buyer is found in the near future. If so, then it is yet another blow to local boxing, though it is one that must be taken well on the chin. A reduction in coverage is never a good thing.

But it's far from over - with all the local talent, there is reason to believe New Mexico is at the start of yet another successful cycle, another big upswing.

That's a good thing.

Too much sweat goes into this sport, and too much blood has been spilled over the years for Duke City's boxing scene to dwindle away, or die.

It is with that sentiment that I close my boxing series.

From one fight fan to another, I ask that you continue your support for a sport that has, since the 1880s, been as much of an institution in the Duke City as The Tribune.

Go to the fights.

Resist your Laz-E-Boy and see the sport that is meant to be seen: live. Support your local fighters - pro and amateur, boxing and mixed martial arts.

Keep up on the sport.

My column may be getting the 10-count, but I'm not going anywhere. Since 2000, I've maintained the Web site NewMexicoBoxing.com, with daily updates and complete coverage of fights from all corners of the state, as well as Juarez and El Paso.

You can also catch my work on Fightnews.com when I'm out of town in Las Vegas, Nev., or Los Angeles, covering national fights.

In one more self-serving plug, I also want to let it be known that I will be wrapping up research on a project on the history of boxing in New Mexico that I've been working on for more than two years. A book project, started by the late Jim Boggio in the 1990s, was passed on to me in 2005 and I'm happy to say that completion is in sight.

If The Trib finds a way to carry on I'll be back in the ring, penning my Friday column.

If not, well, I hope to see you at the fights.