Tag: Marcos Escudero

Good, bad, worse: Joe George gave fans what they crave

Joe George gave fans a precious gift against Marcos Escudero on the Angelo Leo-Tramaine Williams card Saturday, a highlight-reel knockout.

GOOD

Joe George looked so-so at best for eight-plus rounds in his rematch with Marcos Escudero on the Angelo Leo-Tramaine Williams card Saturday.

The light heavyweight from Houston spent far too much time with his back against the ropes, where Escudero teed off. He generally threw punches one at a time, not in combination. And he was generally outworked by his Argentine rival, who led on two cards after eight rounds.

Indeed, things looked bleak for George as the bell rang to start Round 9.

Then, in one of those eye-popping moments unusual to combat sports, Escudero ducked under a right hand from George and was nailed by a perfect left uppercut that put him on his back and rendered him semiconscious.

Fight over. Viral video born.

The knockout is one of the most brutal elements of boxing. It’s also one of the most thrilling and dramatic, a violent reminder that any fight can change in an instant when a fist traveling at a high rate of speed finds its target in just the right way.

Few would’ve been talking about the George-Escudero fight had it gone the distance, except perhaps one unexplainable card (see below). As it was, George stole the first post-lockdown Showtime-PBC show with his mighty blow.

For most fans, it was boxing at its most appealing.

BAD

Marcos Escudero (right) seemed to outwork Joe George for eight-plus rounds but one judge didn’t see it that way. Amanda Westcott / Showtime

Sometimes you see or hear the scoring of a particularly fight and think, “huh?”

That was the case when the scores of the George-Escudero fight were announced. Don Trella and Steve Weisfeld had Escudero winning 79-73 and 77-75 after eight rounds, which reflected what happened in the ring. I had it 78-74 for Escuedro.

The third judge, Tom Carusone of Connecticut, had George leading 79-73, or seven rounds to one. George landed some eye-catching power shots and blocked most of the punches directed his way when his back was against the ropes.

Still, giving Escudero only one round was out of whack. The Argentine took the fight to George from beginning to end. He threw and landed many more punches than George did, which is the name of the game.

At worst, if he give George every single benefit of the doubt, a draw wouldn’t have been criminally outrageous. Seven rounds to one? No way.

Fortunately, Carusone’s scoring had no impact on the result. George took care of that. However, any highly questionable scoring should be a red flag.

I hope authorities in Connecticut review Carusone’s card with him, ask him how he arrived at 79-73 in favor of George and then take these steps: explain to him where he went wrong, require that he attend a refresher course on scoring and keep a close eye on him.

Honestly, I don’t want to be too hard on Carusone. Maybe it was just a bad night. At the same time, such scoring is damaging to the sport.

WORSE

Stephen Fulton put up a good front but he had to be crushed that he was unable to fight on Saturday. Emilee Chinn / Getty Images

I keep thinking about Stephen Fulton.

The talented 122-pounder was set to fight Angelo Leo for a vacant title in the main event Saturday on Showtime. Instead, after testing positive for COVID-19, he could only watch from a distance as Leo outpointed Tramaine Williams to realize his dream – and that of Fulton – of becoming a world champion.

Fulton put up a good front. He was all smiles and seemed to be taking his fate in stride during an interview on the Showtime telecast, but he had to be hurting.

He had to watch the fight and think, “I should be in there.” And when a jubilant Leo had his hand raised, “That should be me.”

Remember that fighters become obsessed with winning shiny championship belts from the moment they walk into the gym for the first time. And it was within Fulton’s reach … until a virus stepped in.

Fulton, only 26, is in position to challenge Leo for his new title. At least that’s the intention of the WBO, which designated the No. 1-ranked contender its mandatory challenger and gave the Leo-Williams winner 180 days to fight him.

If that happens, if Fulton gets his shot within six months, then the missed opportunity could end up being a blip in his career. One never knows, though. A lot can happen in 180 days to postpone his opportunity again.

Let’s hope that he and Leo reach an agreement to fight soon and actually step through the ropes. Fulton has earned that.

[lawrence-related id=12445,12316,12432,12501]

[vertical-gallery id=12459]

Video: Joe George’s one-punch KO-of-the-year candidate

Joe George stole the first post-lockdown Showtime-PBC card Saturday night with one punch.

Joe George stole the first post-lockdown Showtime-PBC card Saturday night with one punch.

The light heavyweight from Houston was losing to Marcos Escudero on two of three cards in the ninth of 10 scheduled rounds in their rematch when he landed a left uppercut to the chin of the Argentine, who fell flat on his back and had no hope of getting up.

At the time of the stoppage, Escudero, who had outworked George, was leading 79-93, 77-75 and 73-79. Judge Tom Carusone’s 79-73 card for George is difficult to explain.

George (11-0, 7 KOs) defeated Escudero (10-2, 9 KOs) by a controversial split decision in November.

“I was setting him up with the jab to the body and had him leaning over a little,” George said. “I wanted him to get relaxed and that’s exactly what he did. He was relaxed, I slipped over and shot it. Really, he gave it to me and I had to take it and put him down.”

Escudero ducked a right hand from George. At that moment, with his head low, George landed the fight-ending shot.

The fight took place behind closed doors at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

Watch Joe George deliver a massive uppercut to knock out Marcos Escudero

Holy cow.

Joe George was trailing in scoring on two of the judges’ cards when he entered the 10th round against Marcos Escudero at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. But Escudero (10-2, 9 KOs) made a critical mistake, getting too “relaxed” in that final round, according to George, who delivered an uppercut that ended the fight in dramatic fashion.

George (11-0, 7 KOs) sent Escudero flying backward to the mat, and he couldn’t find his feet before the referee called the fight. It was a tremendous strike from George, who had been dealing with Escudero’s impressive power throughout the match. George’s strength, however, proved the winning force.

Here’s a look at the punch that won the match.

What a stunning finish.

[vertical-gallery id=937361]

Joe George scores one-punch KO of Marcos Escudero

Joe George stopped Marcos Escudero with one punch in Round 9 of their scheduled 10-round light heavyweight fight Saturday.

One punch can change the trajectory of a fight in an instant. Ask Marcos Escudero.

The Argentine seemed to be on his way to a one-sided decision over Joe George on the Angelo Leo-Tramaine Williams card Saturday in Uncasville, Conn., when, in the final seconds of Round 9, George landed a left uppercut that put Escudero flat on his back and ended his night.

The official time of the stoppage was 3:00.

George (11-0, 7 KOs) defeated Escudero (10-2, 9 KOs) by a controversial split decision in November, the most-recent fight for both men.

On Saturday, in a scheduled 10-round light heavyweight bout, Escudero outworked George from the opening bell, pounding his body and head as George rested with his back against the ropes much of the fight.

Not all the punches got through but more than enough did for Escudero to control the fight.

George had his moments before the dramatic ending, landing a sharp jab and some power shots, but he generally threw one punch at a time and was on the defensive most of the way.

The end came out of nowhere. Escudero ducked under a right hand. At the moment, with his head low, George uncorked a perfect left uppercut that launched Escudero onto the canvas and hurt him badly.

He didn’t come to close to getting up.

Just like that, George turned what seemed to be a bad night into a knockout of  the year candidate and a spectacular victory. Not a bad start for the first card on Showtime in months.

 

Trainer Kevin Cunningham to reopen his gym in Florida on Monday

Trainer Kevin Cunningham said he plans to open his gym in West Palm Beach, Florida to his fighters on Monday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis decision to designate professional wrestling an “essential business” seemed to open doors a crack for boxing. And trainer Kevin Cunningham is walking in.

The Camp Cunningham Gym in West Palm Beach will reopen to Cunningham’s fighters on Monday as the state loosens some of the restrictions that grew out of the coronavirus threat, according to BoxingScene.com.

“The Governor has given professional sports and athletes the green light to go back to work in Florida,” Cunningham told BoxingScene. “My gym is a private gym for professional fighters. So we meet the essential services criteria.

“Camp Cunningham gym will be open Monday. I can’t wait to get my guys back to work.”

Cunningham works with Andre Dirrell, Marcos Escudero, Erickson Lubin, among others.

A World Wrestling Entertainment event took place early this month at its own facility in Orlando. Otherwise, all sports have been shut down in the United States and much of the world.

Some beaches in Florida have reopened the past few days.

Alberto Palmetta stops Erik Vega with wild flurry in final round

Alberto Palmetta ended a close fight with a wild flurry in the 10th and final round Friday night in Sloan, Iowa.

Alberto Palmetta evidently didn’t feel it was wise leave his fate in the hands of the judges.

Palmetta and Erik Vega were engaged in a competitive welterweight fight when, in the 10th and final round, Palmetta scored a dramatic technical knockout Friday night in Sloan, Iowa on Showtime.

Palmetta, a 2016 Olympian from Argentina, got off to a quick start and dictated the pace most of the fight. He was the more accurate puncher and seemed to slip many of his Mexican opponent’s best shots.

Vega (16-1, 9 knockouts) came on in the middle rounds, as he stood his ground more than he had been and got busier. The fight was close going into the final rounds.

In the end, Palmetta (13-1, 9 KOs) didn’t know it but he didn’t need a knockout in the 10th to win the fight. He was leading 87-84 on two cards and 86-85 on the third; all he had to do was win the round.

Erik Vega (right) couldn’t withstand an onslaught of punches from Alberto Palmetta in the final round. Greg Mandel / Showtime

However, perhaps the fate of countryman Marcos Escudero in the co-feature entered his mind or that of trainer Charles Mooney, who also worked Escudero’s corner. Escudero seemed to outwork opponent Joe George but lost a split decision.

So when Palmetta stunned Vega to some degree with a short right early in the final round, he followed with unrelenting barrage of largely unanswered punches that forced referee Mark Nelson to stop the fight.

The official time was 1:03 of the round.

With the victory, Palmetta, 29, took a significant step toward becoming a contender. The 24-year-old Vega, a significant prospect going into the fight, will have to work on deficiencies.

In the co-feature, a 10-round light heavyweight bout, Escudero (10-1, 9 KOs) came out firing at the opening bell and never stopped throwing, outlanding George (10-0, 6 KOs) roughly 2-1 in punches. The Argentine routinely forced George against the ropes, where the winner was content to cover up and take punches.

George had his best moments when he had space to work in the middle of the ring but he didn’t have the opportunity often, as Escudero controlled distance for most of the fight. In other words, he imposed his will on George.

That’s why Boxing Junkie scored it 97-93 – seven rounds to three – in Escudero’s favor. The official scores: Two judges scored it for George (97-94 and 97-93), one had it for Escudero (96-94).

Marcos Escudero (right) seemed to do enough to beat Joe George but the judges saw it differently. Greg Mandel / Showtime

Escudero definitely was busier than George. Perhaps the two judges who scored it for the winner gave the loser little credit for the punches he threw when George was against the ropes because they believed he landed mostly on his gloves and arms.

And maybe they thought George landed the bigger shots. He seemed to stun Escudero with a right hand in the ninth round, arguably the biggest punch in the fight, but he couldn’t follow up as Escudero held on until he recovered. When he did, he went back to outworking George.

And, in a scheduled eight-round middleweight fight, Amilcar Vidal Jr. (10-0, 9 KOs) stopped Zach Prieto (9-1, 7 KOs) with one second remaining in the opening round.

Neither fighter had dominated the first few minutes when, in the final seconds, Vidal landed a left hook-upper cut that put Prieto down and hurt him. The product of Las Crucez, New Mexico was able to get up but went down again under a barrage of hard shots, prompting the referee to stop the fight.

Videal, from Uruguay, was making his U.S. debut.

Joseph George follows lead of a pro, manager/NFL tackle Trent Williams

Joseph George has the amateur background, work ethic and guidance of NFL player Trent Williams as he pursues success in boxing.

Light heavyweight prospect Joseph George has always thought big. Trent Williams, George’s manager and an All-Pro offensive tackle in the NFL, has made it big. Maybe that’s why they make a good team.

About a decade ago George was a walk-on basketball player at Temple College, a small school near Austin, Texas, with dreams of playing in the NBA but he stumbled upon something – literally – that he decided would provide a more direct path to a career as an athlete. The 19-year-old passed the Cougar Boxing Gym in Temple every day on his way to classes and decided, without so much as a training session behind him, that he would walk through the door and become a boxer.

Today, George, 30, is preparing to fight Marcos Escudero in a 10-round bout Friday on Showtime.

“I could never have imagined this,” he told Boxing Junkie. “I used to watch guys like Floyd Mayweather on TV. I thought you had to be superman to take on those challenges and conquer them.

“I did believe in myself, though. And as time passed, with a lot of hard work and the opportunities that presented themselves, here we are. I still can’t believe it.”

Joseph George (right) has benefited from the guidance of manager and NFL player Trent Williams the past several years. George fights Marcos Escudero on Friday. Dave Mandel / Showtime

George (9-0, 6 knockouts) said he sparred that first day in the gym and held his own, using his quickness and athleticism – “and I mimicked what I saw Mayweather do” – to not only survive but impress onlookers.

The native of Houston soon had a trainer, took part in his first fight in 2010, became a good enough amateur to compete in the U.S. Trials for the 2016 Olympics and finally turned professional that year.

So where does Trent Williams come in?

A fellow boxer and friend of George invited him to work out at a gym – the O Athletik – owned by Williams and NFL running back Adrian Peterson in Houston, a few hours southeast of Temple. There he met the man who would become his trainer to this day, James Cooper, and join forces with Williams.

Cooper, who learned the trade under the likes of Don Turner and Emanuel Steward, took one look at George in the gym and thought, “Where has this kid been?” That was his way of saying that the clever, hard-working boxer-puncher with the strong amateur pedigree could ultimately become something special.

Williams, just starting to build a stable of fighters, thought the same thing. And he knew what he was seeing.

The fourth overall draft pick of the Washington Redskins in 2010, who grew up in east Texas, has been a fan of boxing for as long as he can remember. And he boxed in the gym himself during the NFL off season beginning in 2011, mostly to stay in shape, which impressed George. That’s when the football player began to cross paths with fighters, both boxers and mixed martial artists, and decided to open the gym.

“I just always gravitated toward it,” he said.

George (right) has impressed Williams with his mental toughness and worth ethic. Dave Mandel / Showtime

Williams was impressed with George’s ability and approach to the sport, particularly because he understands the demands of a professional boxer. He contemplated boxing professionally himself but quickly thought better of it.

“What makes Joe who he is is his work ethic, his determination,” Williams said. “He’s fearless, a different breed. You don’t come across guys that mentally strong too often, even in the sport of boxing.

“That’s what separates him from others. I think he’s going to open a lot of eyes on Friday.”

George also thinks the world of Williams, who is a manager, friend and role model all wrapped into one.

Williams has had a difficult year. He demanded to be released and has held out this entire NFL season over the way the Redskins medical staff handled a growth on his head that turned out to be cancerous and was recently removed. He first reported the growth in 2013 but, he claims, he was told repeatedly that it wasn’t serious.

You’d never know that Williams is in any kind of anguish, though, according to George. The grace with which he has handled this challenge and his upbeat demeanor has served as a valuable example for George.

“I learned that no matter what happens in life, it’s important to remain a solid person,” he said. “You remain a genuine person and let God handle the rest. Everything will fall into place. That’s what I think every time I see him smiling, every time he has something positive to say. He’s a great mentor.”

Of course, a great mentor needs a great student. This team seems to be built for success.