If you’re flipping through the channel and happen across the introduction to a boxing match, and you hear the ring announcer introduce one of the combatants as “frrrrrrrrrrommmmm Colombia,” put down the remote control right away. You’re in for a show.
Saturday night’s thrilling one-round brawl, pitting new 140-pound belt-holder Kendall Holt against Colombian Ricardo Torres, may have left the former titlist crumpled in a heap, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that anytime a Colombian boxer steps in the ring, it’s a virtual lock that something sensational will happen. Somebody’s getting knocked out — the Colombian or the other guy. Let’s survey some recent highlights.
I already gushed enough about Holt-Torres II here, but check it out below for one of the wildest things you’ll ever see happen in a boxing ring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtu3rdh1I9c&hl=en&fs=1
Torres first captivated boxing audiences in another losing effort, giving current pound-for-pound great Miguel Cotto the fight of his life. But honestly, why wouldn’t you be a fan of Torres even though he lost a couple? Sure, everyone watches boxing in part to find out who the better fighter is. The other part? To be entertained. And I’m a fan of Torres whether he gets knocked out or does the knocking out. He almost had both Holt and Cotto. Check out the multi-part series for Cotto-Torres, the first part of which I’ve attached.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFMxU3cjsd8&hl=en&fs=1
Super middleweight (168 lbs.) Edison Miranda has caught some flack for talking smack and failing to deliver against elite opposition, but so what? Like a lot of good Colombian sluggers, he’s going to finish his man off fantastically or taste unconciousness trying. Here he is knocking out David Banks in a candidate for 2008 Knockout of the Year — another major candidate being Holt over Torres — then getting creamed in return by Arthur Abraham.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ddsvrNh3sc&hl=en&fs=1
Gee, you’ll never guess where Juan Urango, who scored another of the best knockouts of 2008, hails from. Could the 140-pound contender be from… I dunno… Colombia?
Another Colombian super middleweight, Alejandro Berrio, has the PERFECT record to illustrate this phenomenon: 28 wins with 27 knockouts, and five losses, all knockouts. This one from late last year looks like it hurt him, but note that, as in all these clips, the Colombian is exhibiting nothing like caution, and in fact is employing a delightful lack of regard for his own chin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk1j-0cM7LI&hl=en&fs=1
COLOMBIAN SLUGGERS! What’s not to like, buddy?
