Hamel Notes 3/23/00
Paul Dalrymple
March 23, 2000
BY LARRY HAMEL STAFF REPORTER
Chicago Sun-Times
The combatants might be unknown to all but the boxing cognoscenti, but the
fight game needs more matches like Michael Lerma vs. Mario Iribarren.
It's the kind of bout that was commonplace back in the ``good old days''
before sanctioning bodies proliferated to the point of lunacy and boxers and
their connections became reluctant to take even the slightest risk.
So who are Lerma and Iribarren? They're fighters on the cusp of bigger
things. The winner moves on; the loser stands precariously close to the
``opponent'' ranks.
Don't be surprised if a war breaks out between the two junior-middleweight
fringe contenders Friday night in the final sporting event to be held at
DePaul's Alumni Hall.
``We are so close to getting a break,'' said Gilbert Sanchez Jr., who has
trained Lerma, 26, since he was 8 years old. ``We know this isn't an easy
fight, but we hope a fight like this finally gets Michael over the hump.
He's at the same level [with the more recognized 154-pound contenders], he
just hasn't got the exposure.''
Lou DeCubas, the prominent Florida manager who handles Iribarren, went
straight to the bottom line: ``If my guy wins, it puts him in a position to
get paid.''
When Felix Trinidad beat David Reid to win one of the junior-middleweight
belts, then vacated his welterweight title, the 154-pound division suddenly
became more lucrative. In another high-profile junior-middle bout, Fernando
Vargas defends his title against Ike Quartey on April 15.
Those are big names, which could translate to HBO or Showtime paydays for
fighters such as Lerma (22-3, 17 knockouts) and Iribarren (23-2-1, 18 KOs).
``With so many world champions out there, they just chew up opponents,''
DeCubas said. ``Look at a guy like [Chicago junior welterweight] Rocky
Martinez. He fights to a draw against a guy who's 11-6 [Hicklett Lau], and
in his next fight, he's fighting for a world title on Showtime.''
Lerma, the younger brother of former contender Jaime Lerma, lost
controversially to Rafael Ruelas. His best victory was a split decision
against J.C. Candelo, who knocked out an undefeated prospect last week on
ESPN2. Iribarren, who defected from Cuba in 1997, has settled in at 154
pounds after a moving-up-in-weight loss to Syd Vanderpool. Local prospects
Germaine Sanders and Mike DiBenedetto are featured on the undercard of the
Alumni Hall show, promoted by 8-Count Productions. Bell time is 8 p.m.
Tickets are $50 ringside and $20 mezzanine. Call (312) 280-7905.
GOOD AS GOLD: It's rare to see female fighters slip punches at the
professional level, much less in the amateurs. That's why Amber Gideon of
Warrenville made such a favorable impression on boxing-savvy ringsiders who
watched her outpoint Amy Yuratovac in the 132-pound final Tuesday of the
Chicago Golden Gloves.
Gideon's head movement, deft footwork and straight punching were a beacon in
what was generally a dreary night of preliminary and semifinal fights at
Wrigleyville's St. Andrew's Gym.
``I've worked very hard on my technique,'' said Gideon, 29, a single mother
of two who began boxing in 1998. ``I don't want to be just another female
brawler. I want people to say that I'm a good boxer.''
Fans rewarded both competitors--Yuratovac fought well, too--with a rousing
ovation. After the fight, a steady stream of fans came up to Gideon to
compliment her on her skillful performance.
``I won [the Golden Gloves title] last year, but the feedback I received was
that I was way too wild,'' she said. ``My concentration in training has been
to fight under control. I've learned to punch straight, bob-and-weave, you
know, be a boxer.''
Gideon, who trains at Erik's Boxing Club, has had only eight amateur fights,
but she already looks more than ready to step up to the the next level.
``People were telling me last year that I should turn pro,'' she said. ``But
at that point I had had only two or three amateur fights, and I felt I
needed more experience.''
In a significant upset in the 201-pound men's open division semifinals,
David Pineda knocked down fellow Windy City Gym fighter Andrew Siwik twice
before winning on points. Siwik, the 1998 201-pound champion, was the
favorite in that weight class.
NOTES: The first of three America's Olympic Qualifiers begins Monday in
Tampa, Fla. Members of the U.S. team, including heavyweight Michael Bennett
of Chicago, will be attempting to assure themselves spots in the Sydney
Games. The tournaments are for boxers from North, South and Central America
and the Caribbean, excluding Cuba. Bennett's biggest threat among the eight
201-pounders in the draw is Canadian Mark Simmons.
* Bobby Hitz said the Odeum in Villa Park will be the site of a Telemundo
card on May 13. The lineup for the national-TV show, co-promoted by Hitz and
Cedric Kushner, has been revamped to feature Angel Hernandez vs. Santiago
Samaniego of Panama in a battle of power-punching junior middleweights.
Fernando Hernandez is a possibility for the other TV match.* Anthony Jones,
ranked No. 4 by the World Boxing Council, will defend his North American
Boxing Federation 154-pound belt against Jason Papillion on April 19 at the
Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
* Hitz Enterprises will distribute passes for an advance screening of the
boxing film ``Price of Glory'' Friday after 3 p.m. at Nana's Cafe, 7 W.
Kinzie. The screening is Tuesday night at 900 N. Michigan.
* Light heavyweight Montell Griffin and heavyweight Andrew Golota are
scheduled to appear on an April 22 card in Guangzhou, China. Griffin, 29,
said he was quitting after a controversial loss to Dariusz Michalczewski on
Aug. 28, but has ``unretired.'' He will meet Jose Luis Rivera (19-1). Golota
has been matched against Marcus Rhode. One hitch: Some insiders are
skeptical the China show will ever come off.
* Featherweight Antonio ``Chelo'' Diaz, who has made three appearances for
Chicago-based 8-Count, improved to 19-1 with a first-round knockout of
Pasqual Rouse (9-7-2) last week on a Don King show in Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Diaz is ranked No. 6 at 126 pounds by the World Boxing Organization.