On February 10, 2012, the fix was in. Johnriel Casimero was flown over 11,000 miles and brought into Mar de Plata, Argentina to lose to Luis Lazarte, plain and simple. The Filipino's shocking upset of the hometown fighter, the subsequent riot, and the circumstances which led to the IBF banning Luis Lazarte for life were merely part of the snowball effect of a plan gone … [Read more...]
Boxing’s Public Enemies; Magno’s Monday Rant
Ever wonder why boxing results are either missing from most major newspapers and/or buried at the end of the sports section, somewhere between WNBA coverage and horse racing results? Ever wonder why you're more likely to see highlights of high school football than world championship boxing on Sportscenter? This should come as no surprise to hardcore boxing fans, but the … [Read more...]
Catching Rats in a Soup Pot; Magno’s Monday Rant
In my ten years in Mexico, I've learned lots of useful things, like how to eradicate my house of scorpions, black widow spiders, and lizards; how to deal with cartel thugs; and how to chase away ladies of ill-repute who want US papers. Rats, though, are another story. Earlier this week, I had one in my kitchen, looking for a place to nest. As a practicing Buddhist, my house … [Read more...]
Losing Fans and Erasing an Otherwise Wonderful Night of Boxing; Magno’s Monday Rant
Welcome to the Monday Rant, the only boxing column that is consistently cruel to the douche bags, shills, and carpetbaggers of our sport. Bear with me for a second, I have a point: It's Game One of the 1988 World Series, The LA Dodgers are down 4-3 in the 9th with the tying run on base as an injured Kirk Gibson limps up to pinch hit against Oakland A's closer Dennis … [Read more...]