Mark Twain once described the game of golf as "a good walk, spoiled." A paraphrase of the author's line might apply to the Thursday night fight card at the Isleta Casino in Albuquerque, N M. The program, put together by Rick Kulis and ably promoted by Fresquez Productions, featured three female boxing bouts, each compelling in divergent ways, showcasing six skilled and well matched women fighters and broadcast "live" on Fox Sports Network. It may not be an overstatement to aver that, given these elements, this event had the potential to be the best televised promotion for the sport of Women's boxing, ever. In reality, the event came close to that lofty goal, but, in the end, qualified only as "a great night, tarnished."

The main bout of the evening featured Holly Holm, the Albuquerque welterweight, once beaten in 19 bouts against Ann Marie Saccurato, the no-nonsense, all business fighter from White Plains, NY. It was a classic example of the boxing adage that contrasting styles make great fights. Holm, quick and silky smooth and Saccurato, bore in, straight ahead tough went ten rounds at a blistering, non stop pace that had the Fox Sports announcers, the very capable Barry Tompkins and Rich Marotta, singing both fighters' praises from opening bell through the full ten rounds. As each round progressed, these two veteran boxing observers accurately described how the tide of the fight changed, Holm's speed prevailing early, Saccurato's pressure tactics taking over during the middle rounds and Holm regaining an ever so slight edge as the final bell neared. Tompkins and Marotta agreed that Holm had won a close decision, by the narrowest of margins, in a wonderfully entertaining bout, and they were right.

The official decision confirmed the TV announcers' unofficial judgment and, following that denouement, Holly Holm performed her ritual backflip in the ring, a tradition for the Albuquerque boxer following big wins. Unfortunately, on this night, Holm's backflip was preceded by a decidedly less palatable gimmick, a "flipping of the bird" by the ringside judges to the boxing fans on TV and those objective fans in the crowd at the Isleta Casino. Inconceivably, three New Mexico boxing officials at ringside, who had, to all outward appearances, been closely observing this bout, adjudged Holm the winner by a ludicrous count of 98-91, 98-91, 97-92. Three New Mexico boxing officials watched a back and forth fight in which both fighters controlled the pace and momentum at given times and then these "three wise men" proclaimed that Ann Marie Saccurato won only two of ten rounds (Saccurato was penalized a point midway thru the bout, justifiably in the judgment of the TV announcers, for holding and hitting) on two cards and possibly three rounds on the third card. Three New Mexico boxing officials cast a "tarnish" over what might have been a historically successful night for the sport of Women's boxing.

Holly Holm deserved the win. She did not, however, deserve the win by the landslide margin the final decision conveyed. Look at that decision in three weeks, three months or three years and one will think, "easy win for Holm." Nothing could be further from the truth. Saccurato was the aggressor the entire fight. Holm, with her dazzling speed and quickness, seemed capable of parrying Saccurato's pressure tactics for the first half of the bout, but, clearly, in the last five rounds, Holm's speed was increasingly negated by Saccurato, who found it easier to stay on top of the Albuquerque fighter and, as a result, Holm clearly adopted a strategy designed to hang on to an early lead in the second half of the bout. It is valid to point out that the ringside judges were "in person" observers and the above opinion is encumbered with the filter of television. I'd rejoinder by pointing out that Barry Tompkins and Rich Marotta were not watching the bout through a televised filter and I would be shocked if either of those observers had a scorecard anywhere near those rendered by the three ringside officials.

It may also be validly argued that, although the numbers failed to reflect the closeness of the bout, in the end, the right fighter got the decision. Fair enough, but the message, that a lop sided decision in a close bout sends is that any fighter, in the future, who is contemplating traveling to Albuquerque to fight Holly Holm cannot possibly avoid the thought, as she is walking towards the ring, "am I already two rounds down on the scorecards?" Overstated rhetoric? I hope so, but based on the fight on Thursday night at the Isleta Casino and the judgment rendered by three New Mexico boxing officials, it's a scenario that is, unfortunately, at least semi-realistic.

Holly Holm is a terrific fighter. So is Ann Marie Saccurato. Not surprisingly, they put on a great ten rounds of boxing on Thursday and it's a shame that those ten rounds were tarnished by flawed ringside judges and even worse judgment. Holly Holm has stated that she's willing to "go outside New Mexico" for bouts. She repeated that pledge on the Fox telecast. She hasn't done it yet, but now's the time. Las Vegas, Madison Square Garden, any place would be the right place for another ten rounds of Holly Holm and Ann Marie Saccurato. There really isn't a wrong place for these two fighters and a return bout. Well, maybe one, but, hopefully, that lesson has been learned. Bernie McCoy

 

#          #          #          #

For Online IWBHF Tickets for Next Event!

Check Our Next Annual International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame Event that we have to celebrate hour IWBHF Inductees and Special Award  Recipients!  Next Event, Go Here!

Our Online WBAN/IWBHF Online Store

Proceeds from the Online Store is to continue our mission to support the INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S BOXING HALL OF FAME. The Official collection includes IWBHF and WBAN Merchandise and Memorabilia from the WBAN Boxing Collection. We will continue to list items from the collection and merchandise.