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Cory Spinks Victorious, Not There Yet, But On His Way
WED July 12, BUSTER PARIS - The final scores were 114-114, 115-113 and again 115-113 -- giving a majority decision to the NEW IBF Light Middleweight Champion of the World - Cory "Next Generation" Spinks (34 wins - 21 via knockout, 2 losses and 1 draw).
My card was a little closer with Cory winning 115 to 114 – I had Spinks taking rounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 and I had the 7th round a draw.
I’m not sure if Spinks needs to share his belt with Referee Mark Nelson, but maybe Nelson will get visitation rights … all right - maybe that’s a bit too harsh, but Nelson did make Cory’s night much easier by not letting any work get done on the inside.
Saturday night July 8th 2006 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, MO – Cory Spinks challenged the very tough Roman "Made in Hell" Karmazin (35 wins - 11 by ko and 3 losses) for the IBF Light Middleweight crown … and won.
It was actually an impressive performance for the Southpaw Spinks who was coming back from a fairly humiliating loss to Zab Judah a long 17 months ago (February 5 2005) where Cory lost all 3 of his Welterweight belts and titles via a TKO in the 9th round – and now coming back with his first attempt at fighting in the Light Middleweight division (154 lbs) which is only 7 pounds heavier to you and me, but to a fighter it’s a whole new world in terms of training and performance – and fighting a bigger and stronger opponent than you’re used to.
While Roman isn’t known as a big puncher he’s still one of the toughest and biggest guys Cory has ever faced – add to that the recent questioning of the quality of Spinks’ chin and it’s safe to assume that Cory’s in for a big fight.
And honestly – as the two warriors were being introduced – there was something extremely menacing and dangerous about witnessing a Russian fighter wearing THE Mexican punchers gloves - Cleto Reyes … like Jason (Friday The 13th) has his hockey mask and Mike Meyers (Halloween) has his mask and knife – so too does “Made in Hell” Karmazin have his tools of fear and destruction - a fire red pair of Reyes gloves …
The first round really set the tone and basic meter for the night. Spinks was very fluid and almost flawless in slipping punches. He was remarkably slithering rather stepping, popping the jab well and moving with style and seamless agility.
Karmazin on the other hand looked straight and stiff, carried his hands too low and looked somewhat frail and drawn compared to Cory – he reminded me of Mr. Burns (The Simpsons) in boxing trunks.
The big pattern of the night would be that they would both be getting off shots - Spinks would pop the jab beautifully and Roman would throw a fist, step in - and as he stepped Cory would lunge in with another jab and a straight left - and then they would clinch … and this is where referee Mark Nelson did harm against Karmazin.
Roman’s gift is to do serious damage once inside. Once he’s that close it’s his specialty to let his hands fly and pound away breaking his opponent down, but Nelson didn’t allow for this to happen – within a split second of any contact that wasn’t glove on flesh Referee Nelson would jump in and break them apart – he would even break them before a clinch could even be considered – I even think he broke them apart a couple of times when they would lock eyes…
Normally – this isn’t a big deal and a lot of times its a welcome procedure from a referee – think of any John Ruiz ‘hug-fest love-in match’ -- but in this fight it was way to premature, way to often and absolutely unnecessary.
However – to be fair, Roman could have adjusted his timing to do his inside work as they began to come together – which he did to a degree later in the fight - and did well.
That complaint aside Spinks simply out worked Karmazin in the first half of the fight and really showed us an example of what it is and means to be a slick fighter. He was so fluid, fast and flashy – but not flashy in that annoying ‘punk-like attitudey way’ – and he showed great skills, dexterity and hand and foot speed. He definitely proved that he is still a very good fighter on the cusp of becoming something great.
It was around the 7th round that Cory started to slow down and would continue to slow a tick with each round after that.
Roman almost fought the first half of the fight as if he was bare knuckle boxing again – not throwing many punches and hardly throwing anything to the body.
He did keep the competition close – it wasn’t a run away first half for Spinks and during and after the 7th round Karmazin began to step it up, let his hands go more - and even though he won (on my card) rounds 9 through 12 he was never able to capitalize or take advantage of moments or times he has Cory hurt – especially in the 12th when Spinks got on his bike and ran the entire round.
As the results were being read and the words “…and NEW…” exploded out into St. Louis Cory Spinks dropped to his knees, wailed and cried – his emotions were pouring out of him and his team was screaming “Redemption! - Redemption!”
It was a touching moment, but looking over my fight notes - at that time I didn’t feel this was redemption – looking back now as I write this - I kind of do – or want to, but still don’t.
You tell me – was this win redemption for Cory Spinks?
Now that he’s Light Middleweight Champ (very weird to say) – what’s next for “Next Generation” Spinks?
I don’t think he’s ready for the elite of the division – I don’t think he’s ready for the likes of “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas, Ike Quartey, Ricardo Mayorga or even Kassim Ouma – in spite of the fact that Ouma lost to Karmazin last year (July 2005)
Cory Spinks is getting there, but not there yet. He is boiling over with potential and on the cusp of greatness. He has the opportunity to become a fighter with the awesome combined skills of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Zab Judah -- lets hope he can stay focused, sharp and out of trouble once he sets foot outside of that squared circle.
Buster Paris can be reached at: bparis@talkingboxing.com - and always enjoys receiving your thoughts, comments and questions
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