Realcombatmedia.com Round of the Year: Kirkland vs Angulo

By: Boxing Writer Tony Stewart

Jan 7, 2012

 

According to Isaac Asimov “when an immovable object meets an irresistible force there is a continuous exchange of energy.” When James Kirkland and Alfredo “Perro” Angulo met in the ring on November 5, 2011, in Cancun, Mexico, that is exactly what we got–a continuous exchange of combustible energy. While neither guy was seen as the absolute elite of the Junior Middleweight division, they were nevertheless highly regarded as credible and very dangerous opponents.

Both men were spirited power punchers possessing a come-forward only attitude more intent on dispatching their opponents with every punch rather than out boxing them. If you combined their records together over the past 7 years, neither man has had a fight conclude by going the distance.  Kirkland, after serving nearly 2 years in prison and rebounding from a first-round knockout loss to a light-hitting opponent and reuniting with his former trainer, Anne Wolfe, was now standing opposite one of the most avoided men in the sport, Alfredo Angulo.

Very seldom do fights have this level of action and bravery and even more seldom is the first round fought with as much conviction and passion as these two men had. This round had shades of the first round clash between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns for the middleweight title in the mid 1980s which has been considered the most savage first round in boxing history. While neither Kirkland nor Angulo are equated with the aforementioned greats, their fight was one for the record books–as entertaining as it was destructive.

From the opening bell these fighters were not interested in feeling each other out, but instead met in the center of the ring throwing blistering punches determined to get the respect of their opponent immediately. Kirkland pressed his attack driving Angulo backwards from the outset, something rarely seen in Angulo’s fights. With his back against the ropes and avoiding a fusillade of punches Angulo landed a flush right hand to the chin of Kirkland sending him crashing to the canvass as the crowd roared in approval, chanting “Perro” for their hometown hero. After receiving a standing 8 count, the action resumed this time with Angulo pressing his attack driving Kirkland to the ropes by sending his own fire down intent on knocking Kirkland out for the second time in his career. James avoided many of the shots with his gloves and good upper body movement but was still getting tagged, looking unsteady and trying to answer back with punches of his own. He was unable to connect with anything substantial to stave off the flurry of punches from Angulo as referee Johnny Callas hovered close by ready to jump in to halt the action.

A break came moments later as Angulo made a costly mistake in trying to knock Kirkland out. He had worn himself out, providing the opening James needed, and the tide swung again. James began pounding Angulo to the face and body with rights and lefts, hooks and uppercuts driving him to the ropes. Angulo fought back trying to hold him in an attempt to avoid the massive shots from an adrenaline-charged Kirkland but was unable to resist the sheer force being applied. With an uppercut right-hook combination Angulo sprawled onto the canvass for the first time in his career. Badly hurt and incredibly exhausted, Alfredo rose up from that murderous assault to beat the count. A moment later the bell sounded and round one ended.

James Kirkland would go on to defeat Alfredo Angulo in the 6th round by technical knockout improving his record to 30 wins, 27 by KO with only one defeat. He erased the memory of that horrendous loss by dismantling a very game and powerful puncher in Alfredo Angulo in emphatic fashion. For his part Angulo dropped to 20 wins, 17 by KO, and now his second loss. Even in defeat he showed true heart and toughness, an inspiring quality fight fans love to see and admire in their champions.

I picked Kirkland to win this fight, and even though he got the official nod, everyone won that night. The two combatants for putting on such a sizzling performance, the fans who were hungering for this kind of contest and most of all the sport of boxing because it needed this kind of electrifying fight and it got it in spades.

Real Combat Media and it’s writer’s voted on Kirkland vs Angulo Round 1, to be the winner of our award for Round of the Year. The reader’s of Real Combat Media also voted for Kirkland vs Angulo to be Round of the Year in our year end fans poll award.

 

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