Leading up to the latest Floyd Money extravaganza there were some quality fights staged in Vegas. The entire card I viewed was commentated on by Dave Bontempo [I probably destroyed his name.], who is one of the better boxing broadcasters out there. The card also stuck with the muscular black boxer versus tenacious Mexican boxer theme that has developed around Floyd’s dominance of this sport in its twilight. If not for Mexican beer sponsors boxing would be all but extinct. And Corona did provide some high quality ring card girls, so this old gringo is not complaining.

This was a welterweight rematch of a draw between former lightweight titlist Diaz, 33, with 40 fights, 8 losses and 24 KOs, and Porter, 25, a natural welterweight with 21 wins, 1 draw and 14 KOs. [I know the stats are not symmetrical but I was drinking beer.]

I always root for the Mexican fighters because they are utterly fearless. Unfortunately, Mexican fighters tend to have one of two stylistic issues which tend to drive the entire fight. Diaz typifies one, and Periban, profiled in the next Inside the Ropes entry ‘Trench Warfare’, exemplifies the other.

Although Diaz was taller and much thinner, he squared up and slammed body punches, barely throwing a jab in the entire fight, against a fire plug fighter a decade his junior. This was immensely stupid, but could not really be helped. Even though Diaz’ corner man told him “You have to get your distance back”, there is really no reprogramming a pressure fighter like Diaz at this stage in his career.

The problem is that Diaz is conditioned to fight under duress exactly as he did. The ages worked against it. The body types worked against it. But, against other skinny Mexican guys with hard heads this body punching war had made Diaz a champion in a lighter class. Diaz actually walked Porter down without even throwing a jab to wade back into the slugfest, as if he were some monstrous heavyweight squashing an uppity cruiserweight.

Porter put in a good tough Henry Armstrong type performance. I could not imagine him being in a shit fight. He is also a former wrestler. I hope he decides to try MMA. He was just as courageous as his opponent.

My only complaint about the fight was the control freak of a referee who called the fighters to stop about five times each round so he could pry them apart, even while they were throwing punches. That referee should have to fight James Toney in a sauna.

Porter got the decision he earned and hopefully he and Diaz well get a couple more good paydays. They’re worth it.