By Austin Killeen – Photos by Tom Hogan – GoldenBoy Promotions (Click on photos to enlarge)

Since I started writing about New Mexico boxing in 2011, no male fighter has captured the hearts of boxing fans in Albuquerque more than “The Atrisco Kid.” When a boxer fights his way to main event status, his career becomes a hire wire act. With each win the boxer is expected to perform each succeeding event at a more dangerous level. The wire is raised and has less slack; the safety net is removed and the balancing pole is no longer used. As a result when the boxer is KO’d, the fall is even greater. Last night on television Fidel Maldonado lost his balance and took a great fall. Looking on Facebook thirty minutes later, over sixty fans had already sent messages of love and support. So I guess there was a safety net after all. Win or lose Maldonado will always be loved by his supporters.

In preparation for the Barroso bout, Maldonado was surrounded by a brain trust who devised a game plan for success. Additionally, sparring partners were brought in who could test him to his limits in preparation for Barroso. To be physically fit for the task at hand, he had to eat a proper diet, get plenty of sleep, hit the mitts, skip rope, work the bags and shadow box. Anything less would be preparing for failure. I forgot to mention shadow boxing in front of an opponent who would move in multiple ways, to insure that Maldonado could respond with the proper reaction. He did this when he trained for Pablo Cesar Cano in June. The plan was executed beautifully against Cano in a career defining win. So why didn’t it work last night in a crushing defeat to the explosive Barroso?

As for the fight itself, Ismael Barroso (20-1-2, 19 KO’s) of El Tigre, Venezuela won by KO over Fidel Maldonado (24-4-1, 19 KO’s) of Albuquerque, New Mexico. In the opening two rounds the action was slow, in part due to the fact that both boxers were southpaws. Southpaws are no different than orthodox boxers when it comes to fighting a lefthander; they have trouble figuring them out. That all ended in the third round when Barroso landed a devastating left hook to the head, dropping Maldonado to the canvas. Badly hurt the Albuquerque fighter appeared to fall between the bottom two ropes. Rising on unsteady legs Maldonado somehow managed to survive the final minute of the round. 

In rounds four and five Maldonado was in survival mode, holding Barroso until the referee could pry them loose. Frustrated with Maldonado’s tactics, Referee Raul Caiz took a point away from him. In the sixth round Maldonado started opening up, looking to connect with his own offense. He never saw the left hook to the liver that dropped him for the ten count. The referee could have counted to a hundred, it would not have mattered. Rolling on to his back, Maldonado was in agonizing pain; pain that the camera was quick to zoom in on. The time of the ending was 2:23 of the sixth round.

On Saturday morning Fidel Maldonado, Sr. was gracious enough to call me on his way home. He stated “My first concern is for my son’s health, I want him to take the rest of the year off. During that time he should think about retirement, because I don’t like the way he reacts when he gets hit with a hard punch. Barroso hit my son with a left hook to the liver. That was the punch that dropped him and he couldn’t get up.”

I’ve known the father for several years now and he is brutally honest. He didn’t try to sugar coat anything. If Fidel Jr. does try to come back, it will only happen after a long layoff and a complete physical examination. The father was very appreciative of the outpouring of fan support for his son. He further stated, “My son has a good job, a wonderful wife and three beautiful children. He doesn’t need boxing anymore; he needs to take care of his health.” Fidel Sr. is quick with the one liner, always looking for a joke in any situation. That being said I’ve been with him when it’s just the two of us; he loves his son very much.

Voices from the corner:  The New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame Banquet takes place at the Embassy Suites Hotel on October 28, 2017. Tickets are $40 each or $320 a table. Special guests will be Fidel Maldonado Senior and Junior.

Call 505-681-8151 if you have any further questions.

2017 Inductees are: Michael Adams                        Announcer

                                       Sergio Chavez                          Boxer/Trainer/Cut Man

                                       Charles Anaya                          Boxer

                                       Chris Linson                             Boxer

                                       Luis Chavez                               Trainer

                                       Earl Large                                  Boxer