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 William Joppy |
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Our Pick: William Joppy
William Joppy is the latest -- and perhaps the best -- of a string of D.C. fighters who somehow fail to get the respect and attention they deserve. Not since the days of Sugar Ray Leonard has the boxing spotlight been on the D.C. area and its collection of solid boxers, from Sharmba Mitchell to Keith Holmes to Joppy. And they seem to be perennial undercard attractions.
Joppy became a world traveler to forge his modicum of fame and glory. He won his middleweight title by going to Tokyo to take the belt from Shinji Takehara in June 1995. After two successful defenses, Joppy had his one bad fight -- a loss on a close 12-round decision to Julio Cesar Green on Aug. 23, 1997.
He's since beaten Green twice, most recently in a lopsided seventh-round TKO. He stopped an old and tired Roberto Duran in the third round last August. At the age of 30 he's at the top of his form, recovered from a car accident last year that broke a vertebra.
His opponent is Rito "El Relampago" Ruvalcaba, 20-2 with 16 knockouts. Ruvalcaba hails from Tijuana, where his family owns a souvenir shop -- and is relatively well-heeled. He doesn't fight because his family needs the money, but for personal satisfaction. Another trait that sets him apart from most Mexican boxers is his height -- 6'3". He's used to more-famous boxers looking past him. Brazilian Peter Venancio considered Ruvalcaba a tune-up on his way to a title shot and a re-match with Joppy, until El Relampago sidetracked the boxer from Rio.
Joppy's corner may be guilty of the same thing. They're looking for a fight with Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins or homeboy Keith Holmes. Joppy himself, however, should be ready. He told the Associated Press, "I'll do what I do best. Whatever he gives me I'm going to take," Joppy said.