Roberto Duran in Ink!

A couple days after finishing some snazzy, new cartoons for East Coast boxing promoters, Boxing 360 (I'm their official boxing humor artist. Check out www.boxing360.com/blog and click on "Boxing Humor" to peep my work!), I decided to try something a little different by drawing a fully-inked portrait of a boxing legend. I wanted to do something comicky but not wacky like the Boxing 360 'toons. Something much like my Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. piece from September of last year (http://www.coyoteduran.com/2012/09/sergio-martinez-vs-julio-cesar-chavez.html) but with more mood and depth.

Originally, I considered drawing Mexican featherweight legend Salvador Sanchez until I remembered I've never drawn my all-time boxing hero, "Manos de Piedra" ("Hands of Stone") Roberto Duran. (8 1/2" X 11", Sharpie archiving pen on sketch paper) By this time, I was fully overdosing on the Facebook photo albums of my pal, Cory Hamscher (a damn fine comic book artist and inker), and although I don't use a crow-quill pen like Cory (or even come close to this cat's inking skill), I was inspired to throw down with the darkness.

Bonus inspiration for this piece: one of my favorite artists, Charlie McGill. Odds are, you mightn't know the name but his art will look familiar. Bergen, New Jersey's McGill is a sports illustrator who has rendered some of boxing's most famous personalities (among many more sports icons), some whimsically, others in photorealistic splendor, all in the same inimitable, old-school style only McGill can deliver.

So, yeah, I think I'll do a few more in this style between paintings and cartoons! I hope you dig it!

Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Comic Art Giveaway!

So, in a fit of curiosity, I decided I would try rendering a boxing scene in a comic book style, done up in ink and uncolored. I've always been a fan of exaggerated, comicky musculature and what better fighter to study than World Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez? Since his impending battle against titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. this Saturday for all the middleweight marbles is on the lips and minds of all hardcore fight fans, it gave me an idea:

How about a comic book scene pitting the two 160-pound warriors against each other with some Manga-esque speed lines bringing up the rear? Even better...what if I gave it away when I was done?

So here's where you come in, Howlers. My little contest has a few simple rules.

1) First, join the Creation Nation "Howlers" page at www.facebook.com/CDCreationNation. If you're already a Howler (or a fan. I like "Howlers" better...) there, even better! You're halfway there! But remember: you have to be a member of the Facebook page to participate.

2) Find the post on the fan page regarding this contest (if you're a member, that very post probably linked you to this very page!) and make YOUR prediction as to who will win the World Middleweight Championship fight between Sergio Martinez and Julio Cesar Chavez. And that's your EXACT prediction. If  you think your pick will win by a specific decision, tell me what type (unanimous, split, majority) and what you think the scores will be in the end. If the fight ends in a draw, what variety of draw will it be and what will the scores be? And if the fight ends in a stoppage of any kind or a knockout, tell me how, what round the fight was stopped in and the time.

3) If you feel you need to amend your prediction, DO NOT edit your post. Just add to the status comments with your new prediction. This eliminates the possibility of cheating (and you wouldn't want the world to think you're a cheater...would you?)

4) The deadline? No posts later than 9:30 p.m., ET/6:30 p.m. PT, SATURDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 15 will be accepted. That's 30 minutes after the start of the HBO pay-per-view broadcast and should give you plenty of time to get that prediction in!

The closest prediction wins. That's it. that's all you gotta do. Easy, huh?

Now, I do have to be honest. As the caption stapled to this image implies, this piece isn't finished yet. I have more detail, shadow, etc. to add so if you think these guys look wonky, well, I'm not done, dammit! And it's in a comic book-inspired style! It's supposed to look a speck wonky!

Speaking of honesty, the piece (8 1/2" X 11" image size on 10 1/2" X 13" Bristol Board in pigment liner) doesn't include matting and framing but it will be signed and shipped flat next week right after I put on the finishing touches.

So what are you waiting for? Make your predictions NOW!