In 1981, an album called "Controversy" was released by a legendary musician named Prince.  From 1992-2002, a legendary puglistic artist by the name of Prince Naseem Hamed released hearty helpings of controversy onto the boxing world.  Though he hasn't done so officially, it appears that Hamed has passed the proverbial torch signifying boxing's premier showman and stirrer of controversy to the "Latin Legend", Luis Yanez.

After all, Yanez, a 2008 United States Olympian, graduated with honors from the Muhammad Ali School of Self-Promotion and under the tutelage of Professor Hamed, he received his Masters in showmanship from "Macho" Camacho Sr. and Jorge "Maromero" Paez Sr.  Literally, from day one, Yanez has been over-the-top and firmly believes that negativity trumps indifference.  Without question, he'd rather be liked, but if that's not an option, Yanez would prefer to wear the proverbial black hat than to be ignored altogether.  In fact, it fuels him, just as it did when he was constantly heckled by a Brazilian crowd en route to a gold medal at the 2007 Pan Am Games.  This attraction to the "bad guy" role served him well on Friday, June 19th as Yanez defiantly stared down what was at times a mini-hostile crowd and a plethora of pre-fight drama to register an impressive 6-round unanimous decision over the tough Joseph Rios.

Luis Yanez in venom cape before Rios fight.

As is often the case with Yanez, you either love him or hate him; there really is no middle ground. And on this night, there was a clear divide between loyal Yanez supporters and a small group of rabid (or jealous) haters of his, which lead to some heated verbal exchanges at ringside and in the stands after the fight.  The anti-Yanez faction began to chant "Marroquin, Marroquin", for Roberto Marroquin (8-0, 6 KO's), a former amateur rival of the "Latin Legend" who fought on the undercard.  Yanez smiled, waved, blew kisses and even flexed his flyweight pythons in the direction of his naysayers, while receiving profanities and middle fingers in return.

In the midst of this circus like atmosphere, a boxing match broke out.  Yanez came out patient, utilizing his speed and footwork to offset Rios' attempted aggression.  Within about a minute, Luis was directing knowing, confident nods in the direction of his corner, signaling that he was comfortable with what he was seeing from Rios and ready to do something about it.  The southpaw landed a good straight left and some solid right hooks to take round one.  In the second stanza, Rios tried to clinch but Yanez spun him around and patted him on the posterior instead.  This angered Rios, his corner and the Yanez hate club, who booed vociferously.  As Rios charged in to get some payback, he was met with stiff right jabs to the bread basket.  Out of nowhere, a big right hook made the San Antonian's knees dip and he ate a flurry of shots to close out the round.  Rios started the third even more aggressively and landed a jab. A right hook forced Rios to hold, but he answered with a right of his own.  At this point, Yanez dug into his bag of signature poses, but Rios mocked him by mimicking his posturing.  Yet another right hook tagged Rios, making him back pedal and a hard left jab to the body staggered him.

The 4th frame was perhaps Yanez's best as he pummeled Rios, who could only clinch.  But Yanez windmill punched his way out of these embraces.  Straight lefts, right hooks and left uppercuts were the most punishing shots.  Flush lead lefts violently snapped Rios' head back on two occassions, then a third just before the bell rang.  By this point, Yanez's critics were silenced and his fans were high fiving, chest bumping and rubbing it in their faces.  Rios came out for round five still game, yet tamed, waiting for his conqueror to lead.  Yanez continued to probe his body with left jabs, then feinted to the body and landed a left upstairs.  The proud Rios connected with a flush right which drew a smirk from Luis.  By the final stanza, Yanez was playful and Rios' right eye was battered from all the left handed shots that touched him.  After a flurry, Yanez pointed and winked his eye to Rios' corner people.  A left uppercut and straight left staggered Rios for the umpteenth time and the fighters exchanged punches well after the final bell.

Luis Yanez greets fans after fight with Joseph Rios.

The scoring was unanimous, 60-54 (twice) and 58-56, raising Yanez's record to 2-0.  Rios fell to 6-4, 2 KO's, but can still brag of never being stopped in his career.  Hundreds of fans lined the barricades around ringside, begging for pictures, autographs or just a handshake from the "Latin Legend" and he did his best to accomodate all of them.  Once he made it back to the locker room, Yanez was interviewed by ESPN Deportes and dedicated his performance to Shirley Traversie (better known as 'Miss Shirley"), a local amatuer official and icon who has sinced passed away.

Yanez and special fans including Joseph Rios.