Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Is Time Running Out For Manny Pacquiao?
Part of the problem boxing fans have, is constantly looking into the future, without living in and appreciating the now. The time has come for boxing fans to stop, and cherish what we have in fighters like Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, the Klitschko brothers and especially Manny Pacquiao.
Even though Manny Pacquiao is in his prime, there is already talk by his trainer, Freddie Roach, that time is short for his fighter; Manny himself has discussed an interest in politics. Roach recently had this to say:
“If he retires after this (Cotto) fight I’ll be fine with that also,” Roach told the Inquirer over breakfast at the Manor Hotel in Baguio City Monday.
“If negotiations with Mayweather fail and Manny wins against Cotto, he’ll be having seven world titles. Nobody has done that before, so there’s nothing else to prove.”
I think we're witnessing one ore two more big fights from Pacquiao, before he calls it quits. If Manny does get past Cotto, he'll likely face Floyd Mayweather Jr., and win or lose, that will probably be his last fight. And who can blame Manny? He's had a tremendous career and given boxing fans some great fights to watch.
The only troubling thing about the retirement talk now is, it's so close to the Pacquiao-Cotto fight. Hopefully it isn't a sign that Manny has lost his passion for the sport. He needs to bring the fire against Cotto. He needs to bring it all. Because if Manny has lost even an ounce of passion for the sport, Cotto will snuff out what's left of the flame.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Roy Jones Jr. And Bernard Hopkins To Fight In Early 2010
Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins have signed a deal to face each other in early 2010, according to ESPN writer, Dan Rafael:
"Sixteen years ago they fought each other and went on and made history in their own way," said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, Hopkins' promoter. "Each one is considered today as ring royalty. That's why I think when those two guys are going to fight it will be to determine who will be king of the ring. We went back and forth for so long, but we finally pulled it off. They both signed and they will fight. It will be a truly historic showdown. A lot of people didn't believe it would ever happen. But guess what? It's going to happen."
Dan Rafael's full column can be read here: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4504737
Roy Jones will first have to get past Australian, Danny Green. Roy said he thought about pulling out of the fight with Green, but decided against it, because he already gave his word and signed a contract. Roy will be facing Green in Australia, December 2.
It's good that Jones is keeping his word, but I still think he should cancel his fight with Green, in order to focus attention on Bernard Hopkins. And there is always the possibility that Green upsets Jones. If that happens the fight with Bernard Hopkins will be in jeopardy ; Hopkins wouldn't want to face a Roy Jones Jr. that was knocked out in a previous bout, and I'm sure fans wouldn't be hyped up enough to order the ppv.
Anyway, I'm ecstatic that this fight will finally be made. I feel Roy Jones' style will give Bernard Hopkins enough trouble, even now. I'm picking Jones by UD - if the fight really materializes. Crossing my fingers!
Max Kellerman Is Forgiven - Larry Merchant Needs To Go!
I can forgive Max Kellerman for the horrible interview he conducted after the Marquez-Mayweather fight. It's now more apparent than ever, after watching last night's fight on HBO, Larry Merchant is past his prime and over the hill. He needs to go!
Larry Merchant is an HBO boxing icon. He'll always be remembered for his funny (sometimes witty) remarks. But for the last couple of years, he's taken on the image of a drunken old man - and sounds like one too!
Last night was painful; usually I welcome Larry Merchant's wise remarks, but he's gotten to the point where he can't think on his feet like he used to. He rambles on, usually during the most exciting and important parts of a fight, where Jim Lampley is/should be explaining what the viewer is witnessing. For those of us who understand boxing, I guess it isn't a big deal, but there are a lot of casual boxing fans who do not have the hardcore fans' knowledge of boxing. And from listening to the HBO crew for years, it's apart of the routine as a viewer to hear good, flowing commentary. That isn't the case anymore, thanks to Larry Merchant.
There were parts in the fight where you could tell even Lampley was getting annoyed by Merchant's long, drawn-out rambling. At least Max Kellerman can speak fast enough and make his point without interrupting the flow of the commentary.
Larry, we love you, but you have overextended your stay.
Vitali Klitschko Dominates Chris Arreola
Vitali Klitschko successfully defended his WBC belt Saturday night, dominating and putting enough beating on Arreola that his corner eventually stopped the fight, before round 11.
Chris Arreola certainly made the fight interesting, even though it was one-sided in Vitali's favor. Chris made Vitali fight on the move for the majority of the fight, and didn't really let him relax. Arreola gave it his all, but it just wasn't enough to overcome Klitschko's size and boxing ability.
This fight was interesting in my eyes, because Chris seemed to push himself and try harder than previous Vitali challengers. So many times, after Vitali or his brother come away with the win, fans come with the ready made excuse of, "If only the challenger tried harder, or put some effort in." Well, Arreola did, and it wasn't enough - not by a long shot. This fight just reinforces my opinion that Vitali, not Wlad, is the best heavyweight in the world.
Vitali arm punches, and doesn't put his weight behind his shots, unlike his brother Wladimir, but Vitali, unlike Wlad, can improvise - and he's far better defensively. Not to mention, Vitali has the better chin between the two and is more game.
Even more impressive about this dominant win for Vitali, is the fact that he's 38 years old! In every round he was busier than Chris Arreola, the younger man, while constantly on the move.
I rate this win as one of Vitali's most impressive performances.
So what is next for Vitali Klitschko? Well, I would love to see him fight his brother; if that is not an option (and it's probably not), I'd like to see him face Eddie Chambers.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Mayweather-Marquez Generates A Million PPV Buys
So much for boxing being dead as a lot of UFC/MMA fanboys like to say. The Mayweather-Marquez bout did over a million ppv buys.
Mayweather-Marquez went up against UFC 103 on the night. It has been reported that UFC 103 did around 500,000 ppv buys.
Dana White was constantly saying, in the lead up to the fight, that no one was interested in the Marquez-Mayweather fight - and went on record saying that UFC 103 would generate more ppv buys. It looks like Dana White has to eat crow, along with the very vocal UFC fanboys. And this also proves, boxing is far from dead.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Max Kellerman Was Out Of Line
Max Kellerman did a poor job Saturday night on HBO pay-per-view, interviewing Floyd Mayweather Jr., after his dominant performance against Juan Manuel Marquez. Max Kellerman, for those of you who didn't see it yet, was basically an ass during his interview with Mayweather. Most people think Max is an ass regardless; but I'm talking, MAX KELLERMAN WAS AN ASS! He interrupted Floyd, tore the microphone away from him, AFTER Shane Mosley had originally taken the mic from Max, and just did a horrible job.
After such a hyped up fight that didn't really live up to peoples' expectation, the best thing that could have happened was some fireworks after the fight - some call outs - some more hype. Max Kellerman ruined that, when he killed the flow and didn't let Floyd Mayweather speak. On top of that mess, Max Kellerman belittled Floyd Mayweather Jr. by talking about the size disadvantage of Marquez, and wanting to know why Mayweather didn't drop weight to fight Marquez at a lower weight division.
To be quite honest, these are important questions that should be demanded of Mayweather; I agree with Max, but he went about it in the wrong way. He was an ass who pissed off a lot of boxing fans. Max Kellerman certainly didn't do himself any favors by trying to win over his critics. This interview with Mayweather will probably set him back.
Max Kellerman was critiqued obsessively about being such a suck-up in interviews after fights. Maybe Kellerman overcompensated and took it to an extreme in the other direction - a Larry Merchant on steroids.
Max Kellerman is good for HBO boxing, in my opinion, but he's no Larry Merchant. He needs to be himself. He can ask the tough questions we as boxing fans want the answers to, without cutting the fighters off and constantly interrupting.
The interview wouldn't be half as bad if it were on regular HBO - but it wasn't. What made the whole interview a disgrace, was the fact that it was on HBO pay-per-view. That is the reason so many boxing fans are pissed off. People do not pay money to hear the announcers ramble.
Better luck next time Max.
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