Daily Bread Mailbag: Golovkin-Khan, Douglas, Ward, Kovalev

By Stephen 'Breadman' Edwards

The Daily Bread Mailbag returns with Stephen 'Breadman' Edwards to discuss the recent upset loss by Antoine Douglas, whether Amir Khan - in beating Canelo - would go on to face Gennady Golovkin in the fall, the boxing mechanics of light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev and more.

Breadman,

How are you? Thanks for responding to my question last month on where Bernard Hopkins would fit in with the 1970's middleweights. You raised some excellent points that make a lot of sense. I was at the Sands for Julian's fight versus Matano. Matano was a tough, scrappy dude who came to fight. Julian, as usual, systematically broke him down! I hope Charlo gives him a shot. By the way, the Antoine Douglas-Avtandil Khurtsidze bout was an absolute war! Definitely a fight of the year candidate. My question for you this month is how much value do you place on a long, extensive amateur career? Is it necessary to have 150 or 200 amateur fights to be a top notch pro? Jeff Chandler, a Hall of Famer, only had 2 or 3 amateur bouts I believe. It seems like some guys get "used up" in the amateurs while others benefit from all of that experience. Maybe I'll see you at Jesse Hart's fight...Dan Ward, Springfield Pa.

Bread’s Response: Yes I think I will attend Hart’s fight.

Bringing an amateur along is a science just like bringing a pro along. The difference is a loss in the amateurs is not the same as a loss in the pros. You can take more chances. I don’t believe you need 150 to 200 amateur fights to be a successful pro, especially here in the US. The gyms and the amateur system has too much talent. But I do believe a solid foundation and competing in National tournaments helps make the transition better. There is no set number of fights a kid needs. But there are signs that he will give you that he’s getting stale or that he needs more work.

Andre Ward and Floyd Mayweather are the two best amateurs we have produced over the last 20 years and neither had over 100 amateur fights. That should tell you something….

Mr. Edwards,

Congratulations to J-Rock and yourself on the latest win and ascension to the #1 spot.  You guys have put in the work and it shows.  The broadcasting team spoke very highly not only of JW but of yourself, the team and the total professionalism that you all exude.  I have to agree wholeheartedly with that assessment.  JW was really fired up in the post fight interview.  Great job.

Did you get a chance to see the Antoine Douglass fight?  That was a real tough loss that I hope he can bounce back from (after a good lay off). He showed a ton of heart and definitely had the talent to win but I think a few things were missing in his technique that did him in.  Not to take anything from Khurtsidze, he fought the best fight that he could muster but with better tools I think Douglass wins   Taking on substitutes can be very risky.

I saw a few weeks ago that Top Rank signed a kid named Rex Tso from Hong Kong.  I was over there a few years ago visiting my buddy who is a boxing fan.  He's lived over there for several years and in that time became acquainted his manager Jay Lau.  We watched Rex spar and the kid is pretty good. I see that Kohei Kono, WBA super flyweight champ might give Rex a shot.  Just wondering if you've seen or heard of him and if so what you think.  I told my guy that if Rex had the opportunity to train and spar in the states, his skill level would improve vastly because the talent level in HK won't elevate his ability.  I could see a guy like that flourishing under your umbrella.

Keep on the good work!

Peace,

Tony T. from Harlem

Bread’s Response: I haven’t seen Tso fight but I will look out for him.

Yes I saw the Douglas fight and I feel terrible for him. He’s a nice kid and a promising young fighter. I don’t think Douglas knew what he was getting into. The hardcore and mainstream guys didn’t know Khurtsidze. But I knew him. It was a just a bad fight for Douglas all the way around. I heard that Team Douglas had a choice between Khurtsidze and Ivghen Khrytchov who also fought on the card. I would have taken Khrytchov  all day. Khrytchov is better on paper. He has a great amateur career. He’s younger and taller. But the eye ball test says different….

Hopefully Douglas comes back better. Douglas is an athletic fighter. He’s not a pure boxer. He can punch a little bit but I don’t know if he has the pop, physical strength or pure boxing ability to keep Khurtsidze off of him. The Tornado “makes” you fight him. He overwhelms you with a volume power attack.

40 years ago there were lots of guys like Khurtsidze, Today not so many. The style is simplistic but it’s extremely effective when the right fighter does it. If you can’t hurt the elite users of this style, more times than not you can’t beat them.

Hey Breadman,

What's up? I hope all is well. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and always answering questions with the truth. I hope you can answer some of my questions.

1)If Khan is able to pull off the upset against Canelo, do you think he will face GGG? Would a win against the red one make him a star? What should his next move be if he were to win? I personally would advise him to fight GGG. He would have nothing to lose and everything to gain if he some how miraculously were able to beat GGG.

2)How do you think a match up between Kirkland (Trained by Anne Wolfe) and Mayweather play out at 154?

3) When is Jrock's next bout? What gym do you two train at? May be going to Philly and would definitely like to get a picture and autograph from both of you.

Thanks and keep spreading the truth,

Carlos in Brooklyn, New York

Bread’s Response: Amir Khan is already a star. He’s looked at as a great talent. If he beats Canelo then he will viewed as a great fighter. I think if he beats Canelo he will call out some of the bigger welterweights and make some catchweight fights or smaller junior middleweights like Miguel Cotto. I don’t see him messing with GGG.

Kirkland at his peak would give Floyd a tough fight because Floyd is not a huge puncher and Kirkland is hard to keep off if you can’t hurt him. But Floyd is retired and Kirkland is a part time fighter at this moment…..

I think Sullivan Barerra will give Andre Ward some trouble. In fact I think Ward gets dropped and limps to a controversial decision. What’s your take?

Bread’s Response: Anything can happen in a fight. But Andre Ward is a perfectionist. You have to watch him closely. There are things about people that you have to observe that will tell you important traits. Look how he dresses. Neat. Look at him in the gym, his gym outfit is neat. I’ve never been in his house or car but I bet it’s extremely neat. Not a lot of crap thrown all over the place. That tells me something about him.

Ward is the kind of guy that takes every fight super serious. He leaves no stone unturned because he’s competing with himself to be better every time. I doubt seriously if Barrera can do anything with Ward. Barrera is a solid guy for Ward to make his lightheavyweight debut against but I think Ward not only decisively beats him I think he stops him late. Barerra has a noticeable flaw that I have observed. He’s very slow on the turn and he draws his punches back. Ward thinks way too quick to have those flaws against him. I respect your opinion but Andre Ward is going to light this guy up, big time. Mark it down!

Big up Bread

Great radio show the other day

Wanted to get your opinion on who has the best jab and why?

My top 2 is Kell Brook and Kovalev cause both jabs are so destructive.

Kell jab is outsize for the division it's like a middleweight and it's so heavy seen him knockdown so many men with it, it really is a pole.

Kovalev jab is like a sword watching him stab guys to death is painful plus he goes downstairs with it.

Really interested to catch your view

Jermaine from London

Bread’s Response: Best jab um let’s see. Brook has a great jab. He uses what we call a stuff jab. He uses it to stop quick advances. He hit Shawn Porter with it all night. But I would like to see him use that jab against a few more elite level fighters before I say it’s top 2 in the world.

Now you have me with Krusher Kovalev. His jab is tremendous. The only thing I would like to see is if he can outjab Andre Ward. Ward has an extremely educated jab. It may not be as hard as Kovalev’s but his jab has more looks. Krusher’s jab is great but it’s the same jab. For example Sonny Liston, Bob Foster and George Foreman all have top 15 ever jabs. But they couldn’t out jab Ali because Ali’s jab had multiple looks.

Krusher Kovalev, Andre Ward and Gennady Golovkin have the 3 best jabs in boxing. You can’t forget about GGG. He a freaking pole for a jab. He also has different looks to his jab. He puts a Joe Louis jab on you when he catches your jab and uses his at the same time. All 3 of those guys have great jabs. Most important punch in boxing.

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