By Stephen 'Breadman' Edwards
The Daily Bread Mailbag returns with Stephen 'Breadman' Edwards discusses topics such as Gennady Golovkin's issues securing a fight, the United States Olympic team, Andre Ward's current level, and more.
Hey bread what's going on? What's the deal with this Cotto vs Gamboa fight? Is this going to be the new trend of fighters jumping multiple weight classes for big fights? I don't know if this is Khan vs canelo 2 or PAC vs Oscar. From what is being told the catchweight is 150, do you think cotto can still make that weight? Also how will gamboa deal with the 145lbs he says he will come in at? How do you see this 1 playing out? Also what are your thoughts on this Terrance Crawford vs Danny Garcia beef? I would love to see the fight happen. A ppv with this as the main event and bradley vs porter in the co feature is fine for me. Chance this fight gets made and who wins? Lastly in a non boxing related question are the 76ers for real this yr? Ben Simmons seems to be the goods and you still don't know what you will get with embid. Who do you move if your the gm noel or okafor? Simmons is probably better suited for the 4 spot? Good luck with j -rock on his title quest and hope to run into you at a fight soon.
Bread’s Response: I have no idea what’s going on with Cotto vs Gamboa. If they fight expect Cotto to severely hurt Gamboa and put him in the hospital.
Garcia vs Crawford seem to have had an amateur rivalry that is carrying over to the pros. But don’t hold your breath. I can’t see that fight happening for a very long time if ever.
Ben Simmons looks to be the goods. But I still want to see how he impacts wins and losses. In college he put up great stats but it didn’t translate into wins. I would move Noel. Okafor has a legit low post game and Embid and Simmons are athletic enough to guard the guys that Noel could. To me it’s a no brainer.
I’m going to jump around a bit……Has Ward lost a step? Is Spence as good as advertised? Can a fighter like Roman Gonzales be the best fighter in the world being so small? Has Kovalev lost a step? Is Kell Brook crazy for fighting GGG? What active fighters are Hall of Famers? Who is the best puncher in boxing and out of your 5 classifications what is he?
Bread’s Response: I don’t know if Ward lost a step. Maybe, maybe not. Let me ask, would you ask me that if he was 25 and didn’t take off and displayed the same exact performances. Sometimes circumstances sway our subjective thoughts. I will say Ward has evolved and he isn’t as mobile.
Spence seems to be the goods. We just have to wait until he fights a top 10 guy until we know how good. It’s a shame the only name guy to step up and fight him was Chris Algieri. In this era elite level young fighters have to become mandatories in order to challenge a name fighter in their title try. I would favor Spence over most of today’s welterweights but fights aren’t won on paper….
Sure Roman Gonzales can be the best fighter in the world. That’s why the term pound for pound was invented. But since you brought up losing a step. From my observations watch Roman carefully. History tells us that high volume fighters lose their peaks in their late 20’s or early 30’s. History tells us that fighters who fight under 135lbs lose their peaks in their late 20’s and early 30’s. History tells us that fighters who don’t have overwhelming physicality and are not particularly tall for their weight have lower ceilings as far as moving up in weight. Junior Bantamweight will be Gonzales’s 4th weight class. I say look for him to lose his peak very soon.
I don’t know if Kovalev has lost a step. As dominant as Kovalev is there is always a tinge of vulnerability in his performances. Maybe Kovalev half assed in training vs Chilemba. We shall see.
I’m not going to overthink this. The best two punchers in boxing are Sergey Kovalev and Gennady Golovkin. Krusher is a Speed Thudder. Historic Speed Thudders are Joe Louis and Julian Jackson. Golovkin is a Heavy Handed Debilitator. Historic HHD’s are Julio Cesar Chavez and Joe Frazier.
Bread,
Since the Olympics are going on, I'm going to ask you about a topic that rarely is addressed in your mailbag: USA and elite amateur international boxing.
The USA is no longer an amateur powerhouse and this decline is related to two major factors: the decline in the popularity of boxing in the USA and the vast improvement in the international boxing scene, especially in the former Soviet states such as Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan.
I have noticed something striking about the style of the majority of the elite boxers from these regions. First, look at their foot movement. They are continually bouncing, whereas the Americans stay on the ground, feet firmly planted. Second, they often fight with their hands down and fire from both sides, lead rights and lefts. The USA fighters often seem bewildered by this approach. For a classic example, see Errol Spence versus 2012 gold medalist from Kazahkstan, Serik Sapiyev on Youtube.
Many American coaches scoff at such an approach because it burns so much energy. But in a three round fight, there's no point in saving energy for later rounds. The new team USA coach, Billy Walsh, the former head of the Irish national team, has indicated the the USA fighters need to adopt more this international style if they are going to have success. His aim is to revamp USA boxing for a run at the 2020 Tokyo olympics -- less "brawling" and more foot movement.
As a pro coach, what do you make of this dilemma? Should USA amateur boxing "move with the times" and fight more like the shoot-from-the-hip fighters from Kazakhstan or should they keep doing what they've been doing? If you were the coach of team USA, what would you do?
regards,
Peter from LA
Bread’s Response: The USA coaches did a great job in this 2016 Olympics….
I think fighters who fight in a quicker rhythm historically score points easier. You fight in a quicker rhythm on the balls of your feet. But as you stated it’s difficult to stay on the balls of your feet for 12 or 15 rounds. So US fighters adopted more of a pro style.
I love the fact that the US fighters are doing this more. It’s perfect adaptation. Fighters should be able to fight the style they need to in order to win.
Pro fighters who have adopted the balls of their feet rhythm have been extremely successful. See Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Listen. Manny Pacquiao vs David Diaz. Ray Leonard vs Roberto Duran 2. Joe Calzaghe vs Jeff Lacy. It doesn’t just have to be an amateur thing. It’s a winning thing.
Is GGG the most ducked fighter you have ever seen? I am 29 years old and I would say so. Lara does keep calling him out do you think he’s serious and should GGG call his bluff?
Bread’s Response: GGG is the most ducked fighter of this era for sure. I wouldn’t say ever though. Ray Robinson had to wait 6 years and 75 fights in order to get a title shot. Ezzard Charles went on as good a run as anyone in history from 1943-51 and never received a lightheavyweight title shot.
Before 1980 lots of all time greats were severely ducked. So from let’s say 1980 to now I would say GGG is in the top 5 of the most ducked fighters I have seen. It’s absurd how they duck him. Specifically, Middleweights duck GGG like an open cut on an HIV patient. I don’t care what “they” say publicly.
The boxing public should embrace every fighter who has stepped up and fought GGG since his HBO debut. They deserve respect. He is by the far the most ducked fighter of this era.
I think Team Golovkin should make Lara a formal offer. No doubt about it. Why not? I don’t care what they say about Lara’s style. Cut the ring off and knock him out! Lara vs Angulo was exciting enough…. They need to find out if Lara is serious about fighting him. I would love to see it. GGG has never been in a boring fight.
Who is the best fighter in boxing that does not have or never had a world title? My guess is Julian Williams, Errol Spence or Andre Dirrell.
Bread’s Response: Great question I can’t answer that because only time will tell who is the best. Usyk the Gold Medalist from 2012 is also in the argument….I’m sitting here trying to come up with an answer and because circumstances constantly change I don’t think it’s possible to answer accurately.
Send Comments & Questions to dabreadman25@hotmail.com
