The Daily Bread Mailbag returns with Stephen "Breadman" Edwards tackling topics such as Jose Ramirez vs. Josh Taylor, Deontay Wilder getting the trilogy with Tyson Fury, Canelo Alvarez vs. Demetrius Andrade, Brandon Figueroa vs. Luis Nery, and more.
Good evening - I want to apologize for my inaccurate statement. After watching the replay of the fight...his body actions indicated he was done aka quit. I hadn’t remembered those disgusting comments he had said about Dubois. Thanks for keeping us honest and informed.
You couldn’t have been more right. Karma got him. The fight looked much different in replay. I thought Saunders was more in the fight. He did okay, Canelo is on right now. I would love to see him vs Benavidez or Bivol is Bivol comes down to 168 lbs and they fight for all of their belts.
Blessings!
Richard K
Bread’s Response: Thanks man but you don’t have to apologize to me. That’s just how you saw the situation at the time. Anyone can change their views. The thing about Karma is I don’t want to seem like I’m preaching it. I don’t want to sound extreme. Like if you squish an ant, something big will come squish you. That’s ridiculous. In life we will do right and wrong. Good and bad things will happen to us and each time it won’t be in the name of Karma. Sometimes things just happen.
But there was a term for karma back in the day. It was called, “what goes around, comes around.” And in prolific cases where the course of events are exact, I definitely think Karma is prevalent. In the BJ Saunders case of emasculating Daniel Dubois, then to have the same circumstances present itself to him in his very next fight. It’s almost CREEPY how obvious that is.
After this mailbag I’m not going to answer anymore questions for a while about Saunders quitting. It is what it is. And he has to live with it. No need to keep rehashing it.
Canelo looks sensational right now but I don’t think he’s unbeatable. There is a difference. I think Bivol and Benavidez give him tough nights. I would favor Canelo over Benavidez. Not because of ability but because of styles. I just don’t know if you can bully Canelo and beat him at this point. Benavidez for as good as he is, stylistically gives Canelo too much food. But I would want to see it, because Benavidez is one of the few active fighters who doesn’t care who he fights. He would fight anybody. When you know character and boxing, you just know the fighters who will.
Bivol is a tough match up for Canelo. I wouldn’t be surprised, if Bivol beat Canelo. That in and out style from a fighter of his size and talent would not be easy for Canelo to overcome. But let me say something in defense of Canelo. Most of the fighters who want to fight him are not fighting elite level fights. They all seem to want to fight him but they aren’t fighting each other. I’m going to say right now, like if he lost one of his next two fights. But If Canelo keeps winning for another 2+ years and someone finally beats him. The fighter who beat him won’t get the historical credit you would think it warrants and here is why. It would seem more like it was just a numbers game. It would seem like it was just more of a great fighter slipping from the attrition of fighting the best fights over a long period of time. Because the potential opponents aren’t fighting each other.
Now on the flip side. If one of these guys became a sniper and just started picking off potential opponents and flat out eliminating them. Then historically they get would get more credit. For example Bivol says he will come down to 168 and fight Canelo. Well come down to 168 and start beating guys up. Start lining guys up. Beat 2 top guys and force Canelo into a fight. At that point if Canelo doesn’t fight him, then it’s a duck. Same goes for everyone else. Canelo can only fight one fight at a time. When he has a fight lined up, don’t keep waiting for him to pick like it’s a lottery. Force his hand. New fans think I have a problem with the fighters in this era. That’s so not true. There are some terrific fighters in this era. I have a problem with the mindset of this era. There are about 5 fighters that I believe could be on the P4P list if they had more ambitious matchmaking. You can’t be inactive and fight showcase fights. You can’t fight a showcase fight every 9 months.
Carl Froch in my opinion is a HOF. From the time he fought Jean Pascal for the title, up until his last fight vs George Groves, he took one showcase fight vs Yusaf Mack. He literally fought the best available guy every time out. He fought killer after killer after killer. He fought about twice a year. But they were all real fights. Jean Pascal, Jermaine Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham, Glen Johnson, Andre Ward, Lucian Bute, Yusaf Mack, Mikkel Kessler, George Goves 2x. Once Froch reached the championship level vs Pascal that’s how he conducted himself. If more fighters did this, boxing would be a better place. Pascal was undefeated. Taylor had only lost to Pavlik. Direll undefeated. Kessler had only lost to ward and Calzaghe. Abraham had only one lost in a DQ. Johnson had just kod Allan Green. Ward undefeated. Bute undefeated. Groves undefeated. Froch got better. He never took a bad loss. He won way more than he lost. He made a ton of money. And he made a great legacy in my opinion. And for the record I liked Kessler and Ward better as fighters. I wanted Dirrell and Taylor to beat Froch. But Froch was as real as a fighter there was of the last 20 years. Froch just retired in 2014. But the mentality has changed. And this selective slick matchmaking comes back to bite more fighters than it benefits. It's one thing to be selective while you're winning. You maintain your status somewhat. But imagine being in your prime, you take a loss. And you're out 9 months. You literally drive yourself crazy trying to erase the feeling of the loss. Hopefully it changes.
Breadman,
Help me understand the betting odds established for Taylor vs Ramirez. I thought Ramirez would be the favorite this Saturday although Taylor has a 66% favor ratio over Ramirez. Can you tell me why? Also, have you any thoughts for this fight ending in a KO? If so, who in your opinion get KO'd?
Thank you!
Bread’s Response: I’m so glad you wrote in about this fight. I was waiting for you guys to start. This is a great fight! Thank you. I like to use this to use 50/50 chart to show who “should” win a fight. In this fight I think it’s 55/45 in Taylor’s favor. Taylor seems to punch slightly harder. He seems to be slightly more talented. He has the big win over Prograis. He beat 4 undefeated fighters in a row. He handled Victor Postol better who was a common opponent. Taylor won a UD over Postol. Ramirez was held to a MD. Ramirez also was held to a MD vs Jose Zepeda. In close fights with so much on the line, everything gets analyzed. Taylor deserves to be the favorite. Taylor has never came away from a fight people thought he lost. Not even the Prograis fight. It was close but Taylor won. Ramirez has had couple of fights where he could have possibly lost. He has struggled. But I think Ramirez is a gamer who raises his game to the level of his opponent. I think Postol and Zepeda were tricky for him. Taylor may be better than them but he may not be as hard to figure out. We won’t know until they get in the ring. Just because Taylor has performed slightly better it doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to win. I like them both. I think they have some of the best stamina and technical ability in the game. Both will have to be at their best to win. This is no slam dunk for Taylor. He’s been one of my favorites but Ramirez is on the level. I slightly favor Taylor in a FOY candidate. I think he will impress the judges with his assertiveness and layered game slightly more. But Ramirez should take him to the brink.
Bread,
With the big news of Wilder winning his arbitration case against Fury, looks like we may get the trilogy after all. But the question will be, what exactly can Wilder change from the last fight to this fight? He has a new trainer and he seems to be working on getting on his toes more and use more fluid movement. He's also implementing some hooks which I think is the shot he should be looking to land as Fury likes to dip below to avoid the right hand. If you were his trainer, what are some things you would be looking to work on for the trilogy? How good is the 122 pound division right now? The young Heartbreak kid took Nery to deep waters and drowned him. Even though he was losing some early rounds, he was putting "water in the basement" and knew it was only a matter of time until he broke Nery. I know Fulton is your Philly guy, but that's a REAL fight right there. Then you have Roman who always impresses with his fundamental and punching technique. I love your percentage breakdown on fights, so how about the following: Spence-Ugas, Taylor-Ramirez, Aleem-Roman, Fulton-Figueroa
Bread’s Response: It’s strange to me that so many people are upset at Wilder because he’s a real fighter and he wants to fight the only man to beat him. He lost a fight bad by ko and just because most don’t believe he can beat Fury that doesn’t mean he has to believe it. I would like to see Fury vs Joshua also but I’m not upset at Wilder. He’s a real fighter. I think Malik Scott is a doing a good job. I think the one thing Team Wilder has in their favor is they won’t be surprised when Fury fights in a more aggressive manner. That element of surprise is gone.
I think because Fury is so much bigger than Wilder, I would work on not bumping bodies so much. Fury really dirty boxed him. He’s giving up too much weight to grapple with Fury. So I would work on an escape route to not fall into the grappling and bumping of bodies. I would also work so small counter steps to fire off of. This is heavyweight boxing. One shot can end it all. I would figure out which way Deontay goes the best and fires his right hand. I’m assuming it’s a small step to his right. I work on that over and over and over. So much until he couldn’t get it wrong. We would get in shape. Keep it simple and let it be what it’s going to be. One or two small adjustments can change a fight. A fighter can only remember and apply so much in a real fight anyway…Fury deserves to be the favorite. Fury outboxed him once and outfought him once. But Fury fought the best fight of his life in the rematch. He may not ever be that good again. Wilder also for some reason wants to fight him again. He could’ve not pursued this legally. But he did. That tells me that he believes he can do better. That tells me that Fury may have beaten him physically but not mentally or spiritually. I think Fury is about 65/35 in the trilogy fight, IF it happens.
I was very impressed with Omar Figueroa. I thought Nery would win but I’m glad Figueroa pulled it off. Nery was a weight bully who used “extra stuff” to make 118lbs and when he couldn’t use the stuff anymore, he’s not the same fighter. Figueroa definitely put water in his basement and he flooded it. He took Nery in deep waters and stuck his head under the water. Beautiful pressure fighting. Fulton is my boy but he better be ready for Figueroa. But I suspect that Fulton is too naturally talented and twitchy for Figueroa. But he’s going to have to earn it. Great fight.
Spence vs Ugas 70/30 Spence
Taylor vs Ramirez 55/45 Taylor
Aleem vs Roman 50/50
Fulton vs Figueroa 65/35 Fulton
What's up Bread?
Hope you and your's are fine. May and June provide us some really good fights! I just saw Figueroa vs Nery, that was an all action fight, but I think Nery let Figueroa dictate the pace too much and he made the fight harder for him by going to war that early. Usually with his power he is able to discourage his opponent from attacking him constantly, but yesterday he couldn't ! We have to give Figueroa credit for his really good chin.
I think Nery would have been a more difficult fight for Fulton than Figueroa. Fulton is a bad style match-up for Figueroa, I think his IQ will make the difference in this fight. We are just 1 week away from Taylor vs Ramirez !! I can't wait for that one ! I think this one is the definition of battle of character. I can't see one of them surrendering, they will try to win whatever it takes and keep their composure.
I'm rooting for Taylor, but I think Ramirez strong and long jab might give him problems. He reminds me of Kovalev when he throws a 3 punch combination, finishing with a popping jab, that most of the time surprise his opponent. I think the keys in this fight will be on who can dictate the pace and the distance, and who can make the best adjustments.
Thanks for your time!
Max from France
Bread’s Response: Figueroa really took Nery’s gump. He bullied him. I read people on twitter claiming Figueroa should use his height and reach and box. It sounded counterproductive to what I've seen Figueroa do. A fighter’s skillset isn’t always determined by his physical traits. Figueroa is tall and long but he’s not a cute outside boxer. He’s a swarmer. That pressure he puts on his real and that’s his game. If he chose to box from the outside he may have been picked apart. He fought a great fight and he gave himself the best chance to win. I like Fulton over him too but Figueroa’s determination can not be disregarded. He’s a real dog.
Jose Ramirez is a fighter who fights for what he believes in outside of the ring as hard as he fights inside of the ring. I like Taylor too but a man who has such passion is dangerous. Josh better be on his A game. I think the winner of this fight is the fighter who is more accurate and finishes the exchanges. And simply the fighter who has the best Ring Generalship. In boxing scoring Ring Generalship doesn’t get talked about enough. In Taylor vs Prograis, it was close but Taylor “appeared” to be controlling what was going on. He won! In this fight the fighter who appears to be in control and is dictating the terms the most will win. This is a tremendous match up. If the winner puts on an epic performance he goes on P4P list and pushes his status towards the HOF.
Hello Mr. Edwards. I hope all is well with you and your family? What is your opinion of the Fury/Wilder ruling ? What do you think should happen? What do you think will happen?
Thankfully, TK
Bread’s Response: I have don’t have privy to what the contract says between Fury and Wilder. So unlike so many people who get vested in things like that, until I see a contract I respect whatever the arbitrator ruled. It’s not about right and wrong in court. It’s about presentation. So Wilder’s case was presented better to that particular arbitrator. I can see things from both sides. Fury most likely felt like Wilder was dragging his feet. So he moved on. Wilder felt like he’s owed the 3rd fight and he wasn’t going to be rushed into signing anything that he was comfortable with. I actually have no idea what will happen. In a perfect world Fury, Wilder and AJ all fight 3x apiece to settle who’s the best heavyweight of this era and who will go to the HOF. They’re clearly the best 3.
Hey Bread,
Hope I submitted this in time. I wanted to get your thoughts on a few items: 1. What did you think of Nery vs Figueroa? I try to stay as objective as possible when watching fights and not rooting too hard for anyone but I was happy to see Nery lose considering his PED and weight bully wins over Yamanaka. How do you see Figueroa matching up with Stephen Fulton? I think Fulton is a strong 122-pounder, better defensively and a better inside fighter than Nery and will be able to effectively weather Figueroa's pressure while picking his spots on when to fight on the outside. 2. After watching Nery-Figueroa, I thought about the upcoming Davis-Barrios fight and wondered if it could play out similarly in the sense that what happens if Davis is not the puncher in the fight? Half of Davis' title fights have come against naturally smaller opponents who moved up in weight. Have you seen anything in Davis to suggest he could win a fight without a big edge in size and power? Am I crazy to think his power might be overrated?3. Why are fans so involved in fighters making the smart business move? I've seen criticism of Wilder for potentially upending Fury-Joshua and, according to his new team member Malik Scott, not entertaining a step aside fee? I get wanting to see the UK giants square off asap but shouldn't we applaud Wilder for wanting the work after getting dominated by Fury? I think that says a lot about his character. How would you feel about the psyche of a fighter who chose to delay avenging the only and first opponent to beat him because it was the "smart business move?"
And in case you haven't addressed it already, what are your thoughts and pick on Taylor-Ramirez?
Jonathan
Bread’s Response: 1. I feel how you felt about Figueroa vs Nery. Something never seemed right about those Yamanaka fights. Yamanaka was in the midst of one of the better reigns in boxing. He was champion for like 6 years and had 12 or 13 successful defenses and Nery basically ruined him. He never fought after the rematch in which Nery came in like 4lbs heavy. People claim that Nery is too small for 122lbs but it seems obvious to me that he can’t make 118lbs without “help”. Fulton appears to be the better fighter over Figueroa. He appears to be too twitchy for Figueroa. But Figueroa has qualities that you don’t see so easily. Let’s see what happens.
2. I think Davis is one of the best punchers in boxers. Right behind Canelo, Inoue and Wilder. I believe Davis is a real puncher. My question is can he be a dominant fighter if he can’t hurt his opponent. I think we know he’s an elite puncher. But the only question I have is does he have elite boxing ability and elite adjustment ability. There is always someone who can take your punch or won’t allow you to hit them on the money, let's see.
3. Obviously boxing is a business. But it’s a turn off to me to hear a boxer say that. Wilder is already exercising his business right by taking Fury to court. A fighter needs to be a fighter and allow his team that he pays to conduct the “business”. In my opinion that’s what’s wrong with boxing today. Too many businessmen and not enough real fighters. Only 1% of the fighters who have ever lived can be both and excel equally. Usually one side or both suffer in performance.
People can say whatever they want about Deontay Wilder. Yes he made excuses. Yes Fury dominated him in the rematch. Yes he was stopped. Yes he made some serious accusations against Team Fury and Mark Breland. I said it all for them. But they can’t say he lacks guts. They can’t say he’s not a real fighter. They can’t say he’s ducking work. Some of the same things that make you a fighter can be a flaw. Maybe Wilder is too strong willed. Maybe he should wait and get some more fights with Malik Scott. But maybe he’s right on time with what he wants. I don’t have the answer to that.
I have had been involved in a situation where a fighter made the smart business move. I didn’t feel any type of way about it because every scenario and fighter is different. The fighter knows in his heart if he “really” wants to get back in the ring with a fighter who beat them. Pride is NOT spoken in a clear language. Deontay Wilder doesn’t care about what people have to say about him. He took a very long time to develop if you remember. He got all types of criticism. It took him about 7 years and over 30 fights to fight for the title. But his team took their time and it paid off. He’s not an elite boxer but that hasn’t stopped him or hurt his self esteem. He believes in what he believes in. I have seen videos of him getting the worst of end of sparring with David Haye. And being stopped in an amateur fight. He still doesn’t let it lower his self esteem. Tyson Fury took him out to the woodshed and really beat him up in their rematch. One of those right hands that he hit Wilder with in the corner in what I think was the 7th or 8 round would have kod a truck. Wilder never turned yellow. He was willing endure whatever was coming his way that night. I’m not biggest fan of some of Wilder’s antics. I’m not the biggest fan of his style. But I respect that man. I respect the fact that he’s a big PED proponent. He has uncanny power and he’s been a spokesperson for clean boxing. I respect the fact that he wants a man who dominated him and he didn’t let anyone talk him out of it. Deontay Wilder is a real fighter.
I am a bit surprised that no one has written you about the Taylor vs. Ramirez fight. Is for all four belts. I am also surprised at the fact that so many people seem to be discounting Ramirez. I am actually picking him to win the fight, Bread. I know he lost a few early rounds back in his fight against Zepeda, but he managed to turn the tide and get the decision. I see Taylor as a different fighter than Zepeda. Taylor is more willing to engage and I don’t expect him to be moving around as much, not like Postol in his last fight. By the way both guys had Freddie Roach in their corner. With the fight being in Vegas, and me expecting a mid range to inside fight for most of the 12 rounds, I expect Ramirez to get the edge in the close rounds. I have Ramirez by close unanimous decision.
How do you see this one developing Bread? Break it down for me.
Bread’s Response: I believe that Taylor has more layers to his game. I believe he can win the fight doing more than one thing. I believe he can box or attack Ramirez, where as I believe Ramirez has to attack Taylor. I think Taylor’s natural style is a technical attacking boxer puncher. I believe that Ramirez is naturally an attacking swarming fighter with good fundamentals. I think their styles will mesh. Taylor doesn’t have the temperament to stink the fight out.
I believe whoever is most accurate in the violence will win the fight. Both guys will be shooting bullets. But whoever is most accurate hitting the target will win. Who’s the sharpest? I also believe who dictates the terms. Whoever displays the best Ring Generalship will influence the judges the most. I also believe who finishes the exchanges will win.I think both guys will come out probing with their lead hands. Look for Ramirez to try to establish his jab as will Taylor. But Taylor will try to land his right hook which seems to be his $ PUNCH. I expect them to fight at all 3 ranges. At some point Taylor will try to bully Ramirez and that’s when the fight will break out. Taylor knows how to move his opponents in close to get room to throw his right hook or left hand underneath. Ramirez has to be prepared to deal with that. I expect Ramirez to be game. But Taylor seems like he has more craft in the trenches. I believe he will influence the judges applying this clever craft. I think Ramirez is elite also but he doesn’t look as neat as Taylor does.
The one thing I am concerned about with Taylor is his delicate skin. His eyes seem to get swelled up and cut and this could prove a detriment in a fight this close. Two fights come to mind when I think of these two. Toney vs McCallum and Barrera vs Morales. Toney and Barrera like Taylor appeared to be more precise in these violent technical shootouts. It’s not that McCallum and Morales weren’t great or highly skilled, they just weren’t as aesthetically pleasing as Toney and Barrera. In this match up I believe Taylor is Barrera and Toney and Ramirez is McCallum and Morales. The edge will go to Taylor in a FOY candidate.
I came across an article where Claressa Shields stated Canelo avoided Demetrius Andrade and resonated with a comment that essentially implied Andrade is a better opponent than Canelo's most recent opponent in Saunders. I agree 100%. Although I think Saunders is more than a solid opponent, he went into the fight having the WBO strap. No complaints there, however, I feel Saunders has been protected a bit. I feel Andrade and GGG are both better fighters and would actually come out victorious against the Brit. Boxing is a business, I get it and Canelo has more upside than Andrade, who I feel is in boxing limbo(high risk low reward). He's a great boxer and some recent greats have also been in that position. Some of my favorite fighters actually in Andre Ward and Winky Wright, respectively. Ultimately they've both got the recognition they deserve.
Wright got his big break against Mosley and Ward just made into the Hall and is the most recent fighter of the decade. I remember when he started to get the acclaim and got that p4p #1 spot.. I was like, "Told yall!!!" Lol after he stopped the Krusher Kovalev. As a fan, its great when your one of favorites get the recognition. Andrade is in great company, substance over hype.How the AJ fury negotiations are playing out, as a fan its frustrating so I don't read into it much. It seems like Hearn is getting his "announcements" ready if the doesn't come off. Public posturing: as if to impress "we want the fight but it's the opposing team.i felt like when it came to AJ and Wilder. So I know team AJ can posture but so can Arum. I understand it's a big fight though.
Great mailbag have a great weekend!
Bread’s Response: Canelo is not afraid of anyone. I don’t believe he DUCKED Andrade. But he has chosen NOT to fight him. I believe that Andrade is slightly better than Saunders also. He’s taller, longer and a better puncher. I think their speed and mobility is comparable. Andrade seems to be a more dedicated athlete. I think Saunders has a better resume but it’s easier for Saunders to get fights than it is Andrade for some of the reasons you named. A fighter’s resume has to be held in context. Some fighters get fights easier so therefore their resumes will be better. I think this is the case when it comes down to Saunders and Andrade.
I know Saunders had the WBO belt and Canelo wanted it. That’s a fair reason for Canelo choosing Saunders over Andrade. But Andrade was the WBO champ at both 154 and 160 at the same times Canelo was in those divisions and he never CHOSE to go after those belts then. In fact, after he beat Cotto for the WBC and RING title at middleweight he moved back down to 154lbs and fought Liam Smith for the WBO belt that Andrade vacated. So it’s pretty clear that Canelo is not interested in fighting Andrade. They say he hasn’t fought anyone and that’s another solid point. Andrade does not have a good resume considering he’s 30-0. Was an Olympian. Been a pro since 2008. Is 33 years old. And a two division champion. His level of achievements should be higher. But Andrade signed with Matchroom. GGG, Canelo, Danny Jacobs and Jaime Munguia are all available opponents. Something is not right if he can’t get any of them in the RING.
I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes but there has to be some avoidance going on. Jaime Munguia is a peculiar case to me. He vacated his belt at 154lbs a few years ago. He moved up. When a WBO champion moves up they get inserted as the mandatory. Munguia the #1 contender at 160lbs. Andrade is the champion. I really wonder why the media does not ask Munguia why he hasn’t pursued a title shot at 160lbs. I’m confused. Over the last year I have seen fighters who I believe could’ve had title shots and they started moving slower. Undefeated fighters with credentials... Munguia is one of them. I know this question was about Andrade and Canelo but Munguia is relevant. It tells me something is not right as far as getting Andrade fights. I won’t claim to know because I don’t. I don’t know what is going on behind the scenes. But this whole situation is bizarre. In boxing no one admits to DUCKING. But make no mistake about it, it happens. My eyes tell me Andrade is being avoided. I won’t say ducked yet.
Some of it, is his fault. Some is not. He should’ve fought Charlo in 2014 and whoever advised him not to, almost ruined his career and set him back immeasurably. But when you go this long without an A side star “picking” you for a fight, it tells me no one is in a rush to fight you. I don’t think Saunders was protected. He fought Andy Lee who is solid. David Lemiuex who GGG fought on PPV. And Chris Eubank in a non title fight, who is talented. But Andrade signed to fight him and he tested positive for PEDS. We can’t blame that one on Andrade. I believe Andrade was equally as worthy of an opponent as Saunders considering what happened when they were supposed to fight.
Andrade is most like Michael Nunn. Winky Wright got some nice title shots earlier than people realize. He fought Julio Cesar Vasquez, Harry Simon and Fernando Vargas. Vargas fight was on HBO. Wright just took some early losses and it set him back. History will have you think Shane Mosely was his 1st big fight. It wasn’t. It was the 1st big fight he WON and it catapulted him to fights with Trinidad, Quartey, Taylor, Hopkins and Williams. Ward got in the Super 6. He was 25 years old.
Andrade is 33. Ward fought Kessler, Froch, Abraham and Dawson all in his 20s. Those were big fights. He got the Kovalev fights in his 30s but he was already BIG. Michael Nunn is most like Andrade in this era. Nunn’s biggest fights were Sambu Kalambay who was a helluva fighter but no where near as star. And James Toney who was on a small PPV when Toney was just a contender. Nunn never got a chance to fight any of the other stars of his era. Hagler, Leonard and Hearns are really too old. They could’ve fought him but they were busy fighting each other. Going by what I’m seeing, I don’t think Andrade will ever get the big fight. I think he will have to do something he hasn’t done like taking short pay or moving up to fight a killer and winning dramatically and I’m not sure if that’s fair. But boxing isn’t fair.
As always all the best brother! Continued success and great work! Your mailbag is like the boxing Bible on Saturday morning! So much respect for your work inside and outside the ring. First thank you for the Billy Joe Saunders comments, he deserved ether and he got it , he folded in a moment he could have stood tall and it's recorded history now for him to relive the rest of his days! Now to my question or more statement for your critique. I know you said you've been in camp with Plant and see his temperament and athletic ability good enough to give Canelo fits, but respectfully I don't. Mainly in his temperament, one thing you love about Canelo is he's a gun, He took big fights when he didn't have to, and he performed. some questionable scorecards yes, but he signed his name on the contract and he fought!
Plant has had opportunities to be a gun and he hasn't, like a fighter leans into clinches and accepts the slowed tempo, Plant has allowed his management to protect him from tough fights! His resume is poor for a champion even in this era and that says a lot, yes you face the men put in front of you by the people you put in position to make those decisions but I don't think for a second he couldn't have stepped up his competition if HE chose too. He's not a gun and for that reason he stands little chance in a Canelo fight. I feel the same about Crawford, Not fighting Porter is a bad look, it could cement his greatness in a way and put pressure on Spence in the eye of public opinion, but he doesn't seem to want it! These guys aren't guns and are damaging their careers much like Thurman, Am I wrong? It's why Porter is rare and a hall of famer in my book because his mentality is truly best fighter available. Not the risk mitigation these so called Champions are doing right now.
Bread’s Response: You make an interesting point. I won’t argue. But I do think Plant is a gun. I think he wanted some big fights and couldn’t get them early. So now he’s waiting on his shot with Canelo. If a fighter chooses to go against management’s wishes then they have to deliver. If they don’t management won’t treat or view them the same. Let’s see Plant’s career playout a little bit more before we say he’s ducking work. He did take the Uzgategui fight off of year lay off as an underdog. He could’ve asked for a warm up fight.
I wholeheartedly disagree about Crawford. I think Crawford’s career has been longer than Plant’s. He’s moved through 3 divisions. They weren’t deep but he moved through them. At welterweight the best fighters are with Showtime and PBC. Crawford is not. I think the Porter fight was a good fight for both. But they needed to get paid. Top Rank is not like PBC. They pay in a more traditional fashion. PBC may overpay for market value for certain fights. But PBC is NOT going to overpay for a fight where the Top Rank fighter is the A side. I don’t think there is a fault in this. It just wasn’t enough money. I believe both wanted it but both wanted to get paid. Hopefully they revisit it. I will say that Team Crawford has to figure it out. Fault and responsibility are different. It may not be their fault that Crawford has not got the BIG fight at 147lbs. But it’s their responsibility to get him the BIG fight. I have a funny feeling that Crawford may get frustrated and retire if he’s in this same position next year. The Game is to be Sold and Not to be Told. But Crawford needs an, in the mean time opponent. And he needs it asap.
Shawn Porter is a GUN. But I don’t quite think he’s a HOF yet. He’s in the same era as Errol Spence, Terence Crawford and Tim Bradley. I think they are the possible HOF who competed at welterweight and turned pro in 2004-08 or after. Bradley and Crawford are HOF. Spence is ascending. I don’t believe Porter has had a better career than them but his willingness to fight anyone does count. But it’s hard to be a HOF when some of your contemporaries who had better careers are not in. Tim Bradley is not in yet.
Porter is one heck of a competitor and if he did make the HOF I wouldn’t complain. But I would like to have seen him defeat Spence, Brook or Thurman. I don’t know if his best wins of Garcia, Broner or Alexander is enough. I think Porter is one more big win away. A Crawford or Spence win would do it for me. Or maybe a title at 154. But I love your point. A fighter like Porter who fights anyone and may not have a glossy record, can be a HOF because of his intangibles. Because he never loses bad. Fighting real fights, vs elite fighters in their primes counts for something. I knew Shawn Porter was real when he fought Adrien Broner at a catchweight to compensate Broner. I think it was 143lb or 144lb. Porter was an Olympian at 165lbs and moved down to 147lbs slowly. Then he fought Broner at a catchweight and still won with no complaints. That was real and underrated.
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