By Stephen "Breadman" Edwards
The Daily Bread Mailbag returns with another edition as Stephen 'Breadman' Edwards discussed the Premier Boxing Champions venture, Gennady Golovkin vs. Andre Ward, Keith Thurman vs. Luis Collazo, training camp methods, and more.
Q: Why do you think there are so many complaints about Haymon? I saw your last answer and it was awesome you pointed out how certain things were “acceptable” when other power figures in boxing were doing them. But when Haymon does them it’s a big deal. But tell me why you think there is a double standard. Do you think it’s a race thing?
Bread’s Response: I don’t want to call it a race thing just yet. I really don’t know and I want to be fair with the whole situation.
But one of the things I do think that bothers folks is Haymon’s POWER. Haymon simply holds the most important pieces on the board and the thought of it is driving some people crazy. I think he drives the prices up and other people in boxing can’t stand it. For example an opponent who has come in on the B side vs a Haymon fighter won’t just take 5k to get their head handed to them anymore because of what they got paid to face one of Haymon’s guys. That understandably drives other companies crazy but I don’t view it as illegal. Then the other companies see what Haymon’s A side fighters make and when their fighters want comparable purses and they can’t deliver it causes a rift. I totally understand why most are upset…..but again I don’t think it’s illegal.
What’s strange to me is why the fans and social media blasters are so against the PBC. I can remember a time when “they” complained that Haymon never lets his guys fight each other. Now they complain that he only lets his guys fight each other…..They complain that the PBC has too many showcase fights. But the PBC only started in March.
Since March, the PBC has delivered some really good 50/50 to 60/40 match ups. Keith Thurman vs Robert Guerrero, Danny Garcia vs Lamont Peterson, Andre Direll vs James DeGale, Adrien Broner vs Shawn Porter, Jamie McDonnell vs Tomoki Kameda, Peter Quillin vs Andy Lee, Anthony Direll vs Badou Jack and Omar Figueroa vs Ricky Burns. Those are quality fights. But overall because people who don’t like the PBC movement, they crap all over every match up, which shows an inability to be objective.
I just counted off eight really good match ups that had division significance and some in which the B-side won. But you will still get people who will complain about every little thing. I do think the matchmaking has been random and at times you think you are seeing the prelude to the obvious BIG match up that we don’t get but the fights have not been as bad as reported. If you throw in the surprise good fight we got out of Khan vs Algieri I think the quality of the match ups has been solid.
But here is the kicker: I think the people on the outside looking in, are pushing the panic button a little too soon. Haymon’s competition can still do their thing, they just have to stop complaining and get to it.
Let’s look at each division. I will tell you who I think the best fighter is in each division, and then tell you who is with Al Haymon.
Heavyweight–Wladimir Klitschko; Crusierweight–Marco Huck; Light Heavyweight–Sergey Kovalev; Super Middleweight–Andre Ward; Middleweight–Gennady Golovkin; Super Welterweight–Floyd Mayweather; Welterweight–Floyd Mayweather; Junior Welterweight–Terence Crawford; Lightweight-Jorge Linares; Junior Lightweight Takshi Uchiyama; Featherweight–Vasyl Lomachenko; Junior Featherweight–Guillermo Rigondeaux.
There is really no need to go any further because the only fighter under 122 who is garnering TV exposure is Román Gonzalez.
My point is Haymon only has the best fighter in three divisions: Crusierweight, which is highly debatable; and welterweight and super welterweight, which is the same person—Floyd Mayweather. And he only has one fighter in the Top 10 P4P and that’s Floyd Mayweather again.
So while he does have power and he does seem to have a high degree of control, he doesn’t have the best fighters overall in each division. And while he has the best fighter in the world, after Floyd Mayweather he doesn’t have another guy in the p4p top 10. So everyone should just relax and let things play out. There are still good fighters out here that aren’t with Al Haymon. The people behind them has to get creative just like Haymon did.
I have some random questions. Who has the best commission in boxing, like what state? Who is the best announcer? Who is the best matchmaker—we can’t tell who is a promoter these days? What venue is the best to fight at? And what state produces the best fighters?
Bread’s Response: Best commission I would say New York. Best announcer, Max Kellerman. Best matchmaker, Brad Goodman at Top Rank. Best venue, Alamodome in San Antonio. State that produces the best fighters man this is close. Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Ohio and California are easily the top 5. If you twisted my arm I would say Pennsylvania, but Ohio and California could easily win the argument
What’s up with this new workout routines? What ever happened to simple running, chopping wood and a floor routine in the gym?
Bread’s Response: Here is the thing. You don’t want to be narrow-minded because doing the same thing over and will make an athlete plateau. Therefore a switch up from time to time will trick the body and take it to higher heights. But it’s good to keep it simple because too much will fatigue the boxer and more importantly he will build muscles he doesn’t need for boxing.
I’m an old school guy myself but there are some good new modern training techniques. Speaking of new stuff I really love with Lamont Peterson is doing with that cross box routine, where he and his trainer are boxing and dipping to a rhythm that is conducive to boxing. That’s some good stuff Lamont is doing. He’s working on his rhythm, his cardio, his coordination and it works the crap out of your legs because you are constantly dipping and springing up and down.
So don’t be so dismissive, some of this new stuff works. You have to be smart enough to pick through the crap that some of coaches are throwing out there.
What are your picks for this weekend? Nelson vs Harrison, Herrera vs Lundy and Thurman vs Collazo?
Bread’s Response: I like Keith Thurman big in this fight. He has a really good looping right hand that works well on southpaws. Collazo does not use his legs as much as he used to and I look for that punch to really do damage. I actually think Collazo will try to press Thurman but his feet aren’t quick enough to offset Thurman running him into something. I like Thurman big in this fight.
I like Lundy to outbox Herrera. For some reason Herrera has trouble with the urban rhythm. He lost clean to Karim Mayfield. People forget about that fight but I watched it and it wasn’t close. He got a gift vs Michael Dallas. People forget about that one too. I know he has outboxed some guys and been robbed but he was outboxed vs faster fighters. I think Lundy is all wrong for Herrera. Lundy has unusually long arms for a short fighter and his jab is deceptive. Lundy goes down often but Herrera is not a puncher. I think Lundy’s jab is too quick and he’s too busy. I like him by decision.
Harrison vs Nelson is the fight of the weekend. Nelson is a gutsy guy who has chin problems but he doesn’t have heart problems. He’s hurt or dropped in almost every fight I have seen of his but he never gets stopped. Nelson also has a great work rate for a rangy fighter but his defense is terrible. I think that’s where he loses. When a tall wiry guy has poor defense he becomes a big target. Nelson is a big target. Harrison is a good offensive fighter but he gets hit way too much for a guy who is blowing out his opponents....Nelson has a shot but I just think Harrison is fresher, a little quicker on the draw and he’s the A side. I like him to win not sure how though.
What’s up with GGG asking Ward to come down to 164? Is he afraid of Ward and who do you like if they fight?
Bread’s Response: I’m not sure if he’s afraid of Ward. But I think asking for a catchweight vs Ward when he didn’t ask for a catchweight vs Froch is a concession that they he needs all of the advantages he can get. GGG is acting like the A side in a fight where he is not. There is no A side in this fight and it’s actually a fight where there should be a 50/50 split. I don’t care about what ratings GGG has drawn he’s not the A side to Andre Ward just yet. Neither guy is a PPV fighter yet and GGG has not accomplished more.
Now if you are objective you have to state that some of these demands are a result of Ward’s inactivity so he has to take the blame for that. But in my opinion GGG has not arrived at a point where he can dictate to Andre Ward.
I love the fight and winner of the fight will probably be the fighter of the decade 2010-2019. I think Ward wins. He just understands how to shut everything down an opponent does but I am a big GGG fan. I think he’s a great fighter in the making, I just don’t believe he can beat Andre Ward.
Send Questions to dabreadman25@hotmail.com