Daily Bread Mailbag: Golovkin-Lara, Mayweather-Broner, More

By Stephen 'Breadman' Edwards

The Daily Bread Mailbag returns with Stephen 'Breadman' Edwards answering questions on Gennady Golovkin vs. Erislandy Lara, Canelo vs. Amir Khan, the Floyd Mayweather vs. Adrien Broner beef, Canelo's chances against Golovkin and more. 

What's up Bread?  As a boxing fan growing up in the Philly area, I've heard/read a bit about the great Philly middleweights of the 70's/early 80's - Briscoe, Hart, Monroe, Watts, and Parker.  But I get them confused sometimes in terms of styles, who was viewed as the most talented, who was viewed as having the best career, etc.  Would you mind breaking them down for me?  Thanks.

Matt Ferrie

Bread’s Response: Good question. Curtis Parker is a little bit younger than the big 4 but he was a beast in his own right.

The most popular and who is viewed as the best is Bennie Brisco. Briscoe was a pressure slugger, with a granite chin and chippy fighting style.

Cyclone Hart was a teenage phenom and probably the biggest puncher out of the crew. Hart was also a pressure slugger.

Bobby Watts and Willie Monore were big, slick boxer punchers.

Curtis Parker was a strong pressure fighter. 

Hello Breadman.

As you can tell by the subject, this is a Golovkinesque topic.

Firstly, I applaud your comments on a previous post about GGG against a prime maravilla. I had this conversation with a friend around 2 years ago (just after the proksa fight) and I argued strongly that the outcome would have been a devastating and early stoppage by way of a VICIOUS Golovkin left hook to the body.

Couple of thoughts id like your opinion on.

1: Golovkin Vs Lara. I speak to a lot of people and read a lot of comments regarding this who come to the assumption that Lara's style is all wrong for Golovkin. I, however, feel the outcome wouldn’t be too dissimilar  to how we both feel the Golovkin/Martinez fight would end. I can see Lara annoying the Good Boy for a round or two but I feel that once golovkin connects with his power, Lara would not like the taste of it and start backing up and rolling around the ropes, a school boy mistake against GGG. I eventually see Golovkin's footwork trapping a helpless Lara into a corner and a white towel being thrown in. What are your thoughts on this?

2: Do you see a potential Golovkin Vs Canelo bout as even being competitive? I say this based on the notion that Canelo had to grind out a 12 round decision against a fighter that I believe Golovkin would have stopped in 4 rounds with his face cut up like a pizza (Miguel Cotto). I think Golovkin's footwork would be the decisive factor and although Canelo is an excellent combination puncher, I think Golovkin's hooks are unrivalled and his all round punch selection is far more clinical then Canelos. I also don’t think canelo would get close enough to throw his combinations without getting a left hook in the gut for his troubles. I see this being stopped late. what about you?

Thanks Breadman

James

Bread’s Response: Lara keeps calling GGG out and I would love to see that fight. I think Lara will have his moments. He’s an elite level pure boxer and he’s a straight puncher. But Lara has poor inside defense and his ability to absorb punishment is questionable. Canelo, Angulo and Ishe Smith all had success with the left hook to the body. GGG has the best left hook to the body in boxing. I don’t know if Lara can control him for 12 rounds. GGG thrives off of guys who move away from him. I don’t understand why this fight has not been made yet. I think it’s interesting.

I actually think Canelo vs GGG would be competitive. Canelo has an underrated chin and physical toughness. He’s 8 years younger and GGG’s style fits into what he likes. I favor GGG but trust me on this Canelo is not upside down.

Your boy Jesse Hart just got exposed he’s a complete fraud. He got dropped twice and was holding on for dear life against Dashon Johnson who used to be a welterweight. Not to mention he has about 20 losses. You claimed that Hart is better than Gilberto Ramirez and that Hart has a chance to be a champion. Bread you’re a homer. You probably have a piece of Hart. No way a guy 20 fights into his career, with the advantages he had should struggle like that with Johnson. Don’t try to spin this.

Bread’s Response: I don’t have to spin anything. I don’t work for Jesse Hart. You guys love it when a kid has a tough night. Listen I’m not going to make excuses for Jesse. I like the kid and yes I know him from the gyms here in Philly. But he had a tough night. I expected him to dominate Dashon Johnson because as you stated there is a huge size difference between him and his opponent. But don’t accuse me of having a piece of his career and being a homer. That’s an insult and a lie.

I still believe Jesse is better than Ramirez. It’s not a knock on Ramirez but his best attributes in my opinion is he’s 6’2 and left handed. I don’t view him as a can’t miss type.

I think Hart is more athletic, more naturally talented, faster and a better puncher. The one question I had about Jesse is can he become a dominant 12 round fighter. Obviously those are still questions. Let’s see if Jesse and his team can identify and correct his problems. Right now he has questionable stamina and emotional control. But he’s still undefeated. Sometimes a bad night can turn into something good. Don’t be so quick to down a young kids career you troll!

Jesse also has to not listen to you guys. He has to remain confident while acknowledging what he did wrong. If he does that he will be just fine and I still think he has a great chance to be a world champion.

What do you think of Manny Pacquiao’s comments about gays? What Charlo brother is the better fighter? Who is the hardest puncher in boxing? Mythical Match ups Frankie Randall vs Danny Garcia?

Bread’s Response: I think Pacquiao lacks common sense. His private views on the matter should have been kept private. To publicly say that is PR suicide. Manny should know better.

I don’t know which Charlo twin is better. Ask me that after their careers is over.

Sergey Kovalev, Gennady Golovkin or Adonis Stevenson. Tough pick.

Man Randall vs Garcia is tough. I can’t call this one. Geez I’m typing as I think. Maybe Randall because his punches are too straight and sharp. Randall was a heck of a fighter. 

Yes Mr Breadman

Not sure if anyone has mentioned the gloves in being a factor in the Canelo vs Khan. Khan use to being hit and defending with 8oz gloves. How much of a difference will it make for Khan on both sides of the coin?

He has had hand problems before will it help fighting with bigger gloves?

Two really fun fights in the UK this weekend

Kell Brook vs Bizier and Nick Blackwell vs Eubank jr. I can see both fights being a good clash of styles not sure if we will see a stoppage in both. Do you think Eubank is the real deal or hype job?

Bread’s Response: I don’t think the gloves will be a big factor in this fight. Khan will wear bigger gloves. Canelo will wear his usual 10 oz gloves. Khan is not a huge puncher at 147 and I don’t expect him to be one at 155. Speed and smarts will win this fight anyway.

Brook should handle Bizier. I don’t much about Eubank’s opponent. I believe Eubank is a player at 160. I don’t think he will ever rule the division in a way where he is the best fighter over a 5-10 fight span but he will remain a top 10 guy for a while. 

Most people "in the know" figure Khan has to fight a flawless fight to beat Canelo. And it's hard to argue that. Was just wondering if you think the work Khan is putting in with Virgil will help him fight that kind of fight? I mean, in the past Amir had a bad tendency to move his hands before his feet. But Virgil (at least with Ward) seems to be a stickler for footwork. You think Khan can learn what he needs to make this thing competitive?

Bread’s Response: Khan has  ad 4 performances in his career that have in my opinion, stood out. Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi while with Freddie Roach. And Devon Alexander and Luis Collazo while with Virgil Hunter. All of the performances came against fighters who “boxed” Amir.

His shaky performances were against men who “fought” him. Chris Algieri, Lamont Peterson, Breidis Prescott, Danny Garcia and Julio Diaz. This is not a coincidence.

The good thing for Khan is Canelo fights in spurts in a controlled way. Khan doesn’t like it when you fight him like an animal and invade his space. Over time that makes him become disorganized.

I think Khan can learn what he has to learn. The question is, will he. I think Khan has to listen to everything Virgil tells him and not try to improvise one bit. For as fast Khan is he’s not hard to counter punch. Canelo is a master counter puncher. There lies the problem.

Bread,

First off, congrats on the work you're doing with J-Rock. The kid is a beast. Hopefully Charlo mans up, makes weight, and that fight can happen soon.

Anyway, was wondering if you could shed some wisdom on something: why don't more southpaws use the Philly Shell defense? Southpaws lead with their liver so doesn't it make sense to have your arm down protecting that vital organ when you're battling in close? Sure it opens you up for the straight or looping right and the uppercut, but if you're aware of that, and have fought in that style since you were young, you should have the ability to catch a shot or bend and get off to your right or left if you see (or anticipate) the punch coming.

Which brings me to my second question. In every gym I've ever boxed in, they preach that southpaws should be jockeying from outside foot position and moving away from the other guy's back hand. End of story. I understand the theory. But isn't it equally important to be able to move toward your opponent's power hand? Get in under it, shoulder him off, turn and shoot?

All the best,

BigAd

Bread’s Response: Interesting….Most southpaws may not understand human anatomy and realize they are leading with their liver. I think one of the reasons they don’t fight with their lead hand down is because they are taught to go to the outside of the right handed fighter. It’s hard to get to the outside position if you are shooting your jab from down at your waiste.

I don’t get into which direction a southpaw should move in because I have seen both work. Whitaker would double jab you to the outside position and work around his opponents. Then at times he would let you come to him and he would drift to his left which is into your power hand, make you throw it and counter you with a left hand.

Pacquiao and Antonio Tarver land their vaunted left hands while being on the inside of their opponent’s lead foot. Look at Pacquiao’s knockdowns of Chris Algieri and Marco Antonio Barrera. Look at Tarver’s ko of Roy Jones. These were all shots from the inside of the lead foot. Then Pacquiao will switch up and play on the outside, make you jab and while you’re jabbing he slides his head to the right and shoots a straight left hand. Look at his knockdown of Marquez in their 4th fight.

Erislandy Lara moves to his left the majority of the time because it’s easier for him to counter with his left hand. He want’s you to chase him going to his left.

People repeat things they have heard without researching it. The truth is you fight southpaws on an individual basis. Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones and Floyd Mayweather fight southpaws better than anyone I have ever seen. And they all break the standard rules and go to their right which is into a southpaws strong hand his left more often. Research what I’m telling and write back. A fight plan should be fight specific to that specific fighter. I don’t ever generalize when it comes to boxing. Thanks for the comment bro, great question.

What do you think of Adrien Broner and Floyd Mayweather’s beef? It seems as though Floyd is correcting Broner for stuff that he himself is guilty of. And Broner’s response is basically Floyd is a hypocrite.

Bread’s Response: I haven’t paid attention to their beef. I didn’t know they had one.  Sometimes fans and the media get caught up in asinine drama. This kind of stuff is none of my business. If you a take a side in these type of things and you go too hard on social media and other platforms you make a fool of yourself. Because Floyd and Adrien will be cool again and as a fan or media member you will be fighting and arguing over two guys that are friends and bros. As they say in Philly I stay in my lane when it comes down to stuff like that. Ask me about who was the better fighter at 26 years old lol.

With the rich tradition of great Philadelphia fighters. Is Bernard Hopkins the best ever from the city of brotherly love. If not who can compete with him as the best ever from Philadelphia?

Bread’s Response: Great question. Many old timers say he’s not but I think they are being unfair. If Bernard Hopkins is not the best fighter ever from Philadelphia he has to be in the top 3 along with Joe Frazier and Tommy Loughran. A great argument can be made for all 3. I grew up on Hopkins so I know his career in and out. It matches up with all of the legends of yesteryear and often supersedes them.

Hopkins won the middleweight title and defended in 20 times. Hopkins then went on to win the lightweightheavyweight title on 3 separate occasions. He has never been stopped. His most notable wins came against Felix Trinidad, Oscar DeLa Hoya, Antonio Tarver, Kelly Pavlik, Winky Wright, Glen Johnson and Jean Pascal.

Joe Frazier is an Olympic Gold Medalist. He won the heavyweight title in a Golden Era. He won the biggest fight in history vs Muhammad Ali. He also defeated Bob Foster, Jerry Quarry, Jimmy Ellis and Buster Mathis.

Tommy Loughran won the NYSAC lightheavyweight title and the world lightheavyweight title. He has a draw with the great Gene Tunney. He has a victory over everybody’s top 5 p4p in Harry Greb. He also beat a top 50 all time great in Mickey Walker. Loughran defeated 3 men who were world’s heavyweaight champion also in James Braddock, Jack Sharkey and Max Baer.

You can make a case for all 3 men with no wrong answer. If you are under 50 you will take Bhop. If you are between 50-70 you will most likely go with Smoking Joe. And if you are a veteran of the Korean or World Wards Loughran will be your man.

What's up Breadman

As a fellow Aries, I started to think of current notable boxers who are Aries, and came to wonder is this the golden era of Aries boxers. I didn't do that much extensive research, but seriously look at the list.

Sergey Kovalev

Erislandy Lara

Gennady Golovkin

Julian Williams

Danny García

Wladimir Klitschko

Luis Ortiz

What do you think?

Troy from Philly

Bread’s Response: I’m an Aries also April 2nd. So I love it when I observe a great person or athlete with the same sign. I knew GGG, Krusher and Jrock were aries but I didn’t realize Ortiz, Lara, Garcia and Wlad were. That’s awesome.

By the best Aries of them all is Jack Johnson who’s birthday is March 31st. I believe Joe Calzaghe and Kelly Pavlik are both Aries too….

For people who think signs don’t mean anything think about this for a second. Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Bernard Hopkins, Felix Trinidad, Roy Jones and Pernell Whitaker all have birthdays within a 2 weeks span of each other in January.

Top that off Ray Robinson, Ray Leonard and Joe Louis all have birthdays within a 2 week span of each other in May. Hmmppff……

Send comments & questions to dabreadman25@hotmail.com