By Robert Morales

John Bray was a highly touted amateur back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and he went on to have a respectable professional career in the heavyweight division, going 15-3-2 with five knockouts from 1992-1998. Bray never had a pro bout with any of the big names of his day, but he certainly sparred with the best.

When Bray was still an 18-year-old amateur, he helped Evander Holyfield get ready for James "Quick" Tillis in July 1988.

"And I sparred with Lennox Lewis for Lionel Butler and Ray Mercer and with Mike Tyson for Bruce Seldon and both Holyfield fights," Bray said.

When the subject was broached during a telephone interview Tuesday, Bray didn't want to get into the age-old debate of how the Klitschko brothers - world champions Wladimir and Vitali - would have done against the champions of that era such as Holyfield, Tyson, Riddick Bowe and Lewis.

"I never wanted to be one of those fighters that would say, 'Back in my day...'," said Bray, 40, who trains middleweight contender Miguel Espino as well as some young heavyweights. 

But Bray did have some very interesting thoughts on the Klitschkos and the difference between them and the likes of Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe, et al. He also spoke longingly for the days when Americans ruled the division.

"I just think the Klitschkos are giant men that are athletes; I don't think that they are fighters, per se," Bray said. "Evander Holyfield is more than a fighter, he is a warrior. Mike Tyson is a warrior. Those guys are animals. Really rough guys. Lennox was the beginning of these super giant men and the Klitschkos fall right behind Lennox.

"Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe, these guys were fighters. They weren't just athletes. These guys had a different mind set." 

Bray intimated that those three - all of whom doled out vicious punishment as well as received it during their respective careers - were the epitome of what great American heavyweight champions should be.

"Those were the glory days when Americans controlled the heavyweight division," Bray said; Lewis is British, but Tyson, Bowe and Holyfield are American. "Those days are gone." 

At one point during the conversation, Bray suggested that the reason the Klitschkos aren't killers in the ring as because they never knew what it was like to be poor. He also hinted that American heavyweights have gotten too soft.

"It's almost like America has gotten too rich and too clean for boxing," he said. "It's a poor man's sport. That, to me, is really what it is. The Klitschkos don't come from that. They are such giant men and such athletes ..."

But that doesn't mean they are warriors, Bray said.

Americans can make a return to dominance, but only if they bring a big appetite with them. 

"They come from the varrios and the ghettos," said Bray, who grew up in a rough area of the San Fernando Valley (near Los Angeles) and ran those streets. "We have big guys in this country, too. They gotta be hungry and they gotta really, really want it and I think it comes form not having anything."

Sparring with Tyson a Hairy Experience

Bray further accented his thoughts on the more terrifying heavyweights of yesterday. Of the three big names he worked with, he said sparring with Tyson was the most intimidating. 

"Boxing with Tyson was like boxing with nobody else," Bray said. "Boxing with a guy like Mike Tyson is scary. His intentions are, he is there to  hurt you. He has to be that way because that is the way he fights. Outside of that, he was a great guy to me. It was a life experience being in those camps. I will be sitting down with my grandkids talking about that. It is part of history."

Speaking of scary, some were scared you-know-what-less when they fought Tyson. Frank Bruno couldn't stop doing the sign of the cross during his ring walk, Seldon was petrified, and Michael Spinks was so daunted he couldn't do a damn thing during the 89 seconds it took him to be knocked out by "Iron Mike." 

The Klitschkos don't have that effect on their opponents. They just don't. There aren't any American heavyweights who come close to that, either. And you want heart? Who has more than Holyfield?

Lopez on Marquez, Gamboa, Popularity, etc.

It was Wednesday afternoon, and Juan Manuel Lopez was in his native Puerto Rico attending one of his daughters' soccer games. Lopez was in a very friendly mood - as is always the case - and patiently answered questions on a number of subjects.

First and foremost, Lopez declared himself ready for his Nov. 6 featherweight title defense against Rafael Marquez at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"I think I need to be in great physical shape," Lopez said, when asked what it will take to defeat Marquez, who at 35 is eight years Lopez's senior. "You have to start off the same in round 12 as you did in round 1. And, of course, a lot of heart."

Lopez was told that many reporters believe this fight is going to end quickly in his favor because Marquez is not the same fighter he once was. Lopez wasn't buying it.

"I truly believe that right now at this point in our careers, we are on the same level," he said. "I don't think he's a lot better than me like he once was. And I don't think I am better than him. I think it's a 50-50 fight."

It is probably a very good thing that Lopez is thinking that way because a loss would do damage to a potential fight with fellow featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa. And that is a fight Lopez really wants because of what it could do for his career.

"I think that's the next fight, besides Marquez, that would be the next big fight for me," Lopez said. "When you win those types of fights, it brings you to another level. It creates more buzz around you. I know, in time, it will come."

Changing gears, Lopez was asked to talk about his growing popularity on the island. He laughed when asked if he is now more popular than Miguel Cotto.

"I would never say that," he said. "I think Miguel Cotto still has a lot of popularity in Puerto Rico." 

But Lopez is a wanted man, so to speak, in his homeland.

"It's always tough to walk around, go anywhere at this time because people come up to me all the time and want autographs and pictures," said Lopez, who describes himself as humble and friendly.

"But we knew that would happen once you get to a certain level. But it's difficult to get things done because those people are always around you."

As cheering could be heard in the background, Lopez snickered slightly when it was pointed out to him that his fight with Marquez seemingly is getting the short end of the stick from a publicity standpoint because Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito is a week later and most people are talking about that one.

"I understand Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter, the greatest fighter in the world," Lopez said. "Any time he fights, anything is going to be overshadowed. Nothing we can do about that. I can tell you that in Puerto Rico, my fight is the most important one. Maybe one day it will be my time to be like that."

Schaefer Won't Rush Katsidis

With the death of Michael Katsidis' brother this week, the obvious question is, will Katsidis still be able to challenge Juan Manuel Marquez for his two lightweight championships on Nov. 27 in Las Vegas? Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions - which promotes both fighters - said Tuesday it's too soon to tell.

Furthermore, Schaefer said, this is not the time to make Katsidis decide that.

"We want to make sure Michael is OK," Schaefer said. "This is a terrible tragedy for him and his family. This is not the right time to say, 'By the way, are you going to be able to fight?' We want to give him a few days to mourn and then revisit it."

Schaefer was asked if he had an alternate plan in case Katisidis decides he is incapable of fighting. He responded by saying this is also not the proper time to discuss that.

"I'm sure fans want to see that fight," Schaefer said. "But again, we have to see what he wants to do."

Schaefer Sticks Up For Marquez

A reporter from BoxingScene.com suggest to Schaefer that Marquez took the fight with Katsidis instead of a fight with super lightweight Amir Khan because he knows his chances of beating Katsidis are greater than they would be against Khan. And since Marquez is 37, a loss at this point would almost certainly eliminate him from getting his much-coveted third fight with Pacquiao.    

"After the Juan Diaz fight (in July) I flew down to Mexico a couple of weeks later and sat down face to face with Juan and his trainer, Nacho Beristain," Schaefer said. "There was a very strong interest on HBO's part and Amir Khan's part to see if the fight with Marquez could be done."

About that time, Schaefer said the WBO informed all concerned parties Marquez would be stripped of that belt if he does not fight Katsidis, the interim champion.

"Nacho felt at this particular point the best thing to do would be to go see if the Katsidis fight could be done," Schaefer said. "Marquez is interested in moving to 140 and becoming the first Mexican to win titles in four weight classes. That definitely is still open. 

"Having said that, he really didn't want to walk away from the lightweight division with unfinished business. He knew (Katsidis) would be an exciting fight, an all-action fight. I really don't think that (losing out on the Pacquiao fight) crossed his mind."

De La Hoya: Hopkins Should Be Praised For Fighting Pascal

It was Tuesday night, about 7:30 p.m. on the East Coast. Oscar De La Hoya had landed in New York City for Wednesday's news conference promoting the Dec. 18 fight between Bernard Hopkins and light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal that will take place in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

De La Hoya was coughing and sniffling.

"All that traveling," he said.

De La Hoya and company had just completed a three-day Canadian press tour for Hopkins-Pascal in Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto. He was weary, but he perked up some when asked what it says about Hopkins that, at age 45, he is challenging a 27-year-old world champion fresh off a victory over Chad Dawson - a top 10 pound-for-pound fighter at the time of their fight in August.

"It tells you that having the responsibility of being a living legend is no laughing matter to Bernard Hopkins," said De La Hoya, Hopkins' promoter and business partner. "He takes it very seriously and he keeps on proving to everyone that he can still beat these young guys, these young lions."

The last time Hopkins fought, he didn't look all that great in winning a unanimous decision over a faded Roy Jones Jr. Yes, Hopkins was belted with two rabbit punches that apparently put him on queer street, but the first one didn't come until the sixth round and before that he wasn't very impressive against another 40-plus fighter.

De La Hoya, speaking via telephone, downplays the significance of that performance.

"A Jones fight will make anybody look bad," De La Hoya said. "Jones is a very difficult, crafty boxer. Take a look at their first fight many years ago and it was the same thing. It was the same fight we saw in the rematch."

De La Hoya said Pascal will bring out the best in Hopkins.

"I believe Jean Pascal's style is going to make Bernard shine," he said. "He is a very aggressive fighter and he throws punches from all angles. And I believe Bernard is going to pick him apart." 

Retirement Will Be up To Hopkins

Most would expect Hopkins to retire if he loses this one handily. After all, he will be 46 in January. But De La Hoya said Hopkins won't hear it from him.

"No, I believe that would be his decision to make," De La Hoya said. "Us, as the promoters at Golden Boy, we really have nothing to say to any fighter to retire. It's up to them. It is up to whoever they talk to, to make the decision. Hopkins is a smart man, he knows what he's doing."

Now on Twitter

De La Hoya sounded like a kid in a candy store when informing us that he is now on twitter @OscarDeLaHoya. 

"I've already given away 10 pairs of tickets for the fight coming with Amir Khan," De La Hoya said of Khan-Marcos Maidana on Dec. 11 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. "It's pretty cool."

Robert Morales covers boxing for the Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram and BoxingScene.com