By Jake Donovan
As has become par for the course in recent times, insert Golden Boy Promotions' name, and everyone screams conspiracy. The latest scandal has the Left Coast-based company reportedly trying to worm its way into the promotion end for a potential pay-per-view showdown between pound for pound greats of yesterday (Roy Jones Jr.) and today (Joe Calzaghe).
Calzaghe, considered to be no worse than among the world's two best active fighters in the world, recently became the biggest free agent in the sport, having bolted from long time promoter Frank Warren, under whom he's served his entire professional career. The news came shortly before reports indicated that a long-awaited showdown with Jones was closer than ever to becoming a reality.
Some reports have September 20 listed as the target date, while others have suggested the bout will serve as the main attraction for November, one of the premium months of the sport and television in general, with the month's programming referred to as "sweeps" season.
Should Golden Boy Promotions wind up involved in the show and the September 20 date holds up, then they would be doing a far greater disservice to themselves than to the industry. As touched upon in an article last weekend by Boxingscene.com Editor-In-Chief Rick Reeno (click HERE for article), the bout would come one week after a pay-per-view card exclusively promoted by Golden Boy, headlined by the lightweight championship bout between Joel Casamayor and Juan Manuel Marquez.
With the two shows going back-to-back, one of them will surely take a hit. Though the cynic would comment that Casamayor-Marquez is hardly a ratings magnet on its own, and Golden Boy getting involved with a follow-up production wouldn't be a bad insurance policy.
While everyone's searching for the more corrupt angle regarding what at this point has been limited to Golden Boy's meddling, the fact of the matter is that a Calzaghe-Jones fight is in desperate need of third party intervention.
The idea that Calzaghe and Jones can bring their own promotional companies to the forefront of this event is the stuff that HBO's dreams are made of. The network for years has assisted fighters setting up shell promotional companies, their way of eliminating the middleman while signing – and often re-signing – the fighter to an exclusive contract.
To his credit, Jones' Square Ring Inc. has served as an actual promotional company, unlike Mayweather Promotions, Lion Promotions (Lennox Lewis), Prince Promotions (Naseem Hamed) and the most recent entry, Joe Calzaghe Enterprises, none of which developed a single fighter and all of which ultimately served as subsidiaries of larger entities.
Where Square Ring has fallen short through the years, is putting together a solid card from top to bottom. There's even less of hope of it happening with Joe Calzaghe's promotional stable of one coming along for the ride in this event.
The proof is in the past, none more glaring that Jones' rubber match with Antonio Tarver three years ago. The bout was co-promoted by Square Ring and Tarver's promoter at the time, Star Boxing. While the main event is what ultimately sold the bout – much like what will be the case with Calzaghe-Jones – an under card was still needed in order to pass it off as a plausible pay-per-view event.
What fans received was perhaps the worst supporting cast in recent HBO pay-per-view history. Andre Ward was matched against a complete no-hoper. An ESPN2-level rematch between Brian Minto and Vinny Maddalone made its way to the telecast, and the evening's co-feature – Nate Campbell's upset stoppage over then-unbeaten Almazbek Raiymkulov – was provided courtesy of Top Rank and Campbell's local promoter, One Punch Productions.
Want more proof? We take you to July 2007, when Jones turned back the challenge of Anthony Hanshaw in Biloxi, Mississippi. Its chief supports, for your $29.95 – Derrick Gainer-Carlos Navarro and Juan Buendia-Oscar Diaz, a pair of bouts that would barely qualify as opening bouts on Telefutura or Versus.
Still, it's more than what Joe Calzaghe Enterprises would bring to the table, which is nothing – other than Calzaghe himself, of course.
Regardless of whether it lands a week after Casamayor-Marquez, in November as the month's centerpiece, or somewhere in between as an independent pay-per-view, a Calzaghe-Jones fight – while as intriguing as it may seem on its own – needs all of the help it can get.
Does Golden Boy's involvement in yet another HBO-funded event scream manipulation? It's easy to see why that would be assumed.
But before everyone gangs up to shove them out of the door (and Jones is already on record to dismiss their involvement), make sure a suitable replacement is in place – preferably, someone who can provide an under card worth sitting through. Sure, the main event sells itself – but when was the last time you paid $50 (or more) for a one-fight telecast?
Be careful what you wish for, because that's what you'll get if Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones gain full control of the show.
JAKE N DA (MAIL) BOX
As expected, the early week buzz touched on Manny Pacquiao's one-sided knockout win over David Diaz last weekend. Most of the fan mail naturally speculated where the Filipino phenom goes from here, with two notes in particular offering interesting perspectives.
Onward we march with your responses:
Do We One Day See Pacquiao-Mayweather?
I really love your piece you wrote on the aftermath of Saturday's fight. Well I have a question for you about the "PACMAN; do you think Mayweather will unretire because if "Pacman" wins his 6th title with a possible win with "Hit Man" Hatton that would motivate Mayweather to go inside the ring again and fight Manny Pacquiao at 140... He's been toying with this idea since Pacquiao entered the P4P list when he beat Morales back in 2006. Or will he unretire because the winner of the Cotto-Margarito fight will be a big challenge for him as much as it will be a big $$$ fight for him?
BTW - who do you think will win the Cotto vs. Magarito fight... and why? - Vladimir
Jake's Take: Interesting questions you pose. No question that money and jealousy will be the two motivating factors behind a Mayweather comeback, if in fact there is one. I could see him pursuing (or in his mind, accepting) a Pacquiao fight since it'd be less of a risk than taking on a full-fledged welterweight. Plus, he could conceivably still make 140 - the man walks around in better shape on his worst day than most of us can dream of getting into on our best.
That said, we'd be looking at late 2009, possibly even 2010 before such a fight happens.
I've always been skeptical of a Floyd-Cotto fight ever happening, even prior to Floyd's retirement, and not sure that Miguel ever becomes THAT superstar. It could happen should he beat Margarito, and then knock out De la Hoya if the two were to fight in December. But again that still puts Floyd's assumed comeback (since very few believe he'll stay retired, though I do) at no earlier than mid-to-late 2009.
Ever since the fight was announced, I've had it in my head that Cotto finds a way to win, though I don't see it nearly as one-sided as many are surprisingly suggesting will be the case. Most also seem to be predicting a knockout, but for some reason I see it going the full twelve.
More Confusion, But Still Entertaining
Jake, it would be nice to think that today's fighters would stick to one division with OCCASIONAL foray's into other challenges either up or down in weight, but the allure and influence from promoters, is usually too much for them. As I have lamented in past e-mails, there just aren't many Marvin Hagler's around anymore.
Pac man could have some amazing battles with Katsidis, Campbell, J. Diaz, and they would all be excellent boxing matches, but the most likely scenario is he goes on to fight a bigger name like Hatton. He is exceptional and has done some great things for boxing, but it would be equally great in my opinion if he stuck to the lightweight division and tried to clean it up, and then moved on to other challenges. But the vast majority wants to see things like the Pac/Hatton match, so they probably will. I must admit, I would enjoy that one too.
I happen to think Pac would have his hands full with Katsidis in an exciting brawl, although I think he would win, and obviously Nate Campbell would give anyone a good fight. He would have to be at his best for a Juan Diaz fight as well. It is probably a challenging situation to have a guy like Pac if you're a manager or a promoter, because he would give anyone a great fight, even if he went up to welterweight.
But it does seem confusing when no one seems to want to stay in a division and fight all the contenders until it's obvious that they are the champ. Pac has largely done that with his great fights with Morales and Barrera and Marquez, but I think at this point he and his team may be looking to get the name match ups at different weights, and making the big dollars.
Oh well, it's still entertaining, right?
Scott Reed
Jake's Take: I've never understood why establishing yourself as the dominant fighter of your division is frowned upon in today's boxing market. I take that back, I do understand – HBO long ago went public with their overwhelming desire to not only do away with alphabet titles, but weight classes as well, and constantly put together pound-for-pound matches. Sounds great in theory – the best fighting the best is the stuff that mythical matchups are made of. But not to where the best is fighting well out of their comfort zone, which all too often becomes the case.
I could see if Pacquiao claimed a belt at 135 at a time where the division was dead. But the fact of the matter is that it's never been more appealing, and will continue to shine for at least the foreseeable future. On the flipside, there's only ONE significant fight that awaits him at 140 – Ricky Hatton.
Guys like Tim Bradley, Paul Malignaggi, Andreas Kotelnik and others are solid, respectable talents in their own right, but none offer any reason to abandon the lightweight division after just one or two fights – or at least before he faces the winner(s) of Casamayor-Marquez and/or Campbell-Joan Guzman.
As confusing as the lightweight division has become in recent years, Pacquiao is probably the one fighter capable of clearing it up. For the moment, though, it won't happen; I understand his team's desire to make as much money as possible while he's the best fighter in the world. It doesn't mean I have to agree with – or like – it.
JAKE ON DA SOAP BOX
For the last freakin' time, people: Manny Pacquiao was ALREADY a four-division champion prior to last weekend's win over David Diaz. The belt he snatched from Diaz now qualifies him as a five-division champ – three by way of true lineage (flyweight, featherweight, junior lightweight) and now two alphabet reigns (junior featherweight, lightweight).
For a quick reference, check BoxingScene's rankings. Each division lists either a linear champion (not to be confused with The Ring champion, or a champion that's generally regarded –but yet to prove himself - as the division's best fighter) and from where their lineage began, or simply has the slot vacant, with the last linear claimant listed.
For those who need it spelled out, here's why Pacquiao's a legit three division world champion:
Flyweight: Miguel Canto gained universal recognition as world flyweight champion in 1975 following his decision win over Shoji Oguma.
The line continued as follows, without interruption: Chan-Hee Park; Shoji Oguma; Antonio Avelar; Prudencio Cardona; Freddy Castillo; Eleoncio Mercedes; Charlie Magri; Frank Cedeno; Koji Kobayashi; Gabriel Bernal; Sot Chidalata; Yong Kang Kim; Chidalata (2nd reign); Muangchai Kittikasam ; Yuri Arbachakov Chatchai Sasakul, and then Pacquiao.
Since then, the linear crown has traveled from Pacquiao to: Megdeon Sinsurat; Malcolm Tunacao; Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and onto its present claimant Daisuke Naito.
Featherweight: Eusebio Pedroza was hailed the king of all featherweights shortly after the untimely death of previous linear champ Salvador Sanchez.
The title changed hands in the ring from Pedroza to: Barry McGuigan; Stevie Cruz; Antonio Esparragonza; Yong-Kyun Park; Eloy Rojas; Wilfredo Vazquez; Naseem Hamed; Marco Antonio Barrera, and then Pacquiao, who vacated the crown in 2005.
A bout worthy of filling the vacancy has yet to take place, and most likely won't as long as Chris John remains atop the rankings and refusing to leave Indonesia
Junior Lightweight: The easiest to explain – Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez were universally regarded as the worlds top two junior lightweights. Their March 2008 bout filled a six year vacancy, left behind by Floyd Mayweather, whose linear reign is open to debate. Some considered Genaro Hernandez the division's true champ when Mayweather stopped him in their 1998 bout; others held out until Mayweather faced and soundly defeated the division's next best fighter, the late Diego "Chico" Corrales in 2001.
It can also be argued that upon Mayweather's departure, the vacancy was immediately filled by Acelino Freitas' 2002 decision win over Joel Casamayor, at a time when they were undefeated and regarded as the next two best fighters in the division. That's fine; the title would've still been vacate since 2004, when Freitas left in pursuit lightweight belts and glory.
For the moment, it appears that Pacquiao is done with the junior lightweight division, which would once again create a hole at the top. Fittingly enough, the top two active junior lightweights following the departure of Pacquiao, Marquez and Joan Guzman are Edwin Valero and Humberto Soto; rather than face each other, both are on the short list of next potential opponents for Pacquiao – at lightweight.
Pacquiao's alphabet reigns at junior featherweight and lightweight are self-explanatory: he beat Lehlo Ledwaba at 122 for a belt; ditto in his 135 lb. debut against Diaz last weekend. It's worth mentioning that while not a linear reign, Ledwaba was generally regarded as the best active junior featherweight when Pacquiao dethroned him.
There, I've typed it out. Read it, retain it; you will be quizzed the next time I see you…
Speaking of Humberto Soto, I have to ask this: what difference does it make whether or not the WBC awards Francisco Lorenzo their crappy interim title? Yes, the win came under suspect circumstances, but here's my beef: why hold out for a Soto-Lorenzo rematch if Soto's already rumored to next face Pacquiao?
For what it's worth, should Soto pass on the soon-to-be ordered rematch, then next in line as potential future opponents for Francisco Lorenzo are Yuriorkis Gamboa and Rocky Juarez. As precocious a prospect is Gamboa, he has no business yet challenging for a title of any kind.
And how many more chances can Rocky Juarez receive without having first actually won a big fight? I guess as many as his 2000 US Olympic teammate Jose Navarro.
Jake Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .
