By: Ja Lang G. Greene
What’s up fight fans? It’s good to be back … so I’m going to come out swinging … take no prisoners … Feel the mayhem.
I want to send condolences to the families of former heavyweight contender Jimmy Young and former lightweight Najai Turpin. Thanks for your contributions to the sweet science. Rest in eternal peace.
My loser of the week award goes to former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora. It’s always a pleasure to see professional fighters abuse women … but you take the cake! You shot your girlfriend after an argument and you were sentenced today for 21 to 60 months, but you may actually get out in six months. Lucky you!
As BoxingScene’s own James Blears put it, shame on Nate Campbell for his comments towards Robbie Peden before their bout on Wednesday. Campbell reportedly said he wanted to leave Peden “brain dead.” I guess Campbell was lacking some creativity … I’m surprised he didn’t say he wanted to kill him. Boxing already has enough enemies... why give critics more ammunition? Nevertheless you just suffered another KO loss to Peden. Maybe you should concentrate on winning more than maiming!
Bernard Hopkins … props to you champ! You are the top pound for pound fighter in the sport. You have marched to your own drum and provided young fighters with a true blueprint to follow to avoid the shadiness of the sport. Much respect! But please look at Roy Jones’ fate before you plot your future! You have stated that you want to move up to Light Heavyweight and challenge Glencoffe Johnson for his crown and then possibly come back down to middleweight to fight Jermain Taylor before you retire in early 2006. Why move up to light heavyweight? A division where you started your career and lost your pro debut. We all saw what happened to Roy Jones when he moved up to heavyweight, stretched his body out of tune, and then tried to come down to LH and fight his number one contender Antonio Tarver. I see the same scenario playing out with your future. You have a rising contender but are trying to make more money and get a bigger spot in history. Clean out your division first and take the big risk in the finale ….
Ricky Hatton … I love your up tempo high volume style. It is enjoyable to watch and that makes you a fan favorite. But you and I both know that you are three or four more fights away from that Kosta Tszyu fight. Tszyu is not Ray Oliveira. I remember seeing Tszyu’s power make Zab Judah (current undisputed welter champ) and Sharmba Mitchell do the chicken dance.
Speaking of Sharmba Mitchell … do not move up to 147. De La Hoya, Mosley, Judah, Spinks …. Exactly where do you fit in that picture?
Miguel Cotto versus Demarcus Corley = JOKE. Is anyone taking this fight seriously besides HBO? Has Corley become the HBO poster child for beat downs? After this weekend it will be three straight losses for him on the network (Judah, Mayweather, Cotto).
Gatti versus Mayweather … This is why I love boxing. If Floyd doesn’t put on his running shoes we will see what he is made of!!! You must admit … when you saw Gatti destroyed by DLH you thought he was finished.
Just how many farewell fights is Julio Cesar Chavez going to participate in?
John Ruiz, your style is tailor made for James Toney. When you lean forward on Toney he will pot shot you with precise uppercuts just like he did to Jirov and Holyfield.
I am so happy South Carolina-based boxing promoter Bobby Mitchell received three years in prison for fixing fights. I wish it was ten years. Its time to clean up the sport, but let’s keep the government out!
Comments may be sent to jalanggreene@aol.com