The purpose of this thread is to ask Iceman John Scully a question or two.
I'll bump it periodically for those who didn't catch it this time around.
Happy postings!
Timothy Bradley: Saw him as amateur but not as a pro yet
Devon Alexander: Same as Bradley
Floyd Mayweather Jr: A genius in the ring..so confident, trains like amadman, very smart in there...picks his hots as well as anyone ever has
Kelly Pavlik: Little bit raw but is so determined, hits hard, stays with his game plan, seems like a very clean living kid and
Andre Berto: Saw him more as an amateur than as a pro...has fast hands...seems like a nice kid out of the ring...still improving, he should be quite a bit better in three years or so and his game then will be so much more well rounded than it is right now...I think they rushed him a bit in a certain way of thinking and soon he may be in over his head...IMO, no way is he ready for Margarito yet
Green K Sent.
Hey Iceman.
I haven't been watching boxing for long so I had to read about your career online. I see you had an impressive amateur career and sparred some true legends of the ring. You got close to titles in the pro ranks but never quite made it to the very top. Do you look back and think you'd have got a world title if you'd done anything differently, or do you think you reached your potential?
http://www.youtube.com/user/IceJohnScully <<< FYI: I am going to be adding (once I get my equipment back) some VERY GOOD youtube...stuff the boxing fan will really love (home videos with RJ, etc)...
I'm following you. What exactly is the process for picking out the judges for an upcoming fight?
I mean, alot of fighters and their team usually will pull out the "handpicked judges" card if they feel they got the raw end of the judging. But, do both camps have a say when the judges are picked?
don't both camps get a list of judges they can choose from, and get to X out the ones they're not trusting of to work the fight, until it is narrowed down to 3 ?
** Oh, and BTW ICE, who do you like in Ward-Kessler? And will it be competitive?
And another thing, Arthur Abraham, my g*d, his style is simple, high guard/turtle defense/and a good counter-puncher. How the hell do you penetrate that tight defense of his, it's like trying to dent a steel armor.
Sorry so late to reply...camps don't pick the judges but they can VETO a judge if they choose to...the commission will or will not act on it...the commission chooses the judges but it seems that many judges get chosen to do fights for certain promoters...for title fights there are also specific judges licensed with the IBF, WBA and WBC...they can be with all three groups...some guys only do IBF fights, though, or only WBA, only WBC...I will go with Kessler but Ward is a VERY LIVE underdog..very...and that Abrhaham, so strong....with late round power...u gotta' be on your P's and Q's with him every second of every round and u need to be in tip top shape, too...
For me the hometown decision isnt really based on the actual place aperson lives as much as it is his connection to the promoter, etc...a Don King boxer fighting on a DK show 1000 miles from his home...is still kind of the hometown fighter, you know what I mean?
One last thing which I thought you might get a kick out of (or be creeped out by haha) but I'm a recent convert to boxing from muay thai, and a large part of the reason for that is catching old classic night at the fights episodes on ESPN; a lot of them are from the Whitaker, Holyfield, Camacho, Mancini etc era so I hear your commentary on them a lot, and because of it whenever i imagine a fantasy matchup of fighters, it's always your and Joe Tessitore's voices i hear commentating :rofl: anyway look forward to hearing your thoughts on Gamboa if you have the time to reply... take it easy
I agree, I think Gamboa definitely has star quality potential...he is exciting, can punch, has style and gets hit and buzzed just enough to keep it interesting...he's one of those rare guys who, if u know they are on TV and u are home, you will turn the TV to see what he's up to...Also, glad you like the Classics :)
Hey John, this thread rules... it's nice to be able to pick someones brains who has a real knowledge of the history of the sport, and I think the history is a big part of what makes boxing my preferred sport over MMA and such; I was hoping to ask you a question about a current upcoming fighter though...
The question is, what do you think of upcoming Cuban prospect Yuriorkas Gamboa? (just assuming you've seen some or all of his fights) it seems he cops his share of flak around here for the knockdowns scored against him in some of his early bouts with questionable opposition, and people keep telling me it shows he has a weak chin; the thing is to me at least it seemed in those fights he went down because he rushed wildly into a punch each time, and was never really hurt... he was up very quick with his legs steady under him and hungry to get some payback. Also I noticed in his recent title fight with Jose Rojas the southpaw in the 5th round Rojas lands what seems like a really good left hand on Gamboa's jaw, and it has no effect at all... and this is a guy who I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) knocked out Celestino Caballero in one punch with that same hand.
It seems pretty evident he's been working on fighting with more control in his training from his last few fights... personally I'm really looking forward to seeing where this guys career goes, he just seems because of his explosive style in the ring to have that "star quality" that'll bring some real excitement in future fights, and I think it might make him a big, big star in the sport
One last thing which I thought you might get a kick out of (or be creeped out by haha) but I'm a recent convert to boxing from muay thai, and a large part of the reason for that is catching old classic night at the fights episodes on ESPN; a lot of them are from the Whitaker, Holyfield, Camacho, Mancini etc era so I hear your commentary on them a lot, and because of it whenever i imagine a fantasy matchup of fighters, it's always your and Joe Tessitore's voices i hear commentating :rofl: anyway look forward to hearing your thoughts on Gamboa if you have the time to reply... take it easy
Then I think about SRL and Mayweather SR. While Jr is much better than his daddy, styles makes fights. You saw how Ray was able to blast through the shoulder roll. How he made Sr. pay dearly when he languished against thhe ropes. Sr had good hand speed to, and his power IMO would be the same as Jr's power,, and Ray ignored this and made him exchange and punished him seriously in those exchanges. Sr. was undefeated at that point. I couple that with how smart and elusive Ray was when he faced Benetiz a great counter puncher....and the fact that Ray is just at fast with more reach...I see nothing but a long long long night for Mayweather...
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SRL really put some serious leather on May Sr. and I am certainly no fan of Sr.'s ignorant attacks on other trainers, his ridiculous and unfounded boasts about himself, etc etc...but I have to say that he showed a TON of toughness and heart in standing up to the onslaught of the Ray...he tried to fight back there at the end but was just too broken down by the Sugarman's offense to keep enough steam on his own punches....he did try hard, though
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Yo Champ,
Just wanted to let you know I started a petition for you to replace Steward at HB*, hehe.
I've heard you on ESPN a good number of times doing the play-by-play on old fights, and I think you would do well if given the chance.
Have you ever been considered for the boxing analyst position with either HB* or Sh*time?
Hey, my man, THANK YOU for that...u never know who could see something like that and have a lightbulb go off...I have been talked to at least three times over the last two years about possible work as an analyst (not by HBO or SHOWTIME) but so far nothing has been set in stone...always ready if they call, though...it would be a DREAM job...
I never asked Ray about it...and all I heard from the other side is that it was good sparring....RJ held his own, etc...that Ray was impressed with him...I know SRL was impressed because -and many do not know this- but there was a time there when he was amateur that it was widely assumed (by me, too) that RJ was going to sign with Ray when he went pro...as a matter of fact, the first time I ever sparred Roy it was at Ray's gym in Maryland...
I'll say this much, Sugar Ray Leonard was a TRULY great fighter...who defeated some of the undisputed best fighters of all time (Benitez, Duran, Hearns and Hagler are on everybody's lists) and he beat so many different styles...beat men in their primes...sometimes beat them at their own games...he was a WARRIOR with a pretty face and smile so you often didn't get to realize that about him..he had the killer instinct of the fiercest men you can think of in history...he was also one of the best body punchers of all time even though he probably isnt even thought of for his body shots)...he didn't have the uncanny reflexes of Mayweather but he certainly didnt have bad reflexes by any stretch, he was nobody's statue...Mayweather is an awesomely talented boxer, yes, but Sugar Ray Leonard in his prime could box, could punch, was fierce, was game, was willing to take abuse and stand toe to toe to get what he wanted and what he NEEDED to get...at 147 he was a proven monster...people see the flash and the sizzle for Floyd and gravitate to his skills but at 147 Sugar Ray Leonard would massacre the majority of the men who make up PBF's best victims list...and he would do so with skill, style AND wicked damage causin punches...PBF is top notch and the man of his era, don't get me wrong...but Sugar Ray Leonard was special because of the EXTRA attributes he possessed and those attirbues would see him dig down to find a way to win...basically because, in my eyes, the things that PBF excels at just wouldnt be strong enough to do anything to derail a determined Sugar Ray Leonard...
Exactly the way I see it and have argued the point. I see Mayweather being better defensivly but defense is not going to propel him to a win over a Prime SRL. He may make Leonard mis a lot, but what is he going to do, pot shot ray to a victory, or counter Ray to death to a victory? I just do not see it. It seems to me that this mythical fight would virutally be up to what ever style ray wanted to make it.
I saw the DLH fight, and how DLH was able to control the 1st part of the fight (not dominate by any means) with his jab, and when he was active Mayweather did not want any part of him, electing to lay back and tire DLH out, make him miss, land a counter here and there, etc. I then think about that being a Prime SRL who fought a action packed 15 rounds with Duran, back and forth sizzling action, taking and recieving punishment. No way Ray tires out, so Mayweather would have to fight Ray,not wait him out if we wanted to win. I think about how he fougth Judah and elected to wait until Judah Self destructed before engaging,,This again would not be Prime Ray.
I think about to fights that Ray had. Benetiz, where ray was controlled (more so than he should have been according to him) how his jab was strong powerful quick (dropped benetiz), what would Mayweather be able to with Peak Ray's jab, if he had trouble dealing with 36 year old DLH's jab. Then remember DLH Right hand is suspect thus he really had the jab and the left hook to deal with, nothing str8 down the pipe..With Ray, it would be a whole nother story.
Then I think about SRL and Mayweather SR. While Jr is much better than his daddy, styles makes fights. You saw how Ray was able to blast through the shoulder roll. How he made Sr. pay dearly when he languished against thhe ropes. Sr had good hand speed to, and his power IMO would be the same as Jr's power,, and Ray ignored this and made him exchange and punished him seriously in those exchanges. Sr. was undefeated at that point. I couple that with how smart and elusive Ray was when he faced Benetiz a great counter puncher....and the fact that Ray is just at fast with more reach...I see nothing but a long long long night for Mayweather...
Finally, what about the sparring session between Ray and Jones...What did you hear actually happened in this session.
I'll say this much, Sugar Ray Leonard was a TRULY great fighter...who defeated some of the undisputed best fighters of all time (Benitez, Duran, Hearns and Hagler are on everybody's lists) and he beat so many different styles...beat men in their primes...sometimes beat them at their own games...he was a WARRIOR with a pretty face and smile so you often didn't get to realize that about him..he had the killer instinct of the fiercest men you can think of in history...he was also one of the best body punchers of all time even though he probably isnt even thought of for his body shots)...he didn't have the uncanny reflexes of Mayweather but he certainly didnt have bad reflexes by any stretch, he was nobody's statue...Mayweather is an awesomely talented boxer, yes, but Sugar Ray Leonard in his prime could box, could punch, was fierce, was game, was willing to take abuse and stand toe to toe to get what he wanted and what he NEEDED to get...at 147 he was a proven monster...people see the flash and the sizzle for Floyd and gravitate to his skills but at 147 Sugar Ray Leonard would massacre the majority of the men who make up PBF's best victims list...and he would do so with skill, style AND wicked damage causing punches...PBF is top notch and the man of his era, don't get me wrong...but Sugar Ray Leonard was special because of the EXTRA attributes he possessed and those attribtues would see him dig down to find a way to win...basically because, in my eyes, the things that PBF excels at just wouldnt be strong enough to do anything to derail a determined Sugar Ray Leonard...
Latest News...
"(October 10, 2010) Bloomfield's Jarin Clay-Bey ran his amateur boxing record to five victories without a loss tonight at The Palace Theater in Stamford, Connecticut. Clay-Bey, son of 1996 U.S. Olympian Lawrence Clay-Bey, is trained by Windsor's John "Iceman" Scully at the Lions Den Training Center in Middletown, Connecticut.
The 19 year old Clay-Bey scored two standing eight counts against Randy Wade of Bridgeport on his way to a unanimous decision victory in their light heavyweight bout.
In another bout involving a local boxer, Anthony Lorano boxing out of the Sweet Science Gym in East Hartford scored a first round stoppage over Westport, Connecticut featherweight Nick Feenom in the 125 pound novice division."
I just came in from some amateur fights... it's after midnight...I'll be back to answer sometime tomorrow my man...thanks...
ICE
THANKS, I look forward to your thoughts on if at peak SRL would destroy peak floyd Mayweather, and what really happened in the sparring session between leonard and Jones, years ago.
Personally at lets say a catch weight for all 3, I would have to go with Roy, then SRL, the Mayweather in their peak years, then as the age, I would think because Mayweather defensive prowess, technique,,I would think (we still have not seen a old Mayweather yet) would see mayweather close the gap.