I would consider myself a neutral observer. Nobody will brutalize Mayweather - he's far too smart and skilled. But I do agree that Canelo at 155 in 2016 is significantly more dangerous than the Canelo who faced Mayweather a few years ago.
Canelo made adjustments against Khan. It happened in round 5 and that KO in round 6 wasn't a lucky punch. You could see it building up to it. A younger Canelo couldn't make such adjustments. A rematch with Mayweather would be competitive.
I don't know who will win but I can tell you who will lose: the boxing fans because it will be a loooooong time before this fight is made. They will avoid each other for years.
I like Andre Ward but to the casual fan he isn't exciting to watch and he isn't a trash talker so he doesn't drum up anticipation before a fight either. The result is what you saw Saturday night - arena at 50% capacity.
Surprised at how many ppl saying Ward basically has no chance? I think you guys forgot how good he is or just the usual haters that dont like fighters that box
100% agree. Andre Ward isn't an entertaining fighter to watch but he is one of the smartest fighters you will see. I think he deserves a top 10 place on the pound for pound list for the past 20 or 30 years. A prime Andre Ward is every bit as good as a prime Roy Jones, Mayweather or Hopkins.
Kovolev is a solid fighter but I doubt he will be remembered in a few decades from now as an elite level pound for pound fighter. Ward will be remembered.
The only thing preventing Ward from being installed as a big betting favorite is weight and ring rust. If my life depended on the outcome I would bet on Ward. I think he outsmarts Kov - especially on the inside.
Kov vs Ward is a close fight which either man can win on the right night but I would lean towards the overall skill, experience and mental toughness of Ward. There's a lot about Ward that reminds me of Mayweather and they have a way of breaking their opponents down.
Kov is big and strong with a high pressure style but I wouldn't rate him as having elite level boxing skills. Ward has the skills to mention him in the same sentence as any of the great pound for pound fighters from the last 20 or 30 years.
I'm with you. I wouldn't be shocked if Judah managed to make it competitive or even pull the upset.
War Zab! :boxing:
Would love to see Zab kick AB's ass but it ain't happening. Zab is way past his best and a shadow of what he was 10 years ago. He is being used as a steppingstone for AB.
He is full of crap, no way it would do more than a mil.
Lewis is loved in the UK - if they put the fight on PPV there and did PPV in Europe (for the Klitchko fans) and added the regular PPV for USA/Canada then we could see a lot more than a million buys. No it won't set a record but it could generate a PPV north of 100 million.
Absurd. They arent just selling Mayweather Pacquiao to the public, theyre selling BOXING.
Don King may have robbed fighters, but he never robbed the public. PPV cards used to be STACKED, so dont tell me that's unrealistic. Provodnikov-Matthyse should be on this card.
I agree. It's a platform to market boxing to a lot of casual fans who will be tuning in who usually don't watch. Should've been a stacked card.
Triangle theory? Nice... Now compare Matthysse-Garcia-Peterson, haha.
True. Styles make fights. If that wasn't true then there would be no interest in Mayweather - Pacquiao after Mayweather beat Marquez in a shutout while Pacquiao has struggled and lost against Marquez. Yet some feel Pacquiao has a legit chance against Mayweather.
Can somebody explain the rules to me. What happens if GGG is the mandatory challenger to the 160 pound title and he refuses a catch weight request? Can he force a fight via purse bid at the full weight ?
Been a boxing fan since I was a little kid and always will be. But I've grown to love MMA as well. Once you understand the sport it's very interesting. Love the fact that the ufc only has a few belts and the champ is universally accepted as the best in the world (smaller promotion organizations do not have the top tier fighters). A ufc title fight is a big deal and a big occasion - it's what boxing was 50 years ago.
I don't understand why some fight fans have to take sides. I like both codes.
Boxing is a macho male dominated sport so it's understandable if some gay fighters stay in the closet. It's their life and their choice. I don't judge. If they are tough enough to step in the ring they have my respect - even Hector Comacho lol.
I feel for you guys but there's little that Al Haymon can do. Obviously none of the TV networks there want to pay to carry the fights live. I'm assuming they've done their research and the viewer demand isn't there?
Your other option is to find an IPTV subscription to UK cable service. They carry Box Nation, BT Sports and Sky Sports. There are a few services online at around $20 per month.
Beterbiev is a great PROSPECT with lots of potential but to be matching him against Andre Ward right now is crazy. Ward is one of the best pound for pound fighters right now.
Even a rusty Andre Ward would box his ears off right now. In 2 or 3 years time? Who knows. Too soon.
OK it is Official, this forum has been taken over by CHILDISH IDIOTS!
I have only seen Beterbiev Twice so far, vs Cloud and of course recently against Campillo and yes I am extremely impressed with what I am seeing from him but it is too damn early to talk about him match up vs Ward or Kovalev. Only has 8 Pro Fights now I think it is? A lot of you honestly expect him to be able to beat Ward right now? :lol1:
Agreed.
If Beterviev can beat Andre Ward right now with only 8 pro fights then indirectly these people must be saying that Beterbiev is destined to be a p4p all time great. Because anyone who can easily beat a current top pound for pounder (who is still near his prime) after only 8 pro fights would have to be a future all time great.
I see Beterbiev as a very good prospect destined to at least win an alphabet belt. If he progresses into an elite fighter is too soon to say.
Robert was never a fast fighter but having said that he seems to be slowing down even more. He looked flat footed and slow against Thurman. I think Algerie's speed will frustrate Robert and it will be a decision win for Chris Algerie
RG needs to either cut weight and move back down to jnr welter (or even lightweight) or retire. He will be a steppingstone at welterweight.
Danny Garcia needs to keep cutting weight and stay at jnr welter. After seeing Peterson walk him down like that I don't think Garcia can compete at welterweight against the top-5 guys.
Mayweather, Pacquiao, Thurman, Bradley and Brook would definitely beat him.
And at WW he'd struggle with Khan and REALLY struggle with Peterson. And then there's still Maidana, Porter, Rios etc.
one could argue that he isn't top-10.
This isn't a rape. It's consensual. If the fools are willing to pay then they will charge. I'm not putting cash in Mayweather's pocket to support his flash lifestyle.
I will give credit where credit is due. For his age (39) he is in amazing shape - if he faced any other heavyweight great with them also at age 39 I think he would have a good chance of beating most of them.
U guys do realize Peterson is actually very good right? Ppl sleep on him bit he has the potential to give every fighter from 140 to 147 a very hard fight. He's not an easy out. I just don't see why judge Danny harsh on this one.
At a 147 weigh in I think Peterson would've been less weight drained and would've started faster and finished stronger. That could have then resulted in DG getting stopped.
In a rematch at 147 I put my money on Peterson!
I wonder why Peterson never stood his ground earlier? Whenever he walked forward he looked dominant. He gave away too many rounds early on when he was on his bicycle.
why would you want the middlewight "champ" to fight a guy whos has only 2 fights at 147?
My thoughts as well. Cotto needs to defend the belt against a legit top-5 middleweight.
Had no idea that PBC was buying airtime from NBC - I assumed it was a partnership.
Duva is making very valid points - PBC needs to generate enough revenue to cover expenses such as buying airtime and running the event (including purse money). The two main streams of income are ticket sales and sponsors. And indirectly perhaps higher future PPV buys when one of his fighters are built up into a big star. But that is a lot of immediate expenses and I can't see the revenues being higher. Saturday had to be a net loss. The question is how deep are the pockets to take several losses before the revenues can exceed expenses?
As a fight fan I will just enjoy the fights while they last.
Well after a stellar Cruiser career and set up challenger to Tyson, then winning a title from Douglas, through a series of defences including to 2 former greats he was lightly regarded still as a HW but was certainly in good stead already.
And after the Bowe war... That was it. Evander was certainly the real deal.
What came after was a career full of brutal wars against some of the toughest opponents ever to have entered the ring, which more often than not became slug fests which Holyfield endured with his solid chin.
This combined with the fact he was the most hopeful American HW in boxing in the 90's and promoted as the main man there...
You have all the ingredients for PPV greatness!
Well summarized.
Evander was a true warrior and an exciting heavyweight. He was also lucky to have some really good opponents in his era.