Met Jack Dempsey when I was 12..sat with him at his table in his resturant on B'way
Got into an elevator in my apartment building with Tyson and Don King.
Few years later, sat across from Tyson on a flight from NY to Chicago (nice, polite, guy).
"Hurricane" Jackson..unfortuntely shinning shoes in Queens NY
Tommy Hearns in the Detroit airport.
Khan will come to the US because..this is where the big fights are put together and this is where the big fight money is...Las Vegas not Manchester. He's talented and commercial and he'll probably come sooner then later..IMO
I've been a big boxing fan since i was a little kid..long time ago. Big Margarito fan now..and was extremely surprised/disappointed at what I saw last night. There have been many others.
I still like and enjoy Margarito, and will certainly support him, and I expect that he will come back and produce some exciting fights. And I'm not really sure what "went south" in his head, but clearly by the 3rd 4th round, he was mentally done..don't know why.
But if he can get beat so badly by a 37 year old Shane Mosley and that style, I think that puts a ceiling on his future career and prospects.
Berto clearly isn't ready for either Margarito or Mosely. He didn't beat Collazo in the opinion of most..Margarito would destroy him and Mosely in his late thirties would would beat him as well.
>> collazo is true class, an amazing athlete and fighter, and a great guy. i hope he gets the rematch asap!<<
I think he made big fans out of alot of viewers..Don't think Berto will fight him again..although he should.
Terrific fight last night. And I'm with you 100%..Collazo just moved way up. And yes..that was his fight last night and he handled it with class.
And I think that Berto looked less impressive then his preceding reputation. Either he had a bad night, or he needs to work on his mid section. It looked like in the early/mid rounds, that Collazo was taking all the wind out of him with what seemed to me to be not the heaviest of body shots.
>>There ain't nothing wrong with being on Louie's level. He's a humble guy and a good fighter who's had some tough breaks.<<
Absolutely..I became a fan of his last night. He really hung it out there last night..they both did.
I've been a fan of Margarito for a long time; and any fighter can be beat on any night.
However, Mosely's fast hands, his style, power and his experience, would probably beat Margarito every night..unless Margarito could completely change his style..which I don't think he can at this point.
Wasn't a good night for me..didn't think I 'd see that sort of beating taken by Margarito.
Don't think you can mix Ketchel or Fitzsimmons (heaveyweight Lt heavy) in with the more day fighters. Ketchel fought in a world most modern day fighters would never entertain IMO.
The stats speak for themselves..whose career can possibly compete with the great Sugar Ray Robinson..different level of experience and skill.
But I would say if Monzon's personal life didn't interefer with his focus and career, and he was dedicated to boxing he probably would have reached the next level of greatness..he was an amazing middleweight.
Ray Robinson- won 173 (KO 108) + lost 19 (KO 1) + drawn 6 = 200
rounds boxed 1403: KO% 54
Carlos Monzon - won 87 (KO 59) + lost 3 (KO 0) + drawn 9 = 100
rounds boxed 763 : KO% 59
Marvin Haglar- won 62 (KO 52) + lost 3 (KO 0) + drawn 2 = 67
rounds boxed 400 : KO% 77.61
Bernard Hopkins - won 49 (KO 32) + lost 5 (KO 0) + drawn 1 = 56
rounds boxed 396 : KO% 57.14
Tony Zale - won 67 (KO 45) + lost 18 (KO 5) + drawn 2 = 87
rounds boxed 502 : KO% 51.72
IMHO this is unsupportable.
Let's say I have a propensity to cut because I am black or white or whatever. That would mean that everyone or most everyone of that race should disply the same propensity. However if I am black or white or whatever, but I don't get hit because I have a propensity to speed or coordination, then the cutting factor won't come into play. But if the opponent black or white or whatever, has a greater genetic propensity to speed negating the propensity to not get hit, enanbling the proensity to cut..I think one can see where this is going. Way too, too many variables to make any broad racial or genetic conclusions that would make any rational sense; beyond an individual to individual skill sets.
Have to say I fall into the same disappointed catagory. Loved to watch Margarito fight..always felt he was avoided and ducked by many.
However, having sparred a bit in my life, when your hands are wrapped you can tell if there is even a slight differnce in the wrap. No way that he could not have known what was going on his hands. Strange thing is, Margarito's strong suit was his ability to take punisment and stamina; both of which lend no reason to load your gloves..
De La Hoya has tremendous clout in the boxing business. If Oscar wanted to fight Antonio Margarito..he would just make the fight. No stories, no excuses, no BS. He doesn't want the fight and he doesn't want to fight him. End of story!
I've been a Margarito fan for years. That being said..I always liked Cotto as well.
Both have great work ethic. Cotto is "heart attack serious" in his approach to training and the sport. Margarito has the determination to get the respect he always should have had.
I have watched that fight five times now. Cotto hit Margarito with terrific shots..punches and combos that would clearly have taken many others out and goodnight. But they just didn't have any effect on Margarito..so much so that not only ddin't they hurt him, but most importantly they took nothing away from his stamina. Amazing to see; especially after the fact.
Margarito, did not back up at all the entire fight..11 rounds of coming forward every round.
However, if Cotto could have lasted the fight, he would have lost by two maybe three points. So in the end a respectable showing, even though Margarito took him down.
If anyone gets the chance to see the fight again (HBO on demand), after the second knockdown, Cotto looks at his corner and shakes his head indicating " I'm through..no more"..then the towel comes in.
I'd like to see a rematch..would be a lot of drama built into that..IMHO.
Royce
Posted this on other threads:
>> De La Hoya has tremendous clout in the boxing business. If Oscar wanted to fight Antonio Margarito..he would just make the fight. No stories, no excuses, no BS. He doesn't want the fight and he doesn't want to fight him... <<
..which is unfortunate; because even if he lost (which I believe he would), his "swan song" stature would be more elevated then if he took a win over a slim chance opponent.
I never liked Ali, although I came to appreciate his skills after the fact. That being said, Ali would have taken Tyson apart piece by piece. "Rope-A-Dope" would have taken on a new meaning. After the pre-fight drama, it would have been a boring fight.
I don't get into opinion "disputes"..but that is about the most inane thread starter I've read so far..of course I haven't been on this forum that long..so there may be others far more silly.
Sugar Ray Robinson
Won 173 (KO 108) / lost 19 (KO 1) / 6 Draws.
Rounds boxed 1,403 rounds
Which of our current day "HBO Wonders" can even dream to aspire to that record?
I "met"/ran into Tyson twice in my life.
First, around the time Don King had "taken him under his wing". Got into the elevator of my building, on my floor, and when the door opens, inside the car is standing DK and Tyson. Had no idea what in the world they were doing there and caught me off guard for obvious reasons. DK is holding back a grin and Tyson is looking at the floor of the car pacing a bit..got the sense that he was really pent up, and couldn't wait to get off the elevator. I had a car waiting for me outside the building and I asked DK if they needed a ride and he said "no thanks, we're fine"; and that was that. As I rode away I recall thinking that Tyson just gave off this explosive energy; like he could go off at any moment..and he looked like an unhappy young man.
Many years later, I saw Tyson and his entouarge at the airport in Chicago I think it was. Much different guy. Self assured, calm and easy. Had about four guys with him and clearly he was the center of their world.
As it turned out he sat across from me on the flight. People came up to him and he couldn't have been nicer. We "gabbed" for a few minutes (his initiation not mine). He was very much like the Tyson in the interview that started this thread. I thought at the time, what a difference from years earlier with King.
Anyway, seeing how it all turned out, it is sad..whether it was all or some of his doing.
Crillz - Good thread btw..
I posted this on another thread, but it is better suited here.
>> I've been a Margarito fan for years. That being said..I always liked Cotto as well.
Both have a great work ethic. Cotto is "heart attack serious" in his approach to training and the sport. Margarito has the determination to get the respect he always should have had.
I have watched that fight five times now. Cotto hit Margarito with terrific shots..punches and combos that would clearly have taken many others out and goodnight. But they just didn't have any effect on Margarito..so much so, that not only ddin't they hurt him, but most importantly they took nothing away from his stamina.
Amazing to see; especially after the fact.
Margarito, did not back up at all the entire fight..11 rounds of coming forward every round; that's gruesome pressure
However, if Cotto could have lasted the fight, he would have lost by two maybe three points. So in the end a respectable showing, even though Margarito took him down.
If anyone gets the chance to see the fight again (HBO on demand), after the second knockdown, Cotto looks at his corner and shakes his head indicating " I'm through..no more"..then the towel comes in.
I'd like to see a rematch..would be a lot of drama built into that..IMHO. <<
Every fighter has a true mental image of himself..all the BS and PR aside. If Cotto's was that of unbeatable, "I'm your nightmare", that image has been broken. It remains to be seen if he can if he can put that back together again.
Margarito has been fighting professionally since he was 16 I think..avoided by the big money fighters and fights most of his career. A close decision loss to Williams does nothing to change his world. He just vindicated himself in the eyes of the boxing world.
In a rematch, there would be two very different mindsets in that ring. For me that's where the drama is.
I can't stand Mayweather..never could..however, Hatton shouldn't bother with this; it's a waste of everyone's time. He doesn't have the skills to beat Mayweather. I buy almost everthing HBO/PPV puts on..this I don't think would be worth $9.99.
Always liked Hatton..good guy..brings out the fan base. But Pacquiao is in a different leaque; his accomplisments much greater IMHO, Pacman should get the lion's share of the purse. If Hatton by some chance beats Pacquiao (doubtful), then next fight Ricky gets the majority money.