I am 38, a former collegiate wrestler. Currently, I am fit, eat healthy, weight train, exercise at least five times a week. I finished my fifth marathon yesterday with a Boston Qualifying time of 3:15:59 and I have done nothing but lose muscle mass over the last few years. I am not even as old as Hopkins. Sure maybe I would look different if I could hire Mackie Shilstone... but I am still very suspicious.
I was surprised with Hopkins again. I was stunned when he pounded Tarver and stunned when he pounded Pavlik. Typically he bores the crap out of me. Pavlik should have avoided this fight like the plague. Stay at 160 and make people come to you! Hopkins needs to fight Dawson or Diaconu.
Mijares
I like Vic. I like Mijares. My gut tells me that Mijares boxes Vic's ears off his head. I was sold on Mijares when he whipped the dog piss out of Arce. I can't see this one being much different. I would rather see Arce and Vic go at it. Ahhh, who am I kidding? I am watching!
That is a huge jump for a little man. Even if he weighs in the 150s for fight night it isn't going to be right for him. There is NO WAY De La Hoya could make 135 and Manny still could. De La Hoya is the MUCH bigger man and you will see it makes a difference come Dec.
I believe size matters in this fight. I think Manny has a great chin, but he did get buzzed by Morales a few times and the same goes for Marquez. Those great warriors do not have the pop that De La Hoya has. Pacman's offense is not going to allow him to be a slick defensive fighter that allowed Mayweather to gain an edge. Oscar has a solid chin and I can't see Pac hurting him. We will see.... footnote.... I was wrong on Pavlik and Hopkins.... fun being a fan!
I must admit my initial reaction to hearing this fight announced was please pac is going to get startched. I didn't even ponder a possibility of Pacman win. I am not far off still, but at least I am doubtful enough that I am excited to see what happens. It could fizzle. Case in point.... fights I expected to wow me... Juan Manual Lopez vs. Daniel Ponce DeLeon, Leonard Dorin vs. Arturo Gatti, (insert your own), etc. Left you saying huh? Either way I am anxious for the fight!
P.S. If you are a fight fan... at some point you get to eat your words!
I thought it was a ridiculous match up as well. Roach saw something in DLH during training for Mayweather that rang to be true. Now, I actually believe all the rumors coming out DLH training camp that Calderone, Ortiz, and Valero were giving him the business.
Shot. Meaning he cannot compete with the top guns any longer. He looked good early against Mayweather and Hopkins because they do not through a lot of punches. Do you believe that Pac would have done this to Oscar 6 years ago? Beat him... maybe. Dominate him like that... no. If Oscar steps into the ring with Cotto, Margarito, Williams, Judah (yes Judah), etc he will get a serious whipping. I am sure the aforementioned would love a bout with Pac. Can Oscar be competitive with B level fighters, yes.
Shane will ATTEMPT the Pacman technique used against DLH. Hop in throw a flurry and hop out of range. But, let's face it Tony is no DLH. It might work for a bit, but as Cotto found out there is no hiding from Tony. At some point there will be a toe to toe exchange that will begin Shane's inevitable beating.
Cotto
He was doing well in the early rounds and winning many of them...but... I think he got "old in one fight." He was clearly mentally and physically beat down. I will eat crow if he returns to the top. That doesn't mean he won't pick some owner of a trinket and beat him. He will NOT stand in with the big boys again!
No excuse.
First off I am a Hatton and not a Floyd fan. I am going to have to agree with Floyd when he said Hatton would be 0-43 if he fought 43 Floyds. I thought Hatton put up a good scrap, but it was only a matter of time. It might have been more competitive if they met a few years back when they were both at 140. Maybe. Floyd is just that much better. Personally, I thought he should have never fought at 147 after Collazo.
I think that MMA is close to total domination in terms of viewing audience. I know some boxing matches are getting some serious buys, but those typically are not the fights that would attract more fans. MMA typically has plenty of action that is easy to understand.
Many people have touched on the glove issue. Could we imagine Pac wearing those tiny gloves and slugging it out with someone. Lights out in no time. MMA fans also realize NO ONE is K.O. proof. Boxing fans are far less forgiving.
Also, it is VERY important that UFC in particular has undergone MAJOR rules changes that make the sport more enjoyable for fans. The UFC today is a shell of its earlier self. At its inception there were NO rounds or gloves. Many matches consisted of 30 minutes tied in a knot on the mat.
At the end of the day boxing needs to make better match ups, put great fights on prime time tv, do better promotion of fighters in terms of name recognition, among other things. It NEEDS a reinvention! I will always love boxing! Boxing is its own worst enemy right now.
Disgusting
There is no excuse for Guzman not making weight. It is unprofessional and cowardly. In my opinion, Guzman was afraid to fight. Or at the very least missed weight on purpose. P.S. I know a thing or two about cutting weight.
Pavlik will stop Taylor without too much trouble. I USED to be a fan of Taylor, but he bores me to death now. Taylor will not be able to hide from Pavlik's power. Pavlik by ko in 7!
Margarito is going to pound the piss out of Mosley if they fight. It is going to a brutal whipping and I am going to enjoy every second of it. Shane seems like a great guy with respect for the sport, but it is time for him to be put into retirement. It happens to nearly all the greats. Time for the final exit.
Margarito has a relatively Easy Win
I am not a gambling man but I see Margarito walking through Cotto and stopping this fight before round 8. I do like what I have seen from Cotto, but a wins against Quintana, an OLD Mosely, a pathetic Judah (may I remind you got his ass kicked against Baldomir), a glass jawed Torres, Gomez, etc don't do it for me. Perhaps that isn't his fault but I don't think his chin can stand the onslaught from Margarito. Maybe Cotto's shaky chin was a result of cutting weight.... but I am not sold on that argument. Mosely and Judah both rocked Cotto and don't have big power at 147.
Go Margarito!
Yeah right!
Mora would get dusted in a flash! He does not deserve to be in the ring with Pavlik. I say let him fight Miranda on Versus or ESPN and if he beats him get back to me.
Pfft.
Pac is making a mistake jumping up this far. He just doesn't have the build, I mean think about Pac fighting Cotto, Margarito, or Williams. Seriously. I will be surprised in Pac wins. Remember when Clottey fought Corrales? Yikes.
Pathetic
He is a businessman, but this is just ridiculous! Honestly, for boxing it this isn't good because the perception of fixed fights. I would rather see him get his ass kicked in the UFC by BJ Penn. That would be good tv.
WOW! I am stunned! That as one sided in the opposite manner in which I expected! I am at a loss for words! Still a fan of both. But I don't think anyone expected that! Something seemed off tonight. The wrap issue sheds some serious doubts about past victories. And I am not convinced a 37 year old can naturally have a performance like that. I mean the guy had a scrum with Ricardo Mayorga!