The Daily Bread Mailbag returns with Stephen "Breadman" Edwards tackling topics such as Miguel Cotto, newly crowned world champion O'Shaquie Foster, heavyweight contender Jermaine Franklin and his fight with Anthony Joshua, top performances, and more.
Because of promotional ties, it seems like O’Shaquie Foster is eventually going to fight Hector Luis Garcia, Gervonta Davis and/or Gary Russell Jr. How do you think he fares in those fights? Do any of those matchups stand out as fun fights to you? Thank you!
Bread’s Response: When a fighter like O’Shaquie Foster wins the title, he doesn’t usually get the benefit of favorable matchmaking. "He has 2 losses already. He wasn’t supposed to be here." That’s what is usually said about fighters like Foster. So I expect him to fight the biggest and best available name immediately and I hope he wins. He’s everything that’s good about this sport. He persevered. He was determined. He overcame. I don’t know the young man but I want him to know I wish him the best. He’s awesome. Stand up O’Shaquie Foster. Way to do it!
I saw your twitter and you picked O’Shaquie Foster to win after the first round. Great call! I thought they would rob him but the judges got it right. Is that the Upset of the Year, so far? Where does he go from there?
Bread’s Response: I picked Foster before the fight. I just felt the match up would look like Erik Morales vs Zahir Raheem. Often times a fresh urban style will beat fighters like Vargas if they are made to cut the ring off. Vargas is an excellent fighter but he’s sort of a hybrid fighter. He’s not a pure boxer. He’s not a big puncher. And he’s surely not a pressure fighter. He can do them all but he doesn’t stand out in any one category.
So you insert Foster. A fresh in his prime Urban fighter, who’s faster and more athletic. He’s also bigger. To be honest I was surprised Vargas took the fight. I know Foster was the mandatory but I’ve seen that same style match up get overlooked. When that fight does get made, it usually doesn’t end well for the Vargas type.
Let’s look historically at THAT match up. I mentioned Raheem vs Morales. Mayweather vs Hernandez. Bradley vs Marquez. It’s tough to deal with if you’re a pressure fighter. But it’s especially tough to deal with if you’re not a natural pressure fighter and you’re smaller, older and slower. It’s only February bro, it’s too early to be Upset of the Year or even in consideration. But it is a great Feel Good story.
Sorry about your Eagles. That was a tough loss. How did you like the holding call at the end? Is it better to make it and lose or not make it at all?
Bread’s Response: Very tough loss! I didn’t like the holding call in the end. I thought the refs established that they would allow the game to be physical. Then right at the game’s most crucial moment, they call a penalty that they overlooked previously. I felt that it was disingenuous. But I also feel that the Eagles didn’t come out with the same intensity in the 2nd half as they did in the 1st. I felt they didn’t get stops on D. They also gave up a huge punt return in the 2nd half. So it wasn’t ALL the holding penalty. When you lose you have to ask yourself what else could I have done. The Eagles could’ve done slightly more. In close games, every play counts. The Birds have to dust themselves off and ride Jalen Hurts into the promise land. They can…
Do you have a great performance that is overlooked as a great performance? Also give me a list of perfect fights that you have witnessed in your lifetime?
Bread’s Response: Yes Leonard vs Duran II. It’s considered a great revenge win for Leonard but I just studied that fight and Leonard was marvelous. He boxed. He punched on the move. He was excellent in the clinches. He jabbed Duran’s head off. He never let Duran set his feet. He completely discouraged Duran. They make excuses that Duran wasn’t in shape. I know for a fact that Duran had over 9 weeks to train for the fight. He always ate and partied. That was nothing new. Because of these rumors Leonard doesn’t get full credit for that win and it’s a shame. Leonard was 24 years old and he fought an immediate rematch with the world’s #1 fighter who had just beaten him. If Leonard loses that fight history is different. Instead he went in adjusted and dominated Duran and all you hear is Duran wasn’t in shape. Duran was in shape. Duran had a full camp to get ready. The fight was November 25th, 1980. You can go back and see announcements and press conferences that too place in September of 1980. I can’t hear that Duran didn’t have time to get in shape.
What I believe happened was Duran had just fought a perfect fight in June. And it’s very tough to fight your career best on 2 fights in a row, especially against an equally as talented fighter in Leonard. Leonard raised his game and Duran who was through the roof in the 1st fight, came back down to earth a little bit in the 2nd. And during the performance Leonard didn’t allow him to have success. I don’t care what the scorecards said. I gave Duran 1 round. He looked as if he was getting outboxed, and because he wasn’t having success he became demoralized and quit. Leonard fought a perfect fight.
The other perfect fights I have witnessed was Duran vs Leonard 1. Duran was a hell cat in that 1st fight.
Sanchez vs Gomez, perfect mix of boxing and aggression.
Pacman vs Oscar. Yeah Oscar may have been weight drained but Manny was zoned out and perfect.
Hopkins vs Trinidad. Hopkins was brilliant. He literally had perfect concentration for the entire 12 rounds. Hopkins was in a flow state.
Mayweather vs Corrales, just watch it. Floyd was brilliant with his punch selection and movement.
Chavez vs Rosario. Often the destructive fighter doesn’t get credit for fighting perfect fights. Chavez was at his best vs Rosario.
Whitaker vs Ramirez II. Wow!
McGirt vs Brown, McGirt foot feinted Brown, jabbed him and turned a hook off the jab all night. Brilliant fight for McGirt.
This one won’t get the credit because of Martinez’s knee. But Cotto gave a masterclass on how to beat a southpaw with your left hand. Everyone says the way to beat a southpaw is with right hands. But Cotto followed Martinez’s jab back with a hybrid hook/jab and simply destroyed him. Martinez did not win 1 round!
Barrera vs Hamed. Another fighter who beat a southpaw, with predominantly a left hand.
James Toney vs Iran Barkley!!!!
Roy Jones vs James Toney!!
Hello Bread, I was thinking about the Joshua vs Franklin fight that is upcoming and would like to hear your insight on what Franklin would need to do to beat Joshua? I heard Franklin mention he felt he won the fight vs Whyte, but feels he should’ve stepped on the gas more to make sure there was little doubt. Franklin will be fighting a guy who beat the last man he faced. What mindset do you need to overcome that hurdle? If you were in a similar situation, how would you get your fighter mentally prepared to take this challenge on? Unless it’s just a money grab? Who knows?Having a little trouble putting my thoughts into words this morning, hope it all makes sense. Thanks as always Bread.
Mark Stoyl, Columbus Ohio
Bread’s Response: I don’t think because Joshua beat Whyte and Whyte beat Franklin that it will have a negative effect on Franklin. Joshua beat Whyte many years ago…….Franklin has to raise his game and not allow Joshua to get confident WITH him. It’s obvious Joshua is trying to find himself again. And when you’re dealing with a fighter like that, you don’t want to allow them to find themselves with YOU. I’m not going to get into Xs & Os. That’s up to Franklin’s team. But sometimes attitude matters most. Franklin has to be first, be mean, and be last. And obviously he has to get into DOG shape and push Joshua past his stamina threshold. However, it’s easier said than done. Joshua is an elite fighter. He has arguably the best resume in the division. And he may have won 5 rounds vs Usyk who is arguably the #1 P4P in the world. Joshua is nothing to play with and at one time he was a WRECKING machine. Don’t forget that Franklin was picked by the matchmakers for a reason…
Ssup Bread,
Hope all is well at your end, brother. How do you think that prime Joe Frazier would have done vs Holmes, Holyfield, prime Ali (1965-67) and Lennow Lewis. I mean, the Frazier that we saw in 'fight of the century' vs the all these fighters.Regards,Saurabh
Bread’s Response: Listen man. Joe Frazier is a great, great fighter. The Frazier from 1968-71 is as a good as a pressure fighter as you will see. Frazier was a 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist. I bring that up because, he was sandwiched between the 1960 Olympics and the 1968 Olympics. The Gold Medalist from those years also happen to be American. Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. In my opinion the 1st and 3rd ranked all time heavyweights. So Frazier’s birthday was a misfortune…..His style also doesn’t age well. So Foreman would have most likely beaten him on his best day, but he has no shot at Foreman past his best day. Frazier was never the same after the 1st Ali fight. So if you’re talking best days, I honestly think Frazier would give Holyfield, Lewis, Holmes and a prime Ali all hell. Ali beat him 2 out of 3, we don’t have to discuss that one.
But as much as I love Holyfield, he had life and death with Qawi at 190lbs in their first fight. I know we are talking heavyweight but the style applies. Holyfield also had a tough time with Bert Cooper during his prime. I say they have to fight 3x to settle it.
I feel the same way about Holmes. Holmes would be sticking and moving and giving ground. Holmes’s heart and durability are on the same level as Ali. And it would need to be, because Foreman is able to handle Frazier easier because he’s just too strong and he punches too hard. Where as Holmes and Ali have to box him more and give up ground, which plays into Frazier’s hands. Frazier is one of the great snowball fighters in history. Again 3 fights to settle it.
Lewis is a big puncher but Frazier is not David Tua. Tua is a handful but he doesn’t have Frazier’s stamina, work rate or tenacity. Lewis had a very tough time with Ray Mercer who is the other fighter who is closest to Frazier fighter that Lewis fought. Again I think 3 fights would settle it. I favor Lewis if the fight ends early but anything after 6 rounds, I favor Frazier. Lewis had a way of slowing down the pace and putting fighters in their place. Against Mercer and in the Holyfield rematch they pushed him and we saw fatigue. You can’t get tired fighting Frazier. Foreman never let it get to that point and Ali said it was close to death……
Hi Bread,
Just writing in about Miguel Cotto, maybe I' overthrowing him, but I think he is a bit of an overachiever. I say this about him with utmost respect. He didn't win those real big fights about Margarito 1, Pacquiao, or Mayweather or Canelo. He lost to respectable but not divine talent like Trout, and a middle of the road guy in Sadam Ali. I think what made him as good as he was his grit and work ethic and self-belief. He wasn't the strongest, tallest, fastest, deadliest, smartest, or any of that. His endurance was pretty good. He really was more of a one-armed fighter, being a converted southpaw his right hand was never murder.
Maybe his signature was his left hook, but he got away from that in that mid to late career before Roach. Lots of fighters have more talent than him but achieved less. But he had in my estimation, a lot of the develop-able stuff going for him. He seems grounded. Family oriented. He has a personal infrastructure that helps stabilize him for his training. He seemed coachable. He seemed to mostly to be humble (but he did seem wronged in post fight losses and sometimes walked out of the ring). His ductility of temper (evenness) kept him balanced. He was pretty good at all ranges but didn't have a dominating long, mid, or inside game. I really think he got about as much as he could of out of a career like his, given his competition. He seems like a fighter's fighter, and a guy coaches appreciate. I'm a fan, but he'll probably not be in the ATG discussions. He is a guy you can point to when instructing a fighter and say, "do this". I think in terms of "in your face stuff" he's average but he pulled off above-average stuff with those habits and qualities of the mind and heart which most people lack. What's your take on Cotto?
Thanks for your time
.Jay
Bread’s Response: I think you’re underestimating Cotto. He has one of the best resumes of this Century. Cotto was matched super tough, super early. They say he was chinny but he fought plenty of punchers. Carlos Maussa was a puncher who stopped undefeated Jeffrey Resto and Vivian Harris. Cotto stopped him.
Victor Sosa was a puncher who gave Floyd Mayweather some quality rounds and dropped Paul Spadafora twice, Cotto stopped him.
Kelson Pinto was a dynamic puncher, Cotto stopped him.
Randall Bailey was one of the best punchers of the last 30 years. Some will say his right hand was the single hardest shot of the 2000s. Cotto ran through him.
Muhammad Abdullaev beat Cotto in the 2000 Olympics in the 1st round. Another puncher. Cotto ran it back and stopped in in the pros in one of his 140lb title defenses.
Then Cotto stopped the murderous punching Ricardo Torres in one of the best shootouts of that decade.. If you look super close at his resume at 140lbs. Cotto has a case for being a top 10-15 Junior Welterweight ever.
He moves up to 147 and beat Carlos Quintana and undefeated fighter who beat Paul Williams AFTER Cotto beat him.
Then Cotto beats Zab Judah in the Garden, in a fight in which I think we saw his PEAK. I would have loved to see THIS Cotto fight Mayweather and Pacquiao.
He then outboxes Shane Mosley in a fight that sort of switched his style from a puncher who could box, to a boxer who could punch.
You see how I’m doing this. These are big fights that you chose to overlook. Cotto is already a 2x champion by the Mosley fight and 11-0 in title fights.
So he fights Margarito under questionable circumstances and loses. You brought up that fight but you didn’t bring up the rematch in which he got revenge. He loses to Margarito and in his very next fight he wins the welterweight title for the second time.
Then he fights Joshua Clottey in a tough fight. Clottey is a serious contender in that era that gave most hell.
Then he fights Manny Pacquiao in what seems to be Pac’s Apex performance. I have newsflash, there are very few men in history who could’ve beaten that Pac. Pac’s peak run is the best I’ve seen in terms of perfect fights on PPV. He was in the middle of a like a 5 or 6 fight run that I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that before or after.
So Cotto rebounds, moves up fights Yuri Foreman who is undefeated and wins the title at 154lbs.
Cotto then stops Ricardo Mayorga then beats Antonio Margarito for revenge of their 1st fight. He’s now a 3 division champion and 4x champion overall.
He then loses to Mayweather in a very tough competitive fight. Mayweather is the best fighter of this century. He’s a consensus ATG. It’s no shame in that.
Cotto loses to Austin Trout. But Trout is a career long junior middleweight, a southpaw and he beat Cotto. Lots of A side fighters with Cotto’s status would not even give Trout the shot. Cotto fought him.
Cotto again rebounds and moves up to middleweight and beats the lineal middleweight champion, who had reigned for 4 years. It’s funny you didn’t bring this fight up. So now Cotto is the 1st Puerto Rican fighter ever to win 4 division titles. He’s also 1 of 2 fighters in history to win titles at 140 and 160. The only other is Oscar de La Hoya.
Cotto defends that title vs solid contender Daniel Geale, then he takes on Canelo Alvarez who is much bigger and a 10 years younger. This is the equivalent of Canelo fighting Benavidez now. A fight that still hasn’t happened. Cotto held his own vs Canelo, didn’t get stopped and I thought the scorecards should’ve been closer.
In his very next fight he moves back down to 154 and wins the title again. He’s now a 6x champion and 2x champion at 154, a division he’s undersized for.
Then he loses his last fight to Sadam Ali and you bring that up as a big fight. No disrespect to Ali, he’s a solid fighter but Cotto is clearly better in his prime. I just gave you a real look at one of the great resumes of our time. Once Cotto touched the top level, he fought the best available guy and didn’t duck any smoke. Punchers, southpaws, tall, slick boxers, it didn’t matter. He fought them.
You say there wasn’t anything special about him. His left hook was special. His jab for a short fighter was special. His willingness to take on the best was special. And his sum total of his parts was special. There is no way a fighter who was supposed chinny at 140lbs, should win the 160lb lineal title well past his best day. Miguel Cotto is in my opinion a GREAT fighter. He may not be an ATG but he’s hovering in the area. He’s a top 10-15 fighter of this century. He’s a top 10-15 Junior Welterweight and he’s 1 of the top 5 fighters ever out of Puerto Rico along with Trinidad, Gomez, Benitez and Ortiz. There is no one else from the island who has an argument for being better than Cotto. Put some respect on Cotto’s name my friend.
Hi Bread,
I hope all is well. I have to start by saying I am a huge fan of your boxing knowledge and life lessons. I never miss a mailbag and Caleb Plant has been my favorite fighter since I’ve read about his story What a dynamic pairing and best of luck for the Benavidez fight. I will not miss that for anything. I also love your lists that you compile. How would you rate the greatest rivalries of all time in boxing? I would imagine Ali-Frazier being number 1 and would love to see your take on this.
Thank you,
Tom
Bread’s Response: Thank you. Boxing’s Greatest Rivalries. Let’s see.
Ali vs Frazier.
Leonard vs Hearns and Duran.
Robinson vs Lamotta.
Holyfield vs Bowe and Tyson.
Zale vs Graziano.
Williams vs Jack.
Tunney vs Dempsey.
Pep vs Saddler.
Barrera vs Morales.
Pacquiao vs Marquez.
Fury vs Wilder.
Pryor vs Arguello.
I know a missed a few but those stand out to me off the top of my head.
Hi Breadman,
Long-time reader and huge fan of your insight. Mate, I am now more excited for the mailbag on a weekend than the actual action. Don’t take this the wrong way, but that’s depressing! I’ll try and be succinct with my question as the rest of this post may just seem like a rant! Inactivity is killing this sport. For me the start of this year is all time low. My question is what should the boxing organisations be doing to force the issue? I don’t want to appear childish here, I am talking from a position of an impassioned fan. More needs to be done. Pundits and writers need to call fighters out – ask them straight... shame them. Whatever needs to be done. These top-level men are the custodians of our sport, and they are not acting with that responsibility. Trainers/promoters too – get your boys fighting/push them – educate them on the way fighters of yesteryear competed .. but that’s all the ‘soft touch’. Hard action needs to start with the organisations. My idea - win a title – defend it in 4 months. Period. Always gonna be losers but it’s a guarantee of constant competitive fights. So that’s regardless of injuries, wars, mental health issues, prison, drug ban etc. You lose a title if you don’t defend. You don’t lose a career – you come again- competitive eliminators to regain your spot. All these reasons for not fighting are not exceptional to this period. They have always been there, but inactivity is at an all time high.
Maybe an alternate yearly schedule from each organization. Appreciate none of this is easy and takes a lot of work and co-operation but whatever we are doing now sure as shit isn’t working (for the fans) Here’s the thing – if your ambition is to fight twice a year, you run a huge risk of only actually getting one over the line. So aim to fight 3, even 4. Look at the combined recent resume of our big stars (or who should be the big stars) Tank, Ryan Garcia, Usyk, Berbetiev, Spence, Crawford, Canelo, the Charlos, AJ - between them, since the start of 2021, they have fought a total of 27 times. 1.35 fights a year per fighter, and counting btw as we are nearly in march and none of these even have a fight scheduled. Man, that’s dreadful (Canelo, is the standout with 5 fights, so 2.5 a year) What’s worse is the fights they been in have rarely been against the fighters the public wanna see. And sometimes a duck is a duck. Spence don’t fancy Crawford but we now ALLOW these free passes because we all understand it’s a business. Boxers even tell us “its business”. Nah man, just be a boxer, fight, be the best you can be and fight the best fighters you can. As night follows day, the money/titles will follow if you just FIGHT.
Andrew, Durham, England
Bread’s Response: I understand your frustration but I think we have to be realistic about the remedy. We most likely won’t get a top fighter that’s going to fight more than 3 times in a year, even though I believe Canelo did it a few years ago. But I think 3 is doable. But it would mean that the star fighter gets his first fight in January, Second in June or July, then last one in December, so they can have 3 in the calendar year. If he doesn’t get his first fight early it’s really tough to get three in. However, in my opinion getting two fights in should be the standard. I also believe that a fighter should be stripped if he doesn’t defend his title within 6 months, with maybe a 2 week grace period. Belts are being held hostage along with status. And I don’t believe this is by mistake. The more you fight, the more you eliminate threats and have to move onto new ones. So if you slow the elimination process down, then you get more OPTIONS in reference to the field of possible opponents.
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