So I Actually Taught Emmanuel Steward Something...

[Mr. Ryan]

Last week I decided to cover the retirement of Oscar de la Hoya for my next Boxing Digest article. I figured that since Emmanuel Steward once trained him and is a commentator for HBO, he'd make a great addition to the article.

During the conversation I brought up my theory on how the better a fighter is, the less-likely he is to "beat the house." By beating the house, I'm referring to the ******** truism that the odds are always in favor of the establishment that they will take your money and you will lose your shirt.

Translated, boxers who are accustomed to winning usually don't have an exit strategy and wind up staying too long and being embarrassed at the end of their careers. The only way to beat the house is to walk away, and how many people can walk away from those great paydays?

Ray Leonard, Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and now Oscar de la Hoya go out on their butts after great careers.

Steward was impressed with the theory, saying that in the 45 years since he first walked into a casino, he had never heard anyone make the connection between boxing and ********.

I was astounded that I could actually teach Emmanuel something since the first time I met him, about three years ago, I had told him that I looked up to him for his boxing knowledge and ability to speak about the sport in a way that others could understand.

[black.ink]

How about Lennox Lewis? The best heavyweight of our times, beating the best contender in controversial fashion which was just asking for a rematch. Lennox retires after the fight, knowing his best days are behind him, but finishing his career at the top.

He's pretty much the only 'great' fighter i can think of that beats your theory, so i guess you're right. It is hard to think of true greats retiring at the top, by beating the best the world has to offer.

[Mr. Ryan]

How about Lennox Lewis? The best heavyweight of our times, beating the best contender in controversial fashion which was just asking for a rematch. Lennox retires after the fight, knowing his best days are behind him, but finishing his career at the top.

He's pretty much the only 'great' fighter i can think of that beats your theory, so i guess you're right. It is hard to think of true greats retiring at the top, by beating the best the world has to offer.

Lennox Lewis was one guy that I discussed with Steward. Steward told me that they have offered up to $40 million for Lewis to come back and fight Klitschko, a testament to how seductive the sport can be at times and how difficult it can be to stay away.

Joe Calzaghe also beat the house, so did Marciano.

[Dynamite Kid]

Walking away will effect them financially so in the long run they are going to be hurting in the pocket just as much as you.

Is that the morale of the story? excuse my dimness Mr. Ryan

[Mr. Ryan]

Walking away will effect them financially so in the long run they are going to be hurting in the pocket just as much as you.

Is that the morale of the story? excuse my dimness Mr. Ryan

I guess the moral of the story is that de la Hoya, Mayweather, Leonard, none of these guys are bigger than boxing. You might call your own shots to some extent but in the end, as you get older, the competition gets younger. The tides of time continuously sweep out the old sand and replace it with new sand.

Boxing can give you so much, but at the end it exacts it's toll.

[Butterball]

Last week I decided to cover the retirement of Oscar de la Hoya for my next Boxing Digest article. I figured that since Emmanuel Steward once trained him and is a commentator for HBO, he'd make a great addition to the article.

During the conversation I brought up my theory on how the better a fighter is, the less-likely he is to "beat the house." By beating the house, I'm referring to the ******** truism that the odds are always in favor of the establishment that they will take your money and you will lose your shirt.

Translated, boxers who are accustomed to winning usually don't have an exit strategy and wind up staying too long and being embarrassed at the end of their careers. The only way to beat the house is to walk away, and how many people can walk away from those great paydays?

Ray Leonard, Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and now Oscar de la Hoya go out on their butts after great careers.

Steward was impressed with the theory, saying that in the 45 years since he first walked into a casino, he had never heard anyone make the connection between boxing and ********.

I was astounded that I could actually teach Emmanuel something since the first time I met him, about three years ago, I had told him that I looked up to him for his boxing knowledge and ability to speak about the sport in a way that others could understand.

I was actually there when you were saying that to him, ****.

After you'd gone he turned to the others in the group and went "Goddamn, that boy's a ****."

They asked him why he'd been so nice and he said "I have to pay-tron-ize him, otherwise the little ****er would never piss off and leave me alone."



I felt really bad for you when I heard it.

[Mr. Ryan]

With Roy Jones' amazing ability, I never could imagine Jones being knocked out. Then it happened in 2004.

With Oscar's ability to pick and choose the fights that he wanted and the odds being so far in his favor from a business-sense, whoever thought he'd get pounded on like he did against Pacquiao?

People don't want to believe it, but if Mayweather steps up and takes a truly dangerous fight, like a Pacquiao or Cotto or Mosley, it can happen to him as well. I think Mayweather understands this and is making safe bets, pardon the pun.

[Mr. Ryan]

I was actually there when you were saying that to him, ****.

After you'd gone he turned to the others in the group and went "Goddamn, that boy's a ****."

They asked him why he'd been so nice and he said "I have to pay-tron-ize him, otherwise the little ****er would never piss off and leave me alone."



I felt really bad for you when I heard it.

Impossible, you were spotted celebrating the latest victory of the Manchester United at the time.

[Dynamite Kid]

I guess the moral of the story is that de la Hoya, Mayweather, Leonard, none of these guys are bigger than boxing. You might call your own shots to some extent but in the end, as you get older, the competition gets younger. The tides of time continuously sweep out the old sand and replace it with new sand.

Boxing can give you so much, but at the end it exacts it's toll.

Got ya.

Do you think the house do or should show more loyalty to the talent who are making them money? I mean if a fighter was to walk away after a bum decision wouldn't he be walking away with potential millions of the houses money?

Shouldn't they scratch each others back in theory, if the house are all about the dollar?

Hope im not just rambling feel free to ignore

[black.ink]

Lennox Lewis was one guy that I discussed with Steward. Steward told me that they have offered up to $40 million for Lewis to come back and fight Klitschko, a testament to how seductive the sport can be at times and how difficult it can be to stay away.

Joe Calzaghe also beat the house, so did Marciano.

Agreed. That's why i respect Lewis much more now. Resisting such temptations must be hard for any fighter, it pains me to see these 'money-fights' happen unless it was two prime fighters where the pay is justified.

I was going to mention Marciano, but my history isn't great so i'm not sure he fought everyone there was to fight to retire at the top.

As for Joe, he gets my respect for an undefeated career beating great fighters and not being seduced into big money fights with 'bigger' men too.