Comments Thread For: Insider Notebook: Merchant on Tyson, Pacquiao Backs Mosley

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Robert Morales - Larry Merchant has been a commentator for HBO since 1978. But 20 years ago, on Feb. 11, 1990, Merchant worked a fight that will remain everlasting in his mind.

The setting was Tokyo, Japan. Buster Douglas, talented yet not one who had gotten the most out of his abilities, was to take on the feared Mike Tyson for Tyson's undisputed heavyweight championship at the Tokyo Dome.

"Before the fight the fight was considered mostly a warmup for a Tyson-(Evander) Holyfield fight in June and there was probably more discussion about that than the fight itself," Merchant said Wednesday morning. "A year or so before that (actually, March 1988), Tyson had fought Tony Tubbs in Tokyo and had stopped him in two rounds.
"The main question in most people's minds was, 'How long would it take this time?' "

It took 10 rounds, only it was Douglas who came up with perhaps boxing's greatest upset by knocking out Tyson. Interestingly, Merchant suggested the first sign there was something incredible in the air was the entrance by Douglas.

"What I remember most about the night of the fight, and I commented about this, was Douglas almost running toward the ring," Merchant said to BoxingScene.com. "Instead of a ring walk, it was almost a ring run, which was unusual under any circumstances. But for a fighter fighting Tyson, it was amazing. [Click Here To Read More]

[trufightfanatic]

What Larry means is "I don't know if Shane in his prime could've beat Floyd but I don't think this version of Shane, although he is still agressive,still offensive minded,still fast and has Nasim R. in his corner has enough left to solve the riddle that is Floyd Mayweather Jr."

[ShoulderRoll]

At least Arreola's trainer has a good handle on what's in front of them with Adamek. Doesn't sound like they'll take him lightly.

Whether the fat boy gets in good shape or not is another story.

[antrob]

Arreola runs threw Adamak. I seen the Adamak-Estrada fight and I was not impress by Adamak at all. I don't see how he will keep chris of him. I see a 5th round stoppage.

[jvsnypes]

Merchant knows what Floyd and Shane brings to the table.Floyd is the better boxer and imo, Shane is the better fighter.The greatest of boxers including:Leonard, Robinson, and Ali realized the hard way that sometimes you just can't outbox certain opponents. To win, sometimes you have to bite down and fight them.Floyd has not learned that lesson yet.I'm reading all of these threads that think that Shane doesn't stand a chance.I don't understand it.You can't just be a fan of the sport to make those type of predictions.You have to be a student of the sport.These people are on here saying what Shane won't be able to do against Floyd,but have they considered what Floyd won't be able to do against Shane? The only true arsenal that Floyd has shown in his last 3 or 4 fights has been a check hook and a lead right hand.He throws a few jabs but not a lot.And also an occasional hook to the body.Never do you see quick flurries or fluid combinations.Never do you see a high work rate.Will this type of potshotting offense beat an agressive offense that you know Shane will unleash.Yes, Shane will miss a lot of power shots, but he will also connect enough to carry the fight.A great defense does not win fights against a high quality legit welterweight.Remember this. Wright and Forrest were both the bigger men with longer reach than Shane.He got outboxed because he could not get close enough to unleash his combos.Plus, both of those guys could have been able to knock him out. That just isn't the case fighting a smaller Floyd.No matter how slick or smart Floyd is,Shane will get to him.If Floyd wins, it won't be because he outboxes Shane,it will be because he out fought Shane. I am one who honestly can't see that happening.

[Rome-By-Ko]

larry you are a legend and you will be missed when you hang up your mic max is good but larry is one of a kind here's to you larry

[Rome-By-Ko]

Arreola runs threw Adamak. I seen the Adamak-Estrada fight and I was not impress by Adamak at all. I don't see how he will keep chris of him. I see a 5th round stoppage.

hell no adamak stays in great condition he will stop arreola or his corner or the ref will stop this fight

[Rome-By-Ko]

Merchant knows what Floyd and Shane brings to the table.Floyd is the better boxer and imo, Shane is the better fighter.The greatest of boxers including:Leonard, Robinson, and Ali realized the hard way that sometimes you just can't outbox certain opponents. To win, sometimes you have to bite down and fight them.Floyd has not learned that lesson yet.I'm reading all of these threads that think that Shane doesn't stand a chance.I don't understand it.You can't just be a fan of the sport to make those type of predictions.You have to be a student of the sport.These people are on here saying what Shane won't be able to do against Floyd,but have they considered what Floyd won't be able to do against Shane? The only true arsenal that Floyd has shown in his last 3 or 4 fights has been a check hook and a lead right hand.He throws a few jabs but not a lot.And also an occasional hook to the body.Never do you see quick flurries or fluid combinations.Never do you see a high work rate.Will this type of potshotting offense beat an agressive offense that you know Shane will unleash.Yes, Shane will miss a lot of power shots, but he will also connect enough to carry the fight.A great defense does not win fights against a high quality legit welterweight.Remember this. Wright and Forrest were both the bigger men with longer reach than Shane.He got outboxed because he could not get close enough to unleash his combos.Plus, both of those guys could have been able to knock him out. That just isn't the case fighting a smaller Floyd.No matter how slick or smart Floyd is,Shane will get to him.If Floyd wins, it won't be because he outboxes Shane,it will be because he out fought Shane. I am one who honestly can't see that happening.

damn a man after my own heart the people not giving mosley a chance are mayweather fans and not fan's of the sport listen money is skilled and has great talent i think he is tougher then he credit for and i think they both have a chance to win i like mosley in this fight cause shane has been in with tough guy's and no one money beat would stand a chance vs mosley so if this does turn into a gun fight which it might mosley is more battle tested

[Motofan]

Larry = GOAT.

[Rome-By-Ko]

i love tyson and just feel bad that he did not work on his craft more he would have been great i mean in my eye's he still is great but he has made some really bad choice's in his life and career with that said i hope he make's the hof