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Q: Oscar De la Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr: Who wins?
JM: First of all, I wouldn't have a problem with it. This is boxing and boxing is a business, and it would be good all the way around for my family. Both my brothers and my nephew will make great paydays. It's a fight that would be very interesting and certainly lots of hype and more storylines than anyone could ever imagine.
At the end of the day, I would slightly lean toward Oscar. He is still a very talented fighter and would certainly be focused -- his entire legacy would be at stake. To have come so far, and win multiple championships in various weight classes, would certainly tarnish his legacy to lose to a fighter a lot smaller than him -- not just in weight but physical stature, also. It's a no-lose situation for Floyd. If he loses to Oscar… Guess what? He should… Oscar should be able to beat a much smaller man. Plus, if Floyd even just gives a good account of himself, he will get more credit than he deserves but, the other side of the coin is that if Oscar loses, that loss will stick with him forever… because of all the parties involved.
I think Oscar is smart enough to know what's at stake, and because of that, it's a fight that I don't see happening. Plus, Oscar will have thrust himself dead smack in the center of controversy. I think he is too image-conscience for this fight to happen. Unless he does it with another trainer, and not my older brother. Never say never in boxing, but I don't think it will happen. Too much negativity involved for a guy who has made his image a life style.
Q: Who do you reckon will win when Pacquiao re-matches Morales, and if Pacquiao has a re-match with Barrera?
JM: I think a lot of times it boils down to: Styles make fights, and I would be inclined to pick Morales again. Because he can do to Pacquiao what Raheem did to him -- not as clean and not as polished but just enough adjustment to make the difference in the outcome of the fight.
Barerra got dominated by Pacquiao. I think that Barerra would once again come up short, although his performance this time would be much better. Mentally, it's very hard to overcome being totally dominated by a fighter. Just as he couldn't make the adjustment to beat Junior Jones mentally because of how cleanly he was beaten, he might not be able to overcome it… with Pacquiao when it starts to heat up.
Q: Miguel Cotto vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.: A couple questions:
I can't understand how you and any other Mayweather only give Cotto a punchers’ chance. Cotto has much more to offer than just power. He has a decent double jab, good movement and defense. Overall, he's solid. I remember a time where people, including my self, said RJ couldn’t be beat, Mosley couldn’t be beat, Trinidad couldn’t be beat… and yet, they all suffered a beating, and/or KO loss unexpectedly. Don't get me wrong; I think Floyd beats Cotto now, but not as easily as some of you paint it.
JM: I think, personally, that Cotto is a very skilled fighter and, hopefully, will only get better. The reason why I say Cotto would lose to Floyd Jr is because he doesn’t let his hands go enough. While he's so intent on landing the perfect punch, Floyd will be landing punches and building up a big lead. He has good power and decent speed. His defense is solid when he's not throwing punches, because his hands are glued to his head. When he opens up, his defense isn't as sound. He has a puncher's chance, because he can punch a little, but no way will he ever out-point Floyd -- his punch out-put is just to low. Plus, Cotto can be hit with a jab, which Floyd certainly will be using from round one until the fight is over.
Boxing is the theater of the unexpected -- anything can happen. But skill-versus-skill: Cotto comes up short.
Q: Jeff, what do you think about Tommy Hearns coming back to fight?
JM: Well, I think Thomas Hearns has been shot a long time ago. The difference between Hearns fighting again and Holyfield is slightly different. Holyfield is fooling himself completely about his desires to keep fighting. He still believes that he will become Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of World.
He has already lost to two of the three guys that are champion, and the one that he hasn't lost to is better than the two that already beat him. If Tommy Hearns is solely fighting just to entertain the opportunity of fighting on a card with his son, and walk away from the game, I say, Grant him that wish. He's given the boxing world enough great moments in his career to merit one last request of the game.
Plus, Tommy will fight a guy that certainly is no real threat to him. While, on the other hand, Evander will have to fight top-ten fighters in order to accomplish his goal. He's no longer a top-20 fighter, even with the division as weak as it's ever been in the history of boxing. There is no place for Evander anymore. If Tommy fights beyond this fight, the Commission should yank his license, as well. Both guys have nothing left to offer the game. They left it in the ring a long time ago.
JM: First of all, I wouldn't have a problem with it. This is boxing and boxing is a business, and it would be good all the way around for my family. Both my brothers and my nephew will make great paydays. It's a fight that would be very interesting and certainly lots of hype and more storylines than anyone could ever imagine.
At the end of the day, I would slightly lean toward Oscar. He is still a very talented fighter and would certainly be focused -- his entire legacy would be at stake. To have come so far, and win multiple championships in various weight classes, would certainly tarnish his legacy to lose to a fighter a lot smaller than him -- not just in weight but physical stature, also. It's a no-lose situation for Floyd. If he loses to Oscar… Guess what? He should… Oscar should be able to beat a much smaller man. Plus, if Floyd even just gives a good account of himself, he will get more credit than he deserves but, the other side of the coin is that if Oscar loses, that loss will stick with him forever… because of all the parties involved.
I think Oscar is smart enough to know what's at stake, and because of that, it's a fight that I don't see happening. Plus, Oscar will have thrust himself dead smack in the center of controversy. I think he is too image-conscience for this fight to happen. Unless he does it with another trainer, and not my older brother. Never say never in boxing, but I don't think it will happen. Too much negativity involved for a guy who has made his image a life style.
Q: Who do you reckon will win when Pacquiao re-matches Morales, and if Pacquiao has a re-match with Barrera?
JM: I think a lot of times it boils down to: Styles make fights, and I would be inclined to pick Morales again. Because he can do to Pacquiao what Raheem did to him -- not as clean and not as polished but just enough adjustment to make the difference in the outcome of the fight.
Barerra got dominated by Pacquiao. I think that Barerra would once again come up short, although his performance this time would be much better. Mentally, it's very hard to overcome being totally dominated by a fighter. Just as he couldn't make the adjustment to beat Junior Jones mentally because of how cleanly he was beaten, he might not be able to overcome it… with Pacquiao when it starts to heat up.
Q: Miguel Cotto vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.: A couple questions:
I can't understand how you and any other Mayweather only give Cotto a punchers’ chance. Cotto has much more to offer than just power. He has a decent double jab, good movement and defense. Overall, he's solid. I remember a time where people, including my self, said RJ couldn’t be beat, Mosley couldn’t be beat, Trinidad couldn’t be beat… and yet, they all suffered a beating, and/or KO loss unexpectedly. Don't get me wrong; I think Floyd beats Cotto now, but not as easily as some of you paint it.
JM: I think, personally, that Cotto is a very skilled fighter and, hopefully, will only get better. The reason why I say Cotto would lose to Floyd Jr is because he doesn’t let his hands go enough. While he's so intent on landing the perfect punch, Floyd will be landing punches and building up a big lead. He has good power and decent speed. His defense is solid when he's not throwing punches, because his hands are glued to his head. When he opens up, his defense isn't as sound. He has a puncher's chance, because he can punch a little, but no way will he ever out-point Floyd -- his punch out-put is just to low. Plus, Cotto can be hit with a jab, which Floyd certainly will be using from round one until the fight is over.
Boxing is the theater of the unexpected -- anything can happen. But skill-versus-skill: Cotto comes up short.
Q: Jeff, what do you think about Tommy Hearns coming back to fight?
JM: Well, I think Thomas Hearns has been shot a long time ago. The difference between Hearns fighting again and Holyfield is slightly different. Holyfield is fooling himself completely about his desires to keep fighting. He still believes that he will become Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of World.
He has already lost to two of the three guys that are champion, and the one that he hasn't lost to is better than the two that already beat him. If Tommy Hearns is solely fighting just to entertain the opportunity of fighting on a card with his son, and walk away from the game, I say, Grant him that wish. He's given the boxing world enough great moments in his career to merit one last request of the game.
Plus, Tommy will fight a guy that certainly is no real threat to him. While, on the other hand, Evander will have to fight top-ten fighters in order to accomplish his goal. He's no longer a top-20 fighter, even with the division as weak as it's ever been in the history of boxing. There is no place for Evander anymore. If Tommy fights beyond this fight, the Commission should yank his license, as well. Both guys have nothing left to offer the game. They left it in the ring a long time ago.