Comments Thread For: Merchant: Media Has To Pressure Ward, Stevenson

[tyshun30]

Pacquiao called out Marquez who said no, then he called out Bradley who said NO. Rios was a third choice who all you idiots called "a dangerous fight for Pacquiao". What part of that don't you understand, for those that ask where was the criticism over Pacquaio fighting Rios..... idiots. Pacquaio has always taken on the best, biggest, toughest opponents, you clowns! Merchant is right. Today it's all about the safest route to the bank, least risk taken. These fighters today, including Mayweather... they aren't remotely cut from the same cloth as were legends, Ali, Tyson, Holyfield, Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, Duran, Arguello, Chavez Sr, Pryor, Dela Hoya, Mosley, Pacquiao today..... these guys had enough machismo, they WANTED to fight the best of the best in both their primes, to see who the best was. Win, Lose, or Draw, let the money take care of itself. They had huge ballz, a lot of pride & ego. IN the infamous words of Mills Lane, "Let's Get It On"! They were the originators of Super Fights. Today everybody has a belt, sanctioning bodies are creating new belts, new titles, belts in 24 karat gold, 4 champions per division... it's gross. Mayweather should have fought Pacquiao two or three times by now. Canelo, Sergio, Gennady, Chavez Jr should already be on the dotted line with each other already. Andre Ward should be calling out the best, or move up for a new challenge. Leonard & Hearns went clear to Light Heavyweight for challenges. Those were MEN, real legends, Holyfied went after Tyson twice. Ali fought Frazier 3x, Ken Norton 3x, knocked out George Foreman, whom nobody wanted to fight, after Foreman destroyed Frazier in 2. Hagler & Hearns had an epic 3 round war. Leonard/Hearns fought twice. Leonard came off 5 years retirement, no tune up fight, to fight Hagler; NOBODY has the ballz to do that. Pacquiao fought Barrera 2x, Morales 3x, Marquez 4x, all in their prime! Dela Hoya & Mosley fought twice in their prime. Today's fighters are more concerned about longevity & money, and being strategic about who they fight, when they fight, and it's disgusting.

Im a big pac fan but damn not every fighter the same

[FAt tEDDY]

Larry is instigating hate.

[firstborn]

Just confirms that most journalist / commentators have a certain bias, their opinions shouldn't always be taken as the gospel.

My main beef with Merchant's comment is that he seems to have no problem with Pac taking a tune up after suffering an injury (KO) but doesn't extend that same courtsey to Ward on his return from a career threatening injury.

For what its worth, I would also like to see Ward move up but understand his desire for a big money fight before moving up for good.

[TLC8]

Why is Ward even receiving criticism he is the #2 fighter P4P, and how much is he making a fight? (Can you blame him for waiting for the Chavez fight). As soon as these guys take a loss they will make a lot less money. And if they get hurt in a fight you think HBO gives a damn what happens to them? There only obligation is to themselves and there families.

Merchant is such a hypocrite
remember why Floyd was calling out Oscar and Mosley when he was at lightweight, and he was just acting like Floyd wasn't a big enough draw to fight those guys.

P4P doesn't mean ****, if you are hand picking opponents along the way for the safest route to the bank. Roy Jones Jr had a contract with HBO that stated JONES picked his opponents that HBO would televise. Nobody had any say, which is why so many of Jones fights were boring, or he turned them into a rap concert or a basketball game. It all blew up in his face when he guessed wrong choosing Antonio Tarver. The same mistake will happen to Mayweather at some point. ****** comments about "getting hurt in a fight"; THIS IS THE HURTIN' BUSINESS, clown! Go play the tapes to Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, Duran, Arguello, Chavez Sr, Tyson and Holyfield... HBO pays these guys today MASSIVE money for these big fights. Floyd even admitted to hand picking opponents, so long as you the fan keep paying him the big money!!! P4P is just another meaningless title, credential that doesn't mean crap. Andre Ward is not going to fight Rigodeaux, should they show up next to one another on the P4P list... it's a ****** list. Too many guys won't fight anyone credible. This is why they called the 80's the Golden Era of Boxing. The best fought each other, in their primes, multiple times if need be. It's disgusting how manufactured Boxing and boxing careers have become.

[Sugar Q]

Pacquiao called out Marquez who said no, then he called out Bradley who said NO. Rios was a third choice who all you idiots called "a dangerous fight for Pacquiao". What part of that don't you understand, for those that ask where was the criticism over Pacquaio fighting Rios..... idiots. Pacquaio has always taken on the best, biggest, toughest opponents, you clowns! Merchant is right. Today it's all about the safest route to the bank, least risk taken. These fighters today, including Mayweather... they aren't remotely cut from the same cloth as were legends, Ali, Tyson, Holyfield, Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, Duran, Arguello, Chavez Sr, Pryor, Dela Hoya, Mosley, Pacquiao today..... these guys had enough machismo, they WANTED to fight the best of the best in both their primes, to see who the best was. Win, Lose, or Draw, let the money take care of itself. They had huge ballz, a lot of pride & ego. IN the infamous words of Mills Lane, "Let's Get It On"! They were the originators of Super Fights. Today everybody has a belt, sanctioning bodies are creating new belts, new titles, belts in 24 karat gold, 4 champions per division... it's gross. Mayweather should have fought Pacquiao two or three times by now. Canelo, Sergio, Gennady, Chavez Jr should already be on the dotted line with each other already. Andre Ward should be calling out the best, or move up for a new challenge. Leonard & Hearns went clear to Light Heavyweight for challenges. Those were MEN, real legends, Holyfied went after Tyson twice. Ali fought Frazier 3x, Ken Norton 3x, knocked out George Foreman, whom nobody wanted to fight, after Foreman destroyed Frazier in 2. Hagler & Hearns had an epic 3 round war. Leonard/Hearns fought twice. Leonard came off 5 years retirement, no tune up fight, to fight Hagler; NOBODY has the ballz to do that. Pacquiao fought Barrera 2x, Morales 3x, Marquez 4x, all in their prime! Dela Hoya & Mosley fought twice in their prime. Today's fighters are more concerned about longevity & money, and being strategic about who they fight, when they fight, and it's disgusting.

Your a funny dude. Where were you when Paul Williams, Mosley, Berto, Ortiz, Canelo, Martinez and Guerrero all called out Manny? Ortiz after beating Berto said "Manny's cool but I would love to fight him after I fight PBF!!! Manny has been ducking behind Top Prank for years, enough is enough!!! Thurman would stop Manny!!! What about Manny vs. Guerrero? Manny hasn't had a KO since Floyd shined the light on his PED usage!!! The PED Manny that fought Cotto would've slaughtered Rios!!!! People need to stop making excuses when it's so evident that dude was using PEDs.

[QuebecSTAR2]

i was at that fight and that was a really good promo .
salido v the ghost fight was a cracker .

Floyd took a **** this morning and you came out

[Motofan]

Larry is God.

[anonymous2.0]

Did I just agree with Larry? I think I just agreed with Larry. Wtf.

[ShoulderRoll]

Why is it ok for Kovalev to fight Sillakh but it's not ok for Ward to fight the guy who beat Grachev who beat Sillakh?

Especially given that Ward was coming off a long injury layoff?

I hate to say it but Larry Merchant is clearly biased and possibly borderline racist as some posters have mentioned.

[YOU WILL LOSE]

uhoh ..,..won't be long now before ward is hugging reporters to stop them from asking questions!!