It’s like watching a sta…

It’s like watching a starlet blow her nose on a beach in Acapulco.

Larry Merchant, May 5, 2012.

Fighting Past the Finish Line

Based on what happened last weekend in two sensational bouts, boxing fans are no more concerned with the future of the two competitors who won than they are with those who lost.  Many are urging retirement for both fighters and yet many are also clamoring for more.  Especially the impressive showing by Miguel Cotto has supporters demanding a swan song from the Puerto Rican star, asserting that his performance against Mayweather signifies great things for the fighter.  Personally, I agree that the fight against Mayweather was indeed the crowning achievement on an already legendary career, but I don’t think Cotto’s retirement would be a tragedy.  The only opponents I can see being interesting against Cotto now are Martinez and Alvarez.  It would be interesting to see just how good those two rising stars really are.

Mosley did a lot better Saturday night than a lot of people give him credit for, especially when those people are boxing writers.  I think as much as people focused on Cotto’s impressive showing that night, they overlooked the development that Alvarez showed.  Fighting like he did, I don’t see a blown-up middleweight like Chavez Jr. giving Alvarez  much trouble, but fans of Chavez disagree.  In other words, both these guys did well against fantastically strong opponents, if Mosley was somewhat less impressive.  What do we want from them now?  For them to sacrifice themselves on the altar of the squared circle in order to prove some stubborn compulsion to fight past the finish line?

All the fighters from last weekend’s event gave the fans everything they could ask for and more. Maybe the roaring crowds will let them rest now without criticism once the dust settles.  Seeing either of them in the ring again would be a privilege, but seeing them move on before it’s too late would be too.

Why We Watch, II

Both my fight predictions for the Cinco de Mayo lineup turned out to be pretty accurate, but that’s not why the 70$ high definition price tag felt like a bargain after last night’s tribute to athleticism. Four of the sports top competitors got in the ring and all of them brought their best effort and an impressive skill set. While popular opinion did prevail in predictions, the performances by Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley were entirely worthy of their venerable reputation. The projected record numbers for pay-per-view purchases and views have yet to be confirmed, but Mayweather’s unprecedented single-event guarantee of $32 million says it all. The future, for now, is uncertain for all those involved, but boxing grew a little this weekend.

Cinco de Mayo, a Day for Celebration

This Saturday four of boxing’s most important athletes will be getting in the ring. It may be a bit premature compared to the usual practices of revisionist historians who love to wait a few days after the hysteria dies down to assert an analysis. I can’t claim to be special; I needed a few days after the Mayweather-Ortiz debacle. In this case, however, I’m not so desperate for unlikely conclusions that I need to exhibit reservation. The truth is, I love watching all the fighters in Saturday’s co-feature (how often does an event get that label when the headliner is Floyd Mayweather?) and I’d like to see them all do well. That might seem nearly impossible given that the athletes will be getting into a ring to prove physical superiority with their fists, but given fans’ knowledge of these fighters’ styles, condition, history and past competition, maybe we can hope for a little less backpedaling when the results are in and the decisions (or knockouts) made. Of course, no one would be able to resist mild selective memory syndrome if a huge upset were to result in Floyd Mayweather losing his first fight, but almost every other conceivable scenario is logical, and even exciting to anticipate.
Seeing Mayweather rise to a challenge against a great opponent, showing his entire arsenal, would be thrilling. Seeing Alvarez continue his meteoric rise by beating the best opponent he’s ever faced, and reshaping the elite group of the division would also be intriguing. Witnessing Shane Mosley at age 40, achieving a level greatness that takes on mythic proportions in boxing by beating one of the best ever examples of the “young gun” archetype, would be transcendent. Boxing fans, the dreamers they are, even still have the shred of hope that they could see Cotto pose a real threat to pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather Jr. However it plays out, the results will likely not be entirely unexpected. So why wait until biases and outrage can cloud our judgment to speculate about the future of these elite fighters?
The answer is clear for at least one of the four. If Mayweather is able to continue his dominance in the division without much resistance fans will be starved for his athleticism and competition by the time he is released from county jail, likely within three months of his incarceration. He will continue carefully selecting his opponents to maximize his profit, legacy and reputation and minimize his physical risk. The careers of elite fighters Mosley and Cotto paralleled each other and even intersected once. While Mosley is older, Cotto may be the same age or his elder when measured by the punishment he’s taken in the same number of years. Personally, I am inclined to believe that Mosley is closer to retirement. He’s been more attacked for his age, more encouraged to quit than Cotto has in recent years, and he is older. Cotto, on the other hand, sustained damage during his first fight with criminal Antonio Margarito that apparently significantly increased his mileage. I would be more than satisfied with Cotto’s legacy and his performance if he were to retire after a loss to Mayweather, but a little disappointed. With Mosley, though, I think I would be disappointed if he didn’t retire after a loss to Alvarez. Greatness like his should be preserved and reminisced about, not stretched and diluted until he has a truly bad night in the ring, as in other tragic ring farewells with greats like Louis and Ali. More current tragic don’t-know-when-to-quits include Roy Jones Jr. and Evander Holyfield. I hope all of them hang up the gloves soon.
The only real question mark is Alvarez. Fans can’t really be too disappointed if he loses a close fight to Shane Mosley. His past competition has been impressive but he’s never been in the ring with a master of Mosley’s caliber. The over-used but less fully understood adage “styles make fights” will be the phrase of the day on Cinco de Mayo. If styles do indeed make this fight, Alvarez will be looking for a recovery bout after being defeated by Mosley’s straight, fast punches. Even though the rankings say otherwise, Mosley is widely regarded as a greater challenge than Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. I would be interested to see that fight, win or lose against Mosley, mostly because I think Alvarez would expose Chavez’ weaknesses.
Let’s get it out of the way. No. Mayweather will not sign a contract with Pacquiao before his jail sentence. No. It’s not going to happen as soon as he gets out, either. If Mayweather ever fights Pacquiao, I know what I’ll expect to see and I’ll have to weigh the fighters’ condition at the time to make my prediction. Until that day, the fight doesn’t exist to me. Arum won’t let it exist. If good ol’ gin blossomed Arum dies while Mayweather is incarcerated then I’ll start getting my hopes up. It will definitely be a paltry consolation prize after this Saturday, but I’ll find a way to get excited about Pacquiao-Bradley and all the undercard fights that night will feature. As for this coming holiday of Mexican nationalism, let’s hope all the fighters make their nations proud, and come out safely, to fight another day, in the ring, or elsewhere.

A Long Time Ago, in a Boxing Ring Far, Far Away…

Remember about a year ago when big fights were still being scheduled on a regular basis along with standard ESPN broadcasts? The upcoming fight schedule is unusually full for such a short period of time, and even more unexpectedly, the fights are worth watching. The obvious match to anticipate includes the biggest star in the business, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and one of the biggest fan favorites in the business, Miguel Cotto. Not to short-change buyers who shell out $65+ for the pay-per-view event, the undercard for Mayweather-Cotto will be as much of a co-feature as any match could be. Saul Alvarez is already posing a legitimate challenge at 154 though he inspires trepidation in enthusiasts based on his past competition and lack of defensive flare. His opponent in Shane Mosley is, at worst, one of the best fighters of his era, certainly one of the best welterweights. While he might not adjust to deficiencies of age like Father Time Bernard Hopkins, Mosley has never looked old. While the win would mean the immediate revitalization of Mosley’s career, a win for Alvarez, especially a decisive one, would be even more important. There are many obstacles to overcome in the loaded Jr. Middleweight division, but defeating a skilled, well-respected veteran at his natural weight in Shane Mosley would grant Alvarez access to big money deals with the best in boxing. As one of the most impressive fighters to break into the scene in recent years, winning a title before turning 21, I could hope to see Alvarez in that position.

That said, Mosley has a lot more for a guy like Alvarez than he did in his only briefly thrilling bout with master Mayweather. In that fight, Mosley came out sharp and surprised an overconfident Mayweather with hard straights and impressive speed, being much closer to Mayweather’s skill level than his past competition. Mayweather, however, was undaunted by the miscalculation. Mosley landed a lightning bolt straight right hand that compelled Mayweather to hold on to regain his composure. As thrilling as the turn of events was, Mayweather quickly gathered himself and declared “This is not the punch you are looking for,” and proceeded to undermine all of Mosley’s further efforts. Demonstrating to me for the first time that he had the ability to fight with real heart and destructive intent, rather than just standing back and relying on speed, many critics claim Mayweather showed his age. I, on the other hand, think Mayweather showed just how good he really was against an opponent who really was good competition. If nothing else we saw that Mosley can still muster the impressive ability to quickdraw on masters of speed. I also saw that Mosley’s straights are still formidable and that his defense was good enough to leave his hands by his waist for most of the fight. What does that mean for Alvarez? Alvarez has been criticized for his defensive skill and he’s never been in the ring with a fighter as dangerous or as precise as Mosley. Power is said to be the last element of an aging fighter’s game to go, so precision straights could spell defeat for Alvarez. What it really means is that Alvarez has to find the right range to fight Mosley, probably staying inside and possibly neutralizing his speed with body shots. What it means is that both fighters have enough tools at their disposal to win. It means that the fans will be getting a great night of boxing. Check my fight predictions page for my educated guess.
But wait, there’s more.
The overdue rematch between Hopkins and Chad Dawson will be about a day’s wages cheaper than the first fight and still important to the division. The name “Bad” Chad Dawson took on a different meaning after his deplorable tirades in response to the “no contest” ruling. I hope he loses so we can see him degrade himself further with the excuses and accusations that are sure to follow. Based on his past competition (what relevant fight was he in recently?) and his barely impressive record (30-1) I think he’s lucky to be getting a fight with a historic figure like Hopkins.
The buzz must be causing some jealousy because it seems Pacquiao is trying to compete with an exciting undercard of his own. Before the entirely predetermined result of Pacquiao-Bradley is revealed, fans will be presented with a selection of great talent including Jorge Arce (60-6-2), Guillermo Rigondeaux, Mike Jones and the highly-anticipated Jesse Hart. As I see it, the upcoming fights will reinvigorate fans who may have lost interest in the purgatory of uncompetitive matchups they have subjected to since late last year.  All the fighters scheduled for the next two weeks are important to boxing.  When the dust has settled, we’ll have entirely new perspectives on many of them.  Hopefully, these perspectives won’t stifle further freedom to create competitive fights.  Boxing is back.

Cinnamon and Sugar: An Explosive Combination?

Everybody is so hyped about the upcoming Cotto-Mayweather fight that the undercard is getting less attention than it should.  I’m excited for the main event, too; I want to see Cotto put on a performance he can be proud of at the end of an inspiring career.  But what about the guy Mayweather fought not too long ago, the guy taking on a young, capable rising star?  Shane Mosley has been more than a gatekeeper in the division since the beginning of his career.  Now, one of the most challenging opponents he’s ever faced will be trying to do what Mosley and many others have failed to do: Cotto has to beat Floyd Mayweather.  Mosley has his own worthy challenge that evening, however, where he’ll face new Mexican star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.  Alvarez brings a lot to the ring including impressive power, speed and boxing ability.  So how is this chapter in welterweight history going to end?  I’m just as interested in seeing the dawn of a new era as I am in seeing the end of a glorious career.  All these fighters are top quality.  Let’s hope they all come prepared May 5th.

Morale-Less After Defeat?

Erik Morales finally looked his age this weekend against Danny Garcia. Morales’ precision and timing were sufficient to control Garcia through the early rounds but both fell apart as the fight wore on and his stamina deteriorated. Garcia is no world-class champion but he was good enough all around to keep the best guys honest. In the undercard, James Kirkland demonstrated his ability to facilitate controversial fights as he fought ineffectively for about ten rounds before coming on strong at the end. The fight concluded in some of the most bizarre circumstances I’ve ever heard of in boxing as Kirkland scored at knockdown at the bell and while Carlos Molina was being counted, his corner committed a fight-ending foul. The judges were informed that the fight was ruled a disqualification because Molina’s corner entered the ring during the count.  While Kirkland did manage a knockdown, he was still down by several points on any judge’s scorecard.  This controversy will only serve to further muddle the already conflicted reputation of puncher James Kirkland.

While not much of interest has transpired in boxing in recent weeks, two of the most exciting matchups in months for me included Hank Lundy vs. Dannie Williams and Edgar Santana vs. Manny Perez.

ESPN billed the Hank Lundy-Dannie Williams fight as a big punchers’ brawl.  For once, Friday Night Fights delivered.  Some of the rounds between these two knockout kings could be nominated for round of the year, especially round 3.  Both winging power shots without restraint, Lundy came out ahead on points with superior precision and control of his hooks.  Both men are legitimate gate keepers in the division and should always provide entertaining fights with competent ability.

The Santana-Perez fight was a perfect model for demonstrating the scientific method of boxing.  The bigger Santana tried to physically impose himself in the early rounds with sheer athleticism in single big shots.  By round 5, however, Perez’ fundamentals and gradual come-forward style overwhelmed Santana’s less robust skill set.  Perez deservedly won the NABF Junior Welterweight title in a ten-round decision through grit and boxing skill.

Finally, the passing of Bert Sugar and Angelo Dundee have been great losses to the boxing community and both will be remembered as pioneers and experts of the game.

Amateur Boxing Night Reality Show

This preview for the New Orleans Friday Night Fights event, originally on the Freret street location shows the growth of the institution that gave me the chance to fight at the amateur level. With all its faults, I love the gym and the people. I’m featured briefly toward the end of the video in the green and blue. Check it out.

Pacquiao and Bradley

Cotto vs Mayweather

On May 5th, Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather will meet in the ring, for what one hopes will be a great boxing match up.  Leaving myself distraught though, for I am a big fan of both these fighters.

Many have been waiting for Pacquiao and Mayweather to settle the pound for pound best rivalry, for years now, but the two seem to get nowhere closer to this fan dream bout.  Pacquiao and Mayweather wasn’t going to happen, since Pacquiao’s last fight with long time rival Juan Manuel Marquez.  As good as Marquez was at counterpunching and defense in that fight, Mayweather is far greater at those skills, and is naturally a larger fighter than the Pacman.  Which Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions (Pacquiao’s promoter) seem to have realized.  After that fight, Arum was obviously avoiding the possible fight with Mayweather, and was focusing on other opponents.

   Pacquiao, instead will be fighting Timothy Bradley, but that was after Cotto wisely walked away from a rematch with the filipino sensation.  I say wisely because Pacquiao wanted Cotto to meet him at a catch weight of 147 pounds.  (Heres where all the die-hard Pac Man fans are gonna blow steam at me.)  The key to most of Pacquiao’s great victory’s has been, “catch weights”.  It takes a lot more out of a bigger fighter, to drain his body to make weight, (especially when it’s a weight lower than he typically fights,) than a smaller fighter to gain a few pounds.  Now that’s not to take away Pacquiao’s victory over Cotto, though.  Let’s face it, Cotto didn’t even have a trainer, he had the former apprentice of his uncle, and as Freddie Roach (Pacquiao’s trainer) stated before the fight, he could see that Cotto was in charge of his training camp, not the trainer.  After the early rounds, Cotto looked like a lost puppy in there, and had no one in his corner to guide him.

Even with the pressure from Bob Arum to fight Pacquiao, Cotto stepped away to take a bigger fight, with a hell of a lot bigger paycheck, against the best of the best, Floyd Mayweather.  Leaving myself both excited, and confused as far as who to cheer for.  I like Mayweather.  Yes he gets a lot of criticism for his loud mouth and his actions, but let’s not fool ourselves, it’s called an act.  He isn’t the highest paid boxer for nothing, after all.  He knows how to promote himself and a fight.  Even when viewers are spending their money, hoping he’ll get knocked out, their still spending their money.

I think Mayweather is a naturally gifted athlete, who puts in the hard work to be the best.  His gym motto is “Hard Work, Dedication”, for God’s sakes.  On the other hand, I have been following Cotto since very early in his career.  I’m not going to lie though, what first got my attention wasn’t just his boxing, but the fact he happens to be from the same small town as my Grandfather, Caguas, Puerto Rico.  So he’s the pride of not just Caguas, P R in general.

So who will win this great fight?  Cotto made me proud in his last fight with Margarito.  Mostly because he finally fought a fight based on the opponent’s style, rather than just going into the ring with the attitude, that all fights are the same.  If he and his trainer ( not sure if it’ll be Pedro Luis Diaz or Emanuel Steward) prepare a strategy around Mayweather’s style, he may stand a chance, not a big one, but a chance.  But of course, Mayweather is Mayweather.  If I had to put money down,(although my heart is with Cotto) I would put it on Mayweather winning by decision.