ALL TOGETHER NOW: “HI BRIAN!”
Pittsburgh, PA– In coming back from a long layoff, a masterful pugilistic craftsman took on a world champion considered one of the sport’s best. Sure, the fact that his opponent came up two weight classes proved important, but regardless of weight he was just too sharp, too brilliant for the smaller man. Landing power shots almost at will, he dominated every minute of every round, failing only to close the show with a knockout. Because of his ring mastery that night, he became at least for the time being a media darling…. “Wait, media darling?!” you ask, “Floyd Mayweather?” Oh no, I’m sorry – you misunderstood – I was talking about how Bernard Hopkins was viewed just a year ago in defeating middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik.
STEP ONE: I ADMIT I AM POWERLESS OVER FLOYD
Why are many who canonized Hopkins – often a bore in the ring because he’s just so damn good (sound familiar?) – last year after the Pavlik win crucifying Mayweather this week? If you didn’t like the fight Saturday night, blame HBO for approving it, blame Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KOs) or his trainer Nacho Beristain for their impotence, but why Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs)? His numbers, the 59 percent of punches landed versus 12 percent by the Mexican, were awesome regardless of the opponent. But landing an average of 35 of 56 punches (62 percent) in the last four rounds on one of the best three boxers in the world and a future Hall of Famer? That’s amazing.
STEPS TWO THROUGH TWELVE: REPEAT STEP ONE
Isn’t it possible that some in the media’s “Money” malevolence this week derives from a deep, long-standing dislike of him? How many of those decrying his impeccable showing predicted this level of dominance over the great Marquez? Of course I’d like to see him throw caution to the wind and think only knockout, though my eyes saw him trying to finish the show (albeit prudently) in the late rounds, as Marquez at a steady diet of straight rights and left hooks. Ask yourself: Did Marquez stay up more because Mayweather is a coward, or because “Dinamita” summoned the warrior mentality and spirit that kept him on his feet at the end of his first 55 bouts while absorbing almost 300 blows? Okay, Mayweather couldn’t finish the smaller man. Like I said, blame Marquez.
AND NOW, SOMETHING YOU CAN AGREE WITH
Disturbed by some utterly irrational scoring Saturday night, I contacted Nevada State Athletic Commission Director Keith Kizer for his take. In particular, three scores were completely unjustifiable: Mike Fitzgerald scoring 116-112 for Vicente Escobedo over Michael Katsidis; Glen Hamada giving Rocky Juarez five rounds against Chris John; and William Lerch finding two rounds for Marquez. Kizer responded “by assuming that, by omission, you were pleased by the work of the 6 Nevada judges and referees (Russell) Mora, (Joe) Cortez and (Tony) Weeks, in those bouts…. As for the traveling judges, all very experienced and skilled, I note that judges Hamada and Lerch had scores very similar to some of the live press. As you know, the judges had the best views of the bout, but different views from one another. Therefore judging involves not only subjective evaluation but unique perspective.” Fair points all, though my guess is that you could have been inside the ropes in these bouts and still have seen that Katsidis won, and John and Mayweather clearly did so by wider margins than those. Fortunately, no harm done. This time.
Brian Gorman