COLUMN NOT FOR THE TIMID TYPE
Los Angeles, CA- Here’s some of my current observations on whats going on and what isn’t going on in the boxing world.
BEGINNING WITH GARY “FULL OF S*IT” SHAW
Gary Shaw, promoter of 140 pound champion Tim Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs) is adamant that his fighter will fight anyone. How about WBC/WBA champion Devon Alexander (20-0, 13 KOs)? Alexander still has no dance partner for his upcoming HBO fight on August 7th. Bradley was scheduled to fight unknown commodity Carlos Abregu (29-0, 23 KOs) (who is also promoted by Shaw) July 17th at welterweight (147). That bout was called off and then he was slated to tangle with WBA 140 lb. interim champ Marcos Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs) on that date instead.
ARE YOU FRIGGEN CONFUSED YET?
That fight was scrapped due to a back injury suffered by Maidana. Now the bout with Abregu is back on. What is interesting to me is their excuse for not taking the fight with Alexander is that they want to wait to make it a bigger fight. I am not sure how they plan on generating more interest for a fight between these guys, when neither guy is expected to become a household name in the near future. Be careful what you wish for. Abregu can bang, and Bradley, while a very effective 140 pounder was dropped twice by Kendall Holt (25-4, 13 KOs) who was stopped in his last outing against unheralded South African Kaizer Mabuza (23-6-3, 14 KOs). Sometimes waiting for a big fight can be a mistake. It’s best to cash in when you have the opportunity to make the best possible fights.
MAYWEATHER-MOSLEY DOPE TESTING DATES REVEALED
There’s news that “Sugar Shane” Mosley (46-6, 39 KOs) and Floyd Mayweather’s (41-0, 25 KOs) testing by the USADA had a cut-off date of 18 days. What doesn’t make sense to me is if Floyd is so concerned about the use of EPO and other performance enhancing drugs being cycled out of the system within a matter of days, why have a cut-off date? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of random testing? Like Ex-Balco and SNAC founder Victor Conte said in a “Ring Talk Worldwide” radio interview that’s “announced testing.” This news now gives Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) somewhat of a leg to stand on. If Mayweather really wanted to set a precedent he would have insisted on random testing up until at least the week of the fight. Wouldn’t he have been worried about Shane possibly using EPO within the 18 day cut-off period?
RANDOM TESTING OR NONE AT ALL!
Now the Filipino can possibly get Floyd to agree to the original 24 day cut-off date that they were negotiating in the first place. In my opinion if you are worried about detecting these drugs through blood testing the only way that it makes sense is through random testing. I believe that’s the consensus of the general public and the media and a concern that the Floyd camp should have thought about when he fought Mosley if he wanted to have the upper hand in negotiations with Paquaio.
PEDRO CALLS IT “CHALK”
Is it just me or are you just tired of seeing boxing cards where the result is almost a given before the bell sounds? Who actually believed that Paulie Malignaggi (27-4, 5 KOs) had the slightest chance at beating Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) for his WBA (140) strap? Khan is taller, bigger, a better puncher and better boxer than the Brooklynite. He’s also promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, HBO’s house promoter. What advantage did Paulie have? The fight however was in his hometown. I guess all of those thousands of fans he has would have helped him right? In reality Paulie has never been a much of a ticket seller. He’s brash and has an attitude, but fans want to see a guy who can crack an egg and make an omelet.
VAZQUEZ-MARQUEZ IV A “DANGEROUS” FIGHT!
Are you too wondering if Israel Vasquez (44-4, 32 KOs) and Rafael Marquez (38-5, 34 KOs) have enough left to make their fourth fight Saturday another epic encounter? If so, I am actually worried. Word is that both men will make close to $800,000. Let’s pray that they still have the senses to enjoy that money in a couple of years, because after those three fights Showtime and the promoters should just give them $800 K and call it a day before this fight even happens. I feel they deserve that for all of the thrills they have given us fans.
FLOYD VS MARTINEZ AT 154?
Anyone excited at the possibility of Floyd Mayweather facing newly crowned middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KOs) for his WBC 154 lb. & 160 lb. titles? I think it would add intrigue if Floyd moved up and won the middleweight crown that Martinez possesses. If he won that fight I think all of the haters and detractors (myself included) would give him the credit he already deserves. It would make him an all-time great in my opinion. I however am not going to give him too much credit for beating a 38 year old version of Shane Mosley. Isn’t Mosley the same guy who got mopped twice by Vernon Forrest (41-3, 29 KOs) and Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs)? At least those guys beat Shane when he was close to his prime.
LENNOX DUMPED, BUT MAX STAYS?
HBO let go of their Boxing After Dark analyst and former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, and is looking for a possible replacement. What’s interesting to me is people criticized Lewis’ commentary. but at least he’s boxed at the highest level. Max Kellerman is on HBO and he isn’t all that great at what he does first and foremost for a living and he gets to keep his job. (Is it because he is White/Jewish as are the majority of the HBO hierarchy?) I am not sure why people were so hard on Lennox. Some replacements I’d like to see in the driver’s seat are Nazzim Richardson, Ray Leonard, Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather Sr., sorry I meant Jr. I am sure Sr. would give great analysis, but between his Ebonics and street talk, what commentary could there be? Being successful here includes the audience being able to understand what he’s analyzing.
FAT CUBANO STILL ON MY RADAR
Besides from being overweight in just about every fight he’s been involved in as a pro, did I mention that I believe former Olympic Gold medalist Odlanier Solis (16-0, 12 KOs) is the real deal? Once the boxing world is rid of both the bros. Klitschko, I think he is the heir apparent in the division. I just hope he doesn’t eat his way out of contention.
Kevin Perry