DID I EVER TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME…
Don King
San Francisco, CA– Promoter Don King fell off a stage ten feet onto a concrete floor in Espana? I’ll finish with that story, but first….COTTO IGNORES HIMSELF TO FIGHT ON
154 & 160 lb. king Canelo Alvarez
Fresh off a 12 round spanking by Canelo Alvarez, multi-division champ Miguel Cotto is implying he’ll be boxing again in mid-2016. If you are related, or are a truly a fan of the classy Puerto Rican, this is not good news. When it comes to the residual damage from fighting, no one knows what you’ll be like in five or ten years. So like Global Warming, I prefer to side with caution and being financially set for two lifetime’s, Cotto should take another hard look at his lovely wife and kids.
“GGG’ TO GOAD COTTO IN YANKEE STADIUM?
While I do think there will be pressure on Canelo Alvarez to face Gennady “GGG” Golovkin in 2016, I think he will balk and that Cotto would likely instead face “GGG” in a sold out Yankee Stadium in 2016. Somehow Miguel detached himself from our conversation circa 2010 in Colombia, a chat in which he said, “family and health mean more than money.” NOT in 2015!
PACQUIAO GOING OUT AGAINST CRAWFORD
And while it is not “breaking news,” Manny Pacquiao’s swan song will be against Terence Crawford, the unbeaten Nebraska native and current WBO 140 lb. titleholder. This is probably NOT a fight Pacquiao can win. DID YOU ever think you’d see Manny Pacquiao being used as an “opponent?” Unless you’re dictating like recent retiree Joe Calzaghe or 50’s champ Rocky Marciano, the end is not so pretty.
MEN, YES MALE BOXERS NEED “STEP IT UP”
When you lace up gloves for money, pride or both, then you need to realize you are representing the entire sport each time you step into battle. Women, be it in boxing and MMA, they really prepare and fight their hearts out solely because they feel that as femVale fighters they have something to prove. (How many fat, outa’ shape chicks you see fighting?) Today’s male competitors should take note, as some are squandering opportunities at greatness and fortune by not going all out when the opportunity presents itself, especially seeing there is currently NO dearth of television exposure.
IMITATING FLOYD MAYWEATHER “NOT WISE”
Some fighters are thinking that seeing Floyd Mayweather can pitch a virtual “no-hitter” and make zillions, are under the impression they can as well. Mr. Mayweather is NOT THE RULE, he is THE EXCEPTION. If we had a dozen Floyd Mayweather type boxers dominating each division, boxing would need to be renamed “Gloved Fencing,” which is not nearly as entertaining as the art of true “Prize Fighting.”
MORE THOUGHTS OF “BOB” FOSTER
The passing last week at the age of 76 of legendary light heavyweight (175 lb.) champion Bob Foster has ignited a discussion of where Foster, whom I think was the “best” ever, stands on the all time ladder. Right away, I’d say Foster and Michael Spinks, Archie Moore, Billy Conn and Michael Moorer round out the top five historically.
“PACO” VALCARCEL ON RING TALK SUNDAY
WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, who is dealing with something we all have to face, aging parents, Paco will be part of the “Ring Talk” mix on the Sunday TWO HOUR edition at 11 AM. Expanding on the world of MMA will be “King Kyle” Kingsbury, retired UFC fighter.
DON KING “PLUNGE” STORY CONTINUED…
We are in Malaga, Spain circa 1999 and Hall of Fame promoter Don King is on stage with a handful ($10,000 exact) of American cash. About two minutes into his schtick, King makes a spin and falls forward and ten feet off the stage onto a tiled concrete floor. There were two miracles here, King was not only unhurt from the fall, he still had every bill clasped in hand when we got him up!
Pedro Fernandez
Note: Mr. Fernandez is an award-winning writer, TV commentator, radio talk show host, former San Francisco Policeman, licensed California Private Investigator and four-time Golden Gloves boxing champion, who also pens feature stories for the R & B band Tower of Power. Comments regarding this submission can be left below.
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