LEGENDARY FIGHTERS NEED TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP!
Las Vegas, NV– Neither Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao deserve any love from sports fans at this point of their careers. Negotiations for the one fight that basically every person who has the slightest interest in boxing wants to see has appeared to hit a brick wall. Currently the vacationing Mayweather claims that he is fighting on May 2nd at MGM Grand in Las Vegas regardless of the opponent. Bob Arum, Manny Pacquiao’s promoter, has been giving increasingly contradictory comments to the press. The fighters claim they want to fight one another, but so far “No Cigar.”
The networks Showtime and HBO, who are to supposed to be partners in this deal have also given conflicting information. The public, while losing faith that this fight will come to fruition is also losing patience. Both sides just need to sit down and iron out a deal. One has to wonder if ego’s from both sides is what is preventing this deal from being worked out.
TIME TO FOCUS ON UPCOMING FIGHTS
Unfortunately this fiasco has been overshadowing some upcoming bouts. In retrospect the Showtime boxing schedule is suffering as a result. Showtime still has not scheduled a championship boxing card this year. One has to view this fight is so huge thats where all of their focus lies. This in someways should be beneficial to manager Al Haymon’s boxing series “Premier Boxing Champions” that premieres on March 7th on NBC airing in primetime. WBA interim Welterweight champion Keith Thurman (24-0, 21 KOs) will face Robert Guerrero (32-2, 18 KOs) in the main event. Two of the top 147lb contenders square off on national television and that within itself is positive for the sport moving forward.
Thurman looks to breakout to the mainstream
This should get boxing some massive exposure. The big punching Thurman can become a star with an impressive victory. Hopefully some other fighters getting the attention away from Mayweather and Pacquiao will give both sides a greater sense of urgency to make the bout. As time goes by it is becoming less and less relevant. The undercard includes brash junior welterweight Adrien Broner (29-1, 22 KOs) against dangerous brawler John Molina (27-5, 22 KOs). Broner’s antics makes for great television and self promotion. He’s cocky, arrogant but also can fight. Molina is the typical brawler who is dangerous to the final bell. Both bouts should make for great television.
HBO HAS PUTS FORTH IT’S SPRING SCHEDULE
While Showtime has appeared to fall flat in the first few months of the year, HBO has some decent upcoming fights. Now that WBO and WBA light-heavyweight champion Sergiy Kovalev (26-0, 23 KOs) has all but rid the public of 50 year-old Bernard Hopkins with his dominant victory in November, he gets to face some quality younger competition. March 14th he faces the 32 year-old former champion Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) in Montreal, Canada. While the Russian should be a heavy favorite, Pascals speed and awkward style should make things interesting. Pascal, a native of Haiti now living in Montreal is a big ticket seller who will have the crowd in his favor.
HBO HOSTS A GEM IN LATE MARCH
In what is expected to be a barnburner, top 140lb knockout artists Ruslan Provodnikov (24-3, 17 KOs) and Lucas Matthysse (36-3, 34 KOs) face off on March 28th, rumored to be at the 7,000 seated outdoor Stub Hub Hub Center in Carson, CA. Stub Hub has been a host to numerous fight of the year candidates, and this shouldn’t fail to disappoint. For what they both lack in boxing ability they make up for in grit and determination. This may comedown to who can “catch” better than “hit”. Both are murderous punchers who don’t fail to excite their audiences with their ferocious gladiator type styles. Matthysse appears to be the more polished boxer of the two, but there should be no shortage of fireworks in this one.
Kevin Perry
NO VALENTINES LOVE FOR FLOYD OR MANNY