Brian’s Boxing Mailbag ( Edwin Valero KOs Antonio DeMarco, Saints KOs Colts, Glen Johnson Kos Yusef Mack and of Course, Manny Pacquiao Makes his Appearance)
Hosted by Brian Wilbur
Happy Super Bowl hangover day sports fans! I welcome you to my mailbag. Though this is a boxing column, the most high profile slugfest of the weekend belonged to the sport of football. Commentators often like to compare a hard hitting, physical football game to a heavyweight championship title fight. I would compare the battle between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints as more of a welterweight championship fight because of the skill and speed of the players. I am amazed when I see how fast the game is played at the NFL level. I am reminded of an ESPN the Magazine article talking about converting former football players into boxers to inject some life into the heavyweight division. That article is a good read if you are able to get your hands on it, say in the waiting room at your next dentist appointment.
I congratulate the underdog Saints for delivering a knockout blow late in the 4th quarter against the Colts. The interception returned for a touchdown was the symbolic left hook to the point of the chin that sealed the deal. Up until that point it was anyone’s game.
The last three Super Bowls have been terrific games. The NFL is on a role, widely considered to be the premier sports league, and are winning over fans at a rapid pace when their highest profile event is a fun, action-packed game for three years straight. Floyd Mayweather should take notes after stinking out the joint against Oscar De La Hoya in boxing’s version of the Super Bowl.
The two boxing events over the weekend reminded us why boxing, unlike football, is not a game. Former undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion Glen Johnson turned back the clock at 41 years old and pummeled a game Yusef Mack to a mid round TKO. I was hyping this bout up in my mailbag pretty substantially and I feel like it lived up to the hype. Mack and Johnson briutally went toe to toe in spots. Mack was a little too careless though, which has been his problem in the past, and succumbed after getting hit with some big shots. Johnson will get old and fade out someday, but there is no sign of that day yet. Johnson looks as good as ever.
In other action, KO artist Edwin Valero dominated Antonio DeMarco winning with a 10th round TKO. Many like to compare Valero to a young Manny Pacquiao, and I don’t think those comparisons are far off of the mark. Like a young Pacquiao, Valero is a strong, energetic power puncher who head hunts early but has the stamina and subtle skill to go deeper into fights and break down their opponents if the early round KO does not come. I am impressed with what I have seen from Valero and would like to see him take another step in class. Perhaps a clash with Juan Manuel Marquez is in order? How awesome would that fight be?
Onto the mailbag, I have a brief offering for you this week (I was busy, give me a break!) but the readers chimed in with some interesting questions and points. I hope you enjoy and be sure to send in your emails/questions to be used for next week’s mailbag.
Mayweather/Mosley and Clottey/Pacquiao Thoughts
Brian,
What are your thoughts of the upcoming Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey and Shane Mosley vs. Floyd Mayweather fights? I personally think the Pacquiao vs. Clottey fight will be like the Pacquiao vs. Diaz fight, Clottey being stronger than Pacquiao but a lot slower and he will be too slow to defend himself from all angles even though he’s considered to have respectable defense.
And about Mosley vs. Mayweather, I don’t know why people tend to say that Mosley has a very good chance against Mayweather and that Mayweather has now picked a worthy opponent (he’s almost 40 for Pete’s sake). Mayweather will box the ears off Mosley and win a boring unanimous decision since Mosley is older and slower now.
If this would have happened five years ago then I would think Shane would have a much better chance, but now, he’s going to have to pray that a Hail Mary punch could get through. I don’t like Floyd, but I see him dominating Mosley for a wide decision win though he won’t stop him with those brittle xylocaine-laced hands.
-Vinjo
Vinjo,
I tend to favor both favorites in those fights by a fairly wide margin. Clottey is not dynamic enough to break through against Pacquiao, though is a solid fighter in every area with no glaring weaknesses. I agree with you that Shane Mosley is going to get thoroughly dominated by Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather has the perfect style to beat Mosley so this one is not going to be close.
I think the greater chance of upset comes from the Pacquiao vs. Clottey fight. You don’t give Joshua enough credit if you compare him to the underwhelming David Diaz. Clottey arguably beat Miguel Cotto. Joshua is such a well-rounded boxer that he has the ability to make Pacquiao pay if he makes any mistakes. Clottey also has a very good chin, stamina, and defense. Pacquiao would do well using his edge in speed to move in and out with combinations as we’ve seen recently from him. The old one-dimensional Pacquiao loses to Clottey, but the new improved boxer-puncher Pacquiao wins by decision or late KO.
Shane Mosley has enough left in the tank to look good against fighters who come right at him. I don’t think that he will be able to chase Mayweather to land with any kind of frequency. Even in Shane’s prime this is an extremely difficult fight for him. Think of Mosley’s fights against Winky Wright and Vernon Forrest, only even more dominant because Mayweather is better in almost every way than Wright and Forrest. I would be surprised if Mosley was able to land more than one or two meaningful punches in the entire twelve rounds.
Hall of Fame – Who Should Be In?
Hi Brian,
Asero here. I really enjoy reading your columns every week.
Finally, I get to see Danny “Little Red” Lopez and Lloyd Marshall get their spot in the Hall of Fame. It’s terrible to think that Brian Mitchell and Barry McGuigan where inducted ahead of them. These two warriors had all what it takes to be inducted in the first year of eligibility.
But question to you now is, who do you think deserves to be inducted in the hall of fame but has been snubbed in the past. Grateful if you could name three names.
Thank you,
-ASERO
Asero,
Hi Asero, good to hear from you again.
I am happy to see that Danny Lopez and Lloyd Marshall made it. Your question though is rather difficult. I tend to think that the hall of fame voters are too generous. They have done a good job at voting in the obvious picks and have made mistakes by letting in too many borderline cases.
So to give you an honest answer, I can’t think of any snubbed fighters. Perhaps there are some I can’t think of now. Without digging deep and doing weeks of research I don’t think there are any who are being unfairly treated by the voters.
Out of those eligible who are not in, perhaps Michael Nunn, Naseem Hamed, Davey Moore, and Jimmy Carruthers deserve consideration, but those are all borderline cases. If we are going on “fame” instead of accomplishments then “Prince” Naseem Hamed should get in because boy, that guy had a legion of hardcore fans like I’ve never seen (until Pacquiao came along).
What Do I Think?
Hi Brian,
This is my first time to write and ask you a question and I need your sincere/honest answer. Do you believe that Manny Pacquiao is using steroids/PED’s ?
-Chad from Tokyo
Chad,
Thank you for finally writing in, and especially doing so all the way from Tokyo. I take pride in knowing that my mailbag is an international one.
No, I don’t believe that Manny Pacquiao is on performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). Am I 100% sure? Nothing is ever 100%. I prefer to believe that Manny is an honorable sportsman who plays by the rules.
But like I said in a previous mailbag, perhaps I am too naive and trusting when it comes to this sort of thing. I was a big A’s fan in the mid 1990’s when Mark McGwire was hitting 50+ home runs and I didn’t believe that he was on steroids either. I believed him when he said that he was “just spending more time in the weight room”. McGwire has since admitted his steroids use.
That was kind of a tangent, but my point is that my beliefs regarding who is or is not using steroids have been wrong in the past. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to Pacquiao and PEDs.
Again, thanks for the question, and next time don’t be so shy to chime in.
Why Pacman Beats Mayweather (If It Happens)
Brian,
I want to look ahead to the fight that everyone wants to see. I can’t argue that Mayweather can’t win. Pacquiao vs. Mayweather a 50/50 fight do you agree? What are your odds 50/50, 60/40 in favor of who??
By the way, just wanted to add regarding the De La Hoya vs. Mayweather, Castillo vs. Mayweather, Hatton vs. Mayweather, and Zab vs. Mayweather. Looking at, and dissecting, these select fights will allow you to see that Pacquiao will win.
1. De La Hoya lost to Mayweather on a split decision, but what is revealing is that De La Hoya was able to pressure Floyd to the ropes over and over again. De La Hoya was the aggressor throughout the fight and Floyd won by just a split decision.
Knowing that Pacman, who also fought De La Hoya, showed he was faster, more elusive and the aggressor of the fight. Don’t you think Pacman can be able to pressure Floyd more effectively than De La Hoya did and be more accurate when he traps Mayweather on the ropes? Pacman will take a shot from Mayweather to get in with a lot more for sure Brian.
2. What I learned from the Castillo vs. Mayweather fight 1 is that if Mayweather gets in to a slugging match he loses. Castillo vs. Mayweather 2 turned into a boxing match so Mayweather won. If Castillo (a flat-footed Mexican style fighter) gave him fits, what more if it was Pacman and his quick footwork fighting him?
3. Hatton was competitive when he fought Mayweather. Hatton as we all know has no technical skills is just pure slugger who just wants to unload body punches but he gave Mayweather nine rounds and if you check the score cards he was winning some of the rounds and was the aggressor. And you know what Pacman did to Hatton right? He didn’t even give Hatton his moment to shine. My point is if Hatton can pressure Mayweather and win some of the rounds what more if it was Pacman doing the pressuring? It’s not rocket Science.
4. Zab vs. Mayweather. If you watch that fight again Zab was hitting Mayweather with his straight left at the end of round three or four I think he trapped Mayweather on the ropes and Mayweather did the shoulder role. Zab did the jab, jab, straight left and boom hit Mayweather right on the money. If Zab can do that with his straight what more if it was Pacman’s straight left? Mayweather’s shoulder role won’t cut it if he gets trapped.
With stamina that can go on and on for 12 rounds like a true pressure fighter, Pacman will take Mayweather into deep waters. And if you noticed not only did Zab lack stamina he was getting affected by Mayweather’s straight right to the abdominals that weakened him more down the stretch of the fight thus causing Mayweather to win. Zab’s weakness was his stamina but stamina is Pacquiao’s strong point.
In conclusion, these fighters, which in some degree gave Mayweather a lot of pressure and even showed some incredible aggression of their own, gave Mayweather a lot of problems. If they can do that to Mayweather what more if it were Pacman doing the pressuring? A dynamic puncher who’s fast on his feet and throws combos more than any of Mayweather’s adversaries ever did.
We all know boxing is about combination punching. To get a win over Mayweather you need to throw combos and we all know Pacman is lethal in that department. That’s all I can say. Just felt I had to add something more to my point of view. Thanks for replying more power to your site. I will keep on reading on. Hope to hear from you again. God Bless!
PS. Just a scoop Pacman just put some new tattoos on his left forearm. It’s a crashing meteor strategically located on his left inner forearm. Hehe!
-Spoon
Spoon,
We are getting a bit ahead of ourselves here, though I understand your overwhelming anticipation for this super fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao that everyone is hoping will finally materialize sometime this year.
If it does happen, I see Mayweather vs. Pacquiao as a very close fight. I would put the odds at 52/48 in favor of Floyd Mayweather. I see your points and Mayweather’s vulnerability in those fights are why I give Pacquiao as big of a chance as a do. You break down my thoughts exactly on many of Mayweather’s fights where he flirted with the first defeat of his career. Pacquiao, or Pacman as you endearingly call him, has all of the skill and talent to duplicate or do more than Mayweather’s toughest opponents. This is going to be a very tough, hard-earned victory to whoever comes away with it (again, assuming that it happens!). Fight strategy would play a huge role.
Undercard and Pound for Pound Talk
Hey Brian,
I’ve just read your current pound for pound list and I was surprised you placed Edwin Valero in the 8th spot. Honestly, were you impressed by his performance against Velasquez or DeMarco? Yes, the guy’s got some power but that’s it. He has poor defense and bad footwork. I don’t discount the possibility of him improving just like Pacquiao though.
By the way, if you were to make the undercard of a mega fight like Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley, whom would you rather see? Well, here’s mine:
Amir Khan vs. Zab Judah (battle of sparring mates)
Rodel Mayol vs. Edgar Sosa rematch
Nonito Donaire vs. Vic Darchinyan rematch
Edwin Valero vs. Humberto Soto or vs. Michael Katsidis (any pair will do)
I guess such would be a very expensive undercard but as much as they charge for PPV, we deserve the best card possible.
Thanks Brian.
-Morse
Morse,
I know what list you were talking about. That list was not my pound for pound list. I was only giving my opinion on which fighters I think had the most ability even if they had done nothing to back it up. Valero has done very little to prove his tremendous natural talent so I can’t make an argument for him being on a top 10 pound for pound list; thus Valero is not on my top 10 pound for pound list. Edwin certainly has the potential to make it to that level. He just needs to step up his level of opposition.
Your undercard sounds awesome, but as you already pessimistically suggested, it would cost too much money, therefore is extremely unlikely. Perhaps one fight of that quality would be able to fit on an undercard. The one I like the most is the rematch between Nonito Donaire and Vic Darchinyan. Edwin Valero vs. Michael Katsidis would be a fantastic action fight so I’ll pick that one as my second favorite. Mayol vs. Sosa doesn’t make much sense since Mayol won so convincingly last time.
Thanks for reading all. Come back next week!