RingSide Report

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Floyd Mayweather JR, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto & More – Boxing's Big Three – The Fights

By Gina L. Caliboso

“Always in motion the future.” – Yoda

Yes RSR fans, I’m quoting Yoda which clearly shows that my beloved Editor Geno is checking his email as I try to meet deadline for articles this week. So, I begin with a quote from Yoda because as it is spring and summer (as it is always in sunny Southern California), I thought I’d bring to you some future fights. I’ve only put together 3 for now, but as I peer at my fight calendar, I’m hoping to cover the Ortiz vs. Berto II at the Staples Center here in Los Angeles. But, let’s begin with Yoda’s quote. For now, I’ve thought about the matchups that will soon be upon us which may eventually affect the future motion of matchups for the fall. Both Pacquiao and Mayweather like to get in a bout in November or so, but given that Mayweather may be in the throes of his sentence or Pacquiao might be facing something or another back in the Philippines, my two future welterweight heavies to get a fight later in the year might be impossibility.

# 3 – Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, 54-3-2, 38 KO’s vs. Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley, 28-0, 12 KO’s – June 9, 2012

I list this as my third favorite fight because I’m ‘eh’ with Bradley’s speed and power. He is highly competitive when he boxes, but he doesn’t always carry his ability in the ring – meaning he doesn’t look as interested and determined to win as a fight as he should. I had hoped I could see him matchup with Khan before he moved up against Pacquiao. As for Pacquiao, he has been marred with personal affairs outside of the ring. He’s become, according to some news sources, a bit more devout, but his training ethic has not wavered one bit. He’s still my favorite boxer. I predict Pacquiao by 12 round unanimous decision. I don’t see a KO in either Pacquiao’s or Bradley’s future.

# 2 – “Bad” Chad Dawson, 30-1, 17 KO’s vs. Bernard Executioner Hopkins, 52-5-2, 32 KO’s – April 28, 2012

Since Bernard “Executioner” Hopkins has adamantly decided to stick around in boxing for a while in order to teach some young boxing pups how boxing is done, I thought I’d take a break from the Cotto vs. Mayweather hype and write about the 2nd fight I’m looking forward to seeing – AGAIN. Bad boy Chad Dawson will take on veteran fighter Hopkins for a second time. Or, for all you boxing fans, Dawson vs. Hopkins Part Deux will hopefully turn into a fight that doesn’t start off as a segment in the WWE.

In their last matchup, Hopkins and Dawson faced off against each other with no love between them. Dawson had a point to prove and he makes himself to be the perfect bully against any of his opponents. Their last fight didn’t even get started before Dawson picked up Hopkins in a pretty good MMA takedown and threw Hopkins to the ground, injuring Hopkins’ shoulder. It was ugly, boxing fans, UGLY.

More to the obvious, anytime Hopkins fights, he makes his younger opponent usually look a little foolish. Hopkins is a professional boxer and workhorse in the truest sense. Older, wiser, and holding the record as the active fighter at 49 years of age, Hopkins has definitely seen his fair share of action. He has cultivated his skill to be a clever, wear down his opponent fighter. Hopkins is beautiful to watch. Upon my own admission, it did take me a while to understanding his true dedication to the sweet science of boxing.

I predict Hopkins with a 12 round unanimous decision, but Dawson will surely make it a competitive bout.

Finally, the fight I really want to see:

# 1 – Miguel Cotto, 37-2, 30 KO’s vs. Floyd “Money” Mayweather, 42-0, 26 KO’s – May 5, 2012

As usual, I always root for Mayweather’s opponent. I finally caught HBO’s Max Kellerman’s Face Off between Cotto and Mayweather. I loved it. Mayweather gets me so riled up as the bad boy – but I do have a thing for bad boys. Mayweather is confident, arrogant, and just so damn sure of himself. But with good reason, he is undefeated. I have to remind myself about the Ortiz bout. Thanks goodness I didn’t buy the PPV. Nonetheless, Mayweather looked bored during the interview with Kellerman and even had the nerve to double check the bet he placed on college hoops. Ooh, he bugs! But that’s personal.

As for Cotto, I think he’s finally arrived in his own personal belief that he’s a good solid fighter that had come up against a cheater. Cotto redeemed, in his own mind, his boxing ability, when he defeated Margarito last year. I hope he brings his best against Mayweather and pulls off an upset. I predict a 12 round bout – no KO, with Cotto getting a decision. The fight will go down rather slowly, but Cotto has to come out strong and take the swag out of Mayweather’s fight. He needs to fight better in the championship rounds.

So, there it is, RSR fans. I won’t get into what matchups may occur for the fall, because again, the future is always in motion. We’ll see what happens in the next few months, but I’m looking forward to May 5th – that much is true!

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