If this article is even less coherent than it normally is, it?s because I?ve spent the majority of the last week sleeping all day so I could stay up to cough all night. (Yes, I am looking for sympathy.) But I know you have to play hurt for the good of the team, so despite my misery and suffering, I?ll attempt to discuss some of the week?s happenings, although some content may be diluted because of my condition. (Cough)
WILL O? THE WISP
On Thanksgiving, the sad news came from the West Hill Convalescent home in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, that Willie Pep was dead at the age of 84, succumbing to a longtime battle with dementia pugilistica. Born Gugliermo Papaleo, the fighter known as ?Will o? the Wisp? was by any standard one of the greatest pound for pound fighters of all time, many ranking him in the top three with Sugar Ray Robinson and Henry Armstrong. But when your lifetime record is 230-11-1, with 65 KO?s, you don?t need too much validation to prove your greatness; you can pretty much stand on your record.
Pep turned pro in 1940 and won his first 62 fights. He won the featherweight title in 1942 at age 20 and never lost to a featherweight until he lost the title to Sandy Saddler in October 1948. He regained the title in February 1949 in what was possibly his finest hour. Pep overcame cuts over both eyes and cheeks to win a 15 round decision. He again lost the title to Saddler in September 1950, and then the two engaged in a foul filled fourth fight, with Saddler the winner when Pep did not come out after the ninth round. Pep never fought for the title again. He did fight on until 1959 and made a comeback in 1965 at the age of 42, winning nine straight that year. He retired for good after a decision loss in 1966.
Pep was the consummate defensive artist. He may not have invented the hit and don?t get hit style, but he certainly perfected it. He suffered a broken leg and broken back in an airplane crash in 1947 that killed several others, but was back in the ring just five months later, his skills possibly somewhat diminished, but never his guile. The next time you hear a broadcaster describe the artistry of a defensive fighter making his opponent miss, wondering through the airwaves if he could win the round without landing a punch while recalling that it happened once before, consider that the broadcaster is referencing Willie Pep. According to boxing lore, Pep won the third round of a 10-rounder against Jackie Graves in 1946 without throwing a punch, an argument supported by Pep himself. Research has since disproved the legend but as the saying goes, ?When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.?
Regrettably precious little tape remains to revisit the greatness of Pep, not unlike other greats before the age of television. My tape library contains portions of fights three and four with Saddler, not the best criteria to judge an all time great. Time moves on and fighters such as Pep, Henry Armstrong, Harry Greb, Benny Leonard, Mickey Walker, and so many others are removed from our consciousness with the passage of time. So if we print the legend, if we embellish it just a little bit, is it not deserved?
REAL FIGHTING
Just think, it all started with the departure of Marc Ratner, lending credibility to this beast, then before you knew it Showtime announced that it will televise MMA, promoted by Gary Shaw. Then we hear that HBO is set to close a deal with the UFC. Hall of Fame referee Richard Steele announced this week that he was leaving his duties as third man in the ring to promote MMA, and I receive a press release for something called New Era Fighting. Good grief! What is that one? It sounds like a feminine hygiene product.
It?s just too much for me while my resistance is down, and yet I realize it?s an unstoppable force. Everything today is based on demographics and this, this thing, is popular with the 18-34 crowd that advertisers love. But for the record, if I had my way, if they wanted to reach a younger demographic I would recommend airing it on Saturday mornings with Dora the Explorer.
DON KING?S SHREWD INVESTMENT Recently it was reported by Keith Idec of the Herald News that Don King was about to purchase 50% of Duva Boxing from Dino Duva. This is the kind of business that I understand, coming from a retail background.
Competition comes to town. Then the retailers start a huge deep discount program or mail drop coupons. For a few months, it?s a pitched battle for sales volume. The strong, inevitably, get stronger. The weak are on the ledge hoping that they can regroup and get out of town fast enough. If they don?t, or can?t, they get swallowed up by the stronger groups. Ah, such memories?
In case anyone?s missed it the promoting game has become rather competitive of late, and litigious too. Let?s see, Gary Shaw is suing Golden Boy for alleged interference of his contract with Diego Corrales. Bob Arum threatened to sue Golden Boy for allegedly signing Manny Pacquiao while he was under contract to Top Rank. Top Rank then signs Pacquiao, and gets sued by Golden Boy, who doesn?t recognize Pacquiao?s check with a return to sender note as giving Top Rank the right to sign the superstar. Anyway, Top Rank reportedly counter sues.
When Arum made the announcement about the Pacquiao signing at the Pacquiao-Morales post-fight press conference, it was fascinating to observe the various reactions. Before that announcement, a dejected Erik Morales took the mike to barely whisper that it might have been his last fight but if he fights again it would be in Tijuana. No questions were directed to the Mexican legend who fought so bravely in defeat. With Arums?s encouragement, the assembled press rose to give Erik a hand. Then it was bye Erik, nice knowing you, hey Bob what about that contract?
With the inscrutable grin of a man holding an inside straight, Arum deftly fended off all questions until the questions regarding the fight were over, and believe me, for such a big event, that wasn?t long. Then he announced that Pacquiao had signed a four year contract with Top Rank and MP Promotions. Manny was asked for a response and said he wanted to spend some time with his family. Shelly Finkel, whose days as Pacquiao?s manager might be numbered because his contract lapses in January, never made it to the podium. He said nothing, not even attaboy. He?s in a tough spot, and probably needs to see which way the wind is heading.
This week Pacquiao?s trainer, Freddie Roach, was quoted as saying that he preferred Golden Boy for his fighter because they promote the fighters that Pac wants to face. Not to put words into Freddie?s mouth, but Oscar De La Hoya did say that Golden Boy would never co-promote a fight with Top Rank. Since Golden Boy has all the fighters, Manny might have to fight at cruiserweight to find an opponent unless he winds up with Golden Boy.
Returning to the original topic, the fact is that the smaller promotional companies are more vulnerable than ever, and since they can?t compete with the big boys, selling part of their operation keeps them in the game. The bigger promoter such as King benefits by improving his competitive position by picking up prospects. In the case with Duva, King would gain a piece of Samuel Peter, Kendall Holt, Mike Marrone and Brian Minto along with other Duva top prospects.
Some promoters, rather than wait to go belly up, and unable to land a Don King type parachute, might just sell out lock , stock, and barrel to a generous bidder. I just recently heard a rumor that a top promotional company may do just that by spring unless they get an infusion of much needed cash.
THEATER OF THE ABSURD
My friend Nat passed me this news piece: ?Joe Calzaghe has relinquished the IBF super middleweight championship that he won with his career best victory over American Jeff Lacy in March.
?The Welshman has chosen to fight American reality show star Peter Manfredo Jr. rather than face IBF mandatory challenger Robert Stieglitz.
?The sanctioning body had applied pressure on Calzaghe by putting the fight out to purse offers but Manfredo, a household name in America after his appearances on ?The Contender? television series, is a more lucrative option.?
Here?s my take: It pains me to read that the qualification for title contention is runner-up status in a reality show. (If that?s the case, give us Katherine McPhee. She?s a babe and when that pin broke on her slit dress last spring, it was a seminal moment of 2006 TV.)
On the other hand, let?s face it – the mandatory challenger status in bunk. Behind the scenes, this is where promoters really earn their money. Who is Robert Stieglitz anyway? They could have substituted the name Harry Homitz and I would never have known the difference.
The silver cloud is that maybe, finally, the public will see that the Contenders are simply telegenic journeymen with good looking wives. I don?t fault Calzaghe for taking the money at this stage of his career, I just wish that that sanctioning bodies would set up mandatories that fans wouldn?t find painful to watch. Unfortunately, the economics of Manfredo is more valuable to Calzaghe than the IBF trinket that Stieglitz represents. From Joe?s point of view, he?s going to beat either one of them, so why shouldn?t he get paid?
THIS WEEK?S PICKS
Best Card: Showtime, with Miguel Cotto, 27-0 (22), vs. Carlos Quintana, 23-0 (18), and Antonio Margarito, 33-4 (24), vs. Joshua Clottey, 29-1 (20). Picks: Cotto and Margarito by TKO, but they?re facing good competition.
Second Place: HBO has Winky Wright, 50-3-1 (25) vs. Ike Quartey, 37-3-1 (31) in a mismatch. Pick: Wright TKO 10.
Best Drama: Grey?s Anatomy
Second Place: Jeff Lacy, 21-1 (17) vs. Vitali Tsypko, 17-1 (10).
Will Lacy ever be the same fighter after his devastating loss to Calzaghe? Was he over rated to start with? I?ve read article after article chronicling Lacy?s excuses for his performance in that one. He?s blamed everyone except Borat for his dismal showing. Can he regain the respect that he once enjoyed?
I doubt it, but I?ll pick him to win, probably by late round TKO, simply because there is no way that Tsypko was selected to be a real test in Jeff?s return to the ring. We?ll know a lot more about Lacy?s future after we see how he responds on Saturday night. Has he developed that ?B? plan yet? Will he be aggressive, as before Calzaghe, or will he be gun shy? Was Lacy?s rise simply Shaw promoted smoke and mirrors, or does he really have the goods, and did, in fact, just have a bad night?
A lot of questions? One thing is for sure – Lacy needs a dominating performance to quiet his critics and put him back on track.
