So the all-knowing boxing editor informed me this morning that he is giving me the green light on a weekly boxing rant. I am going to be honest with you, I’m excited. After my last article I received a lot of emails on my comments about Pacquiao, and this is my chance to prove to the boxing world my superior intellect and boxing insight. So sit back, kick your feet up, and enjoy my weekly rant which I will be calling…..
Boxing vs. UFC
Let me be frank here, Boxing won’t go, but it will continue to take a beating from the UFC, Pride, and other MMA organizations. Quick who are Mike Swick, Tito Ortiz, Ed Herman, Chuck Lidell, Diego Sanchez, George St. Pierre, Matt Hughes, and B.J. Penn? Now tell me who Junior Witter, Ronald Wright, Daniel Santos, Mikkel Kessler, Israel Vazquez and Jose Luis Castillo all are. Sure the hardcore boxing fan knows some if not all of these boxers, but does main stream America? At a time when MMA and UFC in particular was taking a beating and was a sport no one cared about, boxing acted as if it was the only fighting sport in the world whilst giving us ridiculous PPV cards and prices with no name champions who were not promoted to the public. Then along came Dana White and thanks to Spike TV and The Ultimate Fighter, we care about MMA, we cared about Tito vs. Chuck, and St. Pierre vs. Hughes. He took a little company that was known for Royce Gracie and made it a multi-national company with FREE, that’s right FREE shows on TV. Good fighters such as Karo Parisyan and Diego Sanchez fight at no cost to the viewer, the whole time building a fan base and income that is starting to rival boxing’s. Last week the UFC had a PPV, Liddell vs. Ortiz 2, and when the PPV numbers were released, it turned out to be one of the top PPVs of the year. The problem with boxing is that it has become all about the money. Fighters like Floyd Mayweather Jr. care more about their mansions than they do about the fans. The promoters can’t see the big picture, by throwing a few fights on TV for free, maybe a weekly weekend event, perhaps signing a contract with a TV station to run even old classic bouts for free. Build back your fan base; don’t give us another $50 Evander Holyfield PPV. No one wants to see Nikolay Valuev for $49.99. We need super cards, where multiple champions fight on one card and not against no hopers but real challengers. The promoters see dollar signs and split things up into 3 to 4 cards the whole time thinking that the hardcore boxing fan will take this and continue to dish over out their hard earned money for trash. Unfortunately, this wont stop until boxing has hit its lowest point and by the end of 2007 boxing will be lower then it was at the end of 2006.
While I am on the topic of the UFC, would some one please tell these gladiators to throw a straight punch???
MAB/JMM
It was just announced that Marco Antonio Barrera will be fighting Juan Manuel Marquez, basically squeezing Paciquiao out of the picture. We all know Marquez is a dangerous fight for anyone between 126-130, but it would be great to see Barrera finally grow a set and fight a rematch with his daddy, Manny Pacquiao.
The Myth of Edwin Valero?
Most of us have read and heard a lot about the mystical Edwin Valero, a fast, powerful, overrated fighter. I have watched a bunch of Valero’s fights and while impressive he just isn’t ready for the big stage yet. He has recently taken to the media and called out Paciquiao. We all know that this fight would end in a beautiful and fan pleasing KO. Valero, who at 21-0 (21 KOs) is the current WBA Super Featherweight Champion who has been steamrolling his opposition. In fact, only two of his 21 knockouts have come outside of the first round. If Valero does indeed get his wish and fights Pacquiao, he is in for a big surprise, Manny style. Valero and his trainer Jorge Zerpa have fallen in love with Valero’s power and Zerpa continues to allow Valero to swing wildly, with big looping punches while constantly pulling straight back. This fight should be interesting indeed and it would be like seeing the Old Manny vs. the New Manny.
Quite A Lineup
If you have never been to a Boxing Hall of Fame ceremony, this is the year to go. The top three inductees this year will be Roberto Duran, the former Lightweight, Welterweight, Junior Middleweight, and Middleweight Champion, 103-16 (70 KOs), Ricardo Lopez, the former Strawweight and Light Flyweight champion, 51-0-1 (38 KOs), and Pernell Whitaker, the former Lightweight, Light Welterweight, Welterweight, and Junior Middleweight Champion, 40-4-1 (17 KOs).
More Rants
Apparently Jim Lampley is a huge fan of the British rave band The Prodigy.
Seriously, Mike Tyson needs a hug.
Seeing how I am a child of the 80’s, I grew up on Mike Tyson so in honor of the tattooed one I give you the:
Mike Tyson Quote of the Week
“My biggest weakness is my sensitivity. I am too sensitive a person.”
Most Valuable Playaaaa of the Week
Emails of the Week
From Charles Vincent Ho:
“Let’s have a bet my friend. If PACMAN loses any fight in 2007, I will proclaim you as the Messiah of Boxing Journalism.
If PACMAN retires all his opponents this year and follows the good example of your compatriot Eric Morales, be ready for a flood of feedback going against you.
I will be economical in my reaction to your pathetic article but what is certain is that YOUR ARTICLE BELONGS IN THE GARBAGE CAN.”
Thanks for the articulate input Charles, for future reference it’s Mr. Messiah of Boxing Journalism
From Gerald Lynch:
“My Filipina wife & friends will probably kill me for saying I agree and I have to say, “I hope not.” Pacman is very exciting and I see only Casamayor or Guzman being real opponents regardless of what the Paclanders say. Too bad about the lack of education that had Pac sign multiple contracts, getting himself into this promotional mess that may derail his career. I believe that Barrera and Marquez will fight a good fight and hopefully Pac will fight both men after he disposes of Valero. Then he should have a real test with Guzman or Casamayor and (hopefully) cement his place in boxing lore.”
Great email. I just see the Barrera vs. Marquez fight being a snore fest. You can expect greater things from Pacman with Bob Arum behind him now. As for your wife, please send pictures of said wife if she is hot.
It’s All About Me
Book of the Week – Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer, the Ice Man. All I am going to say is that there are rats, a cave, and a dead person.
TV Show You Can Catch On Reruns – HBO’s Dexter. If you haven’t seen the First Season get on it people!!!
Must see TV of the New Year – Second season of Rome. I am starting to notice a violent trend in my books and television shows that I may have to pull out a Fraggle Rock DVD tonight and mellow out.
Youtube Clip of the week – this is an all time favorite of mine, how many of us wanted to do this when we were younger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-C2TGPycqM ?
Am I the only Canadian in the world that could care less about hockey?
That’s it folks. Agree or disagree, got a show or book, want to nominate a playa, got a quote? Drop me a line and let your voice be heard. Email Brendan Maguire
