With Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao approaching the final few fights of their careers the question of who will carry the torch when those two are gone. In part 2 of my ?On The Ropes? boxing radio interview with Tony Harrison, I discuss with him possibly being a future star in this sport and get his thoughts on some of the best fighters in boxing today. Harrison also gives his thoughts on a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch and Miguel Cotto?s future and how he thinks Mayweather does with Golovkin. In closing Harrison gives his prediction for his fight with Willie Nelson and a message to his fans. Here is what Tony Harrison had to say.
Jenna J: Manny Pacquiao had surgery on his shoulder and he claimed that he injury inhibited his performance against Floyd Mayweather. Do you see anything more he can do in a rematch if he?s fully healthy?
Tony Harrison: I don?t know if it would change the outcome but I will side with Manny Pacquiao saying that wasn?t the best Manny Pacquiao that we?ve seen lately. That wasn?t the more active Manny Pacquiao we?ve seen lately. It could have a lot to do with Floyd Mayweather being the best fighter in the world, but all in all, we definitely didn?t see that tremendous puncher of Manny Pacquiao that we?ve seen lately.
The injury could have played a big part into why we didn?t see it, it could or could not. I think the world deserves another fight. There are still questions that need to be answered. He got surgery and that?s not something you can fake, surgery is definitely not something you can fake.
Whatever happed during the fight, you know that his shoulder was really messed up because he did have surgery on his shoulder right after the fight. There are still questions to be answered. Will Mayweather beat the best Manny Pacquiao? I think that?s still a question that needs to be answered.
Jenna J: There are a lot of people who have gotten behind Gennady Golovkin because he scores knockouts in all his fights. When you look at 160lbs, do you see anybody out there that can challenge him and beat him?
Tony Harrison: I actually like him and Cotto, I think that?s a fight the fans would like to see. I think Golovkin and Canelo is a fight the fans would want to see, just for the danger of Gennady getting hit. We haven?t seen the danger of him getting hit. We know he can punch like a mule but we haven?t seen the mule get spanked yet by somebody else that can punch like a mule.
I actually think those are super fights that can happen in the sport, Canelo and Gennady or Cotto and Gennady. I would rather see Canelo because he?s younger, he has a lot of plus to him. I think that?s when we will see if Gennady is that Gennady that we speak of.
Jenna J: Do you think it?s unfair that people want to see Floyd Mayweather go up in weight and face somebody like Golovkin?
Tony Harrison: Floyd Mayweather is just the best fighter in the world and I think he can go up to 154lbs and beat Gennady as of today. I think he?s a phenomenal fighter, he understands the sport, he understands his craft, he?s mastered his craft.
I do think it would be an amazing fight but I think Floyd does what Floyd wants to do, and if he doesn?t want to do that, then he won?t. If he does do it, you always know that if Floyd takes the fight, he believes he can win it. If the fight ever does happen, know that Floyd thinks he can win the fight, and it would make for an amazing fight.
Jenna J: A guy that a lot of people were thinking was going to be the next star was Adrien Broner. He recently had a loss to Shawn Porter and people are questioning whether he can achieve what many thought he would do. Do you think he can rebound in his career?
Tony Harrison: As far as his career, I don?t think he will go down in history. I don?t think he?s gonna be the most dominant fighter of this era, that?s out of the question. But I do believe Adrien Broner will make a lot of money, and sometimes that?s what it?s about, feeding the family.
I think that the sport hates him so much that they have no other choice than to pay to see him lose. They will pay to see him lose every single time, over and over again, until he leaves this sport o boxing. He?s definitely not gonna be the face of boxing, I don?t think so.
He lost to Shawn Porter who he was 110% more skilled than but Shawn Porter is one of those fighters like Time Bradley, they come in amazing shape, they got the heart of a lion and they?re determined to win. He lost to a fighter that?s just determined and does what it takes to win.
As far as skill for skill, Adrien Broner is one of the most talented fighters in this era. I just think he?s sidetracked by all the rest of this stuff, by making himself the enemy. I do think he will make a lot of money, they will pay to see him fight Maidana again. They will pay to see him fight anyone at 147lbs, just to keep seeing him lose.
Jenna J: You?re 24 years old and you?re considered as part of the new crop of stars out there. Who else do you see out there that you can say is going to be a name that will help carry the sport?
Tony Harrison: I like Terence Crawford, to be honest. I like Andre Ward, I think he put up a good performance. I think Andre Ward is going to be tough to beat if he moves up to light heavyweight. I think he brought a lot more excitement to this last fight because he was a lot more active. He threw a lot more punches than we usually see, he threw a lot more combinations.
There?s a lot of guys from Detroit who I feel just need the opportunity to be a rising star, there?s tons of great fighters out here. I like Terence Crawford, I like that he?s from Nebraska and that he brought boxing back to Nebraska. He?s still a family man, he?s still a humble guy and he?s got a little solidness to him when it?s time to be solid.
Jenna J: Back to your fight on July 11th with Willie Nelson. How do you expect that fight to play out from the opening bell to the finish?
Tony Harrison: I think Willie Nelson is underestimating the power that I have and I think he?s gonna come out and try to fight until he gets hit, then he?ll get on his bicycle and Tony Harrison will pressure the rest of the fight.
I don?t think the fight goes over four rounds. If it does go all the way, Tony Harrison is training to go all the way, but you will see a dominant performance from Tony Harrison from the start of the bell to the end of the bell. You will know who was the better fighter. I will be the better fighter that night, all the way around.
Jenna J: Is there any message you want to pass along to all the ?Superbad? fans?
Tony Harrison: Tony ?Superbad? is training extra hard. He talks the talk but also walks the walk. I plan on putting Detroit back on the map. Come July 11th, you will see the best Tony Harrison that we?ve seen against the guy who they say is the best opponent Tony Harrison has faced.
