Greetings fight fans and welcome to the second edition of my mailbag. Judging by the response, the debut of my mailbag was a smashing success so thanks to everyone for reading, offering feedback, and sending in questions. After a nice 4th of July break and the fireworks still ringing in my ears I came home to find my inbox filled with questions from intelligent and enthusiastic fans. Before I move on to the mailbag I have a few thoughts on the weekend’s fights. Wladimir Klitschko had an easy time against Lamon Brewster the second time around. Brewster won the first fight because he never quit and never stopped. That is what made him dangerous. Brewster no longer has the same mentality and that was why he got shut out. Let’s hope that Klitschko tries to unify the belts next, but with Ruslan Chagaev and Sultan Ibragimov fighting each other, and the WBC locked up for a while, Wladimir might be playing the waiting game for longer than he and fans would like. Some may be upset if Wladimir fights someone like Hasim Rahman next, but since he is frozen out of the unification picture his options are limited.
I love Al Bernstein as a color commentator for Showtime, but he continually shows me that he cannot judge a fight to save his life. Yet he is quick to criticize official judges when their scores differ from his by a point or two. Giving Travis Simms the first six rounds of his fight against Joachim Alcine was a joke. Simms won about five rounds, and with the knockdown, Alcine won the decision handily. The other Showtime fight was the most spectacular and is the front runner for both KO of the year and upset of the year. More on Nonito Donaire later on in the mailbag. On to the questions:
Some Upcoming Matches
What’s your analysis on these upcoming fights: Nonito Donaire Vs. Vic Darchinyan Rodel Mayol Vs. Ulises Solis Daniel Ponce de Leon Vs. Rey Bautista
-Sodamn Insane
Since I know your real name is not Sodamn Insane, I’ll just call you dude.
Dude,
Last Saturday Donaire surprisingly upset Darchinyan with a 5th round KO. I had seen a lot of Nonito prior to the fight and thought he was a good looking prospect but didn’t think he was ready for someone like Darchinyan. Darchinyan has always been in love with his power. He is predictable and repetitive so I knew it was a matter of time before someone made him pay for his reckless aggression. I will admit that I did not think that Donaire was going to be the one to do it. That was a picture perfect left hook, and he had landed several identical ones before that. Darchinyan could not adjust.
I think very highly of Rodel Mayol. He is a massive puncher, just a little lacking in experience. Solis will provide a big test but if Mayol is as good as I think he is he will win by knockout.
Ponce de Leon vs. Bautista is an interesting match up. I am torn in this one. Bautista is the better all around boxer, but Daniel so strong and rugged he might be able to overpower his younger foe. We will see what Bautista is made of in this one. Right now I am leaning towards Ponce de Leon by decision.
Donaire’s Big Upset Win
I am so proud of my Filipino brother Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire. Yes many of my countrymen did not believe in him but I always did. Do you think he matches up well against Jorge Arce? What did you think of his performance last night? Do you think the Aussie was overrated? I didn’t like the way he acted after the fight.
-Jinky
Jinky,
It was an excellent, inspired performance. He was something like a 10 to 1 underdog and Vic had knocked out his brother. That is a ton of motivation and I think people underestimated him. Nonito had a great game plan and executed it perfectly. I questioned whether Nonito had the power and durability to pull the trick though, but he obviously does. I don’t think that Vic was overrated; he was just very predictable in his attack so it was just a matter of time before a clever boxer studied tape and dissected him. Throwing the left hook every time that Darchinyan went to throw his straight left was brilliant. Darchinyan is somebody with a lot of pride. His inability to accept loss was a product of his immense pride and confidence.
Donaire matches up well against Jorge Arce, but I doubt Arce wants to fight Nonito. Jorge needs to rebound from his loss to Cristian Mijares first. Last year Arce vs. Darchinyan was the premier fight in boxing, but now both appear to be damaged goods. A rematch with Darchinyan is probably the best option for Nonito.
Pacman Training Camp
What should the Pacman’s preparation be like for his rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera? Does Barrera stand a chance the next time around?-Boogieman
Boogieman,
Your mother must have hated you for giving you that name. But in regards to your question, Pacquiao’s preparation has never been a problem. He trains like an animal. What Manny needs to do is outwork old man Barrera. A long as his training is as dedicated as it normally is, he should have enough endurance to do so. You can never count out a great fighter like Barrera, but he has an uphill battle ahead of him.
The Next Great Champ Stops By
Do you think I can beat Danny Green?
-Otis “Triple OG” Griffin
(Otis has an upcoming fight against Australia’s Danny Green on July 18th)
Otis,
Thanks for writing in, always good to hear from a friend. There are not many analysts who are giving you a chance to win this fight. Reality stars are getting a bad rap right now. But over the past two years or so I have seen you improve dramatically. Heart has always been there. I have seen you get knocked down only to come back even stronger in the next round.
Green is an excellent fighter so you will have to be on point. Green will come after you and try to take you down early so be ready for that. If you go out like you have nothing to lose, put forth your best effort, and give this guy hell for twelve rounds, then yes, I think you can beat Danny Green.
OG’s Response
Thanks for the words of favor homie! Everything you said is true. The writers are very funny to me. I broke Green down on tape over and over. To be honest he’s very plan Jane. You hit it right on the head! I’m going to give him hell. My hand speed will be a problem, and so will my feet and head movement. If the fight goes inside; I’m bigger and more physical. Not to mention I pride myself on inside fighting. This is my coming out party!! (“I’m Coming; Out!!!,” Diana Ross)
-Otis “Triple OG” Griffin
Otis,
I wish you the best of luck on the 18th.
Smokin’ Lamon Brewster?
Dude I’m pretty excited about this upcoming fight between Lamon Brewster and Wladimir Klitschko. I have kind of a weird question. Every time I see Lamon fight it reminds me of Joe Frazier, and I think he could be a champ if he was trained to fight just like him, with the body punching and the bob n weave (and his big right instead of a left). Do you think a Smokin’ Brewster is possible?
-Adrian
Adrian,
Great question. Lamon was completely controlled by Klitschko’s jab so there was not much he could have done last Saturday. But I agree. Sometimes Brewster tries to be too cute for his own good. He is a power puncher with a good chin and good stamina. With those assets he should be a fighter, not a boxer. He would do well to try to emulate Smokin’ Joe. Brewster is not on Frazier’s level, but I think he could perform better if he implemented that style. Bob, weave, left hook, repeat. Brewster has stated that he does not want to fight like that anymore because it could result in permanent damage. That is a good reason not to, but I believe he would be more successful if he did.
Will “Toni” Punish “The Punisher”?
My question for your bag is who do you think wins between Paul Williams and Antonio Margarito?
-Tatila
Tatila,
Call me crazy (many people do, you wouldn’t be the first), but I don’t buy into the Paul Williams hype. I predict that Williams is going to struggle with tough, rugged fighters and there are not many tougher than Antonio Margarito. I am going with the proven commodity to win this one.
A Visit From The Competition
Enjoying your new bag Brian. If I have to have competition, glad it’s you for the bag. Who do you pick so far for the FOY?
-Dougie Fischer
Doug,
Well if it isn’t the original boxing mailbag guru. I appreciate the positive feedback, especially from a fellow journalist.
As for my fight of the year pick, that is tough to call. There has not been a Diego Corrales versus Jose Luis Castillo type fight yet this year, so no obvious candidates jump out at me. If I had to make a pick I would say Rafael Marquez vs. Israel Vazquez. That was an entertaining battle while it lasted. Glad they are having a rematch. Miguel Cotto vs. Zab Judah and Kelly Pavlik vs. Edison Miranda were very good as well.
1980’s Heavyweights vs. Today
Do you think that Tony Tubbs, Tony Tucker, Tim Witherspoon, and John Tate could all be champions today beating the likes that we have now as champions?
-Bud Smith
Bud,
Out of the guys you mention I think that Tubbs, Tucker, and Witherspoon could be champions today, no question. Those three were excellent pugs and underrated by most. They had physical talents, but more importantly knew how to box, something that not many of the heavyweights today can do effectively. Tubbs, Tucker, and Witherspoon would have eaten up guys like Sultan Ibragimov and Oleg Maskaev. I don’t think of “Big” John Tate in the same regard as the others. Tate was a decent contender but did not prove that he was more than a second tier fighter during his career. Tate would be competitive in this era like he was in the 1980’s, but would fall short against the top guys; especially guys like Wladimir Klitschko and Sam Peter.
Top Dog In the Glamour Division
Who do you think is the best heavyweight out there? Who is the best if we skip Wladimir Klitschko?
And do you think that Holyfield can become 5-time world champion.
-Olafur
Olafur,
You succeeded in anticipating my response to your first question. Wladimir Klitschko is the top dog right now. That cannot be denied after looking at his recent track record. There is no clear cut number two at this point. Sam Peter has the most potential but still has something to prove.
Holyfield can become a 5-time world champion if matched correctly. Evander is such a determined individual that I would give him a fighting chance against Sultan Ibragimov, Oleg Maskaev, and even Ruslan Chagaev. However if the question is will Holyfield achieve his goal of becoming the undisputed heavyweight championship? My answer would be no. Even if I give Evander an outside chance to grab one of the four belts, I cannot see him beating Wladimir Klitschko. That would be a dangerous fight for Holyfield’s well being.
The Pacquiao Tug O’ War
Who do you think won the tug o’ war between Top Rank and Golden Boy on the Pacquiao issue? Do you think GBP will eventually win the case if pursued? I think Arum gave the impression of giving in a bit. I really think both promotional outfits and especially Manny Pacquiao are the losers if the case was not settled. Of course, the biggest losers are the fans. The peace pact was a win-win situation for all. What do you think?
-Ultimate Boxing Fan
Ultimate Boxing Fan,
I see only winners in this situation. Manny is a superstar and a money-making machine. Arum and Golden Boy were not doing business together out of anger, despite the fact that there were truck loads of money to be made on both sides. Top Rank and Golden Boy are equal winners here because they both have come to their senses and will now line their pockets with that money. Pacquiao is a winner because he has the chance to prove his greatness against some excellent fighters like Juan Manuel Marquez and Barrera. And obviously the fans are winners because they get to witness these mouth-watering fights.
More On Pacquiao v. Barrera
Good day to you! Just wondering what your take on this fight between the two great featherweights. We all know, Pacquiao dominated Barrera the first time they met. Do you reckon that the result of the fight will be different this time?
-Waway
Waway,
This a great fight for the sport of boxing. You have two living legends squaring off. Barrera deserves a chance to redeem himself after his poor performance in their first fight. I expect Marco to be at his best so it will be more competitive than last time but not enough for the Mexican to pull off the upset.
Little Guys Pack a Punch
How did you rate Manny Pacquiao’s power compared to Edwin Valero’s?
-Genoroso
Genoroso,
Both are top notch I tell you that. For sheer force of their punches I think that Valero has the edge. However Pacquiao has other assets that make him a more dangerous puncher. His hand speed, punching accuracy, and overall better form allow him to set up and land cleaner shots more consistently.
Fan of the Spam Zapper
I like your bag very much and laughed at the spam you turned the table on. Who do you pick in a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather?
-Jaidon
Jaidon,
Thanks for comments about last week’s bag. My editor said I had to answer every message, so I did! I did get a couple messages from spammers hoping that I would post a link to their website. Nice try guys…
As for your question, in a pound for pound mythical match up, Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather is an enthralling, competitive fight that goes down to the wire, with Pretty Boy Floyd barely edging out a decision. In a real life fight, Mayweather is too big. He would outbox Manny at his leisure because Pacquiao would not be big enough or strong enough to menace the defensive genius.
Pacquiao at Lightweight?
Most of the boxing fans nowadays are thinking that Pacman fights the junior lightweight lineup for him such as Barrera, Marquez, Valero, Guzman, etc. As a Pacmaniac, seeing those fighters for Pacman is no match. Only Juan Manuel Marquez can give a bit to excite the fight fans, but he will only be surprised by Pacman’s right hook just like Erik. All I’m wishing this time for Manny is the Baby Bull Juan Diaz, because in my own view only he can give the total excitement to the boxing fans. What do you think about it Brian? Thanks and more power to your mailbag and columns in the future.
-Robb Robinson
Robb,
You are not the only Pacmaniac as can be seen by the volume of Manny Pacquiao related emails in my mailbag. Manny has already moved up so much in weight that going up one more division to face WBA/WBO Lightweight Champion Juan Diaz may be too much for him. Pacquiao is a truly great fighter, but I like Diaz in that fight. He would outwork Manny and use his size advantage to stand up to Manny’s punches. Pacquiao should stay at super featherweight and handle his business. He is in a division that has the best and deepest talent pool in all of boxing, by far. None of the guys that you mentioned are pushovers and I would not be surprised if any of them are able to pull an upset and beat Pacquiao.
El Terrible’s Swan Song
Hi Brian, you are a funny guy. What do you think of El Terrible’s chances of getting David Diaz’s Interim Lightweight Championship belt? A lot of you guys say he’s done, but the thing is, he wasn’t done when he fought Barrera thrice, and when he first fought Pacquiao. Do you think he can ever perform to that level again? Is Erik really done?
-Lykos Mugabe
Lykos,
One quick correction, the fight will be for the full WBC belt, not the interim title. When the WBC stripped Joel Casamayor, Diaz’s belt lost the interim tag. Pacquiao tends to make people look bad so Morales may not be done. He does look it though. Add that to the fact that Morales looked very flat during his one previous fight at lightweight (dropped a unanimous decision to Zahir Raheem). Morales’ days as an elite fighter are most likely done. He does have a shot to defeat Diaz though simply because Diaz is not that great. It would be a nice way for a future hall of fame fighter like Morales to go out if he was able to capture a title from a young, hungry champion in the twilight of his career.
A Bold Pacquiao vs. Barrera Prediction
It is Pacquiao by KO in 5. Barrera simply has no chance of winning against the Pacman.
-Ambit
Ambit,
I never count out a legitimately great fighter, ever. Ali was never given a chance to beat Foreman but figured out a way to do it. In “The Godfather II”, Al Neri described to Michael Corleone the prospect of whacking Hyman Roth as “difficult but not impossible”. That is exactly how I describe Barrera’s task against Pacquiao.
Another Pacquiao Email
I agree that Marquez is still the same fighter that he was when he fought Pacquiao three years ago and Manny isn’t the same one-dimensional fighter anymore. Though I believe that if ever they fight again, Marquez will use his superb boxing skills to outbox Pacquiao in the early rounds. However, with Pacquiao’s power and speed, I believe he will KO Marquez on the later rounds.
-Eric Bangug
Eric,
That could very well happen. You are in the majority of fans who favor Pacquiao in that fight. Marquez usually gets stronger as the fight goes on though. As long as he weathers the early storm I think Juan Manuel uses his superb boxing skills to out point Pacquiao in a great fight.
How To Beat Pacquiao and More
In your opinion, what are the keys to beating a fighter like Manny? Do you think Barrera can beat Pacman in their rematch? What should Manny do to beat Barrera? About Rodel Mayol, do you think he can upset Ulysses Solis in their upcoming showdown? What should he do to upset Solis? Who is your p4p #1 in the world?
-Charlz
Charlz,
The blueprint to beat Manny is the first fight with Erik Morales. Outbox him and when he is vulnerable punch him in the mouth. It takes a special fighter to do that and I don’t think that Barrera’s legs are fresh enough. Manny needs to stay aggressive, never let Barrera rest, and throw combinations.
I do think that Mayol can defeat Solis and favor him to win by knockout. Solis may be too aggressive for his own good and run into the immense power of Rodel.
Once Mayweather officially announces his return I have him as the top pound for pound fighter. However if Pacquiao fights and beats Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez in his next two fights that will change.
Boxing vs. UFC
Do you think UFC will ever replace boxing as the most popular form of televised fighting? In your opinion what are the chances of UFC ever becoming a major sport in the US?
-Luke
Luke,
Depending on whom you ask mixed martial arts have already become a major sport. It does major pay per view numbers and makes major dollars. The UFC markets itself very well so it probably will surpass boxing as the most popular fighting sport at some point. It will not replace boxing though. Boxing has deep historical roots and a growing worldwide audience even if the sport is not thriving in the United States. Boxing will always be around and will coexist with the UFC no matter how big mixed martial arts gets.
The reason that UFC will likely surpass boxing in terms of popularity in the United States is the way that boxing is run. The sanctioning bodies are confusing. The judges routinely make poor decisions. The best fighters rarely fight each other. Pay Per View fights are not worth the money because promoters don’t bother to make a decent under card. All of these factors turn fans away. I could go on about the problems that boxing has but my point is that the UFC does many things right that boxing does wrong. As a boxing fan, I hope that the powers that be in boxing feel the competition from MMA and clean up their act.
Hopkins vs. Wright Worth the Money?
Why does anyone care about Bernard Hopkins fighting Winky Wright? And why is on PPV?
-Josh
Josh,
Hopkins vs. Wright would have been an excellent fight for regular HBO. These are two of the best boxers of this era and have two of the best defenses in the game. Both are in the pound for pound top ten and have found great success over the last couple years. Even with that said, I completely agree with you Josh. Wright and Hopkins have very cautious styles and I am hard pressed to imagine a scenario that makes this an entertaining fight. Styles make fights and this one looks like a stinker on paper. I think HBO is putting this on PPV because both men have been apart of successful PPV’s. However if you look closely, they have been the opponents against more established star in those PPV events. Hopkins and Wright are household names so HBO is trying to cash out on the name recognition. I don’t support this as being PPV worthy.
I encourage everyone to get those questions and comments in for the next edition of Brian’s Boxing Mailbag which will come to you next Monday. Until then, keep your chin tucked and gloves high!
