OVER THE HILL PUGS NEED NEW JOBS
San Francisco, CA- When given a chance, every boxing historian will cite Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier?s ?Thrilla? in Manila? as the shinning example of why fighters past their prime should fight each other. Ali and Frazier?s diminished physical abilities resulted in one of the most dramatic and brutal wars in boxing history. Granted, if Ali was not ?The Greatest? and Frazier was not ?Smokin? Joe?, the event would have paled in comparison. However, in today?s landscape of boxing, which after hitting a low but is quickly rising again, retread boxers with strong fan bases fighting other older fighters do more good than harm?for now.
EXTENDING CAREERS LIKE BERNARD HOPKINS
Today, some of the biggest names of the past ten years are still making an impact on the current state boxing. Bernard Hopkins, at 42, defeated Winky Wright (35 years old), last July in a brawl that featured more elbows and head butts that clean and effective punching. That being said, Hopkins still defeated a top ?pound for pound? fighter, and does not look to retire anytime soon. When faced against a young up-and-comer like Jermain Taylor, Hopkins will lose more times than not at this stage of the game.
WON?T FIGHT STUDS LIKE DAWSON, KESSLER!
That is why Hopkins will never fight guys like Chad Dawson, Kelly Pavlick or even Mikkel Kessler, he?s too old. Instead, Hopkins calls out Joe Calzaghe, 35 and at the tail end of his career. However, Calzaghe, to his extreme credit, will fight the young and hungry Mikkel Kessler, something Hopkins would not!
SAME APPLIES TO VARGAS-MAYORGA & ROY-TITO
The same can be said in two bouts that would be the talk of the boxing game seven years ago. On September 8th, Fernando Vargas enters his supposedlylast fight against Ricardo Mayorga. Mayorga has been the pawn used to resurrect the careers of Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya because Mayorga can extract interest and heat from any opponent. Mayorga is the ultimate ?bad guy? that any fighter with decent skills can overcome. Vargas has lost all his fights by stoppage and does not deserve a PPV slot, but this fight will make money!
DREAM COULD BE ONE OF DOOM FOR TITO
In January, the six-year negotiations end and Felix Trinidad will finally live out his dream of fighting Roy Jones Jr. In many minds, Jones has always prevented Trinidad from obtaining the ?pound-for-pound? crown during each fighter?s prime (1998-2004). To add a current analogy to this fight, had the fight occurred years ago, it would be as if Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be fighting Manny Pacquiao. That is how big that fight could have been had the cards fallen in the right spots. However, it will still happen in January, with Trinidad, 35, and Jones, 38, fighting for the legacies of their own careers.
ARE THESE FIGHTS GOOD OF THE PUBLIC?
Essentially, all the fighters previously mentioned are fighting for their own pride, legacy, and wallet. None of the fights are for the world title or an elimination bout and will not impact either fighter?s future careers. The winners of both fights will not ascend any top 10 division ranking in any magazine. For example, if Roy Jones loses to Trinidad it would not be surprising if Jones faces Bernard Hopkins in the future. Therefore, should boxing fans invest their money and support fights that boxing could do without? The answer is yes, under the current landscape of boxing.
STILL, THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT!
For the Vargas-Mayorga fight, there is also Juan Diaz-Julio Diaz and Humberto Soto vs. Joan Guzman. For Jones-Trinidad, it?ll be Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler and Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton. Had those fights been the only ?interesting? bouts for the rest of the 2007 calendar year, the sport would be in its darkest moments. However, with all the rib eyes and lobsters boxing fans are being fed for the rest of the year, it will be nice to have some cold pizza sprinkled in between meals.
