Being a boxing writer, there is honestly no other place I would rather be than Las Vegas. With gyms around every corner full of some of the sport’s best fighters, live events coming to the city on constant basis, and the game’s top promotional entity, Top Rank, just down the street, it’s a great time to be in this city.
This year alone in Vegas we have been witness to Brandon Rios, Nonito Donaire, and Miguel Cotto all scoring commanding victories to the crowd’s delight while also eyeing upcoming bouts such as Marcos Maidana vs. Erik Morales, Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley and a hopeful July encounter between junior welterweight champions Amir Khan and Timothy Bradley. Last year Nevada took a hit with a somewhat sparse 2010 campaign but the city has thus far made a strong stand for itself.
Looking for a better perspective on Las Vegas’ mini-revival, I reached out to Showtime analyst Steve Farhood, always one to speak with insight and an unbiased mind, to get his take on everything. Farhood gave his feelings on why Morales isn’t an ideal opponent for Maidana, why Mosley will give Pacquiao a fight, his thoughts on a possible Khan-Bradley fight and more.
In his own words this is what Farhood had to say…
Like old times in Las Vegas… “It seems like there are a lot of fights. The Cotto fight most recently. And obviously the big one with Pacquiao coming up. Yes, it seems like old times with the all of the good fights going to Las Vegas. Because nobody can do the big fights like Las Vegas can.”
The pros and cons of a Maidana-Morales fight… “[Maidana] is a fantastic guy to watch. His power is obvious. He was one punch away from knocking out Amir Khan and he gave Ortiz his only loss. Yes, he’s a great fighter to watch but unfortunately I’m not really looking forward to the Erik Morales fight because I don’t think Erik Morales has enough left to fight a guy like this. Morales has so much heart and I think his heart may get in the way and hurt him in this fight. Because he doesn’t have the skill level anymore and he’s a little washed up. I hate to see him get beat up but that very well could happen.”
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Remembering Morales at his best… “He had so many great fights. Of course the first thing that comes to mind is the three fights with Barrera. It was such a great matchup because they both were so proud and they grew up very differently. Barrera was a middle-class kid from Mexico City and Erik Morales came from the tough neighborhoods in Tijuana. They really didn’t like each other and they were were so proud and they always wanted to get the last fight in. The three fights, specifically the first fight and third fight, were fantastic.”
The only way to put it… “But you also have to think, how impressive is it that Erik Morales beat Manny Pacquiao? Really, the only guy to do it since Manny was a little kid. And nobody really argues too much with that decision. Of course Manny got his revenge but Morales was a great warrior of our generation. That’s the only way to put it.”
Mosley’s chances against Pacquiao… “I think it will be a competitive fight. The reason I say that is because Shane Mosley, style-wise, loves fighters like Pacquiao. He doesn’t have to go around the ring and chase anybody. Pacquiao’s quickness might give him trouble but Shane Mosley is a good right-hand puncher and he will be fighting a southpaw who will be there to be hit. I think Mosley will have his moments, like he did against Mayweather. It’s hard to pick Shane in this fight, because Manny is on such a run, but I think it will be a competitive fight. In boxing, every great fighter, even the old ones, have one great fight left in them. Maybe this would be the case with Shane Mosley. We’ll see.”
Imagining Pacquiao’s incredible run of success?… “Of course not. There is no way to predict, first of all, that he would become the number one boxing attraction in America. He is that now. Oscar’s gone and Manny Pacquiao, who was born in the Philippines and still living in the Philippines, is the number one attraction in boxing in America. And I don’t remember the last time that happened, if it ever happened. I don’t think there has been a foreign-born fighter who was the number one attraction in America. And the reason Manny is growing into what he has become and dominates boxing now, is that he is at a point where it doesn’t matter now, because all of his fights are big. Regardless of the opposition.”
