“A veteran fighter who had a reputation conned everybody, himself too perhaps”…”Freddie and I are happy for me to take a drug test whenever”…all recent comments made by some of the biggest names in the sport. Looking back at this week’s key quotes of note, Boxing Scribe Vivek Wallace offers his own unique perspective, giving fight fans “a little something to think about”. Check it out!
“Totally predictable! A veteran fighter who had a reputation conned everybody, himself too perhaps, by reinventing himself as a more cautious fighter than he was when he was younger. And as soon as he faced someone who was younger, quicker, and hungrier, he got taken apart and exposed. In the end, he reverted to exactly who he has been in his other fights before. That’s (the low blow) bulls**t. He’s always created controversy at the end of his losses. That’s what he’s done.” – Larry Merchant speaking to Chris Robinson of Examiner.com
Perspective: Legend has it that hindsight is 20/20, and although Judah had some of us fight fans and media believing his words, the fuzzy picture we started with before the bell rang suddenly became clear and concise, as reality always is once the bell does ring. The addition of Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker and his ice-slope-slippery defense. The addition of Victor Conte. The addition of Jesus Christ, his “Savior”. On paper, that dream team trifecta boasts enough strength to support even the weakest…..but as we learn time and time again in this world, PAPER BURNS! Some would take Merchant’s words to scribe Chris Robinson as highly critical, but I have always reminded fight fans to never judge the words alone of a statement, but to instead judge the truth contained within those words that made the statement. Nothing Merchant stated can be viewed as false, misleading, or misguided. His words were absolute truth, and judging by the number of twitter tweets and facebook posts made worldwide, I think it’s safe to say that Merchant is not alone in the sentiments he echoed.
Now that we’re officially in the aftermath of this debacle, the operative question is “What’s next for Judah”? He was once regarded as one of the most talented men in the sport, but questions began to surround him and continued to mount after his very first pro loss. To make the public forget about those questions and reconsider him, he threw in a few wrinkles and it gave him a very temporary lifeline that, in the end, proved to be both insignificant and insufficient yet again. As I posted on my FaceBook page only moments after the bout: “Some are orange, others are white, but can’t no tiger shed his stripes!” The reincarnation and all the other new additions used were great for subplots, but those were elements that assist outside of the ring. The one thing that Judah needed help with most is an element that only surfaces inside of the ring. That element is heart. Like others, I have supported Judah for quite some time and truly welcomed his return to stardom, but as Merchant pointed out, none of it truly mattered because what he needs most is something no man can give him. We are all born with or without!
Judah walked to the ring singing Marvin Sapp’s “Never Would Have Made It”. He walked out listening to an angry group of fight fans yelling “Never Should Have Paid It” as his money wasn’t earned, yet theirs was clearly lost. It’s hard to tell where Judah goes from here. Mainstream boxing in America is seen predominantly on HBO and Showtime. My bottom dollar says he may not see either any time soon. Then again, he is the proverbial cat with nine lives. With this being loss #7, conventional math says he should have two more. Nah….actually, that performance was pretty pathetic……is it possible to say that #7 ate nine? Just a little something to think about!
“I am a clean fighter. I get drug tested between, before, and after fights. I think they just want to break down fighters and get into their heads. With me, it just doesn’t work. It gets petty when things happen like that, but Freddie (Roach) and I are happy for me to take a drug test whenever.” – Amir Khan on taking additional drug testing for a potential Mayweather clash
Persective: Very interesting quote. Actually, it sounds very familiar. I can remember this same Freddie Roach referred to in the quote stating that his other prized pupil (Manny Pacquiao) would have “no problem taking any test”, and here we are two years later asking ourselves what could possibly prevent that same fighter from doing so. The good thing about this scenario here is that Khan comes from a different tribe, and being a different man built on a different set of principles, I think we can actually take his word. Without question, a young fighter trying to reach the pinnacle of the sport won’t leave that kind of money on the table. That’s to be expected. Where the question comes in is what does it do for Roach, who trains both men? We have one of his pupils gladly accepting the challenge, while the other has refused and only agreed under certain conditions.
Does it add an element of hypocrisy to Freddie Roach? No, because each man is his own man. Does it add to speculation surrounding Manny Pacquiao? Perhaps. For even the strongest Pacquiao supporters, it’s very difficult to comprehend how this type of situation doesn’t come along with questions. Opening this can of worms again is never in ones best interest, but of all those present in his homeland who have direct access, or perhaps even any of the American based boxing scribes, I’d be curious to learn the answer if any of them would seize the opportunity to actually find out.
Both men are incredible talents, but the more ordinary one is willing to test with no conditions, while the extraordinary one will only do so with scripted conditions. I’m afraid it goes without saying, but inquiring minds truly want to know why this is. All of these questions and more will reach the forefront if this fight materializes, and although Roach will have a few questions surrounding him, perhaps his most prized pupil will have more. Some may say it’s unfair and speak against it, but without doubt, this realization gives many of us quite a bit more to think about.
