Can you believe it? I can’t. Jose Luis Castillo has failed to make weight again and now, Corrales-Castillo III was a no go this past Saturday night. I had big plans. I had a bunch of friends coming over to sit back and watch this historic bout, but now, we cannot. I guess we could play Trivial Pursuit, but it’s not the same thing. I could probably have two of my friends act out what the third fight could have been like, but it would be hard for me to buy that my 250 pound buddy was Diego Corrales. I guess he would be Diego “Chubby” Corrales. So, we have all been disappointed. Leading into this fight, I could not stop talking about how Showtime was giving away a free event that was better than the upcoming HBO PPVs, but we’ve been done dry people. I don’t blame Showtime. I blame Jose Luis Castillo. He is quickly losing all credibility.
The mailbag. I thought that last week’s amount of emails was amazing, but that was nothing compared to this week. Jeez, I was getting hammered every which way, but loose…especially loose! The RSR readers want something other than the normal mailbag and I’m happy to supply it. As always, I have answered every question and I am happy to report that I have not been called anything really horrible this week. I was going to make a “Geek of the Week” Award to go along with my “Geno Bambino Question of the Month” Award, but I didn’t want to take the time to carve an award out of wood, and then pay the postage to send it to the “Geek of the Week.” The “Geno Bambino Question of the Month” is still alive however and the winner will receive a signed copy of my first movie: Evil Awakening. I must warn you that it is profane and is not intended for children, but if I ever get famous, it may be worth something.
I plan to do a movie review every week, and this one is no exception. I just watched “War of the Worlds” with Tom Cruise, and I am happy to report that he was not running around in his tighty whities as he did in Risky Business. I am not a fan of Cruise by any means, but I really enjoyed this film up until the end. Whenever you have aliens attacking and you have a budget, you will probably have a good movie. Have you ever seen a low budget alien movie? They are horrible, with the exception of Don Doehler’s “Galaxy Invader.” That was the bomb. Okay, so aliens attack, Cruise runs and runs and runs and runs and then the ending sucks. So, I recommend this film, although the ending was horrible. I would mention it, but I do not want to give it away. I will give you a hint: Aliens in tighty whities dancing to “Old Time Rock N Roll.”
Okay, onto the first of three mailbags this week…
A WEIGHTY ISSUE
Geno,
Jose Luis Castillo? Throw the book at him. And what the heck has his trainer been doing over the last several weeks, feeding him milkshakes and fries?
It was too good to be true that Manny Pacquiao finally had his managerial problems behind him. Not so. Now the internal squabbling between Shelly Finkel and Manny’s other “advisors”. Lord, please send managers and promoters who truly have the fighter’s interest at heart. Is it too much to freaking ask??!!
Gary C
Gary C,
How’s it going? I am very upset with Jose Luis Castillo, but probably not as upset as Showtime and the promoters of the event. They put a lot of time and money into hyping this show and Castillo ruins it for them and the fans. If he couldn’t make weight, he should have never taken the fight in the first place instead of banking on Corrales taking more money to get into the ring with him at a heavier weight. Now I believe that this bout will never occur, and I don’t want to get my hopes up anyway. As a professional, you have an obligation to come in at the designated weight, and I hope that they do consider banning him considering the recurring problem. Maybe it’s too harsh, but I’m PISSED! As I have said, I had important plans with my friends to sit down and watch the end of this trilogy, but now I have to find alternate plans. Perhaps I will have a Rocky marathon instead…I don’t know.
Whenever a boxer is getting prepared for a bout, there should be a little distraction as possible. For instance, when Van Damme was getting ready to face Tong Po in the movie “Kickboxer,” he was never told that his girlfriend was raped because it was a distraction. Damn that Tong Po. It’s bad enough that he put Van Damme’s brother in a wheelchair, but to rape his girlfriend too? I’m sorry to ramble people. I am a fan of Kickboxer and I am a rambling man.
SAVIOR OF BOXING?
Geno,
Hey my friend, Geno…how’s it going? Jeez, man, I swear that you’re like the savior of boxing. Geno the great! You are making boxing more fun and I think that a lot of people are getting into the sport because of your mailbag…HBO should pay you. They should make you a commentator. Okay, my friend…more power!
Rjay
Rjay,
If I am bringing more people to the game, I am very pleased. Even if non-boxing fans read my work and are amused, I am happy. I am trying to make this mailbag as fun as possible and I don’t care that some people come here to vent or call me names because I will find out where they live and get my revenge!!! I would like to work for HBO, but I’m not as sexy as Fran Charles…so, I probably wouldn’t fit the look that they want.
BOWE-ZO THE CLOWN AND IRON MIKE
Hello Geno,
This is my first time here in RSR Mail Bag. I got a couple of questions here I’d like you to answer and give your opinion on.
I read from one of your mailbags, that for you Ali is not the Greatest Heavyweight but you didn’t say who you think was the best in that division in the history of boxing. Second, would you know why Mike Tyson & Riddick Bowe never fought each other?
That’s it Sir, Thank you for your time and more power to you.
Blue from Manila, Philippines
Blue,
Welcome to RSR my friend. Later on you will see my answer to my top 5 list of heavyweights and why, but the top of my list is Larry Holmes. As for Tyson and Bowe never facing each other…it was supposed to happen in 1997, I believe, but two bouts in 1996 would prevent it. At the time, Tyson came back from prison, defeated Frank Bruno, and Bruce Seldon for titles, but ended up losing the WBC brand because of failure to defend against Lennox Lewis…I think. Bowe was supposed to destroy Andrew Golota and Mike Tyson was supposed to get past Evander Holyfield. They both lost and the way that they lost took away all public demand for the fight. Bowe took a vicious beating from Golota in both encounters. Golota made wine out of his grapes. Tyson lost all credibility in the second Holyfield fight and was suspended for nearly biting off “The Real Deal’s” ears. So, it was never meant to be…and more power to you as well.
PRIME IRON MIKE
Geno,
I love this site so much, this is my first time asking you a question but I’m always reading your question and message board and I see that you really do your best to make this site a great place for “true boxing fans.” Do you think Mike Tyson in his prime can beat a primed Lennox Lewis? Mike Tyson is my favorite boxer until Manny Pacquiao stole my attention. My first memory of Iron Mike Tyson was when he knocked out Michael Spinks. I was only about 6 or 7 years old then. I was crying because my father liked to watch that match and I can’t watch my favorite “Batibot” kids show in TV. But when I see my Mike Tyson beat Spinks, I started to like boxing very much.
Take note that my father lost his money by betting with Spinks. 🙂 Thanks Geno. More power and God bless!
Jeff B
Jeff,
What’s going on? I’m glad that you are enjoying what we are putting out there. I am in the minority that consider Mike Tyson, in his prime, one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. A fight with Lennox Lewis in his prime would not be easy for Tyson, but I would favor him. The Tyson that fought Lewis was a spent force with no ambition and Tyson with no ambition isn’t much of a threat to the bigger heavyweights. Even Kevin McBride went through him. What Tyson had going for him when he was great was timing and he would pounce on Lewis and try to land that left hook to the body, followed by the left hook to the head. If Lewis made one mistake, it’d be over. Lewis isn’t the type of person to make mistakes however and the only two times that he lost was due to his underestimation of the opposition and he came back to thoroughly dominate them in the rematches. I don’t’ expect a knockout in this bout…I see it sort of like Tyson-Tucker with Tyson pressing and occasionally landing a big punch, but Lewis hanging tough and making a fight of it. When the dust settles, I see the activity of Tyson being too much for Lewis and leading to a decision win in the 115-112 area. It’s a very good fight though and Lewis is a fantastic fighter. He could win this bout.
Mike Tyson also got me into the sport. His quick knockouts were so entertaining, and there is a gap in the sport without him that has yet to be filled. Love him or hate him, Mike Tyson will not be forgotten.
SOVIET INVASION
Hi Geno,
Hasim Rahman is the last man standing and based on his inconsistency, I won’t be surprised is he losses to Oleg Maskaev. That scenario will place every Heavyweight world alphabet title in the hands of former Soviets. That would have been embarrassing for the US boxing scene, wouldn’t it? We also have to admit that the ridiculous Rocky series may have predicted the future of boxing quite accurately: Soviet domination.
How do you think would American greats like Ali, Holmes, Tyson, Foreman, Liston and Marciano have figured against fighters from Soviet Union and Cuba had there not been a Cold War? Teofilo Stevenson could have given Ali a long night.
Meanwhile, I have to admit that I’m an avid Wladimir Klitschko fan. But I’m also aware that many fighters have figured out how to nail him. I agree with you that he seems to freeze once he gets caught with a haymaker and that he needs to prove something before he is hailed as the Heavyweight’s top dog.
I’m interested in the Klitschko-Ruiz match-up that you have suggested. John Ruiz is the complete opposite of Rahman. Even if his fighting style is boring, he surprises us with one major victory after another. Maybe he’s not a true warrior but he is a true survivor. One thing is certain: Ruiz will never be a KO threat for Wlad.
A well-conditioned James Toney will be a tough puzzle for Wlad to figure out. Let’s not forget to give Wlad the proper credit once he beats Toney. But I think Wlad’s real test would come against Sergei Lyakovich.
Just my two-cents worth.
Cesar Tordesillas
Manila, Philippines
Hi Cesar,
I am picking Hasim Rahman to win, but Oleg Maskaev has beaten him before…actually knocking him out of the ring. It made me think of “Ring King,” that boxing game for the original Nintendo 8-bit system. When you landed right, you could launch your opponent out of the ring and win on a TKO. People talk about EA’s Fight Nights this and Fight Nights that, but give me Ring King and Mike Tyson’s Punch Out any day of the week. Those games rocked!!! I also liked Duck Hunt.
Where was I? Oh yeah, I remember now. The United States heavyweights are losing their grasp on the title, which they have held forever, it seems. Wladimir Klitschko (IBF), Nikolay Valuev (WBA), Serguei Lyakhovich (WBO), and now Maskaev challenging for the remaining belt, the WBC version, is a sign that American heavyweights aren’t what they once were. There was a time when an American heavyweight would gladly take on a European because it was a vacation with pay, basically. The straight up European style was no match for the style taught in the U.S. Times have changed and the European fighters have adapted and have GOTTEN BIGGER! Where are they finding these giants?
The Rocky series was fantastic, and Ivan Drago makes many think of the Klitschko brothers. Drago should have realized that anyone that wears their pants as tight as Rocky did, can deal with pain. I just bought a 51-inch television and one of the first movies that I watched was Rocky IV, and let me say that if I were training in Russia, in the snow, I would be wearing looser clothing and no half shirts either. Stallone was proud of his conditioning however, and wanted the world to see how he looked in skin-tight pants. Unfortunately, we don’t have a Rocky. We have Lamon Brewster, who I believe is still the best American heavyweight when trained and motivated. I think that he could knock off Valuev, Klitschko, and Lyakhovich in a rematch, but what I want more than anything is one undisputed champion. I don’t care who it is, but please unify those titles!
I don’t that Stevenson of Cuba would have been a great professional heavyweight. The amateur style gets so ingrained in these boxers, that they get a rude awakening when they face a really good pro. Look at Jorge Luis Gonzalez. He was a fantastic amateur, but he stayed there too long and maintained the same style that he applied in his amateur days. Stevenson was offered 5 Million Dollars to face Ali and he refused, which leads to believe that he was not comfortable moving to professional. Outside of a puncher’s chance, I couldn’t see the Cuban beating Ali. A great amateur career is one thing, but if you can’t adapt to the professional ranks, you’re not going to have the same success. Look at Tyrell Biggs…a great amateur, but a bad pro. Same thing with Henry Tillman. So, I don’t think that there would have been much of a difference.
A Wlad-Ruiz bout would be interesting and although I would favor “Dr. Steel Hammer,” I would give Ruiz one hell of a chance…to win by KO. Ross Puritty is not a big puncher, but he is a survivor and waited for the giant to die in front of him and then just chopped him down. Ruiz waits and waits and if you watch his fights, he comes on late. He almost stopped Golota late in the fight, had Holyfield on his back, and dropped Kirk Johnson later in the bout. He would throw that sneaky right hand if he made it to the later rounds and it may just be enough to put the giant to sleep.
I will give Wlad credit for beating Chris Byrd. He beat another middleweight that couldn’t hurt him. For all Byrd’s skill, he’s not a big puncher and is really small compared to Wlad. It seems to me that Klitschko is taking the easiest fight for the most money and that leads to James Toney. Why not unify with Hasim Rahman or give Lamon Brewster a rematch? Why James Toney? The answer is: He’s going to look like a million bucks as he destroys the smaller man. If you cannot hurt Wlad, you can’t beat him.
THE COMEBACK
Geno,
I had to give YOU “props” on that hysterical response you posted when that dude said you should “write more smarter next time.” He was just begging to be ridiculed by the GENO MACHINE-O.
Mudcat
Mudcat,
Thanks for the mad props man. How can somebody question another’s intelligence and then write that they have to be “more smarter.” When I initially read it, I was rolling. I know that Vladeze, the writer, must have seen my response and said: “Damn, why didn’t I read it over before I sent it in.” Perhaps he still doesn’t see a problem with it, but I had a good time. I used to work at the Post Office, as a security guard and these truckers used to come in left and right and there was this one guy named Ron Brach. Well, this guy was crazy and as dumb as they come. Well, he was cut off by this young kid and Brach went up to him and said: “You are a dummy. You need schooling because you are a dummy.” I laughed so hard and that’s what I think of whenever I read that comment by Vladeze.
Geno Machine-O? I LOVE that!
GOTTA GET BACK IN TIME…
Good day Geno,
I’ve been away for quite awhile and when I return…voila…it’s no longer once a week but twice (going thrice). You really can tickle the mind of your readers and satisfy their questions and thirst for boxing info that is why they kept coming back with more. I sincerely hope you don’t run out of answers for their questions however silly some maybe. Congratulations!!
Anyway, as an ordinary boxing fan, I’ve watched boxing fights especially fights involving Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns whenever it is available even on delayed basis back in the Philippines. But I never read nor see how die hard the boxing fans before compared to boxing fans we have now.
Tell me Geno, how were the boxing fans before and compare it to boxing fans we have now?
Keep well my friend, Geno the Genius…
Emmanuel D Mallari Jr.
Emmanuel,
I think that the boxing fans, at least here in the states, were more animate and cared more in the fifties, sixties, and seventies, then they do now. Boxing just isn’t as popular as it once was, unfortunately, and it has affected the public. In the states, we don’t have national heroes when it comes to boxing. We will not follow one of our own to another country as he attempts to win a title, as the Hatton and Pacman fans do. There was a time when the Heavyweight Champion of the World was the most popular man in the U.S., but not anymore. The public could care less. Boxing meant a lot more back then. Thomas Hearns had an entire city behind him and they followed him to Las Vegas as he faced Sugar Ray Leonard. He was their hero, and that is rare nowadays. Even after the loss, they still loved him. That happens even less.
There are still die hard fans, but it’s nothing like it used to be. Watching Ricky Hatton enter the ring in England is an amazing thing that we do not see in the states. It’s also a personality thing, I think. PBF, an amazing fighter, comes off as a thug, intentionally I believe, to sell tickets, but it’s hard to warm up to him. Americans are fickle too. In England, Frank Bruno was a hero, win or lose. When a fighter should lose over here, we usually forget about them, with some exceptions. I do think that there is a chance for the states to return to the best days of the game. It will take a lot and it all depends on the promoters, fighters, organizations, and networks. If they can collectively realize what is good for the sport and get it more exposure and cut down the titlists and PPVs, America will make it the #1 sport again! When you say Heavyweight Championship of the World, people shrug because it doesn’t mean a thing, but if the changes are made, boxing will flourish.
THE MAN
Geno,
You’re the Man!
Hello! I’ve been reading your thread and visiting RSR whenever I have the chance to open my laptop. And I’m pretty amazed at how you handled people’s reactions regardless of race, leaning, or even opinions. I’m a Filipino and a diehard Pacman fan. But I find it great when you answered and dealt with so-called stories, complaints, and praises from my fellow Pinoys. You’re an unbiased one, not a hater nor a nuthugger! There are only a few of intelligent and consistent people like you. I hope that fight analysts will follow how you deal with fights aside from being a one-sided, pretty obvious sucker or lover! Geno, let me echo this once again: You’re the Man!
Dale from Bronx, NY
Dale,
Thanks for the props my friend. I have been accused of hugging nuts and that is just not right. Thank you for your support and for squashing that frivolous accusation. I tell people that I was an Alter Boy and a Boy Scout and all of these “nuthugger” things emerge. Nothing ever happened people! My priest was one of the good ones. …
I am the man? Fantastic!
GIVE ME SOME POWERFUL BOOM BOOM
Geno,
Hi Geno! I love reading your mailbag every week! Well I just have two quick questions for you: 1. What weight do you think Rey “Boom-boom” Bautista will be at his best? And 2. What is the difference between No Standing Eight Count and Mandatory Eight Count?
Thanks and more power to the most powerful mailbag person in the web!
Mark the Spark
Mark the Spark,
This is Geno the Bambino…how’s it going? I think that Bautista should probably remain as a Super Bantamweight. He’s not tall and seems to carry a big punch at this weight. So, as of now, I would say keep on doing what he’s doing because it seems to be working. A standing eight count allows the referee the option to step in when a fighter is getting beaten badly and give him a standing eight count as if it were a knockdown. It gives the fighter time to recover and is counted as a knockdown. If there were no standing eight count, the referee would have to stop the fight and give the KO win to the man throwing the punches. There would be no second chance. I am not, personally, a fan of the standing eight count.
MACHO TIME?
Geno,
Is it true that Hector Camacho, JR., will fight on the under card of Tarver and Hopkins on June 10th?
Anthony
Anthony,
For what it’s worth, he is on the card and it will be “Macho Time,” more or less. He is not even close to what his Father was and I think that he is mostly hype. I can’t get that image of him trying to screw Jesse James Leija out of a win and he did. It was turned into a no contest, when Camacho, JR., claimed that he couldn’t see and for some reason, it went to the cards and he was announced the winner before Team Leija protested. Hector was rocked and didn’t want anymore of Leija. He’s got the skills of a boxer, but not the heart of one. He will be on that PPV, facing Andrey Tsurkan, 22-2, 14 KO’s, in a showcase bout. Tsurkan has faced nobody of note in his career and is being led into this fight to make Camacho, JR., look good. It is yet another reason not to rent this garbage. Think about what you can do with that fifty dollars. You could buy 7-8 grinders from Subway. You could purchase twelve Caramel Iced Lattes from Dunk-N-Donuts. You could buy your Mom flowers as a late Mother’s Day gift or you could send it to me and I would be so grateful.
A BIG CHALLENGE
Geno,
How do you gauge PBF against Margarito, if ever they meet what would it be like between these two warriors inside the ring, may we know your opinion!
Craig
Craig,
Initially, I thought that PBF would be too quick and elusive for Margarito, but as time went on and after watching the recent performances of the strong Mexican, I am going with the upset. Make no mistake. PBF is a great fighter and I have been wrong before, as I chose Diego Corrales and Zab Judah to pull the win over the current king of boxing, but this a difficult bout for Mayweather, JR. I watched the first PBF bout with Jose Luis Castillo recently, which is probably the closest that Mayweather, JR., has come to defeat, and Margarito is bigger and hits harder than Castillo. I see a late stoppage for the much avoided Antonio Margarito.
AMAZED
Geno,
I am really amazed by the amount of patience that you’ve shown in answering those redundant silly questions all over and over again… you are one of a kind !!!
Now, my question is, are you in an Anger Management Program?
By the way, RSR is the best…there is no comparison…
Boxershorts
Boxershorts,
I have made a vow to answer any question that an RSR reader takes the time to send into me and I plan to stick by it. I might eventually need an assistant…one of those dancers from that local bar that I know of. I don’t think that my wife would mind if I were to have a female assistant. I’m trustworthy! Anyway I am not in an Anger Management Program. I am Irish and we do have a reputation for having short fuses (Note: I said fuses!), but I very rarely lose my temper to the point of breaking things or finding somebody randomly and kicking him in the grapes. I’m 31 years young and I have outgrown throwing tantrums. There was a time when I smashed a telephone because of an argument with a girl, but that was a long time ago.
In all honesty, I’m pretty mellow. I’m sort of like the Incredible Hulk though. It takes time, but when I get angry, I become this monster… I am just like the Hulk, but I’m not green, and I’m not muscular. Speaking of the Hulk…I loved that T.V. series with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. Have you ever seen the one when the Hulk fights the bad Hulk? Oh that was the bomb!!! I wish that I was around when they were filming because to make it more realistic, Bixby should have worn sweatpants because they stretch, instead of those skin-tight corduroy pants.
Finally, I agree with you my friend: RSR is the best. Thanks for noticing my friend.
POUND 4 POUND
Hello Geno,
Good day to you! You are definitely a sage when it comes to boxing. I am here once again…hope that you don’t mind. I have concluded that your site is really the best out there…I hope this site continues to uphold what it is intended and destined to be one of the best boxing sites ever! My question is: What does Pound 4 Pound mean? What do the ratings mean? What is its significance to the sport? Is it a matter of opinion?
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE A PROSPEROUS LIFE AHEAD OF YOU.
Lemuel
Lemuel,
Thanks for the props and great conclusion, by the way. We strive to be the best and we will not stop pushing until we are considered the best universally. Yes, that means that if aliens are reading boxing websites, that they too must agree that RSR rules. Those gray aliens in their silver flying machines might be visiting this planet because the sports are better here. I know a guy that said that he was abducted by aliens and probed. In my opinion, it’s the most action that he’s ever had. I wonder if that’s considered cheating? Anyway, sorry to stray off topic. It’s in my nature. The pound for pound label was created for Sugar Ray Robinson. He was the best fighter in the game and they wanted to acknowledge that.
In all honesty, the label officially doesn’t mean much, but promoters keep it going to boost their income. It helps the boxing fans because many of the best fighters will face each other for that imaginary title. It is completely a matter of opinion. Now the ratings by the organizations are supposed to be regulated, but the promoter usually has some power to get their guy unjustly into the rankings. Peter McNeeley, the man that was stopped by Mike Tyson and Butterbean entered the ring against “Iron Mike,” ranked #7 in the world without ever beating anyone with a pulse. It is always being manipulated.
Thanks very much…my family and I appreciate it.
CREAM OF THE CROP
Geno,
Good day Geno…this is just a follow-up regarding Paul G’s question to you the other day. About Ali not being the greatest boxer of all time. I was just curious because you mentioned that if you’re going to rank Ali he would only be on the top 5. So, I guess my question is, in your EXPERT opinion who’s the greatest boxer of all time and who are the other 3 boxers that would round up your top 5.
Richter Tan
Richter,
Muhammad Ali was great and he belongs on the list of greatest heavyweights of all time. Usually, he is #1 on everyone’s list across the board, and I think that they are judging as much with their heart as they are with their head. I know that many people will say: “Expert? This guy has his head up his…well, you know.” But, I will give you my top 5 heavyweights of all time list anyway.
1. Larry Holmes: The working man’s champion and even though I do not agree with how he is bilking some poor fans out of money by charging them to use his message board that he hardly frequents, I place him in my number one spot. He had the right mix of heart, grit, speed, and reflexes to dominate during a pretty tough time in heavyweight history.
2. Joe Louis is my number two guy. The “Brown Bomber” was such a great machine in the ring. He could knock you out with a jab and quite frankly, I teeter between Holmes and Louis for the number one position. Louis was meant to box and he defended the title regularly, which is something that you don’t see anymore.
3. George Foreman is number three on my list and I know that he lost to Ali, but one fight does not make a career. If that were the case, Leon Spinks would be sitting above Ali in the rankings. Foreman destroying guys like Ken Norton and Joe Frazier in his first title run and then coming back at 45 to do the impossible puts him in my top five. He is really a special fighter.
4. Muhammad Ali takes spot #4. Although I pick many of the other people in my top 10 to beat him, he did accomplish a lot. The Thrillla in Manilla showed the heart of Ali and the impossible wins over Foreman and Liston push him up this high on my list. I also think that it is unfortunate that the Government treated the “The Greatest” the way they did for the three years he was out of boxing and had he been able to fight, he could have cemented himself through boxing as the best of all time.
5. Evander Holyfield takes the fifth spot in my top five, even though I dislike his tactics in recent outings. He has turned into a very dirty fighter. He uses his head as a battering ram and has scored wins with it as he did against Hasim Rahman. His comeback win against Riddick Bowe and Michael Moorer, and impossible wins over Mike Tyson, along with his spirit in the ring make him one of the greatest. In his prime, he was a great warrior.
There it is…my top 5 of all time. Jack Johnson, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson are in my bottom five somewhere. Butterbean did not make the list, but he can rightfully say that he faced the #1 guy on the list and went the distance. Perhaps Holmes should be off the list completely for participating in that circus and since we are on the circus theme, he should be banned for facing an elephant. Was that a little bit harsh you think? Perhaps, but if you mention circus and Butterbean in the same paragraph and there is no elephant reference, then you are doing the public a disservice. If I am wrong in anyway for saying what I’ve said, I sincerely apologize. I am sorry Babar…I mean Butterbean. Could you tell that it really wasn’t a slip…the Babar thing? It was pretty funny, I thought.
RING ENTRANCES
Geno,
What’s up man? It’s me again. I’ve been reading your mailbag man and I must say, it is the leading candidate so far for best mailbag ever made in the 21st century, if such an award does exist.
I realize you’ve been talking lots lately ’bout betting your chubby and all this humping on your person going on while you’re asleep…you even put in a good word for sleeping with bears…I realize that this ain’t just another boxing mailbag. This is the $hit. It’s akin to the feeling one gets when one sees Felix “Tito” Trinidad getting knocked down in the second round and then coming back to knock the opponent OUT a few rounds later, for the THIRD time in THREE fights. Tito was DA MAN .
That is why I cried when Bernard “Anthony” Hopkins beat the crap out of Tito, and not only because I lost a large wad of bills. Bernard Hops always made good entrances, wearing that executioner’s mask, although I never saw him execute anybody other than Tito Frito (did you know frito is fried in Spanish?)
He’s more like chopping trees out there, although I don’t know of any woodcutter who takes a few whacks then holds and hugs the tree. OK, he’s not chopping trees…that was a bad simile, but at any rate he doesn’t deserve to be executioner…maybe he should have given that mask to Mike “Manslaughter” Tyson.
Okay, enough of this. Before I drop my curtains around my ankles…I noticed you mentioned making a ring entrance to the tune of “It’s Raining Men” and pardon me, but I just cant help myself, I just have to ask you Geno, my good friend, who do you think made the best and worst ring entrances in the past 30 years?
That is it for now, take care of your “big” Winky my man, and don’t you be dropping your panties too much, ok?
Megget
Megget,
I am glad that you enjoy the mailbag and it is like no other, if you don’t mind me saying so. Once in a while, Our Publisher “Bad” Brad lets the inmates run the asylum and this mailbag is proof of it. I remember when I was a child and my Mother said: “If you keep on writing like that, people are going to think that you are crazy.” Well, I think that she was correct, but it gives the reader a different experience. I wrote this story when I was twelve about this group of talking frogs and if frogs can talk, then they can use profanity too, right? Well, Mrs. Diaz thought that swearing frogs deserved a failing grade. The piece was grammatically sound and well written if I do say so myself, and she was making me rewrite the damn thing? So I rewrote it, but this time, I discussed the sex lives of the frogs. Needless to say, this idiot teacher failed it again and demanded a meeting with my Mother. Needless to say, I was in trouble everywhere and I ended up getting an F on a creative writing project! Me! I was very disappointed in the system.
Felix Trinidad is one of my favorite fighters of all time. His bouts against Oba Carr, Fernando Vargas, Yory Boy Campus, and David Reid are some of my favorite wars of all time. To be compared to him is an honor. Now, I must do this thing all over Bernard Hopkins, if you know what I’m saying. I did not cry when he beat “Tito,” and I was one of the few that actually picked “The Executioner” to win, and I won money on that bout. My buddy gave me 3-1 odds and I took that bet. He sat there as we watched the bout and he could feel that lump in his pants crawling out and jumping into my pants. That lump of money came to me and paid for a pizza the next day…can you say delicious?
Hopkins has knocked out a lot of people for sure, but as he got up there in years, he became content with just winning. It’s not fan friendly by any means, but he stayed on top for a long, long time. Hopkins did have a great entrance with the mask and all and, but the steak didn’t match the sizzle, especially as he got older.
Best and worst entrances…okay. Mike Tyson coming to the ring with the towel around his neck and that’s it. Well, he was wearing shorts too. He just stormed down to the ring, which must have terrified his opponents…he meant business. Kostya Tszyu cracks me up as he comes down to the ring as that “Russian Pop Star” sings that “Knock You Out Tonight” tune, as Kostya mouths the words the entire way down. No wonder Ricky Hatton wanted to hold him all night…that song is romantic! I also dig Prince Hamed’s ring entrances…and who can forget Arturo Gatti’s entrance against PBF when that explosion went off and scared the crap out of “Thunder.” He jumped a mile…that was hilarious. As for the worst…Cory Spinks dancing his way to face Judah. If you are going to dance, win.
Take care of my big Winky? That’s my business punk. (Note: sorry about the punk thing…but if I’m going to be seen as a tough guy, I have to start calling people things like punk and smart ass. I hope that you understand.)
HOW ABOUT SOME PAC SACK?
Geno,
Man! You made quite an impression with the PACMAN fans, now they all love you! I think you can run for Vice-Presidency as a running mate for Hon. Freddie Roach, Philippines next President(he-he)! Anyway, here’s a question for you.
Why the heck did JMM went all the way down to Indonesia and got paid miniscule amount of money and got robbed, if he could have just said yes to Manny and probably made triple money than what he got from that fight? Now it made Larios look like a genius and made JMM a dumb ass loser? Does it make sense? What’s your take on this?
Bernard
Can I be the Vice President of another country while staying in the United States? I’m not a fan of airplanes or boats. I like trains, but you can’t go from the U.S. to the Philippines on a train. All of the Pacman fans have been cool with me and dammit, I’m going to be good to them! We are all people no matter where we stand and we are all boxing fans…so, Hon, if you are looking for a running mate from the U.S., I’m your man. (Note: Will not travel)
JMM a dumb ass loser. It’s not bad enough that he’s a dumb ass, but he is also a loser. I love excessive and unnecessary insults! I think that JMM has had enough of Pacman and it’s not a matter of money. He walked away from his last bout with a draw and he is probably content with that. Sometimes, money isn’t the deciding factor in fights…it’s health. That’s why Mike Tyson wouldn’t rematch Lennox Lewis. He would have been carried out of that ring. So, him opting to face some one other than the Pacman makes perfect sense to me. He has all of his marbles…and he wants to keep it that way.
Geno,
Greetings!!! First of all I’d like to congratulate you for having a great boxing site like this. This is my first time to post an opinion in RSR.
True enough that MAB is already in the last phase of his illustrious career, at this point, I think it is not a good idea for MAB’s handlers to pit their ward against the PAC. And for MAB, I really hope that he would make up his mind and try thinking it for a thousand times before making a decision whether he wants a rematch or not. MAB is a legend, and there’s no doubt about that, but we don’t want to see him ending his career like a shattered crystal. Before the Nov. 11 demolition, I remember the PAC saying, “I’m not afraid of MAB, he is my stepping stone for greatness.” and the rest is history.
Again, thank you so much for the chance Geno. God Bless You and your Family.
Pol Asta?o
Pol,
I don’t think that MAB wants a rematch, but his handlers and promoters are pushing for it, and if he elects not to, he may see it as a shot to his manhood. For the safety of Barrera, he needs to hang up the gloves. He has had sixty-six professional bouts and most of them weren’t easy. If you are going to wind up your career, you shouldn’t do it against a prime killer like the Pacman. I think that you have one fighter on the way up and one on the way down and a rematch wouldn’t’ do anything for MAB outside of line his pockets and perhaps, permanently put him in a hospital bed.
Geno,
Hi Geno!
Who do you think can beat Pacman in the near future?
Michael
Hi Michael,
In the near future, I think that Erik Morales has a chance to beat the Pacman, but I still pick Manny to win. Diego Corrales has been thrown around a lot and as much as I love those two names together, I wouldn’t advise the Pacman to take that fight. Chico is enormous for that weight and he would be far too strong. I really don’t see anyone in the Super Featherweight division capable of beating Manny at this time.
Geno,
I can’t say I’ve read all your mail bags but those I’ve read have been filled with Pacman questions, from the sublime to the, shall we say, lame. The only remaining question which I think is still unanswered by you is this: Don’t you ever get tired of answering Pacman questions, and where do you get the patience to respond to all of them. I’m one of the biggest Pacman fans, by the way, but, although I love the guy, some of the questions on him can get quite repetitive.
Thanks,
Al
Al,
My friend, how are you doing? I do not get tired of answering questions. Sometimes I wish that I wasn’t so busy with other activities, but regardless of repetition, everyone has the right to have their questions answered. One of my biggest pet peeves is when I email somebody and they never return it. If somebody takes the time to email me, I will answer, unless the question is completely off the wall and stupid, or they insult me to the point that I can’t clean it up. Some people just write: You are a @#@#$! I can’t work with that! Anyway the support that Pacman has is amazing and I too, am a fan, and if somebody just wants their question up here, even though it’s been answered already, is understandable. We at RSR strive for the personal touch as a team, and I will answer them all as long as I get them…
Mr. Geno,
I’ve been reading your column and to tell you honestly, yours has something in it that makes me want to read more. But anyway, I Hope you will answer my question and it’s about the upcoming bout between Pacquiao and Larios. Is there something that Larios can do to upset the Pacman? The way that the Pacman fights, it seems improbable for Larios to pull the upset, especially if Pacman comes in at 100%.
Dan
Dan,
Larios will have to fight a perfect fight in order to pull this huge upset. If Pacman is looking past his opponent and isn’t 100%, Larios may be able to apply enough pressure to convince the judges that he has won the fight.
Okay, that is it for “Ask Geno,” and don’t forget to tune in for parts II and II this week! I also encourage you all to check out our message board, where you can talk to other boxing fans, the RSR writers, and win valuable prizes. Until tomorrow…
