I recently had a chance to speak to boxing commentator and Hall of Famer, Bob Sheridan. ?The Colonel? has been calling fights in the sport for over 40 years, having announced such fights as ?The Rumble in the Jungle?, making the famous call in the Tyson-Douglas upset. Sheridan currently commentates on the international feeds for most big events in boxing today.
In part 2 of this interview, I speak to ?The Colonel? and get his thoughts the big upcoming fights in the sport. Sheridan shares his views on Mayweather-Pacquiao and if we could see a controversial decision. Bob also gives his views on how the fight will play out and what he thinks of the trainer duel between Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Freddie Roach. Additionally Sheridan speak on Klitschko-Jennings and Canelo-Kirkland. Here is what Bob Sheridan had to say.
Robert Brown: I would not be surprised if there was a controversial decision in this fight, perhaps even a draw. For me, there?s a strong possibility of a rematch.
Bob Sheridan: First we have to see how this fight shapes out. I?m more concerned with a lot of controversy in the scoring in the individual rounds because of the style of these two fighters.
To me it seems like Mayweather will be his usual counter punching and elusive self and move and pick his shots to go offensive. Pacquiao will try to keep pressure on him all the time and maybe land heavier blows during the course of the fight, and that?s where the controversy is gonna be, in those close 10-9 rounds. You may have one judge going one way and two judges going the other way. I?m really interested to see how it unfolds; I think it will be a very close fight.
Robert Brown: Whose legacy is more on the line for this fight? Mayweather still has the ?0? that he desperately wants to keep but also Pacquiao?s got a whole country supporting him. Who has got more on the line?
Bob Sheridan: I don?t know, that?s a very difficult question. It?s a very good question but I think they both have so much on the line that certainly you can like Mayweather or not like Mayweather but he?s always prepared, as is Manny to fight and I think the preparation leading up to the fight will be the key to this fight.
Legacy wise, Mayweather?s been really concerned about retiring with the ?0? and so probably it would mean an awful lot to him that he wins this fight. For Pacquiao, I think he?d just like to shut up Mayweather for the rest of the world.
Robert Brown: Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Freddie Roach are both highly decorated, they both have great fighters and they don?t seem to like each other. That?s almost a fight within a fight isn?t it?
Bob Sheridan: A little bit but on fight night all the talk goes away and then it?s just left to the two combatants. With their legacies on the line neither one of them will need any motivation in this fight. The trainer?s job is to prepare their fighters, and they both have different styles.
I think Mayweather sort of does whatever he wants to do and Freddie has a different style in working with his fighters, they follow his plan pretty much to the tee. Mayweather doesn?t cheat himself on training, whether he listens to his corner or what he does because he?s a guy who?s sold on himself and his beliefs. And so far Mayweather hasn?t been wrong but that?s because he?s such a tremendous athlete and trains so hard when he does concentrate on his training. Both of these guys will be ready for this fight.
Robert Brown: What is your final tip for this fight?
Bob Sheridan: Whether I?m announcing it or not, my heart is with Pacquiao. I?ll probably bet on Pacquiao because you get a little bit better odds on it. I think the fight is an even fight, I don?t think that the odds that initially came out are to generate action on Pacquiao but when the wealthy Filipinos from around the United States and from The Philippines start pouring their money in, I think that the odds will even up a little bit.
For me, I would take Pacquiao. I?ll probably bet a few dollars on it, I?m not a big bettor but just to have an interest in it. When I say ?bet? I bet very little, like $5 to $15 on a fight, just to have an interest in it. I don?t get to the point where I bet $50 or $100 on the fight because I don?t want my bet to influence my call on the fight. That?s the way I?ve always done it because if you have $1000 on the fight, it?s certainly going to influence your call on the fight and I don?t want that to happen.
Robert Brown: Two other fights that are coming up are Bryant Jennings vs. Wladimir Klitschko and Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez vs. James Kirkland. Do you give Jennings or Kirkland any chance in their bouts?
Bob Sheridan: Kirkland I give a chance against Canelo. Jennings is a very good fighter but he hasn?t fought anybody of the size of Klitschko and Klitschko will do what he?s always done, he?ll establish that jab and Jennings will try to get through it and get to him.
Jennings is a very good athlete, I?ve only had the opportunity to broadcast one of his fights and he beat this Polish guy that was kind of a thug and he did a nice job but fighting Klitschko is going to be tough for him because of the size difference of the two fighters.
Klitschko for the first time in seven years is coming to the United States to defend his title, so people in the United States will be thrilled to see him in action, fighting on US soil. I don?t give Jennings a very big shot, but I give Kirkland a chance.
