Welcome everyone to the first edition of my weekly mailbag. Having a mailbag will be a big change for me. My column Wilbur’s Boxing Notes was about me speaking my mind, unfiltered, without a second party’s opinion. Now my goal is to field questions and let you, the boxing fans, pick the topics. My Managing Editor Geno McGahee encouraged me to respond to all questions that come in. I disagreed with him at first, thinking that I would have to weed out certain questions. However Geno convinced me to take on all comers because, after all, the purpose of this mailbag was to give boxing fans a voice. I made a vow to l field every email that is sent to my inbox. So without further ado, let’s get on to the first email:
A QUICK PICK ME UP
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-Gabriela Anaya
Gabriela,
That rather reminds me of the time Evander Holyfield and Dwight Qawi fought for the Cruiserweight Championship. You want to talk about energy boost, Holyfield’s ability to gain a second, third, and fourth wind was amazing. Several times you thought that the accomplished veteran was finally wearing down the overmatched prospect, only to see Evander battle back. He showed such resilience that night that you just knew that he was going to be an all time great champion. What a great fight that was, one of my all time favorites. Thank you for bringing that fight up Gabriela, I always enjoy reminiscing.
THAT WAS ATOMIC BULL$%#@
Small correction about Oliver McCall. He never came out of retirement but has been fighting steadily, like Henry Akinwande, in relative obscurity. (Note – this email is in response to a column where I stated that McCall came out of retirement to defeat Sinan Samil Sam)
-Geza Farkas
Geza,
Thank you for the email, I should have rephrased my wording. I have followed Oliver’s career fairly well. His retirement was forced in 2002 due to drug and legal problems. His career since then has been a semi retirement because of his constant arrests for violence or drugs. I am very surprised that he is still able to compete with all of his out of the ring issues. He came out of retirement in mid 2003 and it has taken him this long to get back on track and beat a ranked contender. Not without trying though. He was beaten twice, by DaVarryl Williamson and Juan Carlos Gomez, along the way of his comeback trail. The loss to Gomez was changed to a no contest later when Gomez failed a drug test.
The WBC has promised McCall a shot at the WBC Heavyweight Championship because of his win over Sam. That really boggles my mind since they already have two boxers in line as mandatory challengers. Sam Peter will fight Oleg Maskaev, Vitali Klitschko will fight the winner, and then maybe Oliver McCall will finally get his shot at the title, assuming he is not 75 years old by that time. As for my opinion on whether or not McCall will make an impact in today’s heavyweight division, my response is a resounding NO.
CAN THE PACMAN CHOMP UP BARRERA?
Brian,
I just saw you are now doing a boxing mailbag. Do you think Manny Pacquiao can beat Marco Antonio Barrera in their October rematch? If so, how?
Also do you think Brewster can stop Klitschko?
-Jacob Franks
Jacob,
Thank you for writing into my brand new mailbag. First, I think it is great that Manny Pacquiao is fighting Marco Antonio Barrera. I was dreading that the Top Rank vs. Golden Boy battle was going to prevent Manny from blockbuster rematches against Barrera and Marquez. With the dispute settled we will be treated to a couple of great fights. So back to your question, yes I do think that Manny can beat Barrera in a rematch. Barrera is not completely shot, but as he has aged he is not the same fighter that he used to be. Marco is not as effective at brawling anymore, as we saw in his first fight against Rocky Juarez. Barrera needs to box from the outside and work at his own pace to be effective. What Pacquiao has to do to win is come at Barrera and make him fight every second of every round. Barrera will not be able to handle that kind of pressure from a younger, stronger opponent like Pacquiao. This will not be an easy task, but if Manny is in prime shape, he will outwork and overwhelm Barrera to win by late stoppage or a decisive decision.
Of course Brewster can stop Klitschko, he has done it once before. This is boxing and anything can happen. But is it likely that Brewster will stop Klitschko? No. The betting odds that have Wladimir as a four and a half to one favorite sound about right. Klitschko is the better fighter, but the way that he has been dramatically hurt and stopped by lesser fighters in the past is hard to forget. I don’t think that I could ever fully endorse Wladimir to win when he is facing a big puncher because of his past. Lamon Brewster is a big puncher with a pretty decent chin to boot, so that gives him a chance. I favor Klitschko in this fight, but we will have to find out for sure on fight night.
WHATCHA THINK OF THIS RUBBERY MATCH?
How would a match-up between Chong Pal Park, the first Super Middleweight Champion, and today’s WBA Super Middleweight Champion, Anthony Mundine, have turned out?
-Rubber Warrior
Rubber Warrior,
That is a good question, you forced me to go back and check the history books! Chong Pal Park is a notable super middleweight champion but it is hard to tell just how good he was. In the 1980’s the super middleweight division was in its infancy so there was not many fighters fighting in that weight class. Park’s level of competition was not very impressive. He was a risk taker who fought an exciting, aggressive style. I would favor Park to win by late stoppage against the version of Mundine from 2001 to about 2004. Back then Mundine was raw, unpolished talent. Mundine was a rugby player turned boxer and the first part of his career was basically his amateur career. He has improved each fight to the point where has become an excellent, well rounded boxer. I consider him the third best super middleweight in the world right now, behind only Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler. Park against the current version of Mundine would be a better fight, one that I feel Mundine would win via decision.
OBESITY AND JAMES TONEY
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-Jackie Rucker
Jackie,
You know, if I didn’t know any better I’d think you were trying to sell me something. But this is a boxing mailbag, so you are probably talking about James Toney. Very clever, Jackie, very clever. True that James Toney has had weight problems over the years. Even when he was at middleweight he was cutting too much weight for his own good. Problems making weight probably played a big role in his poor performance against Roy Jones, JR., as well. I sometimes wonder how Toney would have done if he started his career at heavyweight instead of moving there when he was already past his prime. The 2003 version of James Toney that smoked Evander Holyfield was a badass. Now at 38 years old and three of his last four performances being disappointments, Toney is probably done. But don’t tell him I said that because he might beat me up.
MICHAEL MARRONE’S CHANCES
Mike Marrone has had early spectacular success and has continued to win as he advances along the professional road. Do you believe that he will one day be a champion?
-Charles Jackson
Charles,
From what I have seen of Mike he has not thoroughly impressed me. He is undersized for a modern heavyweight and his boxing skills may not be good enough to overcome that size disadvantage. Marrone will never become a great champion or an undisputed champion. In his current form he would not cut it at the top of the division either, but neither would most 21-year-old prospects. He is young, has time to improve, and will improve as he continues to fight and gain more experience. His team is moving him along at a reasonable pace. There are not many American heavyweight prospects out there so Marrone is a valued commodity. The competition is not exceptionally fierce these days. With a lot of hard work and dedication I could see Marrone winning one of the four heavyweight titles. In today’s mediocre heavyweight division I would say that is an attainable goal for Marrone.
PRETTY BOY VS. THE HITMAN
Mayweather and Hatton. Who do you think wins and why?
-WTJ
WTJ,
I like Floyd Mayweather over any fighter from 147 pounds and below. That does not mean that I think he is invincible though. He has just narrowly edged out his last two opponents (Oscar De La Hoya and Zab Judah), and although he won, those were not dominant, resounding victories. I can imagine scenarios where Hatton wins. Ricky is a good volume puncher with great stamina and history shows that volume punchers can overwhelm great defensive boxers. In his most recent fights Hatton has been more of a mauler than a volume puncher though. He has never fought a pure boxer anywhere near the talent level of Mayweather. The most likely scenario is that Hatton brawls and grabs early to make it close, but, as the rounds go on Floyd will start to pick him off and punish him.
DING A LING MAN?
Ricky Hatton will KO Pretty Boy Floyd cuz Hatton has a bigger ding a ling. What do you think?
-Michael Glen
Michael,
When analyzing a fight I never (or should I say rarely?) consider ding-a-ling size as a significant factor. I won’t make my official prediction until the RSR Fight Picks column comes out, but right now I am leaning towards Mayweather by decision.
MANNY PACQUIAO – JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ II
Do you think Manny Pacquiao will fight Juan Manuel Marquez again? How does he win the fight?
-Tinka
Tinka,
Yes, I think he will. Now that Top Rank and Golden Boy have stopped the insanity and are once again doing business with each other I am very optimistic that Pacquiao will fight Marquez again. Both have fights lined up first and will have to win. Pacquiao will be fighting a rematch against Marco Antonio Barrera in October. Juan Manuel Marquez will be taking on Jorge Barrios in September. These are also great fights, especially Pacquiao vs. Barrera, which is a rematch between two modern greats. Assuming both Pacquiao and Marquez win, and those are very winnable fights for them, look for this much anticipated rematch to happen sometime in 2008.
Pacquiao has improved since their first fight. Marquez is the same fighter that he was, but I feel like he went into that first round against Manny overconfident. In a rematch I predict that Marquez will use his boxing skills to out maneuver Manny. This will be a true test to see how far Pacquiao has come in these last couple years. Has he really learned how to adapt and diversify his attack or is he still a one dimensional power puncher? We will find out if Manny can handle a focused, determined, world-class boxer.
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-Jacquelyn Daly
Jacquelyn,
You’re right. I also think that Manny Pacquiao is the best pound for pound boxer in the world now that Floyd Mayweather is “retired”. He is very lucky to have other great fighters at his same weight class so that he can prove his greatness. There are so many great fights out there for Pacquiao, all of them I would pay money to see. First he has his October fight with Marco Antonio Barrera. Then a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez if he gets passed Barrera. There are plenty of young guns who would represent just as much of a challenge after Pacman is done with those guys too. Whether that is the KO artist Edwin Valero, rugged technician Joan Guzman, or skilled boxer-puncher Humberto Soto, I will be a happy camper if Pacquiao mixes it up with any of them. Boxing needs more exciting boxers like Manny who are willing to take on all comers.
OK RSR Readers, that’s the debut of my first email bag and keep those emails coming because I will answer them all. I will see you back here next Monday. Have a great 4th of July.
