Thanks for stopping by for another edition of my boxing mailbag. This bag is for the fan’s entertainment so let’s have some fun, and get those questions in! Before heading into the questions in my mailbag each week I will start things off with some random thoughts:
I love Bernard Hopkins, but it is very difficult to love the way that he fights. People give John Ruiz hell for having a boring yet effective fighting style, but Hopkins is guilty of the same crime.
Max Kellerman is a love him or hate him personality. I do like Kellerman very much; just not as a commentator. As an HBO analyst he contradicts himself and most of the points he makes do not live up to the high standards that his counterpart Larry Merchant have established. I would love to see him back at the desk during ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. He was completely in his element in that position. There, Kellerman fielded rapid fire questions and made outrageous statements in becoming the polarizing star that he is today. Max was allowed to be a loud-mouthed, passionate, and opinionated pundit. His skills just do not carry over in to traditional commentary.
You would think that boxing would be in trouble if a major Pay Per View fight was overshadowed by the release of a children’s book. However the release of the last Harry Potter book has overshadowed every other piece of news within the last week, so boxing should not feel so bad. Which begs the question, who would win this mythical match-up? Harry Potter vs. a prime Mike Tyson.
Boxing Historian Bert Sugar once told me that if you put the current crop of heavyweight champions in a police line up, fully dressed in their robes, gloves, belts and all, that not only would people not know who they were, they wouldn’t know what these people did for a living. When Jim Lampley, boxing commentator and truly a boxing guy to the bitter end, does not know the difference between Timor Ibragimov (a fringe contender) and Sultan Ibragimov (the WBO Champion), Sugar’s statement has never been more true than right now.
I will keep my Hopkins vs. Wright comments to a minimum because I am sure that most boxing fans skipped the PPV and are waiting for next week’s replay. Wise move fight fans.
Loaded Welterweight Division
Ever since Paul Williams’ win over Antonio Margarito, everybody is trying to rank a top ten for the stacked Welterweight division. How does your Welterweight top ten look? What is the division’s best matchup?
-Cole Fontes
Cole,
This is how I would rank the top 10 welterweights:
1. Floyd Mayweather 2. Miguel Cotto 3. Paul Williams 4. Shane Mosley 5. Antonio Margarito 6. Kermit Cintron 7. Joshua Clottey 8. Luis Collazo 9. Zab Judah 10. Alfonso Gomez
Even though Mayweather claimed his retirement and the weight class in which he will fight is undetermined at this time, I still put him at the top due to my respect for his ability and his past accomplishments. He is the pound for pound king and is still the Ring Magazine Welterweight Champion. I left out Carlos Baldomir because he moved up in weight to fight Vernon Forrest. Alfonso Gomez falls into the top spot almost by default after his win over Arturo Gatti. The division has an abundance of pound for pound level fighters, but there is a drop off after the top 6 or 7. Welterweight is exciting because of the handful of outstanding fighters that can make superfights, but after those fighters, the depth in the division is just average. There is a rumor that Oscar De La Hoya is planning on campaigning at welterweight. I would rank him about #6 if you want to include him. Terrific prospect Andre Berto will get into the mix within the next couple years.
Mix and match the top four guys and you have a super fight. The best action fight and the most fun for hardcore fans would probably be Miguel Cotto vs. Paul Williams. However the biggest fight that can be made is Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley, without a doubt. Both of them are boxing superstars with crossover appeal. Mayweather is the best, most skilled fighter in the division, and possibly in all of boxing, but his style of fighting is not as pleasing to the eye as a banger like Cotto or volume puncher like Williams.
Does Floyd Beat Them All?
Do you think Mayweather would handle Paul Williams, Kermit Cintron, and Miguel Cotto?
-WTJ
WTJ,
Against Paul Williams, it would take Floyd a few rounds to feel Williams out. Paul has the length and throws so many punches that he leaves few openings or opportunities to attack. Mayweather has demolished fighters with similar styles in the past; see Jesus Chavez and Phillip N’Dou. Floyd puts his boxing PhD to use here and eventually figures out how to pick apart Williams resulting in a competitive twelve round decision for Mayweather.
Cintron would be easy pickings for Floyd. Kermit is very strong and a big puncher, but he is not in the same universe when it comes to boxing prowess. Floyd lands three flush shots for every glancing blow that Cintron lands. Pretty Boy Floyd could win this one by KO but at welterweight his power is not as damaging as it was at lower weight classes. More likely he takes a wide unanimous decision similar to his fight against Carlos Baldomir.
Cotto is the toughest fight of them all. Miguel is very underrated as a technician. He is famous for his offense, his power, and his brawling habits. But Cotto does subtle things in the ring, like slipping punches, body punching, and utilizing head movement, that make him difficult for anyone to outbox. Cotto reminds me of a bigger, stronger Jose Luis Castillo. Cotto would have to trap Mayweather on the ropes frequently and take whatever Floyd gives him, whether that is to the body or the head. He would menace Mayweather early on and test him. Eventually though, the difference in hand speed would factor in and Mayweather would start to win rounds with pot-shotting. After a close battle, Floyd would find a way to scrap out a victory in a tough fight much like he did against Castillo.
Let’s hope that Floyd has the courage and motivation to take on all of these worthy challengers.
Mr. Homophobic Potty Mouth
Brian, you seem to know your stuff very well. Now do you know gay stuff? I ask because you really look like you can take a (censored) up the (censored) but still have room for (censored). Put this in your bag if you have the balls!
-Johnny Hungson
Johnny,
Your parents must be so proud! Such a fine, articulate young man they raised. You know I said something similar when I was young to my first grade teacher Mrs. Wall. Mrs. Wall was old school. She was a hit you in the teeth with a ruler if you got a math problem wrong kind of teacher. Let me tell you, she didn’t take any of my trash talk. Mrs. Wall dragged me by the ear down the hall and washed my mouth out with soap. The take home message from my story is that soap tastes like ass. I hope you learned something today and are a better person because of it Johnny.
Pacquiao: Filipino Inspiration
The surfeit of boxers from the Philippines winning international title fights lately shows that when one of their own (Pacquiao) makes it big, others draw extra strength and inspiration from the boxing exploits of the successful one. That might be uniquely Filipino, because when our country elected a President who was a film idol, all ex-great and near-great film stars and starlets started scrambling for political positions. Anyway, 10 years from now, if the current rate of Filipino successes in boxing continues, and an audit of boxers from Mexico and the Philippines is conducted, the Philippines may stand a chance of exceeding the Mexican output. Is this possible Brian? The welcoming and fair-to-all tone of your mailbag is inspiring people to write in questions – and that’s great.
-Vancouverman
Vancouverman,
First, thank you for the kind words about my mailbag. You make some interesting observations. There is no denying that Pacquiao has inspired his fellow countrymen. The inspiration that a larger than life figure gives is not uniquely Filipino though. In the 1980’s, there was a huge influx of boxers trying to be the next Muhammad Ali, dancing around the ring and wearing tassels on their shoes. None were nearly as good but you get the idea that others were inspired by “The Greatest” just like many are inspired by Manny.
Mexico is a boxing powerhouse when it comes to pumping out great fighters, and the country does not look like it is going to slow down anytime soon. Bob Arum makes sure he has at least a couple Mexicans on every Pay Per View card he puts together to ensure that he plays to the Latino audience. Boxing is huge in Mexico, and possibly stemming from the great success of Julio Cesar Chavez. The Philippines will continue to grow and prosper as a boxing powerhouse. I am not sure if they will be able to match the sheer number of boxers that Mexico produces, but it will be interesting to watch over the next few years.
Rambling Man’s Take On Guzman vs. Soto
Hey Brian, can you ramble as Geno used to? LOL. We missed his funny ramblings, haha.
I read somewhere that this interesting fight, Joan Guzman vs. Humberto Soto, is in the works for September. Who do you think wins, and why?
-vicv
vicv,
I wish I could ramble like Geno! He has a unique talent that makes for a funny and interesting read.
Yes, Soto vs. Guzman is tentatively scheduled for September 8th on HBO. Before Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank settled their differences and allowed Manny Pacquiao to fight Marco Antonio Barrera, these two were the leading candidates to fight Manny. Both are excellent fighters and would have given Pacquiao a tough time. Soto is a boxer-puncher who moves around the ring and using his legs and a nice jab. Guzman is more flat-footed, but just as skilled. I would slightly favor Guzman in that fight because of his big fight experience. Joan is a vicious little guy, very intimidating, and that plays into his favor. I am eager to see this one. The winner deserves a shot at either Juan Manuel Marquez or Manny Pacquiao.
The Drunken Wrestling Fan Returns
Yo Brian, you hating on B. Brian Blair because he’s a better Brian than you are? I’m looking for B. Brian Blair’s Mailbag, the killer bee from the WWF, and he had a very good dropkick. Killer Bees had killer bulges, don’tcha think? But what about a WWF wrestler facing off against a boxer? Like, we put Big John Studd if he wasn’t dead against Vitali Klitschko? Is wrestling real?
-Special Delivery Jones
Special Delivery Jones,
Wrestling is not real and Vitali Klitschko would murder any wrestler in a boxing match. I’m sorry to crush your hopes, dreams, and spirit, but I tell it like it is in my mailbag.
PS. The Easter Bunny is fake too.
Filipino Fighters
Last 07-07-07, some of my friends argued with me about the two Republic of Philippines boxing champions. They told me that those 2 pugs were just lucky because they were hit by the lucky date! What can you say about this Brian?
And also about other match-ups, what can you say about these fights?
A) PACQUIAO-BARRERA II B) BAUTISTA-DE LEON C) PENALOSA-GONZALES D) MAYOL-SOLIS E) BANAL-ORTIZ F) GORRES-GUERRERO
-Ramson Arenas
Ramson,
I don’t believe in superstitions such as lucky dates. Nonito Donaire caught Vic Darchinyan overconfident and had a perfectly executed game plan. There was no luck involved there as far as I am concerned, although it was a big upset.
I’ll give a quick shout for each of those fights:
A) Pacquiao vs. Barrera II: Pacquiao is in his prime and Barrera is past his. Manny roughs up Marco for the second time.
B) Bautista vs. De Leon: Not sure if Bautista is ready for this although he is a promising young fighter. De Leon using his strength to win a decision.
C) Penalosa vs. Gonzales: Gonzales uses his height and reach to pick off Penalosa from the outside and takes him out with a flurry of power shots in the late to middle rounds.
D) Mayol vs. Solis: Mayol gets into a slugfest with Solis, encounters some rough spots, but his power bails him out with a win.
E) Banal vs. Ortiz: Banal takes out Ortiz in a surprisingly easy fight. Ortiz has a shaky chin that will be exposed yet again.
F) Gorres vs. Guerrero: Gorres showed what he was made of against Montiel even though he did not get the decision. I think Gorres makes a statement in this fight.
Who Wins Hitman vs. Pretty Boy?
I’ve been wondering about this fight, Ricky Hatton vs. Floyd Mayweather. I want Hatton to win as I see his style as superior boxing. Floyd’s style isn’t boxing, it is just specialization and a little quickness. How you would sum up this fight.
-Jesper
Jesper,
I would argue that Mayweather is a boxer in the purist form and that Hatton is more of a brawler than a boxer. True that Hatton’s aggressive style makes for fights that are more pleasing to the eye. Hatton would absolutely blow up in popularity if he defeated Mayweather because he makes for exciting fights and has a likeable personality. I just do not see him beating Pretty Boy Floyd though. Hatton has the ability to make it competitive but does not have the power or size to topple Floyd. Mayweather’s unmatched boxing prowess and hand speed gives him the advantage while the fight is in the center of the ring. Look for Mayweather to win a decision over Hatton if they fight.
Predict These Mega Fights
A showdown between Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez. Also, Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley, who will prevail? I’d love to get in touch with your mailbag.
-Jeff R.
Jeff,
I once had a boss named Jeff. He was a good guy but one thing about him made me uneasy. Every time I talked to him he would smile and have this look on his face that was hard to interpret. He could have been thinking, “I completely agree, nice work.” But he just as easily could have been thinking, “Is this kid brain dead? Note to self, fire this schmuck before he ruins the company.”
Wasn’t that story of mine a perfect lead-in into boxing conversation? Both of the match ups that you mention are two of the biggest and best fights that can be made in all of boxing. Pacquiao has improved since he first fought Marquez and although Juan Manuel is the same fighter he was; I still like Marquez to win in a rematch for two reasons. First, I think Marquez was filled with too much hubris in the first round of their initial encounter. Once his head was back on his shoulders he boxed very well. Second reason is that even though Manny has improved, Marquez is still the better technical fighter so I think he can adapt to what Pacquiao does to improve on his performance. What Marquez should not do under any circumstance is try to brawl with Pacquiao. That will land him flat on his back counting the lights.
Cotto vs. Mosley could very well be the fight of the year if they end up getting it on. Both men are usually up for a toe to toe war. My initial prediction on this is a Cotto victory by decision. Mosley is not the fighter he was a few years ago. His punching power seems to have suffered in his old age, as well as his reflexes and timing. Shane is still a top fighter, but just losing a little bit is enough for the next generation of stars to overtake him. Cotto will work the body and hit Mosley with the kind of forceful punches that Shane has never been hit with on a consistent basis.
Cold Shower Recommended
Hi Brian, I want to know if you are still a virgin? I love boxing writers and you are one sexy nerdy one for sure. Those hands of your look just so big that you could (censored). Then we can box. Can you box? If I win, you have to (censored).
Tina
Tina,
Ew, yucky, girls.
An Otis Griffin Hater
Before you make love to a fighter in your mailbag, at least find one that can fight. Griffin was a 3rd rate bum on a cancelled show who couldn’t beat my Aunt Mabel with three whiskeys in her. Hey Otis, Plain Jane huh? Next Great Champ? Next Great Crum Bum. Go ahead now and make excuses for your loss. I know, your nipples hurt, your cup was too tight, you had the flu, the poopy doopy’s right? Face it, Oscar dropped you, Danny Dropped you and I bet Brian drops you too!!!!!!!
Brian, back to you buddy. If this does not make your bag, then I know you are not really answering all your questions you get each week.
-Jim Greenlake
Jim,
Put your money where your mouth is Jim and have your Aunt Mabel challenge Otis to a fight. I’ll talk to HBO and Golden Boy Promotions, they might put the fight on Pay Per View.
But all joking aside, I hope you feel like a big man Jim, kicking someone while they are down. I have met Otis on several occasions and he is a very good guy. I knew that the most dangerous point in the fight for Otis was the first five rounds or so. Danny Green is a huge puncher and that makes him very dangerous early on. He is a frontrunner though. If the fight had made it into the middle rounds Griffin’s chances of winning would have increased. You have to give props to Green because everyone knew that he was going to go for the early KO, yet team Griffin was unable to stop it.
Measuring Greatness
You hit it right on the button when you evaluated the proper time and requisites for a boxer to be considered great or when is the right time to call one in the class of legend. Since we are discussing PACMAN, who is still relatively new in the elite rank, we might as well go back to his unparalleled achievement when he became a 112 lbs. world flyweight champ at the young age of 20 and made a huge leap to 122 lbs. to snatch the IBF Super Bantamweight for his second legitimate title. Though he has yet to win his 3rd division title, he has been fighting at an elite level ever since. His breakthrough came in a non-title TKO win over the great Marco Antonio Barrera. In unison, the boxing world hailed him as the new superstar to watch and that feat vaulted him into the top 10 p4p list. That was 2003!
Three years later until November, 2006 when he demolished another great boxer in Erik Morales in the final of their classic trilogy. In between the 2003 fight with Barrera and 2006 Morales, he fought all the best challenge there is. Today, almost all the boxing scribes called him “the most exciting boxer in the world” and either no. 1 or 2 in the current p4p list. He was named the only Asian to be Fighter of the Year by the Ring Magazine in 2006 and also won the BWAA. I’m not begging the American boxing writers or fans all over the world to rank him alongside Barrera and Morales. What I’m asking that he is not just pure excitement in the PPV card, but to consider him with the same respect as you do with some boxers who have achieved far less than what Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao did in his phenomenal exploits in the peak of his career. If being in the p4p list for the past four years is still not a testament to his talent and skills, I will never understand how long it will take to evaluate one’s longevity. He will forever be the new superstar until the day you voted for him in the Hall of Fame.
-Helven
Helven,
I hope you took a breath why you were typing that email my friend! You listed many fine accomplishments of Manny Pacquiao. You are obviously a big fan of his and follow his career closely. I think your fear is that Pacquiao is thought of as an Arturo Gatti type fighter in that he is exciting but not an elite fighter. That is not that case. The only reason that you don’t hear many talking about Pacquiao as a great fighter is that it is a sports writer’s rule of thumb to not judge an athletes greatness until his career is over or near over.
The way to establish greatness is by fighting and beating top fighters. There is no one who is as young or younger than Pacquiao who has defeated as many top fighters as he has. So fear not, Manny is well on his way to the hall of fame.
My Favorite Number is 147
Hey Brian, like the mailbag. With all the steamy Welterweight action that went down last weekend…in your opinion, who has the most taut, powerful chassis in the Welterweight division?
Lose the pants!
-Steve Sanders
Steve,
It has got to be Kermit Cintron. Have you seen his frame and bone structure? He is very powerfully built. Those broad shoulders are intimidating. But please let it be known that my opinion of who has the most powerful chassis is different than who I think is the best fighter. Guys like Mayweather and Cotto have better boxing skills and do other things that make them more effective.
How dare you tell me to lose my pants sir! You should be ashamed. The only ones who are allowed to utter that command at me are the future Mrs. Brian Wilbur and my Managing Editor Geno McGahee. As much as I appreciate your support of my mailbag, you are not a part of that exclusive club.
That’s all for this week folks. I am hear to answer all of your queries and field all of your comments, whether it be relationship advice, how to cook up a mean sloppy joe, or help with your math homework. I may even field a question or two about boxing next week. Good times! Have a good one.
