Hello faithful mailbag readers. I hope you will enjoy this week?s edition because it will be my last mailbag before my extended vacation. I am getting married next Saturday (missing the HBO Boxing After Dark card, Arrggh!), and will immediately be going on a honeymoon to Europe so I will be gone for about three weeks. I?ll be back the second week in June so you only have to be without ?Brian?s Boxing Mailbag? for a short while. In the meantime, I highly recommend reading this edition over and over again until I get back!
I received a lot of good questions this week including inquiries about Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., Jorge Linares, and Manny Pacquiao among other topics. Before we get to the questions I have a couple quick thoughts on the world of boxing.
I like what HBO is doing with the fight card that I mentioned earlier set to air on May 17th. Three of the best prospects in boxing are being matched tough in HBO?s answer to ShoBox. Yuriorkis Gamboa, a 2004 Olympics Gold Medalist who recently defected from Cuba, is going to be fighting Darling Jiminez, the same guy to bombed out Mike Anchondo in his latest fight. Red hot super welterweight knock out artist James Kirkland will be taking on Eromosele Albert, who has shined on recent ESPN Friday Night and Wednesday Night Fights telecasts. Rounding out the telecast is the less proven but very dangerous Alfredo Angulo taking on the proven veteran contender Richard Gutierrez. This is a great chance for hardcore boxing fans to see the future of the sport.
The only major fight that happened over the weekend was UK?s Junior Witter losing his Junior Welterweight title to American Timothy Bradley. I bet Ricky Hatton was extremely happy about this result because he has been trying to avoid an all UK super fight with Witter for years.
And now onto the questions.
De La Hoya, Cintron, Pacquiao
Hey Brian,
It?s been a while since my last email but I always check out your mailbag 1st thing every week. I’ve also read your interview article last month and you’ve mentioned your wedding this coming May. Congratulations!
The past fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Steve Forbes was a good one and I take my hat off to Steve Forbes. The way he fought back even though he wasn’t getting much luck from it. I do hope we get to see him again and win a title in the near future. De La Hoya did a good job in using his jab which many believe can give Mayweather problems, I do hope he fights Cotto in December since I’m more interested on that one.
I’m also glad Kermit started doing his mailbag again since the Margarito fight. I understand how hard it is to fail the 2nd time but Kermit showed courage to take that fight again.
I also like to know your thoughts on the upcoming Diaz-Pacquiao fight. It seems Diaz can bully Pacman around the ring because of his natural lightweight size. What do you think?
-Richard Lopez-Pozas
Richard,
Hi Richard, good to hear from you again. Yes, thank you, I am getting married on the 17th of this month and that is something that I am really looking forward to.
De La Hoya needs to use his jab and stick with it if he wants to have any chance against Mayweather. Forbes was a poor choice of opponent if he wanted to look exciting, but a good choice if he wanted to get sharp in preparation for Mayweather. Forbes fights in a similar style to Mayweather with defense favored more than offense. Mayweather is obviously a lot better than Forbes though.
Forbes, although sometimes not the most exciting guy to watch, is someone who is easy to root for. Nothing has ever come easy for Forbes but he never stopped working hard and eventually his big break came. I also hope that he wins a world title in the future.
Kermit is a stand up guy with a good head on his shoulders. I knew he would be back with his mailbag. His many fans support him in victory or defeat.
David Diaz will be a challenge for Manny Pacquiao because of his size. Diaz is not particularly skilled but he is big, strong, and hits very hard. People like to say that Pacquiao is no longer a one-dimensional slugger but this fight will be the ultimate test of that. Manny will have to use his edge in speed and agility to out-box Diaz. This is the only fight that I have seen Pacquiao in where he will not want to try to exchange punches with his opponent. This is the first time in Pacquiao’s career where he would not have the advantage in a toe-to-toe brawl. Will Manny be able to completely adjust his fight strategy? We will find out.
Current Best Trainers
Hi Brian,
Wazzup? Thank you for your response to my last email about my pound for pound list. Now I’m certain with my view on that issue. This is actually my third email but I have been reading your mailbag for quite a long time.
I asked you in my last email of your top ten P4P list. Now, I would like to know your “current” top five best trainers of the Sweet Science and the reasons behind your preference.
Boxers differ in styles and so do trainers. Every trainer deserves acclamation and compliments for their hard work and dedication.
Thanks and more power!
-Nujlaola
Nujlaola,
Here is my list of the top 5 trainers today:
1. Nacho Beristain – He is a perfectionist with the way he instills a unique, but technically sound, fighting style into his boxers. Just look at how well-schooled the Marquez brothers are.
2. Freddie Roach – A disciple of the greatest trainer ever, Eddie Futch. Roach is very good at coming up with fight strategies and I like how he is very calm in the corner.
3. Emmanuel Steward – He is not for everyone as we saw with Jermain Taylor and his fighters are on a pretty bad losing streak right now. But I like the way that Steward is bringing along Wladimir Klitschko. Steward maybe has lost a bit since his glory days with Tommy Hearns but he is still one of the better trainers today.
4. Ronnie Shields – He has trained so many excellent fighters in his career with so many different styles. Shields can take a fighter and help him develop his strengths and improve on his weaknesses. A very diverse trainer.
5. Joe Goosen – I was impressed with the way that Goosen trained Diego Corrales to victory in his rematch with Joel Casamayor. Goosen is very calm in the corner and says all the right things to help his fighter make adjustments. Goosen might be the best ?game day? trainer in the corner.
Mayweather Clan As Trainers
Hi Brian,
I received your response on your current top 5 best trainers. I just want to ask you why you didn’t you include Floyd Mayweather Sr. in your top 5? Or any of the three Mayweather trainers. Please let us know your reasons.
If you ask me, I would never include him in my top 5 current best trainers. That is because of his style and attitude. I honestly don’t like Floyd Jr. and Joan Guzman’s styles. It’s not entertaining. They are running all the time and that makes the fight boring.
Though Floyd Jr. is almost excellent in boxing skills, I’d rather watch a fight the likes of Pacman, Edwin Valero, Israel Vasquez, etc. And to Floyd Sr.’s attitude, it’s always unpleasant. He is always bragging and bad-mouthing other trainers, especially Freddie Roach.
I look forward to your opinion on this matter Brian. Thanks.
-Nujlaola
Floyd Mayweather Sr. is a good trainer, but not as good as he would have you believe. He trains his fighters to be very defensive and that can hurt them in terms of mainstream appeal. You saw how Emanuel Steward yelled at Wladimir Klitschko during his fight against Sultan Ibragimov even though he was winning every round. Steward knows the importance of entertainment value and wanted Klitschko to let his hands go. You would never hear that kind of talk from Mayweather Sr.
There are two reasons why Floyd Sr. can hurt a boxers popularity. First, fans want to see action and Floyd Sr. trains his boxers to avoid action. Second, his fights go the distance most of the time and you can never trust judges in boxing. De La Hoya seems to have digressed since he joined with Mayweather Sr. Oscar is not the dynamic offensive fighter that he used to be (unless he is fighting Ricardo Mayorga). The shoulder roll technique that Mayweather teaches is a valuable defensive technique but one defensive maneuver does not make you a great trainer.
If I had to pick the best trainer out of the Mayweather clan I would probably go with Roger Mayweather solely because he trains Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Floyd Jr. gives him a lot of praise.
Responding To Last Week?s Mailbag
Good day to you Brian. First of all, I would like to say that I am a fan of Oscar but I hate to tell that just like Bernard Hopkins and other great boxers that I want him to have a graceful exit. Oscar has nothing to prove, he has a lot of achievements as a boxer and as a person but another fight with ?Pretty Boy? Floyd means nothing except money making.
Second is the pound for pound list, I think that we should stop reading into this rankings because why bother with what is not real? Besides, there are too many P4P lists around.
Lastly, about Kermit, I agree with you that the biggest mistake in fighting Margarito was to try to KO Margarito. I was surprised with Kermit’s aggression. I believe that Kermit will be able to comeback though. Thanks a lot and God bless.
-Jason Calara
Jason,
I think Oscar still has one or two more good fights left in him but Mayweather should not be the opponent. He should try to fight Vernon Forrest at 154 or maybe even Miguel Cotto at 147. A Mayweather fight just doesn’t make sense based on what happened in the first fight and I am disappointed in all involved who are pushing this one so hard.
True, there are a lot of pound for pound lists going around. But none are as good as mine! Just kidding. In all seriousness I like pound for pound lists because they are a fun way to initiate debates. In the modern age of boxing, boxers only fight twice per year. Pound for pound lists give fans something to think about during the incredibly long gaps between their favorite fighter?s fights. In that respect I like pound for pound lists, but they are only for fun and should not be taken too seriously.
Regarding my colleague Kermit Cintron, I think that Kermit will make a comeback as well. With hard work, focus, and dedication I think he has the ability to win another world title. His big frame and equally big punch are tough for most fighters to deal with.
Mayweather vs. Mayweather
Hello Brian, it is my first time to email here. Who do you think De La Hoya should choose to be his trainer in the rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Floyd Maywether Sr., Freddie Roach or someone else? And why? Thanks.
-Erick
Erick,
De La Hoya is a veteran of the game so he does not have to have a trainer to show him how to box. What he needs a trainer for is to motivate him and to get on his ass so he trainers harder. De La Hoya knows that he needs to be more aggressive than he was in the first fight and he needs to make sure that he does not abandon the jab like he did in the first fight.
So to answer your question, he can hire whomever he feels comfortable with because it will not matter much. De La Hoya already knows what he needs to do without anyone telling. It is just a matter of going out there on fight night and doing it.
De La Hoya has said to the media that he likes Floyd Mayweather Sr. as a trainer so he might as well go with Senior. Having the right trainer is more a mental edge than anything else at this advanced stage of Oscar?s career.
Preview of Super Fights
I’m from Angeles City, Philippines. Obviously I’m a Pacman fan. I always enjoy reading your columns and I found your comments, and even your p4p list quite credible. I just want to know your list of boxing’s possible exciting fights of 2008 and maybe you could include fights for the early part of 2009. I hope you could grant my request, much better if you could give some brief analysis about each fight. Thank you very much, this is my first time to send you a comment. God Bless.
-Jem
Jem,
There are some very good potential fights coming up in the next year. These are the ones I personally am looking forward to the most:
Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito. You have two offensive minded fighters who are very fun to watch. Margarito never stops punching and really forces his opponents to fight. Cotto does not throw as much but he is very accurate and quick with his punches and his fists land with brutal force, especially to the body. This will be a war and will determine the most worthy challenger for Mayweather.
If Manny Pacquiao gets past David Diaz he has some good options. Manny Pacquiao versus any number of opponents, whether than be Juan Diaz, Nate Campbell, or a third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez I would be very happy to see.
Sam Peter vs. Vitali Klitschko. I don’t know if this fight will ever happen. Even though the contract is signed for a fight in the Fall, you never know if Klitschko will be able to make it through a whole training camp without getting injured. Plus, Peter is supposedly taking an interim fight against Andrew Golota so he has to come out of that victorious. If Peter vs. V. Klitschko ever does come about it looks like a killer fight. If Vitali is anything close to the fighter he was before he retired then I like him to win.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto. Assuming that Mayweather gets past De La Hoya and Cotto gets past Margarito, this is a super fight. Where the rematch with De La Hoya only appeals to casual fans and people trying to make money, Mayweather’s fight with Cotto would satisfy the hardcore boxing fans, the fans who keep the sport afloat.
There are a of couple fights that I am looking forward to that are already signed and are right around the corner. Those are Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Daniel Ponce de Leon (June 7th) and Arthur Abraham vs. Edison Miranda (June 21st). Lopez is being hyped as the best prospect in boxing so we will see his trial by fire against the super tough Ponce de Leon aka the blue chip prospect killer. Abraham and Miranda have unfinished business after their 2006 rematch in which Miranda broke Abraham’s jaw but lost a decision. Miranda is always fun to watch and finally American audiences will get a peak at the world’s second best middleweight Arthur Abraham on June 21st.
Thanks for finally writing in, I hope you continue to write in the future.
Chances That Pacman Beats Diaz
Good day Brian! I’ll go straight to my question, what percentage would you give for Pacman to win his upcoming June 28th bout against David Diaz? On my part, I can’t give more than 51% to Manny because I have seen Diaz really serious with his early training as if he’s the challenger for this fight while Manny is still in our country busy with other things.
What can you say about this Filipino fighter Rodel Mayol? I’ve seen this guy even before he became a world challenger and he has an impressive record before having problems with his former manager. Now that Pacman and his wife Jinky is now helping Mayol’s career I think he will regain his esteem and a world title shot later would be good for him. Thanx!
-Soysiken
Soysiken,
I give Manny Pacquiao a 70% chance to defeat David Diaz. Diaz is taking this fight very seriously so I expect the very best version of Diaz, but even so, he is not a very good boxer nor is he a technically skilled fighter. Diaz is basically a big puncher with good work ethics and determination. His only chance at winning the fight is to catch Manny on the chin and hurt him. Otherwise Pacquiao’s superior speed and footwork will win the fight for him. I see this one going the distance with Manny coming out the winner by decision.
Mayol is a huge puncher but lacks the speed, boxing ability, and durability to become a super star like Manny Pacquiao. Mayol may become a world champion someday because he has a puncher’s chance anytime that he steps in the boxing ring. I wish him well in his comeback.
Where is Linares?
Hello Sir. I saw a young fighter named Jorge Linares destroy former champion Oscar Larios on a Pay Per View undercard sometime last year and he really impressed me. Linares looked like he was ready to take over the world. I thought that he was going to use that win over Larios as a spring board and blow up. I haven?t heard anything since then so where has he been?
-Elrudog
Elrudog,
You are right on both counts. Linares is one of the best young fighters around and looks to be a future pound for pound elite boxer, but, he has been missing in action since his breakthrough win over the always tough Oscar Larios. Linares went through Larios with ease, something that Manny Pacquiao could not even do. Jorge has fought only once since the Larios fight, last December when he knocked out the overmatched Gamaliel Diaz. Diaz is an awkward fighter and usually tough to fight as seen by his fights against Robert Guerrero, but he is not the caliber of fighter that a world champion should be fighting.
Linares has a fight scheduled for May 31st against an unknown and unheralded Colombian challenger named Feider Viloria. Again I don?t like the level of opposition that Linares is being matched with. The Larios fight proved that Jorge was ready yet he is taking a step backwards instead of a step forwards.
I suppose you cannot get too mad at this situation because, after all, Linares is only 22 years old. Most 22 year old boxers are still considered prospects. Jorge has a very bright future ahead of him. I can?t wait until he steps up to the plate against a real opponent again.
The Terror Continues
Hi Wannabe Wilbur,
Kimbo Slice on CBS? Yeah, I heard that too. You got your dukes up in your picture, why don?t you invite him to your backyard for a fight? Get a slice Wilbur. I think he can beat Wladimir Klitschko in a fight because Wlad is a sissy that wont even knock out a midget Sultan because he?s afraid of his own shadow. What you think about Slice vs. Wlad in the octagon and/or the boxing ring? And I talked to my mom and she says we’re long lost brothers. She sh*t us both out.
-Wilbur Dilbur Brian Shortinthepants
Mr. Shortinthepants,
Klitschko would win in a boxing match and Kimbo would win in an MMA match?probably. That will be my answers to any boxer vs. MMA fighter mythical match up question until there is some proof otherwise. Kimbo Slice looks like he can hit really hard though. I would love to see him put on some boxing gloves and try his hand in the ring instead of the octagon.
By the way, I don?t know where you took your anatomy class buddy, but babies are not ?sh*t out?. I would explain the human birthing process to you but I don?t think that you are smart enough to retain that information. Go ask mom if you really want to know.
Okay folks, that concludes my last mailbag as a bachelor. I will be out of town for the next few weeks on my honeymoon as I mentioned earlier so if you email me, please excuse my not responding as I will not have internet access. But still feel free to send in your questions and comments and I will get to them, and have a new mailbag ready, when I return. Until then, I hope you all have a great next few weeks, I know I will!
