Delusional people, you must seek professional help. Maybe it?s the fast approaching dog days of summer, with heat, humidity and stupidity running high, but I?ve noticed that there just too many delusional people in boxing.
Come on folks, time for a checkup from the neck up. Among those who should see a shrink before they all go to their summer cottages in Wellfleet on Old Cape Cod, are:
David Hayemaker Haye, non-stop bullspitter who is talking like he?s a bad ass reincarnation of Charles ?Sonny? Liston. Son, you bark and bark but you ain?t scaring no one.
Those who think any feeble attempt was made to pitch the all-Latino Cotto-Margarito PPV brawl to whites, blacks and Asians. Jermain Taylor, said to have been dining at Blimpie?s an resembling such an inflatable aircraft, if he thinks a win over shaky Jeff Lacy really restores his luster. Did you notice that Teddy Atlas called Lacy-Epifanio Mendoza a draw?
Anyone who thinks the New York commission suffers as veteran judge Melvina Lathem replaces Ron Scott Stevens. This rarely happens as politicians hand out boxing commission gigs like lollipops to pals but, in this case, competence will succeed competence. I wonder if Ms. Lathem can retain Stevens in another capacity.
?Four wall? is a pejorative word in boxing. That?s what you do when you can?t obtain a fight venue which will pay a fee. With each passing day that the Sept. 13 Guzman-Campbell bout is homeless, Don King is looking at a four wall deal somewhere. Campbell co-promoter Terry Trekas told me Wedneday it is now ?unlikely? the bout could properly be promoted and staged in Jacksonville.
Those who think there?s no place for adult sports convo on the radio airwaves. Old pal Greg Marotta is off to the races with his 3-5 pm daily sports chat show on WVNJ in North Jersey. Recent guests include Dominic Chianese, Uncle June from ?The Sopranos,? and Manhattan?s hostess with the mostess, Elaine Kauffman of Elaine?s celebrity-filled boite.
Faux feud. Does anyone really believe Oscar De La Hoya is offended by Freddie Roach?s remarks about his diminishing skills? Come on, Coach Roach just changed his tune so he, Megamanny and Oscar can ka-ching, ka-ching with a Dec. 6 Circus Special between Big Man Oscar and Tiny Tot Manny. It?s called hype, boys, hype. It says here that this fistic circus is on! Do not, I repeat not, stand in the way of this awesome streamroller.
If James Toney went to Germany and went soft like Eddie Chambers and Tony Thompson did, he would?ve been buried by the media. But Toney shows up for more than the paycheck which is why he?s being ducked and dodged.
Sleeper bout upcoming as Joshua Clottey fights fading Zab Judah. For Zab, it is a must win and he has better skills. But I lean toward Clottey if he fights with real desperation. I don?t want to say Clottey came from an impoverished background in Ghana but some say he was born 30 miles from food and water. Top Rank matchmaker Bruce ?Southland? Trampler is no gasbag but his ?Tye Fields will beat both Klitschkos? quote on Boxingconfidential is still getting laughs.
