Welcome to the mailbag folks. I only have a brief version of the mailbag this week because I am in the process of moving. I am sure that all of my readers have experienced the joys of moving at least once; not quite as fun as cracking open a beer and watching a star studded championship boxing match like the one we saw on Saturday, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.
It seems like I learn something new everyday and in the process of looking for my new home I learned why homes are foreclosing at an alarming rate in the United States right now. It is a complicated issue that has to do with the Federal Reserve, interest rates, predatory lenders, and overzealous home buyers who bite off more than they can chew. No one person is to blame for this housing problem but the resulting mess is that the value of houses has crashed (which is the only reason I could afford a home being a boxing writer and all) and the majority of the homes on the market are bank-owned forecloses houses.
I looked at about 30 houses before making an offer on the house that I ended up with and all but one of those were foreclosures. Apparently the thing to do when your house is being foreclosed is to take all of the appliances out. Every single foreclosed house that I looked at was gutted. No fridge, no dishwasher, no washer/dryer, no microwave, no oven, no stovetop. What do they do with these appliances? Is there someone buying up all of these used appliances? Can you actually make a profit from doing this? I can?t imagine that old, beat-up, dirty microwaves have any value on the secondhand market. If anyone has any answers to these questions, or happens to know the meaning of life, I would love to be enlightened on these matters.
But back onto the subject of boxing, I must apologize for the brief mailbag this week as I am very busy unpacking, cleaning, and settling in to the new place. I did have some good questions this week about Manny Pacquiao, Roy Jones, and David Haye, that I could not resist responding to. The first question of the week is regarding the terrific Welterweight Championship fight that took place last Saturday between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. Cotto vs. Margarito definitely lived up to the hyped.
Margarito The Toughest Hombre Alive
After the Cotto-Margarito showdown… Whew, all I can say is WOW! During the first half of the bout, I thought about what you told me in response to my 1st question in your mailbag.
You said: “styles make fights. Cotto is the harder puncher and has the hand speed and punching accuracy to counter punch Margarito’s wide punches. Cotto has the type of heavy hands that not even the super durable Margarito can stand up to for 12 rounds. I expect an all out slugfest with Cotto coming out on top.”
After the 6th round, I thought I should just sleep because Cotto would take the match via UD or late stoppage. Cotto’s boxing was really great that night, I felt nothing could go wrong until Margarito hurt him in the 7th! That’s when the match got interesting. From then on, Cotto started to slow down, and with the blood in his nose and mouth, I think he felt very discouraged already having given his best shots at someone who doesn’t even seem to flinch. It sure took a toll on Cotto’s psyche.
I can’t take anything from Cotto, I believe he gave his all, but Margarito is simply just the toughest hombre in their division. My man proved you wrong 🙂 I guess calling him super durable might be an understatement!
D’you think there’d be a rematch? I say fight Paul Williams again and prove his welterweight supremacy! That’s the next superfight for him.
-Joopabs
Joopabs,
I correctly analyzed the fight I think, except for one important factor: Margarito could stand up to Cotto?s punches! Cotto really nailed Margarito with some wicked shots just like I thought he would in the early rounds. Those were the kind of punches that I did not think that it was humanly possible to withstand yet Margarito hardly blinked!
With the win I not only place Margarito in the top 10 pound for pound (maybe top 5, I have to think about it) but I put him as the hands down #1 spot on the list of the best chins in boxing. He easily beats everyone else out for the best chin in boxing. He took multiple flush power punches from Miguel Cotto and the even harder punching Kermit Cintron and never was he hurt or stunned. That kind of chin is uncanny and gives me flashbacks of Marvin Hagler. Calling him durable is an understatement indeed.
Overall it was a great fight and an exciting come-from-behind performance by Margarito. I am strangely glad that Margarito won even though my prediction was busted and even though I very much like Miguel Cotto as a person. I say that because if Cotto would have won then all of the naysayers would have said that Margarito was overrated and Cotto just did what he was supposed to, which is complete garbage. Now Antonio finally gets the respect that nobody ever wanted to give him. Good for him. I bet it feels very sweet right now because nothing has ever come easy for Antonio Margarito.
I don?t think that a rematch with Cotto is in order, or at least an immediate rematch. Cotto should rest, recover, and plot his next move to set up an eventual rematch down the road. You hit the nail on the head when you said that the best fight out there for Margarito is a rematch with Paul Williams. Williams holds a close but definitive win over him and is widely considered to be the second best welterweight in the world now with Cotto?s loss and Mayweather?s retirement. Also, I would not object to Margarito fighting the winner of Zab Judah vs. Joshua Clottey or Shane Mosley.
Boxing?s Nostradomus Picks Jones Over Calzaghe
Well since you ignored my advice on taking the underdog Monte Barrett against the worst 47-1 fighter in the history of boxing (Tye Fields), I have decided to give you another pick to let you make up for it. First of all I regret not E-mailing you before the Toney-Rahman fight because I loved James Toney at +130, and although you nay-sayers will say he didn’t really win and he is shot and this and that…you would have got paid. But the past is the past.
I just read your reply to a question about Calzaghe-Jones in which you called Jones “a shot fighter”, much like you called Toney a week ago if I recall. So here is another guarantee for you that you will not listen to. Roy Jones will not only win, but he will dominate Calzaghe. Joe has never been in the ring with someone like Roy, even if Roy is only 2/3’s of what he once was.
Let’s be honest, the 3 biggest wins on his resume are Jeff Lacy, Bernard Hopkins, and Mikkel Kessler. Lacy we have since seen was somewhat overrated. Hopkins gave him every bit of what he could handle and if you want to talk about shot fighters Hopkins is that. Kessler held his own in there and Kessler’s undefeated record was an obvious product of the division and fighting his entire career in Denmark.
Anyhow, I will not continue on with my case because I have a feeling that you won’t agree with me until after it happens. Just remember I told you so and 3-1 is great money, especially against a European fighter coming to Madison Square Garden against one of the greatest fighters of our generation. 3 points: Calzaghe is fighting only his second fight at this weight, he has never fought someone even half as quick as Roy Jones, and he is coming across the waters to fight on a stage he is not used to. Put a cool G on this and all I ask in return is you send me an autographed photo. I don’t pick fights often, but when I do I only pick winners. 6-0 this year.
-Jon
Jon,
You truly are the Nostradomus of boxing because not only do you know who will win Jones vs. Calzaghe, you also know that I am not going to take your advice!
Although I do appreciate your concern for my bank account and I give you a ton of credit for your 100% accuracy in calling fights with me so far. Barrett over Fields was right on the money. But here is why I will not take your advice once again and not bet on Jones to beat Calzaghe.
First, I don?t agree with your assessment of Mikkel Kessler. Kessler is a very capable prizefighter and his record was not inflated because he fought bums or only fought in Denmark. Kessler fought a steady dose of worthy contenders from 2005 to 2007, until he lost to Calzaghe. That included one of his most noteworthy wins, a unanimous decision over Anthony Mundine in Australia, Mundine?s home turf. I am a big Kessler admirer and thus gave Calzaghe a ton of respect for beating him.
Second, Roy Jones in his prime was nearly unbeatable. The version of Roy that fought Antonio Tarver (especially the third time) was not the same fighter. He did little against Felix Trinidad and Anthony Hanshaw to change my mind that Jones had lost his speed and reflexes needed to be an elite fighter.
Third, Calzaghe has a great chin. Mikkel Kessler was not able to even stun Calzaghe with his many landed straight right hands or uppercuts even though Kessler has excellent power. Roy will not be able to hurt Joe. Calzaghe will be able to match Jones punch for punch, speed for speed, and his aggressive punch output will wear down the tired legs of Jones.
Before you sent out your email I was as sure about a prediction as I had been all year in picking Calzaghe over Jones. With your excellent track record in picking winners, my confidence in this pick has wavered slightly but not enough to change my pick. I am looking forward to this one more than I was based on your email alone!
Four Good Questions
Brian, please respond to these questions:
1. Shane Mosley vs. The Pacman. Is there any chance of this? 2. How about Jose Luis Castillo vs. Pacman? 3. Whose pictures are on the pins on the WBC belt? 4. What do you think Pacman must do to become recognized as the greatest boxer of this decade?
-John
John,
1. There is a slight chance of this happening. If Oscar De La Hoya fights Manny and Pacquiao comes out the winner of that encounter then Shane Mosley would be a logical next opponent for Pacquiao after that. The rumor is that Oscar wants to fight Pacquiao and the feeling is mutual with both camps so that could happen. But until Pacquiao defeats De La Hoya or a top name welterweight then Pacquiao is considered too small to fight at welterweight. Mosley would not take Pacquiao seriously as a potential opponent because is he too small.
2. Jose Luis Castillo had terrible trouble making the 135 pound weight limit of the lightweight division and has jumped all the way up to welterweight. That puts him in the same category as Shane Mosley in that Pacquiao would not be on the radar for Castillo to fight because of the weight discrepancy. The chances of Castillo fighting Pacman are even less than Mosley fighting Pacman because Castillo is on the comeback trail right now and needs to prove to the boxing world that he is back. He needs a couple good wins in his new division for him to return to his past prowess.
Two divisions apart is usually too much for serious talks to happen. The only reason that Oscar De La Hoya is considering Pacquiao as an opponent is because there is too much money involved not to take it seriously because both Pacquiao and De La Hoya have mainstream/crossover appeal.
3. There are two pins on each side of the belt (four pins total) located on the green strap. Both sides are the same, having one picture of Muhammad Ali and one picture of Joe Louis.
4. His only real competition is Floyd Mayweather and possibly Kelly Pavlik, if Pavlik continues to be as successful for many years to come. Please note that I consider guys like Bernard Hopkins, Evander Holyfield, and Roy Jones to be of a previous generation even though they are all still active. To surpass Mayweather I would say that Pacquiao has to defeat his biggest challengers at lightweight, namely Nate Campbell, Juan Diaz, and Joel Casamayor. Then, once he has cleared out the lightweight division, he should move up one more time to dethrone the best of the junior welterweight division (currently Ricky Hatton). Another route that he could take is to stay at lightweight and have longevity because it is a deep division with many quality opponents. Instead of taking out Hatton he could beat a string of guys like Joan Guzman, Edwin Valero, Amir Khan, Jose Armando Santa Cruz, etc.
David Haye The Heavyweight
Hi Brian,
Your quote from last week: “David Haye is a powerful puncher and a good fighter but I don’t see him beating Wladimir Klitschko. Haye would have a puncher’s chance and that is it. Haye is like a poor man?s version of Wladimir Klitschko circa 2002. He guns for the early knockout but has stamina questions and is susceptible running out of gas and getting KO?d himself. “
Enjoyed this week?s mailbag and in particular the Manny emails. I agree that Soto is a mad fight to take and Calzaghe will destroy Roy Jones Jr. – this is a nothing fight.
However I take umbrage with your assessment of Haye. I have watched this guy fight a few times and I have a feeling Haye can go on to achieve great things. Haye has a huge punch but to describe him as merely a big puncher (not you but anyone) is doing him a disservice. He has a lightning fast and extremely accurate jab. He has a large shot selection and his head movement is very good. His speed is superior by far to any other heavyweight operating at the moment. It remains to be seen whether this will move up to heavyweight with him but I think it will.
I think you have judged him wrong when you say he guns for the early knockout. He doesn?t do that any more. He did against Carl Thompson a few years back and was taught a lesson when his stamina gave up and he was KO’d. However he has been working on this and have improved significantly. Against Maccarinelli he saw an opponent that was open and ruthlessly went after him (especially after being cut) and blasted him out of there. No shame in going for the early KO if it?s there. He will not however do this against Klitschko.
Also his chin being weak is an unfair myth surrounding Haye. Thompson knocked him out after Haye wasted all his energy, but since that I think only Mormeck has had him down. Mormeck is a very good fighter and big hitter. But the point being missed is that Haye got up and proceeded to KO the undisputed champion in his own backyard. Surely this has to be counted as a plus!!!
I?m not saying Haye will beat Klitschko; all depends on timing for me. Haye needs two fights at heavyweight before fighting Wladimir Klitschko. Wlad?s height will be a major issue as will Haye?s speed. What I am saying is that Haye is a better fighter than people in the US seem to think. Perhaps you haven?t seen enough of him but this guy will rise to the top.
Cheers,
-Gerard McLaughlin
Gerard,
I’ve seen Haye four times: against Thompson, Mormeck, Gurov, and Maccarinelli. Mormeck was his best fight by far because Mormeck was his best opponent by far. Haye failed to impress me in Maccarinelli fight even though he won by early knockout. Enzo folded with little resistance but I got the idea that if Enzo had held up for a couple rounds that Haye would have been in serious trouble.
Haye is easily the best cruiserweight in the world (although a fight with Steve Cunningham or O?neil Bell would be interesting). However being a good cruiserweight does not make you a good heavyweight. The only person to have successfully made that transition was Evander Holyfield, and he was a freak of nature. Haye has great speed compared to most heavyweights but does not have the Chris Byrd type boxing ability to make the best use of that speed. Instead he uses his speed the same way David Tua used to, as a way to get his haymakers to their target faster.
Haye is a dynamic offensive fighter and a huge puncher. If he is more than that, as you say, he has not proved it to me yet but perhaps he will in time. As for now I think he will become a top 10 contender as a heavyweight but probably not top 5. And if he does fight Klitschko he probably should go for broke in round one because that would be his only chance!
Thanks for reading everyone and again I apologize for the brief version this week. I should be back at full strength for next week. See you all next time and keep sending in your questions.
