Brad,
I have always been a huge Hector Camacho Sr fan. What is the latest on his issues outside of the ring?
Hector Garcia Spanish Harlem (Home to “Macho Man”)
Hector,
Hector, SR was one my personal favorites back in the day and feel that when they make the comparison that his son is the same fighter, I balk at it. In “Macho Man’s” younger days, he was a superstar with blazing hand speed and plenty of charisma. I feel he changed as a fighter after his war with Edwin Rosario back in 1986 fighting much more cautious since he was cut and beaten up pretty good. Hector unfortunately is making folks forget how great he once was because as so many other great fighters, he is fighting on way too long.
Ok I rambled on, but let’s get to your question. The last I heard and it was reported in the newswire he was picked up for a theft in a computer store, but since that time, I have heard nothing on him at all. As the law says, he is innocent until proven guilty, but as a fan of his young career, I hope he retires and with all that moxy he has, gets into training.
“Bad” Brad,
In your Ringside Report Top 17, you have Jorge Arce listed as the top Junior Flyweight. Just how good is he?
Bill
Bill,
Jorge Arce is the mini Mike Tyson at flyweight. I gave him that nickname after I covered his win over in Seoul, Korea when he faced then WBC Junior Flyweight Champion, Yosam Choi. Not only did he beat the heck out of Choi stopping him in the sixth round, but also he cleared the stadium of Korean’s who were distraught because that was there last champion at that time in boxing.
Arce’s recent war with Hussein Hussein showed the kids heart and punching power. He was cut in the fight, but came on strong to stop his opponent. Fighting now as a Flyweight, he will in my book beat any of the champions at 112 who currently hold titles.
George,
Recently you did a tribute piece on former champion, Bazooka Limon. If Bazooka were around today in the Junior Lightweight division, how do you think he would fair?
Ronnie
Ronnie, if you gave me the Bazooka Limon of 1982 today, I believe he’d be a world champion along with Erik Morales. Morales would have been custom made for Bazooka Limon to fight up front and close. Morales Vs Limon would be a toss up in my book.
The only fighters I think Limon would’ve had some problems with consistency would’ve been fighting Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, or maybe you could stick Prince Naseem Hamed somewhere in there in his heyday there also.
But overall Limon would have beaten quite a few at 130 today.
George,
Who do you think wins between Antonio Margarito and Kermit Cintron? Do you think the media is correct in hyping this fight at the 2000’s version of Hearns vs. Hagler?
Leslie
No, I don’t Leslie. Hagler-Hearns was a continuance of assaults matched back and forth that hasn’t been duplicated for the lesser then the nine minutes that anomaly lasted in 1985. On Margarito Vs Cintron, you’d have to consider the 9-month layoff Kermit underwent with the corrective hand surgery and all; so, I by no means think that he’s going to have a cake walk fighting Antonio Margarito.
Just about anything can happen with two of the games giant welterweight punchers collide together for an ecliptic course; and I believe the comparisons for punching power here is no hype. I think after seven rounds Margarito may find a doubly determined puncher dishing out the hardware. I’ll go with a technical stoppage for Cintron in the 11th, but wouldn’t be disappointed if it also could conceivably go the distance. (Note: Margarito stopped Cintron in the 5th round)
George,
Is there are a heavyweight out there today that can save this horrible division?
Thomas
No, Thomas, not in the near foreseeable future in my opinion. We’ve seen that before like watching late night I Love Lucy reruns enough to know the rush we all get wanting so badly for a heavyweight to really succeed. On the other side of the coin you have to say that Chris Byrd is the best Heavyweight out there right now until somebody beats him for his IBF belt. Samuel Peter would be my number two pick, but he needs time to grow in the division.
About the only other heavyweight that stirs any interest aside from those aforementioned is Mike Tyson.
George,
I hope this question makes it in your email bag. Do you see John Ruiz stuffing that loud mouth’s nuts (Toney) down his throat in their upcoming fight?
Silvo (The Number one guy wanting to see James Toney get starched)
Well, Silvo if you’re referring as to how Toney can appear obnoxious certain times, just remember that though that may be so, he still can fight. Two nuts in a crowd is surely enough; though yet you can’t exactly say that Ruiz is squeaky-clean judging by the unusual prankster he’s got going in his own corner (his trainer Norman “Stoney” Stone).
I wouldn’t be hasty to judge either way so harshly April 30th on what could be worst.
I am just hoping for a good outcome to a fight after MSG put up this bill with HBO fronting mad money.
George,
I am PI reader and enjoy the coverage of Manny Pacquiao on Ringside Report. If you were to take Manny and put him back in the 70’s fighting in the featherweight division, how do you see him fairing against your pick of the top three fighters in that era?
Steve
Steve,
Manny would’ve fair well with just about anybody back then including against Corny Boza-Edwards, Bobby Chacon, and Chuchu Castillo too. Asking for the three top fighters of any era is like having favorites. But since you asked Steve, I’d pick these three classic pugilists coming to mind like: Danny “Little Red” Lopez, Ruben Olivares, and Ernesto “El Nato” Marcel.
Marcel was the WBA Featherweight Champion who handed Alexis Arguello his 15 round loss, but I wouldn’t base it on that alone, but also by evaluating it from him defeating Sammy Serrano, and making Samuel’s mind up for him that he’d fair much better as a junior light then a featherweight, which he ultimately did do.
If you had Marcel against Pacquiao in their primes, the Pac Man more than likely would’ve had more trouble with Nato sustaining an alarming pace, setting his feet squarely and freely there drawing the graph of smothering Pacquiao inside the trenches at every expense.
Ernesto Marcel was a diabolical debilitating body and head hunter who enjoyed the in-fighting that most fighters today just make like they go through the motions to; with the lost art behind true significance of making an opponent lower his guard to be dropping his head. Out of the three, this one would’ve been the best match up, and in my opinion, very tenacious for Pacquiao to be threading on thin ice with.
Olivares was a murderous puncher with the same indomitable will to defeat Pacquiao. Lopez might’ve appeared slower moving up against Manny, because he just looked that way coming forward, but you could never underestimate his speed for deliveries of his punches, which were indeed quite fast and accurate.
Hope this opens some thoughts.
Note: When you send in your question, specify who you would like to answer it or they will be split up between George and I. Questions will be taken throughout the week and the cut off is Saturday evening. If you don’t make the cutoff, look for your question to be answered the following week. Send all questions to: [email protected]
