There is a lot to appreciate about Showtime analyst Al Bernstein. A longtime follower of the sport, Bernstein worked for ESPN for years before joining the Showtime team in 2003 and he can be found on a monthly basis calling action for their Championship Boxing Series. He has an unbiased way about him and is typically on point when assessing all things in the sport.
I reached out to Bernstein to get his thoughts on the hopeful Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather clash that has been plaguing the sport. Before assessing the fight and its surrounding details itself Bernstein was quick to point to Mayweather’s May 1st victory over ?Sugar? Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
?He was superb,? Bernstein stated. ?I thought he did a very good job. I think it was a combination of obviously what he did well and that Mosley obviously got tired in the middle rounds. I don?t think he fought a very smart fight. He didn?t throw any left hooks until the last round. He didn?t throw those against Mayweather. I think Mayweather was superb.?
Mayweather was in complete control throughout the contest except in the dreaded second round where he found himself in extreme trouble after absorbing a flush right hand from Mosley. Mayweather was dazed from the punch but fought his way through it, winning the remaining rounds with ease. When asked if that stanza alone impressed Bernstein he admitted as much.
?Yes,? he said. ?In round three he came right back and took control of the fight. I think that does say a lot about Mayweather and he is a terrific fighter. He really is.?
Following the Mosley routing the boxing world is again dying to see Floyd square of with Pacquiao, who is coming off of a May 10th electoral victory in the Philippines. It is a fight with many intangibles to it and Bernstein seems to think it all comes down to how Pacquiao handles the early storm.
?I think the Manny Pacquiao fight comes down to exactly two things,? he said. ?If Pacquiao fights him Mayweather is likely going to hit him with a big right hand in the first five rounds. If Manny Pacquiao doesn?t go down or get badly hurt Manny Pacquiao is either going to beat Floyd Mayweather or he is going to make it such an exciting, hellacious fight that we are going to all be happy.?
There were negotiations taking place earlier this year for the two men in regards to a proposed March 13th date but everything fell apart over May weather?s proposed Olympic style drug testing scenario. Pacquiao has since seemed to lighten on his stance and Bernstein seems to feel that things shouldn?t have unraveled in the first place.
?I think it was just a ploy on the part of Floyd and his people that got out of hand. I think once they took that position they couldn?t back off from it. But I think whether the fight now is (entrenched) but it?s the biggest fight in boxing in the history of money.?
Emmanuel Steward ?shocked? by Miguel Cotto
In a recent BoxingScene interview trainer Emmanuel Steward went in depth about the progression of his latest charge Miguel Cotto. Despite the former champion suffering a tremendous amount of punishment in recent years, including stoppage losses to Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao, Steward was amazed at how well Cotto is looking in preparation for his June 5th clash with WBA Jr. Middleweight champion Yuri Foreman.
?When I worked him, in two weeks I could not believe what I saw,? Steward told Robert Morales.”He looked fantastic. What I have seen, I will be honest with you, I was shocked. After a few weeks he was boxing 10, 12 rounds without any problems.?
It is slightly surprising to hear that consider that Cotto is looked at as damaged goods by many. Defense has never been the Caguas fighters? staple and Steward concedes that he had his share of uncertainties before working with the multi-division champion.
?I asked the same questions when I got involved,? Steward said. ?He has taken some terrible beatings in five or six fights going back to the Ricardo Torres fight. Then you look at Margarito, Pacquiao, Clottey, Zab Judah, Mosley; in all those fights he suffered a lot of damage. So I was concerned.?
Still, at the end of the day talk is cheap and what matters most is what transpires inside of the squared circle on the 5th. Steward knows as much but can?t yield on his optimism heading in.
?We can talk all we want but we will have to find out in the real fight. But I feel extremely confident he will come up with a great performance.?
For years Miguel Cotto has been one of the sport?s most colorful figures. Click on the collage below for more images of Miguel?
