In this edition of “Ramblings”, I take a look at last weekend’s action, tell you how GBP have failed with Jacobs, and why JM Marquez needs to forget about Khan and look to a third fight with Manny….
Well we certainly had an interesting weekend of boxing didn’t we? Ashley Theophane kicked things off on Friday by upsetting highly ranked welterweight Delvin Rodriguez via a majority decision. The ESPN commentary team laughably tried to label this a robbery. It was nothing of the sort. Many of the early rounds were close, but Rodriguez probably shaded most of them. However, Theophane came on strong towards the end, with a visibly tiring Rodriguez hanging on to the Briton for dear life. Most people I’ve spoken to agree that Theophane’s late surge earned him the decision, so any cries of robbery are ridiculous. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – JUDGING IS SUBJECTIVE PEOPLE. Deal with it!
I’ve got a great deal of respect for Theophane. Unlike so many overprotected fighters who never venture far from their own doorstep, Theophane has made it clear he is willing to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. A proper old-school fighter. If only more boxers had his attitude. He’s a credit to the sport. Hopefully, a title shot will soon beckon for Theophane. He certainly deserves a shot at a big prize more than DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, who ridiculously challenges for the interim WBA light-welterweight title when he faces Marcos Maidana later this month. Theophane defeated Corley via a unanimous decision back in 2008. Isn’t boxing politics wonderful?
The following evening we had the stacked card from Golden Boy Promotions. Now I don’t go along with all this nonsense that we should all be on our hands and knees thanking GBP for putting on a card that didn’t suck for the first time in four years, but it was nice to watch some competitive fights on a PPV undercard for a change. Highlight of the night was undoubtedly Dmitry Pirog announcing himself on the world stage by dominating and knocking out the heavily hyped Daniel Jacobs in five rounds. First of all, credit to both men for putting their unbeaten records on the line. We don’t see enough of this in the modern game.
However, without wishing to sound wise after the event, I never did quite buy into “The Golden Child” hype. I saw him live and in person last year against club fighter Michael Walker on the undercard to Hatton-Pacquiao and wasn’t too impressed. Now to be fair to Jacobs, he did take that fight at eight days notice, but that really shouldn’t have mattered against someone of the calibre of Walker (no disrespect to him). To me, Jacobs lacked the firepower and devilment of someone who was going to be a future star in our sport. Despite landing flush on Walker’s chin several times, Jacobs never looked like halting his opponent that night. And Walker has since been stopped in two rounds.
I was equally unimpressed with Jacobs against the competent, but no more than that, Ishe Smith. So for me, Jacobs losing on Saturday was no big surprise. What was a big surprise, however, was the way Jacobs seemed to mentally unravel under the pressure of Pirog. After being hurt by a right-hand in the second round, the Brooklyn native went into his shell somewhat. This was most disappointing for someone who had been labelled as the “new face of American boxing.” It was almost as if Jacobs was saying “what’s happening here? This isn’t supposed to happen. You’re not meant to be walking through my punches and landing some on me.”
Overhyped – but also a victim of GBP’s poor matchmaking policy
This is what happens when young prospects have been fed a steady diet of stiffs and no-hopers. They are not prepared for opponents who are able to take their shots and throw back at them. Despite having four more fights than Pirog, Jacobs looked the more inexperienced of the two and for that, GBP must take most of the blame. Pirog had clearly served a better apprenticeship than Jacobs and learned his trade by taking on and defeating much more solid opponents. Wins against Kofi Jantuah and Geard Ajetovic were far more meaningful than wins against Jose Luis Cruz and Juan Astorga.
One of GBP’s biggest criticisms has been their failure to nurture and groom stars of their own. And suffice to say, they have failed again with Jacobs. That’s not to say Jacobs won’t come again. Of course he will. He’s only 23 and seems to be an intelligent young man, who comes across as very likable and humble. Jacobs is a talent, let’s be clear about that. Just not an exceptional one.
And what of Pirog? Don’t worry, I’m not going to do a “HBO” and disgracefully ignore this talented Russian. It annoys me to read things such as the “unheralded Pirog” and “nobody had seen Pirog before.” Well, excuse me one little second. I, for one, had seen Pirog before and he certainly wasn’t “unheralded” to those who know that boxing exists outside North America. He was recently due to face Anglo-Irish middleweight Matthew Macklin, until Macklin had to withdraw from the bout due to injury and let me tell you, Macklin’s camp were very impressed with what they had seen of Pirog, as was I.
This guy ain’t hype – he’s for real
In one sense, he’s your typical “basic, but effective” Eastern European, but his actual fighting style is very unlike that of an Eastern European. He’s got good movement, throws lots of punches and puts constant pressure on his opponents. Against Jacobs, he looked like a serious puncher, but I’m not sure he is. The fact that he took Jacobs out with one shot probably says more about Jacobs’ punch resistance than it does Pirog’s punching power. He’s the kind of fighter who wears down his opponents, rather than blasting them out. One thing’s for sure though, Pirog is definitely one to watch. Last Saturday’s fight was a clash between hype and reality. And whenever those two meet, reality wins ten times out of ten. Pirog is reality.
Top of the bill was of course the clash between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz in a rematch of 2009’s Fight of The Year. I must say though, I wasn’t tingling with anticipation at the thought of Marquez-Diaz II. The fight simply happened a year too late and too much had happened between then and now. Diaz had looked awful in winning against Paulie Malignaggi last August and he appeared to be completely washed-up in the rematch four months later. Marquez, meanwhile, lost nearly every round to the returning Floyd Mayweather last September. Actually come to think of it, did he even win a round in that fight? Nevermind.
Point is, Marquez-Diaz II had lost a lot of its appeal and should not have been headlining a major HBO PPV. No wonder Golden Boy felt the need to stack the undercard. As for the fight itself? It was ok. Not a patch, of course, on their war last year. The fight was all about watching a man who truly is a master of his craft. Marquez dominated Diaz and by the halfway point it was clear there was only going to be one winner. Sadly, I think Marquez also showed his age in this bout.
Marquez coming to the end of an illustrious career
At times there was a heavy-legged look about Marquez. Like all those wars had finally caught up with the 37-year-old. He was in no danger of losing to Diaz, who, even at 26, fights like a man a hell of a lot older. But against someone like Amir Khan, who Marquez is rumoured to be facing next, I think it could spell disaster. Khan, at this stage, would be simply too big, too fast and too young for the Mexican great. If I were advising Khan I would definitely accept a fight with Marquez. For me, it’s a relatively safe fight for Khan and a great name to have on the record.
Marquez needs this guy like a hole in the head
However, if I were advising Marquez, I would do everything in my power to avoid Khan like the plague and try and get a third and final fight with Manny Pacquiao up at 140, before finally walking off into the sunset. Now I know what you’re all saying, “So Marquez should avoid Khan, but face Pacquiao? Get real Lee!”, but hear me out first. Styles make fights and Marquez has always appeared to be Manny’s boogeyman. That one fighter who Pacquiao just couldn’t quite master. Marquez may be older and slower, but his style remains the same.
Khan’s style is all wrong for Marquez. The lighting quick Briton is taller and will be much more difficult to hit than Manny. For as great as the Pac-Man is, he’s never been the hardest to catch cleanly. Lastly and most importantly of all, there’s no other fight that motivates Marquez more than a third match with Pacquiao. It’s hard to see Marquez, at the tail-end of his career, getting “up” for a fight with the unproven Khan. If the Mexican were to defeat Khan, would it really add that much to Marquez’s legacy? Sure it won’t look bad on Marquez’s record, but compared to a win over Manny “F’N” Pacquiao it’s inconsequential.
Now, I know I’ve said that Marquez looked old last Saturday, but as the great Cus D’Amato often said, great fighters in the twilight of their careers often have one last great fight in them. And Marquez is certainly a great fighter, with arguably one last great fight in him. And if he does have one great fight left in him, we’re sure to see it against his arch-nemesis.
I know our own Ali Shakoor is calling for Pacquiao-Marquez III and even though I wasn’t sure after last Saturday’s fight, I’m now jumping on the bandwagon. Pacquiao vs Marquez – ONE LAST TIME!!!
