“Who’s gonna pay him $100 million”…”I promise not to hit my opponent for the first 3 rounds”…”Lennox was way over the hill, but still ripped Vitali’s face to shreds”…all recent comments made by some of the biggest names in the sport. Looking back at this week’s key quotes of note, Boxing Scribe Vivek Wallace offers his own unique perspective, giving fight fans “a little something to think about”. Check it out!
“Take a guess at the number he asked for himself. $100 million for himself! Fuck…who’s gonna pay him $100 million? I mean, unless Manny fights for nothing!” – Bob Arum on private negotiations for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao
Perspective: As great as this sounds in theory, I think each of us need to adhere to some sound advice: “Consider the source!” Bob Arum has done some incredibly great things in his time and remains arguably the best promoter in the sport today, but let the truth be known…he hasn’t always been known to be the most honest apple in the bunch.
Remember little less than a year ago when the fight world was told that “Pacquiao agreed to all of Mayweather’s requests,” and under those grounds, Mayweather had until a certain deadline to comply or the fight was off? Then suddenly the clock struck midnight, Team Pacquiao moved on, and the same Arum later confirmed that in fact no true negotiations had ever taken place…just a few conversations. Then there was the scenario only a few days ago when Arum told the fight public that he “has no idea what Jeff Mayweather was talking about,” referring to statements made about ongoing negotiations. Now suddenly, he admits there were “private negotiations” and Mayweather priced himself out!?!?!
This is simply the latest in a long line of examples where Arum took the truth, twisted and turned it into a pretzel, occasionally adding a dash of “salt”, and served it up for all the stooges who dared come along to watch such a circus. Truth of the matter here is that we’ve only heard one side of the story. It isn’t to say there isn’t some hidden truth to it, but it is to say that listening to one side of any story is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do that adds an element of motion, but ultimately gets you NOWHERE!
At the end of the day, all this scattered talk that started with “no negotiations,” then suddenly turned into “negotiations (that) happened, but he priced himself out,” comes from one source, and it isn’t quite the most honest source. I know Mayweather is the man most love to hate, but until we hear something from the other side, I think we should all reserve judgment.
I will say this, however…..if it is true and Mayweather has in fact asked for this sum of money, I know that he made upwards of $50 million after the Pay-Per-View count against Mosley and this fight is at least two times as big, but if he truly thinks he deserves anywhere near this figure for him alone, I hope he did so knowing that he just validated all talks of a fear-factor existing on his behalf regarding Manny Pacquiao. Does he know this? Just somethin’ to think about!
“I prepared this punch and I feel it hit him pretty hard. Solis was knocked out! What happened after that where he breaks his ligament, or his knee…..it’s his problem! I’m sorry the fight was so short. The next fight, I promise not to hit my opponent for the first 3 rounds…..and then I’ll knock him out!” – Vitali Klitschko speaking to Boxingscene.com on the way his victory over Odlanier Solis ended
Perspective: Wow! So there IS a little ego behind these ‘gentle giants’, eh? For starters, isn’t it funny how some things completely turn around? Am I the only one who remembers this same Vitali Klitschko wanting people to give him credit for not being able to finish a fight when an opponent happened to “prepare a punch” that “hit him pretty hard”? I have to say that I’m a bit disappointed to know that Vitali would express himself this way, especially considering the fact he was on the same side of the stick in his Lewis encounter, wanting to compete, yet unable to due to physical damage sustained.
Few were as disappointed as I was seeing the fight end as fast as it did, but medical records validate the claim of Solis by demonstrating major physical injury. And to add to that, prior to the stoppage, Solis actually looked very good, slipping punches and landing shots that many didn’t expect him to land on the much bigger Vitali. So, based on this, I think you have to respect the medical staff involved and simply chalk it up as a legit injury; not find a reason to use the victim’s size against him!
Had the fight gone the distance, Vitali would have potentially won, but this is no more a certainty than believing Solis’ injury was caused by his weight. Both are subjective and very likely to be something other than what appears on the surface. Solis mentioned that he’d like to get a rematch. Trouble is with Chisora, Adamek, Haye, and others waiting in the wings, he’ll probably have to get back in line, but in the mind of this particular fight scribe, his credibility is no more ‘shot’ today than it was prior to the fight. You may not know the true severity of the injury, but what we do know is that he has far more talent than he was able to display, and looking at the shot, he hadn’t been hit by anything worth taking a dive for to begin with! Just somethin’ to think about!
“If there’s anyone who knows how to beat a Klitschko, it’s Lennox…He beat a prime Vitali. Lennox was way over the hill, but still ripped Vitali’s face to shreds and won the fight. Lennox also knows what Wladimir’s trainer, Manny Steward, knows because he was trained by him.” – David Haye on why he feels Lennox Lewis would help him in his quest to defeat the Klitschkos
Perspective: Sounds like David Haye has it all figured it. Not only has he employed the last man to defeat the better half of the K-Bros, but in the same motion, he also gains direct knowledge of the man who trains the other half of the dynamic duo. Can he fail after landing such an intricate piece to this colossal size puzzle? HELL YEAH! In bold caps! Truth of the matter is…….Haye can utilize the services of Lewis all he wants, but when the bell rings, Lewis, Steward, and no one else will be able to think or execute for him.
It sounds good in theory and looks good on paper, but an age old adage tells us that paper burns. At the end of the day, All Haye can do to assure himself victory is train intensely and prepare himself for any and everything he could possibly encounter in the ring. The answers of Lennox Lewis may serve him well to an extent, but anything short of getting in some intense rounds of sparring with the last man the sport witnessed to boast similar athleticism and size will do very little to solve this puzzle by the end of the night.
This is a fight that Haye has jumped and screamed for for quite some time, and the moment of truth is pretty close. They always say “be careful what you wish for…..you just may get it!” Unlike many, Haye’s wish is finally about to come true. Trouble is, he needed two! Getting his shot was one……will all the extra help he’s soliciting ultimately be enough to secure the second (a victory)? Just somethin’ to think about!
