Jose,
I tend to visit the boxing websites almost everytime just to update the possibility in having the Pac-Morales rubber match but it seems the argument was getting more complicated when Morales wants it to happen at 132 lbs. despite of the fact that both fighters collide at 130 lbs. on the first two bouts. Yeah, I can be bias from my speculation regarding the issue for I’m a Filipino and an avid fan of Pac. Look, on Pac-Morales I & II Manny didn’t even reach the 130 lbs. scale. The last time they’ve met the latter was on @ 128.5 lbs. My question is, when the Pacman refuse to meet Morales on their rubbermatch @ 132 lbs. Will he be liable in breaching the contract on trilogy with Bob Arum? Or the Morales team is just finding a way to elude on the third fight contesting for a higher weight wherein they know Pac would resist.
Dennis E. Nengasca
Dennis,
No, Pacman will not be liable because I am sure the contract for the rematch was not set for the 132lb weight class. I am not sure if Morales is trying to elude a third fight, but I do know that Morales is trying to make sure he has every advantage he can get on his side.
Jose
Did Ken Norton fight Larry Holmes back in 1978? Who won?
Barbara Howard
Barbara,
Yes, Norton and Holmes fought each other on June 9th, 1978. Larry Holmes beat Norton by split decision over 15 rounds. It was a great fight with a lot of back and forth action and in the 15th round, they gave it everything they had which people still talk about to this day.
Jose,
I don’t think pacman can be dominant at lightweight. What do you think?
Pacquialamero
Pacquialamero,
I think you are correct. Pacman will be good, but not dominant at lightweight.
Jose,
Why is it that Manny is not the no.1 contender of the WBC 130lbs division despite the 10th round stoppage against Morales last month?
Jer
Jer,
I wish I knew why the sanctioning bodies do the things they do.
Jose,
I am thrilled to be asking you a question and first saw you fight Willy Wise who I thought you beat but got robbed on the decision. Now that you moved up to junior middleweight, it seems that the welterweight division finally heated up. What do you think? Do you think Judah has a chance against Mayweather? How do you see it going?
Thanks
Darcel Thompson
Darcel,
Yes, it looks like the welterweight division is heating up and I am sorry I can’t be a part of it any longer. I will give Judah a punchers chance, but it doesn’t look good. I think Mayweather is too fast and slick for Judah, but Judah can surprise us and decide to take the sport of boxing seriously. If he trains like he did to beat Cory Spinks in their rematch, he has an even better chance.
Jose,
I love dream matches and would like to know your picks and thoughts on these fights:
Norton vs Bowe
Gatti vs Mamby
Jose Antonio Rivera vs Sugar Ray Leonard at junior middle
Thanks for taking the time for my questions and I hope it makes your bag.
Ricardo Sanchez
Ricardo,
You’re a true boxing fan. These are tough ones, but I will share with you my opinion. I will have to take Norton over Bowe. Norton was stronger and Bowe would have been a stationary target. Did you see what Golota did to Bowe twice before being disqualified? Norton by TKO. I have to go with the man they call “Thunder” over Mamby. Saoul Mamby was a good champion in his day, but he was also very inconsistent. Unlike Gatti who pours his heart and soul into every fight. Gatti by decision.
It would be a dream match for me to be able to fight a legend like Sugar Ray Leonard, but unfortunately the outcome would not be in my favor. You see the fighters who give me the most trouble are boxers and let me tell you Leonard was a master boxer. I would have fought my heart in this fight, but in the end, Leonard by decision.
Jose,
I like to get your insight on the upcoming fight in March between Jeff Lacy vs Joe Calzaghe. Thanks.
Mike Dlsasso
Well, Mike I have to say that this is definitely going to be Lacy’s biggest and toughest fight and I am proud of him for stepping up to the plate to make this fight happen. With that said, I am also proud of Calzaghe for doing the same. Calzaghe has had a great run as the WBO Champion. beating the likes of Robin Reid by a 12 round split decision, my fellow writer and co-host of Ask the Champs, Charles Brewer in a 12 round unanimous decision even though the fight was close. He also stopped Omar Shieka in the 5th round. Lacy and Calzaghe share common opponents in Reid and Sheika. Lacy stopped Reid in 8 rounds and Sheika took him the distance. So you see this is going to be a hard one to predict, but I am going to go with Lacy by TKO. The reason I am picking Lacy is because Calzaghe has been hurt before with fighters who are good, but not as strong and powerful as Lacy. Calzaghe is going to try to prove to his countrymen that he can hurt Lacy and I just cannot see him beating Lacy in an inside war. If Calzaghe is to have a chance he is going to have to use his slim height advantage to keep Lacy at the end of his punches.
Hi Jose,
As a past Welterweight champ who do you think is the best at this weight. Obviously Mayweather is the most high profile, but Magarito has been overlooked and with Hatton due to step up it could become very interesting. While I don’t think Judah will, if he defeats Mayweather then this will really shake the division up. And of course we cant forget Baldomir – the man who beat ‘THE’ Man at welterweight. Personally I think Mayweather is the best at the minute but I fancy Hatton could rule this division.
Gerard
Gerard I say the most powerful at Welterweight is Margarito, but Mayweather is tops over all of them. Hatton is not likely to dominate the welterweights like he has been doing to the Jr. Welterweights. I think the sleeper in the division is the WBA champ Luis Collazo, but I maintain that Mayweather is the best from 130-147lbs.
Charles,
Is Barrera afraid of Pacquiao? If not then why is the rematch taking too long? Does Barrera really thinks he can beat Pac? Or Barrera’s motto is: “Any fighter except for Pacquiao. I can go to the Heavyweight division if I need to just don’t have me fight with Pacquiao. His brother I will fight.” Barrera is putting a big doubt on his legacy and status as a legend wannabe.
Ryan
Ryan,
Personally, I don’t think it’s a matter of fear. I believe it’s all about timing. As of late, Manny has been able to earn very good wages by staging wars against Erik Morales. I think Barrera knew that he would have to play the waiting game. I do however, want to see those two get it on again. They both have crowd pleasing styles. No, I don’t think Barrera is placing a doubt in his legacy. Even if the two never meet, Barrera’s legacy won’t be affected.
Charles,
I read an interview you did with Bobby Watts last year. If he was fighting today, do you think he could be a champ? Do you think if a trainer never actually boxed, he can still be a good trainer?
John N. Stevens
John,
Good question. I actually have had this discussion many times during my career. My trainer was a former fighter and my manager wasn’t. The two, almost always, had a difference in opinion, but with the input I received from them both, it helped me to the top and kept me there for awhile. Yes, I do believe that a non-fighter can be a good trainer. The most important thing to recognize in you as a trainer, is to always continue to learn and not to be afraid to think out of-the-box along with, always looking out for the safety of your fighter.
Charles,
I know you fought Sven Ottke twice but do you think he would do anything against Jeff Lacy?
Tyrell D.
Tyrell,
Let’s put it like this… If Lacy had fought him in Germany, which he would have to, he loses, unless of course, there’s a knockout. There’s no way Ottke comes to America.
Hey Hatchet Man I am digging I can ask you a question. How come you never got another shot at Echols? That was some fight. I always thought you could have beat him in a rematch.
Rich
Rich,
Thanks! Echols wanted no more of me after our first fight. I would have loved a rematch.
Charles,
What do you think will be the outcome if Manny Pacquiao fights Oscar Larios?
Jan Mendoza
Jan,
I really don’t know much about Larios and I’m not a Manny fan. I like the fact that he comes to fight, brings an exciting style, but I think a skillful boxer-puncher would give him trouble. The trump card of course, is the power he has. Mayweather vs Pacman at let’s say, 125 lbs, if Floyd was competing at that weight, the outcome would see Mayweather winning hands down. I need to learn more about Larios before I can give an informed answer. ??
Vargas vs mosley predictions
In my opinion, Mosley and fernando have had their share of wars. In .the two bouts with Vernon Forrest, Forrest seemed to have taken what motivation and reputation that mosely had, out of him.not to mention, the bout with winky, upon which he was dominated over 12 rounds. by the bigger and stronger Wright. for Fernando, the bouts with oscar weren’t sleepers either. vargas on the other hand, has had his share of injuries which sidelined him for over a year. whether that will work as a detriment or a compliment, will remain to be seen. entertaining, yes it will be. my pick, Vargas 12 rd majority decision.
