What if I told you that over the last week I’ve had a change of heart; had one of those “light bulb” moments and somehow found that lifetime network place you call “tolerance.” Not as powerful as forgiveness but definitely essential to growth and being able to rock the coveted perspective goggles. As an interested observer of all manner of controversy I spent the last week or so watching Congressman Anthony Weiner take a blowtorch to his credibility. In doing so I’ve delighted in the conversation and all of the different variables that make panel type shows fascinating. What the hell does this have to do with Boxing? Especially the last two weeks, you ask?
I’ll tell you what…
The same ingredients that flavor political talk shows are also inherent in Sports, why else would experts call them reality shows for men? If you follow boxing, its themes and the political chess that keeps many of us refreshing no fewer than 10 websites daily, it’s easy to see that we have the best soap opera of all. While mainstream fans complain about ONE FIGHT not getting made, our strength is the day to day workings that have made the “business” of boxing part of the show. Thanks to the internet, message boards and social networking, we no longer view boxing the same as we did ten years ago. We can now watch a fight, connect with fans during the fight, and then speculate compulsively about the future match-ups with actual candidates by way of our phones! Yes, Boxing is dying; but only to make room for a completely different amalgam of the sport that is inclusive to the fans by way of technology. The average fan nowadays talks like a manager/ promoter/ PR guy all rolled into one and this is due to how the sport is being consumed.
And this I’ve learned to accept, because maybe in some way I write this column like a PR guy in fans’ clothing -while “fronting” as a journalist. So I’ll deliver this Loaded Gloves with more reverence for the longest running reality show in sports, “The Sweet Science.”
I ain’t taking no damned “random” blood test, the only thing I like random are visits from women.
Chavez Jr. Delivers; the Question is “what”
Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. in the month that his legendary father seals his immortality delivered the ultimate gift. After years of careful “grooming” by Top Rank the legendary spawn beat Sebastian Zbik to pick up the vacated WBC strap formally owned by the real middleweight champion of the world, Sergio Martinez. Nip and tuck through the early rounds the bout turned to Chavez Jr. late when the youngster went to the family recipe; relentless body punching. It’s amazing how body punching can equalize any fight, yet few young fighters make it a point to go downstairs. Chavez is not an elite fighter but if he listens to Freddie Roach and keeps going to the basement he will thrill fans and make a lot of money.
Immediately after the fight the real show begins and Bob Arum takes center stage. Looking at that 7,000 attendance at Staples Center the old man had to be thinking “when are all those damned Latin Fury Cards gonna finally be about to pay off?” Enter Sergio Martinez, you know the guy any middleweight with a belt should be angling for. Calling out the young pup, Martinez made it clear he was ready to get it on with Chavez but Arum put a cabash to that rhetoric. Arum took a shot at Lou DiBella and accused him of “sitting on his ass” and basically made it clear that Chavez (like Pacquiao) is open for “business.” Top Rank Business. Miguel Cotto the shopworn Top Rank “go to” is a perfect match-up for Chavez for reasons political and aesthetic. He’s a belt holder (154 lbs.) who looks like garbage over 147 lbs., who comes to fight. He’s in house and he brings “buys” which should be listed as a new statistic (avg. buys) on boxrec since it is the prevailing statistic in boxing. I don’t blame Arum; I only wish the kid had some of the “FU” gene that made his father so great.
If Top Rank really wants to play Money Ball and keep the Manny Pacquiao legend train going they should consider Pacquiao vs. Chavez at Staples in 2012. Chavez is too big but he makes himself a candidate because he isn’t a talent like Martinez and he can be hit. A bogus middleweight opportunity for Manny Pacquiao, the “Mexican Killer” against the son of Mexico’s patron saint would do crazy “buys.” And I’m not talking 1.3 million, the Chavez brand is like Nike in Mexico; I’m talking 2 million buys. Call it “Return of the Son” or something corny like that.
Quick, get that Carlos Slim cat on the phone!
Johnson and Froch Keep the Super Six Super
Glenn Johnson should never have to ask a guy like Jim Gray if he wanted to see him on Showtime again. I consider the suits at Showtime people who take advantage of the short-sided approach at HBO. After Johnson and Froch left it in the ring, there’s no question the loser will be seen again. Carl Froch amazingly at the elite level is continuing to show more wrinkles and dimensions. He’s Boxing’s Dirk Nowitzki; amazing at one thing (right hand punching) for years but now adding a deceptive boxing craft. Honestly, I had Johnson pegged for an upset because I didn’t believe Froch would know what to do with a bigger guy who kept coming. Not only could he deal with the pressure, but he made sure Johnson never finished an argument when the two men traded blows. He also reduced Johnson to following him around the ring while showing him angles. Froch is an underrated slick fighter and it makes sense that he and Ward are the finalists. They both have shown the most growth and versatility; this is the kind of fight you tell your non-boxing fan friends about.
Froch commenced the trash-talking against Ward who just happened to be in the house besting Antonio Tarver on the mic. When Ward made his pitch I noticed the kid was intense, I also noticed he’s bigger than Froch. Froch may dangle that lead hand at his waist against an old man but Ward is just as athletic as Andre Dirrell who made the Brit look ordinary. In Baseball old timers talk about a “5 tool player” and few names like Mickey Mantle meet the criteria. Ward is a 5 tool fighter; he can box, punch, cut the ring off, fight on the inside, and counter punch. For good measure the Olympian, a product of an “old school” trainer (Virgil Hunter) and an old school east Oakland gym can get a little “Fritzie Zivic” if Froch tries to punk him. Froch also expressed a desire to take on Bernard Hopkins which to me is a crazy statement to make when you’re about to face a guy who is a “pound for pound” entrant.
Floyd Mayweather is ready to move
Earlier this week Floyd Mayweather took it Chad Johnsonville by announcing his September 17th bout vs. Victor Ortiz. While critics confuse “who he is” with the “what he did” will never be satisfied take a step back and consider what just happened. Manny Pacquiao just signed to fight Juan Manuel Marquez at a weight Mayweather already proved was not advantageous for the Mexican icon. This after revealing an old man that needed to retire a year after Floyd did the job. When watching the game of cat and mouse between these two, not once did I believe EITHER of them would fight a young, hungry champion. Scream child abuse all you want but Floyd was blasted by a right hand from a senior citizen nearly two years ago. Since 2007 he’s been fighting at an “old rich guy’s pace” and trust me it is a false reality. If you don’t believe me try switching from the old guy hoop game where everyone is in their 30’s and go to a park full of young bucks. When you finish icing down your hamstrings you’ll have to give Floyd Mayweather credit for taking on a very game Ortiz who is hungrier than Manny’s last 3 opponents combined.
Bob Arum will tell you he’s not ready but consider the source, he’s milking a kid in Chavez Jr., who may never be ready. Boxing history is filled with circumstances where a young hungry kid roughs up a legend that wasn’t ready for the intensity. Remember that Filipino kid who was a replacement for a guy that was supposed to be fighting Marco Antonio Barrera? Bob Arum will also crow about the 5 million and upside he’s paying JMM to get slaughtered by Pacquiao. Allow me to explain something, old dudes NEED a lot of $; all of them stick around for that one last payday because they have one foot out the door. Hell, Floyd needed an opponent that would let him have all the money to clear up the IRS rap hanging over his head. $2.5 million is enough for a 25 year old kid and it’s just enough to keep him hungry. What Ortiz is making will remind him that he isn’t “there” yet, it will also give him a taste of the good life. I prefer Ortiz’s motivation to JMM’s revenge, if he beats Mayweather he’s a star and future earnings can set him up for life. The old master is looking at this as a tune up for Pacquiao and a way to pay some bills. You be the judge. One thing is for sure, all is well when the resident genius is practicing his craft instead of living by the doctrine “he who does not fight, does not lose.”
Immortal and Infamous, Mike Tyson
Watching Mike Tyson the last couple of days in Canastota, grey hairs sprouting all over his jaw line, made me feel just a little bit older. If you are a cold blooded historian bound by the limitations of having to reduce flesh and blood to paper, you don’t “feel” anything about this turning of the page. If you are a child of the 80’s, a black teenager watching your likeness begin a maiden voyage into mainstream consumption you “felt” Mike Tyson. The cartoonish early knockouts, the combination of speed, power and balance usually reserved for the diminutive jumped off of our screens. He was the first post-Ali Heavyweight Champion of consequence and last champion teenagers actually cared about. Mike Tyson was and still is the Heavyweight champion of the Hip Hop Generation, the first fighter that inspired rappers in lyric.
Ask Chuck D and LL Cool J
He may not have been everything he could have been, and he may not have shown the character inside or outside the ring of former greats, but he mattered more than all but Ali. His limitations were right there for condemnation and his gifts were prolific. Now seeing him humbled, void of the rambling rage that made him caricature and simply wanting to reflect on this great honor made me feel a little bit older. Congratulations Mike Tyson, you are now in the pantheon for future generations to behold.
