First off, it’s great to be back on RSR with my own email bag and hearing from the readers all around the world. It’s humbling receiving your kind words and congratulations you have sent in for me winning the WBA Junior Middleweight Belt last week. I can honestly say, in this the biggest fight of my career, to date, was just that much better because I had my loving family and hometown folks by my side, which was a blessing from God.
In the weeks to come, I look forward to hearing from RSR readers around the world with whatever is on your mind and would like me to take a stab at answering for you. No, question will go unanswered and I will take that line from my fellow colleague and Lead Writer, Geno McGahee.
Finally, I would like to extend my condolences to the family of former Heavyweight Champion Floyd Patterson, who we lost Thursday, at the age of 71. It was fighters like him who moved the sport of boxing forward in rings around the world and my generation of fighters; owe a debt of gratitude to. RIP MR Patterson.
THANKS FOR THE PROPS ON MY FIGHT AGAINST ALEX GARCIA
Jose,
Congratulations on a great win. The word was Garcia had a lot of power, but he didn’t get much of a chance to use it, thankfully. This was the first time I saw you fight. 5 times you had Garcia on the canvas, that’s impressive! How did you prepare for Garcia, knowing he had power? Seems you turned the tables on him. Who would you like to fight over the next 2-3 years? Another fan in CT.
Judy
Judy,
First of all, thank you. I trained for three months knowing what I was in for. For the fight with Garcia, I trained harder than I have ever trained in my life knowing that this would be the fight of my life thus far in my boxing career. I worked with a personal trainer from Croatia who tortured me so I would be able to withstand whatever Garcia brought to the table. It would be great to face either Oscar De La Hoya, or the winner of the Vargas Vs Mosley fight.
Jose,
What is next for you champ?
LaDivaBoricua
LaDivaBoricua,
Of course the big money fight I would love to have next would be against the “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya, but first I have to sit down with my Promoter Don King so we can figure out my next fight.
Jose,
As a PI reader and a lover of Manny Pacquiao, we also must say, you are very exciting fighter to. Did you think that you would knock Garcia down five times? What kept him from staying down?
Thanks and God Bless
Pacman Fan #1
Pacman Fan #1,
Thank you. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how the fight was going to turn out. The only thing I knew for sure is that I was going to win. What kept him from staying down was the fact that Garcia refused to give up his world championship. I give him credit for showing lots of heart and that is a sign in my book, of a true champion.
Jose,
What are the chances of Oscar not getting Floyd Mayweather jr and fighting you to unify? I think there is lots of $$$$ for you if that fight comes to be. Did you see the Perez fight? I thought he was lost to the Russian kid. What do you think?
Tony Gerbasi
Tony,
I agree with you 100% that Oscar and I should fight to unify the titles. It definitely would be a big payday for me. I was in the dressing room when Dimitri fought Perez, so I didn’t get to see that fight. However, I plan to see it because I have heard so much about the controversial outcome.
Jose,
Great win against Garcia and on the same night Oscar shut that box mouth Mayorga down. My question is had you fought him back in 04, do you think you would have stopped him and beat him like De La Hoya did? Now that big mouth Mayorga has been stopped twice, do you think he is shot?
Tavis Jackson
Tavis,
Thank you. I am not sure if I would have stopped Mayorga had we fought in April of 04, but I felt that I would have beaten him that night at MSG. I do not think that Mayorga is shot; just that he lacks motivation and discipline. He had the “Fire in the Belly” when he faced Vernon Forrest, but since then, I have not seen it in the fights I have watched of his. This is a must!
OLD SCHOOL
Jose,
Great win champ. I am an old school guy and wanted to know your thoughts on these fights.
Salvador Sanchez vs Alexis Arguello Roberto Duran (at welter) vs Luis Collazo and Ricky Hatton
Thanks Champ
Hector Gonzalez Bronx, NY
Hector,
Thank you. You picked some really good ones to comment on. I think Salvador would have stopped Alexis in the later rounds where he always seem to be so much stronger than most of his opponents. As many in the boxing world have said on numerous occasions, we lost a true warrior at such a young in Sanchez and had he lived, the fights he would be involved in such as his match with Wilfredo Gomez, would have been incredible.
In Duran, we have a hall of famer without any doubt. He may just be the greatest lightweight of all-time. At welterweight, he was still very good, but not as dominant as he was at the lower weight except when he fought Sugar Ray Leonard the first time. However, I feel that Duran would have been too much for both Collazo and Hatton, and in those matches, they both are stopped. Manos de piedra. Do I need to say anymore?
COULD THERE BE AN UPSET?
Champ,
Who do think is going to win in the Collazo and Hatton fight? Can you give me a breakdown? I think Collazo is going to upset but still hard to bet against Hatton off of his two latest wins.
Jay
Jay,
I think you have a good feeling and also feel that Collazo is going to upset Hatton. Sure it’s hard to bet against Hatton off of his two latest wins, but I think that Collazo is a smart boxer. Collazo will use his angles and movement to confuse Hatton. In the meantime, Collazo will also be peppering him with his jab and combinations for 12 rounds. With those things going for Luis, I feel in the end, he wins by decision.
FITNESS IS A MUST!
Jose,
Five times! Sh*$ what kept Garcia wanting more of that beat down? I saw you give big props to your Fitness Trainer. What kinds of stuff did he do with you? I want to look like you did and kick my neighbor’s a@# that plays that loud music at the wee hours of the morning but need to get in shape because he is pretty big.
Bruce Finkel
Bruce,
Thank you. What kept Garcia from wanting more of a beat down was that he refused to lose. My fitness trainer is from Croatia and they do some crazy stuff over there. I do not want to get into details of the kinds of things he has me doing because I want to be one step ahead of my opponents. I am sure that you can respect that. But I would suggest you look into a fitness trainer in your area that will no doubt, get you in good fighting shape for that noisy neighbor. Good luck with your neighbor and remember always to keep your chin down and gloves up.
The PAC SACK
(I will use this title for our loyal PI Readers that my RSR colleague Geno uses.)
Jose,
Is our beloved Manny Pacquiao going to beat Oscar Larios? What fight plan must he use?
Pacster
Pacster,
Yes, I think Manny will beat Larios and all he has to do is do what he does best and that is, be first, aggressive and let his punches go. If he does all that and I am feel he will, look for a KO win.
Jose,
PI sends there best wishes to you on that great win. Do you have any tips for our idol Pacman to use against Larrios?
Jinky
Jinky,
Thank you. I am quite sure Pacman doesn’t need any tips from me and no doubt in my mind, he will beat Oscar Larrios.
Jose,
Pacman rules! You are Superman like our man Geno said but Manny is for sure Batman. After he blows out Larios, who do you think he fights next?
Andy
Andy,
Thank you. I am not sure whom Manny will fight next, but I would love to finally see the rematch with him against Marco Antonio Barerra. I think this time around, the fight will be much more competitive. I am sure that the PI folks would love this fight as well so let’s keep our fingers crossed.
