Boxing Scribe Vivek Wallace brings his Left-Hook Lounge mailbag to FightHype.com, answering questions for fans and giving his own unique perspective on all the latest current events in boxing. This week, check out his response to fans as they discuss a potential rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, the likelihood of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao taking place at a later date in May, who would win a fantasy match between Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis, and much more.
Felix H. (Chicago, IL): Manny Pacquiao is said to be considering Miguel Cotto, but only at 147lbs. Considering Cotto has gone up to 154 and Pacquiao has fought at 150, what are your thoughts about him requiring Cotto to come down again from his natural position?
Vivek W.: This is one of those scenario’s in which Pacquiao simply can’t win. Before, he required Cotto as the Champion to come down in weight, which was wrong. But now, he would be asking for a catchweight in a scenario that I don’t support, yet I do feel it holds more merit than his last request, because this is a division in which Pacquiao is far from a natural, yet Cotto dwells in freely. It’s really an odd scenario. I can see Pacquiao’s plight in not wanting to take the fight at the jr. welterweight limit, but considering that he has fought and won at 150 pounds, one could argue that he should take the fight at that weight.
That being said, if he won again, there would still be a large contingent out there who would say he required Cotto to come down in weight to 150 pounds rather than the limit of 154. The flip side of that argument is that Cotto attempted very hard to get Margarito to fight at 150 pounds rather than 154, which means he should be able to do it for Pacquiao too. See how easy it is to confuse things?
Again, there are solid arguments from both angles. Despite the fact that Pacquiao would probably win the fight at either weight, he won’t win the respect of the fans because this is a fight that comes with debatable questions from every angle. This is why I don’t support catchweight fights. You either have what it takes or you don’t. Period.
Damian G. (Houston, TX): The drama with Pacquiao and Mayweather is really old. I think the average fight fan is sick of it. But do you really think there’s a shot that Mayweather would take the fight in late May considering the legalities involved? Or do you think the fight is dead again?
Vivek W.: Not quite sure I understand your term “legalities involved”, but if you’re referring to the fact that Mayweather was excused through the courts based on a May 5th date, and now he is considering another date, yes, there could be a matter of non-compliance involved. That being said, whatever the due process is for him to be granted the right to take a fight at a later date, I’m sure the courts would comply, considering the opponent. If the sides can collectively agree to something firm and present collective agreements signed by both parties, there’s no way the court system in Las Vegas steps in and blows the whistle. The fight would definitely go on.
Now, all that talk is absolutely hypothetical, and none of us know precisely what dialogue is taking place behind the scenes, but if underground rumors confirmed to me by one source is true, we could very well be on the brink of an announcement as early as Thursday of this week that, in fact, the fight is a go for Memorial Day weekend, the 26th of May. Again, sounds great in theory, but it would present Mayweather with yet another obstacle, referring to whether or not he wants to step in the ring in a mega-fight of this magnitude and step into a jail cell less than a week later.
Playing devils advocate, perhaps part of the delay here is that Team Mayweather has in fact found a way to secure a deal and is considering a way to approach the courts and get an additional granted delay in light of new developments. The trouble with all of these rumors is that everything is so tentative. Every day it seems a new wrinkle is tossed in for good measure. Most speculative….a few straight lies…and every once in a while, something that actually holds weight.
The only indisputable fact that any of us have to go by at this time is the reality that both sides have held off announcing their future opponent. That tells me that either my source is correct, or at least close, because both sides have discussed other options, but neither side has officially ruled out the other. That tells me the deal isn’t completely dead. Stay tuned.
Jesse L. (Colorado Springs, CO): A friend and I have been going back and forth about this and i would like to get your thoughts. A prime Lennox Lewis and a prime Muhammad Ali….who do you like to win and how?
Vivek W.: I’m not a betting man, but despite the size and weight differential, I like Ali’s speed and stamina every day of the week over Lewis, the prime or seasoned version. Too fast, too clever, and too spirited. Lennox Lewis defeated Mike Tyson, but I’d give a prime Tyson a much better chance at Ali than I would a prime Lewis, simply for the fact that Lewis’ effort was more slow and calculated. More deliberate.
With Tyson, the guy was just explosive! He was a whip, and his pure crescendo of speed and power, combined with that bob-n-weave, harmonized in a way that even the silky BoyzIIMen could never touch! The man in his prime was poetry in motion. Lewis had great power, and great ability, but his jab would have rarely landed, and the ones that did would have fallen flat to the tune of a 4 to 1 deficit, as Ali would have peppered him with several before Lewis could have ever come close to landing one or two of his own.
Lewis was a great Champion, and the sport really misses him in this pathetic era we call a heavyweight division nowadays, but make no bones about it…..Ali was too much for him, and I’m sure he’d admit it if asked.
