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 Tim Bradley’s state of mind going into the biggest fight of his career, the purse split for a potential Mayweather vs. Pacquiao showdown, the aftermath of Lamont Peterson’s positive test result, and much more.
Jerry B. (Baltimore, MD): I saw the HBO Pacquiao/Bradley face-off and the “Portrait of a Fighter” on Timothy Bradley, and I found one part very interesting. Bradley is known for his determination and heart, but he spoke of “committing suicide” in the event that he didn’t get the job done as a fighter, and the pressure he feels to win. What did his words in that segment mean to you?
Vivek W.: For starters, I’d like to say that I hope he was just speaking on emotions at the time. When the cameras begin to roll nonstop, the intense shine of the spotlight is known to make some ‘melt down’. There lies the biggest question surrounding Bradley going into this fight. Like yourself, I was also taken back by this admission, although when you have a fighter who can get emotional and really has a passion to succeed, you never really know. Hearing this statement reminded me of a few years ago when Roy Jones Jr. was being interviewed and he repeatedly spoke about not knowing how he’d handle suffering a loss.
Shortly after, we learned, as he would suffer a devastating loss that would change the way many view him to this day. Not only did Jones deal with it, but he has been so determined to get beyond it that he hasn’t stopped fighting, despite the fact that most feel he needs to. In that example comes an intriguing reality; one that tells us that a fighter in his prime has to take full advantage of that brief window of opportunity, because when it closes shut, the light of day may never shine bright ‘inside’ again. On that principle, I can totally appreciate Bradley’s desire to win this fight, but he has a different battle ahead of him.
Jones was blessed with an incredible, almost never-seen-before crescendo of talent. Speed, reflexes, power in both hands, flair…..he was just a rare breed. Bradley has some level of skill, but nowhere near the same level of overall talent. That’s where this fight gets intriguing for him. He’ll get his shot to make a huge payday to help secure comfort for his family, but is that enough? I don’t think so. I genuinely feel he has every plan to make this a dogfight and win….I just don’t think he will, to be quite frank.
It’s troubling to know that the pressure getting to this point in his life has been strong enough to allow suicide to cross his mind, even if only for a split second. Where my concern grows is that on this stage, the pressure is even greater! Mayweather tried to explain to the young Ortiz before their battle that the promotional events to announce these mega-fights alone typically exceed the attendance many fighters have had, and that it’ll be a totally different experience sitting in your locker room prior to, being able to hear what sounds like fans at a basketball or soccer stadium, knowing you have to go out and put on a show for all these people. It’s truly a different level.
Bradley looks prepared physically……but we learn so often that this is a mental game. Can he rise to the occasion? And if not….will he rise again in the aftermath? This is no doubt a heavy weight to carry….and as we know…..it was weight which ultimately broke the wagon! Can’t ‘wait’ to find out! Stay tuned!
Lex U. (Santa Monica, CA): On Jim Lampley’s new show “The Fight Game”, both Bob Arum of Top Rank and Richard Schaefer of GoldenBoy Promotions had interesting things to say about a possible Mayweather/Pacquaio clash. Hearing from both sides in an unscripted format, where do you now stand on the money split issue?
Vivek W.: Initially, when Mayweather took the 50/50 split off the table, I felt he was moving the goal post a little and started to question his true position. At this stage, before hearing Schaefer and Arum and definitely afterward, I’d have to say that I can absolutely support Mayweather’s position, and I would ask those who don’t to dig a little deeper into the reality surrounding this affair. It’s about business, ladies and gents. It truly is. Schaefer said it perfectly when he spoke about the fact that just like the men themselves, the circumstances surrounding them do in fact evolve.
A few years ago, Pacquaio may have seemed more comparable in a numerical statistical standpoint. Today, there’s no question who the bigger draw in the sport really is. Whether you judge head-to-head competition or overall numbers, Floyd Mayweather runs the table across the board. What’s even more intriguing to me is that he just faced a man Pacquiao already defeated, yet there was more demand to see this fight, regardless of all those who felt Cotto was “washed up” and “done”. To take it a step further, there was about 300,000 more people to order this fight, and they all paid between $10-$20 more on average, depending on whether they got high definition or not. And this doesn’t include the massive gate money raked in.
The fact that more people tuned in and paid a higher rate says all that needs to be said in this case. I don’t think there’s any leverage left in an argument that supports Pacquiao getting an equal split. Beyond that, Schaefer pledged another very fair request, asking for both sides to simply open the books, look at all the numbers involved, and give the man with the best set of numbers the lions share. How can you get more fair than that? Honestly! If Arum and Team Pacquaio really wanted to be fair, they’d agree to that and open the books….but I doubt that happens.
If Arum allowed this ‘open books’ session to happen, suddenly, this could set the stage for a case where Pacquiao would quickly remember why not so long ago he wanted independence as well, based on his limited earnings compared to Mayweather and others who left Arum. Trouble with that is that he’d also realize that he only plans to fight for a little while longer, so preventing himself from making money by being caught up in a legal battle that would keep him out of the ring isn’t in his best interest at this stage. Based on that logic, both men (Pacquiao and Arum) simply agree to hold pat in the demand for 50/50 or no fight.
Bottom line: Floyd Mayweather is not only the biggest draw, but they have the numbers to support it. Unequivocally. Although Pacquiao said he’d take less, he can’t accept an ultimatum that would give him less because he knows once Arum takes his piece, it’s only for him; yet Pacquiao still has to split his piece many ways, which means he’d still not be satisfied with what he walks away with in comparison to others involved. This is why Pacquiao said he’d take less, but later changed that position. Arum won’t take less, and Pacquiao has to take orders from Arum. Honestly, the fights not happening, and we’d all be better served simply letting this dream fade away….as it has now become a nightmare!
Ryan P. (Atlanta, GA): I haven’t heard you really speak out much on the Lamont Peterson failed drug testing situation, but I remember you being very supportive of him before the fight against Khan. What are your thoughts about him and this whole situation?
Vivek W.: Sheer, uncut disappointment. I thought his life story was a very good one, considering his background and what he and his brother went through to get here….just the whole 9 yards. But earlier in this segment, I also spoke on Timothy Bradley as a young fighter who discussed the pressure involved, and when I hear these type of things, I tell myself that perhaps this was this particular man’s way of dealing with those pressures.
I hate to even say this on record, but giving fight fans a glimpse of that “fly-on-the-wall” angle which brings to life certain thoughts I have which typically remain private, I have in fact quietly begun to wonder if he did ask for the test knowing that he could possibly pop on it, giving himself a little leverage to say “why would I ask for the test if I knew I was doping?” Sounds bizarre, but I said this as a joke on FightHype Radio last week, and the more details come out, the more I really begin to wonder if this isn’t the case. Nothing in this sport surprises me anymore. I mean NOTHING!
The fact that there’s even a debate on whether or not athletes should take tests to prove their worth is bizarre to me. But these guys all carry such a grand level of pressure that they often seek any advantage they can find…at all cost! This entire debate started when another athlete that also feels pressure, perhaps far more than any other because he carries the weight of an entire country on his back (Pacquiao), decided not to take this same test. Now, we’re learning that the man who most view to be bad (Mayweather) was on to something positive all along….yet the man we viewed to be good could have in fact been on ‘something’ negative all along.
In the case of Lamont Peterson, I can’t say what he knew or what he didn’t know. What I can say is that he knew that he is an elite athlete performing on a world stage, and anything he places in his body will cause an effect that he needs to be aware of. Everything from soda to vitamins….it all causes some effect on the body. Anything that isn’t all natural should be researched full tilt. Nowadays, this just isn’t taken serious enough.
As a native of Miami, I can remember being young and hearing about Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula being so strict that he not only banned players from taking anything he wasn’t familiar with, but he also made them sleep at the team dorm from about Wednesday of a game week through game day to prevent them from having sex with a spouse. May seem extreme, but these guys back in the day truly believed the body was the temple. And they did it the clean way. Now…apparently if you’re not cheatin’….you’re not tryin’! I can understand the pressure involved with winning, but something has to give.
I support Peterson at all cost, but I don’t support cheats. If he’s guilty, I hope he gets what comes his way. If he was innocent, I have no question, through divine law, he’ll be exonerated and move on to greener pastures. Much more to come on this one as the details leak out. Like life itself, seasons change. It was cool for a minute, but I’m sure Peterson would agree, it’s about to get awfully “hot”. Stay tuned!
