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 50 Cent’s venture into boxing, what the future holds for Floyd Mayweather and TMT Promotions, Robert Guerrero and Shawn Porter’s recent performances, and much more.
Juan A. (Dallas, TX): In the past I think you’ve been unfairly critical of Robert “Ghost” Guerrero and I’m curious to know what you thought of his impressive performance, conquering a top contender two weight divisions above his own?
Vivek W. I’ve talked to a few fight fans that have taken your position relative to my thoughts on Robert Guerrero, but I think when we take the “fan” hat off and approach the topic down the middle, like always in life, all things become clear. We live in an era of the sport where fans and media are so easily prone to swing on that proverbial “pendulum” from one fighter to the next, so anyone who doesn’t jump so quickly finds themselves in a typically silent minority. In my case, I’m not silent and have no worries about being part of that minority, as it’s not really unfamiliar territory. Has nothing to do with disliking a fighter, or not supporting him, but has everything to do with integrity and simply giving a direct and very honest answer to a question.
In the case of Guerrero, I’ve been a supporter of him for quite some time, but to a more realistic extent rather than a more fan driven extent. I can honestly say, and I challenge anyone who feels they can present sufficient evidence otherwise to do so, but I personally still don’t feel I’ve seen any results to justify some of the buzz I continue to hear him receive. I have the utmost respect for his family and lost my own Stepmother to cancer, so I can rally around his wife’s prior health issues, but removing myself from the humanity angle and looking at him (alone) as a boxer, what does that humanity vote have to do with his talent inside the ring? I don’t think that’s unfair or critical…..I think it’s logical.
Inside the ring, his talent is good, at best, but to suggest a showdown with Mayweather when there’s a slew of names between his previous division and the one he just entered that he won’t even speak? No, I can’t support that type of buzz, because in an instance, it could be deemed a bust! It’s a passionate sport and I have no problem with passionate fans, but don’t draw anger towards my plight based on the fact that I’ve learned to separate emotions from my thought process. The kid is a very good talent, but let me see how he fares against some of the studs at ’35 and ’40 before someone tries to sell me a Mayweather fight. As one Facebook fan said to me the night of the fight, “right now, he’s actually more Khan than king,” which was an obvious reference to the fact that his talent may present one thing, but like Amir, his results rendered haven’t quite caught up.
Timothy Bradley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Rios, Gamboa, Broner, DeMarco, Judah, Garcia…..should I continue? Show me something special against men who have been in that long line leading to the Mayweather’s and Pacquiao’s of the world before you try to tell me that you deserve to be placed in line before them. That’s all I’m saying. Earn your position. I like his talent and will continue to watch his development and maturation, but I’m not in favor of anyone getting anything they haven’t adequately earned, and the victory against Aydin didn’t quite get him there. Kudo’s to him for winning after a 15-month layoff, but in the end, it was simply a small step in a long journey that won’t be completed over night. Welcome to the party, but now lets find a few new dancing partners that tango as well as you do. That’s all I want from the “Ghost” right now.
Vaughn B. (Miami Lakes, FL): With all the recent talk surrounding Oscar Dela Hoya and 50 Cent, and 50’s new “TMT Promotions”, what do you think we can expect from Floyd and 50 once Floyd is released and they officially go into business with this?
Vivek W.: I think anyone even remotely claiming to know what we can expect from Mayweather in the ring is either bluffing or guessing, because right now, I don’t even think Floyd himself knows that. Here at FightHype.com we’re lucky enough to have the Ben Thompson’s and Percy Crawford’s of the world who are close enough to the “Money Team” to continue to help us find out before the rest of the sport, but that aside, it’s still anyone’s guess. Nothing is concrete and I think all bets are off, as it’ll be a day to day evolution with constant negotiations and a wide visual field of options. Ishe Smith and a few other sources close to the action spoke of how Mayweather would say, literally on a daily basis during the Cotto training camp, that it could be his last fight.
After sitting on ice for a few months and missing his children and all of his luxuries, who’s to say Mayweather won’t decide to truly hang ’em up and just live a laid back lifestyle away from the ring? Flipside of that equation is that his time away could see him released from jail with a chip on his shoulder, eager to set the sport on fire? There’s so many different ways this could all play out, but I do think the plans of 50 Cent to become a promoter in the sport could greatly influence this decision as well. As much as some have laughed about the idea, on a deeper level, it’s actually downright scary to think about the ripple this could have on the sport…..and I mean that in a positive way.
I’ve said for quite some time that outside of Don King, whom many would question as well, no one has ever done an adequate job promoting African American fighters on the level we’ve seen great Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other international fighters promoted. When you see Mexican fighters, not only do you see major sponsors like Tecate, but you also get the jaw dropping Tecate ring girls to help set the tenor! You get the full effect, and you get a full promotion. Who today could evoke that deep promotional element needed to bring the African American fan back to the sport? If there’s anyone today with an ear to the street………..that has in place every necessary piece……..to make such a grand plan grow feet……….it’s that cat by the name of FIF-TEE! OK….OK….You get my plight!
Long gone are my rhyming days, but present upon us could be an era ushered in by promotion for the African American fight fan that we’ve never seen. Everything else in the world evolves….why shouldn’t that list include the way African American fighters are promoted? We’ve seen R&B acts like Usher buy into NBA teams and take minority roles. Why is it so far-fetched to see a rapper with pockets deep enough to buy into a said to be “dying” sport and bring an element that many would agree has been missing? Before Russell Simmons, no one from the Rap world had the vision to be a Music mogul. Before Sean “Puffy” Combs, no one from the Rap world had the vision to sell Liquor and Cologne. All it took was a vision and suddenly that all changed….and so did the game!
I can’t speak for the next man, but if 50 has this vision and has the tools and resources in place to help change the game, why not? I heard he was once a Golden Glover…..why not lace up and fight on an undercard? See how quickly this vision could go from a still photo to a motion picture? I’m all for it! For those who just can’t bring themselves to see beyond Don King Promotions on predominant African American fight cards, I’ll help you out…..the ring card girls can be part of the King Magazine corp…..led by Shakur Sozahdah (if you don’t know this one…..look her up so you can look her down….Wow)! In apt fashion, as we head into this years election, allow me to go “Obama” in saying this is a “change we can believe in”! Stay tuned…..
Jerome R. (Seattle, OR): Shawn Porter seems destined for some very big things in the sport. I love his tenacity and I think he’s the type of fighter who will give many opponents big problems. Do you see him climbing to the top of the welterweight division eventually?
Vivek W.: I’d love to say yes, but to be truthful, I’d love to find out if he’s even going to be a welterweight before I endorse him as the next best welterweight. As stated on the telecast, Porter routinely walks around in the 185lb range, and throughout his short career has tipped the scale as high as 165lbs. I think his performance against Gomez proved to us that he can compete at the weight class, but even with that said, some would argue that despite his toughness and heart, Gomez isn’t quite the upper echelon of the division. I wouldn’t totally argue with anyone who questions how well he’d take a punch from a powerful puncher in the division, and whether or not a man who walks around that heavy could continue to compete effectively at a weight that requires him to take off so much before entering the ring.
As I said last week about Keith Thurman, and as I’ve said about many others, the only way we’ll know what Porter will truly bring to the table as he evolves as a fighter is by seeing him build on his “rounds” count. Rounds…..rounds….and more rounds! That’s what he needs. He has evolved nicely to this stage, but I thought he got hit far more than I’d like to see, and there are times when he seems to abandon the game plan. It’s good that he’s fairly durable, because he usually pays for it! I was impressed to see him press the action, despite the painful gash he suffered, but I do realize there’s a few more levels we haven’t seen him reach, and it’s not a certainty that he will. Like any other fighter, he needs to continue to grow in the ring and work on those areas that he seems to be challenged in the most. I think in a good year or so, he could be ready. Right now….once again….rounds, rounds, and more rounds!
