San Antonio, Texas - The boxing world keenly anticipated this undisputed matchup between the WBC, WBA, and IBF titleholder "Iron Man" Jermell Charlo (34-1, 18 KOs), and the unbeaten WBO champion "El Boxi" Brian Castano (17-0-1, 12 KOs), but reality soured an otherwise superb battle.
After a back and forth battle where Castano took the early lead and was hunted down by Charlo through the championship rounds, fight fans were salivating over the result which was widely seen to belong narrowly to Castano. That is, before a wildly out of phase score from Nelson Vazquez (117-111 to Charlo) saw the fight called a draw.
Charlo was stunned in the 3rd round of a back and forth battle, which saw Castano build an early lead. But Charlo fought back, until he was rocked by a resurgent Castano in Round 7.
Come the championship rounds, Charlo was behind the 8-ball, but fought back impressively as Castano put the foot down to match it with the division's premier champion. The final 3 rounds saw the combatants go toe to toe, blasting away until the final bell. Charlo got the better of many exchanges, but it remained close - that is until the scores were read out; a split draw (114-113 Castano, 117-111 Charlo, 114-114 draw).
Charlo asked for a break from boxing, and Castano fumed, while WBO no.1 contender Tim Tszyu looked for a silver lining from the match.
Boxing fans just sighed, again, at the anticlimactic ending.
FightBeat introduces the latest in ground-breaking social experiments combined with champagne boxing expertise and infotainment - a crowd-sourced article on the greatest fight of the century, Mayweather vs Pacquiao, devised by our 60-odd boxing luminaries.
Our FightBeat experts, a veritable “Mensa Think Tank” of encyclopaedic boxing knowledge, launch into a stream of unbridled boxing consciousness, delving deep, one sentence at a time each, into the world of boxing and the potential outcomes and strategies of this most intriguing battle.
So....behold! Click the link and prepare for the best, most definitive take on Pacquio vs Mayweather ever before seen in the annals of boxing journalism.
Boxing fans finally get the megafight they have been waiting for, as Herbert waited breathlessly in the lobby, armed with a silver candlestick, for Master Mayweather to return from his Sunday Romp at The Blue Oyster Bar, where he is known as "The Foppish Dandy". It is here that we spot the esteemed champion as he prepares to do battle with chronic constipation.
A few tins of spinach later, and things begin to move. A slow murbling at first, gives way to a sudden loosening of his lower loins and then "THWOP! floppafloppafloppafloppafloppafloppa!", a steaming batch of what appears to be Duncan Hines brownie batter appears in the stylish platinum toilet bowl. Relieved of his fecal burden, Mayweather can now focus on Emmanuel Pacquaio, the Asian superstar he is preparing to do battle with in the adjoining bedroom of Floyds palatial suite.
The estate, a massive 19th century Tudor mansion is adorned with gold-flecked statues of famous rap stars such as Kanye West, Tupac Shakur and in a surprisingly retro display, EPMD. A former statue of 50 Cent has been modified slightly to a haunting likeness of Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot. Pacquaio is staying the night as a guest before making his way back to his training camp in Bakersfield, CA where Freddie Roach and Shakin Stevens were having a Tremble Battle, adjudicated upon by Muhammad Ali, Michael J Fox and the late Katherine Hepburn.
Bobby Pacquaio dutifully prepares his brother's spit bucket for the intensive training to come. Here, Emmanuel Pacquaio morphs into Manny Pac, honorary congressman and varnish-coiffed boxing champion.
Furrowing what surely must be a unibrow without proper maintenance, Manny Pac will pound both heavy bags and the very best undetectable supplements in anticipation of his bout with Master Floyd, which will cost 50 cents on Pay-Per-Hear brought to you by Hegman Corporations, in association with Real Deal Condoms, a rare yet notoriously defective brand long favored by Roger Mayweather (who sired rising pugilistic prodigy Lehkei Mayweather, already inked to an advisory deal with Alan Haymon at age 10)
We asked Roger how he thought about the fight between his nephew and Pacquaio;
“If I wuz in my nephew corner we all know Pacquiao ass would git knocked out. You know anyone with tickets for sale tho?" wondered the always eloquent Black Mamba. As of press time, we had not received word whether Roger had obtained tickets or not.
One of the burning questions as we move ever closer to fight night is the entrance music to be used by each combatant. Pacquiao is rumored to be using “Cashin’ Out” by Cash Out, while Mayweather is expected to use "It Keeps You Running" by The Doobie Brothers.
Michael McDonald is rumored to appear singing live into the PA system to the original track along with an entourage featuring such luminaries as Benny Hinn performing a rap-dancing exhibition, followed by Michelle Obama, who will shoot ping-pong balls out of her vagina into the waiting mouth of a Gleeful Leonard Ellerbe, who then verbally strokes Floyd's ego, before turning the podium over to Bob Arum who utters, "reeeeeeal classy, Leonard. We here at Top Rank promotions demand 40% of those pussy juices you savored. Team Pacquiao won’t be sold short."
The Bobfather then relinquishes the microphone to one of the most prominent hands in Pacquaio's pocket Mike Koncz who inexplicably utters a continuous stream of curse words "fucking cockshit pussychrist assdick shitfoot fucktrap cockmind bawbag Joe Calzaghe!"
We cornered recently retired broadcasting legend Larry Merchant outside the press conference, who told us that "A good fight... Is like a race... In this fight... Who... Will be the tortoise... *burp* excuse me... Who will be Richard Petty?..."
Reached for comment, Former heavyweight champion George Foreman told us Pacquiao wouldn't be intimidated by Floyd's shoulders, just as he wasn't intimidated by Dela's...however, Pacquiao sweats pitifully and Mayweather sweats like George Jr Jr, at Santa Anita racetrack, while losing the family fortune betting on broken down trotters and female jockeys.
Meanwhile Lampley bursts into the conversation like an incoherant PTSD victim of the Adam West "Batman" series, yelling "BAM", "POW", "SPLAT", "CAPLOWIE", "OSCAR NOOOOOOO!", before settling into his first cogent, clear headed observation concerning the fight. "I predict that it takes around 10 seconds for George Foreman to announce that Pacquaio is waiting too long and needs to get on with it.”
When quizzed about whether this fight is the capstone for both men, he subtly asks "when did either of them fight James Page?".
Immediate silence descends on the commentary box and then Max Kellerman points out Floyd and his now defunct "philthy rich records" was once affiliated with James Prince, who used to manage James Page prompting Big George to don a t.b.e. hat, declaring Floyd "the best ever", via loose association with Page. When suddenly, Pacquiao unleashes a lethal left cross that accidentally lands home on the chin of Kenny Bayless, sending him crashing into the corner in a daze where he is greeted by his twin brother Kermit, who drags his prone body from the ring and takes over officiating the contest but fails to stick his ass out in the usual Bayliss fashion, causing the HBO switchboard to be jammed with calls from fans demanding their money back.
Teddy Atlas, the newly appointed head of HBO Corps Diplomatique takes the first call, from an irate Mr Ottke in Dooseldorf, Germany where the Deutsche division of Fightbeat editorial staff consider hiring lawyers prior to publication of their crowd-sourced article, which will no doubt be considered slanderous, libelous, nonsensical, profane and incomprehensible article which the late, great Manny Steward saw coming a month before it was proposed.
Steward, reading Fightbeat from a corner stool in Heaven, turned to Gil Clancy, who remarked "Just wait till that asshole Lummox Lewis arrives here, I will give him a good thrashing for referring to me as Gil 'Can't see'. Anyhow, tell me Emmanuel, how do you feel about the way Adonis Stevenson is representing the Kronk these days?"
Steward replied "I'm very proud. You know, I saved Adonis from going back to prison. I saw him one day down by the Kronk about to slap around some hoe in front of a cop. Luckily, I knew exactly what was about to happen. I was with Tony Ayala Jr, who went up to Adonis and told him……”
Tyson Fury, the savior of the heavyweight division
By D. Simon - You are a twenty something year old man with a family...a contract killer by trade who puts on the kibosh when called to do so....You get a big job to kill Mr Evil.
The conditions are you work with another trigger man, we will call him ....”Smiley.” This contract is the kind of money that can set you up....as you look at that family of yours you silently determine that Mr Evil is going down! Soon enough the big day arrives, everyone is in position, when Smiley calls it off due to having a hang nail on his trigger finger. The boss likes you guys and gives you another chance and wouldn't you know it? Smiley once again calls it off, this time for good.
This scenario describes in a different context, exactly what happened to Tyson Fury during his supposed fight to take place with David Haye.
When one wonders about the behavior of Tyson Fury, a man called arrogant, cocky and delusional regarding his skill level by some, one thing that should not be mysterious at all, is his acrimony towards David Haye. In many respects Haye represents the new school of heavyweight boxing. Talented,self absorbed, and safety conscious to a fault, Haye fights infrequently and apparently only under ideal conditions. Haye claims that Fury is easy work yet he let a minor cut stop a fight that would have been a financial success for both men.
Did Haye have the ability to beat Fury relatively easily? Most boxing pundits tend to think so. Haye, like the Klitschkos is part of the new and improved heavyweights that rule the roost these days....or so we are told. They quit fights when their shoulder is bothering them (Vitali Klitschko), they hold on for dear life instead of fighting tooth and nail inside, and in general they seem to take the easy way out at every turn, fighting horrendous mandatory challengers with little chance for success instead of young and hungry competitors that are a real threat. Is it any wonder why the last exciting heavyweight contest was a fight, i.e. a grudge match, between David Haye and Derrick Chisora? A fight that the British boxing commission was fully intent on stopping because the excitement might be too much for people raised on such a spectacle as Klitschko's last heavyweight defense.
Since Lennox Lewis stepped down the heavyweight division has become a place where fighters avoid each other, are often touted and exposed by journeymen and in general seem to fall short of any real, lasting success. When a fighter occasionally does show potential the fighter is avoided like the plague.
The Klitschko brothers have maintained a virtual strangle hold over the rest of the division...Vlad Klitschko has become, by default, the one eyed man in the land of the blind as he holds, avoids and tries to convince others that a delivery truck driver is the most talented opponent he can defend his title against. Where does it all end?
There is a certain school of thought that believes talent is only one ingredient when it comes to creating a true champion. Put another way: was it Tyson's power, or his desire to wreck anyone not the referee that made Cus secure in the knowledge he had found the next champion? Old school doctrine states emphatically that the well-to-do, well adjusted, educated man while fit for many endeavors, may lack the hardscrabble, chaotic and violent upbringing that makes a true boxing champion. A man brought up old school does not duck opponents. This man fights when his shoulder hurts and would sooner dismember himself than complain about a toe injury inhibiting him.
Recently Fury was asked about the science and technique of boxing and his answer is revealing: Fury considers a fight a test of wills, a chance to show who the better man is through enduring the punishment of a rival and giving it back in spades....Just what the division needs at the moment! Fighters like Fury and Chisora represent a throwback to a time when if you didn't know much else
about your opponent you at least knew he came to fight. In Fury's fight this weekend many wise boxing sages will point to his conditioning, the punches he took from a journeyman, etc....But Fury does things his way, and at the end of the night his opponent got knocked down four times and got up three.
How talented is Fury? This question is a red herring... Fury has already beaten good fighters. We might well ask this question when considering Ruiz, or a pre-Thompson version of David Price, but Tyson Fury has shown the ability to impose himself on guys like the Kingpin and Chisora. Fury has skills and power, he can box well and when in shape can fight into the later rounds. He also can be lethargic, careless, and vulnerable to the trickery of a crafty vet (like Cunningham). Fury is good enough to be considered a challenger by Vlad Klitschko.
Meanwhile Vlad is intent on avoiding any fight that could even remotely be considered a risk to his reign. Talent alone can only get one so far anyway. If I had a dime for every guy who hit the skids but was talented I might be writing this from 5th avenue! Michael Spinks is considered by some the most talented light heavyweight that ever boxed...yet for all his talent a young determined Tyson had him beat before the bell rung. We have young fighters coming up like Andy Ruiz, Chisora, Fury, Wilder, etc. Along the way many of these fighters will experience the cold winds of exposure a la David Price, but there is no lack of talent here per se.
Many guys talk a good game, but either have the attitude of a David Haye/Vlad Klitschko, or are not ready to leave it all in the ring. Give me a guy who takes it personally, who grew up fighting and who isn't intimidated....A guy who may well get knocked down but who will make sure he punches back and who will not quit when he feels over matched, but instead will get angry and attack.
And its not that Fury does not have talent! Fury can move very well for a big man, he has experience as well. He punches with power and has the ability to end It when the damage has been done. But more to the point I trust Fury. I know that if given an opportunity Tyson Fury will make sure that he goes after Vlad Klitschko with a vengeance. You see....Tyson Fury does not believe in being out skilled, nor does he believe in the many technical details that people like to discuss while eating cucumber and watercress sandwiches!
All Tyson Fury seems to believe in is his ability to be the last man standing in that ring....and thats good enough for me.
Zab Judah: Gatekeeper and the Fight for Brooklyn Cred
By D Simon - Boxing is nothing without traditions. Two guys fighting each other in a yard, even when one of the guys is Kimbo Slice, a decent sort and a gentleman....amounts to little more than violence with a few provisions.
When Cus laid out the relationship between the real estate value of the square circle and homicide he had a twinkle in his eye... Like Enki the Mesopotamian trickster, Cus was using skillful means to make Iron Mike a means to the most coveted title in all of boxing, the heavyweight champion of the world.
Often the most intelligent people don't make the connection: Boxing truly became itself when Plebian and Patrician alike decided that the Marquis of Queensbury rules held sway. The squared circle became more than a court of last resort to resolve the unresolvable....it was magically transformed with proper rituals and participants into a venerable tradition amounting to much more than a fistfight with witnesses.......
Read on after the break or discuss in our boxing forum
Prior to the instruction of James Figg and the Marquis,under false pretenses, many men with no senseof honor paid a fee to learn how to kill with a sword. These men used provisions traditionally the recourse of the aristocracy, to settle disagreements deemed unresolvable, in the most vile and plebianof ways. These murderers, masquerading as honorable men, made the work of the Marquis of Queensbury worthy of a Noble Peace Prize. With formal boxing procedures men could settle a disputewithout recourse to murder.
Eventually men, being creative by nature extended this procedure to the role of “seconds.” Originally a second was a substitution. A second could sit in for the aggrieved party if the individual was not combat able. Groups could find a “second” that would represent them in the ring....Mike Tyson claims that the distinction between the Blue Democrats and the Red Republicans started out of a Blue and Red corner....each allowed to pick a fighter to represent them in the ring to decide who held sway.
The heavyweight champ of the world became a virtual “second” vis a vis a stand in for every man struggling to get something against the odds dealt him. The socio-economic intimacy between the working man and boxing was great enough to challenge even racism. When Louis fought Schmelling all Americans were behind him. The value of these traditions are sacred. I cringed watching Ronda Rousey turn the female UFC championship into a bitchfest, more about her issue with her opponent, than creating a venerable tradition and offering her hand to Meisha Tate. How many men had to die, or kill, when challenged because of petty grudges like those offending Rousey? Settling differences constructively (in the ring) with no grudge when the fighting was done, became in itself, a means of universally expressing excellence (in combat) as opposed to the antiseptic and antisocial act of taking life because of a perceived slight. T
Traditions in boxing have evolved and are openly embraced. Instead of everyone needing to right a wrong, everyone wants to be a champ! We now seem to have more championship titles than fighters. Some traditions in boxing are a counterpoint to all that is good....The cheater who loads gloves, the whiner, the quitter, the fight fixers and the greedy self serving promoters are a few examples of these
villains. Some traditions are narratives that have developed with the sport....The cagey veteran, the prospect becoming a legitimate contender, the technician, the killer in the ring are all examples of
labels we put on fighters that draw upon familiar narratives. One of these labels is that of the gate keeper. “Gate keeper” is not a role relished by a fighter. It usually implies a “has been” relegated to the
role of spoiler for the up and comer.
During the fight between Zab Judah and Paul Malignaggi Zab made the fight about bragging rights claiming Brooklyn as the prize. Brooklyn New York is one of those places where fighters are born and bred....back in the day to have sway in places like Brooklyn, Philadelphia, or before that London...meant something! Being a champion in one's own back yard has always meant representing people from your neck of the woods. In some primordial way these bragging rights can be more important than whether one was a champion and especially if one was considered a gatekeeper.
Zab is a gatekeeper. More than JUST a gatekeeper I would argue that Judah is the consummate gatekeeper....a fighter who has made the role of gatekeeper a meaningful one that extends beyond simply a veteran who has seen better days. Zab's challenge to Paulie suggests that Zab has a healthy respect for his role....Guarding the gates of Prospect Park, keeping Flatbush Avenue real, the fight between Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi was for more than a mere alphabet soup title....it was for
bragging rights as the gate keeper, i.e. as the Catcher in the Rye, ensuring that Brooklyn maintained its reputation as a breeding ground for the Sweet Science.
Today fight sports and fighters train in many scattered places in states like California. Many of these fighters have a generic and wholesome look, hardly the look of a Jake Lamotta, Tony Galento, Roberto Duran, George Foreman, James Toney or Mike Tyson. Other parts of the world have caught up years ago and bring fighters into the professional ranks with their own narratives. Under these conditions the Judah Malignaggi fight was a pleasant anachronism... it hearkened to a simpler time when the East coast was one of the main crucibles out of which fighting men were formed. Both guys got into the narrative and both guys had the street cred to represent Brooklyn.
Malignaggi is the consumate over achiever. He was never going to knock them down, Malignaggi became boxing's version of baseball immortal Wee Willie Keeler the man who famously “hit em where
they aint.” Willie's preference for hitting for accuracy and not power is much the same as Malignaggi's strategy of moving and punching accurately. Paulie has maximized this strategy and used his homespun
brand of Brooklyn smaats to become a commentator and all round boxing pundit. But Paulie could never be mistaken for a guy who had the natural talent of Zab Judah. So how is it that Judah became
the consummate gatekeeper?
There is a certain school of thought that says of all the great attributes a fighter can ask for perhaps the most important one is luck. When a team starts to move a young fighter? Any little mistake can become a huge disaster...Trainer Barry Robinson's admonition rings true here “small things, all things.” I remember when Fernando Vargas was being moved along perfectly until he ran into a guy named Trinidad and never really was the same after that fight. Was it a mistake to put him in that fight? Especially after moving him up so carefully? People used to use the same twenty twenty hindsight when questioning how Cotto came along. Cotto is finally getting the respect for his achievements that he deserves. When a fighter experiences what Bronner did against Madianna, it is always a concern, will the guy ever come back?...Just ask Jeff Lacey.
And on the highway where luck is none... the road is littered with guys like Oliver Mccall who had tremendous potential yet couldn't bottle it. Very rarely does a fighter with the athletic finesse of a Roy Jones come along. Zab Judah is a fighter who started out with that kind of speed and potential. Judah was going to become boxing royalty and nothing was going to stand in his way.
Most knowledgeable boxing people recognize that the fight between Judah and Kostya Tszyu did something to Zab that exposed him. I do not use this term flippantly. The gravitas of this seminal event in Zab's career was such that he was destined not to live up to his physical potential. What separates Zab from so many other fighters who had a similar experience, including many very talented fighters, is that Zab Judah still managed/manages to fight for championships and get fights at the elite level. If you look around at the mid weight classes quite a few guys had to beat Zab Judah to get to the next level. Garcia, Kahn are just a few of the most recent guys
to kick it with Zab....According to many Mayweather, the top of the boxing pyramid, hit the canvas when fighting Judah!
Yet, like another true Brooklyn institution, Ralph Kramden of the HoneyMooners (“the great one” RIP Jackie Gleason), ultimately Zab always finds a way back to a central narrative of being foiled again. Judah just seems to stop. It never appears he is physically tired, nor does he ever, in the first few rounds of a fight look outclassed or outgunned. Yet as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow one can expect to see Yoel Judah yelling, imploring his son to throw hands. Yoel Judah must have the patience of a saint!
Despite the characteristics that have held him back in his career I can't remember how many times Zab has fought for the championship. He has even won it a few times! One might say, to be the consummate gatekeeper one must be approachable. In Boxing this quality comes with safety through predictability. One must be as certain as possible with a young up and comer that the challenge will seem real, but not truly be capable of causing a real problem! With Zab there are no suprises. Glen
Johnson, an incredibly good fighter who should have had his hand raised many more times....is a horrendous gate keeper!
Many who thought getting by the Road Warrior would be a relatively hard
hike in the park, wound up hiking Everest in a snow storm! Just ask Roy Jones who took on Johnson, to regain some of what he lost with Tarver. By comparison with Judah? If you make it by the first 4 rounds or so, the rest of the fight is a piece of cake. Judah's habitual ring behavior, antics and actions are all good reasons to schedule a fight with him. His
self promotion, his social escapades....like crap games that turn to beat downs, and his insistence that “this fight will be different” all bring fans out to the event. Brooklyn in the house baby!
When Judah and Malignaggi made their fight about Brooklyn it highlighted the destiny of both men. Neither guy was risking a career, both guys were in the twilight of their fighting careers and no championship was at stake. Yet both guys shared some similar characteristics: Both guys could be mistaken for a Spike Lee character in Sal's Pizza parlor eating a slice. Both guys are often maligned. People resent Paulie because of his light punching power, with Zab people resent what they perceive as a lack of effort. Both guys have been successful in spite of people's opinions. Paulie has been a champion, could have easily been declared the winner in his fight with Broner and has tremendous learned skills in the ring.
Zab has won championships, gets fights and is considered a guy that one has to beat to be taken seriously. Philly touts Danny Garcia as having the goods to represent in the square circle. Danny still has a little way to go...many people feel as though he is hyped and his dad is toxic with a big chip on his shoulder. But Brooklyn has, among others, two guys who have earned the right to represent.
One of those guys, Zab Judah has become the consummate gate keeper, the go to guy to test one's skill and luck on the climb to boxing fame.
The Top 10 Greatest heavyweight Champions in history
By Stafford Attzs - The most objective way to measure greatness in boxing is to consider only three criteria: Dominance, Quality of beaten opposition and significant achievement(s). They are also to be weighted in that order. If we agree on these criteria then we can minimize bias when evaluating the careers of great fighters.
Dominance is first because it shows that he is/was foremost among his peers in his generation. It proves that the fighter was consistent and not a brief flame. It proves that he was versatile and had a variety of top qualities; for to dominate, presumably for a respectable period of time over a number of title fights, he would have had to have triumphed over a variety of styles and abilities. He would have proven to not have been a fluke that only looks good on certain nights against certain fighters.
Dominance is the first sign of greatness.
Quality of beaten opposition speaks for itself. Dominance by itself is meaningless if you haven’t fought and beaten the best in your era, and/or objectively good fighters when compared with other eras. A high quality of beaten opposition shows that the fighter in question has steak as well as sizzle. It takes a good man to beat good men consistently.
Significant achievements refer to records broken, unbelievable triumphs against the odds, winning when it matters most. It refers to earning a unique spot in history. This criterion speaks to the historical impact factor in the equation of greatness.
And so, with these criteria in mind, I shall share my all time Heavyweight Top 10
1. Muhammad Ali
He was dominant in his first reign, before politics took his title away and forced him into a retirement. Ali had arguably the highest level of beaten opposition of any other Heavyweight champion, only Lennox Lewis has an opposing argument in that regard. Ali had beaten (among others) Liston, Patterson, Terrell, Frazier, Ellis, Bonavena, Quarry, Lyle, Shavers, Norton, Foreman and Young. He was only the second man in history to regain the title. He was the only Heavyweight to win the linear title three times. The significant achievement of his career is that he came back from a forced retirement and went on to regain the title at age thirty two by stopping the then undefeated George Foreman who was at the peak of his powers, having stopped both Joe Frazier and Ken Norton. Ali remains, to this day, the only man to have ever stopped Foreman. With that and winning the title three times we have to agree that he must be the Greatest.
2. Joe Louis
No Heavyweight champion in history was more dominant that Joseph Louis Barrow, who history knows as the beloved “Brown Bomber” Joe Louis. His heavyweight reign lasted almost twelve years and consisted of a record 26 successive title defenses. If his quality of opposition was near that of Muhammad Ali, he would undoubtedly top this list, but that is where he falls ever so slightly short. He did beat many former champions such as Max Baer, Jack Sharkey, Schmeling, Carnera and a Future champion in Jersey Joe Walcott, but for every good name on his record he had three names that were mediocre at best. Nevertheless, dominance is dominance, and he beat the opposition that was available to him. His significant achievement was beating Max Schmeling in the rematch. Never before or since were the stakes higher for a prize fight. He wasn’t just fighting an opponent; he was defending the American ideals at the brink of World War II against Hitler’s champion who had knocked him out in their previous fight. The pressure couldn’t be greater, but when the time came to perform, he triumphed in spectacular fashion: knockout in the very first round. And such is his legend.
3. Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis is only the second bonafide heavyweight in history to have beaten every single professional opponent that he has ever faced (Marciano was the first and Tunney spent most of his career at Light Heavyweight). That is dominance and that is significance. Neither Ali nor Louis can make such a claim. He also boasts a resume of beaten opposition that rivals that of Muhammad Ali: Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Donovan “Razor” Ruddock, Vitali Klitschko, Golota, Tua, Mercer, Mcall, Morrison. The only thing that prevents him from having a higher spot is the fact that he was knocked out twice, in early rounds, while he was in his prime and this interrupted the continuity of his reign.
4. Mike Tyson
Many would be surprised to see Tyson so high on this list as such was his fall from grace in the latter part of his career. But we mustn’t forget that Tyson was one of the most dominant heavyweight champions in history. The heavyweight division was in a mess after the retirement of Muhammad Ali. There were three titlists since the early 80s, with no dominant titlist aside of IBF champion Larry Holmes who had lost by the time Tyson emerged on the scene. “Iron Mike” cleaned up the division. He unified the belts beating Berbick, Smith, Tucker and began a reign of terror. Holmes, Spinks and Thomas, former champions that had never been stopped before, were destroyed by Tyson. Tubbs fell, as did Bruno, Williams, Biggs. He was 37-0 before he would taste defeat and he was universally recognized as head and shoulder above his peers. His dominance cannot be questioned and neither can his opposition at the time for he fought the who’s who of the division. The late 80s belonged to Mike Tyson. He lost to Buster Douglas in the upset of the century but came back strong defeating Tillman, Alex Stewart and the dangerous Donovan Ruddock on two occasions. Of course a chance to regain the title was interrupted by his rape conviction but he did regain two thirds of the Heavyweight belt post incarceration which is itself a tremendous achievement. Tyson was the youngest ever fighter to win a version of the heavyweight title and the second youngest undisputed champion in history. If not for the many humbling losses at the end of his career as well the two fights with Evander Holyfield, he could have rivaled Ali for the top spot.
5. Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes was 48-0, displaying his dominance before suffering his first defeat at age 35 in a close decision loss to Michael Spinks. After winning the WBC Title from Ken Norton in June of 1978, he went on the set the record for the highest number of successive knockouts in title defenses with eight. Overall he defended his title a consecutive 20 times (second only to Joe Louis) and was the dominant heavyweight between the reigns of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. Arguably, he can be ranked ahead of Tyson based on these credentials but I choose to not do so because a) he never unified the titles and b) he never managed to regain them in three attempts,
6. George Foreman
George Foreman’s first reign as champion was short lived, with only two successful defenses, and his second reign wasn’t anything to be taken seriously, but he achieves the number six spot on this list because of three things. First, he became the oldest man to ever win the heavyweight crown, reclaiming it over 20 years after first winning win it, an absolutely incredible feat. Secondly, he destroyed two fighters who gave Ali fits showing his ability against quality opposition; he was the first man to defeat Joe Frazier (the first man to defeat Ali), wiping him out in just two rounds and followed that up by destroying Ken Norton. Thirdly he proved to be one of the hardest punching heavyweights that have ever lived, boasting a prodigious knockout ratio of 68 KOs in 76 wins which includes victories over Joe Frazier, Ken Norton and George Chuvalo.
7. Evander Holyfield
Holyfield and Foreman have somewhat interchangeable positions on this list but I place more weight on Foreman’s career primarily because of what he achieved in the 1990s. Make no mistake about it; there is an argument to be made for placing Evander higher. Holyfield boasts a high quality of beaten opposition including such names as Riddick Bowe, Mike Tyson, Ray Mercer, Michael Moorer, Pinklon Thomas and Michael Dokes and has won a version of the Heavyweight crown an unprecedented four times, including two linear/undisputed titles. Beating Mike Tyson for his third title in a fight where he was a heavy underdog is his signature achievement. He falls short, however in that he was not a particularly dominant heavyweight Champion, losing the title all too frequently after brief reigns.
8. Rocky Marciano
Marciano was the only undefeated Heavyweight champion. That speaks to both his dominance and his unique standing in history. He’s a great one. However, he ranks relatively low in this list because the quality of his beaten opposition was mediocre. While he did have wins over the great Ezzard Charles and Jersey Joe Walcott, but both had seen better days by the time Marciano got to them. Also he defended his title just six times in three years. So although undefeated, I cannot justify placing him any higher on the list.
9. Wladimir Klitschko
His appearance here is probably a surprise to many. However, if we are being objective, and consider the criteria, he has earned his place. Contemporary fighters are often overlooked in such lists, and fighters whose style is often maligned are typically omitted entirely. Wladimir Klitschko falls into both categories, but as I said in the beginning, we must attempt to remove bias and stick to the criteria. Since winning the IBF title in 2006 he has successfully defended it fifteen times and in the process he has also added the WBA and the WBO titles. He has pretty much fought and defeated everyone there is to fight in the post Lennox Lewis era of Heavyweight boxing, with the obvious exception of his brother, Vitali Klitschko. He’s been a dominant champion, whether we like his style of fighting or not. He would be placed higher on the list if not for a couple of humiliating early KO defeats at the hands of mediocre fighters while still in his prime. Nevertheless his resume is impressive which such defeated names as Chris Byrd, Ray Mercer, Sam Peter, Hasim Rahman, and David Haye.
10. Jack Johnson
Johnson was the first ever black Heavyweight Champion. He was also a dominant champion having defended his title nine times over a seven year period. The White establishment in their attempt to remove him as champion threw every “hope” they could against him during that period to no avail. Johnson fought the best of his era and was dominant. The limited abilities of the opponents in his era as well as the fact that some of the bigger names on his resume were either formerly retired or much smaller fighters, prevents Johnson from being placed higher in the list.
And so ends the most objective Top 10 Heavyweight list that you will find. I look forward to your comments. Next up, using the same criteria, I’ll share the Top 10 Middleweight list.
Adrien Broner - When the "Problem" becomes our problem
By D. Simon - Maidana melted the Wicked Witch of Cincinnati. The kid with the big mouth, no humility and a bad habit of writing checks with his mouth that his ass could not cash!
Schadenfreude has never felt so good in boxing land. Boxing land is a place where duplicity and being duped go together like peanut butter and chocolate. It is a place where a man like Floyd Mayweather Junior who could not sell a drink of water to a dessert rat, emerged from the De La Hoya fight as the man who makes it rain.
In his own words, “Love me or hate me either way you will pay me”
From the fish netted coattails of De La Hoya, in a split decision win for Mayweather, a legend was birthed...No due diligence was required to confer such a place for Mayweather in boxing history because fans have a short attention span. Little Floyd went From zero to sixty, from the goat who was boring to watch, to some declaring him the G.O.A.T. His foibles became gist for the money mill: jail time for personal issues, sucker punching his way to a win over a crazy young fighter he could have perhaps bested legitimately in the ring andlately... Floyd never misses an opportunity to step on the throat of the IRS besieged Manny Pacquiao.
Why not? hate sells!
Mayweather is our new and improved PT Barnum! Line up for the lollipop suckers! Not only is he ready to dupe us all, but he tells us how we are to be duped. A wonderful poster on another site who shall remain anonymous described Floyd as creating big paydays and lavish promotions. There seems
to be an “understanding.”
Think the opposite of Gatti versus Ward and More like Jones versus Del Valle type action. The gravy train is rolling, little Floyd coming to a town near you! The payday for a young fighter is career altering, in fact a loss becomes academic. You get paid and promoted by the man making it rain.... You make sure the promotion is done right, you have the requisite stare downs, toss a few insults, but when the action starts its all polite, playing nice and “respectful like” in the ring, you know both: your place and who butters your bread...In a different context Slapsy Maxie the great light heavy weight, when asked why he had so few KO's said: “I took it easy cause someone coulda got huyt in dere!”
Broner is smart enough to have observed how his mentor parts the dollars from the boxing public. Broner wanted some of that action and appointed himself Floyd's main protege, his little brother. This was no idle boast, and in an age where characters like Charlie Z can walk into a gym and actually get
Floyd senior to smack him around...much less look at him...and where a Roach Groupie can emerge as the unlicensed accountant-slash- Bob Arum lackey, who may have financially destroyed Manny P to the tune of millions....one must ask: who questions these self appointed tin throne demagogues? Not that Floyd didn't encourage and was not supportive of this relationship....But did some one at least question the Broner hype? Broner, for his part, drank the kool aid and convinced himself that trailing after Floyd grinning like a hyena and saying “easy work” would make it so.... Broner figured that the script would be like it was for big brother, a few shots and like Floyd, he would get his hand raised. Why not? It had happened before, Broner had seen the judges raise his hand even when Ponce, and others had obviously beaten him. Being little brother had its privileges and surely Maidana knew the score!
Meanwhile the gullible boxing public got the morality play they desired... Maidana punished Broner, the grinning parvenu, like a Singapore cop caning a reprobate gum chewer ....And they ate it up relishing the symbolic dry hump....Poof! Broner's manhood gone! Replaying the tortured positions
Broner lay in and around the ring, to loud guffaws. Some say Broner showed heart, I question that contention. He looked scared, and was looking for a way out after he first started to realize Maidana wasn't playing nice like Floyd's opponents as of late seem to do in the ring.
Broner looked psychologically broken after the fight and did not have the skills to keep Maidana off of him, skills that Floyd had developed with footwork and timing. What kept Broner going was perhaps the immortal words of Broner's mentor “love me or hate me, either way you will pay me!” Broner also seems
very concerned with his marketability after the fight by some accounts. Should this have been such a concern? Priorities!
As sports fans we are supposed to distinguish and decide who deserves a chance, or not. When some self entitled near do well gets a grab at the brass ring we seem to respond like a laugh track during a bad seventies sitcom. When people with juice say it is so, the media glorifies an individual and we
seldom reflect on whether our support is actually warranted. Boxing fans talk about values, about the need for competitive fights, etc and we are more than willing to take the moral high ground when fighters have issues, yet we still, as a group, are told who will get to perform in the square circle, like it
or lump it.
There is an old principle that states when you don't use power you give it away. Fans give so much power away and we seldom look carefully at the takers. We enrich promoters like Bob Arum...an alleged friend of Manny Pacquiao, a friend who will not step aside so his IRS debt laden
friend can challenge Floyd to a fight that the public has a real interest In viewing. We give millions, letting Mayweather decide who he will bless with a payday, instead of demanding he engage opponents that are worthy in our estimation. And Broner feels entitled to keep fighting against competition that
he has arguably not earned the right to fight. When has Broner beaten a great fighter in a clear and convincing fashion? Thats what champions
generally do.
Why does Broner get another crack at a champion? Why does Broner get this payday? Because we accept it, that is why. Broner the uncouth individual who could not even shake Paulie's hand, Broner the self appointed one, shoved down fans throats with the immortal words of big brother Floyd “love me hate me, you will pay to see me.”
And that is the “problem” and not the problem with the “problem” Broner, that is the problem with boxing fans. We have given up so much power that we will pay to see a guy who has not proven jack in the ring because he has potential, connections and virtually for all purpose, the same self appointed
status as a Charlie Z. We will let Arum tell us who we can watch fight, along with the other promoters....We let boxing commissions censor fighters like Tyson Fury for telling the truth and if that is not enough? We let the British Boxing Commission almost stop the best heavyweight fight in years!
We look at a young hard working fighter who is getting better every fight, like Derrick Chisora and call him a wife beater and thug....yet endorse a truly morally reprehensible unworthy like Broner because he has tithed himself off the church of Floyd courtesy of the the electric kool aid and the hand
extended by De La Hoya (a hand Floyd will perhaps never extend to Pacquiao).
So where does it end with Broner? How many chances does he get? Is he the only guy in the middle divisions with talent? How far will his connections take him? How many threads and discussions will revolve around hoping that the judges are not corrupt enough to raise Broner's hand unless it should
be raised? When will boxing fans remember that paying to see this numbskull get a beat down is still paying him? Wanna pay Broner for that? Lets all pitch in a few bucks, get a pot together and have Kimbo and Broner go at it in a backyard somewhere....winner take all.
I only say this because I know Kimbo is equal to the task... I would never deny Kimbo, a guy who works hard, a payday. With all due respect Broner picked a great name. He is indeed a problem, he is in a word....our problem.
According to Golden Boy CEO, Richard Schaefer, Adrien 'The Problem' Broner (27-1, 22 KO's), has exercised a stipulated rematch clause for a second showdown with Argentinian puncher, Marcos Rene Maidana (35-3, 31 KO's).
Broner, 24, lost his WBA World welterweight title and unbeaten record to the Argentinian in December and has since then expressed a desire, via Twitter, to fight 'El Chino' again, saying that a second fight would be different to the first.
When the pair met at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, last month, 'The Problem' hit the canvas for the first time in his career during the second round. Broner was also dropped for a second time in the eighth round, but showed plenty of heart and determination to the win fight in what was an absorbing contest.
Maidana, 30, recently took to twitter to clarify that nothing has been confirmed on who he will fight next or a date and plans to rest and weigh up his options.
There are many in the boxing world who feel that the move to rematch Maidana could spell disaster for Broner, but flip the coin and many feel that the American would take the Argentinian more seriously and would shine in a second instalment.
Ronda Rousey vs Miesha Tate 2 - A Fight for the Ages
By D.Simon - Dana White has been called many things. It amuses this writer that people want to group him in with the likes of Bob Arum when in fact White has already shown the capacity to change his mind, admit error and benefit from changing horses midstream......something one can hardly attribute to Arum, a man who would allegedly rather publicly exploit the loyalty of his star fighter Manny Pacquiao, than agree to step aside and let Pacquiao try to make a fight with Floyd Mayweather. Case in point is White's decision to let female competitors into the UFC.
Read on after the break, or discuss in our MMA forum
We all work on the principle of self interest but White was willing to put aside the possibility of a risk to his demographic constituent to give someone, in this case Rousey, an opportunity to put up, or shut
up.
That insurance policy paid off big this weekend....When The Rousey vs Tate fight electrified the fans even as the main event was cut short due to an injury. What transpired this weekend was something very special: a female fight not only took center stage, but was exceptional enough to stand on its own and carry the show.
The skill, tactics, ebb & flow of emotion, will and strength, particularly displayed by Meisha Tate, was exceptional. While Rousey won the match on a submission and was also exceptional, Tate showed a level of skill and resolve that was frankly, mind boggling.
Analyzing the fight from Tate's perspective the level of skill will become apparent, but may go over the heads of many who view combat exclusively as a male enterprise. Call this writer a male chauvinist but he sees a difference and a subsequent brilliance regarding Tate's choices and execution in this fight. When Tate punched Ronda in the face successfully, as she did,
From a so called logical, right brain perspective, Tate would have tried to keep the fight stand up and avoided going to the ground. Instead, Tate challenged Ronda and her own demons and not only fought most of the match on the ground, but actually initiated the grappling.... time after time getting out of positions that Ronda put her in, escaping arm bars, nullifying the superior strength and skill of Ronda's Judo with grit, and striking out at the right moments to frustrate Ronda (Ronda's face said it all).
Tate's performance was a testament to why Judo and Jiu Jiutsu players have always hated to fight wrestlers. Tate showed expert skill in picking the correct times to use force on the ground against a physically stronger opponent and defending vis a vis “unlocking” submissions that most would not escape.Tate, in exorcising her demons and handling Ronda's ground attack for most of the fight, while also successfully striking Ronda, laid down the blueprint to beating Ronda for future opponents.
I believe that while Tate sacrificed the sporting, short term victory, she gained a moral victory and showed that Ronda can be dealt with on the ground and “punched in the face” (to quote Tate)....something Ronda obviously does not enjoy! I enjoy following both these women and have a deep respect for both of them.
This fight was fantastic and is a study in tactics involving technical precision, the use of submissions, how to fight submissions, the timing, i.e. when to fight versus when to wait and how to make a point in the ring....Broner take note!
On June 8, 2013, it took Adonis "Superman" Stevenson just 76 seconds to announce himself on the World stage; landing a devastating left hand to rip the WBC light heavyweight title from "Bad" Chad Dawson's clutches. This Saturday night, Stevenson aims to produce the goods once again as he attempts to keep the lineal championship with victory over Tavoris "Thunder" Cloud.
Stevenson, 21(18)-1-0, made his pro debut in 2006 at the age of 29. It was a late start in to boxing but he has most certainly made up for lost time. After 13 straight wins, Stevenson suffered the first and only loss of his career to date at the hands of journeyman Darnell Boone; who knocked Stevenson out in two rounds. "Superman" wiped the dust off his cape to record six straight wins inside the distance, with two of those wins coming by way of knockout. Stevenson then avenged the defeat to Boone in March earlier this year; crushing him in six rounds.
A move up from super middleweight to light heavyweight to face Dawson for the WBC 175lb title had some people questioning Stevenson's ability to carry his power up the weights. The southpaw, though, went from relative obscurity to champion of the world in stunning fashion; proving that he really has dynamite in his left hand. That win sent shock waves through the boxing world. The manner in which the 36-year-old native of Haiti beat the former WBC champ was frightening and impressive. Stevenson now faces Tavoris Cloud in only his second fight at light heavyweight.
Cloud, 24(19)1-0, claimed the vacant IBF 175lb strap back in 2009 after outworking a durable Clinton Woods over 12 absorbing rounds. Cloud retained the IBF belt twelve months later, seeing off the battle-hardened Glen Johnson with victory coming via unanimous decision. Just four months after beating Johnson, the 31-year-old Tallahassee, Florida-native, came up against Columbian knockout artist, Fulgencio Zuniga. The Columbian was down but not out on two occasions during the contest, but he was able to hear the final bell and was well beaten on points.
Cloud successfully defended the IBF crown for the third time in June 2011, stopping Yusaf Mack in 8 rounds. In Cloud's fourth defense, his opponent; Spaniard, Gabriel Campillo, was on the receiving end of a controversial points defeat. Many who had observed the action believed that Campillo should have been awarded the win. Cloud and Jean Pascal were then pencilled in to face each other last August, but Pascal withdrew due to a hand injury. Bernard Hopkins stepped in and took on Cloud at a later date which came on March 9 earlier this year. Cloud really did meet his match on this occasion. Hopkins was far too crafty and sharp over the 12 rounds and he now has possession of the IBF light heavyweight title.
Adonis Stevenson-Tavoris Cloud has the makings to be an incredibly exciting matchup. Stevenson has now proven that he can bang at 175lbs. He has said that he wasn't surprised that he knocked out Chad Dawson, because power is power and he's a power puncher. Stevenson, though, may need to showcase his all-round skills on the night if the fight becomes a tactical affair. Cloud has proven over the years that he has punching power too. He can also box and fights aggressively and he also has a solid chin, but if Stevenson lands something concrete on the button it'll be interesting to see how Cloud reacts.
Cloud has fought at a higher level to Stevenson, but boxing's all about timing and Cloud may just come up against a fighter who has reached his peak.
"Superman" returns and he is intent on proving he is "The Man of Steel"; but "Thunder" could strike!
By Jimbo McNugget, Fightbeat boxing correspondent - The boxing season returns on August 17 as Britain’s Darren “Dazzling” Barker challenges Australia’s, Daniel “Real Deal” Geale, for the IBF middleweight title. The pair are set to clash at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Barker and Geale have been on a collision course since 2002 when they both won Gold medals at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, albeit in different weight classes. They both have solid amateur backgrounds and World-class experience as pros and are at a point in their careers where a win on August 17 would set them up for more big fights on the World stage. They understand what a win would do for their career and how a loss would affect them. They each have tons of heart and a desire to succeed, which will make this fight very exciting and the occasion overall very special.
Read on, or discuss in our boxing forum
Barker (25-1-0, 16 KO’s), is aiming to dethrone Geale, who claimed the IBF 160lb strap back in May 2011. Of course, Barker has fought on the World stage once before, when he challenged Argentina’s, Sergio Martinez, for the WBC ‘Diamond’ middleweight title in October 2011. Barker was knocked down and counted out during the 11th round of that title fight, but only after providing plenty of problems for Martinez. There was no shame in losing to the Argentine. who, at 38 years of age, is still widely regarded as the King of the middleweight division. Since that loss, Barker has been in fine form, beating Welshman Kerry Hope in four rounds and Italian, Simone Rotolo, in four rounds also. If “Dazzling” Darren is successful and defeats Geale, he will join four other British fighters (Randy Turpin, Alan Minter, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank), who have each claimed a World middleweight title.
It would be an amazing achievement and a special story for Barker if he was to beat the Australian. Now, at the age of 31, Barker has had to battle through the kind of injuries and devastating setbacks that would have broken lesser men. Mentally, the Barnet man is in a very good place and is extremely focused ahead of his big night. Barker is dedicating this fight to his Brother, Gary Barker (R.I.P), who he tragically lost seven years ago. This is a fight that he is ready to give his absolute all for in order to win and it would mean everything to him and his family if he came out victorious.
Geale (29-1-0, 15 KO’s), claimed the IBF middleweight title after beating Germany’s, Sebastian Sylvester, in 2011. After two successful defenses of the belt, he added the WBA ‘Super’ World title in September 2012, when he beat another German, Felix Sturm. In his last outing in January, Geale fought Countryman, Anthony Mundine, to claim the IBF belt for a fifth successive time. Geale’s one and only defeat as a pro was against Mundine back in 2009, so it was a case of sweet revenge.
At 32 years of age, Geale is still very ambitious and has many more goals he wants to achieve. He is confident in his own ability, but he knows what he is up against when he faces a hungry Darren Barker on August 17. Geale is certainly not looking past Barker, but he does feel that he is being underestimated by many critics and fans. Let us not forget that Geale traveled to Germany on those two occasions when he beat Sylvester and Sturm, so he knows what it takes to win on foreign soil.
Geale believes Barker is going to provide a stern test, but this is what he wants – he wants to be pushed hard.This is a real pick-em sort of fight and it will certainly come down to who wants it the most that will win. With their styles, I am expecting fireworks, but the first round or two may be a bit cagey. It is tough to make a prediction for this, but my head says Geale and my heart says Barker.
By Jimmy McNugget - Kazakhstan's Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin remains the WBA World and IBO middleweight champion after producing a composed, educated and calculating performance against Matthew Macklin in Connecticut on June 29. The way in which 'GGG' finished off Macklin was simply stunning to behold!
Golovkin, 31, now moves to 27(24)-0-0. He was punch-perfect throughout the contest against Macklin. He landed a precise left hook to the body midway through the 3rd round which sent Macklin crashing to the canvas. The Anglo-Irish fighter was clearly in some pain and discomfort. Macklin could not recover and get to his feet. Referee, Eddie Cotton, counted him out and stopped the fight with 1:22 of the 3rd round having elapsed.....
Adrien 'The Problem' Broner - more hype than hope?
By Jimmy McNugget, FightBeat boxing correspondent - We are all now aware of who Adrien Broner is. He's pretty much become this egotistical, obnoxious person who truly believes in his own importance and ability. You either love him or you hate him.
Whatever your opinion is of him, as a person or fighter, you can't help but tune in to watch him. I suppose that in itself is an achievement. But, Broner's main ambition is to achieve superstardom. Once Floyd Mayweather Jr retires, he truly believes that he's destined to take over and sit on the P4P throne for years to come. He also believes that no fighter can solve 'The Problem'........
Broner recently moved up two weight divisions to take on the flamboyant Paulie 'Magic Man' Malignaggi, who held the WBA World 147lb belt. In fact, on fight night, it was Malignaggi who looked like the guy moving up two weight divisions. Practically all of us at Fightbeat predicted a Broner win. There was just no way that Malignaggi, who, although is a very tough and experienced fighter, but, with respect, throws pitty pat punches, could win. Broner was just all wrong for him we said. Well, Broner won, but he didn't win in the fashion that most of us believed he would. Instead, Broner claimed a split-decision victory. One Judge awarded Malignaggi a 115-113 decision. The other two Judges scored it 115-113 and 117-111 in favour of Broner.
It was a gutsy performance from Malignaggi. The FightBeat expert boxing panel all agree though that Broner deserved the win. His punches made more of an impression and we feel that he had control of the contest, even though at times it looked as if he struggled. There were mixed opinions on Broner's performance amongst the FightBeat experts however and here's what one side of the coin had to say:
"I just don't think he's as good as he or his fanboys think he is and he's pretty much one-dimensional. He's worried too much about looking bad!"
"Broner is simply not as good as advertised but he's talented, relaxed and throws good, accurate shots. He has not got great generalship though and has poor IQ. He just looks for one shot. Broner fights like a guy afraid to look bad... He's overrated as hell!"
"It's apparent he has talent, but how good he is has yet to be determined. What gets me over and over is that a single right from Hatton had Paulie in all sorts of trouble. Hatton was never a banger as such with the right. If Broner is this amazing force he is supposed to be, then he's got to be putting more of a dent in dudes."
"Using this fight as a measuring stick against the performances of Cotto and Hatton tells me Broner's got a long way to go before being the next Roger Mayweather, never mind Floyd."
Here's what the other side of the coin had to say:
"I feel that people are overreacting and writing him off too quickly. He's still only 23 years old, and moved up two weight classes to beat not an elite fighter, but a world class fighter and a guy with a lot of experience against the elite. Also the first time he ever went 12 rounds, so it is a positive that he finally got 12 round experience."
"Food for thought, but at 23 nobody thought a goddamn thing about Andre Ward. He didn't peak and become elite until 25-26. Does that mean Broner will ever be as good as Ward? Possibly not, but it's premature to write a 23 yr old off as a fraud after winning an 8-4 decision over a world class, experienced fighter."
"Though I dislike Broner's antics outside the ring, we also have to take into consideration that he jumped up 2 weight classes. Perhaps that could be a reason why he didn't expend more energy. I mean if it was easy to jump up 2 weight classes without having any adjustments to the weight everyone would be doing it. Yeah he didn't do what we had thought he should have done but he gotta get some credit for moving up the way he did."
As you see, there's been much discussion involving the Broner-Malignaggi fight, Broner's performance and whether or not Broner is destined for greatness. Things are going from good to great for him at the minute, and you can't knock what he's achieved in the sport so far, but if Broner wants to prove himself then the fights are out there for him to do so.
Many in the boxing World believe he has the tools to take the sport by storm, but some are not yet sold on him, and at FightBeat we are pretty much drunk off our brain split too. Only time will tell whether or not Broner will become an all-time great, but for now the Jury is still out.
By Jimbo McNugget - A majority of Fightbeat boxing experts are somewhat pessimistic about the state of boxing these days, while some are more optimistic. But, collectively, we know cheap booze talent when we see it and in Terence Crawford, we actually agree that we have someone who has the potential to achieve great things in the sport.
Crawford (21-0-0, 16 KO's), is from Omaha, Nebraska, USA. He started boxing at the age of 7 and had a successful amateur career, claiming a Gold medal at the U.S. Pan American Games Box-Offs in 2007.
We got another chance to see Crawford on TV as he featured on the Mikey Garcia-Juan Manuel Lopez undercard on June 15. He came up against Mexican, Alejandro Sanabria. It was Crawford's second 10 round contest and another test of his credentials.
'Bud' showed patience and craftiness as he dismantled Sanabria, who had an excellent record. Crawford walked through him in 6 rounds, finishing the fight off with the first shot of the 6th round in fact. Crawford never gave Sanabria a minute's break. 'Bud' broke him down and took him out. This is what we want to see, Crawford clearly has the power to match his skill.
To us, Crawford does not seem like a flashy or dynamic type of fighter and that's a good thing. He's steady, calm and workmanlike. He's also very relaxed in the ring and thinks about what he's doing. He comes across as the kind of person who keeps his feet firmly grounded and who would not let the fame get to him.
He looks as if he has the tools to make a name for himself. We find Crawford's style far more enjoyable to the eye than the new-am style of some of his more hyped counterparts. We also like the name Terence too, so that gives us even more reason to believe in him!
By Jimbo McNugget, FightBeat UK boxing correspondent - Hey Paulie, you got a problem to deal with! "Are you talking to me?...I said, are you talking to meeee?....Get the F##k outta here!" This has been the type of response from the 'Magic Man' whenever 'The Problem' opens his mouth and says his name.
Paulie 'Magic Man' Malignaggi and Adrien 'The Problem' Broner have trash-talked a fair bit ahead of their WBA World welterweight title bout showdown. As we all know though, you don't win fights with your mouth you win them with your fists!
The pair go head-to-head at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York on June 22.
'The Problem' has indeed shown some respect towards the 'Magic Man', but in his own "unique" way.
"I take this serious but he’s a clown. He’s going to come in with a lot of colors, with big feet and colored hair and I’m going to punch his nose red!" Said Broner.
The 23-year-old may act and have a fairly similar style to Floyd Jr, but he's not quite Floyd Jr.
Broner, who was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, is confident of claiming the WBA World title from Malignaggi. If he wins then he would claim a third World title (even though many disregard this title as meaningful), in a third weight class.
Malignaggi, 32, is attempting to defend the WBA World 147lb title for a second time, which he claimed in 2012 from Ukraine's, Vyacheslav Senchenko. The 'Magic Man' is the underdog in this bout in his hometown, but is confident of solving 'The Problem'.
Me thinks Broner beats Malignaggi as the 'Magic Man' simply doesn't have enough pop to keep Broner honest. Broner will counter Malignaggi all night long and has the power to really trouble him.
Malignaggi's cruising for a bruising, so he better conjure up a magic potion ahead of June 22 in order to beat Broner!
By Wrigley Brogan - A country’s food says much about the temperament of its population. Chinese food tends to be rather mild with many gentle spices and subtle flavors, the sweet and sour often mixed together, some noodles soft, some hard and crunchy, the soups thin and watery. Chinese food hardly upsets anyone.
Mexican food always has a kick. Thick with a minimum of rich spices and chili sauce there are no subtleties on the plate. Corn and flour tortillas wrap around smoky chicken or beef or fish mixed with guacamole and sour cream. Cream and cheese ooze from smashed peppers as they float on a bed of onion and chili sauces. Soup is thick and tangy and filled with tortillas, chicken, onions, peppers, and large of avocados. People not used to eating Mexican food might find themselves groaning on the couch with a bellyache.
Ik Yang is a Chinese lightweight concerned with his career. With a record of 13-0-0-9KO, eleven of those wins came from Asian opponents whose fighting ability may be somewhat suspect. Yang understood that. He also understood he might be a big star in Asia but he is a man with personal pride. He does not want to be an Asian lightweight champion; he wants to be a world champion. To that end he has moved to Spokane, Washington where he started training with heavyweight Chauncy Wellever. That training saw him through his first American bout at Little Creek Casino, a second round knockout.
Yang is now training with Jessie Reed. The improvement showed in his recent first round KO of Roger Perez (4-3-1), a solid fighter from Flordia.
Yang might be the real deal. One thing for certain. He has come to the United States to learn how to eat tacos.
