Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Joshua/Klitschko, Canelo/Chavez Jr., & The Heavyweight Division!

05/01/201705/01/2017 Vivek Wallace

Raymond H. (London, UK): As a HUGE Joshua fan, I was elated to see him actually pull the victory out last Saturday! How did you rate his overall performance against Klitschko? And how do you see a potential rematch going?

Vito W. (ESB): Going into the showdown I had a laundry list of questions surrounding both men. On the heels of everything we saw take place up until the final bell, I think it’s safe to say that many questions raised are now questions answered; but not quite all. I think we first have to start by congratulating both men on an amazing effort. Secondly, I think we have to give thanks to both men for actually putting it all on the line and agreeing to face one another in an era of the sport where men find more reasons why they shouldn’t square off than supportive reasons why they should (square off)! Final feedback from my angle includes both pluses and minuses for both men. Here’s a quick rundown of what they look like:

Wladimir Klitschko v Anthony Joshua: Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, Official Prediction

04/29/201704/29/2017 Vivek Wallace

The Heavyweight division was once the most coveted division in the sport. After the exit of legendary greats such as Tyson, Lewis, Holyfield and Vitali Klitschko, the division has seen questions raised, yet not all questions answered. The one mainstay with any true legitimacy over that span has been Wladimir Klitschko. An awkward style, heavy on hugs, light on the type of rage and aggression that Heavyweight fans love has left many questioning his true greatness. As Klitschko reaches the latter phase of his career, he faces perhaps the most dynamic force he has ever faced in his illustrious career. As we prepare for this showdown, we take a look at Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, and an Official Prediction.

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Ward, GGG, Lomachenko, & Klitschko/Joshua!!

04/11/2017 Vivek Wallace

Robbie N. (Texas): You can argue that Andre Ward lost (to Kovalev), we saw GGG look beatable against Jacobs, and Roman Gonzalez is obviously beatable, as well. What argument can be made against placing Lomachenko as #1 in your opinion?

Vito W.: I’ll give my thoughts, but as I’ve indicated before, I don’t subscribe to the ‘mythical’ angle. When we look at the text book definition of P4P, there’s no true angle for multiple men to wear that badge at one time. (For further explanation, please see past articles/mailbags where I’ve touched on that topic). As it relates to the ‘mythical’ perspective, I still think naysayers have an angle to keep him from the #1 spot, for the simple fact that he hasn’t done enough in the sport to claim the title. I think from a skill standpoint, what makes him most dangerous is the fact that he has an amazing offense to dispatch with that incredible footwork/defense. The last guy we saw deeply skilled on both offense and defense has some thinking he’s “TBE” (Mayweather). Loma has very similar attributes, and as a result, could create that same type of legacy.

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Golovkin, Canelo, & Brook v Spence

03/27/201703/27/2017 Vivek Wallace

Eric M. (Bronx, NYC): Oscar De la Hoya said that he will take his offer off the table and change it for a potential clash between Canelo and Golovkin. Considering that GGG just won against Jacobs, why does that make sense if they truly want the fight?

Vito W.: I’m not quite sure why, but there’s a popular consensus out there that Oscar’s move was the wrong one. Personally, I think any other promoter in the sport would have made the same move if given the same set of circumstances. When Goldenboy Promotions extended the offer to Golovkin before, I felt it was a bit generous, considering that it was leaps and bounds above anything Golovkin could land anywhere else. Still, they justified the deal based on the growing pulse in the sport around his name. Not results. Simply the ‘buzz’. There was nothing in his resume that earned him a guarantee on the $10M+ level at any previous point.

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Golovkin, Chocolatito, Jacobs, & Ward/Kovalev

03/20/201703/20/2017 Vivek Wallace

Juan E. (Houston, TX): Roman Gonzalez was my top P4P fighter coming into the fight, and regardless of his loss, I still have him there. What were your thoughts on his performance and the decision?

Vito W.: Similar to my thoughts on Golovkin, I disagree with Chocolatito being the top P4P fighter in the sport, and pretty much for identical reasons. I think the whole ‘mythical’ element of the P4P discussion is very watered down, as it only takes into account star power and excitability, not skills. I’ve always viewed the P4P mantle as one to be given to the talent which is the purist, and best talent fundamentally overall. Not just offense and excitability; but defense and adaptation. Judging by the mythical element (excitability, etc), guys like Golovkin and Gonzalez belong on top. But my issue with that sentiment is this: what separates them from the young Margarito’s and Felix Trinidad’s of the world? Those two fighters, as well as Golovkin and Gonzalez would all struggle against deft talents with pure skills to make them miss and make them pay.

Golovkin v Jacobs: Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, Official Prediction

03/19/201703/18/2017 Vivek Wallace

Every generation in the sport seems to bless fans and media with a rare talent that embodies the innate ability to put cheeks-in-seats with an almost effortless element of star power. For some of those talents, the attraction to be witnessed is more ‘power’ than ‘star’. Tonight, that source sits center stage, showcasing the very power that made him a star. The Kazakhstan born native is a talent with the clarity of “HD”, has a punch that jumps at you like 3-D, and rather than his first and last name, he’s simply known to the world as 3 “G”. The man in the opposite corner tonight has a legacy outside of the ring that rivals anything either has accomplished inside of it. As these two forces prepare to collide, we take one final look at Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, and an Official Prediction:

Garcia vs Thurman: Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, Official Prediction

03/04/2017 Vivek Wallace

The welterweight division has long been one of Boxing’s most storied divisions. Tonight, the welterweight division will sit center stage again as fans get to witness the first unification bout on network TV in over 20 years. There’s no better way to do it than with two undefeated power punchers. There’s been a lot of talk surrounding which of these two men will be the torch bearer for the division in the post-Mayweather era. Some feel it’ll be Danny Garcia (33-0, 19KO’s). Others tip their hat to Keith Thurman (27-0, 22KO’s). Other names remain in the mix, but for tonight, these two young lions get to make their case. As we prepare for this clash, we analyze Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, and an Official Prediction.

Kovalev vs Ward: Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, Official Prediction

11/19/201611/19/2016 Vivek Wallace

Tonight, fans around the globe will tune in to what could very well go down as the “Fight of the Year” when American Gold Medalist, Andre Ward (30-0, 15KO’s) takes on Russian Sergey Kovalev (30-0, 26KO’s). 60 victories and no defeats between these two shining stars, although at the end of the night, one of them will face an element of the sport they’ve never quite been a part of. That element? The agony of defeat! As we prepare for this showdown, we take a look at Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, and an Official Prediction:

Andre Ward v Sergey Kovalev Preview

11/19/201611/18/2016 Vivek Wallace

The sport of boxing has seen an evolution that few welcome, and most hate. Out went the warriors of yesterday, in came a group of talents that prefer to talk heavy and swing light. The good ole days when the best fought the best seem to be a thing of the past. This unspoken truth makes Saturday nights showdown between Russian Sergey Kovalev (30-0, 26KO’s) and American Andre Ward (30-0, 15KO’s) literally a fight for the ages! What was once a spoken possibility is now a reality. With only 4 days until fight night, we take a closer look at these two talents ahead of Saturday’s Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, and Official Prediction.

GGG vs Brook: Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, Final Prediction!

09/10/2016 Vivek Wallace

In just a few hours, questions raised will be questions answered as undefeated Middleweight king, Gennady G. Golovkin (35-0, 32KO’s) squares off against undefeated Welterweight warrior, Kell Brook (36-0, 25KO’s) in London’s O2 Arena. In a sport known to measure heart and will, some feel the big difference tonight could come down to skill. Despite being the smallest man Golovkin has faced in his career, (on paper), the cerebral style of Brook, combined with relatively good power could serve as an ultimate spoiler when the final bell sounds. As we prepare for this showdown, we’ll take a quick glimpse at Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, and an Official Prediction.