Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag – Pacquiao, Mayweather, Khan, Thurman, & More!

11/26/2014 Vivek Wallace

Laney G. (Oakland, CA): For the first time in a few years, I feel very strongly about Manny Pacquiao. I thought he looked strong and as good as we’ve seen since the knockout. How did you rate his performance and do you think he’s a threat to Mayweather?

Vivek W. (ESB): I like to look at the big picture when making my assessments. In this situation, like any other, I think it’s another one of those times when you have to also see the good, the bad, and the “ugly”, each for what they truly are. On the “good” side, I would agree, totally, that this is the best I’ve seen Pacquiao since prior to the Marquez stoppage. He threw nearly 700 punches, he was fast, and his power proved to be very much a threat to anyone facing him. There’s a reason why I’ve rated him as my personal favorite offensive fighter in the game for nearly a decade now.

Amir Khan – Devon Alexander Primed And Ready For Dec. 13 Bout

11/06/201411/06/2014 Showtime Boxing

Accomplished and widely recognizable former world champions still in the prime of their careers — Amir Khan and Devon Alexander — participated in a Golden Boy Promotions press conference on Tuesday at The Conga Room at L.A. Live to formally announce “ROYAL BATTLE” on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas; live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). Former world champion Victor Ortiz was also in attendance as he prepares for his undercard bout against an opponent to be named.

An important welterweight battle for both fighters, British superstar and former unified super lightweight world champion “King” Khan (29-3, 19 KOs) of Bolton, England will take on former two-division world champion Alexander “The Great” (26-2, 14 KOs) of St. Louis, Mo., in the 12-round main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.

Khan: I want to show I’m a major force at 147

11/01/2014 Bill Phanco

WBC Silver welterweight champion Amir Khan (29-3, 19 KOs) figures that a win over Devon Alexander (26-2, 14 KOs) will prove to boxing fans that he’s a major player in the welterweight division when he faces him on December 13th on Showtime at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Khan wants to show fans that he’s deserving of a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr, and to do that he needs to dominate the 27-year-old Alexander, who has won world titles in two different divisions during his 10-year pro career.

Amir Khan vs Devon Alexander Dec 13 on Showtime Boxing

11/03/201410/31/2014 Showtime Boxing

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2014) – The stars of boxing’s present and future will be out in full force at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 13, when Golden Boy Promotions in association with Khan Promotions and The Great Promotions present a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader featuring a pivotal welterweight showdown and two world championship fights, live on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Andre Ward, Golovkin, Walters/Donaire, Khan/Alexander

10/27/2014 Vivek Wallace

Marc T. (Athens, GA): I’m tired of hearing all of the talk about Golovkin and how he’s “the most feared man in Boxing”. Andre Ward’s team sent HBO a direct statement saying that he wants the fight, & Golovkin responded in saying he’s basically “not ready” for Ward. What are your thoughts about GGG and this whole “most feared” reputation being built around him?

Vivek W. (ESB): For starters, I think there’s a slight hint of truth to it. Strong promotion and network support can be credited for this growing cult following, slash, bootleg version of an almost Tyson-like mystique. When we look back at Tyson, many of us were young enough to buy into the ‘Boogeyman’ persona that he embodied; but as adults when you look back, it’s very easy to note that most of the men he destroyed had no chance against you and I on two weeks training, let alone him! Our entire perception of Tyson – (one of my personal favorites) – vanished when he faced someone who couldn’t be intimidated and wouldn’t be denied. There lies both my question and answer relative to GGG.

Guerrero: The Khan fight was never offered to me

10/21/2014 Bill Phanco

British boxing star Amir Khan (29-3, 19 KOs) will be fighting former two division world champion Devon Alexander (26-2, 14 KOs) on December 13th at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Before the Alexander fight was agreed on, Khan had been saying that Alexander and Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero were two of the names that they were looking at for his December fight. However, Guerrero says that the fight against Khan was never even offered to him.

“The [Khan] fight was never offered to me,” Guerrero said on his twitter.

Amir Khan faces Devon Alexander on 12/13 on Showtime

10/20/2014 Bill Phanco

Showtime and HBO will have competing boxing shows on December 13th. On Showtime, Amir Khan (29-3, 19 KOs) faces Devon Alexander (26-2, 14 KOs) in the main event at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. On the same night on HBO, former two division world champion Timothy Bradley will be in action against Diego Chaves.

The good news for boxing fans is neither of them will be on pay-per-view, but it’s still not a great thing unless you’ve got Tivo and can record one of the fight cards while viewing the other.

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag – Mayweather vs Khan, Golovkin, Donaire, & Steven A. Smith

10/15/2014 Vivek Wallace

Barry N. (Houston, TX): Floyd Mayweather has ripped several people in the news lately and it’s not only uncalled for, but also kind of hard to understand it all. What do you think is really going on with him lately?

Vivek W. (ESB): The on-going drama we’ve seen lately between these four men have somewhat reached a boiling point. While Smith and Mayweather Sr. have stepped away from the table, it seems little Floyd and Khan still have a few things to air out, which we’ve heard lately. There are so many different angles to this discussion that I don’t even know where to start, but I guess the safest statement for me to lead off with is the fact that I think there’s a hint of truth to all of their respective positions, with the exception of maybe Steven A. Smith’s.

Khan questions whether Mayweather can outbox him

10/15/2014 T.Baker

Recently ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith said on his “First Take” program on ESPN that he felt that if WBA/WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr opted to face Amir Khan but not World Boxing Organization 147lb champion Manny Pacquiao in one of his last two remaining fights that he would come on ESPN and say Mayweather is avoiding a fight against Pacquiao.

Smith had no problems with Mayweather finishing his career with fights against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Miguel Cotto, because he felt those two fighters were worthy for Mayweather to fight instead of Pacquiao. But Smith doesn’t believe Khan is worthy of a fight against Mayweather, as he points out that Khan was destroyed by Danny Garcia in four rounds just two years ago in 2012, and that Khan doesn’t have the same box office appeal as Mayweather does.

Mayweather: Khan has Danny Garcia problems & Pacquiao has Marquez problems

10/10/2014 Rob Smith

WBA/WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr says the recent quotes coming from a British boxing site about him being interested in facing Amir Khan are total lies. Mayweather says he didn’t make those quotes, and he’s not sure who he plans on fighting next.

Mayweather says Khan still has unfinished business with WBA/WBC 140lb champion Danny Garcia, who knocked Khan out in the 4th round two years ago in July 2012. Khan never avenged the loss to Garcia, and he still hasn’t avenged his losses to Breidis Prescott and Lamont Peterson.

Mayweather also says that Manny Pacquiao still has unfinished business with Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao was knocked out cold by Marquez in the 6th round by him two years ago, and he still hasn’t fought Marquez since then to try and avenge the defeat. Marquez reportedly priced himself out of the November fight against Pacquiao by asking for too much money.