Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Mayweather/Pacquiao, Cotto, Garcia, & Guerrero/Thurman!

02/06/201502/05/2015 Vivek Wallace

Chris H. (Dallas, TX): Reports have spread that Miguel Cotto will be announcing his next opponent in a week or so. What are the odds that Floyd Mayweather has opted to face him instead of Pacquiao at this time? And if not, do you think the Pacquiao fight gets done?

Vivek W. (ESB): All eyes in and around the sport remain locked on Mayweather and Pacquiao. I’ve said from day one that there are more layers to this mess than meets the eye, and as time goes on, we’re reminded of exactly how complex these negotiations are. Years ago, these two men stood to make two incredibly healthy pay checks. Despite Pacquiao being knocked out and on the losing end a few times, the demand for this fight is even greater now than it’s ever been, which may actually have a lot to do with why the fight can’t seem to be made.

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Floyd Mayweather, Marcos Maidana, Timothy Bradley, and more!

09/16/2014 Vivek Wallace

Layton F. (Brooklyn, NY): I never thought I’d see the day, but to me, Floyd Mayweather looked old and out of sorts. I just didn’t think he looked the same. Is it safe to say that he’s no longer the guy he was?

Vivek W. (ESB): The old adage has it that “time waits for no man”! Oddly, we’ve seen Floyd Mayweather dominate for so long that we’ve grown accustomed to the notion that he’s some blind exception to the rule, and unfortunately, this is not the case. While there were some points that just didn’t quite seem normal for him, statistically, we see the same level of success. From day one, Mayweather’s statistics have been mid to high 50 percentile (or greater) in offensive connection rates; all while holding the opponent down to a very low 20 percentile connection rate in exchange. Has he been touched a bit more lately? Certainly seems that way, but again, all percentages remain intact, so is he truly “slippin” (as Steven A. Smith of ESPN went on record to say)?

Floyd Mayweather and Marcos Maidana give camp updates and thoughts on their September 13 rematch

08/08/201408/08/2014 Showtime Boxing

(Photo credit: SHOWTIME/Esther Lin, Mayweather Promotions/Idris Erb) LAS VEGAS (August 8, 2014) – As we inch closer to the highly anticipated boxing event “MAYHEM: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2,” both Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Marcos “El Chino” Maidana participated in separate “network affiliate days” earlier this week in promotion of the SHOWTIME PPV presentation of their rematch.

Here’s what the fighters had to say with just over a month to go before mayhem in Las Vegas.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER, Eleven-Time, Five-Division World Champion

“The first fight was action packed for the first four rounds before I took control. He has the will to win like I do. He’s a tough competitor and he has Argentina on his back–and of course I represent the red, white and blue so we must give the fans what they want to see… It’s another blockbuster.

Floyd Mayweather Media Day Photos and Quotes

04/23/201404/23/2014 Showtime Boxing

FLOYD MAYWEATHER, 10-Time World Champion

“In 18 years I haven’t brought my best out yet. Being around the sport for so long, I have a lot of experience. I’ve boxed my whole life. I’ve never worked a job.

“As I get older I want to settle down and be with my family. I’ve had enough fun.

“It feels good to be in camp. Everyone on the team is ready to go out and do what we do best.

“This is a give and take type of sport. Al Haymon has done a good job. Leonard Ellerbe has done a good job. Now it’s time for me to go out and do what I do.

The Pound-for-Pound Top 10

04/17/201404/16/2014 Jazz Singh Gill

The recent Manny Pacquaio vs Tim Bradley rematch was another rare chance for boxing fans to see two certified members of the fabled pound-for-pound top 10 compete.

The result of the fight did much to change the mythical rankings that only exists in people’s heads. And despite only being opinion, the pound-for-pound rankings are given more credence than any title, making these opinions as valuable as anything in sport today.

Of course, fighters can only earn the right to seriously be considered members of this elite club that so many never reach. Only through consistency, quality and bravery will a fighter ever be considered a pound-for-pound top 10 fighter. For this reason, the following list may have a few omissions that will raise a few eyebrows.

Danny Garcia eyes future Mayweather showdown if he beats Herrera this Saturday

03/13/201403/12/2014 BoxNation

Unified light-welterweight world champion Danny Garcia is unfazed at being overlooked as Floyd Mayweather’s next opponent.

The undefeated 25-year-old knows that victory this Saturday night against Mauricio Herrera, live and exclusive on BoxNation, will herald further calls for him to be the next man to face pound-for-pound king Mayweather.

Having blitzed his way past a host of top names in the 140-pound division, Garcia has emerged as one of boxing’s leading lights and returns to action in Puerto Rico this weekend following his momentous victory over Lucas Matthysse last September.

Mayweather Should Have Picked Khan!

02/19/2014 Enlightened-One

Based on recent media reports, it is highly likely that Floyd Mayweather Jr. will probably face Marcos Maidana rather than Amir Khan on Cinco de Mayo weekend (May 3rd), which is a bit of a shame if you ask me, because I feel that a contest against the Brit would have raised the global profile of boxing.

From a purely financial perspective, it made sense for Mayweather Jr. to face Amir Khan, with Broner fighting on the undercard trying to gain some measure of revenge over Marcos Maidana.

However, a lot of casual fans of the sport feel (quite justifiably) that Amir Khan didn’t deserve the privilege of fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr., because he has lost two of his last four bouts and has never achieved anything at welterweight (other than gaining a controversial decision victory over Julio Diaz).

Brawling Hurts the Sweet Science

02/03/201402/02/2014 Paul Strauss

“Gentlemen, come out fighting at the bell.” For years we’ve heard that or similar invitations made to two boxers, not two brawlers. When it’s the latter, the public is turned off and turns away from the sport. Ideally, brawling has no place in the sport; although, it’s always been there. In fact, some of boxing’s most popular and colorful boxers weren’t above fracturing a rule or ten. Guys like Harry Greb, Fritzie Zivic, Sandy Saddler, and Two Ton Tony Galento. The modern day list holds more than just a few. We won’t offend individuals by naming them. The truth is some of the best of our current crop of greats, such as Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Bernard Hopkins, and Andre Ward aren’t above cleverly using elbows, forearms, a glove behind the head pulling a man off balance, and the good old noggin. The difference is the men have many other skills to bring about a victory.

Mayweather now ready to fight Pacquiao?

12/20/2013 Reni M. Valenzuela

The coming year is ideal for the fight to happen, should it ever get to be made. If not 2014, then count everything nice hereunder to be profound poetry or plain satire. Don’t get him wrong. The American top dog is ready to face his biggest challenge anytime soon though he seems to be currently using the PPV numbers comparison as an excuse to avoid a persistent public outcry for him to face the Filipino icon.

Mayweather-Khan is on for May 3rd in Las Vegas, according to The Daily Express!

11/10/201311/09/2013 James Slater

According to an article from UK newspaper The Daily Express – an article that has been read by many people online – the Floyd Mayweather-Amir Khan fight that has been talked about as a possibility for some time will indeed go ahead next May.

The publication reports how the fight has been “finalised” for May 3rd at Mayweather’s second home of The MGM Grand in Vegas. No source is cited in the article but in truth it will not shock too many fans if the paper is correct and hasn’t jumped the gun. Many fans will, however, be angry if Khan gets this massive opportunity.