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Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Gennady G. Golovkin vs Daniel Geale, and A Look at Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s Weight Struggles

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Gennady G. Golovkin vs Daniel Geale, and A Look at Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez's Weight Struggles

Dexter H. (Oakland, CA): I’ve reached the conclusion that GGG is a legitimate problem! I just can’t see this guy losing. What I like is that there are no steroid allegations, or no illegal hand-wrap allegations. Dude is just solid. He wants Cotto next. Do you think Cotto takes the fight? And how do you see that one going down?

Vivek W. (ESB): I admit, it’s becoming harder and harder for me to fight the urge of following his growing fan base in ordaining him as “that guy”! By the term “that guy”, I mean “that guy” who the media begins to conveniently place in sentences next to the words “most feared”, “most dangerous”, “next biggest star”, and “unbeatable”. He’s a heavy handed puncher, he likes to bang, and he’s proven that more often than not, he’ll be the last man standing if his opponent decides to do it with him. I can totally respect that and support him as a growing phenom in the sport. That being said, here’s my thoughts on a showdown between he and Cotto:

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GGG – a modest definition of danger?

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Gennady Golovkin did not waste a move in obliterating Daniel Geale at the Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. There were no surprises and Golovkin fought the same fight he usually does and overpowered his terrified opponent.

There was a huge difference in the expressions and conduct of the rivals while Michael Buffer made the announcements. Golovkin was calm and collected, relaxed but focused; he exuded an aura of prime physical confidence and peace of mind. Geale on the other hand was nervous, restless and anxious and he needed to prance and jitter incessantly.

Golovkin has great technique and tactical savvy but he seemed to have no time for such fancy pleasantries once the fight started. He scrapped the jab in favor of a power left that easily turned into a hook and his right hands had no scoring intentions, they meant trouble. He did not even give Geale the respect of using proper boxing defense, GGG simply shrugged off Geale’s shots or walked through them undeterred. He responded in kind for every shot he took and there was a price to pay for hitting GGG. He did not revert to deep defense after he got tagged; he kept his eyes open and seizes his chance.

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Fury pulls out of Ustinov fight: One bizarre week in British boxing!

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Who’d be a boxing promoter!

This time last week, fight fans, especially British heavyweight fight fans, were looking forward to the scheduled and quite long since announced return meeting between colourful characters (an understatement) Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora. The fight was given an extra element of spice thanks to Fury’s shenanigans at the London, open to the public, press conference.

Fury was on his A-game when it came to trash talking and being as funny as he was crude. The BBB of C didn’t enjoy what he did, or had to say (especially the latter), but some fans sure did.

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Tyson Fury 18st five pounds Alexander Ustinov 20st five oz

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Tyson Fury and Alexander Ustinov faced off during their weigh in for tomorrow nights eagerly awaited heavyweight clash this afternoon. Ustinov took to the scales tipping in at 20st 5oz while Fury came in almost two stone lighter at 18st 5 pounds

Ustinov, a cerebral looking individual, looked considerably slimmer than has been seen in previous bouts, still packing those immensely powerful arms and upper body. Fury, as promised, looked svelte, trim and athletic. His physique was a far cry from that which we saw against Joey Abell in his most recent bout. The crowd were fired up as the Manchester showman arrived, and in contrast to his press conference appearances Tyson seemed to really have his game face on as the two went head to head. Tyson announced he’s ‘going to inflict pain on you.’ Ustinov simply smiled off the trash talk.

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How much will Saturday night tell us about the future of Tyson Fury?

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In a bout no one could have foreseen or predicted, this Saturday night boxing fans shall witness Tyson Fury attempt to maintain his lofty world ranking against the dangerous fringe contender Alexander Ustinov. The collapse of the Dereck Chisora rematch renders any discussion of him, or Fury’s attitude to him a moot point. What fight fans need to consider is what this bout has the potential to tell us about Fury’s current standing in the division, and whether or not it shall serve as a good indicator of Fury’s ability to mentally reign himself in after massive disappointment.

Whether loved or loathed the Mancunian giant inspires opinion among all those who watch him fight, or even just hear him speak. Many including this author see massive potential on a world level in Tyson Fury; however, large bastions of boxing’s faithful will be very quick to arrogantly dismiss him as an overblown hype job. The polarizing views fans have about Tyson Fury are not quite as easy to understand as one might think.

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Tyson Fury cannot get a break! Third fight in a row off

Tyson Fury cannot get a break! Third fight in a row off

As fight fans have most probably read by now, this Saturday’s WBO heavyweight title eliminator between British heavyweights Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora is off, as Chisora suffered a fractured hand in his final day of sparring. This is bad news for all concerned, but it is especially unimaginably frustrating news for Fury and his whole team.

As Fury himself or the fans didn’t need reminding, this fight being off marks the THIRD time in a row the unbeaten giant has worked his ass off in training camp only with absolutely nothing to show for it. Twice Fury set up camp for a clash with David Haye, only for Haye to get himself injured ahead of both dates. Now, with a long training camp under his belt and a number of press conferences and other media duties fulfilled, Fury is sure to be, well, furious at his rematch with Chisora falling apart. What must be so annoying for Fury is the fact that all three of his scheduled bouts fell apart so close to the actual day of the fight.

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Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Floyd Mayweather’s “Questionable” Past?, Maidana Glove Controversy, & Rigondeaux’s

Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Floyd Mayweather's "Questionable" Past?, Maidana Glove Controversy, & Rigondeaux's

(Photo credit: Idris Erba) Kaleb G. (Boston, MA): I noticed that you’ve been pretty quiet on the topic of Floyd Mayweather and the way the media overlooks his past, as it relates to domestic violence and so forth. What are your thoughts on the recent article in “Deadspin”?

Vivek W. (ESB): I’ve received several emails from fight fans asking for my thoughts on this topic. I initially chose not to comment, for the simple fact that I prefer not to talk on topics in which I don’t have a complete education on. And furthermore, I’m not familiar with Deadspin, and have never seen them represented in a Boxing media room; so that’s a dead giveaway that their sources probably have limited facts, as well.

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Guillermo Rigondeaux destroys Sod Kokietgym inside a round (with a little controversy thrown in!)

Guillermo Rigondeaux destroys Sod Kokietgym inside a round (with a little controversy thrown in!)

Today in Macao, WBA and WBO super-bantamweight king Guillermo Rigondeaux scored a devastating 1st-round KO over the experienced and usually very durable Sod Kokietgym of Thailand. The incredibly gifted 33-year-old Cuban southpaw improved to 14-0(9) with the quick, 1-minute 44-seconds win. 37-year-old Sod, also a southpaw, fell to 63-3-1(28).

Expected by just about everyone to win either late on or via somewhat dull decision (the knock on Rigondeaux is that he is defensive minded and boring to watch), the former two-time Olympic gold medallist instead put on a show of power punching. Before today’s fight – perhaps angry at having been rejected by a certain cable T.V giant who refused to take his most recent fight – Rigondeaux promised he’d be more explosive against Sod. The Cuban delivered.

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The case against the Boxing Purists

The case against the Boxing Purists

Boxing purists are a group of fans that like nothing better than to fawn over the defensive skills and ‘tactical mastery’ of fighters who most normal fans would simply describe as boring. Whilst there is nothing inherently wrong with appreciating the defensive aspects of the sport, boxing purists often look down on aggressive, come forward fighters who try to force the action as being one dimensional and lacking in genuine boxing skills.

Like a bunch of snooty College Professors they usually regard ‘lefty’ Southpaws to be inherently superior to Orthodox fighters, a belief which is as baseless as it is predictable. Purists are also some of the most vocal whiners and complainers when a close decision does not go their way and it is time their charges were rebuked.

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