The May 9th fight that will come potentially a week late for Mexico’s biggest PPV star (as Floyd and Manny have already bagged the sought-after Mexican bank holiday weekend date, even though Cinco De Mayo is on the 5th) is being billed as “his toughest test yet” in many corners of the media, which is leaving many fight fans, especially neutrals, totally bemused.
I spent this morning watching old boxing clips, compilations of great rounds, profiles of great fighters and the one thing that became obvious was that styles most certainly make fights. Ali was superbly sleek and ultimately elusive until he shared the ring with Frazier whose marauding style negated much of what Ali had to offer. Their trilogy rank amongst the all-time great bouts as styles forced those men into a war that defined an era of the sport. Kenny Norton, the forgotten man, had even more success against Ali and many felt that he actually won two of their three encounters…I happen to be one of those and I always felt a sense of sympathy for the truly brilliant but often overlooked Norton.
On a different level, Marco Antonio Barrera knew all about styles when he opted to face Junior Jones as a warm up for a major showdown with Erik Morales. Jones was no pushover but, on paper, he simply wasn’t in Barrera’s class. I remember watching the bout live and being truly amazed at how inept Barrera was in dealing with the movement of Jones. The rematch was designed to show how a more focused Marco Antonio could easily handle the limited Jones but that backfired also and Junior Jones has a 2-0 record against the legendary Mexican. That Morales later destroyed Jones and Barrera went on to beat Morales is a scenario that highlights the ‘styles make fights’ aspect of what happens in the ring when the talking and the training is done.
British 140lb legend Ricky Hatton has spoken to Sky Sports ahead of May 2nd’s May-Pac super fight to potentially question the wisdom of Floyd Mayweather once again hooking up with his father in the corner, and of his own experiences of working with Floyd Snr.
Following his loss to Mayweather Jr in 2007 and split from long-time trainer Billy Graham, Hatton employed the services of Floyd Snr in the corner. The first time in 2008 when he battered Paulie Malignaggi until trainer Buddy McGirt threw in the towel in in the 11th.
Now we are just days out from May 2nd, the world and his wife have a prediction as to how the big fight is going to go.
The latest fight figure to wade in, is Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, best remembered for his epic trilogy with Mexican rival Erik Morales. Many British fans will also remember him as the man who, for all intents and purposes, ENDED the career of British legend Prince Naseem Hamed, in what would end up being Naz’s penultimate fight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yycflHn_Tss
1. A waiter in Hollywood, California and a snow storm in the Northeastern United States are to be credited, at least in part, for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao finally happening
Gabriel Salvador, a West Hollywood waiter, took his son regularly to the Wild Card Gym. Wild Card Gym is run by Manny Pacquiao’s trainer (Freddie Roach).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfN-6LPG0Js
Now the dust has settled slightly on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr’s (48-2-1,32ko) comprehensive beating at the hands of Poland’s Andrzej Fonfara (27-3,16ko) at the weekend, I can’t help but wonder what the future holds for the son of the Mexican legend. I’m not so sure it’s good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XStLWO0-BLQ
Freddie Roach Blog Part 3: Monday, April 20
How much of a role will footwork and hand speed play into Pacquiao’s success?
Wladimir Klitschko: Good afternoon, everybody.
Q. When you’re at the stage of Bryant Jennings now where you’re climbing, where you weren’t yet the champion, what did life change after you became the heavyweight champion of the world? Also, fighting again in the United States and bringing the belt back here?
A. The first question was how did it feel when I became champion?
Q. How did it change your life?
There’s one more big fight to get excited about before May 2nd, and like last weeks Crawford and Matthysse fights, it’s in danger of being a little overshadowed by this generations “big one”
Dominant lineal heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (63-3, 53ko) returns to America to face relative novice Bryant Jennings (19-0, 10ko) at the world famous Madison Square Garden on Saturday, and in the opinion of this writer, “By-By” needs a miracle bigger than turning water into wine if he is to be victorious.
Bernie Bahrmasel: Up next and ready to go is number one ranked and undefeated challenger fighting out of the great town of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, home of numerous world champions, including legendary heavyweights Joe Frazier and Tim Witherspoon and returning to Madison Square Garden, site of his two most recent and biggest victories over Artur Szpilka and Mike Perez, both telecast on HBO, with a record of 19-0-1-0 with 10 knockouts, Bryant “By-By” Jennings. Bryant, are you there?
Bryant Jennings: Yes, I’m here. All good.
Bernie Bahrmasel: Can you tell us a little bit about how camp is going so far?