Mike Samuels
11.09 - Another week in boxing and another week of embarrassment shed out by Roy Jones and his so-called "number one challenger." Luckily this week the fans didn’t spend too much time jawing back and forth with me on how great Jones is. Instead I’ve got stacks of mail on the greatness of Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard and a few hostile (per-say) opinions on just what is goin’ on with Lennox Lewis and Chris Byrd. Is Lewis being a hypocrite by not facing Byrd the same way Bowe wouldn’t face him? Hmm…interesting. Read and find out!
I suppose you agree with Hopkins antics. To desecrate the great Roberto Clemente stadium in hopes to get a fight that he publicly turned down.
To disrespect his fellow boxers and the boxing public by entering another boxers dressing room uninvited and causing havoc!!! I come from a different creed; where that stuff isn't cool. Boxers like Roy, DLH, and Trinidad never went to such lengths to get a fight. It's why Hopkins will never be remembered as a great. Only one who has attained a record merely by boxing, not by any great means? I suppose these antics are deserving of your support in his rehabilitation. Once again he proves his worth in the public eye. This fighter doesn't deserve any respect. To hell with the fact that he served his time. How do you know whether or not I served time and am back on track, without having to do a disservice to the public in any way? What is your point? You must like the unnecessary controversy he brings to the sport. You should watch your comments; you really don't know the people that contribute to your career by supporting your topics/posts.
Some people never learn. How many times have we been over this one, partner? I don’t agree with Hopkins tactics. What he did was very disrespectful for the people of Puerto Rico, but it’s not the first time anyone has gone out of their way to disrespect someone or their country. If you think what Hopkins did was bad, then I suggest you never watch anything that has to do with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Those guys brought DISRESPECT to the table and served seconds and thirds of it to the general public. Even now today Ali is looked down upon many for what he did, and Frazier won’t even talk to him.
All Hopkins did was help promote the fight. He did it in an unacceptable fashion to most, but he did what he had to do. That has no bearings on his convict issue. He has set a positive example for young kids in the REAL world. If you’ve got a problem with what he does, then don’t tune in. Boxing is more a business than many people understand, and Hopkins was playing the "bad guy" of the WWE last year. It worked for him, and he really could give two shits if you or anyone (including myself) disagrees with his opinion on the subject
You are getting all caught up in the bullshit that was the Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins "showdown" a few weekends ago. C’mon, bro, get real. What havoc did it cause? All it did was put the thought of a Hopkins/Jones rematch in our heads, even though it will never happen. Everyone came out fine and nobody was harmed. Havoc? I think you’re over analyzing the situation and letting your hate for X get in the way of forming a rational opinion. And while I respect your mails and all the time you do contribute to Eastside Boxing.com, and me, I’m not going to "watch what I say" and paint a world against reality. I’m going to shoot from the hip and if you don’t feel the need to "help my career" that’s your choice, bro.
Still I hope to hear from you in the future. If not I’ve got 400 other unread mails waiting for me.
It was close because of the first 5 rounds but I still thought Hagler won. Leonard won by hamming it up for the jugdes,mostly in the last 20 seconds of the later rounds. I think the point margin for Ray was qestionable. Ray showed good hand speed and movement but his punches had no pop,and alot of the combinations he though,looked good but thats about it, out a 5 or 6 punch combo he would only land 2-3 that could not keep Hagler off him. What hurt Hagler was getting off to a slow start. In the mid and late rounds he was able to keep up with ray and land hard body shots alowing him to control the pace for a good part of the late rounds. It wasn`t as pretty as Ray but thats just how Hagler fought It reminds me alot of how Carlos Monzon and X looks take your time and break down an opponant. I`v watched that fight over and over and and I don`t see how anyone including you Mike S. can say that Ray won that fight hands down,clean-cut,no big deal, you`ll have to excuse me but thats the feeling I got form your respons to that guy. Ray got the nod in a close decision becouse he was the pretty boy that everybody loved, did you see that crowd?! No one gave a fuck about Hagler, the popular guy that did the fancy usless shit in the ring won thats it. Now you may not like my opinion but please respect it,cause I might not be a boxing columist but I still know alot more about boxing than some of these hack sports writers that are in some of these mags these days.
The theory that Hagler lost the fight with Sugar Ray because he wasn’t a dominant public figure has been drilled to death. I agree to some extent that Hagler wasn’t the favorite and everyone wanted to see him lose, but I also think that Leonard did just enough to get the win. The fight was close, so if I came off as being some super "pro-Leonard" type of nut, then I apologize. I definitely have to give Hagler his props, cuz’ he is like no other (just like Ray Leonard), and it’s a shame that their fight happened so late in both men’s careers. But I cannot scream robbery because the fight was close. And in boxing there are a lot of fights like that. That’s why we love the sport – controversy and conflict, baby! You may not be a big type scribe like myself, but you’re opinions are clearly stated and they make sense. Good evaluation on the fight, bro. It was great either way.
What’s your take on Lewis giving up the IBF belt? Eric
Read my segment earlier in the week: "Ya’ll Can Quit Yer Cryin’ Now"
First Off, why is Camacho Jr in boxing? What a coward! This is a man who defines one-dimensional; wait - No dimensional. He is an embarrassment to the Puerto Ricans and the Sport. Trinidad was the last great Puerto Rican and well loved by many - boxing champion.
You also forgot to mention, that Don King somehow managed to snag Roy Jones Junior in this mix for a fight with Ruiz. Apparently this is going to happen. What the hell is going on here? He is monopolizing and further destroying a great sport. This is crap. I'm ready to give up being a fan. What the hell should I watch such a heavily monopolized sport. It's getting to be like wrestling. Handpicked matches, bogus drama, pre-determined outcomes and downright cheating by the opponents, referee's and judges. Let's not mention the so called sanctioning bodies. Boxing has turned to bullshit. PS I'll have to wait till after DLH -v Vargas, Barrera- tapia and Morales – Ayala then i'll quit. (LOL)
Camacho Jr is living off his father’s legacy and fighting guys worse than my grandmother. He isn’t serious. The guy has had over thirty fights and has fought nobody with any credibility. Partly because he isn’t very talented himself. Throw him in there with Judah, Corley, Leija again, or Kostya and there will be no more Macho-Camacho. What a joke.
Being a fan of boxing is tough, but if you stop now, or after the Vargas/De la Soula’ fight, you’ll regret it. Cuz’ just when something in boxing stinks up the joint a fight comes around and re-energizes you or someone in your position to come back to the bandwagon (ala Gatti/Ward 1). So just stay with it, man. It’ll be worth it and you KNOW you love this shiznit.
Basically, at LL advanced age it's better for most fans if he fights somebody who is a significant puncher, like the Klitschkos in the long run if LL beats them than it is up to chris Byrd to, make up ground in a rematch with wladimir to supplant his own legacy, LL has to beat the big fellas and retire, why waste 6 mos fighting Byrd just because he is the sentimental #1 contender? Thanx for your time.
To me Byrd earns his shot and the way Lewis has been talking, it seems to me like he’s STILL on cloud nine after his whoopin’ of Tin Mike. Whenever Lewis isn’t focused we know what happens. And plus, with his age and the fact that he realizes his legacy is probably established because of the Tyson fight, why not go in against a smaller Byrd, one that he says would be no "competition" and get the "easy win?" Byrd was beat by one of the Klits, but hell, contenders have been beaten by guys and still gotten shots. I know that the fans are more interested in a bout with the Ukrainian boys, but hell, Lewis is getting old and if he thinks Byrd is so easy he should fight him. If not, then quit using the old escape on Riddick "Big Daddy" Bowe way back in the early nineties. He’s doing the same thing.
I do not understand all you people!!! Everybody seems to blame Roy Jones because he is willing to keep his titles and fights mandatory "tomato cans" instead of giving a chance to "real deals" - Hopkinks, Jurov etc... Now - everybody blame Lewis because he is not going to fight the same quality of mandatories. I do not beleive that anybody could consider Ruiz (back in 2000) and Byrd as a real challenge to Lewis. The only chance to beat Lewis - to knock him out (assuming that he is going to help the guy - fall in sleep as he did it in South Africa and filming instead of training a week prior the fight). Let both of them (Ruiz and Byrd) fight Tyson first. You can tell whatever you want, but June'8s version of a Tyson could blow out both these contenders in one given night within few rounds. My strong opinion, that Lewis-Tyson 2 will be more interesting that the first one - hopefully Tyson understood that to beat Lewis he needs more that one lucky punch. Could Ruiz and Byrd outbox Lewis? - There is no fighter alive who can win Lewis on points. Just few days prior to Lewis vacating his IBF belt - everybody been screaming that Lewis must fight Klichkos to prove that he is the Real Champ (they screamed the same about Tyson before June'8, after - Tyson became a "too old", notwithstanding that Lewis 1 year older). Now, after he made that decision - Lewis is a "coward". I agree that both Klichkos are untested yet and might not belong to the same ring as Lennox (at least - they are few levels above Ruiz and Byrd) - but, common, both of them beat Byrd (I personally believe that Vitaly was really hurt after the third round and made a correct decision before the tens - do not forget - he was winning big on points; I do not buy that crap from Byrd about "something" on Wladimir's gloves - only younger Klichko's fists inside were a eason for those swellings). So, can anybody explain me - why Lewis is a "coward" when he is going to fight guys who beat his mandatory? Jeff
Interesting. Roy Jones does defend his titles against MOST of his mandatory challengers, but I suppose Lewis is just doing to Byrd what Roy did to Michael Nunn back in ’97, or has most of the boxing forgotten about when the all mighty Roy Jones Jr. DUCKED yet another legit opponent? I’m so sick of hearing how Byrd doesn’t deserve a shot over the Klitschko’s merely because he was beaten by one of them in dominant fashion. So what? This is boxing. Everyone nowadays is so filled up with the idea that if a fighter loses one fight his career is over. People have already counted out Mosley because he lost two tough fights to the BEST 147lber in the division. It’s crazy. I have to give props to one slick mofo who posted on the Eastside comments site, cuz’ this kid hit the nail on the head:
"the first defense Lennox should make should be against Attila Levin. After all, if Wlad beating Byrd makes him more "deserving", then Levin, who defeated Ross Puritty, who defeated Wlad, is definitely more deserving that Wlad.
That concept is exactly how most of the public is viewing this. The bottom line is Byrd was the number one contender. He beat David Tua. Now Tuaman isn’t exactly the cream of the crop, but it’s better than ANYONE the Ukrainian giants have beaten. Byrd risked his career against Tua because if he had knocked out we wouldn’t be hearing of him ever again. The European padded champions, those Klitschko bros, won’t take any chances unless it’s against the likes of Ray Mercer, who is a human punching bag. I don’t mean to bring the heat at those boys, but everyone is disrespecting Chris Byrd like he is a Butterbean type fighter. That’s insane. But, hey, it’s over now and Lewis will be fighting one of the big giants. It should be an interesting fight and by the looks of Lewis and his attitude, I wouldn’t be surprised (though I’m not betting on it) if he gets caught.
Now a Tyson of June 8th is going to beat Ruiz or Byrd? I’ll pretend you didn’t ask me that….you do know that in order to win a fight you have to punch, right?
Hi Mike,
Evander Holyfield will kick Byrd Ass and will become the heaveyweight Champion of the world again. Holyfield will adapt to Byrd style, Lennox is coward, running scared, he took the easy fights. He knows he can beat Vitaly becuase he is not at his peak, he never been tested yet. Also he knows that he just coming off an injury, so he must be rusty and won't be prepared for a fight against Lennox. With regard to his brother Valamdir, this is the only legitmate threat to Lennox, But Lennox will fight cowardly like he did with Holyfield and will try to jab his way to victory. With regard to Tyson you explained better than anyone (TIN TYSON, WE ALL KNOW WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN)
Lennox does not want to fight byrd , because he cannot adpat to his style. Byrd will make Lennox look bad and with glass chin, he will knock him out. He is fast and powerful. Lennox preferred to avoid him for the money, Thats not a champion decision, that another reason why Lennox cannot be considered as of the greats. Basically time and time again Lennox proved to the world that he has no boxing Skill (just natural height, weight and reach and jab his way to victory).
Thats all proves wrong again, Lennox never beat Holyfield Twice. A lot of professioal boxing people think Holyfield won the second fight. This will always make Lennox the Illegitmate Champion. To be the unidisputed (as Lennox claim himself) you have to face any challenge in front of you, you have to fight anyone and everyone, no matter what money you are going to make. Boxing is a SPORT not a BUSINESS.
Look at the REAL DEAL, TRUE WARRIOR EVANDER HOLYFIELD. He said he would rather avoid Byrd when he won against Rahman. Yes thats is true. The guy has a goal and would like to achieve it the easiest way, knowing time (AGE) is not on his side. This is fair enough, totally acceptable and understandable. He is already a Three times unidisputed champion of the world, Five times Heaveyweight champion of the world (Four Times if you were blind and consider HOLY vs RUIZ III a draw).
Look now, he has been presented with the challenge to fight Byrd. He never ducked anyone, he accepted the challenge, although it could be a difficult route to achieve his goal to become the undisputed Heaveyweight champion of the world. He took like a man, unlike Lennox running scared and making excuses.
Evander Holyfield will now fight for the IBF title, he will knock Byd. then will then Fight for the WBA title and then he will fight Lennox Lewis again if he is still the champion and become the Undisputed heaveyweight champion. Lennox would want to fight then, as it will attract a lot of money. (Lennox vs Holyfield III for the undisputed championship of the world).
Thanks for giving the opporunity to write to you again
A Abraham
Wow, Abraham, it’s been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of your company. But I knew it was you because you’ve got to be the BIGGEST Holyfield supporter on this earth. Now after reading your submission over and over I gotta think that maybe you were drinking when you sat down to write me. How can you say that Lewis fought "cowardly" against Holyfield? He used strategy and dominated Evander the first time. If you think for a moment that Holyfield won the first fight against Lewis then you, my friend, are as blind as Ray Charles.
Don’t dismiss Byrd as a fluke just yet. The odds would be in Holyfield’s favor, but that doesn’t mean that Byrd won’t give him any trouble. After all, Holyfield did deny a fight with Byrd when asked about it, so that has to say something about just how dangerous Byrd could be. And PLEASE, don’t talk about Holyfield being a four or five champion because that’s a joke. Back in the day when Ali became the first three-time champion it was for real. Same with when Holyfield did it and now Lewis. But Holyfield being a four time champ with a win over Ruiz (WHO DID NOTHING AND BEAT NOBODY TO GET HIS SHOT, THEN HAD THE BALLS TO TRY TO SUE DON KING, THE MAN WHO HE SHOULD BE BOWING DOWN TO FOR LIFE) just makes me sick to my stomach. I’m sure it does for every other boxing fan as well.
Chris Byrd never won a shot at being the undisputed heavyweight champion, so I don't know where you got that idea from. All Chris Byrd won was the opportunity to fight for the IBF belt by a certain date, which is will do this December.
Also, I don't think that Don King had anything to do with the "tournament" ( which wasn't a tournament at all ) when Byrd defeated Harris and Tua, so I don't know why his name was brought up in the same sentence with that.
Finaly, who is the "everyone" who wants to see Vitali Klitschko fight Lennox Lewis? I doubt that very many people in the mainstream are even that familiar with Wladimir, so I don't know how you can say that "everyone" wants to see either of them fight Lewis. Personally, as a boxing fan, I want to see Lewis fight Byrd, Tua, and then Wladimir, but certainly not Vitali or Tyson.
Finally, Evander Holyfield is in no way, shape, or form a four-time "Undisputed" heavyweight champion, as you stated in your article. His fourth championship was only the WBA heavyweight belt which he won by beating John Ruiz in their first fight.
Well aren’t we the witty one this week? Hey, buddy, I used one of your theories in one of the first mails dished out and I gave you maaadaaad props for it, but now you’re going a bit far. Chris Byrd was in a tournament (Okay maybe not a technical "tournament" but he was guaranteed a shot at the IBF if he defeated Tua) and when he beat Tua he was supposed to get his shot at the IBF strap. The date, however, wasn’t December. When was the last time a fighter won a fight to become number one contender in August and was granted his shot over a year from the original date? Please, man, it’s bullcrap and you seem like a logical fan so I know you gotta agree with me on the fact that Byrd was supposed to fight LEWIS by May of this past year and nobody else. He didn’t get his shot, and finally after waiting over a year (in which an unworthy Mike Tyson was given a shot instead) he is finally going to get it against Holyfield. So yeah, he can’t complain now that he’s getting a shot, but it’s not the fight he wanted, nor the one he was looking forward too. The funny thing is, the fight COULD happen if Lewis would get off the whole " I have no interest, I could beat Byrd with one hand..ya ya ya" talk….(of course those aren’t direct quotes!).
You’re right that it was my bad to mention Holyfield as a four time "undisputed" champion. But after reading 200 e-mails on the same shiznit, sometimes it gets the best of me. Props for catching it.
Hold the phone though, dude. "Everyone" does want to see Lewis fight EITHER of the Klitschko’s and if you haven’t figured that out by now, then I gotta ask, ‘WHERE YOU BEEN?" "Everyone" is bitchin’ that the Klistchko’s haven’t gotten a test yet cuz’ they are always fighting bums and it’d be in the best interest of "everyone" to see them get their title shots by now. And now that’s going to happen. Like you, I’d much rather see Lewis-Byrd, but that’s a pipe dream for now…kinda like Roy Jones and John Ruiz.
Mike Samuels can be reached for Mailbag entries or anything else at Tyson180@aol.com
