British WBA super-middleweight boss Carl Froch (33-2, 24ko) has this lunchtime (tue) spoken to Sky Sports News and become the latest in a long-line of fighters to wade in with a pick for Saturday night, offering his own tactical insight into what each man must do and also into whether or not his career has wound down to a natural conclusion.
Froch, a year removed from his stadium rematch with George Groves at Wembley, is certainly a fighter used to a big occasion. (Albeit not as big as this!)
Clichés like “key to victory” and strategic game-planning referring to the coaches’ insights and observations are a vital part of the mental preparation and the “psyche” of any pugilist. However even the most elaborate game plan is just a hypothesis, an intention that lasts until the first big shot is landed. In the late rounds when incremental damage piles up boxers fight on habit and instinct with rare moments of ingenuity and little regard of the initial game plan. They are creatures of habit like everyone and rarely act out of character especially under pressure. Hence the importance of style – an amalgam of habits and steady boxing skills replenished and honed over the years. Here is a review and comparison of the combatants’ fundamentals before the clash of epic financial proportions and yet-to-be-seen technical value.
Like many fight fans the coming days are going to be very long as we await the anticipated fight of the century. Ok it has taken 5 years in the making, but its hear and I for one cant wait. Actually this is a match makers dream, an attacking whirlwind fighter versus a master counter puncher, possibly one of the best if not the very best the spot has ever seen. Those that say we will see a boring fight, I beg to differ. This will be pure excitement. My prediction is based on the following factors backed by countless hours of analysing past fights among other things.
Manny Pacquiao’s long time promoter and Floyd Mayweather’s friend, (only joking about the last part) Bob Arum, has spoken to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s super fight to offer his thoughts on Floyd’s recent statements about being better that Ali and Ray Robinson and his fighter’s chance’s.
The Top Rank chief, who has been at the helm of the organisation for almost 50 years said of Mayweather’s recent claims;
“Floyd Mayweather is an excellent, excellent fighter. He’s a great technician but to compare himself to Muhammad Ali, or Ray Robinson or Ray Leonard is a joke.”
It only takes a few minutes of highlight footage to distinguish the scientist from the artist. In the parlance of the sweet science, one corner envisions the confrontation in a series of highly choreographed tactical moves embodied by perhaps one of the most gifted technicians in boxing. In the other corner however, is an unpredictable beast that manages to keep even the most seasoned of boxing experts in awe and have them constantly guessing of what comes next. The result of these contrasting styles is an unpredictable and exciting melange of fists and fury over the stretch of twelve rounds.
Professional boxing is a sport unlike any other. It is not scored by the passing of a ball through a net, nor the time it takes someone to cross a finishing line. Whilst there are objective mechanics in boxing, as in the case of a KO or foul, the majority of fights are scored by three judges placed at different points around the ring, who proceed to use a series of criteria to determine which fighter should be awarded the round. The scoring of rounds in professional boxing is not determined by quantitative criteria, i.e. the number of punches thrown/landed, instead judges score rounds using a combination of qualitative criteria, including clean punching, effective aggression and ring generalship.The person landing more punches can lose a round to the person throwing fewer, but more effective punches. That being said, there are of course specific scenarios which directly impact the score cards, as in the case of knockdowns and point deductions.
We are only a few days away now from the fight which almost everyone wants to see – Mayweather vs Pacquiao. In the build up to the fight the focus has strongly been on three things – How much money the fight is generating, why it took so long to make the fight happen and who folks believe is going to win. Most predictions have surprisingly favoured Floyd Mayweather Jr. I am not too sure why, perhaps because he is undefeated and always wins. The fight has not been without its detractors though, and rightly so. Both guys are past their prime, the fans are getting ripped off with prices for the PPV and tickets (if indeed they could get any) and the fight has been blown out of proportion and should be recognized for what it truly is – a final eliminator to face the sensational pound for pound number 1 fighter on the planet, Britain’s great Amir Khan.
Canelo Alvarez – Good afternoon. It’s a pleasure to be here with you.
O. De La Hoya – Great. So, now we can open it up for questions. Thank you.
Q – Okay, great. First of all, I’d like you to ask Canelo, he’s coming back to another city in Texas in Houston when he was in San Antonio a couple years ago and he had that huge crowd for the Austin Trout fight. I want to know how pumped up is he because by all accounts, you’re going to have another crowd similar in size in a different city in Houston for this fight. How much does he feel that love from his fans, particularly the Mexicans and the Mexican-Americans and get him motivated, let’s say, for this kind of fight?
Oscar De La Hoya – Thank you very much to all the press. We are excited to be on this conference call. We are more than just a little over a couple weeks away with Canelo-Kirkland which will be a 12-round super welterweight showdown. It would be and it should be an explosive night, one to remember, live from Minute Maid Park in Houston. Tickets are going extremely well. Tickets are still available, so I urge you to get your tickets fast as we expect a sellout crowd.
I am extremely proud to be announcing that this event is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Canelo Promotions and SMS Promotions and Leija Battah Promotions. I want to thank the sponsors as well: Corona Extra and Mexico-Live it to Believe it, Fred Loya Insurance and also O’Reilly Auto Parts. Thank you for your support.
It would seem that the consensus among fight fans is that Manny Pacquiao is going to be up against it when he steps between the ropes to fight Floyd Mayweather on Saturday, and trainer Freddie Roach is determined to ensure there are no unfair advantages, telling Mlive.com that he want’s Floyd’s custom made Grant gloves checked thoroughly.
Roach said; “Grant is doing his gloves and they’re all custom (hand) made. I’d like to know what he’s putting in those gloves and what materials they are made with.”
“I’m a little concerned about the custom made gloves that Floyd’s going to wear.”