IRON JAWS – Pick 10

By Paul Strauss: It makes sense to hold off on this list until early next year, and then limit it to fighters currently active in 2012, but the hell with that. Live a little and have some fun doing it now. Step up and give us your list of fighters who you believe have the best jaws. Think of it as being boxing’s version of Madden’s Team.

As you’re making picks, think about what makes for an iron jawed hero or better yet the ability to remain conscious when struck? Does it have something to do with the way the jaw looks or is structured? In other words, does the jaw have to be chiseled and strong looking, such as a comic book character? Does it require a thick neck? Are tough guys smarter or less smart? Are their brains wired differently? The answers have always been debatable and somewhat of a mystery, at least for the general public. It’s kind of like trying to figure out why someone gets air sick or suffers from motion sickness when others don’t? Can you explain why a fighter pilot can withstand tremendous amounts of “G Force” when the rest of us pass out? Is it an inner ear problem? Is the ability contained in part of the brain or bone structure? Some unfortunate folks actually suffer from a medical condition called a “rock slide”, which is a type of vertigo problem. Most of us don’t. Why? Can the reverse of problems like that be related to “good chins”?

Schaefer: Mayweather is interested in Robert Guerrero fight

Schaefer: Mayweather is interested in Robert Guerrero fight By Rob Smith: Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer says that WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. is interested in facing WBC interim welterweight champion Robert Guerrero in 2013. Schaefer said to LA Times writer Lance Pugmire “Interest is there. It’s a process, one that has begun. I have a site and date in mind.”

If Mayweather takes the fight this will finally end Guerrero’s constant calling Mayweather out. He’s been wanting a fight with Mayweather for well over a year, and it’s been a source of comedy to some boxing fans because Guerrero was talking about a Mayweather fight even before he’d fought at welterweight. Now that Guerrero has beaten two of the top welterweights in Selcuk Aydin and Andre Berto no one is laughing anymore. They have to take Guerrero seriously, because he’s winning decisively and looking pretty sharp.

Guerrero gave Berto a real beating last Saturday night in a 12 round decision, swelling both of his eyes in the process. After the fight Guerrero declined an offer from Max Kellerman to fight a rematch against Berto, and instead said he wanted Mayweather next.

Broner wants Pacquiao fight: Can this bout me made?

Broner wants Pacquiao fight: Can this bout me made? By Rob Smith: WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner let HBO analyst Max Kellerman know last Saturday night that the fight that he wants next is against Manny Pacquiao in early 2013, saying “There’s a fight that can happen – me and [Manny] Pacquiao.” The interview took place before the Andre Berto vs. Robert Guerrero fight, which Broner attended in order to see his friend Berto fight.

A fight between Broner and Pacquiao would appear to be one that likely will never get made due to the two fighters not being from the same promotional stable. Normally this probably wouldn’t matter, but in this case it does because Pacquiao fights for Top Rank and Broner for Golden Boy Promotions. But perhaps the biggest reason why a fight between Broner and Pacquiao can’t get made right now is because Pacquiao is a proven pay per view star, whereas Broner has yet to establish himself as a PPV fighter.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum would be doing Broner and Golden Boy Promotions a huge favor by agreeing to match Pacquiao up with Broner at this early stage of Broner’s career. It would be an interesting fight because of Broner’s resemblance to Floyd Mayweather Jr. when fighting, and the fight would definitely do well in terms of money.

Malignaggi loses chance for big money Hatton rematch

Malignaggi loses chance for big money Hatton rematch By Michael Collins: There’s no question that Ricky Hatton (45-3, 32 KO’s) is feeling pretty bad right about now after being stopped in the 9th round last Saturday night by former WBA World welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko (33-1, 22 KO’s) in front of his own fans in Manchester, England. That had to be painful experience for Hatton in more ways that one.

However, one person who was probably hurt even more by Hatton’s loss is WBA 147 lb champion Paulie Malignaggi, who was hoping to give Hatton a chance at his title in a rematch. This was going to be a big money fight for Malignaggi and the money that he could have gotten for that fight would have likely set him up for life. Now that opportunity is gone due to Hatton losing to Senchenko and then immediately retiring rather than choosing to try and learn something from the defeat.

If Malignaggi still wants the fight with Hatton he’s going to have to try and convince him to still make the fight, although I don’t see there being much interest in the fight outside of the UK and the hardcore boxing community. Malignaggi wouldn’t be able to have his WBA title on the line, and the fight would be like an exhibition bout rather than a real fight.

Merchant wants Mayweather to fight Alvarez or Pacquiao rather than Guerrero

By Marcus Richardson: HBO analyst Larry Merchant prefers that Floyd Mayweather Jr. be looking to get a bigger fight the next time he sets foot in the ring by going after a fight with the likes of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez or Manny Pacquiao rather than choosing to fight WBC interim welterweight champion Robert Guerrero, who has been calling Mayweather Jr. out a lot lately trying to get a fight with him.

Robert Guerrero should prove himself against Keith Thurman to get Mayweather bout

Robert Guerrero should prove himself against Keith Thurman to get Mayweather bout By Bill Phanco: While WBC interim welterweight champion Robert Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KO’s) got a lot of attention in defeating former IBF/WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (28-2, 22 KO’s) by a convincing 12 round unanimous decision last Saturday night, the real story on the card was unbeaten welterweight knockout artist Keith Thurman (19-0, 18 KO’s) with his 4th round knockout win over Carlos Quintana.

Guerrero says he wants a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr, but I think it would be a lot more interesting if Guerrero had to get by Thurman before first before getting a fight against Mayweather. I doubt that Mayweather will even bother fighting Guerrero just yet. Guerrero wants the fight, but he’s only had two fights at welterweight and he’s still unproven at this weight. I don’t want to take anything away from Guerrero’s victory, but Berto was coming off of a long layoff last Saturday and he didn’t look like the same fighter he once was.

Between his recent left arm injury and the long layoff that he had, Berto looked like he was only fighting at 50% capacity last Saturday. The referee didn’t help matters by not stepping in to prevent Guerrero from knocking Berto to the canvas in the 1st round after he grabbed him by the head with one arm and hit Berto repeatedly with the other until he dropped.

Fury vs. Johnson on Saturday, December 1st in Belfast, Northern Ireland

By Michael Collins: Tyson Fury (19-0, 14 KO’s) is hoping that Saturday’s fight against 33-year-old former world heavyweight title challenger Kevin Johnson (28-2-1, 13 KO’s) is a mere formality when he meets up with the American at the Odyssey Arena, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

Gennady Golovkin vs. Fernando Guerrero a possibility for January 19th in New York

By Andy Brooks: WBA World middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (24-0, 21 KO’s) could be defending his title on January 19th against #5 WBC Fernando Guerrero 25-1, 19 KO’s) in a HBO televised fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. According to esnewsreport.com, the 26-year-old Guerrero is one of three possible opponents that are being looked at for Golovkin’s next fight date on January 19th. It’ll be up to HBO to decide which one they want of the three.

Guerrero would be an okay choice, but not really an ideal one because he was already knocked out by 40-year-old Grady Brewer last year in June, and that kind of takes the interest out of watching him fight Golovkin. Guerrero has won his last four fights since the defeat to Brewer, albeit he’s faced 2nd tier opposition.

Golovkin doesn’t have a lot of good options right now because the middleweight division is so dead right now and lacking in talent.