04.09.07 – By Jimmy Bryght: This article was supposed to be the result of an interview with middleweight prospect and Contender Season One star Joey Gilbert. Unfortunately, he had a family emergency last week and couldn’t make the deadline. Not to worry, we’ve rescheduled for this week.
Normally I would stick to just one intensive topic when writing an article, but being a scatterbrained egotist isn’t exactly the easiest job in the world. Combine that with the fact that there is way too much boxing subject matter out there to ignore and you get a lengthy, complaint-laden jumble of words like this. Besides, I’m hung over.
For those of you who know my style of writing from other boxing publications in the past are well aware of the fact that I subscribe to the law of contrary public opinion; whatever the majority says I often bet the other way. For example, I thought that Oscar De La Hoya did enough to get a decision over Floyd Mayweather in May.
I have no love for either fighter, but I have been judging boxing for almost 25 years and I know a gift when I see one. It was an early Christmas for “Pretty Boy”. Admittedly, it was justified since Oscar got a similar gift when he fought Felix Sturm in 2004. The German toughman soundly beat De La Hoya and ended up on the losing end anyway. That robbery was reminiscent of Shannon Briggs-George Foreman. Having two popular fighters in the same ring can backfire since some judges have undeniable favorites.
While Oscar sits at home counting money and promoting young talent, Floyd Mayweather is training for his upcoming blockbuster with Ricky Hatton by auditioning for the reality television series, “Dancing With the Stars.” I find this incredibly coincidental since I’ve been calling him Floyd “Dancing With the Stars” Mayweather for over a year. Obviously, Floyd or the Fox Network reads my articles. In any case, while Mayweather is frolicking around with his new Hollywood friends, Ricky Hatton is planning an execution. The former had better not overlook the latter or something tragic might happen.
So, Evander Holyfield has traveled to Russia to finish training for his upcoming fight with WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov. I hope that Evander had the foresight to have his address forwarded so that he can still receive his Social Security check for October. I watched an interview on ESPN2 last Friday with Ibragimov and the Sultan looked very focused and incredibly confident. He respects “The Real Deal” but dismissed the challenge by waving his hand like he was shooing a fly. Of course, once the bell sounds, all that can change in one punch. I saw a replay of the Briggs-Ibragimov title contest and it was a pillar to post beating. The Sultan looked great. If Holyfield manages somehow to win, he’ll have won a heavyweight title for the fifth time. Sounds good in theory, but I don’t give Evander much of a chance against the Russian powerhouse.
Zab “Chicken Dance” Judah, coming off his recent knockout loss to undefeated Miguel Cotto, will do battle with tomato can Edwin Vazquez this week on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Vazquez has no chin nor chance. The beating that Judah took at the gloves of Cotto showed me that his best days are behind him. However, it’s always entertaining to see him sitting on the canvas after a good punch. You never know when he’ll get up too quickly from a knockdown and invent another thrilling dizzy dance before collapsing onto his face. I never tire from watching the replay of the now-famous ‘chicken dance’ that Judah choreographed especially for his fight with Kostya Tszyu. What a talent! Maybe he and Mayweather should be partners on “Dancing With the Stars.”
Of all the upcoming fights, I think the one with the most promise is the Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor showdown for the world middleweight championship on September 29. This is a make-or-break for Taylor since his last two fights have been lackluster performances in defense of the title. If he does get lucky enough to defeat Pavlik he would have cleaned out the division of its real stars because the pickings are slim at 160. Taylor would likely move up to super-middleweight and try for a shot at champion Joe Calzaghe. If Pavlik wins, Taylor might move up anyway but also may try for a rematch depending on the outcome of the first fight. It would have to be worth it for the alphabet bandits. I’m just hoping for an actual fight instead of another boring leg-hump as is Taylor’s legacy since getting a fortunate decision against Bernard Hopkins to win the title last year. Pavlik is a warrior who could really bring out the best (or worst) in Jermain Taylor. I can’t wait.
The best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, Manny Pacquiao, will be making things difficult for Marco Antonio Barrera’s medical insurance company on October 6. I don’t understand how Barrera could possibly want a rematch with Manny. Maybe he’s just looking for one last big payday to close out his fantastic career or perhaps he’s just been hit in the head one hundred times too many. He’s crazy if he thinks that he has a chance against Pac-Man. The twelve round shellacking that Barrera absorbed against Juan Manuel Marquez in March should have retired him. In any case, Pacquiao shouldn’t have any trouble dispatching an overmatched Barerra.
I should be writing about the Fernando Vargas knockout loss to free-swinging Ricardo Mayorga and Vargas’ subsequent retirement. It is my belief that Vargas doesn’t have the heart to continue to box. I was wrong. It turns out that he doesn’t have the blood. The fight between these two desperate warriors was postponed due to Vargas having anemia. It was rescheduled for November 23. I guess Fernando’s retirement will have to be postponed as well. I’m looking forward to it.
The Felix Trinidad-Roy Jones, Jr. fight has to be mentioned here. This match-up has been a dream of fans and promoters for a decade but nobody could put it together after Jones moved up to 175. It was worried that Tito may not be able to retain his power with a weight gain like that. Now, we’ll finally get to see if that’s true. Jones, on the comeback trail after three straight losses and two lackluster wins against questionable opponents, has something to prove. He hasn’t been able to beat a real fighter since his gift decision in the first contest against Antonio Tarver in 2003. If he’s effective against Trinidad and wins, he’ll get a shot at the 175-pound title, held by Bernard Hopkins. If Trinidad wins, Tito might retire again or seek a title shot against Hopkins as well. Either would be a fun matchup for sure. Of course, this all depends on Hopkins. The “Executioner” is in charge now and he’ll likely go for the best payday. In my opinion, a bout against Jones would be the higher PPV draw since Bernard already has a knockout win over Tito and would have an opportunity to avenge an earlier loss to Roy. The fans deserve this match after watching Jones fight questionable mandatories and tomato cans for ten years while the addle-brained media was proclaiming him to be the best boxer in the world. I hope Jones beats Tito and gets the shot at Hopkins…
…then Bernard can retire the Roy Jones myth forever.