This weeks ‘Left-Hook Lounge’ Mailbag takes a look at several key questions posed by select fans around the world of boxing. One of the ‘anthem’ topics was last weekend’s Oscar De La Hoya/Forbes showdown which addressed few questions, while also effectively raising many more. Other hot topics that got quite a bit of attention was the upcoming Quintana/Williams rematch, as well as the untimely comments of a former Puerto Rican welterweight Champion – (Cintron) – relative to his potential destined-for-doom countryman (Cotto). Right when it seemed things were beginning to die down, the flame that lights this sport ablaze proved to be more than a slow-burn. That being said, enough with the preludes….We now take this ‘still photo’ and turn it into a ‘motion picture’…….
Q. Ric Escobar (Miami Lakes, Fl): Kermit Cintron was recently quoted as stating that he thinks “Cotto can be stopped” against Margarito. What are your thoughts on his assessment following his loss to Margarito?
A. Vivek W. (ESB): If this statement was the other way around, with Cintron supporting his fellow Puerto Rican, I would chalk it up as him basically ‘hatin’ on his nemesis, and simply supporting his countryman. Unfortunately, in what may be a difficult reality for some, it’s the exact opposite. Think about it….Cintron went into a matchup with Margarito with comparable height, reach, and an edge in power advantage, yet failed to overcome these odds twice. After those two stunning defeats, he’s openly stating that one of his own countryman has a very limited chance based on his own intimate knowledge, which comes from direct experience. To me, that doesn’t sound anything like a ‘shakedown’. I’d have to take that for gospel, because all indications say it’s probably the truth. The Cotto/Margarito fight is a very interesting one to analyze. Cintron arguably has more power than Cotto, but Cotto’s power is definitely more persistent, and it comes in more variations…(i.e. body and headshots as opposed to strictly headshots from Cintron). Cintron held a considerable height advantage that was nullified by Margarito’s pressing style; Wherein Cotto is a better pure boxer than Cintron, so perhaps he won’t be as accessible when it comes to Margo’s punches landing. I can go on all day making the case that Cotto has certain skills to nullify the challenges Margarito presented to Cintron, but when it all boils down, despite the fact that Cotto is a better boxer than Cintron, the one thing Cintron has personal knowledge of is the one thing that Cotto does not, and that’s the same one thing that can change a fight plan – and ultimately the whole fight – very quickly. That one thing is the power behind Margarito’s punches. Just a week ago we saw how difficult it was for Steve Forbes to get in and land a jab on Oscar De La Hoya, and Forbes is quicker and harder to hit than Cotto. Well, consider the fact that Forbes’ reach was only a 5 inch difference, while Cotto’s – compared to Margarito – will be a 6 inch differential. Also, Oscar’s height advantage against Forbes was 3 inches, while Margarito’s height advantage over Cotto will be 4 inches. All of the disadvantages the more technically sound boxer (Forbes) had in the fight last week will pale in comparison to what the better technical boxer (Cotto) will have in July. I’ll never predict against Cotto again, but as I analyze the situation, I have to agree with whomever first said “A good big buy beats a great little guy more often than not”. I can’t say that Cintron’s statement was or wasn’t true, but after considering the multipe advantages for Margarito and knowing that Cintron has personally dealt with his power, I think you have to give some credibility to his argument. Personally, I’m convinced.
Edgar Castillo (Pompano Beach, Fl): You recently did a story on Oscar De La Hoya and the interest in a Mayweather rematch. Could you clarify your position on his performance?
Vivek W. (ESB): Just to reiterate my thoughts Edgar, after watching the legendary Oscar De La Hoya over the years, I just walked away that night feeling like despite his victory, his deeper dimensions were a bit invisible. It happens to all the greats. And the first sign of this decline in skills is slowed reflexes. Mike Tyson saw his reflexes allow him to get hit more than ever before, Holyfield, recently Bernard Hopkins, and a few years ago, the great Roy Jones Jr.. Even in the best trained athletes it happens, so why people are afraid to admit it with a fighter who’s been partially retired for the last few years is beyond me. De la Hoya fans stated that he had more energy against Forbes and that he was able to throw the jab late in the fight when he wasn’t able to before. That’s a great argument to bring up, but it would be more valid if it were true. A perfect example of reflexes being the issue rather than stamina was in the first encounter with Floyd, where in the final round of the fight, Oscar threw a fight high 82 punches, (undone in any other round of the fight), but only landed 12 (15%), as opposed to Floyd who threw 54 and landed 24 (46%). Clearly one fighter had the energy and the reflexes, while the other had the energy to throw, but perhaps the reflexes were too slow. One other point that few have bought up is the fact that Forbes, being 3 inches smaller and having a reach 5 inches shorter was able to do that much facial damage after only landing 152 punches, 69 of which were jabs. In the first encounter, Mayweather landed the same amount of jabs, but totaled 55 more power shots. I won’t dare say that Oscar has no chance because I’ve learned never to underestimate the heart of a champion, but similar to another fighter who took on all comers, (Holyfield), it’s clear that Oscar is no longer the fighter he was, and with a bright promotional career ahead, I have to really wonder why he continues to stick around after even his Father openly told him that he “should have retired years ago after the Vargas fight”.
Reginald Tisdale (Washington, DC): Nate Campbell recently wrote an open letter to Goldenboy CEO Richard Schaefer about comments he made. In the letter he discussed the “politics” behind the scenes in the sport. What are your thoughts about his comments?
Vivek W. (ESB): Personally, I think the way Campbell presented the argument could have displayed a bit more class, but the reality here is that much of what he said was spot on. I think Goldenboy Promotions has done an excellent job but when you go ‘behind-the-curtains’ and really understand and witness what takes place before the presentation fight fans ultimately see on television, there’s a lot of politics and he couldn’t have been any more accurate. He was very accurate when he stated that he “sees the whole chessboard”, because his very thoughts have been echoed in the ‘underground’ for quite some time by many afraid to go out on record and say those things. For example, he mentioned about HBO being the ones to promote the fights, not GBP. If you take the 24/7 series for the Mayweather/Dela Hoya and Mayweather/Hatton fights, yeah, ESPN may have showed a commercial here and a commercial there, but arguably a solid base of the viewers were people who watched that series or the other promotional things displayed by them. When he got into his reason for why GBP is touting a late ’08 fight with Marquez, rather than a fight sooner with Casamayor or Katsidis, I think he was clearly on point again. One other thing he mentioned – that really hits home with me personally – is the fact that his perceived truths aren’t openly stated because many members of the media are “afraid of being denied credentials, so they look the other way”. That statement I can personally attest to and will openly say that this is closer to the truth than grass being green. Me personally, when it comes to deceit, I’m a bit of a rebel and will openly call someone out on that type of trickery, because I have a job to my readers to bring them the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth as I know it. I won’t get into specifics because I’ve never been a ‘smear’ type boxing scribe, but the reality is that when you’re not saying what many camps want to hear, it isn’t uncommon to get snubbed for credentials despite receiving them many times in the past from the same promotional company. I find great issue in that because a true boxing scribe or sports journalist is there to give his open and honest take on the event at hand. If I think a fighter is good but will not win this particular fight, respect my opinion. Don’t view me differently or cast me off because I don’t share your view. It’s a prediction, not a conviction. In the sport of boxing, like everywhere else, there are politics. For me as a writer I can separate myself from most in the sport because us journalist have a certain control over what we send to print. In Campbell’s case, he has very little control over what offers he gets or doesn’t get, and that’s how he feeds his family. So it’s safe to say that I don’t agree with how he presented his points, but if that’s how I fed my ‘chaps’, without a doubt I’d call someone out too! Big props to Campbell for blowin’ the whistle.
J.C. Cruz (Queens, NY): Who are your top 10 boxers to watch of all time?
Vivek W. (ESB): For starters, I want to say no disrespect to the greats of yesterday, but I didn’t get a chance to REALLY watch and analyze them like I do fighters of this era, so I’ll leave the definition of their greatness to the Bert Sugars of the world. My personal list would be 1. Muhammad Ali – Because he was not only the ultimate showman, but he backed it up when it counted with every ring ‘tool’ known to man. Speed, skills, you name it. 2. “Iron” Mike Tyson – Because there has never been a fighter that I know of to match his pure speed, combined with skill and sheer intensity. He’ll probably go down as a fighter so gifted in the art of intimidation that he unfortunately intimidated himself right out of a stellar career. Purely Explosive. A total beast! 3. Sugar Ray Leonard – Because he had sort of a hidden toughness that few ever talked about and he was just dazzling to watch. 4. Oscar De La Hoya – Because he took on everyone and despite often giving up speed and other advantages, he was never really ‘out’ of a winning shot in a fight (except against Hopkins), and was never a ‘lay down’ for any man in the ring. He came to fight! 5. Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad – Because he was a people’s champ. He flashed that smile, he talked it up, but when the bell rang, he came to kick ass and take names! 6. Julio Ceasar Chavez – If this guy was a car he’d be a Hummer. He was rugged, he was brash, he was bomber. Considering that he went his first 13 years of his career without losing and over 24 years in the ring (104 W – 5 L – 2 D, 80KO’s) in such a dominant career and only won 3 World Championships in 3 different weight classes gives me a new found appreciation for Mayweather’s feat (6 World Championships in 5 different weight divisions in only 11 years – 9yrs as Champion). 7. Floyd Mayweather Jr. – Because his training and ring discipline remain unparalleled. His ability to remain calm and execute with fluidity is a masterpiece in it’s rarest form. 8. Pernell Whitaker – As slick as they come. Totally deceptive. This was basically a ‘Jerry’, because no matter how close every ‘Tom’ got, few were ever able to actually close the deal….And none did when he was actually in his prime. 9. Roy Jones Jr. – Because his speed, and reflexes made him so good he became boring to watch. I hate to pull one out of his book but “how many other fighters have you seen throw 8 punch combinations?” 10. James Toney – Because he was one of – if not THE – smartest fighter I’ve every seen. He had an answer for whatever you could throw at him, and he had a bag of tricks ready at all times to throw at you! (Bernard Hopkins would be a close #11. Some find him boring but the guy had the perfect name because he was indeed an “executioner”. Great ring smarts, perfect discipline when executing).
Eric Martin (Dallas, TX): Who do you like in the rematch between Quintana and Williams?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think Quintana’s brave-heart will ultimately cause him to miss out on what could have been a plush opportunity in the future. In the initial encounter Williams entered the ring weighing 17 pounds more than he did at the weigh-in only 36 hrs prior. Quintana fought a good fight but it’s clear that Williams was not the same fighter that fought Margarito. If that version of Williams shows up, the plot in the welterweight division thickens, because I think he clearly wins. If the Williams who last fought Quintana resurfaces, it’ll be another long journey on that midnight train back to Georgia for Williams because he will lose. I think it’s a toss up and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Williams win turn this into a rubbermatch trilogy.
(Got Questions or Comments?: Write ESB’s Vivek Wallace at vivexemail@yahoo.com or show some love at www.myspace.com/anonymouslyinvolved)