25.06.08 – By Michael Klimes: In his last album Hip Hop is Dead, the acclaimed rapper Nas had a little gem of a track called ‘Can’t Forget About You’. His opening lines are, “There comes a day in your life when you wanna kick back/ Straw hat on the porch when you are old perhaps/ Wanna gather your thoughts have a gold one brag/ To your grandkids about how life is golden.”
In his simple but precise lyrics, Nas projects the idyllic state of retirement and the image of a satisfied person reflecting on their life thinking I’ve been there and done that. Tragically, boxers are very far from this ideal. They are usually nomads roaming the desert when it comes to finding that mysterious oasis called retirement.
What was refreshing about 2007 was that many established names seemed to find solace in defeat. Marco Antonio Barrera was comfortable surviving the industrious Manny Pacquiao for twelve rounds. Erik Morales was gracious in his classic struggle with David Diaz. Oscar Larios retired as did Fernando Vargas. New stars like Kelly Pavlik and Miguel Cotto stepped up to the spotlight successfully. Unfortunately, there are many old fighters who need to follow Nas’s advice but intent on weathering the erosion time brings even though it is impossible to do so.
Morales and Barrera, one can just see it in their body languages, are not ready to surrender their careers and probably never will. If they cannot secure bouts with anyone else, they will meet each other. Their shared animosity and history will generate hype and money. José Luis Castillo has also been in one fight after his trumping by Ricky Hatton against Adan Casillas. He will probably keep campaigning in the background somewhere for years to come. The same is true of Roy Jones Junior and the recently recycled Felix Trinidad who is now enjoying a second comeback. The worst member of this generation is Antwun Echols who was once a world class operator and has become the world class punching bag. He just absorbs prolonged beatings like Ali used to. His exceptional courage and chin disable him from receiving a merciful knockout.
Others on borrowed time are Oscar de la Hoya, Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley. Although Hopkins has preserved himself excellently, he has enough intelligence to know there is nothing out there for him to accomplish but will his gigantic ego overwhelm his commonsense? After Floyd Mayweather’s retirement, de la Hoya is convinced he will have one more fight. I pray to God that he will keep his promise and then use his influence to promote other fighters. Shane Mosley is an extraordinary specimen as he is the only boxer I can think of who has moved down in weight to retain a degree of greatness and indeed he still is. The fact that he is thirty six, competed so well with Miguel Cotto and remains an elite fighter in such a strong division is a testimony to the man’s resilience. Unfortunately, I fear for Mosley’s clarity of mind. A thickness is creeping into his voice which was not there and his response to questions is slightly slower than it used to be. Also remember, we always talk about the damage fighters absorb during debilitating brawls but what about hard sparring sessions? Mosley has never been out of shape and his dedication is evidence of a six gear work workaholic.
Of the bigger men there is Evander Holyfield who should not have been fighting in this decade and could have left the sport after James Toney pasted him in 2003. That leads to Toney himself as he is due a rematch with Hasim Rahman on July 16. Who knows if Toney will turn up fit? If he is under-trained and obese then do not expect much. It has always been fascinating how Toney, even out of shape has been able to wield his experience, diminished skills and intelligence to outfox opponents. His lifestyle should have caught up with him far quicker than it eventually did. Toney is nearly forty. Although Rahman is younger and has been more active, he is not particularly young either.
When it comes to the current generation, Ricky Hatton and Jeff Lacy might need to consider their futures. Hatton will be thirty in October and did not look sparkling in his fight against Juan Lazcano. Although he showed an encouraging intensity against his opponent, he was throwing single punches, not combinations and was charging in with his face. Since Hatton left Frank Warren in 2005 he has not looked very impressive apart from that body shot against José Luis Castillo. It might be romantic nostalgia, but I used to remember when Hatton had a little guile, jab, technique, polishing, threw combinations and grappled far less. He did not used to be a one dimensional pugilist. Maybe it was Hatton’s nerves that hampered his performance against Lazcano and it is important that he returned with a win, especially after his first loss and he deserves respect for getting the job done. However, the same flaws in the Mayweather bout returned where his crudeness was on display. I think of his contest with Eamonn Magee as the perfect example where he boxed his way back into the fight. Furthermore it seems unlikely Hatton will undergo a Barrera like evolution into a counter-puncher and improve his lifestyle. Rest assured the damage will mount.
Since Jeff Lacy took a humiliating beating from Joe Calzaghe he has not recovered any confidence or form. Lacy is ruined. He has been in only two fights since March 2006, is only sustaining evermore damage and is on the other side of thirty. His extensive amateur experience has not helped him discover a new technique that would enable him to have success and demand notice. All of these fighters need to consider their health. There is nothing more enjoyable for them and us to see them live on comfortably after they have left the ring.