This weeks ‘Left-Hook Lounge’ touches on a few highly key topics in the world of boxing. With David Haye now hiding out, suddenly it appears that Wladimir Klitschko will set his sights on Chagaev, but unfortunately for the two, (as well as interested American viewers), HBO doesn’t plan to put it’s ‘sights’ on their fight. After dissecting that very topic, we’ll get a chance to also analyze the potential Spinks/Cintron showdown being discussed, as well as implications surrounding the pending Cotto/Clottey fight, and a potential ring return for Antonio Margarito. With no further ado, we jump right into the mix with a question from Manhattan, NY..
Alex U. (Manhattan, NY): What are your thoughts on Ruslan Chagaev and Wladimir Klitschko, and why do you think HBO hasn’t decided to pick up this fight?
Vivek W. (ESB): My initial thoughts on Klitschko/Chagaev is that it could potentially be more attractive to the fight public than many seem to think.. Chagaev takes a lot of slack for his tendency to back out of fights, but when the smoke clears and you get beyond the drama, the 26 times he did enter the ring he left after having his hand raised in all but one – and that was a draw. I think he brings less hype and more experience, which is a great thing. Another thing that adds an element of surprise is the fact that Klitschko prepared for one style and is about to get one very different on fight night. This in and of itself can be a major hurdle. Although I like Klitschko to win, I wouldn’t be terribly surprised to see him suffer defeat. I think Chagaev has the right combination of talent to make it an interesting fight while it last. As far as why HBO decided not to show it? I wouldn’t even begin to say that I know. The only obvious belief here is based on the fact that HBO is American based and although Klitschko has had some great wins, there simply isn’t enough hype surrounding either of the two fighters involved in the United States for the network to allocate time in the middle of a Saturday afternoon to their showdown. Some international sources have gone on record as stating that HBO doesn’t appear to support non-American fighters, but I would have to quickly point out Joe Calzaghe in response. What I personally don’t understand is that one of the networks TV analyst (Emanuel Steward) trains the biggest name on the card (Klitschko), and watching him face Chagaev isn’t nearly as bad as watching Calzaghe pummel Manfredo jr., or Bika; so if we got those fights and not this one, clearly there’s some underlining agenda. I just don’t have the resources to figure it out.
Brennan J. (Chicago, IL): There have been many conflicting reports. What is the truth about the injury David Haye suffered?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think the person who can accurately give answer this question should be praised, because no one has seemed to come close to actually figuring this one out. Initial reports stated a hand. Other reports later stated it was his back. What totally baffles me is that a few camp insiders have gone on record stating that they didn’t see ANY visible evidence of an injury when they last saw Haye at all. In all fairness, there isn’t enough public info to go by and the individuals who should be speaking have opted not to. According to the U.K.’s “Liverpool Echo”, sparring partner David Price stated: “I came home Monday and David was in great shape…fine”. That type of comment has been a regular from camp insiders with no one seeming to know when this mysterious injury happened. Suddenly, attention has been redirected to July of 2005, when David Haye pulled out of his title fight against Hobson. In that case, his team quickly addressed the questions and moved on. This time around, it’s been a vastly different scenario and where there’s smoke there’s fire. I can’t truly say what the deal is with David Haye, but I would like to rule out fear. After all the talking and bravado he spit, if fear is a hidden emotion he has masked it quite well. Whatever the case may be, he just cost himself some mega money and lost much of his growing buzz while doing so. For the record, an odd and unnoticed stat is that Haye has never fought anyone in the month of June throughout his entire career and aside from a fight in the UK, his only other summer fight took place at the coveted Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, California. I guess the critics have a point when they view this hot mystery as simply another tale of Haye’s “summer madness”! Whatever the case is, I guess all we can do is stay tuned and wait to see how it all unfolds.
Mike W. (Boston, MA): Corey Spinks called out Kermit Cintron recently. If they fought, who do you think would win that fight?
Vivek W. (ESB): Actually, I think this fight would be entertaining for many different reasons. Perhaps the most intriguing is the fact that We’ve seen Cintron broken down by powerful fighters with better than average work rates, but I can’t recall a time when he faced a truly slick fighter who can make him miss. Spinks’ punching power isn’t among the top tier in the sport so conventional wisdom tells me that Cintron would probably get the nod, based on his ability to wear Spinks down quicker than Spinks could do so to him. Personally, I think this fight could play out a few different ways, but contrary to popular belief, I actually think it would be an intriguing fight. Spinks went the distance with a bigger Jermain Taylor and took everything he had, so to think that he couldn’t do that with Cintron I think may be precisely what plays into his advantage going into this fight. Is the fight a “MUST” to be made? Probably not. Is it competitive enough to see it happen? Why not?
Sedric W. (Bronx, NY): I read your comments recently about Joshua Clottey not getting a fair shot at a decision if he cannot knock out Miguel Cotto. Can you explain that statement.
Vivek W. (ESB): I hate to touch on this side of the sport because it embraces everything about Boxing that has led some to call it the world’s most corrupt sport. That being said, the reality is based solely in the fact that despite NYC being Clottey’s home base, the crowd will be 97% Puerto Rican. Anyone who has ever been in this particular venue (MSG) on the eve of the famous Puerto Rican parade knows full well that this type of crowd can be as rambunctious as any, to include the British invasion of the Hatton-takes-Vegas episodes. Now think of this….When you have that much support of one fighter in any venue, everything he does will get the amplified audio effect, making it seem far more decisive than it may have been. You add that to the fact that Filipino Manny Pacquiao and Top Rank head huncho Bob Arum will be sitting ringside with a potential Cotto/Pacquiao fight in mind, and then consider that Clottey’s connection with the mainstream fan has been more ‘spark’ than ‘wildfire’, and suddenly, you realize quickly that anything less than an absolute one-sided affair (which I don’t see happening), and Clottey will no doubt come up short. I know, quite a bold statement to make, huh? Well, ask yourself when have I ever been shy about voicing a truth? Moments before Luis Collazo entered the ring against Andre Berto in January I told a Collazo camp insider this very same thing and sure enough, it materialized according to script. I think it will be a great fight, but Clottey’s only true chance at getting the nod is by removing all doubt and landing a very unlikely KO. I don’t see that happening, therefore I see Cotto getting the nod on points.
Hector O. (San Jose, CA): Rumors are circulating about Margarito returning. What are the odds of us seeing him back in the ring any time soon?
Vivek W. (ESB): Considering the level of scrutiny behind the actions of Margarito and Capetillo, I think it’s safe to say that any rumors of his return is exactly that…..rumors! Margarito has been recently quoted telling news sources that he’ll be back in the ring in September, but unless he knows something we don’t, (which he just might), I think the closest Margarito will get to a ring is the one he placed on Michelle’s hand. Speaking as a person who strongly supported Margarito years in the past, I must say that it’s highly upsetting that he can’t be a part of all the rumblings taking place in the welterweight division, but this isn’t time for a pity party and neither is it the time for a return to the ring. I could be wrong, but my money says don’t look for him in the ring anytime soon!
(Contact Vivek Wallace at: vivexemail@yahoo.com, 954-292-7346, or Facebook and Myspace.com/anonymouslyinvolved)