Xavier O. (Harlem, NY): Do you think Juan Manuel Marquez can still hang with the top of the 140lb weight division?
Vivek W. (ESB): Marquez’s victory last Saturday night proved exactly why I’m such an advocate of solid, textbook fundamental skills. Watching him lose to Mayweather in such a lopsided effort made it seem as though he was destined for retirement real soon. In hindsight, perhaps like many others I found some odd way to diminish Mayweather’s efforts, because clearly, Marquez just displayed that he is still a force to be reckoned with.. Granted, Diaz is no world-beater, but Marquez’s strong skills and precision punching showed all watching why he’s still a P4P best fighter in the sport. Of the current crop of jr. welters, I don’t see Khan, Bradley, Alexander, or any of the others stopping him. His footwork is a bit slower and his feet have become a little flat, but his precision punching and warrior spirit makes up for that quite well.
Khan has the talent and X-factor in Freddie Roach, but even then I simply don’t know how he holds up with that many flush shots over 12 rounds. I love Bradley’s evolution, but I think his technical flaws and occasional looping punches would leave him prone to being hurt, potentially even stopped late. Alexander is the most complete of all the current 140lb’ers, but I’m not totally sure how he would handle a full 12 with Marquez. All fights would be entertaining, but I wouldn’t give any of them a decisive edge over arguably my favorite Mexican fighter of this era! I say they’d all be a coin toss!
Bobby S. (Northridge, CA): I find your views towards Manny Pacquiao to be more clearly biased, and not in his favor. How do you explain what seems to be blatant dislike for Pacquiao?
Vivek W. (ESB): I attribute this growing perception to the typical “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately” syndrome that we as people often develop. For years, I’ve supported Pacquaio, but suddenly comes an issue in which we don’t see eye to eye, and immediately the “hater” patch comes out! Part of the key issue here with this perception is that like various religious faiths of today, you have supporters, and then you have radicals. The radical element has such a blind faith that they don’t realize the average fight fan – one who loves the sport itself more than any particular man found within it – can objectively form questions about ANY fighter, including the great Manny Pacquiao.
I was raised on a principle that “you can’t remove all questions until you remove all doubts”.What Pacquiao has done thus far in his career is nothing short of amazing, but the reality is that he and his Team/promoter have subjected him to a lifetime of problems, even more-so than the opponent who requested the test. I say that in the sense that he’s now damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t as a result of their collective decision to decline the test. Think about it like this: If he walks away and never takes the test there will always be room for others to open this deadly can of speculation, theorizing on why he opted not to. Then you have another possibility: If he takes the test after refusing for so long and gets KO’d by Mayweather, or loses in a lop-sided decision, it would then be theorized that he lost because he was “no longer able to use whatever he had been using”, which is what we now see happening in the Antonio Margarito story. Ultimately, I’m just not a big fan of giving anyone the opportunity to question hard earned success.
Yes, this all started with an unconfirmed allegation! But, what makes it fair is that BOTH men are subjected to the same test, which leaves no room for advantage or disadvantage either way. What I find most intriguing about this perception of me is that I have NEVER stated that “Manny Pacquiao is using steroids”, yet the perception (in the mind of these radicals) is that I think he is (using steroids). The irony here is that you have a group of people saying that others shouldn’t be able to speculate or theorize, yet that same group feels at liberty to speculate and theorize about my beliefs. I’d rather be hated for being honest than loved for lying, and I will bear the cross and stand by my word. But, isn’t it funny that those who think I’m speculating on Pacquiao is doing that exact same thing to me without realizing it? Funny how that works, eh!
Roger L. (San Francisco, CA): I’m tired of hearing people say that Mayweather is afraid of Pacquiao. I’ve never heard you say it, but do you really think that’s possible?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think Mayweather, like any other fighter, has his concerns. But, to say that there’s legitimate fear? I can’t co-sign that statement. The same Shane Mosley that Team Pacquiao declined to fight was coming off an absolute destruction of Antonio Margarito and was in the minds of many an equal or greater threat. Not only did Mayweather sign the contract many thought he wouldn’t sign, but he beat him the way many thought he couldn’t….face to face, eye to eye, mano y mano! Without rehashing the entire testing controversy, all I’ll say is that when it comes to an actual fear factor from FMW, here are a few scenarios of the past to remember:
1.) contrary to popular belief, Mayweather has taken on some very credible opposition at all stages of his career. Corrales (RIP) was an undefeated beast who outweighed FMW by roughly 16lbs the night of the fight to add to an already stiff height and reach advantage. Several other fighters held great size advantages, yet he never looked for an easy way out then. 2.) Castillo made him look mortal in their first encounter. Floyd stated that he fought injured, and to clear the air, immediately gave Castillo a rematch and quickly dispelled that belief. 3.) In June 2008, FMWjr. walked away from a guaranteed $20M when Oscar Dela Hoya wouldn’t concede certain things at the negotiating table. Some called him “crazy”, but NO ONE ever mentioned the term “fear”. We hear that now because many didn’t care for ODH, but Pacquiao is a fan fave!
So, history shows this is typical Floyd, more than anything. It was common knowledge that he returned to the sport ONLY to face Pacquiao, so to subscribe to a ‘fear-factor’ theory, now, to me is not wise.
DeVonn K. (Liberty City, FL): Mayweather and Don King??? What are your thoughts on this possible tandem?
Vivek W. (ESB): The potential downside of such a union goes without saying, but I think this could be precisely what the doctor ordered for many other reasons. Don King is one of the last-standing old-timers on the promotional end of the sport. Some would find that to be part of the problem, but in many ways that could help secure the remedy. As odd as it may sound, King would probably be able to get far more out of Arum at the negotiating table than Oscar, and Floyd would together. These are two former employees, while King is and has always been an equal. These are two businessmen cut from the same cloth in several ways. All I’ll say is this…..the two biggest mouths in the history of the sport (Ali and Tyson) both found great success in King’s stables. Get your ear muffs ready guys, because this generation’s contribution is on deck, and this could be HUGE!
Andrei S. (Miami Lakes, FL): Who would you like in a Pirog/Martinez showdown?
Vivek W. (ESB): I’m a huge fan of Martinez and have really loved watching him become a star right before our eyes. That being said, Pirog made me a HUGE fan the other night with his performance, as well. I felt he was very technically sound, and very driven! He just always displayed the attributes of a very credible fighter, and one who would simply not be denied. It took a lot to come across the pond and do what he did in front of a crowd that wasn’t his own. He earned respect the proper way, in my book, and left me more than impressed.
A fight with he and Martinez would be a very good one. Both men have heart, and both have a certain skill level that make them tough to beat. I would need to see a bit more of Pirog to make a true decision on who I’d like between the two, but he definitely impressed me. I won’t say he “exposed” Jacobs because many already felt he was a bit sheltered to begin with. But, what he did do was all he could, and that was net an impressive win on the road. This would be an interesting fight. I can’t call it at this point, but I’d love to see it at ANY point!
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at 954-292-7346, vivexemail@yahoo.com, FaceBook, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), and Myspace).