Joel H. (Los Angeles, CA): I read your recent ‘CEO-Friday’s’ article and thought you had a very interesting take on Margarito’s denied license. My impression is that Nevada and Texas may also deny his request, but I expect Arum to go to Mexico if they do, regardless. What impact do you think this strong-arm tactic will have on Pacquiao and the sport if the fight goes across the border?
Vivek W. (ESB): I’ve said and maintained from the beginning that this is the absolute worst thing Pacquiao can do for his personal legacy and for the sport. I don’t believe in giving haters and critics room to question hard earned success, and I think this is another mistake Pacquiao and his team are making that will allow that crowd to do just that. There’s a huge contingent out there that has a big problem with Pacquiao’s recent appetite for catchweights, and this time around, not only will he employ yet another one, but he’ll do so against a man currently banned in the U.S.A. for an attempt, which had it been done on the streets, would have landed him a “simple battery” charge, and possibly placed him behind bars for 6 months..
We can get technical and use legalities to try to protect Margarito under the grounds that we “have no official knowledge that he intentionally planned this act”, but what we can’t protect him from – as it relates to this fight – is a few compelling facts. Consider this: When you look at the current WBC rankings, you have Saul Alvarez at #2, Alfredo Angulo at #3, Ryan Rhodes at #4, and Shane Mosley at #5. One can logically attempt to argue that three of these men (Angulo, Rhodes, and Alvarez) aren’t quite ready for Margarito; but Shane Mosley completely destroyed him, has practically begged to face Pacquiao, and despite his recent loss at the welterweight level, he is still ranked with good position as a jr. middleweight where he has a solid resume to support his cause.
Margarito’s most recent 154lb resume includes two fights in six years, (a win over a non-ranked opponent and a loss to Santos), yet he earns a shot for a title against the sports co-P4P king, the highest honor in the sport, despite a yet-to-be-lifted suspension? That’s exactly why people refer to boxing as one of great ‘corruptions’ in the world of sports. I have always been the biggest supporter of the famed ‘green belt’, but this is a bit much. After all though, I guess we shouldn’t blame the WBC. I mean, think about it…..It’s an organization that was born and bred in Mexico, with a chance to promote a fight in Mexico which includes a controversial Mexican warrior facing a man known for destroying Mexican warriors, who happens to be loved by Mexicans!
The only thing wrong with this fight is (in the WBC’s mind) is that it wasn’t lucky enough to land on Cinco de Mayo weekend! Everything else fell in place like a pop-up fly ball hovering over Derek Jeter with two outs and the bases loaded with the game on the line. Team Pacquiao, Top Rank, nor the WBC seem to care that there’s a currently banned fighter about to square off against a man who some allege should have an asterisk beside his accomplishments, himself. It’s an unconfirmed allegation, but in some circles, it does exist. Yes, it WILL DEFINITELY hurt the perception of the sport! But, what the critics say won’t matter…..after all, it’s the money that talks, and right now, these guys are clearly listening!
Chea L. (London, UK): In your ‘OPEN MIC FAN MAIL’ article last week you gave an interesting breakdown on some of the P4P fighters around the world that you like. I would like to know what other fighters in this region aside from the ones you named (Khan, Calzaghe), do you feel will be in contention for the mythical title in the future?
Vivek W. (ESB): After his recent victory, I think many people are starting to warm up to a man that I have liked for quite some time now, referring to Marco Huck. In the case of Huck, I think this lad has a helluva upside, and I don’t think his evolution is close to being near completion. He has a huge heart, and an underrated set of skills. Another guy I love over there and wish more American-based media members pay attention to is Nathan Cleverly. Unlike Hatton and Calzaghe, (who were great in their own right), Cleverly is actually a very skilled and fundamental fighter.
His left hand jab – overhand right combination is a thing of beauty! He has that particular combination perfected more than damn near anyone I can think of out the top of my head, today. It works beautifully because he sets it up with a good jab, and when all an opponent is expecting is a one-shot jab, he follows it with that overhand right! Beautiful! Aside from those two, Kell Brook has potential and maybe one or two others, but P4P worthy, I see Huck and Cleverly entering that realm, maybe even soon if they continue to evolve nicely, which I can assure you they will.
Jeff R. (Houston, TX): Boxing just can’t get it right. We saw Mayweather/Pacquiao fall apart twice, now Alexander/Bradley seems to be headed in the same direction. What are your thoughts on the stalled negotiations between the two camps?
Vivek W. (ESB): Honestly, Jeff, I have immense respect for both fighters, but I also have a core fundamental disconnect with the way things are happening here and I think the sport is truly letting go of those elemental principles in which it was once grounded on. Once upon a time, we’d see the best fight the best, no matter what. Within the last decade or two, we’ve evolved to this diva approach which allows more emphasis on the details surrounding fights than the actual fights themselves. Truth is, both Bradley and Alexander are two of my favorite fighters to watch now-a-days, but take either man outside of their hometown and place them in a Mall here in Miami, or a grocery store, somewhere in say, Charlotte, North Carolina, and I’d be surprised if 10 people out of 100 actually knew who they were. (That’s real talk).
This is no knock on either man. This is a reality stemming from the fact that there’s a huge misconception at this point. Yes, they are somewhere near the head of their class in a very good division, but that’s based on the hardcore fight fans! Both have only recently started to headline fight cards, and I’d venture to say if given the opportunity, neither would do better than MAYBE 200K to possibly 300K in a headlining pay-per-view event, even if it were against one another, at this time. I’m sure it feels great to fight in your own backyard, but this is where that comfort zone at home can begin to feel very distant, as it does no favors in global promotions! As R&B singer/manager Michael Bivins once stated in the early promotional days of Grammy award winning group BoyzIIMen: “A promoter has to know there’s more benefit in Omaha than there is in Chicago, or Des Moines, more so than Los Angeles; (because) true promotion of real talent allows you to fill seats on any block, not just the ones with people like you”.
Bottom line, these men are truly not on the level they may feel they are right now, and I couldn’t argue with anyone who would refer to them both as regional stars. One point I will concede is that it’s a brutal sport, and one blow can end the show…….for good; so, I can’t really knock them for wanting to collect big checks. It’s a (financial) security thing. But, what I can knock them for is asking for more than they’re probably worth right now, while subsequently stopping a fight from happening that could conceivably give them the status they think they now have, but truly don’t. Call me crazy, but ponder that thought for a moment…..I’ll be here when you’re done!
Gregory C. (Brooklyn, NYC): In my opinion Tomasz Adamek is generating the interest in the heavyweight division that David Haye promised but never delivered on. Do you think he can go further (than Haye)? And do you think he could defeat Haye?
Vivek W. (ESB): Short answers to your questions, NO, and NO! I think Adamek is doing a helluva job of proving his mettle and showing us that he has heart, if nothing else. That being said, I just find it very hard to see him doing much with either of the K-Bros. Michael Grant isn’t a fraction of what Vitali or Wladimir are, and if he had an ounce more energy in his tank last Saturday night, he could have actually stopped Adamek. Adamek is a perfect example of why I always have and still maintain that we need a super-heavyweight division. All things remaining equal, that guy gives any man in his size proximity pure hell all night long. Put him in against a 6’4″+, 240lbs+, type fighter with a better than average skills and he’d catch pure hell all night. You asked about Adamek in comparison to Haye. Honestly, I have to agree that he is actually doing what I pegged Haye to do.
And if Haye had this guys heart, he’d be the closest thing we’ve seen to Mike Tyson in the heavyweight level since Mike Tyson. Haye has the speed, the power, and although I don’t find him to be fundamentally sound, he skills aren’t weak either. The one attribute that Haye hasn’t seemed to put forward is the one attribute that Adamek has in abundance. Heart! And this isn’t to say Haye doesn’t have it, (heart), it’s just to say that we’re having to ask too much to see it, and that shouldn’t be the case with a great talent who talks as much as he does. Now….let the records reflect……if these two were to ever meet, despite Haye’s perceived lack of heart and Adamek’s perceived abundance of it, skills pay the bills, and if the actually met, I’d like Haye to win it, possibly by stoppage. Adamek simply doesn’t have the power to hurt him, but he has enough to stop Adamek, and his speed would all but guarantee that he’d connect at some point.
(Check out Wednesday’s ‘OPEN MIC FAN MAIL’ segment, where a random letter directly from a fight fan like you is published and openly discussed live via chat forum – Send all ‘Open Letters’ to wallace@boxing247.com)
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, 954-292-7346, YouTube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), Facebook, and Myspace).