Floyd Mayweather is not Chicken!

08/08/201308/07/2013 Paul Strauss

floyd33 Manny misspoke when he said Floyd Mayweather, Jr. runs, which implies he’s chicken. No one really buys that. However, they do go along with the idea that Floyd is guilty of same thing as Wladimir Klitschko. Hall of Famer Larry Merchant explained it best when he corrected someone for calling bouts – boxing. Larry quickly explained, in no uncertain terms, that that is not what people pay to see. According to Larry, they’re paying to see prize fighting, with emphasis on fighting.

Floyd has been boxing since he got out of diapers. His father and uncles were either boxing or training/coaching others how to box before Little Money was born. It’s a safe bet to say Small Change was boxing while still in his crib. He doesn’t know anything else. Boxing has been his life. If he was a chicken, there’s no way he could have carried on the family’s tradition.

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“Triple G” Golovkin destroys Macklin

06/30/201306/30/2013 Paul Strauss

Well, the questions about Gennady Golovkin (Triple G) were answered Saturday night at the MGM Grand at Foxwood, Mashantucket, CT, and answered emphatically. The main attraction of HBO’s Boxing After Dark was going to be Triple G’s toughest test. Finally, in the Irishman named Matthew Macklin, he would be facing someone who was a tried, true and tested full-sized middleweight. However, it was a short examination and he passed with flying colors. The fight opened with Macklin trying to be the aggressor. He pressed forward, but wasn’t effective. Triple G was moving just enough, slipping punches, and watching and studying. No more than a minute passed, and things changed. Now, Triple G was the aggressor, but the difference was his attack was effective.

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No Surprise – Adrien Broner the Farce Wins over Paulie Malignaggi

06/23/201306/23/2013 Paul Strauss

malig55 malig55 About the only thing(s) close to being a surprise was that Paulie Malignaggi went the distance and one judge thought he won the fight? Not much doubt who won. Paulie Malignaggi displayed even less “pop” than usual on his punches. In a way, you have to admire Paulie. it’s must take a lot of courage for Paulie to enter the ring unarmed, knowing that he can’t hurt his opponent. It’s a shame, because “The Magic Man” could be one helluva fighter if he had a punch.

The fight itself was predictable and silly at times. Adrien Broner was the farce, jester or wag. He has no class. He acts the fool, or maybe he’s not acting. One wonders if there’s a worthwhile thought that passes through his brain? If there is, it departs faster than his lead right. He always seems to get away with questionable tactics, not unlike someone else fans know without naming names. He uses his forearm and left elbow as weapons, and on one occasion actually kneed Paulie.

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Caleb Truax Stops “Da Bomb” in the Sixth Round

06/22/201306/22/2013 Paul Strauss

There’s been a bit of a drought in Minnesota when it comes to victories on the big stage. For a while there, it seemed like it would never happen. ESPN2 analyst and famous trainer Teddy Atlas reminded fans right away of that fact. He has a habit of pointing out what he thinks might be padded records. In Caleb “Golden” Truax’s case, Teddy explained that most of Caleb’s victories took place in his own backyard. It wasn’t hard to figure out what he was implying. He further explained that Caleb blew his big chance against Jermain Taylor on 4-20-12 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Except for a ninth round knockdown of Taylor, Caleb was pretty much shutout. Caleb 22-1-1 (13KOs) was determined to not let that bad memory repeat itself.

Caleb managed to get Don “Da Bomb” George 24-3-2 (21KOs) in trouble right away in the first round. Caleb quickly figured out George was not a counter puncher, and didn’t use his legs much for anything other than moving straight ahead. Consequently, Caleb started teeing off. He was using a hard jab to set things up and then pounded in with good three punch combinations. George’s idea of a guard was easily exploited by Caleb. The 29 yr old kid from Osseo, MN didn’t have to rely on his college degree to realise he could slam shots right into George’s guard without retaliation.

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Mikey Garcia – And Another Thing

06/20/201306/19/2013 Paul Strauss

garcia324 By now everyone knows Mikey stopped Juanma, and everyone knows Mikey missed making weight by two pounds. Everyone knows he is undefeated, blah blah blah, but damn if he didn’t demonstrate boxing at its best Saturday night. It was highly entertaining to watch someone who is so good at his job that he makes it look easy. Unfortunately, some fans mistake his level of talent boring, but they fail to understand and appreciate the difficulty involved with making a violent job like his look easy. He transforms a violent sport into one of grace, power and courage. He puts fundamental together in an almost magical way.

What he does resembles the proverbial surgeon. His victories over Solito and Juanma were excellent example of this type of wonderful skill. Generally speaking, surgeons put people back together, but Mikey systematically takes them apart. His kind of skill surpasses that seen in other sports. In several of those sports the beauty and skill manifests itself through such things as a “sweet swing” in tennis, golf or baseball.

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I’ll Take That Bet – Alvarez vs. Mayweather Jr.

06/02/201305/31/2013 Paul Strauss

mayweather223 Wow! Who’d a thunk it? Little Money is apparently going to do it. He’s finally going to fight someone who the fans want him to fight. His right hand man Leonard Ellerbe is already spouting talk about Little Money beating Alvarez even if he weighs two hundred pounds. That already seems to be a stretch of the truth, because, according to more than one source, it looks as though there will be a “catch weight” of 152 imposed?. Do they (Money Team) know something about Alvarez we don’t?

The early odds are about 2 to 2 1/2 in Little Money’s favor. It doesn’t look good for Alvarez fans. The experts apparently aren’t giving Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’ much for his undefeated record (1 draw).. After all Little Money has beaten the Golden Boy (SD), Sugar Shane and Cotto. He also proved Juan Manuel Marquez shouldn’t have been fighting welterweights, at least not without help from Angel Guillermo “Memo” Heridia.

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Froch Wins and Will Again, but Not Against Ward

05/26/201305/26/2013 Paul Strauss

froch644 Froch dominated Kessler, and will again if they have a third fight. Kessler’s style is too predictable and not busy enough. He lost because he failed to manage distance very well. He failed to take advantage of his hand speed and straighter punches. Ward did not and will not make those mistakes.

Froch got away with his unorthodoxy, because (to use a baseball phrase), Kessler failed to keep his eye on the ball. Froch hardly ever makes that mistake, and Ward never does. He is always focused, and ready to take advantage of miistakes at an instant. Froch gets away with throwing looping shots, because someone like Kessler’s defense is too simple. He either tries to block the punch, and many times unsuccessfully, or duck under it.

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Matthysse uses rights and lefts to answer ?’s about Havoc

05/20/2013 Paul Strauss

matthysse65 Lucas Martin Mattysse was matched against Lamont “Havoc” Peterson Saturday night at the Broadwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Business Journal explains to its white collared readers, it’s necessary to find answers to 12 elaborate questions in order to successfully deal with “havoc” The dictionary tells us havoc is a “….. wide and general destructive” force. But, Lucas Martin Mattysse an easier remedy. He chose to create synonyms like confusion, ……………. disarrangement, disarray,……….. disshevelment, …..and disorder …..” all of which were dealt out with his left and right punches. Kayo artists like Mattysse are really fun to watch.

The fantastical results that occur when their gloves make contact is incredible. Heavy handed is often used to describe the kind of unimaginable real havoc they can wreak. Because of that Poor Lamont never had a chance to gather any kind of storm clouds of his own.

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Robert Guerrero Discovered It’s Never As Easy as You Think It Will Be

05/05/2013 Paul Strauss

Floyd warned Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero that soon he would be discoveingr the real thing and not just exchanging words and verbal threats. Guerrero nodded and like Mick Dundee expressed hi had “No worries!” The Ghost was envisioning being able to beat down this man he was exchanging stare downs with. He was convinced he would be ready to deal with Floyd’s slick movements and fast hands. He was convinced he could make Floyd pay for lead rights he knew would be coming once they stepped into the squared circle. Guerrero was dead serious nothing was going to deter him from victory.

However, the reality of the night was similiar to a story Freddie Roach tells about getting ready to fight Hector “Macho Man” Camacho. Freddie prepared by getting the fastest sparring partners around. He worked hard with these guys, against their speed, and was confident he was ready for the “Macho Man”. But the reality of his night in the ring was similiar to that of Guerrero’s on Saturday night at the MGM Grand. Robert discovered just like Freddie had their real opponent’s speed was much greater than any sparring partner could duplicate. The real thing was at another level all together.

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Mayweather says Guerrero Doesn’t Have a Prayer

05/04/201305/04/2013 Paul Strauss

(Photo credit: Naoki Fakuda) Almost without exception, the boxing experts pick Mayweather to win. Most say it will be by UD. That’s because they don’t see Mayweather getting reckless and take any unnecessary chances to win by kayo. They go right down the line and are forced to pick Little Money. Over the years Mayweather, Jr. has had a chance to grow into the weight class, so he will be stronger and more comfortable at the welterweight level.

He is used to fighting bigger men. This will be only the third time for Guerrero. There’s no argument when the experts go down the list of necessary skills and all the assets are on Mayweather’s side. He is faster. He is more skilled, both defensively and offensively. He is a great counter puncher. He can fight rough if he has to, using his elbows, and leverage to maneuver his man. He will take seize any moment of relaxation or careless Guerrero might provide.

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