08.05.07 – By Ron Champ Miller: Hello fight fans!!! Your humble correspondent is back. I bet you couldn’t wait. You turn on the radio to hear about the champ. You turn on the TV, praying you will see “Champs Corner”. You scour the internet hoping to see the column of all columns. Well wait no longer. I’m baaacccckkk like Michael Jordan, without the hops. Well what can I say? I hope you all took my advice and bet Floyd. Mayweather was the choice here. He was bet down at some shops as low as -160. Wow. My only regret was not getting it at a better price. -185 is ok, but I could have done better. But then again, I didn’t know the line would drop that much. So I’ll take it. A win is a win..
As I’ve said before, I initially liked Oscar Delahoya when the fight opened. It seemed like great value. However, as time went on and after much thought, I changed my pick. Speed always beats power, and a ‘puncher’s chance, really means no chance. Of course anytime you go to the cards, you could get screwed. However in this bout, it was clear who the winner was. I got a bit nervous as the decision was read (115-113 DLH?, what was Tom Kaczmarek thinking? Oscar didn’t do anything, except miss and hit gloves. Well that and holding and hitting Floyd to the body) The correct decision was made. I had it 116-112, and that was a bit generous to the Golden Boy. Just look at the punch stats. Case closed.
Everything was in Oscar’s favor. The ring size, gloves, HIS promotion. The deck was stacked, but Floyd overcame it all to win. It was a boxing clinic indeed. The hand speed was apparent. The reason DLH couldn’t continue with the jab was because he was tired. As the bout progressed, Mayweather took over and Oscar as he always does, faded. The pretty boy’s combinations were crisp and on target. Only Oscar’s chin and Mayweather’s lack of power prevented a stoppage. It was a pretty good bout, all things considered. I, along with many others, thought we would have a boring, tactical fight. It wasn’t Arturo Gatti- Micky Ward, but it was still pretty good.
Rematch? I’ll pass. I don’t think Oscar can get or do any better, and Floyd will be more confident and more dominant in a rematch. Oscar should hang em up. Floyd should also. I think he has proven it all. Of course this is boxing and other than Marvin Hagler and Lennox Lewis, no one ever just hangs them up. So much for the ‘devastating’ left hook. It never came.
One more thought. I thought Floyd’s wardrobe was a riot. Reminded me of when Roger was the Black Mamba, the Mexican assassin. Well then Kostya Tszyu took his place. This fight was divided into racial sectors, no doubt. But its always been that way. You root for your own. Well except for me. I root for the USA and fighters of ALL colors. But I understand.
Champs Flurries: I thought the under card was ok, but only 2 bouts? At least give me 3. A heavyweight bout would have been nice. Hasim ‘Hasbeen’ Rahman returns. Why? This guy blew his chance after beating Lennox Lewis. He didn’t cash his lottery ticket. It was like he hit the jackpot with only 2 coins instead of 3. Winky Wright – Bernard Hopkins is an intriguing match up. I like Ronald in this one. The rematch between Wladimir “Steelhammer” Klitschko (48-3, 43 KOs) and Lamon Brewster (33-3, 29 KOs) will be a mismatch. I think Wlad takes him out, sooner rather than later. Why is Manny Pacquiao insisting on running for office? Is boxing that boring to him now? No challenges? or Challengers? I think not. In either case, just retire then. I think he needs to fight a bit longer, then go into politics. Hector Camacho is going to the clink. He will need to be a “Macho Man” in the joint, and I’m not talking about one of the village people, either.
Nice to see Greg Page finally getting paid, admission or not. And ESPN classic has really stepped up with the fights, instead of seeing Ali-Foreman or ZoraFolley-Ali for the 100th time, I’ve seen alot of Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield’s fights the last month or so,and I have to tell you, it was nice to see those fights again. I only mention this because I see Ray Mercer is going to fight MMA. Sad. I just watched him fight Evander Holyfield, (in the mid 90s and he was 34). Dude should retire, really. He is going to get hurt. Is it just me, or do you guys get MMA/UFC/etc? I watched the first few UFC’s with Gracie, Kimo and Severn. Then lost interest and never went back. Just seems too barbaric. Hypocritical? No.
I just think boxing is more controlled and safer.
RIP to Diego Corrales. Just got the news. I talked to him on the phone not too long ago. What a shame. My prayers are with him and his family. That’s the funny thing about life, you are here one minute, gone the next. ENJOY it.
Well that’s it, fight fans…Keep your hands up and keep punching for the stars!!!
Ron Champ Miller