This weeks ‘Left-Hook Lounge’ Q&A mailbag comes a day late, but never-the-less, remains fully equipped with many questions straight from the minds of some of the best fight fans on the planet. On the tab this week is a wide array of topics, covering everything from the Quintana/Williams rematch, to ESPN’s Dan Rafael who made what amounted to far less than accurate statements about Team Judah. Other notable topics on the docket include Pavlik, Nate Campbell, and a look at what makes a fighter pound for pound worthy. So with no further ado, here we go again….
Antonio Chavez (Miami Lakes, Fl): Oscar Dela Hoya has recently stated that he wants to see Cotto/Mosley before Cotto/Mayweather. What’s your perspective on his thoughts?
Vivek W. (ESB): Personally, I think my perspective would reflect that of most fight fans out there. I think when it all boils down, Oscar could have had several motives behind that statement.. As a promoter, it obviously makes sense that he would want his fighter (Shane Mosley) to be involved with the fighter (Miguel Cotto) that very well could represent the welterweight division of tomorrow. Also, getting Shane Mosley involved means that if Mosley is able to actually get the nod against Cotto, it would setup a huge rubber match with Cotto, or give Goldenboy Promotions the right to skip out of a Cotto/Mosley trilogy and entertain a megafight between Mosley and Mayweather which still has appeal to many fight fans. So Oscar Dela Hoya should be credited here with basically looking at the best interest of his company and attempting to secure them. With Mayweather promoting himself and Cotto apparently comfortable in the Arum stable, Mosley is Dela Hoya’s only ‘wildcard’ option and that card is the one that he’ll hold until it folds.
Barry S. (Charlotte, NC): Who do you like in the Williams/Quintana rematch and why?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think Quintana came in to the last fight totally prepared and he showed great overall boxing skills in his victory, however, in my opinion he was helped considerably by the fact that Williams came in the ring a bit dehydrated. The dehydration scenario is not anything that Williams ever pointed out to be an issue, and even in defeat, he took the high road without making excuses or pointing out any. That being said, fight fans aren’t crazy. There’s no way anyone can discount the fact that Williams entered the ring on fight night 17 lbs heavier than he did 24hrs prior at the weigh-in. That type of struggle to make weight almost always results in a weakened performance and I don’t think it’s a far-fetched idea to pair the weakened stature and the poor performance together. One thing we can all agree on is the fact Williams’ performance against Quintana was nothing like that he displayed against a very game Antonio Margarito only months prior to. Part of the answer also could lie in him potentially underestimating Quintana. At the end of the day, all theories are speculative and although some have a little more transparency than others, the only way we’ll find out for sure is when these guys jump in the ring again on Saturday night. My view is that similar to Margarito after his loss to Williams, we’ll see a much more durable, stronger, and active Williams. Despite Quintana possibly being the better pure boxer, if Williams does in fact come in focused after a solid fight camp, I think he has the tools to win this fight. I’ll stop short of a guaranteed prediction, but personally, I like Williams in this fight, probably by decision.
R.L. Mayes (Dallas, TX): Was there any validity to the comments about the injury to Zab Judah being escalated by a riff with his Father as reported by ESPN’s Dan Rafael?
Vivek W. (ESB): To answer the question directly, I have no sources that could either confirm or deny the report, however, after speaking to Yoel Judah on many occassions in the past and just having a good idea for who he is as a person, I think it’s safe to say that the story was not as solid as Rafael led most to believe. One thing that I can attest to directly about the Judah team is that Yoel and his son (Zab) have a completely business like relationship when it comes to boxing. Not to say there are never any issues between the two, but ones that would lead to the alleged type of problems, I just don’t see that being likely. What’s more troubling about this whole scenario is the fact that it all started from a writer who’s been in the game for quite some time who should have known better than to report such a thing about someone without bona fide confirmations. In my humble observation, when I take this allegation and pair it with a few things of the past reported by this same writer, it kind of tells me that one of two things took place. Either there’s a personal agenda on behalf of the writer of the allegations, or that he did what many others out there frequently do…which is take a few details from a source and fabricate the rest to help generate some strong buzz. Rafael is way too experienced to fall in a trap like this and to be quite frank, it’s very disappointing that such a report would be made. If this was the Mayweathers, I think we’d be on to something. But the Judah’s run a totally different camp.
Edgar W. (Ft. Lauderdale, Fl): There are so many thoughts on the pound for pound greats of today. How do you personally identify pound for pound fighters?
Vivek W. (ESB): This is a topic I typically stay away from because in my mind, it’s usually more subjective than Objective. Now days when you talk pound for pound you have the true pound for pound fighters, then you have the ones who are more mythical. I find it interesting that most writers are bold enough to refer to the status as ‘mythical’ because using that word pretty much tells me it’s all in the mind of the person writing, rather than the talent of the fighter they’re writing about. That tendency is why we have list full of fighters who have a more fan-friendly style as well as an ability to put cheeks-in-seats, (star power), rather than talent alone. For example, there’s no way in the world I’d ever agree with anyone who ranks a Kelly Pavlik, or a Miguel Cotto, or a Manny Pacquiao above a true tactician like a Winky Wright or a Floyd Mayweather Jr. Pavlik is great, Pacquiao is a fan friendly fighter, and Cotto is getting better by the fight, but neither have superior pure skills than the two I mentioned. Few others do. In Winky Wright, you have easily one of the most fundamental fighters of this era, yet his lack of promotion and failure to secure the big fights keeps him from surfacing on too many P4P list. Consider this, Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated Oscar Dela Hoya by split decision – a fighter who had only fought 2 times in the 3 years prior to their fight – and solidified his P4P status. Winky Wright on the other hand totally annihilates a fighter who also defeated Oscar Dela Hoya (Tito Trinidad) – who had also only fought 2 times in the 3 years prior to the fight – and despite the one-sided affair, still did not move up any ones P4P ledger. That’s why I don’t deal with the mythical view. Quite frankly, I think any fighter that takes as many punches as he lands has no business being listed in the discussion at all! Having the ability to brawl or bang-it-out with a fighter is great for ratings and ticket sales, but that doesn’t warrant true P4P contention. Recent fighters like Wright, Mayweather Jr., a younger Roy Jones Jr., a young James Toney, a young Pernell Whitaker, and a select few aside from them would have made my list. As far as current up and comers go, I think you also have to keep an eye on Berto, Gamboa, Cotto, and maybe a few others who know the art of tactical fighting. Other than that, it’s all fan fare and fan faves on those list out there. I may be wrong, but I was asked for my opinion and there you have it.
M. Sanders (Deerfield Beach, Fl): What was your take on Nate Campbell’s view of the “Ring” posted earlier this week?
Vivek W. (ESB): First and foremost, I think Nate should be applauded. People really don’t realize the politics involved in the sport of boxing. And for those that do, to see a guy stand up and sound off without bowing down to those politics, it makes me wanna give him even more props for telling it like it is without fear of backlash. There are many fighters in the sport who talk the talk, but when their feet hit the pavement, they’re a bit afraid to walk the walk. Nate simply isn’t one of them. I think the fact that Nate has been totally open and honest about his position on certain key points gives him more credibility than most. And to take it a step further, for him to actually join the chat forum and mix it up with readers and stand in the direct line of fire by answering their questions and making his positions clear, only solidifies his nature as a true stand up guy. I wish other fighters had the audacity to perform such a feat. I have total respect for Nate and hope that he continues to give true aficionado’s what they want – both in and outside of the ring.
(Got Questions or Feedback?: Write ESB’s Vivek Wallace at vivexemail@yahoo.com or show some love at www.myspace.com/anonymouslyinvolved)