By Ted Sares – Okay aficionados, it’s that time again. Pull up a comfortable chair near your computer and torch up a nice Montecristo from the Classic selection. This month, we are going back to basics with our choice of scotch, so pour a Chivas Regal; my choice a 12 Year old blend from whiskies matured for at least 12 years. It’s smooth with a somewhat honeyed, mellow taste. In the background, we have jazz, rock and heavy metal to choose from and I’m going with Wolfmother first with AC/DC not far behind. Roy Hargrove is around for jazz fans. Judas Priest and Steeley Dan are lurking.
It’s time to discuss all things boxing, and this month’s topics follow, but as always, feel free to inject your own topic as long as it (hopefully) pertains to boxing:
1) Everyone dumps on two-time champion John Ruiz and frequently makes
reference to his stunning KO loss to David Tua back in 1996, but truth be told Ruiz has done far better than the “Tuaman” despite David’s stellar record of 49 (KO 42)- 3- 1. However, his recent opponents have been less than compelling. Cerrone Fox, Saul Montana, Robert Hawkins, Maurice Wheeler, Edward Gutierrez, Cisse Salif, Talmadge Griffis are not exactly household names. His last fight against a ranked opponent was when he drew with Hasim Rahman in 2003. He was inactive in 2008, is now getting a tad long in the tooth, and is getting dangerously close to being out of the mix altogether. Is Tua done? If not, what must he do to get back into contention? I have a fan-friendly suggestion, but I’ll hold off for now.
2) I am a firm believer that the best should fight the best and so apparently are Manny Pacquiao and Bernard Hopkins. The Executioner’s last eight opponents have been Kelly Pavlik, Joe Calzaghe, Winky Wright, Antonio Tarver, Jermain Taylor, Jermain Taylor, Howard Eastman, and Oscar De La Hoya. Not bad, but Pacquiao’s last thirteen outings have been against Oscar de la Hoya, David Diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Jorge Solis, Erik Morales, Oscar Larios, Erik Morales, Hector Velasquez, Erik Morales, Fahsan Por Thawatchai, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera. Has anyone else faced such tough opposition consecutively in recent years?
3) I recently engaged in a lengthy and heated exchange with some other boxing buffs about what country produces the best fighters. We all agreed the US was the one, but we also agreed the US was losing its edge. I proffered that we should use some kind of measurement and said a per capita one would suit me. For example, divide the number of great fighters (world champions and mauve also top contenders) by the population. I came up with Puerto Rico (population just short of 4 million) but I could well be wrong. Can you prove otherwise?
4) I like chill-or-be-chilled types like Columbian bomber Alejandro “Naco” Berrio at 28 (KO 27) – 5 (KO 5), but my favorite is another Columbian slugger, Edison “Pantera” Miranda, who refuses to go away. Joel Julio recently failed in his attempt for title when he lost to tough Ukrainian Sergiy Dzinziruk. Can “Pantera” become a world Champion?
5) Anything else that suits your fancy including whether you think James McGirt Jr. got stiffed last night in Key West. By the way, I don’t. And how you feel about Roy Jones fighting Omar Sheika.
Visit the author’s site at www.tedsares.com