Wes B. (London, UK): I’m totally pumped at the news of Haye/W. Klitschko finally being completed! Now that the fight is practically signed, what are your thoughts about the potential outcome and the fact that it has finally materialized?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think this is great! I think it’s great for the sport, and both individually and collectively, I think it’s great for the two men involved because it allows them to finally have that true gage match to serve as a high (or for one man, low) career footnote. As great as I think this is overall, I must say that I do feel a need for slight caution, as well.. As frustrated as we all got over the failed Mayweather/Pacquiao negotiations, there came a point where I began to actually like the fact that the fight hadn’t been made for two reasons:
For starters, there’s no bigger act to follow. And in this case, although the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight still looms, it’s safe to say that in a sense there may not be a bigger act to follow, either. If Haye happens to lose, what happens to the heavyweight division? We know that Vitali won’t be facing Wladimir, so what next? If the HW division is in shambles now, could you imagine the aftermath of a Wladimir victory? There’s no premise for further excitement. None at all!
The other reason for caution, again, similar to the Mayweather/Pacquiao scenario, is that there’s all of this buzz about seeing the fight, but come fight night, will we get a product that will match the hype? That’s a tough question to answer prior to, but there’s a side of me that feels it’s a no-win situation for the two men involved because when you have this much hype you’ll never please everyone. Wladimir has appeared very timid over the years in fights that expect to test him. Haye, on the other hand hasn’t always given us the best rendition of a man worthy enough to receive verbal accolades such as “the quickest and fastest heavyweight since Mike Tyson” bestowed on him either.
With so much on the line, when the bell finally rings, can you really have faith that either man will be able to live down the magnitude of the showdown and simply execute without letting it get too technical? Wladimir can play it safe and stick that long jab out all night, turning it into a complete jab fest, or Haye could pull a number similar to what he did against Harrison, where there’s no action at all for long stretches, followed by a few flurries that never seem to really connect. At the end of the day, the higher you inflate something, the more space it has to fall down! We’ve all wanted this fight…..I just hope like hell the two men involved will be ready to deliver when the bell finally rings.
Richard C. (Northridge, CA): I was really impressed with this Saul “Canelo” Alvarez kid over the weekend. I never really watched him before but he seems to be the future of Mexican boxers. How do you see his future going, and how would you see a fight between he and James Kirkland playing out?
Vivek W. (ESB): I was initially very big on Saul Alvarez because I’ve always loved the traditional Mexican warrior style of fighting. I’ve been a huge fan of several Mexican fighters of the past as a result of the warrior style, but “Canelo” isn’t quite tye prototypical Mexican warrior style most of have have come to know. He has the gritty determination and the rugged nature, but he also brings a few other elements. He slips punches, he has a decent speed…..overall there are a few wrinkles in his arsenal that make him special.
All that being said, I really think you have to keep things in a proper perspective with him. Categorically, he sits in a very odd space, in the sense that he’s a young fighter, (age 20), so you wanna see him develop properly and take fewer risk; but on the flipside, he was able to land this title shot because despite his young age, he has 37 fights and 225 professional rounds boxed. So, it’s a bit misleading in the sense that based on record tally, you want to view him as someone who should be ready to face the higher echelon of competition; but at age 20, few fighters in the history of the sport have ever been able to compete at such a level at such a young age.
I think Goldenboy will have to be very careful how they match him, because despite his gritty determination, I’m not sold on him being some world-beater just yet like some would suggest. Matthew Hatton isn’t a top tier guy, but with a little more punching power, you have to ask yourself how would the fight have turned out? There was speculation about “Canelo’s” commitment in training, and the failed weight issue possibly validated that. There’s a tremendous upside to Canelo and his fan pleasing style, but without better defense, he may find himself in real trouble against a big puncher.
Regarding a showdown with he and Kirkland, both are Goldenboy fighters, so it’s safe to say this is a fight we may see at some point down the road. Kirkland looked great Saturday, but no question, he has to get himself back at the level he was once a part of. At top form, I think this would be a helluva fight between the two, but why rush it (for either man)? Kirkland has some ground to make up and I expect he will. Unfortunately for ‘Canelo’ on the other hand, similar to what we see with Berto, he’s a young fighter who probably needs a bit more development, yet somehow got a title shot, won, and now has no room to look back, despite needing to!
When you look at the top 10 ranking for the WBC strap which ‘Canelo’ now holds, you can’t help but notice list of piranha’s lurking nearby. A list which includes the likes of Angulo #1, Williams #2, Margarito #4, Martirosyan #5, & Cintron #8. Kirkland will also have to find his way through this labyrinth as he follows the comeback trail, and as a result, this may be the one time that he truly celebrates being a contender rather than a champ! He can pick and choose his way to the top, wherein there’s only one direction ‘Canelo’ can go….and it isn’t up! Stay tuned!
Harvin G. (Orlando, FL): I ordered the Judah fight and didn’t really walk away impressed. What were your thoughts on his victory, and how much damage do you really see him doing in the 140lb jr. welterweight division?
Vivek W. (ESB): I had the opportunity to watch the Judah fight in it’s entirety over the weekend, and it was a somewhat bitter-sweet effect in the end for myself, as well as many others according to the responses I continue to receive. He fought a very determined fighter, and one who wasn’t exactly a cupcake, so I think him winning has to account for something, even in the mind of his harshest critics. When I analyze the effort given by Judah, like any other subject, I try to look at the positive, as well as the not-so-positive.
The positive analysis of Judah’s performance starts with a highly improved defense. If there was any element prominent from his new coach, the incredibly talented Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, it was on the defensive end. Judah looked very Pernell-esque as he slipped punches out there! Overall I thought the improved defense gave him his ultimate shot to win because he was able to avoid what had normally been unnecessary punishment taken. That being said, as great as he looked on the defensive end, one thing I continue to ask myself about him is exactly how intense his training is?
One of the key markers for a fighter with great stamina is sustained intensity in training. I don’t know if it’s the partying that took place over the years or what, but Judah’s energy level hasn’t been what it should be on fight night in quite some time now. It just appeared that with a bit more effort and energy in certain spots, the late stoppage could have come much earlier. The effort he gave was good enough to get him past the Mabuza’s of the world, but holding a strap now places him in an elite class, even if only by default. What happens against the Bradley/Khan winner? Or even another visit through the “Lou” (St. Louis) to face off against a Devon Alexander?
All winnable fights, but they’ll all require great effort and I’m not totally sold on Judah being able to give it to us at this stage. Another question I have deals with his power level, which again, touches on intensity in training. Bradley isn’t a powerful puncher in the division but he makes up for it with his tenacity and pressure. Judah isn’t throwing nearly as many punches! So, with fewer, less powerful shots landed, if the man across from him has a chin, what happens in the end? It’ll be intriguing to see what Judah can offer the sport at this stage. I can’t say he’ll be the last man standing, but judging by his staying power, I can’t bet against it either. Stay tuned.
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, 954-292-7346, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEKWALLACE747), Skype (VITO-BOXING), & Facebook).