Boxing Rants: Rivalries in The Sport
Opinion Column on Current Events in Boxing.
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Boxing is back on its feet after experiencing a hiccup with the Pacquiao/Mayweather fallout. The PacMan will be fighting in less than two weeks’ time, although against a less-popular opponent in Joshua Clottey.
And Floyd just had a press conference to launch his own fight, against the welterweight champ Sugar Shane Mosley. This fight will undoubtedly be a bigger fight than the Pacquiao-Clottey match. The question is, how much will it outsell the Pacquiao fight, who only has the PacMan as its “name” fighter.
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If I had a dollar for every press conference brawl that happens these days I’d be a millionaire two times over. Sure there are the genuine hate-filled altercations like the Barrera-Morales fracas before their rematch, but the majority of these shenanigans are just that, shenanigans.
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You can tell a lot about the two biggest stars in boxing today in their respective press conferences for their separate fights. While PacMan engaged in jovial banter with tough Ghanaian Joshua Clottey, Floyd Mayweather Jr obliged Shane Mosley with a mock shoving match replete with the usual trash talk.
Well, it has worked for Floyd before, so I guess he shouldn’t fix what ain’t broke.
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Filipino and Filipino-American fighters have been in a slump like real estate prices in the latest recession. Z Gorres, Brian Viloria, Ciso Morales, Marvin Sonsona. Gorres won his match against Colombian Luis Melendez, but paid a heavy price after he collapsed in the ring and had to undergo brain surgery. Morales and Sonsona both went down from body shots and were counted out. Viloria was knocked out defending his title in Manila.
Nonito Donaire and Bernabe Concepcion maintained their countrymen’s spirits with good wins, though.
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Although most expect the PacMan to win against Clottey, boxing remains one of the most unpredictable of sports. And with Pacquiao’s warrior blood mixing with Clottey’s defensive shell and granite chin, the fight is still a compelling one.
And if the PacMan does what nobody else has done and knocks out “Blood” Clottey, expect a barrage of doping accusations yet again from Mayweather’s camp.
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There always seems to be rivalries in boxing these days: Pacquiao and Mayweather; Golden Boy and Top Rank; HBO and Showtime, each one as intense as the other. Rivalries among these non-boxing entities are at least as interesting as those that involve the actual fighters.
I guess bad blood is as good as it gets these days.
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There’s a ton of really interesting fights on the horizon not involving the two most popular figures in the sport. Pavlik-Martinez, Lopez-Concepcion, Ortiz-Campbell, Berto-Quintana. All these have the potential to add a casual fan into the sport. But there’s really nothing that can approximate a possible Pacquiao/Mayweather showdown. Let’s all hope it gets made later this year.
Nice post
Spot on observation dude.
If only the promoters can be more fair to the fans and realize that taking blood after the fight night is far more accurate than 14 days… mayweather can agree for a penalty or whatever he wants to demand if PACMAN is tested positive after the fight!!! if pacman doesn’t accept than its crystal clear who’s behind this fallout. I think this is fair enough for both camps if pacman wins the game then tested positive after the fight then it a no contest… mayweather can be declared as winner and he can keep his 0 loss plus a penalty $$$$$ hope they can try to work this out… i think PBF has more to loss if this fight doesn’t happen, pacman is so much contented w/ his wealth and achievements. HE DOESNT NEED TO FIGHT FLOYD if its for money!!! his money is 40x more value when spent in his hometown.. and cost of leaving in phil is so so cheap, he is already a KING in his hometown.. he can leave 40x more on PBF’s lifestyle. For this fight to happen it has to be PBF to initiate extra steps… his only hold are his 0 loss and numbers on PPV while the other end of the table holds the belt, P4P, figther of decade etc… PBF has to put appetizer on the plate!!
Some people were duped into believing something that came from somebody whose character is dubious. Floyd has had troubles with the law these past few years including misdemeanor battery involving two WOMEN in 2004, domestic violence in 2002, and most recently, the IRS. One might want to consider the source of these insinuations first and ask themselves if the source is TRUSTWORTHY. Pac never failed a test in his entire career and has showed his willingness to be tested before and after the fight (urine and blood). In fact, he was tested the night before the Morales fight and nothing was found in his blood. His only request is the testing should not be done close to the fight because of a bad experience. Pac, as we all know is superstitious, but that is because his culture is very much so. That is something some people has trouble understanding.
Floyd is building up the hype and excitement for this fight by creating some major drama involving a near-brawl and a full verbal assault back and forth. Enjoy it while you can, folks because there won’t be that much enjoyment when the fight starts. My advice: Don’t throw away your $60 bucks because this fight will be boring. Has anybody ever seen Floyd involved in an exciting fight? Similar to his previous fights, Floyd will run, and in this fight, Mosley will ran out of gas chasing him. Shane is OLD (he is almost 39 years old), and contrary to what other people says, age matters. That and the fact that Shane has not fought for more than a year.
Let us all help Manny win his PPV fight against Floyd. Pinoys all around the glove, once again let us show the world how ‘Bayanihan’ works. Here’s our concept of helping Manny.. Instead of watching Floyd’s fight with Shane, use the money to buy a friend (regardless of race) Manny’s PPV fight with Clottey. It will be surely appreciated. Don’t forget to buy it for your own family too..