Boxing Thread 2K12

[JKidd]

And a happy birthday to the 2nd greatest of all time (arguably the best HW of all time), Muhammad Ali. Turns 70 today. A true legend in every regard of the word, and still active at the gym with youngsters and aspiring boxers.

Enjoy, one of my most favorite comps for Ali:

Muhammad Ali: The Greatest of all Time -...

And of course, the iconic picture of Ali:

[smashem]

Well just curious who is number one in your eyes, In my eyes the best.

[JKidd]

The same man Ali claims to be the greatest of all times, Sugar Ray Robinson.

[Daaaa B's]

A good case can be made for Larry Holmes being the #1 HW of all-time. Never lost a fight until just prior to his 36th b-day. Didn't fight quite as many tough opponents as Ali though. Both guys were amazing.

[JKidd]

He gets a bum rap by a lot of guys for being in that transition period between the amazing late 70's heavys and the late 80's-early 90s heavys where he fought a lot of has beens (see Ali and Ken Norton as prime examples) and a lot of "good" fighters, but no truly great ones. It can be argued that he didn't face a fighter above "good" until he met up with Michael Spinks in the mid 80s.

Back to present day, and Manny's next opponent watch, again, for an ummteenth time. Miguel Cotto will be forced to go to 147. Manny won't release his point of the fight being at 147, so that may force Cotto out of the fight. I doubt Cotto can make 147 anymore. He makes 154 comfortably, and down to 152'ish, but the extra 5 pounds could be a nightmare for him, and leave him completely drained. Freddie Roach wants Timothy Bradley if Floyd isn't available. Which would make me yawn until I throw up. And Lamont Peterson appears to be tied up with a rematch with Amir Khan thanks to the IBF and WB whatever.

Bob Arum is also trying to plan JCC Jr's post fight after Rubio with Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito. Can't say I care for either matchup, considering neither are middies, and Jr is supposedly a middleweight title holder.

[Blues 34]

Originally Posted by jkidd

The same man Ali claims to be the greatest of all times, Sugar Ray Robinson.

AKA Walker Smith Jr, I didn't know his real name until I lost a beer bet on it a while back. I Would put him and Ali at 1 and 1A

[tim13]

I always forget there's a boxing thread here. I'm going to try to remember this time and post in here regularly.

JKidd and Flyers2001, I agree with literally every one of your posts; good stuff.

Just a couple quick thoughts on fights/fighters that have been mentioned so far...

- I'm beyond tired of Manny's (Arum's) antics at this point. Making Marquez fight at 144 was lame and after all of the big talk from Roach and Ariza (god himself could come in the ring with Marquez and he still wouldn't make it past 4) he still couldn't get it done.

- Speaking of Roach, if you ask me he's fading badly. He looks much worse than ever and his fighters have looked somewhat lost for considerable periods of his last 3 big fights (Linares, Manny, Khan). I'm sure he'd be going downhill faster if he wasn't so active but either way I'm worried for him.

- Speaking of Ariza, what a d*ckhead. On 24/7 he was going on and on about how Manny was in the best shape of his life, really in the zone like he's never seen him, training harder than ever, etc., etc. As soon as the fight was over, Manny all of a sudden wasn't working with him, didn't do as he was told, blah, blah blah. What a parasite.

- The Kirkland-Molina/Garcia-Morales card, rescheduled for late March, is gonna be a good one. I like the looks of Chavez-Rubio too, and Gamboa and Juarez could be fun while it lasts.

- Andre Ward is as good as it gets right now. I think he beats anyone from 160-175 and does so with relative ease, whether it be Sergio, Bute, Dawson, whoever. There's only one guy I'd really see pushing him, but they're friends and are on record saying they'll never fight...

- Bernard Hopkins turned 47 today and it's all of a sudden looking like Bute; a fight that has been talked for a while now. Word is that Bute-Froch is off because Showtime wants Hopkins.

That's all for now...

[Flyers2001]

A couple things:

Sugar Ray Robinson is by far the greatest p4p fighter ever. If you want to dispute that I would be glad to go toe to toe with you and provide you a lifetime of facts. Just saying......

Happy Bday Ali, top 5 fighter ever, but number 1 ambassador of boxing. He will forever be the most recognizable face in boxing and maybe all of the sporting world.

Its all about dominoes! When the Mayweather - Pac dominoes fall everyone else from 140-154 will have fights. Right now its a waiting game besides Berto - Ortiz rematch. Fighters on hold include; Mayweather, Pacquaio, Bradley, Cotto, Canelo, Peterson, Khan, Marquez. Make a ****ing dec.

Showtime did reject Froch - Bute. Weird... But the Montreal fans seem to like Bernard for some reason, so I can see them wanting Bute-Hopkins, but the Froch would do more for the division.

Brandon Rios who lost his belt ont he scales, but won hisn fight in the ring is actually trying to stick around 135 for the rest of the year in hopes of being able to fight Gamboa. He has a nutrionist who he has been working with since the new year.

Fights up to Junior Middleweights looking forward to: All fights should be Televised!

Rico Ramos vs. Rigondeaux on Jan. 20th
Donaire vs. Vasquez Jr. on February 4th
Lara vs. Hearns on February 5th
Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz on February 11th
Paul Williams vs. Ishida on February 18th
Broner - Eloy Perez on February 25th
Devon Alelxander vs. Marcos Maidana on February 25th
Brandon Rios vs. TBD on March 3rd
JML vs. Salido on March 10th
Kell Brook vs. TBD on March 17th
Erik Morales vs. Danny Garcia on March 24th
Mike Jones vs. Randall Bailey on TBD.

[JKidd]

Manny is returning on June 9th... NOT against Floyd Mayweather.

Will be at an outdoor venue constructed on the strip, and the opponent won't be revealed for another couple days, when Bob Arum feels like announcing it.

Floyd is on record saying he won't fight Robert Guerrero, Miguel Cotto or Saul Alvarez. So... that leaves? Amir Khan? Timothy Bradley?

Lamont Peterson is interested in a 50/50 split with Amir Khan on a rematch. So, that likely removes both.

Timothy Bradley?

[JKidd]

Some reports (backed by Lou Dibella) that Andy Lee is looking to drop off the Martinez/Macklin HBO card to fight in Germany, in April, for Felix Sturms' 160lb title.

If it gets signed, I love the fight. Andy Lee has the power and skills to blast away and make this NOT go to the cards where he'll likely get robbed no matter what.

[JKidd]

Mayweather rejects a 50/50 split of revenue for a May 5th fight with Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand.

“He asked about a 50/50 split and I told him no, that can’t happen, but what can happen is you can make more money fighting me than you have made in your career. I also let him know I’m in control on my side but he needs to get on the same page as his promoter so we can make this fight happen.”
Link

What a joke. Two of the biggest stars in the boxing world, and they can't agree to a 50/50 split.

[Flyers2001]

I told everyone last year that Rigondeaux was the only guy that can seriously be a threat to Donaire from 122 on down. He crushed Rico Ramos to win his first title after 9 fights, although he is 31 because he had a hard time defecting from Cuba.

Because of Donaire's inactivity I can see a guy like Moreno give Donaire a fight as well. 122-130 is loaded. Hopefully we can see some marquee matchup's from these guys.

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by jkidd

Manny is returning on June 9th... NOT against Floyd Mayweather.

Will be at an outdoor venue constructed on the strip, and the opponent won't be revealed for another couple days, when Bob Arum feels like announcing it.

Floyd is on record saying he won't fight Robert Guerrero, Miguel Cotto or Saul Alvarez. So... that leaves? Amir Khan? Timothy Bradley?

Lamont Peterson is interested in a 50/50 split with Amir Khan on a rematch. So, that likely removes both.

Timothy Bradley?

Manny is fighting Cotto. I hope Cotto does not sign a contract with Top Rank but does it on his own and beats Manny. because then there would be hype for Floyd - Cotto with no Arum.

[Blues 34]

Originally Posted by jkidd

Mayweather rejects a 50/50 split of revenue for a May 5th fight with Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand.

“He asked about a 50/50 split and I told him no, that can’t happen, but what can happen is you can make more money fighting me than you have made in your career. I also let him know I’m in control on my side but he needs to get on the same page as his promoter so we can make this fight happen.”
Link

What a joke. Two of the biggest stars in the boxing world, and they can't agree to a 50/50 split.

I know we all want this fight to happen, but why the **** would Floyd reject a 50-50 split on the purse. That is fair, the Paquiao camp has taken some deserved flack lately but this latest BS about no 50-50 split is a chicken **** move by Floyd, if any of us were Manny would we take less than a even split. After all the **** he has said in the last little while Floyd is still full of ****, he knows this is a dealbreaker both times this thing was close his **** ****ed it up

[JKidd]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

I told everyone last year that Rigondeaux was the only guy that can seriously be a threat to Donaire from 122 on down. He crushed Rico Ramos to win his first title after 9 fights, although he is 31 because he had a hard time defecting from Cuba.

Because of Donaire's inactivity I can see a guy like Moreno give Donaire a fight as well. 122-130 is loaded. Hopefully we can see some marquee matchup's from these guys.

It was a pretty bad fight thanks to Rico Ramos doing as next to nothing as possible. I can't recall him actually throwing a meaningful power punch, thanks in large part to Rigo's blazing hand speed and power.

As far as Rigo goes, man is he amazing. The left hand is a bomb that comes from over, under and straight down the pipe. The one issue I see with him, is no jab - next to a pawing motion to gauge distance. Other than that, is pretty much not there.

Can't wait for him to go up the P4P ladders and fight everyone at or around 122.