For months both boxing fans and journalists have claimed 2010 has been an especially uneventful and disappointing year for the sport.
Personally I've been able to enjoy boxing quite a bit this year. A couple of fights have been surprisingly exciting, and a number have lived up to their pre-fight expectations.
True enough, the heavyweight division is still putrid, the Super Six at 168 has all but fallen apart, some high profile matches (and rematches) haven't gotten past the "When, Where and How Much?" stage, and as usual, the controversy never fails.
The sport lives to lose another fan, just like every year.
Especially with the extra-curricular activities.
"Money" May 6's and 7's
Fans had plenty of reasons to be annoyed with Mayweather years ago, but he's been especially aggravating since late 2009.
Following a lackluster decision win over the much smaller Juan Manuel Marquez last September and Manny Pacquiao's eleven-and-a-half round bludgeoning of Miguel Cotto in November, it seemed as if, for the first time in many years, the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport would meet in the ring without having to mess with catchweights.
What ensued was a massive boxing media joke, as both fighters made JLo-like demands and the fight fell through, but not before slinging mud back and forth.
Rather than fight, both guys did what any spoiled diva would do: make a boatload of money against different well-hyped opponents.
Take two on negotiations didn't go much better through Spring and early Summer 2010, though Floyd seemed to dispute that they even took place.
Mayweather seesawed between claiming he would take the rest of the year off, and saying he wanted to fight...until earlier this month.
On September 2, Floyd delivered an embarrassingly awkward rant on a streaming video website called Ustream. The video itself was fairly laughable, easily dismissed by most fans. The situation devolved quickly for Floyd though, as his inappropriate (and incorrect) racial remarks in the video caught the attention of mainstream news and sports websites more than happy to paint the undefeated and semi-active fighter in a negative light.
It's not exactly like he has trouble doing that for himself though.
Floyd offered up a half-hearted apology a few days later. Forgiven, forgotten...right?
A week later on September 9, it was reported on various news sites that Floyd was wanted for questioning in an alleged domestic violence incident with his "baby momma" Josie Harris, who also claimed the financially-troubled Floyd took her iPhone during the encounter earlier that morning, after threatening Harris and their two sons, ages 9 and 10, with physical violence.
A few weeks later, Mayweather now finds himself charged with eight separate counts in Nevada stemming from his confrontation with Harris, and may be sentenced to 34 years if convicted on all counts.
Ike Ibeabuchi and Oliver McCall at least had drugs and likely legitimate psychological issues to blame for their breakdowns. Riddick Bowe claimed in court that too many punches to the head caused his.
It seems Floyd's excuse may be having too much free time on his brittle hands.
According to Floyd's attorney Richard Wright, the fighter isn't expected to serve more than a week or two in jail, if any time at all.
In terms of years vs months or days to serve, I'm not sure which would be better, as Floyd might not be quite as good for he sport as he says he is.
Showtime Bantamweight Tournament Official
Giving credit where it's due, promoter Gary Shaw played a big role in finalizing Showtime's upcoming bantamweight tournament.
The first round of the single-elimination tournament has officially been set for December 11 in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Headlining the Showtime telecast will be super flyweight belt-holder Vic Darchinyan against unbeaten Abner Mares, who recently challenged Yonnhy Perez for his IBF bantamweight strap. Perez will be defending his belt against Joseph Agbeko in a rematch of their October 2009 fight in the supporting bout.
Shaw, Golden Boy Promotions and Don King collaborated to make the tournament happen, and while a few of the best bantamweights around aren't participating, there's no question the four fighters involved are at least among the best in the division. And after all, top fighters squaring off is what we fans ask for.
Gary Shaw in particular deserves a bit of extra credit, as the reputation of two of his main fighters is at stake, and because I've been especially critical of him as a promoter over the years.
Showtime's tournament may not crown a bantamweight champion, but it brings us a step closer to it, and proves that, under the right circumstances, rival promoters can indeed work together.
Prediction? Pain.
Of the four guys entering the tourney, all can bang a bit, none are particularly vulnerable (though Darchinyan may be nearing the end of his prime, if not there already, and a bit out-sized), and they generally make for good, entertaining fights.
And as I've mentioned before, I expect this single-elimination format to work better than Showtime's Super Six that has all but fallen apart.
Completing the Mexican/Filipino Fab Four?
Just as the original welterweight/middleweight "Fab Four" carried on well past the primes of Hagler, Hearns, Leonard and Duran, the newest featherweight/lightweight version may be coming full circle a good half-decade too late.
Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales have already produced a handful of outstanding fights between them, with Marquez vs Morales being the last fight necessary to make it an official "Fab Four."
According to BoxingScene.com, Tijuana native Morales had essentially called out lightweight ruler Juan Manuel Marquez ahead of his six-round beatdown of UK fringe contender Willie Limond.
The Limond fight was contested with the vacant (and laugh-worthy) WBC Silver 140-lb. title, which basically set Morales up for a shot at Humberto Soto's WBC lightweight title.
In the BoxingScene article just linked, Morales seems to downplay a potential matchup with Soto in favor of a showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez. Although a win over Soto would make Morales the first Mexican to win titles in four divisions, "El Terrible" correctly asserted that a Marquez fight would not only be more meaningful to his legacy, but more attractive to fans.
As for Morales, most tend to agree he's looked faded and like a fighter lacking endurance in his recent fights, but the man still sports his signature body attack and warrior instincts.
If the 34-year old insists on continuing to fight, and it appears that he will, challenging and aging (but still impressive) Marquez for a legitimate title should at least answer a number of questions. But it may not give the fans many clues as to how a fight in their respective primes would have played out.
Haye-Harrison Managing to Offend Almost Everyone
Including fans.
Speaking of inappropriate behavior, David Haye seems to have adopted two of Floyd Mayweather's habits: completely discrediting undeserving opponents pre-fight, and offending human rights groups.
Aside from the fact that Haye pledged to never give Audley Harrison the opportunity to make money off him, changed his mind, and seems to be laughingly antagonizing boxing fans about it in every interview, Haye outdid his own comical performance against Nikolai Valuev by dropping the "gang rape"-bomb in reference to what the outcome of his upcoming bout will be.
Don't get me wrong, because both Floyd and Haye were ultimately doing what countless other fighters before them have done by hurling borderline insults at other fighters. But especially outspoken athletes tend to draw inordinate amounts of criticism, and more so when they're extraordinary talents.
Haye talked up potential bouts with the Klitschko brothers even in his cruiserweight days, and his heavyweight assault was a highly anticipated move, expected to bring life to the dreadful division.
Though initial offers from the Klitschko's were indeed somewhat insane, Haye has lowered his output considerably - both in-ring and in terms of the frequency of his fights - since contemplating his move to heavyweight, and hasn't exactly brought the unbridled wrath he had us hoping for.
A surprisingly dull showing in his November 2009 WBA title-winning effort against Valuev seemed a disappointing consolation to the canceled bout with Wladimir in June, where Haye seemed to indicate a hand injury might not have been as bad as advertised, and instead he simply didn't like the contractual terms.
A foul-filled follow up against John Ruiz at least came with a measure of silver lining, as the Brit may have finally retired a guy with a truly horrific style.
Recently turning down a 50% take against Wladimir may be the most disappointing aspect, though. Haye keeps mimicking Floyd, shrugging off a reasonable offer in order to face a nearly harmless foe - or no foe at all, in Floyd's case.
Despite vowing to retire before 2012, Haye insists that his competition post-Audley will be nothing but class.
I think I've heard this tune before.
It's hard to hate a guy who (hopefully) rid us of the Manaconda and beat the Yeti, however unconvincingly, but a match with Fraudly will force me to exit the Hayewagon permanently.
ReplyDeleteI've been down on Haye for a while and was starting to come around once it looked like he was moving up and ready to really challenge himself, but this Audley crap followed by fights that were (in my opinion) very carefully thought out in terms of matchmaking, and also pretty boring, sucks. Audley has accomplished absolutely nothing at heavyweight, and a mouth and lucky punch shouldn't earn him a shot at any title.
ReplyDelete