Dougie’s MASSIVE Monday Mailbag
ARRRRRRRGHHHHHH!!!!
Dougie,
ARRRGHHHHH!
We get a really entertaining card featuring a prospect being tested, a baby terminator looking dominant, and one hell of a battle between two guys theoretically following opposite career trajectories. It's probably even a good thing we didn't see the Mikey Garcia fight, since, if his opponent is going to punk out Melissa Hernandez-style, how good a fight could it have been? But what will we remember in 3 months? Another joke decision. I had it 96-93 Kassim Ouma, but could have potentially seen 95-94 Vanes Martirosyan since rounds 1 and 6 were very close (although that's without giving Ouma any credit for aggressiveness in my opinion).
Who are these judges? There should be a hard-hitting documentary made about how in the world guys that get paid to do this are so bad that just about every human being that cares to pay attention knows beyond any doubt that not only did these guys mess up, but that they're completely off their respective rockers. I could understand if there were one or two inept judges roaming the country and somehow still getting chances, but it's a different judge or set of judges botching these fights seemingly once a month! And those are just the ones we see on TV!
To end on a positive note, though, I'm so excited that we're getting so many additional cards on Fox Sports Net. Are HBO and Showtime cutting back their dates, or are we just getting that much more boxing this year? It sounds almost too good to be true. — Dan Culp, Columbia, MO
HBO and Showtime are not cutting back their dates. Hardcore fight fans like you are going to be getting more boxing than usual with ESPN2 and Top Rank’s the new series on Fox Sports Net (and Fox Sports en Espanol). Top Rank will deliver 36 shows this year and next. And don’t forget that Golden Boy Promotions is bringing back its Fight Night Club series on Fox Sports, so you can add nine to 10 more boxing dates on that network. Who needs Versus?
The only draw back to the added shows is that the fighters and the fans will probably be subjected to more crap scorecards from the same cast of crazies (to paraphrase an old line from Mad magazine).
Who are these jokers? Old farts who need to move on and let some new blood into the ranks of pro boxing officials. From what I’ve observed of the “young-uns” (and by boxing official standards someone in their mid-50s is a wet-behind-the-ears child) they are a competent lot.
I’m not down to do some comprehensive hour-long investigative documentary on boxing judges, but I’d be happy to bust out 15-minute mockumentary. It would be funny. I’ll sneak up on the old heads when they are in the media center before a big fight and capture them squinting at the sweeteners for their coffee through their Coke-bottle glasses.
“Which one is Splenda? I can’t tell its package from Sweet N Low!”
I didn’t have a huge problem with Martirosyan getting the decision Saturday night, but it pissed me off that he won by 5- and 4-point margins. The judges might as well have entered the ring after the fight and b__ch slapped Ouma before the announcer read their cards. He didn’t get credit for anything he did against the young gun.
I scored it even in rounds, five rounds a piece. I didn’t score the ninth round 10-8 because I thought it was a flash/off-balance knockdown and Martirosyan was up immediately and I thought he won the rest of the round. So I had it 94-94. However, if I had to pick a winner, I would go with Ouma because he fought his fight, prevented Martirosyan from getting into his usual rhythm and he scored the only knockdown of the contest.
OUMA-ANGULO?
I read your report on the Martirosyan-Ouma fight, but didn't see it myself. It sounded from your report like Martirosyan had trouble with a pressure fighter who wouldn't give him enough space or time to set up his punches. Therefore, I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for a Martirosyan-Alfredo Angulo fight.
Based on what you saw, would you say that a matchup between Ouma and Angulo would be worth making? — gopal rao
Angulo-Ouma would be a damn good fight if “The Dream” gets into the same shape he was in for Martirosyan (or hopefully much better) for “Perro.” If HBO cleared Ouma as an opponent (remember he’s now 1-5 in his last six fights), I think Gary Shaw (Angulo’s promoter) would make that matchup in a New York (or New Jersey) minute.
You don’t have to hold your breath on a Martirosyan-Angulo matchup. I believe Vanes and Freddie Roach would accept that fight if it were offered.
It wouldn’t be an easy fight by any stretch of the imagination but I wouldn’t expect the same fight as we got Saturday. Just because Ouma knows how to crowd a mobile boxer doesn’t mean that any pressure fighter can do the same to Martirosyan. Yeah, Ouma and Angulo are pressure fighters, but the Ugandan is a southpaw with an unorthodox method of delivering his punches. He’s not a predictable fighter. Angulo is right-handed and he sticks to the basic punch combinations (jab-right hand, jab-right-left hook, Jab-right-hook to the body, etc.).
I think Martirosyan would be able to time and counter Angulo more efficiently that he was able to do with Ouma over the first half of their fight, which is not to say that the Mexican wouldn’t be effective. I think Angulo-Martirosyan would be a good fight. I’d like to see it.
IF IT HAPPENS
Dougie,
First off you're a great writer. You know your stuff and you communicate it in such a unique and fun way that makes us all check ringtv.com regularly.
Now to my question. Do you think that if Mayweather and Pacquiao do eventually get it on later in the year that there will be as much of a buzz and demand as there was for it in the past few months? I can't help but think that the childish bulls__t they forced everyone to deal with just turned fans off and will cause the casual fans to view it with an “I could care less” attitude. If the fight eventually does happen, I don't think it will generate as much as it would have if they had decided to get it on the first go around. Your thoughts?
Keep up the good work Dougie. — J-Nava SF/Chicago
Thanks for the butter-up at the start of your email. It’s probably the only reason I’m including a Mayweather-Pacquiao question in this mailbag. I can’t even begin to express how sick I am of this subject. I was so happy Teddy Atlas expressed the same thing on last week’s FNF broadcast. Are we ever going to stop talking about these f___ing schmucks and trying to assign blame? Hey, folks, if writing a damning column that put all of the blame on one party or divided up the blame for all involved would somehow force them come to their senses and make the fight, I’d pen fifty of ’em. But that ain’t gonna happen, so let’s drop it.
As for your question, I think all of this madness has turned off a lot of hardcore fans and I believe that a small percentage of those diehards will boycott the fight if ever is made. However, I think most hardcore and casual fans will be even more into this match if it gets made because there is a lot more venom between the combatants and their representatives than there was before. And let’s face it, hatred and resentment sells. Why do you think there have been so many fights and movies with the “Now it’s personal!” tag line?
People love it when things get personal and nasty between celebrities and public officials and if feelings between the Mayweather and Pacquiao teams aren’t personal and nasty I don’t know what is.
Also, the blood testing controversy and all the back-and-forth insults and accusations between parties is fodder for mainstream sports and news coverage. If all there was to write about Mayweather-Pacquiao was the fight itself, TV, radio, magazines and the daily newspapers wouldn’t have much to report about the matchup or the promotion.
I know it’s sad, but it’s also true. As much as I hate to say it, all this bulls__t probably makes the fight even bigger if and when it gets made.
WTF!?!?
“He’s so good that in a recent issue of Ring Magazine, an article suggested he would defeat Hall of Famer Henry Armstrong and narrowly lose to the great Sugar Ray Robinson.”
I can't believe I read this. It's an excerpt from The Ring Magazine. Kevin Iole quoted it. Now Mayweather's fighting Nate Campbell (big surprise). I can't really hold my tongue anymore because it is so much DISRESPECT to the true great fighters. People need to know this. Surprised how many don't. Makes me sick. Don't you agree?
Anyway looking forward to the fights coming up. Later. — Grippow
Me too. It beats talking about a fight that fell out and fights that aren’t yet made. Mayweather is still without an opponent for his proposed March 13 date. It might be Campbell. I don’t put that past him. But right now, he’s without a dance partner so I’m not going to waste time criticizing him for something he hasn’t done (yet).
As for the RING article that Iole mentioned, it’s in the February 2010 edition of the magazine that has Manny Pacquiao on the cover. It’s entitled: “Who would win and why: Floyd Mayweather vs. Ten All-time Welterweight Greats” and it’s written by Gavin Evans.
I’ve read most of the articles in the issue, but not that one.
The first matchup that Mr. Evans offered was Mayweather vs. Sugar Ray Robinson. I read about their Credentials, Physical Equipment, and Strengths and weaknesses, but the first sentence of the Outcome stated: “This would be a very tough fight for Robinson.”
And that’s when I stopped reading.
Sorry. I understand it’s Gavin’s opinion, and I know it’s shared by many of my peers who watch Mayweather box and really can’t conceive of anyone solving his defensive puzzle, but COME ON!
The guy who went life and death with Jose Luis Castillo at lightweight would hold the greatest welterweight (and arguably the greatest fighter) of all time to “a close but unanimous decision”? I don’t think so.
Mayweather was an incredible fighter at junior lightweight, but he almost lost to Castillo at lightweight. He was buzzed by DeMarcus Corley at junior welter. He had a competitive fight Zab Judah at welterweight. He narrowly out-pointed a faded Oscar De La Hoya at junior middleweight. There’s no point in wondering how he would have fared against all-time greats like Robinson, Armstrong, Kid Gavilan, Carmen Basilio, Emile Griffith, and Charley Burley, who either held the middleweight world title or competed with the best 160 ponders of their eras.
Hell, I saw a journeyman, Emanuel Burton/Augustus, bloody his nose and take his best punches in a lightweight bout for God’s sake.
If you want to read an interesting mythical matchup article on Mayweather it shouldn’t involve the all-time greats. One should be done on the fighters he didn’t face during the previous decade: Joel Casamayor at junior lightweight, Steve Johnston at lightweight, Kostya Tszyu at junior welterweight and Antonio Margarito at welterweight.
HASEGAWA VS. NISHIOKA
Hey Doug,
Just watched a replay of Hasegawa knocking out Nestor Rocha in 1 round on youtube. It's been mentioned that Hasegawa will give up his WBC bantamweight belt & move up in weight. What do you think of a Hozumi Hasegawa Vs. Toshiaki Nishioka matchup for the WBC super-bantamweight belt?
Best wishes for the new year & for the sport of boxing. Regards. — Eddy
That matchup could happen if Hasegawa goes to 122 pounds. Both he and Nishioka are promoted (or represented) by the same Japanese company (Teiken) and that would be a major fight in Japan. However, I’ve been told more than once by a good source that Hasegawa (who I believe is a pound-for-pound level boxer) is considering a move all the way to featherweight.
If he goes to 126 pounds, he will no doubt target the holders of the WBC and WBA title belts (the only two sanctioning organizations recognized in Japan). Hasegawa vs. Elio Rojas (the WBC holder) would be a big fight given that the talented New Yorker won the title in Japan last year, but I think a showdown with Chris John (the WBA holder and THE RING’s NO. 1 contender) would be even bigger given that the Indonesia is known throughout Asia and more accomplished than Rojas.
YOUR SON VS. THE BABY BULL
Doug,
Just want to say I am a big fan of your blog, and think you do a great job. I was just wondering though, what would you think of a fight between Edwin Valero and Juan Diaz at this point of each man’s careers? True, Diaz’s last fight was at junior welterweight, I believe he could go back down to lightweight. This could be a real good step up for Valero for the people who question the opposition he has faced so far. I have no doubts whatsoever this would be an action packed fight from beginning till the end. What are your thoughts? Thanks. — Chris
Valero-Diaz is a barnburner for however long it lasts. Valero vs. any of the top lightweights is must-see TV because of his dynamic power and aggressive (some would say reckless) style. I’d love to see “my son” clash with the Baby Bull, but Valero has a very real challenge in front of him on Feb. 6 when he defends his title against Antonio DeMarco, a battle-tested young southpaw who had the cajones to call out the KO artist.
If Valero beats DeMarco (and I believe he will), his next battle will be to get a new work visa for the U.S. and then to get his medical suspension lifted in major American states (aside from Texas). If he can do all of that by the summer then we can start beating the drums to have him matched up with the best lightweights (or even junior welterweights) in the world.
