KHAN VS. COTTO?

Hey Dougie,There’s been a little bit of interesting activity on Amir Khan’s Twitter account with him stating that he would be up for fighting Miguel Cotto at 155 lbs. Could this fight be made? If so how do you see it going? Also, as a mythical matchup, who do you have winning in a fight between Herol Graham and Carl Froch. I’d have a feeling Graham could outbox him. Kind regards. – Anish Parekh, Ashton under Lyne, England

I can see Graham out-boxing Froch to a competitive decision victory, but I can also envision The Cobra outworking the Bomber and maybe even overwhelming him at the end of the fight. Graham is one of the better British fighters not to hold a world title (and I’m sure he would have won a major belt had he not had to go up against the hall of fame likes of Mike McCallum and Julian Jackson), however, the gutsy boxer-puncher was at his best at 160 pounds. Froch, who is a rugged and determined sort much like Charles Brewer (who got up from two knockdowns to stop Graham in the 10^th round of his last bout), is not only a natural super middleweight, but a big and smart 168 pounder. I gotta go with Froch via decision over his fellow Nottingham native.

Did Khan really Tweet that he’s willing to fight Cotto at a pound above the junior middleweight limit? Good grief. He’s either messing with Twitter boxing heads, or he’s more desperate for a PPV-level fight than I ever realized, or he’s just plain bored. Hey, I like Khan. He’s got the kind of guts I wish all elite fighters had, plus he’s got the speed, skill and style to give most boxers fits. But Cotto is just too damn strong and experienced for him. I think Cotto would knock Khan out cold before the sixth or seventh round if they ever fought.

DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

Hey Dougie,

How’s it going? Keep up the good work my man! I hope I make the cut. I got a few questions:

1. I know u luv ur comic books, so I thought I would ask a boxing question with a lil X-men twist. Now I am sure you have seen DOFP, so lets relate it to boxing. Picture the current state of boxing (yeah I do know 2015 looks bright!), so much politics, promoters/networks in the way, the best not fighting the best, multiple belts and champions (super, interim, emeritus, regular, etc.), fighters relinquishing belts, fighters turning into divas, etc. and of course #theneverendingstory. If you could go back/send someone back in time to change thing/things what would you change that you think would make the biggest impact??

2. Can you explain the rules regarding glove sizes in boxing pls? I believe that once you fight above 147 (all up to the heavy’s) then you wear 10oz. Because a certain boxer (u know who) complains that another boxer made him wear heavyweight gloves when they fought on Cinco dey Mayo 2007. But I am not entirely sure what the rules are, so can you please clarify.

3. On the International telecast last year for Hopkins v Shumenov I will never forget the commentator, Brian Adams. I thought he was excellent and as real as it gets and spoke the unbiased truth!! U could tell he really knows his boxing and will not hold back to speak his mind. I tried to search on him but didn’t see much info on him online and I haven’t heard him do commentary ever since. Could you perhaps tell us a bit more about this guy?

Finally a few Mythical matchups:

Sam Mcvey Vs Jack Johnson

Earnie Shavers Vs Sonny Liston

Ray Mancini vs Juan Manuel Marquez (135)

Take care and peace! – Anu, United Kingdom

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and mythical matchups, Anu. I’ll get right to ’em:

1. If I could go back in time or send someone back in time to change something what would I change in order to make the biggest (and presumably positive) impact? That’s a seriously geeky fantasy question but you’re asking the right boxing writer, and it shouldn’t come as any surprise that it’s an easy question for me to answer. First, I would go to all of the power brokers of the U.S. boxing scene not named Al Haymon – the executive heads of HBO and Showtime, Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya – and I would promise them that I can solve all of their current headaches and boost the popularity of the sport beyond anyone’s imagination if each TV/promotional entity kicks forth $50 million for my special project. I would then enlist the services of J. Prince, the only man in boxing who truly knows how to negotiate with Floyd Mayweather Jr., and I would send the veteran manager and Hip-Hop pioneer back to 2008 when “Money” was on his sabbatical from the sport. Armed with a briefcase packed with $200 million and a contract, I would instruct Prince to make Mayweather an “offer that he can’t refuse.” Prince would “persuade” Mayweather to sign the contract making him promise not to resume his boxing career in exchange for the $200 million and “peace of mind.” I would make it very clear to Mr. Prince to make it “very clear” to Mr. Mayweather that if he even attempts to break the contract “very bad things” will happen to him. So there would be no 2009 comeback from Mayweather, and with that one change in boxing history, we would not have had to endure the Cold War or #TheNeverendingStory, and we would have had (and continue to have) big fights between boxing’s stars that are willing to face each other when the public wants to see them fight.

2. You know you could Google this s__t, but what the heck. I’ll answer it. Yes, in the professional ranks male boxers who weigh more than the welterweight limit (147 pounds) wear 10-ounce gloves; those who weigh under welterweight wear 8-oz. gloves. In the amateur ranks, male boxers who weigh above the 152-pound division wear 12-oz. gloves; those under light middleweight wear 10-oz. gloves.

3. Again, you can Google Adams, but I guess it’s possible to wind up with a bunch of information on Canadian pop star Bryan Adams and not the guy who knocked your socks off as a boxing commentator. I’m pretty sure the voice you heard belonged to former amateur standout and pro lightweight contender Brian Adams, a New York City native who won the Daily News Golden Gloves four times and is now the director of the legendary amateur tournament. Apart from repping NYC better than anyone and being a great guy, Adams knows everything about boxing – from art to the sport (both amateur and pro) to the business (promotional and television sides) to angles that I haven’t thought of – and it comes as no surprise to me that he’s an excellent commentator. He’s served as the color commentator/boxing expert for Lou DiBella’s Broadway Boxing series since 2009. Google “Broadway Boxing” so you can find out when and where you can watch the show. If you’re a fan of Adams’ commentary, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the fights that much more. Here’s a clip of him teaching some fundamental boxing technique to a young Daniel Jacobs if you want to know what Adams looks like.

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You should follow Adams @Litew8Adams. He hardly ever Tweets but you can send him a direct message and tell him that you enjoyed his commentary on Hopkins-Shumenov. Heck, while you’re at it, go and follow Bryan Adams @bryanadams. Tell him how much you loved “Cuts Like a Knife.” (OK, tell him @dougiefischer loved that song – you probably weren’t alive when that song came out.)

Your mythical matchups:

Sam McVey Vs Jack Johnson – McVey fought Johnson three times early in their careers and he lost all three (two 20-round decisions and by KO in Round 20 of another 20-round bout – man, they did not baby prospects in the early 1900s.) had they fought in their primes I think McVey would have given Johnson a very tough fight but I believe “Lil Arthur’s’ superior skills and technique would’ve enabled him to win a decision (20 rounds or more).

Earnie Shavers Vs Sonny Liston – Liston by mid-to-late round KO

Ray Mancini vs Juan Manuel Marquez (135) – Mancini by close decision

AL HAYMON

Hey Doug, long no talk to hope your doin’ well. I just read Haymon’s PBC might be shown on ESPN, CBS, AND Telemundo in the coming days and years. He also just took one of my favorites and possibly the future of boxing, Leo Santa Cruz, from Golden Boy Promotions. Is Haymon taking over boxing? I can’t believe I’m asking you that, but goddamn. It almost seems like he’s just too rich and powerful and can’t be stopped. What do you think? Thanks Doug. – Nick

I’ve noticed that hardcore fight fans have a lot of anxiety when it comes to the mysterious Mr. Haymon and his plans. Relax guys. A lot of smart and powerful individuals have wanted to take over boxing during the last 100 years or so. Nobody can do it, not for very long anyway. And sometimes the powerful guys that try the hardest to take over – the same dudes that everyone fears and hates, like Don King in the 1980s and ’90s – actually deliver a lot of great fights and great fight cards. If they can do that on a regular basis, as King did in the ’90s, I’m OK with their greedy nature. If they can’t – and most cannot – then fans don’t have to worry about them. The sport will eventually consume them and spit them out.

Haymon has been marshaling his forces for many years, moving slowly and with great care, and now he is making his move. It all looks very impressive in 2015. Hopefully his PCB delivers the best boxing has to offer all year on NBC, NBC Sports Net, Spike TV, ESPN, CBS and Telemundo. If it does, all of boxing will benefit from the excitement (and hopefully the strong ratings) the show creates. If it does not, Haymon is not going to be able to continue to buy as much air time as he is now in 2016 and going forward. He does not have an unlimited source of money. He has investors, and investors expect to be paid back; investors eventually want to see a profit and if they don’t they will pull out of a poor investment.

So let’s see what happens, and while we do so, let’s enjoy the good fights that Haymon has made and will make. If Haymon puts Santa Cruz in good fights, matchups that you want to see, why would you care if the 122-pound beltholder is still with GBP or not? Maybe we’ll see Santa Cruz fight Abner Mares soon. That’s a good fight. Beyond that fight, though, I don’t see many significant “All-Haymon” matchups out there for Santa Cruz. And as much as I like the young man (I’ve literally watched him grow up in the gyms around here), he totally bores me these days. I haven’t given a rat’s ass about Santa Cruz or his fights in more than a year. I just grew tired of hearing him talk about fighting the likes of Guillermo Rigondeaux, Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg after he just beat up on a no-hoper. Hey kid! Don’t talk about it, BE ABOUT IT! I don’t blame Oscar De La Hoya for cutting him loose. If Santa Cruz isn’t willing to fight the best in his division, he’s not a real champ in my mind and he’s certainly not “the future of boxing.”

HAYMON (AGAIN)

Hello Doug,

First time writer. I honestly believe Haymon is going to ruin boxing by putting his boxers in non-title fights just so they can keep their belts when they lose. Golden Boy has the right idea but I think some boxers are getting caught up with the Haymon hyperbole. Sounds a bit like Don King but I guess we will have to wait and see what happens.

Being an Australian what are your thoughts on Tszyu facing some of the greats of now? Southpaw Pacman would have been ko’d by Kostya because he chewed up lefties with his right hand so easily. Mayweather avoided him like the plague, so I believe that’s a no brainer. Do you believe any of the current crop would have bothered him at Jnr Welter. Thanks mate. – Jason

I was and continue to be a huge, unabashed Tszyu fan. I think he had the right stuff and the right style to KO both Pacquiao and Mayweather (certainly at 140 pounds, maybe at 147 pounds too). I don’t see any of the current 140-pound standouts giving Tszyu a proper challenge. To beat Tszyu you had to be one brute strong, relentless mother f___er. Maybe Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov could give him a fight because of their power and aggression, but I don’t think either would beat him because they don’t press hard and fast enough and they lack the technique and inside game that King Kostya had.

Regarding your Haymonphobia, just have a seat on the floor, take some deep breaths, drink some chamomile tea and listen to the soothing voice of my man Limahl (maybe put on some Kajagoogoo after that). And chill. Don’t worry about non-title bouts. It comes down to this: if Haymon can make good fights on a consistent basis and deliver the matchups that fans want to see, he will succeed and will deserve to do so. If he does not, his empire will crumble a lot faster than he tried to assemble it. It’s as simple as that.

Does it really matter if Danny Garcia-Lamont Peterson is for the 140-pound belts if the fight sucks, or if it ends in an awful controversial decision? Nope. What matters is if we get a good fight. And what matters after that is who the winner and the loser will fight. If the winner isn’t going to face the winner of Thurman-Guerrero or the winner of Matthysse-Provo or IBF titleholder Kell Brook; and if the loser isn’t going to face the winner of Broner-Molina or Porter-Garcia or Berto-Lopez or Terence Crawford or Mauricio Herrera, well, fight fans will quickly lose interest in the PCB league.

MISSING MARGO

What’s up Doug-E,

With all this “never-ending story” crap dragging on know whom I’m really starting to miss right now. Antonio Margarito. That’s right. I miss the ol’ horse-face bastard. Plastered mitts or no, the dude was like a freight-train. Just kept coming and coming at ya without stopping. If Margo was around today he would have trampled the rest of the welterweight division, including Amir Khan, Tim Bradley, Kell Brook and Keith Thurman. And I’m not even going to include Floyd Mayweather in that list. Mainly because even if Floydsy was in his prime Margo would have completely buried the little jerk-off and if he had the chance to get his mitts on Floyd back in ’06 or ’07 Mayweather ‘s high-jacking of our sport would came to a abrupt and welcome end right there.

Another thing though: When Floyd refused to man up, Margo said the hell with him and instead took on real men like Joshua Clottey, P-Will, and Miguel Cotto. All which were damn good fights. I will say this for Pacquiao-Mayweather though. For a fight that will never happen, Pac-Floyd is pretty much the most talked-about event in boxing history. More so than Ali-Frazier, Leonard-Hagler or any of those other historic fights. In large part to the ever so trusty internet I suppose. I still think that fights like Provodnikov-Matthysse and Canelo-Kirkland will do more to boost up boxing than Pacquiao-Mayweather. Or any Mayweather “fight” for that matter.

Going back to Margo here’s a couple of Margo myth-matches. For starters we’ll square him off against Jose Luis Lopez in an all-out Mexican civil war. Not that there be anything civil about this war mind you. So who you pick? And for the 2nd fight we’ll pit Margo against another granite-chinned volume puncher. Kassim Ouma. Watch the leather really fly and explode with this one. Your pick?

On an unrelated note what’s this about Tim Bradley moving to 154-160. Timbo wasn’t even all that over-powering at his natural weight which was 140. Ever since he moved up to welter he’s been getting banged up in just about every fight. Even against fringe contender Diego Chaves, Timmy had his mug looking like the face of a bloated-up zombie. All that was missing were the blow-flies. So if guys like Chaves can do that to Tim-bo what will guys like Canelo, Kirkland and GGG do to him? Your thoughts on Timmy’s upcoming suicide move? See ya dude! – Captain Ron

I think Bradley has had a very good career (he’s certainly gone a lot further and accomplished more than anyone ever thought he would) and he’s made some very good paydays. I think he’s saved enough money to be looking at an exit strategy from boxing, and with this in mind, I believe Bradley wants to make as much money as he can in 2015 and 2016 before he hangs up his gloves for good. He knows fights with Mayweather and even Khan are just pipe dreams because of the Haymon-Arum bad blood. He knows a rubber match with Pacquiao is a long shot. He knows the other players of the 147-pound division either lack name recognition or belong to the Haymon Boxing League (or both), so that leaves the 154-pound division. As far as I know, I haven’t heard him call out Golovkin or Kirkland. I’ve heard that he’s willing to fight Canelo and/or Cotto if they are willing to fight him. He would be at a weight and power disadvantage against those two, but it’s a calculated risk against two bona-fide stars who would net him a very big payday. Canelo is much bigger and stronger, but not he isn’t more experienced and he isn’t as busy as Timmy is. I think Bradley believes that he could outwork the redhead on a good night. And while Cotto is battle-tested middleweight champ, the future hall of famer is also battle-worn (and not a real 160 pounder by any stretch of the imagination). Plus, the Puerto Rican star is about the same height as Bradley, and like Desert Storm, Cotto once fought at 140. (In fact, Bradley fought at heavier weights than Cotto when he was an amateur and early in his pro career.)

Regarding Margarito, I also miss the Tijuana Tornado. I don’t give a f__k how many Mayweather fans and gringo sports writers want to vilify him and detract from his career accomplishments. I liked the guy, I enjoyed watching him train and build up his inhuman stamina and punch resistance with brutal gym wars and workout routines, and I enjoyed watching him fight with his hardnosed volume-punching soul-snatching style. There’s something to be said about a tough, scary S.O.B. who isn’t afraid to fight the other tough, scary S.O.Bs of his division.

I used to have a Margarito T-shirt that was made before his first fight with Cotto. I’m gonna look for it and start wearing it again at boxing media events and fight cards. Anyone who talks s__t is gonna get the plaster fist.

Those are good mythical matchups for Margo. Well, I think they would have made for good fights but I don’t think he would have been able to bully or break either guy down. Lopez at his best would have outclassed Margz in a good fight. The Durango native probably would have been able to hurt the iron-chinned TJ native a few times en route to a decision. However, we rarely got to see Lopez at his best. He didn’t have Margarito’s work ethic or dedication to training. Margarito was more consistent in that regard, so on a good night I think Margo could have outworked a less-than-100 percent version of Lopez. The same thing could be said about Ouma. The version of Ouma that lost to Roman Karmazin would have been outworked by Margarito. However, Ouma – the naturally heavier man who happened to be more athletic and just as tough – at his very best would have outworked, and maybe outmuscled, Margarito in a sensational (and brutal) distance fight.

THE NEVERENDING STORY (MAYWEATHER VERSION)

Hi Doug,
Hope you and your family are well, I have not written to you in ages but remain a regular mailbag reader. I have been having a good laugh at the Never-ending Story carry on so I thought I’d send you my tribute to Floyd Mayweather’s part in proceedings:

Turn around
Look out it’s Manny…
It’s his face
The horror in my dreams…

Make believe I’m the best ever
Not giving in to fright
A wonder of the ages
It’s the answer as to why all my fans adore me…
(Why do I cry after sex?)

I’m the real star
It’s not a fantasy…
Cream of the cream
I’ve got the most money…

Because I’ve kept my zero
My head is in the clouds
I’m an angry closet homo
It’s the answer as to why all my fans adore me…
(Why do I cry after sex?)
Adore me
(Why do I cry after sex?)

Hide my fear
He might just go away…
Understand
I won’t fight him, no way…

Because I’ve kept my zero
My head is in the clouds
I’m an angry closet homo
It’s the answer as to why all my fans adore me…
(Why do I cry after sex?)
Real boxing fans adore me
(Why do I cry after sex?)
Watch me beat a mandatory
(Why do I cry after sex?)
If they’re crap they can’t outscore me
(Why do I cry after sex?)

I clearly have too much time on my hands, hope you enjoy! All the best. – Ewan, Scotland

LOL. You definitely have too much time on your hands, but well done. #TheNeverendingStory

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CATHWEIGHTS ARE LAME

So is the Cherry Garcia-Peterson fight going to happen at 140 or 143?

F the #NES, here’s what I’d like to see: Matthysse vs. Provodnikov – winner fights Herrera. Then, the winner of that bout fights the winner of Garcia-Peterson at 140.

I get the feeling no one wants to fight Herrera, but if it were to all go down, how do you see those playing out?

Btw, I know Froch wants that mega-fight in Vegas, but wouldn’t Froch-Kessler III be huge overseas? Sounds like a great fight for the fans and one more good payday for both of them before retiring. – Jay V.

I think from Froch’s perspective he’s been there and done that when it comes to fighting Kessler and when it comes to huge European fights. Froch isn’t motivated by another Kessler fight or another monster event in Britain. He wants to be part of a huge boxing event in America and he thinks Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is the perfect dance partner to make that happen. We’ll see.

Maybe I’m just out of touch or I’m not as much of a boxing nerd as I thought I was, but I really don’t care if Garcia-Peterson takes place at 140 or a few pounds above the junior welter limit. Peterson has been making junior welterweight since his amateur days. The veteran is 31 years old. I’m sure his body is ready to go up in weight. And Garcia is a thick, muscular kid. He’s a barrel-chested lil badass. Making 140 can’t be easy for either guy. If they’re going to be stronger at 143 pounds then that’s the weight I want to see them fight at. If either fighter (or both) have to drain themselves to make 140, that’s going to ruin the fight. Having the belts on the line isn’t going make the contest any more enjoyable for me to watch.

Anyway, I’d love to see the Matthysse-Provodnikov winner fight Mauricio Herrera, and I think that’s a matchup that we could see later in 2015. I don’t see the winner of that fight then facing the winner of Garcia-Peterson.

However, if that scenario took place I think Matthysse would be the last man standing.

ENOUGH DISQUS / STOP THE HATE

Dear Doug,I hope this email finds you well. Before I get to my point let me preface it by stating that I love boxing. I have since I sat on my father’s lap to watch Sugar Ray vs Hearns. I was about 4 or 5. I remember how crazy people got talking about RJJ as the pound for pound king and “greatest” ever. I recall listening hour after hour about Trinidad’s power and how he was the “best” in any division of any era. All this craziness heard was spurred by fandom and not fact.

Dougie, I cannot recollect a time where the vitriol, racial epithets, homophobia and all-around tastelessness reached the levels that I see now on this website’s comment section managed by “Disqus.” #TNE has brought all the trolls out, all the keyboard gangsters, all the unnecessary hate. I am tired, no, exhausted and concerned. If I were to write something positive about May, for instance, that he has sneaky power in his right hand, I’d immediately be called a “dumbf__k flomo.” If I were to say that I admire Pac’s in-and-out style, I would be called a “pactard f___t.”

Boxing is controlled, scientific aggression. There are rules to protect the boxers. There is an incredibly mental component to the sport. What I see under these articles is not controlled aggression. All I see is verbal violence, bullying, and hate. These people, in their desperation to find something meaningful in their lives, havebecome very negative, spiteful, and reckless. I have now decided to stop reading the comments because if I continue to do so, I will stop visiting this website altogether.

MMs (I apologize if you’ve seen them before):

Finito López vs Iván Calderón

Wilfredo G├│mez vs Santa Cruz

G├│mez vs Rigondeaux

Hearns vs P-Will

And the most important one: Dougie vs the trolls (15 rounds)

Thank you. – ├üngel D├¡az Miranda, Ph.D., Hollins, VA

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and concerns, Angel. I’m sorry Mayweather’s and Pacquiao’s more fanatical followers have driven you away from the Disqus comments section of my mailbag column and other RingTV.com articles because sometimes there are fun and meaningful exchanges between real boxing fans who are not obsessed with a particular boxer. Former champ Jesse James Leija recently joined the discussion under the Best I’ve Faced article on his career and it was some of the best (and most respectful) discourse between fans and a fighter that I’ve seen in years. It’s the interactive nature of the internet living up to its potential. Check it out if you haven’t done so already (don’t worry, the Mayweather and Pacquiao crazies didn’t bother reading it).

However, I can’t blame you for being totally turned off of the Disqus comments section. I agree that the back-and-forth between Mayweather and Pacquiao diehards is the most hateful I’ve ever seen between so-called boxing fans on the internet.

I wrote a commentary piece on the pros and cons of Mayweather-Pacquiao being made, and one of the cons was the fact that these cretins will completely lose what’s left of their beady little minds and take over EVERY boxing-related comments section on the internet. Here’s what I wrote:

Pro: We will finally get to find out who the best welterweight and who the No. 1 boxer, pound for pound, on the planet is.

Con: Until the fighters decide this in the ring, we’ll have to stomach round-the-clock bickering between the obnoxious diehard fans of Mayweather and Pacquiao on social media and the comments section of any website that posts an article about the event.

And it WILL get ugly – the type of nasty ugly that only aimless anonymous internet posters are willing to stoop to.

We can forget about any sort of thoughtful or respectful dialog and debate between the hardcore Mayweather and Pacquiao factions within boxing fandom. The online boxing universe will be under siege for three months as the lowest common denominator of the sport’s followers spew the most hateful, vulgar, racist, homophobic and misogynist insults imaginable at each other.

And, of course, they went at it like cats and dogs under the article, proving my point.

But you know what? To hell with them. I know they’re all going to crawl back under their rocks once Floyd and Manny retire and that day is coming soon. I also enjoy ignoring them, which is what everyone should do. I just skim past their silliness.

Your mythical matchups:

Finito L├│pez vs Iv├ín Calder├│n – Lopez by late TKO

Wilfredo G├│mez vs Santa Cruz – Gomez by mid-round KO

G├│mez vs Rigondeaux – (I’ve done this one at least three times) Gomez by mid-to-late KO

Hearns vs P-Will – (done this one before, too) Hearns by mid-rounds KO

And the most important one: Dougie vs the trolls (15 rounds) – Dougie by unanimous bitchslap

THE HEAVIES

Hey Doug – do you find heavyweights harder to evaluate than any of the lighter weights? Thanks. – Gabe from Prunedale, CA

Nope, but I do think heavyweights, in general, need more time to develop than lighter-weight fighters. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, such as Mike Tyson.

EDWIN VALERO

Dougie,

Don’t have time to write my normally long email, but I did want to put this to you.

You should write a book about the guy.

Oh yeah, and fill in for David Duenez on LIITR when he isn’t there, lol.

Thanks. – Ritchie

I can’t fill David’s shoes, brotha. Doing a podcast is tougher than it seems and I’m not very good at it.

Regarding Valero, I can’t see writing a book on the tragic fool, but a graphic novelÔǪ maybe.

Email Fischer at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @dougiefischer