A SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER

Hey Doug,

Getting a little ahead. On September fights. A great September is coming.

Look, how many beautiful dances: Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter, Billy Joe Saunders and Demetrius Andrade, Adam Kownacki and Charles Martin, an interesting Heavyweight scrap, more or less a real test for Kownacki, for I think it’s a little too soon for him to be placed in Ring’s Top 10 Rankings. The battle of two young promising Cruisers – Lawrence Okolie and Matty Askin. We’ll see Roman Gonzalez, David Lemieux and Luke Campbell this month. Superfly 3, The final of the WBSS at Super Middleweight. And, finally, there’re two fights I’ve marked with golden ink on my calendar. Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez II – the battle of the sport’s 2 hottest stars, and Anthony Joshua taking on a very serious & dangerous opponent – Russian Alexander Povetkin. Oh man, we gonna have a September to Remember!

And I wanna talk on Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury. I’m glad that such a big fight was made, but don’t you think it a little soon for Fury? Who do you have for the winner? I think Fury of 2015, who beat Klitschko would outpoint Wilder, but Fury at his present shape will get KO’d, and I won’t be surprised if it’ll happen before the second half of the fight. Nevertheless it’s a great fight on paper and we’ll be waiting impatiently for that one, too.

Some mythical matchups:

Carlos Monzon vs. Marvin Hagler

Marvin Hagler vs. GGG

Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler, GGG

Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Carlos Monzon, GGG

Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler vs. Canelo (with no Adelaide Byrd, please)

All at the Middleweight

Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Sugar Ray Leonard at the Welterweight

Thanks. Keep up the great work and shrewd analyses! – Mike, Armenia

Thanks, Mike. I’ll go with Monzon by MD or SD, Hagler by close UD or MD (in a great fight), Robinson (at his peak at middleweight – 1950-’52) by close decision over Monzon, Hagler and GGG; Monzon and GGG by decision over SRL, Monzon by late stoppage over Canelo (especially at the 15-round distance), Hagler by clear UD, and SRR by close, maybe split decision over SRL at welter.

This will indeed be a September to remember, but I can’t believe you’re sleepin’ on Manuel Charr vs. Fres Oquendo and Amir Khan vs. Samuel Vargas… I’M KIDDING.

Apart from the obvious high-profile main events – Canelo-GGG2, Joshua-Povetkin and Groves-Smith – I’m most looking forward to Kazuto Ioka-Mcwilliams Arroyo (there’s a lot of skill and grit in this 115-pound showdown), Donnie Nietes-Asston Palicte (the 36-year-old three-division beltholder is not going to have an easy time winning his fourth title in a fourth weight class), Jose Ramirez-Antonio Orozco and Cesar Pablo Cano-Ruslan Madiev (two good scraps – on paper – that take place Canelo-GGG week), Takuma Inoue-Mark John Yap (The Ring’s 2015 Prospect of the Year is finally – at age 22 and 11-0 – stepping up against a threat against a battle-tested 29-year-old Filipino vet who’s won his last 10 bouts, which can lead to a title shot), and, of course, Jaime Munguia-Barndon Cook and David Lemieux-Gary O’Sullivan because I’ll always be a Blood Thirsty Ghoul.

I’m glad that such a big fight (Wilder vs. Fury) was made, but don’t you think it a little soon for Fury? Yes, I do. I think he needs at least another tune-up, if not two more, but credit to him for challenging the most dangerous heavyweight in the game just months after ending more than two years of inactivity (and dealing with depression and legal drama).

Fury (right) and Wilder.

Who do you have for the winner? I gotta favor Wilder given the circumstances, but I’m not counting the lineal champ out. He’s got the style, ring savvy and antics to give Wilder (and any heavyweight, including Joshua) fits.

I think Fury of 2015, who beat Klitschko would outpoint Wilder, but Fury at his present shape will get KO’d, and I won’t be surprised if it’ll happen before the second half of the fight. I don’t think there’s enough time for Fury to recapture his 2015 form, but I’m sure he’ll be a lot sharper and more confident for Wilder than he was for Francesco Pianeta, and that will be enough to compete with the American beltholder.

Nevertheless it’s a great fight on paper and we’ll be waiting impatiently for that one, too. Yes. I’m crossing my fingers that both heavyweights (especially Fury, who has a history of pulling out of fights) make it to the big dance.

CANELO-GGG2 AT A THEATER NEAR YOU?

Hey how’s it going Doug?

I realize the fight is a couple of weeks away. I was wondering if you knew if the fight was going to be shown in theaters like the first one was. I have been looking for info but no mention has been made.

MM: Pryor vs Crawford, Pryor vs Mayweather, Hearns vs Crawford, Barrera vs Hamed 2….keep up the great work…always look forward to the mailbag! Hope all is well. Peace. – D

I’ll go with The Hawk by close decision over Bud and Floyd, Hearns by mid-rounds KO, and Barrera by an even wider decision.

The HBO PPV-production of Canelo-GGG2 will be brought to movie theaters nationwide (and hopefully one near you) by Fathom Events. Here’s a link to a page on company’s website that will enable you to find theaters carrying the four-hour closed-circuit broadcast in your area (just plug in your zip code): https://www.fathomevents.com/events/canelo-vs-golovkin

CAN LOMACHENKO REACH ATG STATUS?

Hi Dougie,

This is Nacho from Madrid, Spain. First time writing you, so first of all I would like to let you know how much I enjoy reading the mailbag. Readers’ questions are usually interesting and you always find a wise, fair and sensible answer to them. And I’m learning a lot with them!

Now the topic: there is some discussion about Vasiliy Lomachenko’s capacity to become an all-time great. No doubt that the guy is extremely gifted and is paving his road to success brightly. But I have some concerns about the fact that he is now 30 years old and has fought only twelve pro bouts.

Today elite fighters do two or three fights per year (no more crazy guys like the old glorious ones who were able to fight six, seven, eight times per year!). At this rate, we can estimate that Loma could fight about maybe twelve times during the next five years, assuming no breaks because of injuring or temporary retiring or whatever. If this is the case, Loma will reach his 35 with less than thirty bouts in his profile. How long can he be at his peak? Who knows, but every fighter has to face his decline sooner or later, especially in their legs and hand speed, which are some of the differentiating factors in Loma.

Based on that rationale, do you think that the Ukrainian star is in time to build a legacy comparable to all-time greats like Sugar Ray Leonard, Pernell Whitaker, or more recently Mayweather Jr? Thanks. – Nacho

Well, it won’t be easy for Loma to equal their accomplishments, given his age and the frequency with which modern elite boxers fight, but consider this – the Ukrainian amateur legend is already three-division titleholder. Loma won his first world title in his third pro bout; and just a few months ago he earned his third major belt in a third weight class in his 12^th pro bout.

Let’s compare those stats with the two ATGs you brought up and the self-proclaimed TBE. Whitaker and Mayweather won their first titles in their 18^th pro bouts (Sweet Pea should have won his first – against Jose Luis Ramirez – in his 16^th). Whitaker won his third world title in his 33^rd pro bout; Mayweather won his third title in his 34^th pro bout. Leonard won his first title in his 26^th pro bout and his third title in his 35^th bout.

If he fights 12-15 times in the next five years (assuming he sticks around in the pro game until he’s 35), I think it’s conceivable that he could accomplish enough to be considered a great boxer because I know that’s his goal. The last time I interviewed him (about two months before the Jorge Linares fight) he said he didn’t care about being Fighter of the Year or atop anyone’s pound-for-pounds rankings. He’s only interested in forging a legacy of greatness. Given his talent, his incredible amateur experience, his skill and intelligence, and his fighting spirit (which I think he proved in his one loss to Orlando Salido and the Linares bouts), I think all he needs is the right dance partners.

Whitaker’s jab was on point vs. De La Hoya.

Leonard had Benitez, Duran, Hearns and Hagler. Whitaker had Ramirez, Nelson, McGirt, Chavez and De La Hoya. Mayweather had Corrales, Gatti, De La Hoya, Hatton, Marquez, Mosley, Canelo and Pacquiao.

Loma’s got Salido, Rigondeaux and Linares, which ain’t bad at all, but he needs more scalps on his resume if he hopes to one day be compared with the likes of Leonard, Whitaker and Mayweather.

There are potential rivals out there for Loma, mainly fellow pound-for-pound player Mikey Garcia, and in another year or so maybe 130-pound standout Gervonta Davis will be ready rumble. I think Miguel Berchelt will eventually move up to 135 pounds and I think the Mexican boxer-puncher will make a worthy challenger. Who knows who else will emerge at 135 pounds to give Loma a fight that excites the public? Maybe young Devin Haney, who’s quickly moving up the ranks, or the UK’s pressure-fighting puncher Lewis Ritson. Time will tell. And a lot can happen in four-to-five years.

QUESTIONS FOR THE MAILBAG

Hi Doug!

First time writing in probably ten years…wrote you a time or two during the MaxBoxing days. Don’t follow boxing quite as closely as I used to (when I was a paying subscriber to MaxBoxing almost entirely due to you and Steve on TNR), but I was just thinking about some hypothetical questions. So, I have a few for you:

1. If you were a professional boxer, who is the fighter, in all of boxing history, you would least like to face? To me it’s Marvin Hagler.
2. Duran vs Floyd at 135. How long does it take before Duran gets him out of there? I think probably 10 rounds, b/c Floyd would be in full retreat mode.
3. SRL vs Floyd at 147. How long before SRL KTFOs Floyd? I think seven rounds or so, max. Via SRL left hook.
4. Tommy Hearns vs Floyd at 147. How long before Tommy KTFOs Floyd? I’d bet the under if it were set at four rounds.
5. Prime Aaron Pryor vs Floyd at 140. After Pryor beats the living shit out of Floyd round after round after round after round after round, does Floyd show his face in public again?

OK I’ll ask you one more question about a fight I loved. Nate Campbell vs Juan Diaz…were you there live? Loved the fight, was rooting for Nate. What do you think of Nate’s career? Underachieved, yes? Thanks. – Peter

I don’t think Campbell underachieved at all. He was a top-rated junior lightweight for several years who arguably beat Joel Casamayor (which is saying something), he won three major world titles (when he upset The Baby Bull) at lightweight, and he was a reliable gatekeeper at 140 pounds for a few years. No, I was not at the Diaz-Campbell fight, which was in Cancun, but I covered many of Nate’s fights from ringside. He was all fighter.

If you were a professional boxer, who is the fighter, in all of boxing history, you would least like to face? To me it’s Marvin Hagler. I’d be terrified of athletic boxer-punchers with one-hitter-quitter power like Ray Robinson, Tommy Hearns or Roy Jones Jr. That rare combination of blinding speed, sublime skill and chilling power is scary.

Duran vs Floyd at 135. How long does it take before Duran gets him out of there? I think probably 10 rounds, b/c Floyd would be in full retreat mode. I can see Mayweather going the distance. I can’t envision him winning at lightweight.

SRL vs Floyd at 147. How long before SRL KTFOs Floyd? I think seven rounds or so, max. Via SRL left hook. I can see Mayweather taking Leonard the distance (well, maybe not the 15-round distance). It could be a competitive fight but there’s no doubt in my mind who would win.

Tommy Hearns vs Floyd at 147. How long before Tommy KTFOs Floyd? I’d bet the under if it were set at four rounds. Yeah, The Motor City Cobra is one guy I can not envision Floyd lasting the distance.

Prime Aaron Pryor vs Floyd at 140. After Pryor beats the living shit out of Floyd round after round after round after round after round, does Floyd show his face in public again? I don’t think Floyd would hide after losing to a great fighter like Pryor. I think he’d compete with The Hawk and put in a good enough effort that he’d be proud of himself (though disappointed at taking an “L”). Who knows? That kind of experience could have made Mayweather a better fighter (and person).

Thanks for being a MaxBoxing member back in the day and for checking back in with the mailbag after all these years.

LOSING MY INTEREST IN BOXING

Hello Doug,

Hope you’re doing well, it’s been a while since I wrote to you. I just turned 36 and have been watching boxing since Camacho vs Chavez in 1992 and have been hooked on this beautiful sport since. I attended my first fight when Wladimir faced Brock in 2006 and then many Cotto fights at MSG. I moved to South Florida and still traveled to NY, Vegas, local shows in Florida and even Verona for Matthyse vs Ruslan. But, I have lost so much interest within the last 2 months where I don’t even care to stay home and watch any fights. I considered myself a hardcore. I had a subscription in early 2000’s with Maxboxing and just loved reading about boxing. I have supported boxing with PPV’s, flights, hotels, fight tickets. I listen to different media members whether its Steve Kim, Montero Boxing and even Tha Boxing Voice just because I love to hear people talk about boxing. Sorry to write so much but these fighters today have no heart or even care about legacy. Every fight is predictable and I really don’t see anyone in their 20’s that have that potential to be great. They all fight once a year and do more Twitter fighting than actually throwing hands. I feel like no one is developing basic fundamentals and just worry about 30 punch combinations in the gym that they never use in a fight. I know it’s a different era but I hope I can gain interest in this sport again. Take care. – Walter

Sounds like you need a break from the sport, Walter. No need to be apologetic or feel bad about being burnt out on boxing or for feeling disillusioned at the way the industry and sport is run. It happens.

I think there are some very promising prospects coming up and some good fights on the schedule, but you’re correct in that the top fighters aren’t active as they should be and we’re not seeing the top fighters in each division face each other enough. I think the World Boxing Super Series tournaments are step in the right direction (it worked out especially well in the cruiserweight division), but we still aren’t seeing the top fighters in the glamor divisions – such as heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight – facing each other. I’m guessing if Joshua-Wilder, Thurman-Spence (or even Crawford-Spence) and Lomachenko-Garcia were on the calendar, you’d have more enthusiasm for the sport.

So, until boxing gets its s__t together, I don’t blame you or any other longtime fan for checking out.  

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