The Six Round Staredown

Courtesy of kentuckyfloydchicken.com

What makes the sweet science such an amazing sport is the passion and emotion extracted from not only the fighters, but the fans as well.

I pride myself as a boxing purist... a throwback to the days where prize fighters were looked at as icons in many a household. The reason I write is the same reason you read... I'm a boxing fan at heart.

The biggest benefit of sharing my gift of passion for boxing in the written form,  is all the incredible sport's minds I've been able to share my opinions with.

Shawn Heimburger of "Thoughts of R.S." [http://thoughtsofrs.blogspot.com/] and I have teamed up for a monthly blog entitled "The Six Round Staredown" where we will bounce six of the most prevalent questions in the boxing world off of each other.

Boxing opinion has been an amazing byproduct of the sport and dates back to the beginning of its inception...

ROUND 1 - What will Floyd Mayweather Jr's legacy be without Manny Pacquiao?

TRS - It's going to be checkered.

Most people compare Floyd to different fighters,but I compare him most to Roy Jones.Obscenely talented fighters with plenty of outward confidence that had to have private questions.

Jones always seemed to have a reason not to fight Dariusz Michalczeewski,even though he would have likely won easily and carries that ducking to this day.

Floyd to me will not just carry that with Manny Pacquiao,but with a pre-Margarito prime Miguel Cotto.

Floyd has never fought an elite fighter in their prime with the exception of Diego Corrales and maybe Jose Luis Castillo,who I still think won their first fight.

It's sad that that most talented fighter in our time will remembered most for not believing in his own talent....

R.L. - Not where he thinks it should. 

If Floyd never fights Manny Pacquiao, his legacy will be tarnished. Incomplete.  Not worthy of the legendary status. 

It’s one thing not to fight a Miguel Cotto or Shane Mosley in their prime, but to continuously come up with reasons why not to fight the “other” best fighter of your era is inexcusable.  

Legends test themselves and strive to be best by beating the best… Floyd does not meet that criteria.  

ROUND 2 - Who is boxing's next PPV superstar and why?

TRS - Whew.Tough one.

Canelo Alvarez has the appeal,but falls short talent wise to me.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr does as well,but never can be depended on.

Gennady Golovkin has the skills,but maybe not the opponents.

Andre Ward lacks excitement.

If I had to pick one, I'd go Alvarez, but he better be matched right...

R.L. - In my opinion, in order to be a pay-per-view superstar, you have to have something that distinguishes yourself from the rest of the pack.  Personality. Name recognition. Extraordinary punching power.  

Gennady Golovkin aka "GGG" is extremely marketable and wins over Sergio Martinez and possibly Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. would propel his career to incredible heights.  

An eventual match-up with Andre Ward would be a massive pay-per-view event in my opinion and be the beginning of his superstar reign.  

ROUND 3 - Give me your prediction and analysis of the following fights:

Canelo vs. Angulo

TRS - Alfredo Angulo is the perfect fit for Canelo Alvarez.

I think Canelo's punching power has been a little overrated,but it'll look strong against Angulo,who will come right to him and therefore into the power .

I like Canelo in the middle rounds by stoppage, which may be on cuts/swelling.

R.L. - I’m expecting this to be a war with Angulo pressuring the Mexican star from the opening bell.  Canelo’s patience and body attack will eventually wear Angulo.

Canelo - 9th Rd TKO

  

Pacquiao vs. Bradley

TRS - Timothy Bradley has really never impressed me other than getting decisions he didn't deserve.

I scored Pacquaio beating him by five pts, Provodnikov nipping him by a point and Marquez earning a draw.

He doesn't have good power and he can be hurt. He's solid but nothing special.

The problem for Manny Pacquaio is that he isn't the old Manny Pacquaio.

He dominated Brandon Rios,but he should have.Rios was tailor made for him.

I don't know what Manny has left,but I'll gamble on having enough.

Pacquaio by decision

R.L. - This is where we disagree…

Timothy Bradley is a very talented boxer in my opinion with the heart of a lion! What he lacks in power, he compensates for with determination and will.  His fight with Provodnikov proved that immensely. 

The issue with this fight is that he’s a little overconfident coming into the bout and Manny Pacquiao has something to prove. 

I’m expecting Pacquiao to be spectacular in this fight and knock Timothy Bradley out. Early.

Cotto vs. Martinez

TRS - Sergio Martinez is the middleweight champ, no matter how awesome Gennady Golovkin is, but he looks vulnerable and he knows a Golovkin bout will be dangerous for the purse.

Miguel Cotto always fights his fight, but has been damaged goods since Margarito.

This should be a entertaining fight that features two true 154 pounders at 160.

If Martinez has anything left from tough fights and inactivity (by fight time only the tight Martin Murray fight in 18 months), he outpoints Cotto.

If Cotto had been more active, I'd like his chances to pull an upset. 

I'll take Martinez by decision in a bout similar to the Chavez bout.

R.L. - This is going to be a great boxing match. 

I agree that Sergio will fight a mirror image of his fight against Chavez Jr…. the problem is that Miguel Cotto is a superior boxer to Chavez Jr. 

I think Cotto has something left in the tank and will lose some early rounds, but gain leverage in the fight by cutting the ring off and working the body.  

Martinez will slow later in the fight and Cotto will win the late rounds convincingly. 

Cotto by split-decision

For rounds 4-6.... check out "Thoughts of R.S." at http://thoughtsofrs.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-six-round-staredown.html