aquariusone
02-14-2015, 03:55 PM
RING MAGAZINE's writer Doug Fisher has some incredible interesting views and opinions. Here are his latest:
And of course, how do you see these Mythical Match-ups at 147 playing out. Sorry if you have already covered these.
Jose Napoles vs Floyd Mayweather
Macho Camacho vs Miguel Cotto
Carmen Basilio vs Keith Thurman
Jersey Joe Walcott vs Sugar Ray Leonard
Peace and keep up the great work! – Maintain from Queens, NY
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’ll start with your questions about Ward.
Last I heard, the super middleweight champ was targeting late March/early April for his first “comeback” fight. Since nothing has been announced yet, and it’s already mid-February, my guess is that it will happen mid-to-late April. Ward says his trainer, Virgil Hunter, would like him to fight two-to-three “tune-up” type bouts in order to get back into his “groove,” and once he’s groovin’ he says he’s ready for the world – at 168 pounds. Watch this RingTV interview with Ward from a few weeks back.
I’m guessing he’ll fight a couple rugged fringe contenders, like Fedor Chudinov or Ezequiel Maderna, before taking on a top super middleweight in the first quarter of 2016. If George Groves beats Anthony Dirrell for the WBC title or if James DeGale beats Andre Dirrell for the vacant IBF, I can see Ward targeting either (or both) British beltholders next year.
I don’t think Ward vs. Golovkin can be made this year. Ward needs to “get back into his groove,” as he puts it, and Team GGG have made it clear that they’re going after all the 160-pound belts before moving up in weight. Maybe we’ll get that super showdown in late 2016.
Regarding Garcia, I think he’s got his heavy hands full with Peterson. I see that as an even fight (though I give a slight edge to the younger man due to his underrated versatility). I think Garcia will land the harder punches during the fight, but Peterson will outwork him if he’s allowed to warm up, especially if he can get the Philly native up against the ropes. If there’s any knockdowns in the fight, I see Garcia scoring them.
I don’t see Garcia ever fighting Postol. I won’t be able to say how he’ll fare vs. top 147 pounders until I see him in with a legit welterweight contender.
Your mythical welterweight matchups:
Jose Napoles vs Floyd Mayweather – Napoles by decision. I think the Mexico-based Cuban legend’s smooth but crafty boxing style, mixed with his educated jab and accurate killer hook, would have given a boxer like Floyd more than he could handle. I think the fight would go a lot like Napoles’ two bouts with Hedgemon Lewis, a very skilled and underrated former 147-pound contender from Detroit.
Macho Camacho vs Miguel Cotto – Cotto by decision. The Caguas native would be too strong for the Macho Man at welterweight.
Carmen Basilio vs Keith Thurman – Basilio by mid-to-late stoppage.
Jersey Joe Walcott vs Sugar Ray Leonard – Um, do you mean “Barbados” Joe Walcott, the former welterweight champ who reigned from 1901-1906? I don’t think Jersey Joe could make 147 pounds. LOL. Leonard by decision in a competitive fight.
CATCHWEIGHT TITLES
Hey Doug,
Big fan of the mailbag, thanks for so regularly covering what the fans want to hear.
I’m curious to get your thoughts on catchweight title fights. I agree that ultimately it’s all about the best fights getting made, and if catchweights help make that happen that works for me.
I struggle with the Cotto/Golovkin situation though, where GGG (clearly the guy at 160) didn’t get a shot at the lineal title, and now might have to watch it get passed on to Mayweather/Canelo or maybe even Khan/Bradley before he gets a shot at it.
If that happens, it seems like the welterweight division will have been allowed to hijack the middleweight belt to bolster some resumes. Do you think catchweights should be allowed for title fights?
Also, curious to get your thoughts on a few potential matchups:
Crawford v Mikey Garcia
Broner v Rios
Broner v Algieri
Khan v Bradley
Khan v Lara
All the best. – Dan, NYC
Thanks for the kind words, Dan, and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I’m not a fan of catchweights but I don’t have a problem with world titles being on the line in catchweight bouts as long as the combatants weigh within the division limits. For example, I was OK with Canelo Alvarez’s junior middleweight title being on the line in his 152-pound catchweight showdown with Floyd Mayweather because both guys weighed over 147 pounds and under 154 pounds (Floyd weighed 150½ and Canelo came in at the contracted 152). Likewise, I was OK with Miguel Cotto’s WBO welterweight belt being on the line against Manny Pacquiao even though the Puerto Rican star had to weigh in at 145 (two pounds under the division limit). Both guys were welterweights because both weighed in over 140 pounds (Manny weighed 144) and under 147.
I thought it was weird that Mayweather’s WBC junior middleweight title was on the line for his rematch with Marcos Maidana since it was also a welterweight championship bout and both guys weighed under 147 pounds. I also thought it was just boxing business when Sugar Ray Leonard was able to win Donny LaLonde’s WBC light heavyweight belt when the Canadian had to weigh in at the super middleweight limit of 168 pounds for their bout in 1988 (which enabled Leonard to grab the WBC’s newly created 168-pound title).
Regarding Cotto putting his WBC/RING/lineal middleweight title on the line against non-middleweights, such as Mayweather, Canelo, Bradley or Khan; again, I’m OK with it as long as they weigh over 154 pounds. Do I think it’s fair to Golovkin? No, but boxing is more business than sport these days. It is what it is. GGG is the man – no, he’s the “boogeyman” – of the 160-pound division. Nobody with a name wants to fight him if they can make good money fighting other people, but sooner or later someone’s gonna step up (just as Duran, Hearns and eventually Leonard did against Hagler back in the day). Mayweather won’t do it. Cotto might do it. Who knows? If Cotto loses his lineal title to someone young and gutsy like Canelo, Bradley or Khan, maybe one of those guys will put the “real” title on the line against GGG.
My thoughts on your potential matchups:
Crawford v Mikey Garcia – Crawford by decision
Broner v Rios – Rios by close decision
Broner v Algieri – Algieri by competitive but clear decision
Khan v Bradley – Khan by close and maybe controversial decision
Khan v Lara – Lara by knockout
And of course, how do you see these Mythical Match-ups at 147 playing out. Sorry if you have already covered these.
Jose Napoles vs Floyd Mayweather
Macho Camacho vs Miguel Cotto
Carmen Basilio vs Keith Thurman
Jersey Joe Walcott vs Sugar Ray Leonard
Peace and keep up the great work! – Maintain from Queens, NY
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’ll start with your questions about Ward.
Last I heard, the super middleweight champ was targeting late March/early April for his first “comeback” fight. Since nothing has been announced yet, and it’s already mid-February, my guess is that it will happen mid-to-late April. Ward says his trainer, Virgil Hunter, would like him to fight two-to-three “tune-up” type bouts in order to get back into his “groove,” and once he’s groovin’ he says he’s ready for the world – at 168 pounds. Watch this RingTV interview with Ward from a few weeks back.
I’m guessing he’ll fight a couple rugged fringe contenders, like Fedor Chudinov or Ezequiel Maderna, before taking on a top super middleweight in the first quarter of 2016. If George Groves beats Anthony Dirrell for the WBC title or if James DeGale beats Andre Dirrell for the vacant IBF, I can see Ward targeting either (or both) British beltholders next year.
I don’t think Ward vs. Golovkin can be made this year. Ward needs to “get back into his groove,” as he puts it, and Team GGG have made it clear that they’re going after all the 160-pound belts before moving up in weight. Maybe we’ll get that super showdown in late 2016.
Regarding Garcia, I think he’s got his heavy hands full with Peterson. I see that as an even fight (though I give a slight edge to the younger man due to his underrated versatility). I think Garcia will land the harder punches during the fight, but Peterson will outwork him if he’s allowed to warm up, especially if he can get the Philly native up against the ropes. If there’s any knockdowns in the fight, I see Garcia scoring them.
I don’t see Garcia ever fighting Postol. I won’t be able to say how he’ll fare vs. top 147 pounders until I see him in with a legit welterweight contender.
Your mythical welterweight matchups:
Jose Napoles vs Floyd Mayweather – Napoles by decision. I think the Mexico-based Cuban legend’s smooth but crafty boxing style, mixed with his educated jab and accurate killer hook, would have given a boxer like Floyd more than he could handle. I think the fight would go a lot like Napoles’ two bouts with Hedgemon Lewis, a very skilled and underrated former 147-pound contender from Detroit.
Macho Camacho vs Miguel Cotto – Cotto by decision. The Caguas native would be too strong for the Macho Man at welterweight.
Carmen Basilio vs Keith Thurman – Basilio by mid-to-late stoppage.
Jersey Joe Walcott vs Sugar Ray Leonard – Um, do you mean “Barbados” Joe Walcott, the former welterweight champ who reigned from 1901-1906? I don’t think Jersey Joe could make 147 pounds. LOL. Leonard by decision in a competitive fight.
CATCHWEIGHT TITLES
Hey Doug,
Big fan of the mailbag, thanks for so regularly covering what the fans want to hear.
I’m curious to get your thoughts on catchweight title fights. I agree that ultimately it’s all about the best fights getting made, and if catchweights help make that happen that works for me.
I struggle with the Cotto/Golovkin situation though, where GGG (clearly the guy at 160) didn’t get a shot at the lineal title, and now might have to watch it get passed on to Mayweather/Canelo or maybe even Khan/Bradley before he gets a shot at it.
If that happens, it seems like the welterweight division will have been allowed to hijack the middleweight belt to bolster some resumes. Do you think catchweights should be allowed for title fights?
Also, curious to get your thoughts on a few potential matchups:
Crawford v Mikey Garcia
Broner v Rios
Broner v Algieri
Khan v Bradley
Khan v Lara
All the best. – Dan, NYC
Thanks for the kind words, Dan, and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I’m not a fan of catchweights but I don’t have a problem with world titles being on the line in catchweight bouts as long as the combatants weigh within the division limits. For example, I was OK with Canelo Alvarez’s junior middleweight title being on the line in his 152-pound catchweight showdown with Floyd Mayweather because both guys weighed over 147 pounds and under 154 pounds (Floyd weighed 150½ and Canelo came in at the contracted 152). Likewise, I was OK with Miguel Cotto’s WBO welterweight belt being on the line against Manny Pacquiao even though the Puerto Rican star had to weigh in at 145 (two pounds under the division limit). Both guys were welterweights because both weighed in over 140 pounds (Manny weighed 144) and under 147.
I thought it was weird that Mayweather’s WBC junior middleweight title was on the line for his rematch with Marcos Maidana since it was also a welterweight championship bout and both guys weighed under 147 pounds. I also thought it was just boxing business when Sugar Ray Leonard was able to win Donny LaLonde’s WBC light heavyweight belt when the Canadian had to weigh in at the super middleweight limit of 168 pounds for their bout in 1988 (which enabled Leonard to grab the WBC’s newly created 168-pound title).
Regarding Cotto putting his WBC/RING/lineal middleweight title on the line against non-middleweights, such as Mayweather, Canelo, Bradley or Khan; again, I’m OK with it as long as they weigh over 154 pounds. Do I think it’s fair to Golovkin? No, but boxing is more business than sport these days. It is what it is. GGG is the man – no, he’s the “boogeyman” – of the 160-pound division. Nobody with a name wants to fight him if they can make good money fighting other people, but sooner or later someone’s gonna step up (just as Duran, Hearns and eventually Leonard did against Hagler back in the day). Mayweather won’t do it. Cotto might do it. Who knows? If Cotto loses his lineal title to someone young and gutsy like Canelo, Bradley or Khan, maybe one of those guys will put the “real” title on the line against GGG.
My thoughts on your potential matchups:
Crawford v Mikey Garcia – Crawford by decision
Broner v Rios – Rios by close decision
Broner v Algieri – Algieri by competitive but clear decision
Khan v Bradley – Khan by close and maybe controversial decision
Khan v Lara – Lara by knockout