In today’s edition of Ask The Editor (ATE), we take our first look at a possible
Manny Pacquiao-
Miguel Cotto super-fight, welcome back
Floyd Mayweather Jr again and contemplate whether
Wladimir Klitschko really is the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world. We analyse if
David Haye dodged a financial bullet, declare who will replace Setanta to broadcast boxing, look for the elusive double knockout, discuss
Daniel Geale’s future and more.
Name :
Nathan JohnsonCountry :
USAYour Question :
Manny Pacquiao vs.
Miguel Cotto, great fight if it goes ahead in November. How does the team see the outcome? I’m leaning towards Pac-Man because I see Cotto as damaged goods now.
CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Hi Nathan. As I understand it, Pacquiao would like to fight at around 142lbs and Cotto is keen to box at 145lbs. This in itself could be a stumbling block in negotiations as much as the 70-30 split that’s been rumoured in Pacquiao’s favour. I believe Pacquiao’s speed is a factor but I’d like to wait and see what the fight is made at before I give my opinion.
GREG JUCKETT ANSWERS:
Nathan, I’m don’t know if Cotto is “damaged goods,” but at this point, I think
Pac-Man is probably the better fighter anyway and beats Cotto via TKO late.
PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Great fight. I am interested to see at what weight they make the fight at? The suggestions out of Pacquiao’s team is that he won’t fight at 147lbs, but maybe halfway between junior welterweight and welterweight. Not sure how going back down a couple of pounds will affect Cotto? He does look a little worse for wear after the Margarito and Clottey fights. Should still be a great battle, but I will be tipping Pacquiao when they time comes.
MICHAEL NORBY ANSWERS: It would be difficult to pick against Pacquiao, Nathan. In saying that, I was extremely impressed with how Cotto responded to constant adversity from Joshua Clottey in his last fight and I think that his performance has gone some way towards erasing any lingering confidence issues stemming from the beating he took at the hands of Margarito. If it happens, it would be a terrific fight and could go either way but I’d probably choose Pacquiao to win.
Name :
Stuart NealeCountry :
USAYour Question :
I take my thoughts back. I thought Mayweather was trying to duck out his fight with Marquez to get to Pacquiao, but it seems now that the Mayweather-Marquez fight will go ahead on September 19.
CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Come on Stuart, Mayweather is one of the best pure boxers of the last 10 years, he’s not gonna ‘duck’ anyone. For one, his ego would not allow him. Also, one thing some people seem to overlook is that Floyd is always super fit and always prepares meticulously for every fight. So there is no way he would go into a Pacquiao fight without a warm up and after such a long lay off. Marquez is the perfect fight in preparation for a speed merchant like Manny.
GREG JUCKETT ANSWERS: Stuart, yup, Mayweather-Marquez is back on. Despite his brash attitude, I think Mayweather realizes that Marquez is a great fighter, who needs to be prepared for properly without cutting any corners due to injuries that may effect Floyd’s thorough preparation.
PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Everyone loves a good conspiracy theory, but it does seem Floyd is back. Boxing can only be stronger for having
Money back competing. Marquez looks to be undersized in this match, but there is plenty of fighting spirit in that Mexican heart of his. If Floyd does win, it will be entertaining to hear his post fight speech where he tries to argue that he is pound for pound No.1 again.
MICHAEL NORBY ANSWERS: If
Floyd Mayweather doesn’t fancy a fight he won’t sign up for it in the first place, Stuart. I’m glad they rescheduled for September – it promises to be an intriguing match-up and I think Marquez could upset a few people.
Name :
Allen TunbridgeCountry :
UKYour Question :
It seems to me that
Wladimir Klitschko is now the true and only heavyweight boxing champion of the world. After he beat Chagaev, it proved how inept Valuev really is. Klitschko toyed with Chagaev, who gave Valuev so much trouble. Vitali will not fight his brother, understandably, so that leaves Wladimir as the king of the class.
CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Allen, yes Wladimir is the true heavyweight champ by virtue of the path he has taken and the men he has beaten. I feel both the Klitschko’s are head and shoulders above the rest of the pack at the moment. Well, maybe not head and shoulders above Valuev, but you know what I mean!
GREG JUCKETT ANSWERS: Allen, I would agree that Wladimir is a close as we have right now to a legitimate linear heavyweight champion, especially since Lennox Lewis holds a victory over Vitali.
PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: A very valid point Allen. Since his two knockout losses to Sanders and Brewster, Wladimir really has lined them up and beaten them all. He even got up off the canvas against Samuel Peter to win. His critics claim he is beatable and can be boring at times, but he continues to win. Not sure who the big fight out there is for him. I can’t see Valuev’s team wanting to expose him against either of the Klitschko brothers.
MICHAEL NORBY ANSWERS: You’re right, Allen. After beating Chagaev, Klitschko was awarded
The Ring magazine’s coveted world title – the first time in five years that award has had a mantle piece to sit on.
Name :
Rory Pratt Country :
IrelandYour Question :
It seems
David Haye was lucky getting injured after all. With the collapse of Setanta, Haye could have fought
Wladimir Klitschko and not received all of his money from the collapsing TV network!
CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Em, now there’s a thought that never crossed my mind!
GREG JUCKETT ANSWERS: Rory, you may be correct, but Haye will still eventually get his shot if he keeps winning.
PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Whether it was bad luck, or good planning, it seems Haye did dodge a financial bullet.
Wladimir Klitschko didn’t seem too impressed with the injury pullout and he now has some mandatories to take care of, so Haye could be on the outside looking in for a while now. He may have to take another fight at heavyweight to stay sharp while he waits on the Klitschkos.
MICHAEL NORBY ANSWERS: I think getting paid would have been the last thing on Haye’s mind had he stepped into the ring with Wladimir, Rory. I really like Haye and enjoy watching him fight, but how many of those big right hands could he have stood up to?
Name :
Tim Young Country :
Australia Your Question :
All the talk of the heavyweight division being so weak makes me laugh. It’s really only weak as we have two brothers who won’t fight each other and Valuev, who doesn’t want a bar of either of the brothers. So we have three champs, but I think both Vitali and Wlad are good champs. It’s only six years ago that Vitali gave Lennox Lewis fits before he was stopped on cuts. I think Lennox would have prevailed in the end anyway, but let’s not forget Lennox is an all time top five. Fifteen years ago whilst Lennox was constantly sidelined, all the rave was about Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe, and Moorer and the heavy division was in fine shape. Didn’t have anything to do with the fact they were all American did it? I would back Vitali to beat all 4 of those fighters and back Wlad to beat them all except maybe a prime time Tyson if caught early. Maybe America would be raving if the Eastern Europeans went back to amateur status and they could proudly announce. Ladies and Gentlemen the main event is for the heavyweight championship of the world, between Johnny Ruiz and Eddie Chambers. Lord help us. Would like to hear the experts’ opinions.
CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Don’t hold back, Tim, will you? Yes I do agree to an extent. The Klitschko’s are good solid champs that have learnt their trade well and made full use of their huge size. What makes them hard to beat, especially Wladimir, is for such big men they are deceptively fast. Fighters and fans can slag Wladimir off as much as they like about his safety first jab, right hand upright style but let’s be honest, he is using all his physical advantages to the maximum. What else is he supposed to do, crouch down, stick out his chin and allow the smaller men tee off on him?
GREG JUCKETT ANSWERS: Tim, I’ll give Vitali and Wlad Klitschko their due because they have persevered to now own most of the championship belts. Plus, I think both of them would beat Valuev. However, I still find the Klitschkos painful to watch stylistically and I wouldn’t necessarily make them betting favorites against the likes the 90s versions of Holyfield, Tyson, Moorer or Bowe.
PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: That’s a big call Tim. You really think Vitali beats Tyson, Holyfield and Bowe in their primes? Vitali’s height and reach would have been a problem for Tyson, but recalling Bowe-Holyfield 1, he would have struggled with their skills and toughness. Bowe was an exceptionally skilled heavyweight in his prime, albeit it was a very short reign at the top after he stopped training properly. I agree that the Klitschkos are far and away the two best heavyweights in the world today, but I don’t see them dominating in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
MICHAEL NORBY ANSWERS: Tim, the division needs good solid American heavyweights to prosper. It has always been that way and, because there is no-one carrying the torch right now, fans couldn’t be bothered. I don’t see it changing anytime soon either – the big American athletes are looking elsewhere to higher paying and less painful sports like football, baseball and basketball. Chambers against Ruiz??? I must thank you, Tim. It is 1:00am here in Boston and I was wide awake until you tacked that little gem on the end of your email. Goodnight.
