MASSIVE ATE: thrown fights, Gatti and more

In a huge edition of Ask the Editor, we debate Jermain Taylor’s last three bouts, whether Oscar and Roy Jones have thrown fights, if UFC could eclipse boxing, if Mosley would have been a Ray Robinson had he gone to 140lbs and so much more. Plus we talk steroids in boxing with a male stripper, and you can’t read anything like that anywhere else, can you?

TAYLOR 0-3 DEBATE RAGES ON
First Name : Tom
Last Name : Peak
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question : Hi I wrote in to register my disgust recently at the last few blatant robberies which have been perpetrated solely to help build the pr of a Mr. Taylor. Ant Evans asked me to explain my comments and made a few good points himself well hear goes.... Ant’s first counter point was to assert that if HBO were interested in building a new star artificially they would not have put Taylor in with Hopkins or Wright. Well lets get one thing straight I’m not saying Taylor’s a bum - Taylor’s a good fighter my original point was he clearly lost all three fights. I never said he was outclassed in all three fights I figure HBO are smart enough to know the kids good enough to go rounds with Hopkins but there’s a difference between a fighter going twelve rounds with the best in the business and BEATING him. He lost comfortably in my opinion.

And as for the Winky fight same thing applies Taylor is strong he can hang with the big dogs but so can many middleweights if the name of the game is simply avoiding being knocked out then that’s fine but even you yourselves gave the last few rounds to Wright and in both fights with Hopkins Taylor faded. Bring back 15 rounds and the decisions would have been taken out of the judges hands in all these fights. And as for your ’no one looks good against either veteran’ comment i think that’s because they both win rounds even if there not at there electrifying best they both no how to win rounds.
I know its harking back a bit but Jones Jr. managed to look good and beat Hopkins it can be done!!

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: Hi Tom, I think we’ll have to agree to disagree. Taylor’s last three bouts were very competitive; the vast differences in opinion as to who won those fights is testament enough to that fact. If Taylor really lost by the margins you claim, we wouldn’t be having this debate. I think Taylor would have struggled in the 15 round era because I believe his stamina is not the best - but that is an irreverence. 15 round fights are long gone and Taylor won’t ever have to go 15 rounds, well, not unless he goes out for a beer with Bernath.

And if you really think Jones ’looked good’ against Hopkins in that bore of a fight then your idea of entertainment is very different to mine!

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Sorry Tom. I can’t agree. There is no way Taylor lost "clearly" those three fights.

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: Got to disagree with Ant about HBO, Taylor and Wright. I dont think HBO had many other options as to whom Taylor could fight, as there are few big name fighters in the division. I do think that HBO are show casing Taylor as the next big thing, and realised he had to fight someone decent after taking razor thin decisions against Hopkins. As for the 15 round argument, I don’t think it is worth having. You could logically go back to the turn of the last century when fights could go on for 30 rounds or so, and ask the same question. Then Paula Radcliffe would have the upper hand against most modern boxers. The game has changed, and fighters should be judged accordingly. Oh, and Roy Jones did not look good against Bernard Hopkins. I recently rewatched the fight, and it was about as exciting as watching John Ruiz shadow boxing.

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SEXECUTE LETS IT HANG OUT

First Name : Sexecute (aka Nick the Stripper)
Last Name :
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question :
I had to respond to Mike Kearns’ comments on the steroids/Jones issue. He accuses me of flippancy, but has me completely wrong and has completely missed the problem in this area. I am continually stunned by the level of naivety by the general public and the journalistic community on the issue of drugs in sport. Anybody who has competed at a decent level in sport knows that performance enhancing drug use is rife. Very few however, admit this.
The actual conditioning training practised by many in boxing is archaic, but it is still naïve to think that boxers don’t use diuretics to make the weight. And I’m sure that the use of ripping agents in boxing is very common. This will enable fighters to maintain lean muscle whilst losing fat very efficiently on a controlled diet. Those going up in weight and already at heavyweight will use mass steroids. Jones is just a good example of this. Contrary to what James Toney may have said, his physique is exactly what you might expect from someone who had taken testoterone based steroids but not taken his estrogen moppers.
This is not being flippant about the issue of drugs, but merely stating fact. I agree with Mike Kearns, but he should be criticising those that run the sport. Either, the organizers should conduct blood (not urine) tests and ban all offenders for life, or, let people take what they wish. I was merely acknowledging the fact that Jones took the drugs. To call him a cheat however, maybe a little strong. If we conducted blood tests on all the top boxers, at the appropriate time and then banned them for any abuse, there would be very few of them left !
I realise that all this will be very hard to swallow for many people. However, at the risk of sounding condescending I have to ask what level have you competed at or what have you got to hide ? I am so confident of my assertions that I would be willing to visit Jonestown, put my cock on the block and then give Ant (who would be feeling more than a little distressed at being so close to the Holy Roy) a meat cleaver if I’m wrong ! I think my livelihood will remain intact.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: Sorry to shatter any fantasies, buddie, but I think young Bennie Cohen would be your best bet as an SnM partner. You raise some very good points, and clearly have a wealth of knowledge on the subject (sorry I had to edit your post for legal reasons). From speaking - off the record - with fighters and esp medical personnel currently in boxing, I know that you are 100% right that steroids are rife in the sport.

Y’know, I actually considered a career in stripping myself, but then I reconsidered when I thought of all those women who’d go home after getting an Ant-Man eyeful, suddenly worried their husbands or boyfriends we’re fully developed men.

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: You are spot on ’Sexecute’. Most elite professional athletes take a multitude of performance enhancing substances, some legal, and some not. Interestingly, the consensus amongst top nutritionists, and sports scientists is that the same effects can be attained without steroids. It is a murky subject, and very difficult to pin down exactly what is legal and what isn’t. I would avoid passing judgement on athletes that take performance enhancing substances, as so many of them do, and dont get caught. As for Ant’s hypothetical career in stripping, it’s about as likely as Steve Collins beating Roy Jones.....

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: The answer is, every boxer gets drug tested for every fight.

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BIKA REMATCH WITH BEYER
First Name : Ben
Last Name : N
Country : Australia
Your Question : To Uppy, RE this quote from the last ATE ". Beyer and his team want absolutely nothing to do with Bika again and I understand why. The ’Scorpion’ is an absolute tank that is hard to dent let alone stop. Bika is going to be in a new super middleweight tournament that will be featured on Showtime in the USA." Would the WBC force Beyer to fight Bika again? If the fight was stopped on cuts from an unintentional head clash, shouldn’t Bika be afforded a rematch in theory? (promotional manuvers aside?) Also, what is this super middleweight tournament in the US all about? Could you fill me in any more on who is in this tournament? Maybe Ant’s boy Mundine should try and get in there....at least it would lift his US profile (unless he ends up in an orange jumpsuit re "those comments"!)

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Yes, it would seem reasonable that Sakio Bika is given a rematch. But big time boxing doesn’t work like that. Team Beyer don’t want the fight. It is a tough fight with no real reward for a win. Beyer is scheduled to face Mikkel Kessler anyway now. I’m tipping Mikkel to win that one, so Bika will be left on the outer as far as the WBC title is concerned for a while. The good news is that Bika is to be included in a new rising star eight man super middleweight series in the USA on ShoBox, promoted by Gary Shaw. Anthony Mundine and Danny Green are not involved. There will each be two fights on July 28 and August 4. The four winners will then fight in October. The two finalists will then meet in early 2007. It is a great opportunity for Bika to show his entertaining powerhouse style to USA fans.

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GATTI HALL OF FAME BOUND?

First Name : Tony
Last Name : D
Country : USA
Your Question : Gatti--Hall of Fame?? If Gatti wins his next fight with Baldimor do you think he becomes HOF material? This will be 3 world titles in 3 weight classes and I’ve heard alot of talk about it. Now I’m curious enough to ask for some EXPERT opinion. I personally think that he would need to fight (and win of course) Hatton or Cotto to cement an HOF legacy. PS--The new site took a little getting used to, but I’m liking it!!

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Hi Tony. I personally believe that if Gatti beats Baldomir he should be inducted into the IHOF. He is a fantastic value for money fighter and as deserving as any recent inductee to the Hall of Fame.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: He’ll be getting my vote, for sure. He has a unique legacy as the most consistently exciting fighter of his - or most other -eras.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: If Gatti beats Baldomir, you’d have to consider him for Canastota. I have written this before in ATE, defining credentials for the Hall of Fame is not easy. Has any boxer of recent time showed more heart, determination and courage in the boxing ring than Gatti? How do we value this against the truly great boxers. Many will say that Gatti doesn’t belong. Maybe. But there hasn’t been many more popular boxers than Gatti in the modern era. Consider what we actually call the spiritual home of boxing in Canastota, New York, USA. The International Boxing Hall of "FAME". Gatti certainly qualifies in that respect. Also, while we are on the topic, if you are a boxing fan, get along to Canastota for Induction Weekend one year. It is a visit you will never regret! Ed Brophy and his wonderful team do the most unbelievable work for the sport.

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: I don’t think Gatti is Hall of Fame material, regardless of whether he beats Baldomir. I think that Gatti has been very cleverly promoted over the years, mostly fighting people that made him look good. Whenever he has stepped up in competition, he has been horribly outclassed (Mayweather and DeLaHoya for example). As for him beating Hatton or Cotto, there is more chance of our friend ’Sexecute’ getting Ants number for a date.

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DID OSCAR DOG IT?

First Name : angie
Last Name : mcqueen
Country : USA
Your Question : De La Hoya/Hopkins Is it possible De La Hoya gave the win to Hopkins? In exchange Hopkins would come on board Golden Boy to sign young black fighters. (Without Hopkins would not sign) I saw the fight, 11th row on the floor. To me it did not look like a solid KO. Please tell me what you think.

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Everyone is entitled to their opinion but your way off the mark here. Oscar is a proud man and a great fighter. He proved that last time out against Mayorga. The move up to middleweight was just too much and lets not forget Hopkins is one of the all time great middleweights.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: No way would any top fighter dog it and, even if he wanted to, no way could they make it look legit. However - one world title challenger who I am friendly with called me the day after the fight and challenged me to think of another "great, elite" fighter who had been KO’d by a body shot. The best I could come up with without hitting the books was Julian Jackson. What I am saying is it was a shocking, strange end to a title fight and that is why there are all these X-Files theories about Oscar taking a dive.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: No way in the world! Oscar De La Hoya is a proud man and would never be involved in anything like that. I simply won’t hear of it. It was a perfectly timed and accurate body shot from Hopkins. End of debate.

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: Not sure about your conspiracy theory Angie. Firstly, Oscar is not that type of person. He is an extremely competitive fighter, and one with a great deal of ambition. I think he really believed he could beat Hopkins. Secondly, there is no way Oscar would have got in the type of shape if he was going to take a dive. The guy was in incredible condition, and would not have wasted all that energy training if he was going to fall over. Thirdly, I doubt Oscar cares whether young black fighters want to sign with him or not. Golden Boy will do whatever is in their financial interest, regardless of colour. Anyway, Kingsley Ikeke was a Golden Boy fighter before DLH fought Hopkins.

In regards to the dive, there is debate within the boxing community as to whether he could have got up from the body shot. I met the editor of a boxing website last year who told me that he had Mayweather Sr on tape saying that he thought Oscar could have got up. I personally don’t think he could have. He was in with a much bigger man and got hit right on the kidney. I’ve been hit there myself, and let me tell you, it is no joke. It is an indescribable pain no matter how good a fighter you are. If you get hit correctly, 99% of fighters will go down.

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McGUIGAN BELONGS IN HALL OF FAME

First Name : Barry
Last Name : Jackson
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question : I keep on reading articles that mention Barry McGuigan as not worthy as a HOF, surely the fact that he united (albeit briefly) a country torn by strife and terror should count towards his credentials in being in the HOF?

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Barry I totally agree. Of course ring performances to matter but how you conduct yourself outside the ring and represent the sport is in some way equally as important. For example Muhammad Ali was a great fighter but in my opinion not the greatest fighter of all time as a lot of fans believe. But he was a great man that brought interest and showmanship to the sport. I know he was perceived as brash and arrogant in the early days but it was all done with a twinkle in the eye. I believe the whole package makes him the greatest sportsman/showman of our time.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: Being a nice guy, loving your mum, or ’representing’ the people of a strife-ridden country are not considerations I go over in my head when thinking about which fighters are truly great. Paul voted Barry in, but I wouldn’t have purely because if Barry gets in then fighters like Julian Jackson, Keith Holmes, Williams Joppy, Wayne McCullough etc etc all MUST go in because they achieved far more in their careers. Barry was a very good fighter and represents himself and boxing well on TV, but, for me, he’s light years away from the likes of a true elite fighter and is lucky to stand among them in the Hall of Fame.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Based on pure boxing ability and achievement, Barry is on the borderline. Some will say he doesn’t belong there. I personally have no problem with his induction. He got a ’tick’ on my ballot form.


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WHAT NEXT FOR JOE C?

First Name: Ramo
Last Name: Tubb
Country: United Kingdom
Your Question: Who do you think Joe Calzaghe will fight next? I think that he pulled out of the Glen Johnson fight because he didn’t want to pay Glen upfront, and making the excuse of injury would do less damage to his reputation of pulling out injured. Whats your view on this, am I wrong, was he genuinely injured? I am a big Joe fan and would love to see him in with some big names. How do you think he would fare in a fight against Hopkins, Wright, Kessler or Froch.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: 1) Hopkins is retired, and would outpoint Joe. 2) Wright is too small for Joe, heck, he was too small for Taylor 3) I think Kessler would win, and the longer Joe waits before fighting him the more it favours the young Viking 4) Froch would get mutilated by Calzaghe!

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Ramo, yes I believe Joe was injured why would he not want to cash in on his win over Jeff Lacy and headline at the Millennium stadium in front of his own Welsh fans? It does not make sense. I Think Joe stops both Wright and Froch and out-points Hopkins if he is at his very best but Kessler would be a 50/50 fight. I must admit to being a big Kessler fan.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Give me Calzaghe vs. Wright any day of the week. I just want Joe to fight someone credible. Don’t go back to the way it used to be after his great win over Jeff Lacy.


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HI-TEC ANSWERS TO BAD DECISIONS

First Name: Ben
Last Name: Dawson
Country: United Kingdom
Your Question: Hi Guys, Do you think there will ever be the introduction of technical equipment in boxing. With the Wright V Taylor fight just being one example of perhaps the naked eye not being quite good enough.. When the fight punch figures were announced it showed Winky out jabbing Taylor by nearly 2-1.... And ahead on the others charts to. When watching the fight it does appear that Taylor’s landing a lot more than he actually did... What are your thoughts on the current scoring systems?

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: There’s nothing wrong with the scoring system in boxing, Ben. We get the occasion robbery and controversy, but we get hotly anticipated rematches as a result. Taylor v Wright was a damn close fight, as reflected well by the official scorecards. Personally, I’d hate - HATE - to see the introduction of scoring based on hi-tec gizmos. Amateur "boxing" ceased to be true boxing as soon as they went to scoring punches via "computer" and not rounds. It is now fencing with fists and deathly dull to watch. This must not happen to pro boxing!

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: I agree with Ant here. There is no need to add more complications to boxing with unnecessary technology. It might make it more fun from a viewers point of view, but it should not be used by judges.

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Hi Ben. I’m totally against any technical equipment being introduced to help scoring fights. I’m a great believer in scoring a fight as it happens and making a decision on what I have seen at that time. How many times have you watched a fight a number of times and noticed different things each time? No, three experienced judges on three different sides of the ring apron has pretty much worked well for years, why change it?

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: I can’t stand the amateur boxing scoring system with computers. Can’t stand it. I don’t want computers involved. I think the method we have is important. You have to evaluate the quality of the punches, not just count them. What we need is quality control on our judges. We need more training for judges. But most importantly, what we need is fans to understand that judging is not easy. It takes total concentration at ringside. No interruptions. You can’t score a fight talking to your friends or drinking a beer. We also have to consider that the controversy in close decisions, often makes boxing more interesting.

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DID ROY THROW TARVER FIGHT?

First Name : John
Last Name : Dennison
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question : Hello guys, long time reader of the site, first time writing in. Regarding Roy Jones Jr, I seriously hope after this Prince Badji Adamu (wasn’t he Eddie Murphy’s sidekick in ’Coming To America?) business he knocks it on the head and retires. There are a lot of young exciting fighters out there that are plying their trade and dying to get noticed, (witness Malignaggi’s exciting performance against Cotto) yet as with the end of Tyson Jones’s name alone will always arouse interest for the casual fan. Jones ’musta forgot’ that he looked like Stephen Hawking propped up on a scarecrow stick in his last fight against Tarver, who in my opinion is another shot fighter. And what is this recent story about Jones let Tarver beat him because he didn’t want his father Jones Sr to take all of the credit? If he truly believes that the NSAC need to hire the same guy that deprogrammed the David Koresh followers who survived after Waco

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: Great point, Jones should be hauled before the ABC to explain himself if he really did "fix" the fight. However, let’s be honest, NO-ONE believes this loony excuse for losing to Tarver, do they?

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: No one seriously believes that Jones threw that fight. Tarver simply had his number.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: You know what the scary thing is? Look what Hopkins did to Tarver AFTER Antonio had beaten Roy Jones. What we have to understand is that to be an elite fighter, you have to have the mindset that no one can beat you. Any doubts will be exposed in the ring. Having spoken to many of the best boxers over the years, I know this for a fact. Roy Jones Jr is the same. When their physical skills diminish, they still believe in their mind that they can win. They have just had an unlucky or bad night when they lost. Evander Holyfield is the classic example of this. No matter what anyone tells him, he believes he still can be world champion one day. Roy Jones Jr is now the same.

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: I think Jones was just talking. Fighters have to come up with excuses as to why they lost, or they wouldn’t be able to get back into the ring. Once a fighter loses his confidence, he might as well quit the sport. It’s about ego, and Jones needs his to be competitive. Im interested to see how Jones performs against Ajamu, but I’ve lost all hope of seeing him return to his former glory. He is not the same fighter, and never will be.

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NO UK PRESS FOR BIG FIGHTS?

First Name : john
Last Name : warren
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question : to who ever this concerns I have to ask about the fight between Taylor and Wright. In the UK the press normally only mention of massive fights like this are Barry McGuigan article in the Daily Mirror other than this looking up the fight on teletext you have to go to other. There is never any coverage on the television in fact when Jones and Tarver were about to fight their rematch when I told people at work they told me I must be mistaken as they had not seen anything in the press I wasn’t wrong it was down to no media coverage in the UK. I understand boxing’s new saviour in the form of ITV is helping boxing in Britain but what about all the big fights over the pond?

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: The national newspapers are interested only in covering soccer (which is a total pufter’s sport) and Big Brother And they wonder why circulation is at it’s lowest levels since World War II...

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Let’s try a little experiment. Everyone who reads this ATE column, write a letter or email to your local newspaper telling them you would like to read more about boxing. I wonder if a English newspaper editor gets a few hundred letters it will make a difference? But the good news John is that you can always log on and get the best boxing news from www.SecondsOut.com!

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Good shout, Paul.


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ARCE WBC TITLE PLANS
First Name : Mark
Last Name : Shields
Country : Australia
Your Question : I have a few questions regarding the flyweight division as I think it is one of the most exciting at the moment. My first question is why has WBC champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam not been mandated to fight Jorge Arce. I understand he has been made a super champion because of his numerous defences of the title but surely he must be made to face Arce at some stage. Also who do you think would win between Vic Darchinian and Arce if they ever get in the ring together?

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Only the WBC can answer that question, but it is mute now anyway because Arce is moving up to junior bantamweight. Vic Darchinyan will tell you that Arce is running from him. I think it would be one hell of a battle. I like Darchinyan if the match were made. Arce takes a lot of punches and I think he would be worn down in the later rounds.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: I’d go with Arce if and when it happen, although Vic is still improving so the longer before the fight is made the more I lean toward him...

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: Arce vs Darchinian is a great fight for the fans. I think Darchinian nicks it in a close fight.

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SHANE SHOULD HAVE STAYED PUT

First Name : Brian
Last Name : R
Country : USA
Your Question : Had Shane Mosley never moved above 140lbs would we be debating whether or not he is the greatest fighter of all-time??? And how easily would he have defeated Floyd, Zab, and Kostya at 140lbs?

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWERS: I think Shane would have beaten Judah at 140 but Mayweather and Tszyu would have been very very close. I certainly would not have put money on one or the other.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: Yep, Shane has no business at 154lbs and I thought he lost to Oscar as well as having his ass handed to him by Wright. I should have got to 140lbs in 1999, fought the guys you mention, and then gone to fight Oscar in 2000 at 147lbs. You can’t argue with his first win over DLH, though, he stepped up two weight divisions to BEAT Oscar legit. I think Mosley would have murdered Zab, beat Tszyu and lost to Floyd, though, at 140lbs.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: We can’t rewind history Brian, but it is a damn good question. I was always on the Mosley bandwagon. Watching him train and fight up close convinced me he was one of the best in the world around 2000, 2001. He never seemed the same after the first loss to Vernon Forrest. It was like he lost his confidence. Having said that, Forrest and Wright were naturally bigger boxers against Mosley. Shane would have been tough to beat had he stayed at 140lbs. A Mosley-Tszyu battle in their primes is a mouth watering thought. But, having said that, Mosley’s move to welterweight to upset De La Hoya was impressive. It doesn’t get much bigger than that.
BEN COHEN ANSWERS: If Shane has stayed at 140, there is no doubt in my mind he would have been considered one of the greatest of all time. I think he would have beaten all the fighters you mention at 140, including Mayweather. I think he would have been far too strong. Mosley was a phenomenon at the lower weights. Even Eddie Futch stated that he would have given Ray Robinson a very good fight.

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JOE G IN THE DOCK

First Name : Chris
Last Name : Lewis
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question : Hello guys, the new site looks great. Just read Joe G’s latest letter. Like Lacy against Calzaghe, he throws a lot around but lands nothing telling or effective. He says he is not anti Brit/pro US but although he acknowledges he doesn’t rate either Hatton’ or PBF’s opponents, he only felt the need to write in about Hatton’s initially and to criticise Hatton two weeks in a row on ATE. Two, the observation about whether he is ’anti-Hatton’ or not is a moot one. As a boxing fan, you are entitled to think what you want about any fighter, what the Staff at SO are pointing out is that the criteria you use to criticise Hatton, can also be used to suggest PBF is overrated. Hatton lacks a basic jab, well PBF lacks power. Hatton fought ’has-beens’ and unknowns recently, well so has Pretty Boy. It was interesting when Ant asked Joe to give us a boxer’s record that he rated for us all to compare with Hatton’s, he declined to.
Maybe Joe G realised many of his initial arguments against Hatton don’t hold water. Lastly he says has seen Sibson, Minter et al lose. The point here is....and?!? I have seen numerous US fighters lose in the UK and abroad, but how do these results have any relevance on his opinion of Hatton and mine of US fighters? The fact Hamed lost to Barrera means nothing when talking about Ricky Hatton. Joe G, like yourself I think Hatton still has a bit to prove, but so do in my opinion so do Cotto and PBF, its all about having balance in your views that’s all. It would be interesting if you sent in a boxer’s record for SO to analyse though!!!

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: Yes, Joe G, as Chris asks, let’s see that awesome record which will put paid to Hatton’s claims...

CLIVE BERNATH ANSWRS: Boxing is all about opinions, ifs, buts and maybes, Chris. If you look hard enough we can all find criticism in each others work and it’s the same for boxers. All the boxers mentioned have fought some great fights in the past and been great value for the sport of boxing so why do we constantly criticise them when they have the odd bad performance?

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Does anyone see any similarities between Roy Jones Jr and the way Floyd Mayweather Jr’s career is travelling? No doubt, both were and are pound for pound greats. A lot of the credit they have gathered floats around the fact that they won world titles in multiple weight classes. Like Jones, Mayweather has had many impressive wins showing his talents against good opposition, but not great opposition. A good quation is, what has been Mayweather’s best pro win to date?

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MMA AND UFC GRAPPLING BOXING

First Name : Rob
Last Name : Harvey
Country : United Kingdom
Your Question : What do you think of the impact Mixed Martials Arts is having in sports today? Obvious comparisons have been made to boxing. Do you think it has or will have enough of an impact to take over boxing as a mainstream sport. I remember when fight nights at my house were a huge thing for the boys and now they are pretty much non-existant for anything other than UFC. Does a lack of a legit dominate heavyweight contender (one with some charisma would be nice) have any effect? I honestly can’t remember the last conversation I had with a causal fight fan about boxing because they simply have no idea who the likes of Winky Wright, Hopkins, Mayweather, etc are. Seems to be that boxing isn’t attacting enough new fans.

ANT EVANS ANSWERS: I train MMA three times a week and am a huge MMA fan, Rob, so I know of what I speak here. MMA, or rather the UFC, are making great strides in making new, YOUNG fans whereas boxing’s attempts to do the same (KO Nation, the Contender etc) have been just hilariously bad. UFC has aggressively targeted 19-35 year olds and are now having huge successes on PPV as well as on their Spike TV specials in the US. They are also coming back to the UK in 2007 and I expect them to do well over here, too. However, other than the UFC, though, MMA isn’t organised nearly well enough to rival boxing, esp in the UK. The MMA show at the MEN Arena in March was a money-losing farce (and even need Mike Tyson to sell tickets)

Boxing will always, always exist because not everyone is satisfied with the unathletic, girlish posturing and play-acting of soccer. But I think that Boxing, like UFC/MMA, is becoming an "internet" sport - cut adrift from the mainstream - and that means boxing promoters will have to think harder and harder to come up with ways to reach a mass audience and, in this regard, Dana White and the UFC may have show boxing the way...

BEN COHEN ANSWERS: I think the UFC is great, and boxing could learn a great deal from it. There are few mismatches in MMA, and fighters don’t get treated like absolute shit (excuse my language) like they can be in boxing. It is a well advertised, well promoted business that make the sport exciting for people to follow. MMA doesnt have the history that boxing does, so I don’t think it will be taking over any time soon. However, its fan base is growing, and given the unimaginative promoting of boxing these days, I wouldn’t rule it out.

PAUL UPHAM ANSWERS: Boxing is having trouble keeping its head above water in main stream sport, let alone UFC. There will always be a niche market for both sports, but I can’t see UFC or similar advancing ahead of boxing. If boxing is politically incorrect, where do they fit in? I do believe that the absence of a dominant heavyweight champion is severely hurting boxing. In the USA, all of the athletically talented big men are playing NFL, baseball or basketball. I can’t see the problem being solved quickly either. Boxing needs a special heavyweight champion of the world to help carry it forward.