It's Monday. Welcome back for another edition of Observe and Fight, The Boxing Observer's compilation of observations and random thoughts from the week that was in boxing. Get caught up on some of the most recent events you may have missed out on, including "Shoulder-Gate," a recap of Canelo Alvarez's return to the ring, a preview of Gennady Golovkin's fight this Saturday, and much more. Without further ado, check out the latest observations from the Boxing Observer, David Kassel.
"Shoulder-Gate casts an unnecessary shadow over Mayweather's dominant performance over Pacquiao. It's really a shame that there is even talk of a potential rematch from anyone in the world, let alone the boxing world, considering this fight will look the same no matter when these two guys fight. As I dive more deeply into this shoulder injury Pacquiao suffered, I find myself thinking about how difficult a shoulder injury is to work through. I was a collegiate baseball player, and, in my freshman season, I tore my labrum and partially tore my rotator-cuff in my right shoulder (which is my throwing shoulder). I played the rest of the season, and sometimes I tried to throw through the pain, but I had absolutely nothing behind the ball when I threw it in from the outfield. By the end of the season, I wouldn't even warm up past 50 feet because the pain was so excruciating. I even remember flipping the ball to a fellow outfielder a few times so he could throw it in. I only threw the ball when it was absolutely necessary. However, when I swung the bat I was pain free. I could tell my shoulder was weaker because I couldn't swing as hard, but I was pain free. The motion of swinging a bat wasn't painful, but lifting my right arm to a certain point was awful. So I do feel it was possible for Pacquiao to have a legitimate shoulder injury during the fight. But the ferocity with which he was throwing his punches makes me question if he really had an injury for weeks prior to the fight. One other thing I question is that Pacquiao had surgery just a few days after the fight. This does happen in sports very often, where athletes have surgery days after an injury, but a severe injury, such as the injury Pacquiao's camp is claiming to be so severe, would usually have to wait much longer before surgery is scheduled because the swelling and inflammation would have to go down. I had to wait for more than 2 weeks after my last game that season before the doctor would go into my shoulder (and I had arthroscopic surgery where they poked 4 little holes in my shoulder to do the repair). It wasn't even considered major surgery. If Pacquiao's shoulder was truly that bad, that he couldn't throw punches (which he says he couldn't, even though he did in the fight), the surgery most likely wouldn't have been performed just 4 days after the fight because the swelling and inflammation would most likely not have gone down enough to successfully perform the surgery. However, if he was able to go under the knife this quickly, I find it hard to believe that his injury was so severe that it was the reason he lost the fight. Any way you look at it, and any way you try to spin it, Pacquiao lost that fight because Mayweather was the better fighter. Enough with all the nonsense because the story just isn't adding up.
I truly believe the only reason "Shoulder-Gate" even exists is the hope for Pacquiao to gain a rematch with Mayweather and earn another big payday. Does anyone actually want to see this fight again? For as much complaining as there was about the lack of action, the complaining came from people bothered by Floyd Mayweather. Most of the complaining had nothing to do with the fact that Pacquiao was the real issue. So if the blame lies with Mayweather for the lack of action in the fight, why would fans want to see it again? It's not like Mayweather is going to fight any different the next time around.
I'm glad Amir Khan has now stated he is willing to fight Floyd Mayweather in September. You can call me crazy, and some of you already have, but Khan is the best welterweight opponent, outside of maybe Keith Thurman, for Floyd Mayweather to fight. The opponents that have had the most success against Mayweather are the ones who can bully him and throw punches in large combinations. Rarely, though, can a fighter do both of those things. Khan is the guy that can do both. On top of that, Khan actually has faster hands than Mayweather. Now, Khan is not even close to the counter-puncher Mayweather is, but Khan is taller and has just about the same reach as Mayweather. Also, Khan throws punches in bunches and uses his elbows as well as Mayweather does. Khan will have the ability to get Mayweather off of him by using his elbows and shoving Mayweather away. Khan will also be able to land on Mayweather based on punch output alone. I don't know if Mayweather will pick Khan for his September fight, but Khan will give Mayweather his toughest fight since Jose Luis Castillo.
All these idiots expecting to get paid because Pacquiao didn't disclose an injury are just fooling themselves. If any judge in the world awards anyone a single penny, that judge should be disbarred. So what if Pacquiao didn't tell the truth about an injury. What was he supposed to do? Cancel the biggest fight in the history of the sport or let out his weakness for his opponent to exploit going into the fight? Get outta here with that crap.
Speaking of lawsuits, what does Golden Boy think its going to accomplish by suing Al Haymon? So you are telling me that an American businessman cannot try to expand his business to make more money? If I'm not mistaken, that's what the entire basis of American business is built on. Good luck with that lawsuit, Oscar.
Canelo just recorded the leading candidate for Knockout of the Year! Last week, I predicted a knockout for Canelo Alvarez over James Kirkland, but I didn't expect it to be in the 3rd round. After the first two knockdowns, it was very clear that Kirkland wasn't going to come close to making it the full 12 rounds, but the way Canelo ended the fight, with a vicious, cartoon-ish knockout, it's clear why most consider Canelo Alvarez to be the man to take boxing in the next generation.
Frankie Gomez is quickly showing he is not mature enough to be a world-class fighter. Gomez, who has had his run-ins outside the ring, did one of the most unprofessional things a fighter can do. He came in WAY overweight. I'm not talking about a pound or two. We're talking 7 lbs. That is absolutely unprofessional and Gomez, while he has some of the most powerful hands in the business, is not going to allow himself the opportunity to display his skills to the world because he is going to keep holding himself back. I know fighters don't usually get paid unless they fight, but I'm very glad that Golden Boy is not going to try and take back the advance they gave to Humberto Soto, who prepared like a fighter should prepare. Soto was professional.
What is the deal with all these fighters coming in overweight? If they cannot make the weight, they shouldn't even try. I would rather see the best fighter giving his best rather than watching a weight drained fighter barely making it to the ring because he is so weak.
The PBC finally lived up to its billing of airing the best fights! In case you missed Saturday afternoon's doubleheader on CBS, the PBC aired two world-class fights with tons of action! In the main event, Omar Figueroa, though he was another fighter to come in overweight, fought tooth and nail with Ricky Burns to earn a unanimous decision over the former two-division champion. Although the scores were wide, and the referee deducting two points for holding was a bit over the top (but what else do you expect with Laurence Cole as the referee), I wouldn't mind seeing these two fighters slug it out again. In the televised opener, super bantamweight titlist Jamie McDonell, despite suffering a knockdown in the 3rd round, was awarded a unanimous decision over Tomoki Kameda, all scores reading 114-113. Both fighters could make the case they won the fight, so my suggestion is let's do it again! I recommend we put this double-header rematch on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather's farewell fight in September?
Speaking of Mayweather's retirement, he seemed very noncommittal in his interview with Jim Gray. I thought Mayweather was 100% when he said he was finished after September, but I guess money will always do the talking in "Money" Mayweather's case.
Congratulations to Fedor Chudinov on his super middleweight title win. I really thought Chudinov was going to get jobbed in Germany against Felix Sturm, especially considering German fighters usually get the benefit of the doubt in their home country. And even though the fight really was never in doubt, one judge, Juan Manuel Garcia Reyes of Spain, scored the bout 116-112 in favor of Sturm. Yet another ridiculous scorecard by an inept judge. I'm just glad it didn't take away from Chudinov's big night.
Glen Tapia may be given his pink slip by Top Rank pretty soon. If you cannot deliver a strong chin for Bob Arum, and cannot win in exciting fashion, Arum usually doesn't have a lot of use for you. Michael Soro was not a pushover for Tapia, but Tapia was supposed to come back strong and win the fight easily. Soro had other plans, and Tapia now needs to figure out what to do next because that knockout was nasty.
How could the promoters of the fight card in Monterrey, Mexico not have a cover over the ring on Saturday? Just before the main event between Francisco Rodriguez Jr. and Armando Torres, the rain picked up and the fight was postponed. I don't think I have ever seen an outdoor venue, in the last 10 years, not have a cover over the ring for instances just like this.
The real middleweight champion of the world returns this Saturday night. Yes, I said it. The real middleweight champion of the world. Gennady Golovkin makes his return in what should be another knockout win over the likely over-matched,Willie Monroe Jr.
The real flyweight champion of the world makes his HBO debut on Golovkin's undercard. If you want to watch a spectacular fighter on HBO, Saturday night, make sure not to miss the first fight of the night. Undefeated flyweight kingpin, and top-5 pound-for-pounder, Roman Gonzalez (42-0 36KO's) takes on former champion, Edgar Sosa, in an all-action affair. Gonzalez is a can't miss fighter and fans should be happy a major American network bought the rights for his fight.
Jose Benavidez Jr. also makes his return as he takes on the tough customer, Jorge Paez Jr. That bout will headline TruTV's new boxing series, Friday night. That has the chance to be a great fight!
Each week, I feature an email from a fan on Observe and Fight. This week's email comes to us from Rasheed Chappell regarding fan reaction to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao...
"Peace David, I just want to tell you I couldn't WAIT for your pre-fight analysis and post fight review, both were spot on!! I don't think there was any real doubt as to this generations top dog was but its good to finally have definitive proof.
As a fan of boxing and not just certain fighters I love ALL styles of boxing, I truly love a boxer that has variation in his game & knows when to use a certain style to neutralize an opponent. I say that to say I can not believe the fall out & so called outrage in the aftermath of this fight.
To call this fight boring is a slap in the face of what Boxing is at its core, to hit & not get hit. If this were football & a defense was able to go 48 quarters without allowing a field goal or touch down they'd be praised, but in the sport of boxing this man doesn't get his just due.
Floyd reduced "the greatest offensive fighter I've ever seen" (Jim Lampley) into a fighter that connected only 19% of his punches, in my eyes that's brilliance, to take away a strength from an opponent of Pacquio's caliber is amazing and to undress him in a way that maybe only Morales I did is astonishing.
The racist, hate and slander is just unnecessary, the sentiment that Floyd Mayweather is bad for boxing is mind numbing, it seems as if people are under the impression that he was GIVEN something that he didn't earn.
That he didn't defeat everyone that stepped in the ring, the undefeated champions, the experienced veterans, the British brawler, the Mexican Lion, the Golden Boy, the list goes on and on.
I've even read that his retirement will HELP the sport as if he's the reason GGG & Ward haven't fought or that no one wants to fight Rigo or that's there's only one legit US Heavyweight or maybe it's Floyd blocking he Khan vs Brook fight or Lara vs Andrade or maybe it's the TMT that keeps Santa Cruz away from Mares or all the other possible match ups that seems much easier to make now that Golden Boy & Top Rank are on cordial terms.
I just want to thank you for your objective analysis and perspective as a 38 year old boxing fan, I haven't seen all the greats but I know greatness when I see it & Floyd Mayweather is GREAT, Manny Pacquio is GREAT & the post fight excuses are sour grapes but that man marched through weight classes like Hannibal did Rome and it was a sight to behold.
It's time for the next generation of greats, I have my eye on Lomahenko, Mikey Garcia if he EVER gets back in the ring, I LOVE Rigo but I think he age is gonna be an issue because NO ONE wants to fight him, Crawford looks like he can be a real force at 140, I'd pick him over Rios/Garcia/Broner at 147 it appears that Thurman is the boogie man in that division but I saw him get gassed in the Ghost fight, he can box if he doesn't get his man out of there but he gets hit to. I want to see Errol Spence take on a top prospect or a former champ to see if he really has the goods, but I think Boxing will be good and there are a lot of great match ups to be made hopefully Uncle Al (Haymon) grants our wishes haha."
Thank you for the kind words. First of all, before I respond, I'm going to make it very clear that I am in no way a Mayweather apologist. I am a huge fan of his ability in the ring because he truly is a once in a generation fighter, but that does not make me an apologist. That makes me a realist.
In all honesty, healthy or not, the fight was not difficult to predict. Pacquiao is tough, and, even though Marquez knocked him out cold, the stars aligned just right for that picture perfect punch. Pacquiao was off balance and Marquez had all his weight going into that shot. I didn't ever feel Mayweather was going to knock Pacquiao out because 1) Mayweather is not a power puncher. He is an economical puncher, and 2) Mayweather's counter shots are never intended to really knock guys out. Even though Ricky Hatton was knocked out on a check left hook, he was gassed and had practically both feet in the air as he came lunging in. The causal boxing fan, you know the one who only comes around ever 5-10 years for the mega events, is always going to expect a slug-fest, but anyone with half a brain who had ever watched either of these two guys before would have known better. Mayweather has fought the same way for 20 years. Why would he change now? That's what gotten him to 48-0.
The hate for Mayweather stems mostly from his out of the ring persona. Even his domestic violence history, in my estimation, isn't the biggest reason for the hate. Lots of athletes have been accused, and even been found guilty of domestic violence, and are eventually forgiven by fans. In my opinion, Mayweather's flashiness and flaunting of his riches for millions of people to see, and envy, is the reason for the hate. I'm not knocking him. I feel that everyone has the right to act however they would like to act, but there are ramifications for your actions. I don't hate Mayweather at all. I wish I had his money. However, it's his life and he chooses the way he wants to live it. Would I flaunt my money that way? Absolutely not. But I am my own person. Mayweather can do what he wants so long as it is in accordance with the legal system. Even if he does break the law, that does not diminish his ability in the ring. He is still one of the best fighters of all time. So, as for the hate of Mayweather's abilities, it is ridiculous because most of the hate comes from the casual boxing fan who doesn't understand the concept of the sport which is, like you wrote above, "to hit and not get hit."
I don't think Mayweather's retirement is really going to change the sport all that much because he only fought twice a year anyway. The last mega-superstar, global icon, fighter, before Mayweather, was Oscar De La Hoya. Before that it was Mike Tyson. Before that it was Sugar Ray Leonard. And the list goes on. The point is, these are all once in a generation type stars, and there will be another fighter, in the next 10 years or so, maybe less than that, who comes along and takes the world by storm. Maybe it's going to be Gennady Golovkin. Maybe Lomachenko. Maybe Keith Thurman. Maybe Errol Spence Jr. But if it's not one of these guys, it will eventually be somebody else. With all the coverage boxing is getting on so many different television networks, great fights are just around the corner.
That's all I've got for this week. Email any questions or comments to dkassel@fighthype.com and I will answer them throughout the week. Your email may be featured in the next "Observe and Fight." Follow me on Twitter @BoxingObserver, and be sure to "Like" The Boxing Observer on Facebook.
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