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MAGNO'S BULGING MAIL SACK: LOMACHENKO-LINARES, KEEPING IT REAL, AND MORE

By Paul Magno | March 15, 2018
MAGNO'S BULGING MAIL SACK: LOMACHENKO-LINARES, KEEPING IT REAL, AND MORE

On Thursdays the boxing world gathers around to poke and prod my sack, looking for the gooey awesomeness within. Here’s the best of the best for you this week:

Keepin’ It (too) Real

Paul,

I was surprised on the comments you were getting after giving your opinion on Wilder and Canelo last week.

It's funny because when the media tried to use the Mayweather IV scandal to diminish his Pacquiao victory you came out and said the truth (similar to this Canelo story) and these same fans praised you. You've made similar comments in the past about GGG that you made about Wilder last week and these same fans thanked you for spitting the truth (which you were).

I wonder if Canelo was black and Wilder was white these same fans would still call you "fan boy" and other silly comments.

-- Aldo Sandoval

Hi Aldo. 

That’s just how this works. People love your honesty and “straight shooting”—until you touch on one of their sacred cows. I can’t tell you how many “#1 Fans” I’ve had over the years who later became raving, obsessed, cyber-stalking #1 Enemies. For some reason, fans take it extra hard when you’re consistent with your logic and that kinda, sorta proves that they have a few double standards, themselves. 

But all of this is fine. Fans can be fans however they like and they’re allowed to be pissed for whatever reason they want. I’m just doing me and trying to be fair and even-handed as much as humanly possible. 

As for the race stuff, man, I’m such a mixed racial mutt that I’m race-neutral, just out of necessity. I do see where there are racial issues plaguing the sport (and society in general) and I have no issue with addressing them. And, on the flip side, I have no issue saying when I feel that race is NOT an issue. I think, in this country, a lot of people are conditioned to be ultra-defensive, on all sides, whenever race is brought up. That’s where our problems begin and end. Unless we can have a calm, reasonable discussion of racial issues, we’ll never get them resolved. But that’s above and beyond the scope of a boxing article. 

I don’t worry about comments people make. None of it’s going to change who I am or what I do and I’ll keep being me until the day the bossman decides to can me. Then, I’ll just be me on another site.

Lomachenko vs. Linares

Magno.

Now that Lomachenko vs. Linares looks to be a done deal, how do you see it playing out? Personally, I got Lomachenko because I think the dude is something special and Linares is alright, but not at that next level like Loma is. Linares isn’t going to quit like other Loma opponents, but he gets stopped IMO. 

And then do you think we’ll see Lomachenko-Garcia? Because, man, that’s the one I really want to see. I just hope business garbage doesn’t ruin it.

Keep up the good work Magno.

-- Johnny D

Hey Johnny. 

I agree with you that Lomachenko may be too much for Linares. I touched on this before in another article, but there’s something about Linares that just keeps him from living up to his full potential. The guy is clearly talented and he’s just an all-around beautifully skilled fighter, but he’s got this hitch in his mindset that sort of keeps him doing just enough to win, nothing more. He’s been in the ring with some clearly inferior opponents, and he’s right there with them, doing just enough to win, but not separating himself from his opponent. This has come back to bite him on the ass a few times in his career and, most recently, it nearly cost him his bout with Luke Campbell. We get glimpses of the awesomeness Linares is capable of, but he mostly just keeps pace with opposition, maybe confident or complacent in the fact that he’s got that extra gear and can do just enough to come out on top. 

Against Lomachenko, though, Linares will have to be at 100% for every second of the fight and, honestly, I don’t think it’s in him. I see Lomachenko beating Linares via fairly comfortable decision, maybe in the 116-112, 117-111 range. It’ll be competitive at first, but Lomachenko will be in firm control by the end of the fight.

As for Lomachenko-Garcia, don’t hold your breath. I don’t see either side racing towards the other with contract in hand. Both fighters are doing quite well for themselves right now and I don’t see either team rushing to risk it all by signing on for this fight. Maybe if the money gets huge they will entertain the idea, but right now, with both fighters having plenty of options and no scarcity in earning potential, Loma-Mikey isn’t likely to happen.

How Fans Can Fix Boxing

Paul reminds me of the young prospect with a chip on his shoulder, always ready and willing to upturn the apple cart. That being said you're always going on about how what's wrong with the sport, what slides by on the down low and up high, how the establishment keeps being in control, and how money supersedes the rule and law so I gotta ask: what can we as fans do to help repair the integrity of the sport? Look at me: I'm just a Joe Schmo who will pay for the occasional PPV and unless I want to give my computer a virus through various 3rd party streaming sites, they got my balls in a vice grip. I'm not the only one in this predicament; I'm willing to bet there are thousands of other people just like me thinking this. As paying customers what can we do to rebuild the integrity in boxing AND get rid of the phonies and company shills? 

-- Daniel Morey

This may come across as overly simplistic, but it all boils down to you, the fan, not buying into the bullshit. 

I’m talking about not buying into the PPV/Premium Cable business model; not buying into the bullshit propaganda that passes for boxing journalism; not buying into the us vs. them divide peddled by boxing media who are deep in the pockets of promoters; not buying into public relations passed off as news; not buying into a regulatory system that encourages corruption and convenient incompetence. 

You vote with your dollars and you make it known via social media, email, website comment section WHY you’re doing what you’re doing.

Listen, I know it’s not fair to expect boxing fans to be activists. You just want to be fans and enjoy the sport. I get it. But in a sport with no central authority and no real media, if the fans don’t step up and call BS on the bullshit, nobody will. 

The sad truth is that fans get scammed these days because they respond to the scams and hustles. The hustle works. The next time some major fight gets dangled out in front of you, but kept out of reach so it can “marinate,” try not falling for the scam. Don’t click on those articles hyping the promoter talking points. Don’t help create buzz while they play you. Don’t let them tell you that so and so is to blame, so their guy has no choice but to take these easy fights while he waits on the big one. Don’t let them make you take any sides, except for the side of making the fights you want. Just be a smart consumer. 

Again, it’s not fair to dump this in the laps of the fans. But there’s literally nobody else out there who can push for positive changes in the sport. And, who knows, maybe when the fans become more discerning, a market will develop for REAL boxing journalism and business practices that don’t resemble a Three-card Monte hustle.

Got a question (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The best of the best gets included in the weekly mailbag segment right here at FightHype. Send your stuff here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.

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