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MAGNO'S BULGING MAIL SACK: CANELO-CRAWFORD, GARCIA-HANEY 2, BOXING FORGETS ITS OWN

By Paul Magno | January 16, 2025
MAGNO'S BULGING MAIL SACK: CANELO-CRAWFORD, GARCIA-HANEY 2, BOXING FORGETS ITS OWN

Hello boxing fans and dedicated haters. Here’s another week’s worth of my bulbous sack, bulging with gooey, salty truth, in your face. Enjoy. This week, we have comments/questions regarding Canelo-Crawford, Garcia-Haney 2, and the plight of ex-boxers.

Garcia-Haney 2

Hey Magno.

It looks like Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia are actually going to do this again. With drug testing mandatory and all things being equal, what do you think happens in the rematch? Revenge or confirmation?

– Greg

Hey Greg.

Honestly, I don’t have the least bit of interest in seeing a part 2. Both guys disappointed me immensely last year and I really, really couldn’t give a fuck about either of them at this point.

But, to answer your question...What happens if they fight again, with actual drug testing that matters?

Well, I’m in the group that believes PEDs had absolutely nothing to do with the outcome of their last fight. So, for me, drug testing is a moot point. Haney, a weight bully, met a bigger weight bully in Garcia and his team’s arrogance allowed Garcia to even further bully by coming in over the limit. Also, I just think that Haney was generally ill-prepared to handle the one weapon he had to worry about when it came to Garcia-- the left hook. 

I won’t say that I predicted Haney losing, but, prior to the fight and all through the lead-in, I did talk about the very real possibility of an upset. So, when he fought the way he did, I wasn’t all that surprised.

Haney’s performance may be the worst from a supposed in-his-prime elite-level fighter I’ve ever seen and it’s hard to fluff that off as just a bad night. He really looked clueless against a guy who, by the way, was also looking clueless. 

Having said all of that, as bad as Haney looked, that fight was actually close. The knockdowns eventually won Garcia the fight, but even an unprepared half-buzzed Haney was able to win rounds. So, who knows? If Haney can stay on his feet, he might win. And then we’d be stuck with a part 3.

Boxing Forgets Its Own

Hey Paul,

Since there isn't much to talk about with actual boxing events, besides Benavidez and Morrell,  I want to touch on a not so fortunate topic. I read an article about the sad state of affairs of Donald Curry. He is one of many who left the sport either broke, mentally impaired or incarcerated. I know that these things are not unique to boxing, but it is sad non the less. I only mention him because he, along with Michael Nunn were two of my favorites. Michael didn't fare so well either. 

Me personally, I have no problem with athletes getting paid as much as they can while they can. Because in the end, after their careers are over and the owners, promoters and managers have no more use for them, the reality set in. 

Donald Curry is just another example of that. His son who made the plea for help sounds sincere. However there are so many instances where retired boxers need assistance in some form or another.

It is a shame that the sanctioning bodies, commission and promoters won't get together to put something in place for instances like this. I know that it has been talked about, but will probably never happen. For every success story like Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, and Lennox Lewis, there are tragedies like Donald Curry, Meldrick Taylor and Edwin Valero,

So Sad!

Regards.

– Reggie Cannon

Hey Reggie.

It’s a tragedy how poorly this cruelest of all sports takes care of its own. Forgetting the heroes of yesterday is not unique to boxing, but boxing, as a sport where fans and media are buried up their own asses sniffing non-stop nostalgia, is the worst at forgetting. Again, it’s a total tragedy. “Iceman” John Scully does a great job of organizing efforts to help ex-boxers, but there needs to be more of what he does. As you said, those making the most money off of fighters giving their bodies to the sport need to step up. 

That’s why I also fully support fighters getting every last possible cent for their efforts. These guys need to take care of themselves if no one else will.

Early Thoughts On Canelo-Crawford

Canelo vs. Crawford on tap in May? Who you got and how?

– Luis from San Antonio

Hey Luis.

I’ll share these early thoughts (that I’ve been having since the idea of Canelo-Crawford) first budged into boxing’s collective conscious.

Crawford wins by decision. 

I know “weight classes exist for a reason,” but, to use another cliché, “styles make fights.” I think Bud channels Floyd Mayweather and boxes his way to a not-exciting points victory. 

The whole pairing has become a cynical affair as both Canelo and Crawford have skipped over deserving challengers at their own weight to get to this “big” fight with one another. If this fight actually does happen, both deserve to lose and, as much as I like both fighters, I’ll be pleased with either one being humbled.

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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