Timothy Bradley: Got to Give it Up

       

What a difference a win makes. Following his early Christmas gift last June 2012 via blind judges versus Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley was boxing's pariah. Two solid victories later and his name is being tossed around to fill Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s contract obligations; and rightfully so. Bradley is the real thing, occasionally reckless, but when he wants to be, thus far he has been unstoppable. Unfortunately, Bradley has aligned himself with Mayweather nemesis, Bob Arum, thus, a showdown with Mayweather, Jr., though deserved is likely to never come to fruition, as the Hall of Fame promoter has become fond of protecting his fighters from Mayweather. Time will tell if Tim Bradley is as bull stubborn as he likes to portray himself and awaken to the reality that unless he dumps Arum, he'll never get near his Moneyness and his own stated mission to be recognized as the world's #1 boxer will be deferred. However, Floyd or no Floyd, Timothy Bradley has options and they're plentiful and competitive.

         Tonight after a clear and decisive victory over the great Juan Manuel Marquez, even amongst the jeers of the pro Marquez crowd, Tim Bradley has got to be given his just due. Then again, that kind of thing might do more harm than good, as it seems the Desert Storm draws his formidable drive from the naysayers, doubters, haters. As of this evening, Timothy Bradley is, in my humble opinion among the top Pound for Pound boxers on the planet.

© 2013

A Day At The Romanza

Recently I journeyed to the legendary Romanza Gym in Mexico City. A modest facility, equipped with the bare basics for building some of Mexico's finest pugilists. Heavy bags, speed bags, and a ring, with coaches like the passionate, yet gentile Oscar Ortiz aka Tin Tan shouting instructions, conducting mitt work, keeping time for a sparring session and even finding a moment to offer guests his philosophy regarding the Sweet Science. An obvious dynamo of multi tasking, Ortiz believes deeply in the life lessons of boxing. "We're not bums...this sport is not about two guys trying to kill each other." The truth of that is felt and seen immediately upon entering this quaint pugilistic haven. The decorum of the great Romanza Gym is its spirit. Knowing that you are in the very place where champions like Ricardo Lopez and Juan Manuel Marquez, among others, were molded under the masterful tutelage of Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain gives one a holy reverence for the ground for which you stand. For it is in the most humble and modest of places where greatness is conceived, born, honed and at the proper time, exalted.

The great error of the present age, bemoaned by many, is the seemingly approved dismissal or shunning of the process of excellence. No one has to be tested or proven. Anyone, as is supposedly evidenced by the milieu of reality television shows, is entitled to the spoils of success once reserved for those who paid the steep bounty via their blood, sweat, and tears. Sacrifice is an oddity, even an offense. There as I stood on the hallow ground of the Romanza Gym, it was clear, enveloped in a merciless cauldron of thrust, grunts, and corse, yet, sage exhortations demanding perfection from every single participant, be they novice or champion, that the shallow ideal of the age had yet to reach the legendary gym and its occupants.

My compadres and I were hoping to get a glimpse of the great Juan Manuel Marquez, training for his upcoming clash with the formidable Timothy Bradley. The Romanza Gym is where the Mexican great was reared and where he continues to train, despite his Hall of Fame credentials, yet, another testament to the significance of this pugilistic sanctuary. Unfortunately, seeing the great Marquez never materialized. However, I'd like to think this may have very well been a good thing. A star of such massive appeal, in that setting, would have likely caused one to miss out on the budding stars and otherwise captivating nuggets that orbit such a place. "Star" struck, I would have likely missed an encounter with an up and coming talent from the States who has made Romanza his new home, as he prepares to re emerge with a vengeance upon the ranks, despite, according to him, having once made The Mayweather Boxing Club his mainstay. We would have missed the Femme Fatales sweating it out with as much grit and grace as the hombres. Most regrettable would have been us missing out on a young charge who not only packs a wallop, but one of the most beautiful voices I've ever encountered. It was a sudden beckoning which stopped everyone cold - fighters, coaches and guest a like. It was the voice of Cainn Cruz. I suggest you look him up via YouTube. He's going to be a star. There it was two of my favorite past times, music and the Sweet Science, embodied in this one beautiful child. A bold endeavor indeed. For any serious musician or pugilist will concede that their respective crafts are very jealous.

I wish the young Mr. Cruz much success in his pursuits, but more importantly, I thank him and his fellow fighters at the Romanza Gym for reminding me the that despite the climate of the present culture, the proper pursuit of excellence is always en vogue.

© 2013

Adrien "The Problem" Broner: Do You Want the Keys to the Throne?

"DanielSan never fought Mr. Miyagi." Those were the disparaging words of none other than Floyd "Money" Mayweather after imploring the media not to encourage an encounter with boxing's latest phenomenon, Adrien "The Problem" Broner. This Saturday, June 22nd Broner steps up two weight classes to face the verbally infectious Paulie Malignaggi for the WBA Welterweight title; and by this time tomorrow barring the coming of the Lord, I largely suspect Broner will be the newly crowned WBA Welterweight Champion.

Interesting, "Mr. Miyagi" resides at 147lbs. and has five bouts to fulfill his obese contract with Showtime, after which his Moneyness has declared will conclude his stellar career. The question I have and I am sure fight fans will especially be buzzing about this time tomorrow, assuming Paulie Malignaggi doesn't suddenly discover how to fight with both hands, is "Does Broner want the keys to the throne? Or Will 'DanielSan' obey Sensei Miyagi and merely wait his turn as Massa Mayweather takes his rather expensive victory lap? I am not a member of the press nor of the infamous Money Team, thus, "Mr. Miyagi's" pleas do not pertain to me. By trade I am a rabble rouser. My profession requires that I be a catalyst for the impossible, the daring, even the absurd. In that respect I am merely doing my job.

Rarely has boxing been gifted this kind of potential crossroads moment, where the universally recognized kingpin of the sport, still equipped with his faculties and abilities, is on a collision course with a young, primed upstart, who many say is a younger version of himself. Joe Louis was long past his prime when he was eviscerated by Rocky Marciano's right hand. By the time Muhammed Ali squared off against Larry Holmes he wasn't even a shell of himself. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is still fresh and dangerous. A showdown with the young and viciously skilled Adrien Broner would be exceedingly beneficial for combatants, fans, and the sport. Everything from the promotion to the actual showdown itself will not merely resurrect the sport, but cause it to ascend to heavenly heights putting it center stage in the sports universe and Pop culture at large, particularly Hip Hop culture. I will dare say that its significance could easily match that of Muhammed Ali and the late great Joe Frazier's first encounter. The question however is simple, does Adrien Broner want the keys to the throne? No one doubts Broner is destined for a Hall of Fame career, barring some unforeseen misfortune inside the ropes or uncheck self destructive habits outside the squared circle. The question is how does Broner wish to ascend that throne? Does he snatch the keys or do as he's been told...wait? "The Problem's" answer will determine future events within the sport, assuming Mayweather does away with four of his next five foes, saving the best for last, Adrien Broner.

The assumed obstacle to all this is the fact that both Mayweather and Broner are managed by the brilliant Al Haymon. But, as the Holy Bible declares, "...money answers all things." Boxing and much of life in America has a way of adjusting for big numbers and a Mayweather vs. Broner scrap will without question generate some seriously huge numbers. It doesn't matter that the mainstream fan may not have a clue who Broner is. Once upon a time they hadn't a clue who Floyd Mayweather was either. However, television is magic and has a way of converting the obscure into the omnipresent. Broner, like Mayweather is blessed with the kind of personality that will indeed cause you to love him or hate him, either way you're going to watch him. The verbal sparring that such an event would encourage is  Reality TV gold, needless to say, it would be Al Haymon's managerial coronation. What better way for Mayweather to punctuate an already glorious career then to do away with his assumed heir? What better way for Broner to ascend boxing's Pound for Pound throne and usher in his own reign then giving the smack down to an all time great of Mayweather's caliber? It takes two to tangle, but it takes one to instigate. Yo, Adrien, do you want the keys to the throne?!

© 2013

*Ecclesiastes 10:19

When So Called "Experts" Attack: A Rebuttal to Martin Rogers "The Gamble Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Needs to Take."

In one of the most ridiculous articles yet penned, one Martin Rogers who has spent the majority of his career crafting articles about soccer for the London Daily Mirror, attempts to make an argument for why Floyd Mayweather should fight at what he calls the "Super Welterweight limit of 168lbs," vs. Andre Ward, who the last I checked was the Super Middleweight Champion of the World at 168lbs. In Mr. Rogers defense, Andre Ward is open to the idea of squaring off with his Moneyness. Even suggesting that he would drop down to at least 160lbs. for the match up. Which is like saying I'd crawl on my tongue for a winning lottery ticket. Of course, Andre Ward would take the fight. Vladimir Klitschko would take the fight and would gladly drop one hundred pounds to receive the biggest payday of his life. It's called pri$e fighting!!! But wait, there's more. In a failed attempt to even make a coherent case as to why this fight even matters to Floyd Mayweather, Rogers stumbles along displaying why he should simply stick to writing about the world's most popular sport, as oppose to showcasing his obvious lack of knowledge regarding the Sweet Science. In a stunning statement, he actually dares to suggest that Mayweather's September 14 encounter with Mexican superstar Saul Alvarez will have no "legitimate" bearing on Floyd's legacy or the state of boxing: "...If boxing's pound for pound king wants to give his legacy a long-lasting boost and provide the fight game and its loyal fans with a desperately needed injection of excitement, there is only one legitimate option - and it's not Canelo Alvarez." Evidently a showdown with one of the most talented and dangerous champions in the sport, who happens to be in his prime, with an entire nation as his fan base, who's even given ESPN's Steven A. Smith, one of Floyd Mayweather's most ardent cheerleaders pause, can in no way inject excitement into the boxing world, Mayweather's legacy and fight fans at large. Maybe it would help Rogers to know that Saul "Canelo" Alvarez actually does fight at the Super Welterweight limit of 154lbs. also known as the Jr. Middleweight limit.

Perhaps this rebuttal ought not be directed toward Martin Rogers, but rather the folks at Yahoo! Sports who thought it a great idea for Rogers' article to be seen by the public. At best the article sounds like a very desperate ploy made by a buddy of Andre Ward hoping to drum up interest in the accomplished, yet, widely unknown champion. The failure of Andre Ward to be a credible draw despite his stellar resume and elite skills lies at the feet of his Promoter Dan Goossen and Manager James Prince, formerly Floyd Mayweather's manager. At worst the article is a slight against the sport of boxing, fight fans, and actual boxing writers everywhere, that a writer who doesn't even bother to know his weight classes can have his opinion published by the likes of Yahoo! Sports. 

© 2013

Mayweather vs. Alvarez: Watch The Throne

Like a Christmas gift three months too soon fight fans have been granted an event we can all be excited about. This September 14 when Floyd Mayweather encounters Saul Alvarez this will be far more than a fight, rather a happening.The narratives for this impending showdown speak for themselves: Age versus youth. The new face of Mexican pugilism versus the very embodiment of American swagger. Will the mantle of Ring King remain in the clutches of Floyd Mayweather, who is without question the most celebrated boxer of the day? Or will the youthful, yet poised Saul Alvarez, gifted with hands of stone and matinee idol looks, needless to say an entire nation at his back snatch the keys to the throne? This is the story.

On paper Mayweather, at 36 is taking a fantastic risk. In my earlier post I have been critical regarding the hype around Saul Alvarez, noting that the early sensation around him was more about his complexion as oppose to his skill level. That being said and true, Alvarez has since proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with. I concede, he is not merely a hype job. The White Boy from South of the border can seriously thump. He exudes and displays the maturity of a seasoned and well schooled fighter, not given to passions for the sake of accommodating our blood lust. He wins, by any means and against good and solid competition. Sometimes pretty, sometimes ugly, either way he takes it as it comes which is a sign of a serious student of the Sweet Science. For Floyd Mayweather, Alvarez is a real threat...on paper. The bigger, supposedly stronger, young Alvarez in spite of his great talent and grit is your classic orthodox fighter, i.e. stylistically he is made to order for Mayweather. 

Hold your horses! In no way am I dismissing Alvarez. His size, his power, and his poise beyond his soon to be twenty three years should make for a very interesting evening for the older Mayweather. However, even boxing despite its much heralded unpredictability is subject to some very basic and time tested realities, the most revered among them being, styles make fights. This ought not be taken as preemptive ammunition for the MayHaters for whom nothing Mayweather does or attempts to do, save lose, will ever satisfy their ire. A Mayweather victory will have nothing to do with youthful inexperience or Alvarez being drained after having agreed to a catch weight of 152lbs. None of this will be a factor in any way shape or form. Saul is worth any worries that might arise in the Mayweather camp and among his supporters. Yet, as I see it, the night will belong to Mayweather. Floyd is just that guy, that special breed of fighter who is not merely a pugilist, but a complete scientist. He knows himself and within 1 to 2 rounds I suspect he will know Saul "Canelo" Alvarez as well; and the young charge like forty four before him will experience the daunting shock of squaring off with a full fledged legend. 

With that understanding make no mistake this fight is still a terrific risk for Mayweather who is more accustomed to gracing us with his presence on an annual basis, as oppose to this terribly ambition endeavor of six fights in thirty months (five remaining on his contract). As I see it, the gain for Mayweather in this match up, assuming he is victorious, is that he will have defeated a great fighter in the throes of his prime. A victory over this young titan silences the critics and MayHaters who claim he hand picks his fighters. Then again, these are the same people who concoct any and every excuse possible following a Mayweather win. A victory over Alvarez will have to be acknowledged as one of, if not his most significant victory. Obviously a win for Canelo will become a coronation ushering in a new and dynamic era in boxing accompanied by a popularity that will easily match that of Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Ray Leonard. And make no mistake an Alvarez victory is highly conceivable. Just imagine if the young superstar is able to connect to Mayweather's chin or body as did Shane Mosley. It is more than likely Alvarez will have the stuff to finish Mayweather off.

This is a crossroads encounter not merely for the combatants, but, boxing at large. Will the reigning King of the Squared circle, Floyd Mayweather retain his rule or will the new fresh faced warrior, Saul Alvarez topple him and institute his own reign? The narrative is one of epic proportions and should have us all on the edge of our seats. Watch the throne.

© 2013