Some Random FNF Notes
posted by Large
- Cheryl Tiegs? Dah… what was my primary masturbation fantasy from about 1982 to 1986 doing at a fricking Richard Gutierrez fight? Or was she there to see the Cubans? Or… well, what the hell was she doing there exactly? Matt Damon, Zo, Jake LaMotta… I get it. It’s the Fountanbleu, Rat Pack, whatever. But the Queen of the Swimsuit Issue? And did you notice how Joe Tessitore slipped it in as if it were no big deal? “And there’s Cheryl Tiegs, out enjoying the fights tonight.” Like, yeah, because that sort of thing happens all the time at Friday Night Fights. “Oh, and look over there, it’s Bianca Jagger. And whaddya know, there’s Carol Alt french-kissing Kathy Ireland.”
- The Cubans – I got a better feel for the less-heralded Erislandy Lara last night than I did for the great Guillermo Rigondeaux, primarily because that dude that Rigondeaux fought, Juan Noriega, may be the worst opponent I’ve ever seen served up in a televised fight. The guy was Golden Gloves amateur-class territory, and what’s more, he was visibly terrified in there, which made the whole thing agonizing to watch. I understand they have to get a guy like Rigondeaux a couple of serious tomato cans before he fights even a borderline skilled fighter, but still, something about last night’s debacle made me feel like I was watching an afterschool special. The bell rang, they waded out to the center of the ring, and I took one look at Noriega and thought, “stop the fight!” The poor kid. He did not belong anywhere near that ring. I felt for him.
The Cubans, pt. 2 – Lara, on the other hand, was in there with Edwin Vazquez, who is certainly on the downside of his tomato-can career, and who’s lost six of his last eight, but at least he’s lost them to some real fighters, Zab and Ricardo Torres among them. He generally goes rounds with anyone he faces, so you know he can handle himself even when he’s getting handed a beating. And I thought Lara looked very exciting in handing him one last night. The speed and the torque Lara was getting on his one-two-three was amazing. Vazquez was wide open for the three-to-five punch combo, no doubt, but I’m telling you, I would have been impressed just to see Lara putting punches together like that on the heavy bag. I like that he’s a 54, too. Seems like he could making some interesting fights in that weight class in not too long a time.
- Mr. FNF – Antwone Smith just loves him some Friday Night Fights. Last night was a big win for him, because even though Richard Gutierrez is no A-lister at welterweight, Gutierrez did earn himself a draw on one scorecard against Josh Clottey a few years ago, and he’s proved himself to be a formidable 54 recently as well, even trading bombs with Alfredo Angulo last year and hurting Angulo before what many deemed to be an early stoppage. In other words, Gutierrez is a tough out no matter who he’s in there with, and Antwone Smith completely dominated him last night, and did so while battling a nasty cut over his left eye from a headbutt that bled like a muhfuh. Smith (nicknamed “The Truth” – where have you gone Carl Williams?) was determined and tireless in victory and the account he gave of himself made me a believer that, if not quite ready for the BIG big-time yet at 47 (which, let’s face it, is the biggest big-time in boxing right now), he’s not someone to take lightly against top-flight competition. It’d be nice to see him positioned for a shot at Berto. That would be a serious throwdown, and a great fight to have in Miami.
- F-F-F-Freddie and the Desk – Freddie Roach was terrific behind the desk with Brian Kenny last night. The only person benefiting more from the stratospheric rise of Manny Pacquiao than Pacquiao himself is Freddie. Suddenly the guy seems like the most intelligent boxing mind in the world and the most compelling personality in the sport. And he’s everywhere. Good for him, says we at the Mas. And good for boxing. That white hat/black hat Pacquiao/Mayweather thing is going to be just that much more gigundous for the rematch subplot of Freddie (Obi-Wan) vs. Floyd Sr. (The Emperor). That’s provided, of course, that Floyd Sr. hangs in with Lil Floyd’s camp for that long. It does seem like those two are always one sour trip to the Taco Bell away from permanent estrangement.
May 27th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Large- Freddie was good with Kenny. I just saw it yesterday. I loved the “how would Manny do against Duran at 140″ question. I was ready for the standard “it’s hard to say, they are both great fighters” response. Then our boy Freddie says “Duran wins”….of course he would but I wasn’t expecting such an honest response.
Kenny’s interview with Floyd Jr was even better. Floyd again came off as being mentally weak to me. He insists he’ll fight anyone, so Kenny asks him “why not fight Mosley”. Mayweather then says “Mosley isn’t a big draw”. Kenny couldn’t help himself from laughing in Mayweather’s face. “Marquez is a big draw”?!!….classic stuff. Floyd sounded like a clown in that interview. In case anyone missed it here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwNt7wv_RN8
May 27th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Large – I was talking to the matchmaker for the Cubans, Eric Bottjer, he thinks Lara is one of the top five prospects in the sport. I tend to agree with him. He seems to have the complete package – and he’s exciting.
I hear you on Cheryl Tiegs – the ultimate swimsuit model. Askmen.com listed a top ten supermodels of all-time that left her off the list. I wrote them a scorching e-mail about what idiots they were for putting Carol Alt no. 5 and leaving Cheryl off the list. They also had Alt listed as the first SI swimsuit covergirl – which was completely inaccurate as the first SI swimsuit issue was in 1964. They ended up changing the factual inaccuracy on Alt – but not the order of their list. I have boycotted the site ever since.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:26 am
brad…that certainly isnt the first time he and kenny have gone at it on espn…and the last time i remember…kenny was needling him about fighting zab instead of the “champ” carlos baldomir…kenny was also throwing hattons name in floyds face…and floyd went and dusted all 3 of em…not to mention how much kenny praised cotto for taking out judah and talked about what a great night it was at the garden
it is my belief that some people are helping to wake up what is a sleeping giant
May 28th, 2009 at 4:28 am
I’m not sure what Floyd is Ricky but I’m quite certain it’s not a “sleeping giant”. Giants don’t avoid all the big name talented fighters in thier weight class(Cotto,Margarito,Mosley,Williams) to fight a guy two classes below his….what I took out of the interview is the fact that Floyd is so much like his dad. Sr. told everyone who would listen how he was “the greatest” trainer in the world, then went out and acted like the worst (being continually late for workouts, stealing the spotlight from his fighter, getting in a verbal spat with his fighter hours before the big fight, etc). Well Floyd Jr.is doing the same thing. He’s telling everyone how great he is but he continues to do nothing great. In the past 4 years he’s done what?….had a hard time figuring out Judah, 12 with Baldomir, Splits with old, slow ass De La Hoya, and goes 10 with Hatton?…..not the stuff of giants!!!!! More importantly he’s avoided the good, tough fighters in his weight class that people want to see him fight. As his Uncle Roger has said “people love bullshit”. Floyd Sr and Jr serve it up all day, everyday and twice on Wednesdays.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
brad…what are u going to say when floyd wipes the floor with JMM? the same thing everyone is saying going into this fight? that floyd is too big for JMM? the fact of the matter is…kenny tried to get under his skin and threw out two names of guys he should have been fighting instead of judah…and floyd went out and all 3 of the names(oscar at 154…you really expect floyd to knock out the brickheaded baldomir with his brittle hands when a big fight was on deck?…and zab…whom he probably coulda knocked out had he chose to let em go late)…yet kenny was praising what a great night at the garden it was and what a great win it was for cotto….you know the guy floyd is ducking!
pretty funny that a guy like shane wasnt all that interested in floyd 3 years ago..after shane beat vargas the 2nd time they asked him about floyd after the fight…he said he needed to see a dentist and that he had vacations planned and that maybe it could happen “next year”….but now that shane has even more momentum and is probably near the end…and is in the middle of a divorce which is going to drain his bank account…well now hes calling floyd out…why? because hes sitting there without any real options coming off one of the biggest wins in his career….and remember after the margs fight…shane never mentioned floyds name on air….but JMM certainly did after beating juan diaz
how come everybody defends manny when its mentioned that he turned down 6 mil to fight JMM again to fight diaz instead for 3 mil…they say “well he doesnt have anymore business with JMM…he beat him”….or “he wanted to move up to chase bigger fight”…..well im sorry…if you really believe that he doesnt have unfinished with JMM then i dont know what to say to you….its funny…ive heard rumors that manny will demand that shane and cotto come down to a catch of around 142 shall he choose to go in those directions….but yet he was somehow able to look so heroic in taking out hatton at the full 147…i like pac…but we all know its because hes so humble
brad…try not to be blinded by his persona…look through the bs…floyd and the people around him(ie haymon) are alot smarter than you give him credit for….watch the move he makes over the next 2 years….people act like they want him to beat pac, cotto, and shane in one night
May 28th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Ricky, what Floyd is currently doing(or more appropriately “not doing”) would have been like Sugar Ray Leonard(Mayweather) avoiding Duran (Pacquiao), Hearns (Williams), Hagler (Margarito- I know, I’m stretching on this one) and Benitez (Cotto) to fight little men that are out of his weight class, like say Bazooka Edwards. Great fighters go after other great fighters because they know it’s the only way to get even greater. Mayweather has avoiding climbing any higher by fighting the Cotto’s, Margarito’s ,Williams, Mosleys of the world and instead has adopted a “I’ll tell everyone how great I am, rather than demonstrating it” approach to greatness. It’s not working. We’re not buying it. I was excited to hear he’s getting back in boxing but for him to then sign to fight JMM? Before Pacquiao Hatton is even over? And to say Mosley isn’t a big enough “draw”…..it’s hard to “look through the bs” when it comes to Mayweather, he completely covered in it.
May 28th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I’m fully willing to cut Floyd a break on JMM. He hasn’t fought in almost two years. To jump back in with a top welterweight in his first fight back would be pretty stupid. JMM is still a pretty tough fight for such a long layoff. Ricky’s right in that Floyd’s handlers know what they are doing. I see Floyd either fighting Pac or Mosley in his next fight and winning so I don’t see what the beef is. It’s unreasonable to expect him to fight either guy after such a long layoff.
I also agree that Kenny was barking up the wrong tree when he was bitching that Floyd didn’t fight Pac first fight back. JMM and Pac are about as evenly matched as it can get. Both are small guys – the difference is Pac has two impressive wins over bigger guys (that Mayweather already beat). I don’t think Mayweather should be criticized for taking this fight.
Having said all that, I think that Mayweather-Pacquiao is a great fight that I hope gets made. I love Cotto and I know that Arum would prefer that fight for Manny – but I’d much rather see Money May-Pac.
May 28th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Kurt I’m not sure I’m following you. You said that “JMM and Pac are about as evenly matched as it can get”…but then you also said “it’s unreasonable to expect him(Mayweather) to fight (Pac) after such a long layoff”. If Pac and JMM are even, which so many people here think they are, why not fight the guy who won? Why fight the guy who isn’t a “big draw”? If they are truely even…why fight JMM?
May 29th, 2009 at 12:25 am
well brad…it could have something to do with bargaining position…he takes out the #2 p4p guy(some diehard boxing fans #1) and former pac foe…and if he does it in the impressive fashion which i expect…well…he has a much better seat at the table with the pac man than he probably would have if he just came back after pac became the newest star
May 29th, 2009 at 5:03 am
I guess what I don’t want to happen is for Floyd to fight JMM, then get a superfight with Pacquiao later this year or early next year then declare himself the “greatest” and quit. Cotto, Mosley, Williams, Margarito….that’s a very good group of fighters. They all have different personalities and fighting styles. They have already gave us some classic fights (Cotto-Mosley, Cotto-Margarito), we have controversy (hands wraps), a villian (Margarito), all that’s missing is the Sugar Ray Leonard type (superstar, household name)……Floyd Mayweather!!!! If we get Mayweather fighting the welterweights we have the Leonard, Duran,Hagler, Hearns era all over again(ok maybe not that good, but still damn good). Plus there is a good supporting cast (Berto,Clottey,etc). I just hope Floyd doesn’t do what I think he’s going to do and avoid these guys.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Brad, I am 100% with you on this one. Mayweather retired for no reason for a year and a half in order to not fight these top welters. Then he comes back to fight a lightweight and then probably another 135/140 pounder. How can you say he is not ducking the true welters? The worst part about it is that he would probably easily beat Cotto and would beat Mosely I think too, but he just doesn’t have the balls to take a chance. And you can never be a legend without taking chances.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:41 am
floyd supposedly gave richard schaefer 4 names….pac, cotto, mosley, and victor ortiz(this one wreaks as a bone being thrown to golden boy)…i dunno brad…i think you can stop saying margarito and williams when it comes to floyd…margs is off the radar…and no one in their right mind should expect floyd to have to get in the ring with williams to prove anything
i hear you brad on your fear that floyd may quit after a victory over pac…at the same token he would probably be at the height of his earning power(oscar is gone…and pac/floyd would do huge numbers)…we all knew he was coming back at some point…and i think it would be damn near impossible for him to walk away if he beat pac…if at that point he were to go in the direction of an ortiz…we would probably be disappointed
ive heard already that the pac camp have floated an october 17th date out there as pacs next date…one would have to think that would pretty much eliminate floyd if this were true…that date would most likely have to be in the early november….and in reality that wouldnt exactly give cotto ample time either especially if his fight with clottey is as tough as some expect….there are a few enticing matchups here…and some factors that could muddle these up….examples being the relationship between top rank and the floyd camp….arums desire to keep pac/cotto money in house and salvage a damaged relationship with cotto by feeding him the payday
youve got to remember that floyd is a fighter and a promoter…and in building a super fight you have to create hype and demand…like i said…if he dominates JMM the way i think he will…he will accomplish the task…
May 29th, 2009 at 9:03 am
briks…ill say it again….floyd wanted to fight shane back in 99…floyd was what 22? shane 27?….well shane was the name then…but he didnt want the fight(floyd/shane at 130/135 would probably top my list of “what if” dream fights…especially involving still active guys)…i remember shane talking about how he had a toothache and some vacation plans when floyd wanted him a couple years back….now i cant remember 100%…so correct me if im wrong…but did shane mention floyds name after the margarito win? i dont recall…but i could be wrong(and if im right…its not like shane didnt know floyd was coming back)
so many people have an axe to grind with floyd about the size of his next opponent…and the size of his next potential one….i seem to remember a certain 1st ballot hall of famer…who has a nice resume of wins over guys that came up in weight to meet him….and while some hardcore fans will point it out…most seem to give bhop all his props in dispatching tito, oscar, and even pavlik who all came up a couple classes
i just find it funny how a few years ago kenny needled floyd on during an fnf interview…telling him how the judah fight was kinda garbage…yet he threw out the names of hatton…and the real champ baldomir…and kenny kept saying this “why not fight the real champ carlos baldomir”…lol…then when floyd fights them and beats them handily…its well “baldomir isnt an A level fighter”…or this or that…you should have seen the way kenny gushed when showing the highlights of cotto/judah on fnf the week after….
briks…you say floyd retired for a year and a half for no reason…maybe he did…maybe there was injury there(possibly the hand which we know floyd has had some trouble with…maybe a shoulder)….regardless…during that time…he used it wisely to introduce himself to the american public…jumped on one of the biggest shows in america…and even introduced himself to the budweiser drinking nascar watching crowd of the wwe
May 29th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Hey, I am not going to say that Floyd using a year and a half to market himself didn’t help his pockets, and I’m not blaming him for that. But you have to understand that is what is ultimately going to be his legacy. He will be known as the guy with all the skill in the world who chose easy money over legendary status. And I’m not necessarily saying thats the wrong choice, its just not the inspiring one.
Regarding Hopkins, he made 20 straight title defenses at middleweight, fighting whoever was there for him, whether legit middleweights or guys coming up. He also went up 2 classes to beat the lineal Light Heavyweight champion of the world. If Mayweather fights and beats Williams, that would be equivalent to me.
Regarding Kenny, he definitely lets his distate of Mayweather have him make some dumb comments, but its entertaining and he does force Mayweather into plenty dumb comments of his own.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:26 am
“no one in their right mind should expect floyd to have to get in the ring with williams to prove anything”….well I do. Roberto Duran got in the ring, and got his ass kicked, with Tommy Hearns. At the time Hearns was in his prime and Duran well beyond his. Duran had been fighting professionally for 17 years at the time of the Hearns fight and was giving up 12″ of reach and 6″ in height…why did he do it? Because great fighters, truely great fighters, are innately brave and noble. To avoid fighters that present a danger to you is an egregious offense against the great fighters of the past. They’re not businessmen or promoters…they are fighters. The great ones want (demand) to fight the best. The most challenging. Duran stepped up to fight Hagler at middleweight when Hagler was in the prime of his career(not like Leonard who waited for Hagler’s decline), then he fought Hearns!!!! True fans will always love him for this even though he lost. Mayweather is the antithesis of Duran.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Anyways Ricky..I’m starting to sound like an asshole. You like Floyd, nothing wrong about that. It might be best if I let this one die. How do see the Cotto-Clottey fight going? Sounds like they may sell out the Garden, should be another great night of boxing. I’m still a bit unsure on Cotto until I see him get hit good, which he certainly will June 13. You betting this one?
May 30th, 2009 at 10:05 am
brad…you arent sounding like an asshole…you are defending your stance…and thats fine…it happens to be the oppsosite of mine
apparently theyve sold 12k already at msg…so they are expecting a sellout…was planning on going…but other people fell through…kinda sucks…but yeah…the garden…eve of the parade…that place will be rockin…will also be a free hbo weekend preview…so this one will be available to everyone….and they say boxing is dead?? i know clottey is around +260….i havent decided which way ill be going…but id guess with arum and the msg crowd…clottey might have to knock cotto out or just beat him downright convincingly to win…
as if we needed another monkey wrench in the plans…shane is now coming out and saying hes willing to meet pac at catch weight…geez…and if pac is adamant about this october 17th as his date then this seems like a real possibility
June 1st, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Ricky – I’m definitely going to the Cotto-Clottey fight. You should make the trip – it should be a good one.
I agree that Pacquiao-Mosley could definitely throw a wrench into Pac-Money May. Back in the day, Pac’s old manager told me that Shane’s style is the one that Pac has the most problems with.
Brad – you’re right that my reasoning is a little convoluted but I think Money May didn’t want to come back and fight the biggest fight out there right out of the gate. I say that knowing that his people were actually considering my man Salita as an initial opponent.
The fact that he is taking JMM makes sense for a lot of reasons. He’s small, he and Pac are about even in two fights and JMM isn’t a lefty, nor does he hit as hard as Pac. This way he can say he’s fighting the no. 1 guy without having to fight the no. 1 guy – and it’s still an interesting fight. So he shakes off some rust and is ready for a big, risky fight the next time around. I think people should give him leeway on his first fight back after a long layoff. JMM is no picnic – so I’m giving Money May the benefit of the doubt.
April 18th, 2011 at 8:54 am
Good job, welcome more arctiles.