411 Boxing Fact or Fiction 11.10.09: Angulo, Tyson, Pacquiao vs. Cotto PPV, More

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 11.10.2009

Will the Pacquiao-Cotto fight do bigger PPV numbers than Mayweather-Marquez? Will Alfredo Angulo be a world champion in 2010? Is Vitali Klitschko more exciting to watch than Wladimir? 411's Joe Roche and Igor Frank debate these topics and more in this week's edition of 411 Boxing Fact or Fiction!



Happy fight week everyone; as we prepare for all of our Pacquiao-Cotto coverage, we break it up just slightly with this week's Fact or Fiction. There's still some Pac/Cotto related stuff as you'll see from the first question but we mostly tackle some non-related items before going full on with our coverage. That being said, Joe Roche and Igor Frank join us this week so let's get it on!

Round 1: The Pacquiao-Cotto fight will do bigger PPV buys than Mayweather-Marquez.

Igor Frank: FACT - By all rights this is the biggest fight of this year and it should break all the pay per view records for this year. Pacquiao is a pound for pound king whose popularity has been growing leaps and bounds will take on a very exciting and popular welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in a can't miss fight. I was very surprised when Mayweather – Marquez hit a million pay per views. I will be shocked if Cotto – Pacquiao will not do better than that.

Joe Roche: FICTION - Say what you want about Floyd Mayweather Jr. but the guy has appeal across all party lines so to speak. He draws heavily from the boxing fraternity but he also crosses over into mainstream appeal which garners a lot of attention from the segment of the population (lets say 80%) that don't live and die by pound for pound rankings, or legendary championship chases. To boxing fans this fight is much bigger - but to the casual (and largest segment of the PPV buying community) Pacquiao-Cotto is a non starter, at least in this country. The fight will do good numbers because Manny is known from his fights with Oscar and Hatton, but I'd be stunned if it got to 1 million buys. Neither of the guys in this fight are big stars in the US and whether or not we think that's fair - it's the truth.

Score: 0 for 1

Round 2: Alfonso Gomez vs. Jesus Soto-Karass which takes place on the Pacquiao-Cotto undercard, will be one of the best fights of the weekend.

Igor Frank: FICTION - This fight is a mismatch. Alfonso Gomez is a very popular fighter with a lot of heart, but he is not in the same league with Jesus Soto- Karass. I just hope that heart of Gomez will not hurt him and make him absorb too much punishment in this fight.

Joe Roche: FACT - I might be wrong - and I'm sure there might be something about this on the "3 More Rounds" podcast with Alfonso Gomez but I skip through his interview to hear my own voice -- I am if nothing else a lesson in vanity. I think Karass is more sizzle then steak and until he beats someone of substance I'll continue to believe that. Gomez may not be a stylistic wonder but he's super tough, has hung in and beaten some difficult opposition and he will make this fight a great one. I'm not sure about you Igor but I'm not blown away by most of the other fights lined up for Vegas so this gets a FACT by default.


Score: 0 for 2

Round 3: Chavez Jr. should be featured on more major fight under cards, rather than headlining.

Igor Frank: FICTION - Chavez Jr. is not an elite fighter yet, but he has an exciting style and a solid left hook. Bob Arum has developed Chavez Jr. into quite an attraction south of the Border with the Latin Fury series and should continue to headline him in Mexico to the delight of his fans.

Joe Roche: FACT - Under no circumstance should I be forced to pay for another Chavez Jr. headlined PPV. Look he's the perfect complimentary side dish -- you feel like crap when you pay full price for him as an entree but as something to hold you over until the main course he's unoffensive and fine. He has a great following, but just because you can sell someone for $30 doesn't necessarily mean that you should. Bob Arum always talks about putting on these deep (think King in the 90s) PPV's with great fights up and down the cards, but he waters down his own talent pool by doing these monthly PPV's like he's the WWE. Just think about this -- would you feel better about dropping $60 next weekend on a card that had Chavez Jr., Gamboa, and JuanMa Lopez all fighting on the undercard or do you prefer paying to see Donnie Nietes fight Manuel Vargas?

Score: 0 for 3

And now for the championship rounds!!

Round 4: Alfredo Angulo will be a world champion at 154 pounds next year.

Joe Roche: FICTION - This is a tough one because I think Angulo is a good fighter even if he doesn't understand the concept of "media workout" and he looked at me like I peed in his water every time I watched him shadowbox the other day. I think the biggest hurdle for Angulo is that if he wins this weekend (which is not a guarantee) then he's most likely going to have to fight Kermit Cintron again and there is nothing that I've seen from Angulo since the last time they met that makes me think the outcome would be any different a second time around. He's got a big hurdle to clear in Harry Joe Yorgey before we even start thinking about 2010 for Angulo but I'm not so sure that him winning a world title in the next 14 months is a sure thing.

Igor Frank: FACT - There is a reason why HBO features Alfredo Angulo. He is an exciting brawler who generates passion within fans. He does have a heart of a champion and amateur experience in case he needs to box. I fully expect him to win a title next year.

Score: 0 for 4

Round 5: You find Vitali Klitschko more exciting to watch than Wladimir.

Joe Roche: FACT - I will give credit where credit is due the Wladimir Klitschko that fought Ruslan Chagaev was a more entertaining fighter then the one that we've seen in fights past. However, Vitali has always been the most aggressive, more flashy fighter between the brothers Klitschko. I think the lack of appeal from both brothers comes from the fact that they're so methodical when they fight -- but I do believe that Vitali is a more forward moving, action fighter while Wladimir is content to hang on the outside and jab you to death while walking you in circles around the ring.

Igor Frank: FACT - Even though Vladimir is a more technical fighter, Vitali has a better chin and not afraid to mix it up from time to time. His fight with Lennox Lewis six years ago was one of the best heavyweight fights I have ever seen.

Score: 4 for 5 - Look at that, Igor and Joe finally agree on something!

Round 6: You truly believe that Mike Tyson is a changed man.

Joe Roche: FICTION - He's an older man, but I'm not sure he's a changed man. There are lessons in psychology taught all over this great country of ours that focus on people like Tyson, obsessive people who are ruined by the one thing that they excel at. When Tyson is not boxing he is a more calm, collected family man -- but as soon as he starts training again, as soon as he starts running and lifting weights and hitting the heavy bag then the crazier Tyson will come out. I think Mike has cooled down in his old age but that's because he's replaced fighting with other endeavors and it's for that reason that I desperately hope he doesn't agree to a comeback fight. Tyson in the ring is a self destruction button waiting to be pushed -- at least away from the ring he's been able to get a grip on what's been important in his life (or so it seems).

Igor Frank: FICTION - Everybody changes with time, but Mike takes a lot of medication to stay mellow. I like Mike very much, but I do not believe that he has changed all that much.

Final Score: 2 for 6

Easily the biggest indifference between two of our boxing writers and nothing wrong with that. But who do you agree with Joe; Igor? A little of both? Let us know your thoughts...Fact or Fiction?

Till next week!