411 Boxing Fact or Fiction 08.24.10: Margarito vs. Pacquiao, Standing Eight Counts, Internet PPVs, Adamek, More

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 08.24.2010

Will Manny Pacquiao knock out Antonio Margarito? Does Tomasz Adamek stand a chance against one of the Klitschko brothers? Are you in favor of the old standing eight counts? 411's Igor Frank and Ali Shakoor discuss these topics and more, on this week's edition of Fact or Fiction!



Round 1. Although he was victorious on Saturday, you don't believe Tomasz Adamek showed enough to convince you that he has a shot against one of the Klitschko brothers.

Igor Frank: FACT - . Despite winning the fight on the score cards Adamek looked gassed in the middle rounds and very hittable. Grant was able to hurt Adamek several times during the fight. Adamek only made it through the fight because of his experience and warrior attitude. Grant was slow and threw one punch at a time for most of the contest, but his size obviously bothered the Polish star. Every time grant threw a jab, which was not very often, he had the opportunity to follow up with the right hand. Imagine Klitschko throwing his hammer like jab in the face of Adamek about fifty times per round and I do not see the Polish challenger handling it for more than six rounds.

Ali Shakoor: FACT - Actually I was fairly certain after the fat-ass Arreola fight he barely survived. Now I'm convinced after seeing his struggles against Grant. I like watching Adamek fight, and I think he has solid skills. He can either brawl or showcase his hand-speed with good feet and angles. He's really good. However, he's not exceptional, and the fact that he's likely a top-five HW speaks more of the dearth of talent in the division, than Adamek's talent.

Everything Grant and Arreola do well, the K brothers do much, much better. Considering the vulnerable beard and other struggles Adamek has shown in those last two fights, and the fact that he has heart(he'll try to win), expect either Klitschko brother to knock Adamek's ass out in dramatic fashion. Adamek doesn't have the pop to have a puncher's chance vs. Wladimir either. Adamek should seriously pursue a fight with Haye early next year. It would be a winnable fight against a man closer to his size and skill level. A fight against a Klitschko would make a crap-load of dough in Germany, but Adamek would get crushed. I hope he'd be healthy enough to enjoy the money afterwards.


Scorecard: 1 FOR 1


Round 2. You find the idea of a cruiserweight version of the Super Six intriguing.

Igor Frank: FICTION - There is no real talent in the cruiserweight division, especially after guys like Hay and Adamek moved up to heavyweight division in pursuit of the bigger pay days. Cunningham is a good boxer but feather fisted and has no following in United States. German belt holder Marco Huck is powerful but raw; he just stopped an American hopeful Matt Godfrey in five rounds. B.J. Flores has been inactive. I do not see enough contestants for this tournament to generate any kind of interest.

Ali Shakoor: FACT - Just barely FACT, I think. I know any type of tournament that seeks to get the best fighters in a division to face each other, is intriguing and good for our sport. That said, as an American, I really don't have lot of interest in the recent European dominance in what has traditionally been boxing's least interesting division. If a major American network picks up the tournament, I'll watch it, and perhaps I'll find it compelling. However, if I have to chase the fights down online--or worse--buy the PPV's, I won't be watching for the most part. I'm barely intrigued.

Scorecard: 1 FOR 2


Round 3. It's likely that Manny Pacquiao would TKO Antonio Margarito.

Igor Frank: FICTION - Shane Mosley has put together a blue print on how to beat Antonio Margarito; go to the body, go to the body and then go to the body some more. Pacman is a very powerful body puncher and he, most likely, will be too fast in the ring for Margarito; however it is worth mentioning that Margarito was not in the best of shape coming in to fight Mosley. Aside from that fight, Antonio Margarito was successfully able to discourage most of his opponents from going to the body; he is a strong and powerful puncher and will be trying to hurt Pacquiao at all times, which might discourage him from going to the body as well. Manny will take chances and go to the body, but against 100% in shape Margarito he might get knocked out himself.

Ali Shakoor: FACT - First things first, I'm boycotting this fight, and I hope all the readers boycott it too. Arum needs to be taught a lesson. This fight is pointless and offensive for a number of well-documented reasons. Regarding the topic at hand, I think Manny will TKO Scumbarito inside of 6 rounds. Margarito is easy to hit and punches with the speed of a mummy. I think Manny will overwhelm him with hand-speed and get an early TKO. BUT, I do think Manny will look like pudgy crap at 150+, physically. The longer the fight goes on, the greater the possibility Manny will be in trouble in the late rounds as Margs surges late like he did against Williams and Cotto.

Also, Manny likes to taste his opponent's power early, and if he were to experience a cut caused by Margarito's punches, he could be in serious trouble. If Manny gets upset, he and Arum will get exactly what they deserve. Karma's a be-yautch. Still, I see Manny getting the job done via TKO relatively early. Lastly, if you told me back in 2008 after his second fight with JMM at 130, that Manny would be fighting and dominating the bigger Cotto, Clottey, and "Loadedgloverito" in succession 2 years later, I would have accused you of smoking angel dust. This has been the most remarkable 2-year performance of my boxing watching life.


Scorecard: 1 FOR 3


And now for the championship rounds!

Round 4. You were in favor of the standing eight count.

Ali Shakoor: FICTION - Like anything that requires human judgment, it was abused, misused, or wasn't used enough. It's one less thing around to make boxing more confusing and controversial. Could you imagine what the Gatti vs.Ward trilogy would have been like with the standing 8-count in use? How about the ref jumping in to allow Castillo to recover from Corrales' barrage in "Round 10"? Funny, I can't remember the last time I thought about the 8-count before I read this question, but nah, I don't miss it. So I can't say I was that big of a fan of it at all.

Igor Frank: FACT - Sometimes a fighter is too tough for his own good; getting hurt badly the instinct will tell the warrior to not go down and keep fighting even when he is not in shape to do so. In this case a referee has an option to administer an eight count to give the boxer a chance to get his wits together.

Scorecard: 1 FOR 4


Round 5. You'd be willing to watch major PPVs online for half the price.

Ali Shakoor: FACT - In these difficult financial times, I'm always looking for reasons to save some bucks. However, there's no way I'd give up the HBO World Championship Boxing crew to listen to Bob Sheridan and some guy online. Can this work? Can I keep my crew? I'm not sure how that online PPV stuff works, but there's no way I'm giving up Lampley and the guys. As long as the broadcast crew is the same, sure I'd watch online for half the price. What's the downside?

Igor Frank: FICTION - Even though internet video streaming has improved by a thousand percent recently, it is still way behind digital TV. May be in a future it will be an option, but presently I would only watch a fight on the web if no other option was available.

Scorecard: 1 FOR 5


Round 6. If you had the choice between instant replay being readily available in all pro boxing matches and the elimination of computerized scoring in amateur bouts, you'd choose instant replay.

Ali Shakoor: FACT - First of all, I'm sad to say that I don't give a crap about amateur boxing. I just don't. I don't like the head-gear or computerized scoring. Even when we've had talented American classes like in the 84, 88, 92, and 2004 Olympics, I just haven't cared to watch. I'm just not a fan of amateur boxing. Sad but true.

I'm a fan of instant replay in all sports, and on most all occasions. I'd be in favor of the referee having the ability in every fight to see whether a cut was caused by a butt or punch, or whether a knee or glove touched the canvas mandating a knockdown call. Bring on more instant replay please.

PS, I'll be out of town later this week, so right now I'm making my prediction:

Couture breaks Toney's arm in round 2, while Toney taps with the free arm. Punk-haters rejoice.

Igor Frank: FACT - Both issues require a major overhaul. Computerized scoring in amateur boxing is flawed, but is suited for amateur system, because all you have to do is count punches, not their effect. Instant replay in boxing could eliminate a variety of costly mistakes and differentiate between a slip and a knock down, also to see if the foul was committed etc. Instant replay would be a great tool to improve the integrity of professional boxing.

Final Scorecard: 2 FOR 6: Not exactly the most eye-to-eye sentiments we've seen on previous FoFs, but now we want to know what you readers think…let us know your thoughts!