4 Corners 04.30.08: The Debut
Posted by Alan Berg on 04.30.2008
De La Hoya dreams of Money with Mayweather but Forbes has a dream; Calling out Wladimir Klitschko's recent comments, a positive for the boxing world and the five-punch combo.
From pillar-to-pillar, post-to-post, it's time for the first-ever "4 Corners."
In this column I will go over r the top story of the week, choose to call out someone in the sport, point out a positive or negative that happened in the sport, and finally the top five unnoticed things going on in the sport, known as the five-punch combo.
Forbes hoping for Cinderella story against De La Hoya
In the Countdown to De La Hoya-Forbes on HBO last week, the former Contender contestant said he had a dream about beating Oscar before the fight was even announced. While most of the media writes that the fight is a complete mismatch, I'm not so sure that is the case.
While De La Hoya is a superior fighter in most facets of the fight game there are two intangibles that he will not carry into the ring Saturday. Hunger and a dream. While beating Forbes is a given, a victory that the Golden Boy will get no credit for, Two Pound becomes a factor not only at welterweight but in the eyes of the millions that will see him fight.
Forbes doesn't have the lifestyle of De La Hoya, he doesn't have the gold medal, the big stage victory, or 1/100 of the bank account. With a victory over Oscar, Forbes gets the recognition, acclaim and cash all in one night.
When an opportunity, so lucrative presents itself in boxing, a prize fighter should never be counted out. Remember Carlos Baldomir? No one thought he had a chance against a skilled fighter like Zab Judah. That might lead someone to question, ‘Well De La Hoya is no, Judah?" Correct, but doesn't De La Hoya already have his next fight scheduled? Isn't that a form of arrogance? And let's not forget that any fighter can get ancient overnight.
Whether it was against Antonio Tarver or Glen Johnson, the Roy Jones that lost those back-to-back fights wasn't the Superman that dominated the super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. Father time catches up to everyone and it will catch up to De La Hoya. It might not happen Saturday night but if it does don't be surprised to see a dream become reality.
Calling W. Klitschko out
When speaking to Setanta Sports, The Ring Magazine No. 1 heavyweight in the world, Wladimir Klitschko poked fun at David Haye's eagerness for a fight. "I met this guy yesterday. I'd never heard of him before but he was so loud that I could have heard his voice overseas. He's definitely got a good punch and is a great boxer but he's just so loud it's unbelievable. If he continues to do well then maybe we will fight each other. Maybe Great Britain is going to have the next undisputed heavyweight champion of the world – but only after I retire."
Wow, you've never heard of David Haye, Ring Magazine Cruiserweight Champion of the World? I highly doubt that. I understand that Haye was calling him out as Wlad's the name thus far in the division, but to say he's never heard of him, is below the character that Klitschko has shown in the past. Apparently Wlad feels that by having a slap fight with Sultan Ibragimov and not taking any chances he is now the supreme being at heavyweight. While I feel that Haye has to show a chin at his new weight class, he shouldn't be dismissed by Klitschko as a threat, from what I seem to remember old Wlad still has a glass chin, after all he didn't seem to eager to give Sultan a chance did he?
A recent positive
Was that Sportscenter showing a little love to ESPN's Friday Night Fights last week? After two blistering knockouts on the feature fights courtesy of Joe Greene and Juan Urango, ESPN featured the KOs on the Top 10 of the night, a little note to those that love the scientific boxers, people still want to see a guy on his back. We see more champions that go for the knockout, the fights will see more time on the highlight reels.
If you missed it:
Urango's KO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNA7dSBPh1M
Greene's KO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5s_42bLRx8
The five-punch combo
5) Why isn't Mikkel Kessler getting more heat for dropping out of a fight with Edison Miranda?
4) Why aren't officials cracking down on holding? Seems to me a decade ago, they took points away for excessive holding yet John Ruiz keeps getting title shots.
3) Shouldn't we be a little hard on Joe Calzaghe for bitching about Bernard Hopkins for being a sore loser? I mean what's the old saying, "Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser." Relax Joe you won, go count your money.
2) Are HBO and Showtime stupid MMA is becoming a threat to their boxing telecasts and yet they schedule their fights at the same time as a UFC pay-per-view. I understand that they compete but if they put fight cards on opposite dates, the fight fans will watch both and return ratings for both.
1) Will someone please tell Harold Lederman to calm down when he goes over the rules, "You can ONLY BE SAVED BY THE BELL IN THE 12th and FINAL ROUND....JIM!!!!"
4) Why aren't officials cracking down on holding? Seems to me a decade ago, they took points away for excessive holding yet John Ruiz keeps getting title shots.
And Hopkins, who did little but hold and use his head against Calzaghe.
Posted By: Denno (Guest) on April 30, 2008 at 09:00 AM
I also feel that there needs to be a distinction between holding and fighting on the inside with a little grappling. Some referees don't know the difference and are quick to seperate two fighters who are trying to work their way out.
Posted By: Ramon Aranda (Registered) on April 30, 2008 at 12:54 PM
There does need to be a distinction, but Hopkins is a fighter who does little but tie up his opponents arm in close, and throw the occasional punch to the back of the head. That's the very worst kind of dirty fighting, because it makes things dull for the fans. And people call Hopkins a 'smart' fighter.
Posted By: Denno (Guest) on April 30, 2008 at 01:55 PM
Hopkins DID look bad in those later rounds. He was content with throwing a lead right hand and holding. Didn't like that one bit.
Posted By: Ramon Aranda (Registered) on April 30, 2008 at 03:10 PM
I think Hopkins problem was that he's 43. He really doesn't have all that much in the tank and for him to fight a close contest, he had to make Joe throw one punch at a time. Hopkins is so clever he knows what and when he can get away with things and did exactly that problem was in the latter part of the fight he had zero energy.
Posted By: Alan Berg (Registered) on May 01, 2008 at 03:32 AM
Great article Alan! Good to have you on the 411mania team!
As for the holding issue: the responsibility is on the ref's and state athletic commissions to either allow it, or regulate it. Case in point: Ricky Hatton was basically allowed to greco-roman wrestle against Tszyu, yet Joe Cortez wasn't havin' it when Ricky fought Floyd last December. It all depends on who is enforcing the rule.
To answer another question: Kessler isn't getting any grief because nobody in their right mind would want to willingly face El Pantera after that horrific KO against Banks earlier this year. Would you wanna go out like that? Me neither!
Posted By: Matt K (Guest) on May 01, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Mike your right on with your assessment of the commissions. Its a radical idea but I'd like to see a system put into a effect that gives a fighter an X number of holds around, unless the fighter is out on their feet. I think that would lead to more exciting fights.
Posted By: Alan Berg (Registered) on May 07, 2008 at 08:48 PM
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