DSP Boxing thread. Ding! Ding!

[pk500]

Yep, yesterday was the 30th anniversary of perhaps the most ferocious, violent, beautiful eight minutes in boxing history. The Hitman is my favorite all-time fighter.

[Rodster]

In that ESPN link, Al Bernstein talked about the 4 Kings (Leonard, Duran, Hagler and Hearns). He compared them to Mayweather and Pacman. He basically said that was probably the best and most competitive era for boxing. He also said Mayweather would have had a tough time with any of those 4 and probably would have lost. Leonard destroyed Floyd Sr.

He did say Pacman would have given any of those 4 a tough time.

[pk500]

"Four Kings" by George Kimball is a fine book about that golden era for welterweights and middleweights in the 1980s among Leonard, Duran, Hearns and Hagler.

[Rodster]

Alright, with 72 hrs before the fight how about some predictions? I'll go with Mayweather unanimous decision.

[10spro]

Alright, with 72 hrs before the fight how about some predictions? I'll go with Mayweather unanimous decision.

A bunch of us is going to fork the PPV $100 . Pacquiao will knock Floyd in the second round but will lose a controversial decision. The rematch will be just before the holidays. Make no mistake, I want Manny to get all the glory instead of that scumbag who happens to have a good D on/off the rink.

Mayweather has much more to lose than Pacquiao. The fact that he hasn't trash talk too much up to this point shows the respect he's got for Pacman.

A good read: http://grantland.com/features/career-ar ... k-morales/

[Rodster]

If Manny wins there will probably be a rematch as well.

[pk500]

If Manny wins there will probably be a rematch as well.

There is NO rematch clause in the contract. That doesn't mean one won't be made, but it's not mandated.

The only way I see a rematch is if the decision is close, in favor of Pacquiao. Mayweather gains nothing -- other than money -- and risks his precious "0" to fight a rematch after he wins. Pacquiao risks depluming a huge feather in his career cap in a rematch if he wins by a decisive decision or knockout.

[Rodster]

So who do you think will win PK?

[Rodster]

This is Freddie Roach's game plan for Manny: http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_ ... in-world-2

"We're ahead of schedule," Roach proudly tells me, not long after we sit down. "I told Manny today, 'Don't throw the right hand once. Don't even f---in' move it. Just keep it up, for defense.' That's all I want." After scrutinizing tape of Mayweather, Roach confesses, he'd begun to worry that Pacquiao, a southpaw, might neglect his left hand come May 2. "The right is Manny's favorite shot now," Roach says, ever since Pacquiao repeatedly disfigured Diaz with it. But against the orthodox Mayweather -- who cannot rely on his usual shoulder-roll defense against the awkward angles of a lefty -- the momentum of firing left hooks, uppercuts and straights would do two things. First, it would naturally move Pacquiao's skull away from Mayweather's surgical right hand. Second, it would move Pacquiao's lead foot to the right, planting it on the outside of Mayweather's body, setting up an immediate assault from behind. "You don't need to get hit by Mayweather's right," Roach has told Pacquiao. "You can nullify it with footwork."

[pk500]

The key to this fight is footwork, period. There's no question Mayweather is slower than six years ago. The popular narrative is that he has been lured into firefights by guys like Cotto and Maidana because he wants to be seen as someone who doesn't just win by defense.

That's bullsh*t. Mayweather is slower afoot than he was in 2009, so he is being trapped into more inside fighting. But Mayweather still has a preternatural ability to fight off the ropes, even when cornered. He doesn't panic in those situations. And his defense still is remarkable, better than any fighter of this generation.

So the key remains whether Pacquiao can use his footwork to apply pressure at the proper angles. Roach wants Pacquiao to move right, away from Mayweather's right hand. As a southpaw, Pacquiao's initial instinct is to move left, away from Mayweather's left hook and the natural, cocked and pivoted position of a right-hander to throw the left hook. It's a quicker, snappier punch than Mayweather's right.

Which strategy is better? Which is smarter? Which will Manny eventually obey? That will determine this outcome.

In the end, Mayweather will slip, counter and have enough left in his feet to win a narrow UD.

[Inuyasha]

Got invited to see the fight at a friends house. I'm glad I didn't out $100 down for this pile of crap.

If this is the biggest fight boxing has today then boxing must be in a ton of trouble.

Big fights, i'm thinking hearns, hagler, sugar ray. This thing just seemed very sterlie. Maybe it was the telecast, but what a boring ass fight!

I'm no boxing aficianado, just a regular guy who likes to see a big fight, but it was sort of a letdown. Boring fight. Maybe the boxing experts are going to love this fight since it seems like Mayweather is more X's and O's, but for regular people, it was very zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[greggsand]

It was everything we feared it would be. Should be a good motivator for boxing to get their act together and create more culturally significant events like this. The entire city of la was affected by this. Somehow-sadly, I think they'll squander any momentum it brings, but yeah never know.

[pk500]

Disappointing fight, on so many levels.

Boxing offers so much more entertainment than this every week on ESPN, Showtime, HBO, FOX Sports 1, CBS Sports Channel and PBC on various networks. Those are the best fights boxing has to offer.

Fights like this one I saw live two weeks ago tonight:

[Inuyasha]

Been watching lot of post fight analysis and the one guy on ESPN probably made the most sense : the real boxing fans were financially cut off from this fight. It was only the elite that could afford this fight. Maybe that's why it came off as so sterile on television.

For those who didnt get to see the fight, here's a good video summary :

[Rodster]

Disappointing fight, on so many levels.

But you out of all people knew this was going to happen. You even said it a few years ago when we were all salivating for this fight that this is exactly what was going to happen. The best thing that can happen to boxing is for Mayweather to retire. This would never have happened back in the 80's when Hagler, Hearns, Leonard and Duran were in their prime, it was WAR when they stepped into the ring. The last time I saw fights that resembled war was the Gotti v Ward trilogy.

Maybe Boxing needs to institute a new policy regarding these future Mega-Fights. You get paid for performance and what the audience expects.

[pk500]

Defense and tactics may be boring, but they're VERY effective in the hands of a very skilled artist like Mayweather.

[pk500]

Been watching lot of post fight analysis and the one guy on ESPN probably made the most sense : the real boxing fans were financially cut off from this fight. It was only the elite that could afford this fight. Maybe that's why it came off as so sterile on television.

For those who didnt get to see the fight, here's a good video summary :

Myth.

I despise Mayweather, but here's the image you should post instead:

https://twitter.com/CompuBox/status/594 ... 60/photo/1

Mayweather threw and landed more punches than Pacquiao, so it's silly to infer he ran all night. Mayweather used his usual style: Great defense, counterpunching and movement. He makes in-fight adjustments better than any active fighter, and this fight was over once he figured out Manny from the seventh round onward.

Pacquiao hardly ever approached from angles, which was a must for any kind of success. He also lunged during his attacks due to his significant reach disadvantage, which put him off-balance and susceptible to Mayweather's pinpoint counter shots. Referee Kenny Bayless also did a lousy job for the second straight Mayweather fight in preventing Floyd from grabbing and holding.

But the turning point in this fight came when Pacquiao decided to stop attacking and even attempting to move in and out at angles, afraid of Mayweather's crisp, accurate counterpunching. Manny and Freddie Roach either had the wrong strategy, or it was detonated by Mayweather's defensive and tactical genius. Probably the latter.

Don't worry about a rematch. It's not needed: Mayweather is far superior. Few want to see a rematch, either. I don't.

[Rodster]

The only type of fighters that have had recent success against Mayweather are those that are your Mike Tyson/Joe Frazier types that just throw as many punches as they can in the hopes of catching Mayweather off guard. Too bad the 4 Kings are no longer around. Getting hit by Hearns, Duran was like being in an earthquake (your insides would shake) or getting hit by Gerry Kooney.

[XXXIV]

I would have gone somewhere to watch this fight if it happened eight years ago. Like when the fighters were in their primes.

Its a joke it took this long to happen. Not even interested in seeing it when its free.

[Rodster]

Like PK said, the 80's was the best decade for Boxing. All the fighters fought the best and went to war in the ring. It's not like it is now with choosing a guy who's way past his prime because you don't want to tarnish your clean record. Mayweather thinks he's the GOAT but he's just the best in this era. Hagler, Hearns, Duran or Leonard (who destroyed Floyd Sr.) would have kicked Jr's ass.

[XXXIV]

Hagler.

[pk500]

I would have gone somewhere to watch this fight if it happened eight years ago. Like when the fighters were in their primes.

Its a joke it took this long to happen. Not even interested in seeing it when its free.

Don't waste your time. Watch Canelo-Kirkland instead next Saturday night on HBO. That will be an all-action fight as long as it lasts. Neither guy knows how to back down.

[pk500]

This is comic GOLD -- Floyd Mayweather's Super Punch-Out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=68&v=pCVhyrgWSBY

[Rodster]

Pac-Man is being sued for $5 million for not disclosing a shoulder injury. Supposedly he tore his rotator cuff and did not disclose it prior to the match.

[XXXIV]

Boxing.

Why people dont watch.

The list keeps growing.

As for the gamblers. f*** THEM! That is why its called gambling.