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Sunday, May 31, 2015

Abner Mares On The Culture Shock Of Success: Quote Spotlight



A fighter with one of the toughest opponent rosters in boxing, Abner Mares, did a TV spot for Showtime leading up to his 2013 match with Jhonny Gonzalez. He said of reaching success:

"My parents never owned a home and it was just, you know, apartment to apartment. And, like a two-bedroom, for eleven brothers and sisters. And, you know, that's a lot. People know me now. You tend to forget, like,. . . where you come from. You know? It's just like, oh, this is the life. I've been missing out. You know, I'm throwing money away. And then you just have that moment where, like, oh, 'Hold on, Abner. This is not you. You know? You started from nothing, eating out of trashcans, having nothing. This is not you. Go back to you.' And that's why I have my beautiful family."


How many fighters do we see come from little or nothing, use fighting to get somewhere stable in life, then hit it big and live so extravagantly they go broke for no good reason? It looks like Abner Mares is planning on avoiding that bizarre pattern we probably all have seen. Good luck to him on keeping his life in perspective and on coming back to the championship level. He's been a major world titlist in three different weight classes after only 31 fights. He has just one loss.




The full spot from their official Youtube channel:



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Weird Weigh-In Moments, With Kevin Johnson, Again: GIF Spotlight




Kevin Johnson is no stranger to the awkward weigh-in, as he had one with Vitali Klitschko (click here), and he's done it again. This was from Michelle Joy Phelps' video of the weigh-in with Anthony Joshua, for Behind The Gloves. He gently places his hand on Anthony Joshua's chest and gives a satisfactory nod. The mysteries of Kevin Johnson, they never get less mysterious.


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Full Video:




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Ian John-Lewis Makes Understandable Warning To Anthony Joshua: GIF Spotlight

Tyson Fury's Sparring Profile: A Sparring Partner Reference List

Kevin Johnson On Deontay Wilder: Quote Spotlight

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Carl Froch Tells You To Stop Your Yammering: Reaction GIF Spotlight


In interview with iFL TV, published on the 29th of May, major super middleweight titlist Carl Froch discusses his wanting to have it out with Joe Calzaghe. Froch says Calzaghe has been essentially two-faced with him, nice when they're face-to-face and then simply will not shut up about him afterward. Froch even alludes to Calzaghe's son sending him messages about his wife. God knows what's going on there. It's one of boxing's odder little rivalries between men who've never fought. But as tired as Carl is with it, it has still yielded a handy pugilistic reaction GIF for when someone will simply not shut it:

With true caption:




Without:
















Don't just keep going on and on and on, forumites. The Cobra doesn't like it. He'll knock you out at Wembley, in front of 80,000 people, if you don't stop. He's done that before, yeah?


Full interview here: 



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Joe Frazier Dares You Over The Phone: Boxing Forumite Reaction GIF Spotlight

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Pacquiao Looks & Laughs: Reaction GIF Spotlight

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Andre Ward On Floyd Mayweather Being The Best, P4P: Quote Spotlight



On the ninth of January, 2015, during the Roc Nation Sports Card on FS1, Andre Ward was interviewed by Michael Woods. Woods asked the following straightforward question and got the following straightforward answer:

Woods: "Last question, putting you on the spot: Are you the top pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, or is that Floyd Mayweather?"

Ward: "That's Floyd Mayweather. Floyd Mayweather has done it longer than me. He's been at this level for a very, very long time, and I'm a young guy who always pays homage to the guys who go before me. But, as a competitor, and as somebody who's in this sport, I always shoot for the top spot and that's the spot I'm coming for, with all due respect to Floyd, but the top spot is what you should always want."

In boxing history, a fighter's greatness is often more easily digestible when looking at how how their contemporaries rated them during their careers than when looking at accomplishments on paper, or even reviewing available fight films or revised opinions being given upon reflection, years after the dust settles. You'll find numerous glowing appraisals of Harry Greb and Joe Gans in their days, from the men plying the trade alongside him, as well as appraisals of Julio Cesar Chavez Senior and Pernell Whitaker in their day.

Floyd Mayweather Junior, aged 37, in January, was rated by one of the standout, dominant champions in the sport as the actual pound-for-pound best, without any hesitation. We will be able to look back and see how Floyd was rated as essentially an old fighter who still stood on top in his day, according to most of the other top fighters. Not just on top as a celebrity or money-maker. But on top in a pure, most-difficult-to-beat sense. The purest sense, really. It will be easier to separate his personal history or his often villainous, arrogant persona from his boxing. It will be seen by those looking back in future generations that when it comes to boxing, most of his peers knew he was the most consistently special in the world, even while closer to forty than thirty. It's quite a rarity, and can only be appreciated when it's separate from all things non-boxing.

Respect to Andre Ward for stating his position with that kind of clarity and candor for the history books.



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Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Kevin Johnson On Deontay Wilder: Quote Spotlight



In an interview with Behind The Gloves, for his upcoming bout with Anthony Joshua, Kevin Johnson was asked about several of today's heavyweights and dropped an interesting piece of history with a current major heavyweight titlist in Deontay Wilder:

"Can't say nothing bad about Deontay, can't say nothing good. Because, uh...Well, I can't even say nothing bad like that, because, that guy, back when he live in Alabama, and I lived in Georgia, back when both of us couldn't get no work, that guy come right up to Georgia, on Saturday and Sunday, me and him sparred thirteen rounds a day."

That did not sound like your usual Kevin Johnson hustle talk. It sounds like a respect for Wilder's dedication that was not on display during his "rip" on Wilder's skills, which was almost certainly Kevin Johnson's usual hustle talk. It's hard to disregard that kind of dedication, traveling like that every week to get good, consistent sparring in. That sounds like championship work ethic and hunger to hone your craft. Amusingly, it seemed that Johnson talked himself out of going on some kind of rant against Wilder or whatever he could do against Wilder, for the camera, and went ahead and said this instead. It shows a little respect for a guy he'd probably rather try to talk himself into a payday against, I'd say.



Full interview here: 



Direct page address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Gi6i4aQIQ

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Kevin Johnson threatens to de-pants Vitali Klitschko

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Monday, May 25, 2015

B. J. Flores Pays His Respects To Gennady Golovkin: Quote Spotlight




During the Post-Fight PBC broadcast on NBC Sports (a slightly confusing programming matter), cruiserweight boxer and regular NBC Sports commentator B. J. Flores made a nice reference to Gennady Golovkin. It was during the Jonathan Guzman VS Christian Esquivel match. It is mentioned by his co-commentator during the second round that Guzman was being more of a boxer than he'd expected and he thought with all his knockouts that he'd come out swinging. B. J. responds by saying:

"He kinda takes his time, and I like that. You know, but you look at a guy like Gennady Golovkin. You look at his knockout percentage. He doesn't come out and rush the knockout. He systematically breaks his opponents down and does it through technical boxing and relentless pressure.  So, I'm not saying Guzman is in any form a Gennady Golovkin, but, you know,  it doesn't always have to be a free-swinging guy from the bar."

It's clear that while many would like to put Golovkin in the category of a brawler with wide-open defense, and no patience to do anything but lay his power on the opponent, most in the know understand that he is really a much more professional and subtle operator by nature. B. J. was spot-on in this one.



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Sunday, May 24, 2015

Quotes About Power: Paulie Malignaggi On Miguel Cotto




In a Boxeo Mundial Interview, posted the 25th of October, 2009:

"I know for a fact, out of the guys I fought, Miguel's the hardest puncher I've fought. I know for a fact. Nobody came close. Not even Ricky Hatton."

It doesn't get much plainer than "Nobody came close."



Full interview:



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Sugar Ray On His Own Punching Power

Quotes About Frank Bruno's Power

Quotes About Power: Gennady Golovkin/Willie Monroe Junior

Freddie Roach On Working With Israel Vazquez: Quote Spotlight




In December of 2005, the HBO crew called Israel Vazquez VS Oscar Larios III. During the broadcast, commentator Jim Lampley dropped a great quote from Vazquez's trainer at the time.

"How's this for a quote from Freddie Roach-and we've seen him with so many great fighters, including, of course, Manny Pacquiao-Roach says of Israel Vazquez: 

'He's the greatest champion I've ever worked with. Nobody comes to the gym with a better attitude. Nobody works harder and more honestly. I've never known a nicer boxer.' "

Magnifico made one heck of an impression. On all of us. Trainers, opponents, and fans.


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Saturday, May 23, 2015

Marvelous Marvin Hagler Fears Your Driving: GIF Spotlight



In the 1997 film Cyberflic (aka Virtual Weapon), Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Terence Hill are having an adventurous ride. This is a true caption of the dialogue. Happy 61st birthday, to the great champion and emotive actor.

(Screenplay by Antonio Margheriti and Ferdie Pacheco. I kid you not.)


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Ali walks through town, clapping

Sonny Liston in sauna, releasing so much steam you can't see anything

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Tex Cobb licking a poor bride on TV series Highlander

Friday, May 22, 2015

Supernatural Pugilism: Mike Perez's Religious Quote Spotlight



In the lead-up to Alexander Povetkin VS Mike Perez, Mike said this mouthful about religion, as it pertains to the sport, airing on ESPN2 & 3:

"It doesn't matter what you believe in. I believe in God. But if I don't throw a punch, God won't win the fight for me."


As poignant as three sentences can be, when discussing the combination of religion and boxing, I would say of this quote. You could easily broaden it to any sport, or any pursuit in life, for that matter, and it would translate. The trying is up to you, whether you believe in God or the the man in the moon. It didn't go well for Mike today, but at least he knows it was up to him to try, win or lose, and he did try.



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Povetkin VS Perez Outcome: Referee Massimo Barrovecchio Might've Been As Surprised


The same Mike Perez that seemed to have as solid a beard as anyone has against 220+ pound fighters, took his shot against what I assume is the second best and most accomplished contender in the division, Alexander Povetkin, who is now the hottest looking fighter, including the champion himself at the moment. Shockingly, to me, and many others, Povetkin found Perez hard enough to wobble him almost immediately, with a sharp right hand, and then about the second half of the very first round, he'd planted Perez with two big right hands, hard enough to stiffen Mike like he'd been shot before falling to the canvas. I was surprised that after this knockdown:


Italian referee and judge Massimo Barrovecchio, (an aged Nintendo game icon, is my suspicion) perhaps taken aback by the early trouble Perez was in, sees Perez stand up, doesn't ask him to walk forward, doesn't wipe his gloves off, sees his hands still down, absolutely no indication that he can defend himself, and calls for the fight to continue. It's no wonder the Irish(ish) Perez goes down almost immediately afterward. A very surprising handling of that knockdown, here:


As I said, maybe he was just frazzled by the surprise of Mike unable to take Sasha's punches. Devastating. Will we ever see Perez as a serious contender again? A worrisome performance from Mike and a bit from Barrovecchio, I consider this. Povetkin, however, shined. He's the only one of Klitschko's opponents in the last ten years to take a loss to the champ and maintain a clear look as the number one contender again, that I remember, in the last ten straight years. Congratulations, Mr. Povetkin. You're as useful to heavyweight boxing as any other man.


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Bob Foster knocks Mike Quarry out cold

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Thursday, May 21, 2015

Roman Gonzalez VS Omar Salado: Sportsmanship GIF Spotlight



On the sixteenth of July, 2011, one of the finest products of this era, Roman Gonzalez, defended his major Light Flyweight title against against battle-tested veteran Omar Salado. In the typical spirit of sportsmanship from Gonzalez, it occurs to him to hold the towel to his bleeding foe's eye, when all was said and done. What a guy is Chocolatito. At the tale end of the GIF, you can see him turn away, shaking his head, as if to say "What did I do to this poor guy?" He recently made his HBO debut after years of being one of the best fighters in boxing, by crushing the excellent former champion Edgar Sosa. Congratulations to him on that.


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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Alex Wallau On Young Mike Tyson & His Era: Quote Spotlight



In the pre-fight discussion of Mike Tyson VS Quick Tillis, on ABC's Wide World of Sports, Jim Lampley and Alex Wallau talked about Iron Mike's future. It was the third of May, 1986, and Mike would be extended ten rounds for the very first time. At this point, his career was moving so fast it was almost impossible not to appreciate the momentum and sense destiny unfolding, as Lampley reminded us that instead of being compared to other prospects in the division, or even contenders, Mike was being compared instead to Frazier and Marciano. Jim and Alex had the following exchange, so typical throughout the majority of the heavyweight division's history when summing up an era, as a whole:

Jim Lampley, about Tyson's fast rise as a prospect: "Is he being rushed to stardom?"

Alex Wallau, as the expert analyst for ABC: "Well, I think it's difficult, Jim, to be sure about the ability of a nineteen-year-old fighter who's never met a world class opponent. But, in my opinion, Mike Tyson will be ready to fight for, and win the heavyweight championship of the world, by the end of this year. That may be more of a comment on the lack of talent in the heavyweight division than on Mike's ability."

The more things change, the more they stay the same. There's nearly always a perceived lack of talent in the division until people have to remember it as history, at which point it becomes significantly better and more easy to appreciate than whatever is going on in the present. It's always people wandering around, going "Look at all these interesting trees. I wonder where the forest is. Hey, there's a nice one. That could be part of a forest, one day."

Mike, having turned professional in 1985, would astoundingly win a major heavyweight title (first of many) by the end 1986, just as Wallau suspected. In addition to doing it as quickly as anyone, he would do it about as easily as anyone ever did. And he would clean out the division about as dominantly and quickly as anyone ever did, as well. But I don't think it was for lack of talent in the era. Rather, I think it was for a surplus of talent within Tyson. It's easy enough to confuse the two concepts when you're looking at them in real time. 


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This pre-fight spot on ABC has a current upload on Youtube here: 



Direct page address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPD9OCDEQ5o




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Military Brat Quote Spotlight, With The Klitschko Brothers




In the English translation version of the 2011 Klitschko documentary, Wladimir and Vitali touched on the many aspects of growing up in the Soviet Union, as military brats. One segment quoted them this way:

Wladimir: "Of course, Vitali was the one who was always getting into trouble. He messed around with lots of things. One time, on a military base, we found some grenades and live ammunition. We threw them into a fire. It made a lot of noise. It was fun. "

Vitali: "One time we found an anti-tank mine. It was a huge disc. I took it home with me and the only place I could find to hide it was under my father's bed. I went to bed and then I heard my father shouting. He came to me and grabbed me by the ear. "He said, "What is that?" I said, "It's a mine." 
"Did you bring it in here?" I said, "Yes."

Wladimir: "Our parents were strict, so he ended up paying for that with a belt on his bottom."


In fairness to Mr. & Mrs. Klitschko, I think a lot of parents would've taken the belt out for sleeping above an anti-tank mine. You've got to find a way to discourage that!



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Vitali takes opponent Kevin Johnson's sunglasses, and he threatens to de-pants him.

Vitali fights in kickboxing match in Japan at the age of 22

Monday, May 18, 2015

Quotes About Power: Willie Monroe Junior On Gennady Golovkin


Willie Monroe Junior gave Gennady Golovkin a good workout on Saturday night, getting into an awful lot more trading than most have been able to survive lately. While he did get stopped after multiple knockdowns, he is another Golovkin opponent who didn't seem particularly awestruck by Golovkin's power, but instead pointed to the way it was delivered. From his post-fight interview with TstreeT Controversy LIVE:

"He's definitely powerful. Not THE hardest I've been hit, but he hits pretty hard. He's accurate. That's the difference. I don't care how hard you hit."


I personally expect Monroe Junior to maintain relevance in the division on the back of what he showed with Golovkin and his outings on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights. We will see.


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Full interview here:




Thanks for stopping by our place. Here are some other pages you might enjoy:

1990: George Foreman Rates The Punchers He's Felt

Rocky Marciano's Opponent Damage Report!

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Sunday, May 17, 2015

Marcos Maidana & Adrien Broner Rematch, Sort Of: GIF Spotlight




It's more of a dance rematch that neither of them win. Posted on Adrien's Instagram page, and a nice reminder that warriors can leave it in the ring and be friends out of the ring. This is from a short video clip posted two weeks ago, with the comment "Business is business but a friendship last forever".



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Adrien Broner shares his face-peeling trauma with the people

Paulie Malignaggi Thought There Was a T.B.E. Case For Manny Pacquiao, Once

Iceman John Scully Says No To Manny Pacquiao

Emanuel Augustus double-punching and dancing against Ray Oliveira

Friday, May 15, 2015

Quotes About Power: George Foreman Speaks




In January of 1990, George Foreman, trying to score a match with the heavyweight champion of the world (Mike Tyson), fought a name, Gerry Cooney. Gerry hadn't fought in about two and a half years, after getting obliterated by Michael Spinks. In essence, he was just a name. But Cooney was trying to pull his career back together for one last try, with Hall of Fame trainer Gil Clancy in his corner. Mike Tyson was geared for a fight the following month with Buster Douglas, so Foreman's apparent certainty on beating Tyson for the title got completely turned on its ear, even when he was still on his own winning streak. It would be Cooney's last match. But for George, he was in the middle of his legendary second career, and they were building up his record much like in his first career.

The opponents were fairly careful at this point. Cooney was likely to get knocked out, but because of his size and power, the danger was palpable from the opening bell of a rowdy 2-rounder that left Gerry in a heap. Not before he made an impression on Big George as a puncher, however. The following quote exchange happened between George and David Letterman, when he took his fresh shiner to Late Night. These days, George Foreman's son (Monk) is the boxer in the family and David Letterman is about to end his own historic run, as a talk show icon.

Here are the power quotes:

Foreman: "This is the hardest hitter I've ever been in the ring with. You fight-say, I've had about sixty or more boxing matches, and you only meet three genuine punchers throughout your career. Gerry Cooney, Ronnie Lyle, and a kid I worked with, by the name of Cleveland Williams. And, they hit so hard that it vibrates your body, even if you block it, it just goes right to you."

Letterman: "So, you would say Gerry Cooney was one of the hardest punchers you've ever met in the ring?"

Foreman: "No doubt. He's been-of the three. He hit harder than Joe Frazier with his left hook."

Letterman: "Harder than Joe Frazier?"

Foreman: "Harder."

Letterman: "What about Earnie Shavers?"

Foreman: "I never fought Earnie Shavers. . .Thank goodness."


Everyone knows about Earnie Shavers. But what's interesting is that he mentioned Cleveland Williams in sparring, but not Sonny Liston here, who he also sparred. Also, he doesn't consider Frazier in this instance as one of the three "genuine" punchers he's met in the ring? Then again, maybe he was still suffering from Cooney's left hook! It's always interesting to hear these guys rate their opponents, even if you take some things with a grain of salt.


Full interview currently on Youtube:





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George Foreman On Max Baer

The Great Exchange On Foul Acting, with George Foreman & Jim Lampley

George Foreman's Happy Reaction GIF

George Foreman threatens Bill Cosby and takes his shirt off.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Muhammad Ali Reaction GIF's For Thinking They're Crazy










These come from Jim'll Fix It, in 1976, and he is looking at Jimmy Savile, the now legendary sex criminal. But you absolutely do not need to be speaking with a sex criminal on a forum to use these as reaction GIF's. But that would be a perfectly suitable use, technically.



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Muhammad Ali Mocks & Destroys Jimmy Savile

Muhammad mock fights with Sylvester Stallone

Evander Holyfield, for when you're so into Christmas: Reaction GIF Spotlight 

Muhammad Ali Mocks & Destroys Jimmy Savile: GIF Spotlight




I wonder if word ever got back to Muhammad about Savile's monstrous exploits and he got a major case of the creeps. He actually touched him. This is from 1976's Jim'll Fix It, with Jimmy Savile definitely unlikely to be fixing anything. Ali went to the UK for a promotional book tour. I really don't know if he'd any idea who Savile was before that trip.



A video clip on youtube of this program:



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Jimmy Savile drops pants on This Is Your Life for Frank Bruno, who feels his legs

George Foreman threatens Bill Cosby and takes his shirt off.

Ali and Cus D'Amato demonstrate Ali VS Frazier

A very young Muhammad Ali points with a false caption to call BS   

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Cletus Seldin's Blatant Elbow Under Referee Tony Chiarantano's Nose: GIF Spotlight




Kablam! Right on the ear? Referee Tony Chiarantano seems in good position to catch this blatant elbow strike of Cletus "Hebrew Hammer" Seldin on ESPN2'S Friday Night Fights. The victim was Johnny Garcia, and this is back in February. The ref also gets some other elbow action he isn't particularly on the ball for. ESPN's commentator Teddy Atlas was surprised about this too. Seldin, a strong, undefeated light welterweight prospect, is certainly not a newcomer to working a guy with his elbows but here we can see a blatant, loaded-up strike. That is, opposed to very common elbow activity people complain about, incidental to head control, space-making, jockeying for positions, or incidentally touching your man up while blocking and deflecting with your elbows (Seldin does use a cross-arm defense, so that is bound to happen also).

This is just flatly, gratuitously dirty and should've had a point deduction, I would think. I might be wrong, but I don't even think Seldin was warned here, as though it were missed completely. It's a nice catch from the FNF crew on slow motion, regardless. I seem to recall in Seldin's first match with Bayan Jargal, Seldin looked to me, in the first round, to use his opponent's clinching as an opportunity to try a few such elbow strikes with his free arm. Seldin's a solid fighter, but you've got to watch him closely. His head and elbows are all prone to strike. This guy is a rough customer, for whatever mix of the incidental, accidental and intentional we might be seeing. I chalk this one up as clearly intentional. But things happen in fights. I buy that many fighters will blatantly (yes, even blatantly) foul on nothing more than instinct, instead of with the thought to gain unfair advantage. Sometimes, your natural reaction in a combat sport is to do any physical thing that you would do without rules and it's done without any decision-making whatsoever. Seldin might be particularly predisposed to that. I couldn't say. But it is up to the referee to force them into forethought if a pattern emerges with things like this and I did find it very odd that nothing came of this particular elbow, seemingly in plain view and blatant. 



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Anthony Joshua smacks referee Ian John-Lewis with a left hook

Rocky slips in a nice headbutt on Ezzard Charles 

Tex Cobb with amazing rabbit punch combination, referee doesn't care

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Paulie Malignaggi Takes Shot At ESPN Troublemaker Skip Bayless: Quote Spotlight






In an Interview with ThaBoxingVoice, posted the eighth of May, 2015, Paulie Malignaggi lets you know what he thinks of ESPN's Skip Bayless and First Take's take on the sport of boxing. In the middle of one of his many anti-Pacquiao rants, when asked about Bayless covering the shoulder injury controversy, he seems a little flustered at the very idea of somehow being informed by the program and its talking head. Paulie says:

"No, I don't watch Skip Bayless on First Take. Because I'll get-you get stupider by the minute if you watch that guy talk about boxing."

If that wasn't clear enough, he adds that he does not want to get stupider in his life and that Bayless doesn't know anything about boxing. It was a funny moment because the boxing coverage involving rants of Skip Bayless is routinely mocked as blatant trolling from those frequenting boxing forums. Let me tell you this: If there's one concept boxing forumites should be able to spot, it is most definitely the concept of trolling. It is not just a pastime of the forumites, but a professional priority of those who cover boxing, unfortunately. One which my little nook of the Internet hopes not to propagate. All things considered, having seen enough Skip clips on the aforementioned boxing forums, I think I can understand why Paulie might have arrived at the quoted conclusions.


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Full interview: 







Page address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkCufYuPLFE


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Paulie Malignaggi Thought There Was a T.B.E. Case For Manny Pacquiao, Once

Al Bundy Gets KO'd By Sugar Ray Leonard

BGB's Selected Jim Lampley Quotes Page

Wladimir Klitschko Gets Sarcastic Without Notice

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Iceman John Scully Politely Calls BS On Pacquiao Injury: Quote Spotlight


This screen-captured image was from yesterday, on John Scully's Facebook page. John, of course, is a man who has been around the block quite a few times. He fought Michael Nunn, sparred Roy Jones Junior, and trained Chad Dawson.

Click Here For Direct Post Address


Straight Text Quote: "This is a tough one because I like Manny as a boxer and I consider Freddie a friend but I had a similar injury in a fight years ago and I'm telling you right now. There is no way possible you are throwing hard punches with a shoulder/rotator injury like that. The pain would be more than a man can handle..."

This is one of many people in the industry showing public incredulity for Manny Pacquiao's fight-night injury against Floyd Mayweather Junior. Some, like Paulie Malignaggi, are infinitely less polite about it, but there you have it. Overall, I am seeing mostly non-buyers, rightly or wrongly. I personally wouldn't say nothing was wrong, because there's probably always something or other wrong with guys who fight for a living, much like Teddy Atlas said, and fighters tend to always have a reason for believing "the real me," as they often even say, wasn't truly bested. I assume he had something wrong with his shoulder. The level of severity and effect on the outcome is another matter altogether. You don't really need an explanation for something going according to the typical expert prediction on the matter.

PS: TMZ could report this as "Iceman John Scully gives the cold shoulder to Manny Pacquiao" or something to that effect. If you work for TMZ, pass that one along. It's a gem. 


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Saturday, May 9, 2015

Paulie Malignaggi On Pacquiao Being TBE, After Cotto Match: Quote Spotlight




"If Manny Pacquiao beats Miguel Cotto, I'm telling you, man, he might be the best fighter ever."

In a Boxeo Mundial Interview, posted the 25th of October, 2009, Paulie Malignaggi was asked to breakdown the upcoming ubermatch between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. The breakdown, in retrospect, contains at least one highly surprising quote. Maybe, I should say instead that it's particularly surprising if you've only been aware of Malignaggi's comments on Pacquiao in the past few years, which have become notorious and negative. Here is the full quote:

"If Manny Pacquiao beats Miguel Cotto, I'm telling you, man, he might be the best fighter ever. I'm telling you. At this point, he's beaten Oscar, he's beaten Ricky, and I don't think Ricky's as good as people give him credit for, even though you're gonna say 'Oh, he killed Paulie' but, you know what? I'm telling you. Paulie, for two years, wasn't Paulie. You know what I mean? You know? I needed to get away from my ex-trainer Unfortunately, I realised that a little too late.

But, regardless of the fact, if Manny Pacquiao beats Miguel Cotto, you have to consider him maybe the best fighter in history, man, because, now he's done it. And it means he's done it all. Really, he's done it all. I mean, this is a welterweight who might be the best welterweight in the world in Miguel Cotto-and legitimately. Legitimately. He's definitely the strongest. You know what I mean? And he probably should be undefeated. You know, we saw what happened with Antonio Margarito, and, uh, you know, it probably happened in the Cotto fight.   

One thing about Cotto though: He's not unbeatable. Anybody can beat him. Obviously, we're all human, and we can all be beat. The thing about Miguel Cotto is that you will be in a fight to beat him. Whether you beat him, or you don't beat him, it's a fight. And even Margarito, who did beat him, was in a fight to beat him. I don't know if Manny has the size and the kind of body to withstand an assault, to be in a fight with Cotto. It might be a fight. You know what I mean? 

Can he withstand that? Because, Cotto is a strong fighter. Cotto's a dirty fighter. And he's not just a guy who comes forward, like Ricky. Ricky just comes forward, walking into punches. You know what I mean? Manny was too smart and too skilled for that. You know, and not that he's not too smart and too skilled for Miguel, because, I think, at times, Manny's going to show some good moments. I just think, um, at the end of the day, the size and the strength is just going to be a little too much for Manny to deal with, and, um, and people shouldn't look down at Manny for it though. You know what I mean?"


Some interesting thoughts from Paulie Malignaggi came from this interview. Especially, considering Paulie has now spent years of Pacquiao's career helping to heap suspicion upon him and downplay his continually demonstrated abilities throughout. The suspicion, of course, is largely based on PED's, although, I am not sure which performance-enhancing drug would make Paulie point to Pac's success with smartness and skillfulness. That doesn't mean Paulie's suspicions since then have been wrong, but I'm certain some of his arguments have been (pointing to imaginary size increases, for instance), and it's certainly interesting to look back on how well he rated Pacquiao before these controversies. His "might be the best fighter ever" is not something I think he said lightly.

It is a shame for the sport that those tests weren't agreed to, immediately, upon initial request, and that one of the best commentators in the sport, in my opinion, has developed this very public disdain for one of the sport's best fighters. It's not something that benefits boxing, and it is maddening that the major sanctioning bodies haven't gotten on one page, years ago, and said "Here is the testing, you take it or you don't get sanctioned to fight, and you don't get to pick your personal choice of testing agency. This is THE agency, these are THE tests. This is not for you to bicker about amongst each other." To do that, have a unified front, and also have the tests be reasonably clever, so that we don't have storylines like this developing the way they did, I don't see how it's that much to ask for a major international sport. A sport that boasts some of the highest-paid athletes in the world, and the single highest-paid athlete in the world. Sort of like, why instant replay for contested referee calls on televised fights seems like an obvious one. But, that's another can of worms we can open on another day!


Full interview:




Interview page address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZiBa0L123k



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Friday, May 8, 2015

Muhammad Ali Gets Bullied By Jimmy Young: GIF Spotlight


The Greatest, at the weigh-in for his 1976 match with Jimmy Young, clowning with Young from behind a high guard, while Jimmy pretends to pummel him. You can see familiar characters sneaking in behind, I'm sure. Muhammad had already done a sparring exhibition with Young in 1971. He clowned pretty hard in that too! This footage came from ABC, I believe, but it was shared on Youtube for download by the Internet boxing fan's best friend, the channel sweetfights. Thanks to them for sharing these gems in their collection. I only happened to catch this by happenstance, shown at the beginning of the broadcast for Kenny Norton VS Ron Stander. In some ways, this fight was a borderline disaster in the heavyweight division, but boxing is never short of matches that just make you shake your head. If you haven't seen it, you might find this weigh-in GIF more entertaining than the match itself. But it's still an interesting part of the history of the division.


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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

George Foreman Drops Thoroughly Foremanesque Quote About Max Baer




Airing on National Geographic in 2005, Cinderella Man: The Real Jim Braddock Story, was a great documentary, with guests like Ron Lipton and George Foreman. George Foreman described Max Baer, Braddock's legendary obstacle, with the following quote:


"Max Baer was the most famous heavyweight-probably the most skillful heavyweight champion of all time. If you watch Muhammad Ali, some of his footwork, speed, this originated with Max Baer. "


As much as I love both George and Maxie, this is one of those Big Papa G quotes that leaves me pondering how to get from where I am to where he is. God love him, he surely does know how to praise his fellow athlete.



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Sugar Ray Leonard KO's Tomato Can: GIF Spotlight





Sugar Ray Leonard, in a 1992 episode of Married with Children entitled 'Just Shoe It' is seen taking out the ultimate tomato can-Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill). This did come complete with a No Más reference. This is one of 115 times IMDB has credited him in appearing as himself. He ranks first, to Tommy Davidson's second, respectively.


And the Bundyless commercial within the episode that ensued:



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Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Emanuel Steward On Wladimir Klitschko VS Charles Shufford: GIF & Quote Spotlight


                                          (Probe, slap down guard, right cross)

A few months before Lennox Lewis avenged his loss to Hasim Rahman by devastating knockout, Wladimir Klitschko took on fellow prospect, Charles Shufford, in August of 2001. Shufford was 17-1, and had played George Foreman in Ali, bringing the star of the film, Will Smith, to the ring with him that night. Shufford had actually defeated Lamon Brewster the year before and challenged Wlad for his WBO title, which was not yet regarded to be a major world title at the time. THE champion was Hasim Rahman and Klitschko was then highly regarded as a prospect more than a champion. It was a very interesting broadcast, because Klitschko impressed in scoring three picturesque knockdowns and his future friend and trainer was sitting in as HBO commentator. What he had to say showed that he was taking serious notice. It's easy to see how Emanuel Steward went from training the major heavyweight force of ca 1995-2003 to training the major heavyweight force of ca 2005-2015 (and counting). 


Emanuel Steward:

Round 1: 

"Wladimir, right now, is looking for a right hand. He said his favourite fighter was Max Schmeling and he fights to some degree like him, like many of the European heavyweights. Basically, probing with the left hand, always looking for an opening for the beautiful right hand of his."

 
Round 4:

"The right hand that Klitschko is shooting is one of the best right hands that I've ever saw. Not just today, but probably in the history of boxing."


Later in round 4:

"Klitschko's got such a good jab. It's an off-beat jab. He's moving his body rhythm at one speed and then he's punching the jab off at a different speed and it's making it very difficult for Shufford to time it."

                                  (A mess of setting up moves for this right hand)


Post-fight:

"So much for the left hook that I said didn't exist."



                                             (The beautiful short left hook)
                                        

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Friday, May 1, 2015

Mike Tyson Shows He is Not A Disney World Mascot: GIF Spotlight




At tonight's weigh-in for Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, aside from Patrice O'Neal's take, shows he's not exactly a cuddly sports mascot you can randomly cop a feel on for a picture. Step off the champion, my man. Step right off. The champ is not Mickey Mouse.


This was pointed out via Youtube user ShivDes357, on this page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tw1jojV93Ea and I believe the footage comes from BBC coverage.

Good catch, Shiv!



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Jim Lampley Predicts Wide Points Decision of Mayweather Over Pacquiao: Quote Spotlight



When asked on an ESNEWS interview, published today, about his pick for Mayweather VS Pacquiao, Jim Lampley gave what some seem to think is a highly surprising answer, considering the personal opinion he's displayed for Floyd Mayweather Junior in the past. Although, I can't ever remember Jim Lampley putting down Mayweather's professional abilities, so I can't say I'm particularly surprised by the comment, caught outside his HBO broadcasting habitat, where he isn't obligated to promote the intrigue of these contests. 

"It's a Floyd Mayweather fight, right? . . . I love Manny Pacquiao. . . Floyd Mayweather fights a hundred opponents, in a hundred different arenas, that's a hundred times I pick Floyd Mayweather to win by unanimous decision. Okay? It's about control. It's about absence of risk. It's about gradually erasing the other guy. It's about taking all the air out of the balloon, so that the crowd walks away saying 'What was that?' And it's a Floyd Mayweather unanimous decision. He'll win nine or ten rounds." 

So, regardless of a the common perception of Jim Lampley's bias for Manny Pacquiao and against Floyd Mayweather Junior, he apparently has no problem saying, when out of the confines of his channel, that he flatly assumes Floyd Mayweather will decisively outbox Manny Pacquiao. The context for a domination call isn't just that it's one star fighter over another, but that it's in a fight being advertised as one of the most intriguing and important megafights that modern boxing has had to offer in about a decade, if not several. That, my friends, is the fight game. That is the business.

Full interview here:



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