For what it’s worth, consider this a belated mea culpa for what I perceive as serious error of omission from my report of the last Friday ESPN FNF presentation.

What had jumped out at me had nothing to do with the stellar winning  performance of featherweight contender (WBO #8) Meza-Clay as he methodically stole the stamina and will from veteran Eric Aiken.

Nope, was more a weak coup by the studio segment to win the night when joining with comedy guest hack Bert Saccharine - the guy that has gained Hall of Fame boxing writer recognition off past Ring Magazine connection - and founder Max Fleischer, if possible, must surely be rolling in the grave.

The guy still dresses from the roaring twenties era - outdated oversized fedora with big stogie in hand - brings back memories of old cartoon character “Vitamin” Flintheart that was cast as over the hill thespian trying to hold on to the past.

Problem with Bert, he’s not quite old enough for the role - but that’s a story for another day - what grabbed me in all the wrong places is when the studio highlight tossed the viewer a bizarre relativity of Super Bowl upsets to heavyweight boxing upsets.

The pictured charts were dated to specific games won by betting underdogs along with similarities by date to heavyweight championship upsets.

Maybe ol’ HOF Saccharine forgot the gut feelings of educated fight fans that there’s no such animal as an upset - at least not in pro boxing - is more a matter of one fighter being the better man than the other on a given night.

Would have helped soothe my innards had missing in action Brian Kenny been cuddling, er, huddling, with Bert instead of sub for the night - only for the Brian game face he totes along to each gig.

Finally, with Teddy 'Book of Knowledge' AWOL as well, we were entertained by ringside commentary of fill-in Roy Jones Jr. - have little clue to what most of what he had to say, but a little came through.

Responds when asked what Aiken might do to slow the Meza-Clay constant in his face pressure. The unorthodox in style, once recognized best PPP offered free of charge strategy - suggested Aiken should use the jab and counter on the outside.

But of course, only a blind viewer would have never noticed that bit of obvious strategy - better insight for the uninitiated would have been to point out the today Aiken version is more Ford Edsel than Cadillac.

 

GEL