DANNY'S OCTOBER SUPER SIX By George Elsasser

With the temporary lull in televised ring action, it was pleasant surprise in seeing Danny Boy Raef’s USA Today’s Inside the Ring, Super Six offering with the respective "Hits & Misses" attached. #1- Bernard Hopkins (45-2-1, 32 KO’s) Hits: Welcome to the top spot. As only man to knock out De la Hoya & Trinidad, he’s earned it. Misses: He’s 39 and says he won’t fight past 40, so his run at top could be short. GEL: Hmmm … only questions I got for Danny is whether the check is in the mail on the "hits" and suspect, if not, Bernard probably doesn’t give a bleep about the Raef "misses." #2-  Floyd Mayweather Jr. ( 32-0, 21 KO’s) Hits: The former No.1 just needs to continue beating good opponents and he’ll be back on top as soon as Hopkins slips or retires. Misses: Won’t fight again this year because of loaded HBO schedule. GEL: A simple, Floyd is second best of all in today’s game would do just fine, thank you. #3- Erik Morales (47-1, 34 KO’s) Hits: Took bout we all wanted him to: a rubber match with bitter rival Marco Antonio Barrera. Misses: Boxing’s typically disgusting politics led to him being stripped of one of his belts. GEL: Yo’ Dan’l … prefer them yesterday Carbo-mob tank jobs to the today honest but stupid split decisions do you? And rubber match or not, this one is a Morales gimme … that Manny Pac guy has reduced Marco from special to over the hill. #4- Antonio Tarver ( 22-2, 18 KO’s) Hits: He’s fan friendly and has a gift for gab that has endeared him to the media. Misses: Seeing Glen Johnson also destroy Roy Jones takes a little luster off what Tarver did. GEL: Don’t fret Danny boy, maybe Tarver, with all the gabbing talent that has him media favorite, can now convert from pugilist to politician. I mean, just where was that "Hail Mary" sleep inducer in first RJJ fite? Give me Tarver-Jones rubber match and you can have Morales-Barrera. #5- Winky Wright ( 47-3, 25 KO’s) Hits: After years of fighting in anonymity, beating Shane Mosley finally gave him recognition. Misses: Fall rematch with Mosley excites us about as much as a dentist appointment. GEL: Maybe I’m missing something here … beating Mosley gave Winky recognition but giving Saccharine Shane a return is a bummer? Especially with the "If he avenges Wright loss, Trinidad-Mosley is a huge fight" comments under your #7 ranked middleweight (USA Today Oct. 13 issue). #6- Juan Manuel Marquez (43-2-1, 33 KO’s) Hits: Rematch with Manny Pacquiao probably on tap for the first part of 2005. Misses: After such a high intensity draw with Pacquiao in May, looked stale vs. Orlando Salido. GEL: Juan Manuel and Pacquiao was a one of a kinder with a quick-fisted attacking southpaw with major league power and a solid seasoned veteran coming on during race to the wire. If there’s a cloaked message in the looking stale with Salido comment, don’t bother translating. GEL Questions? Comments? Write George Elsasser 10-15-2004 Brought to you by Saratogamist copyright 2001-2004