Bernard Hopkins (45-2-1, 32 KOs)
Hits: Can become one of the few champions - including the great Joe Louis
- to make 20 consecutive title defenses if he beats Howard Eastman on Feb.
19.
Misses: He’s from Philadelphia, and the historic bout has been placed in
Los Angeles instead of in the East.
GEL: Yo Danny, spare us the meaningless relativity to a Joe Louis in
consecutive title defenses. And with most viewers watching via the cable TV
route, matters not where this one is being held.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (33-0, 22 KOs)
Hits: Looked awesome last month, albeit against overmatched Henry
Bruseles.
Misses: This week’s no-contest plea on assault charge could derail a June
Gatti fight.
GEL: Agree the Bruseles affair was vintage Mayweather showcase stuff.
Hope is the Gatti fight takes place. Ideal for a Mayweather stepping stone to
bigger and better things.
Kostya Tszyu (31-1, 25 KOs)
Hits: Like a true champion, he’s going on the road to fight Ricky Hatton
in Hatton’s home town of Manchester, England.
Misses: It’s not Tszyu’s fault, but we feel bad for the Manchester
faithful because of local 2 a.m. starting time.
GEL: Look, I too like all there is to about Tszyu the man and fighter …
all blue collar. But what’s this like a true champion, going on the road for a
Hatton backyard fight, nonsense? Your USA Today rankings order has "Hit Man"
Hatton at number eleven - below recent losers Spinks, Mitchell, not to
mention a #10 still in development stage Kermit Cintron. As for early to bed,
early to rise, Manchester Hatton fans, there’s no gun to the head mandatory
for viewing.
Winky Wright (48-3, 25 KOs)
Hits: Landed the biggest fight of his career - A May showdown with the
great Felix Trinidad.
Misses: Wright will be the underdog, but that’s never stopped him before.
GEL: Agree Trinidad will be as big as it gets for Wright … but wrong, and
not right, if winning is priority. Not about "underdog" but about moolah for
Winky.
Marco Antonio Barrera (59-4, 41 KOs)
Hits: Regained elite status with thrilling win over bitter rival Erik
Morales.
Misses: Going from that mega fight to one with undeserving unknown
Mzonke Fana is a big disappointment.
GEL: The Barrera resumé speaks for itself … reservations have long been
made at Canastota. At this point in career is entitled to a gimme, if, in fact
this Fana is as you describe an unworthy challenger. I suppose a Pacquiao
repeater is more to your liking … along with return of public hangings in the
town square.
Erik Morales (47-2, 34 KOs)
Hits: Instead of sulking over close loss to Barrera, went out and got
another huge fight, this one with Manny Pacquiao.
Misses: Slow start cost him decision against Barrera.
GEL: What he went and did, Danny Boy, is grab a hot potato PPV off a
loss - and as for the opinion that a slow start was what cost Morales the win
sort of translates to Monday morn’ quarterbacking more than anything else.
We’ll just never know how it might have played out over them championship
rounds, had Erik jumped from the gate ala Citation, Sea Biscuit or War
Admiral.
