DAAAAAAAAAYUUM, YOU GOT K.T.F.O.!!
Dayyuuuuuuuuuuuum!! What a response to part
one; ya’ll had me KTFO! Just so you boxing junkies know, this
list was comprised long before you started hitting a brotha’s
mailbox- the feedback was so good that I’ve changed part 2 and
added an “honorable mentions” list to reflect your amazing
response. Like I said in part one, the knockout is not only
the most devastating show of “n’golo” in sports, it is also a
morbid elixir that soothes the resentment of a fighter’s
detractor. Fighters that make this list have achieved a
rarified status in that they compel YOU to call for their
demise in the most brutal of conclusions. I am sure these men
accepted that they can get KTFO as a part of their
occupational hazard but they can't afford to devote time
pondering it. No, that is an energy (morbid as may be)
exhausted by you the fan. I’ve felt it too (early 90’s
Chavez, what kind of fool was I?) so I didn’t do this list to
judge YOU the lifeblood of the sport. I simply put this piece
together as an observer of the power of passion and the
internet. There is also an additional hope (that most
“writers” have) to strike a nerve and entertain. So fight
fans, for better or for worse, Part 2 of “5 Fighters YOU
Want to See KTFO!!”
ANTONIO 'MAGIC
MAN' TARVER
Why? Some of you
are old holdovers from the RJJ regime; you were in your early
20’s when Roy became a super hero so part of your youth died
the night Tarver asked if there were any excuses. You're that
guy who won't admit Roy is old because you’re the same age or
older, you also don’t like talking about Kobe or Lebron. Yet
somewhere along the buildup to the third fight with Jones,
Tarver yanked the baton and gave many posters valid reasons to
fantasize his demise. Not shy on the mic, Antonio made no
secret that he intends to meet you head on and talk until you
call him “Legend Killer” just to get away from him.
Well, dust off
your Jordan’s, I’ll give everybody the real reasons you want
to see the Magic Man go POOF!
#1. The Roy Jones
stalker routine- At first it was kind of cool because you
wanted a brotha to rise up and call “Mr. Unwatchable” out,
Clubber Lange style. Antonio filled that void and he closed
the deal with legendary panache by KTFO the guy who was
without question #1 on this list circa 2004. From that point
on Tarver turned from nemesis to stalker as some of his
rhetoric on RJ bordered on the delusional. Take his insistence
that his KO of Jones somehow catapulted him to all time Light
Heavyweight status. Like most stalkers there’s a strange
“love/hate” dynamic beneath those scary unannounced visits.
Ok, Roy is a fraud that you exposed, yet this makes you Bob
Foster's superior? You hate guys that want to “have it both
ways” and you hate them more when they won’t shut up; they
bound themselves in knots of contradiction. Antonio often
portrayed Jones as inspiration and oppressor as if Jones was
actively involved in decisions Antonio made in his life
and career. Antonio is now chaffing at HBO’s insistence on
putting Roy in with Calzaghe in November. HBO should have
never “gone there” now we have to be subjected to Antonio’s
full-blown “Jan Brady syndrome.” You want somebody to put “Mr.
Rubber Legs” to bed so you can surf the boxing sites in peace.
#2. Rocky- After
watching him hold serve against a shell-shocked version of
Jones you were informed that the fight was an “audition” for
the unmerciful (mommy please, make grandpa stop) “Rocky”
series. Once again Tarver went after the role with gusto
because “big brother” (Jones) was rumored to be in the
running. I was pleasantly surprised (HGH is a helluva drug)
but you were disgusted because it meant a platform for Antonio
to do what he does best, talk about himself. The character
“Mason Dixon” was a self-absorbed modern champion who was, put
simply, hard to like. Man, how that guy can stretch out, what
range! He capped off the banner year ('06) by getting his ass
kicked by another old guy from Philly in Bernard Hopkins. The
Rocky box office bomb further continued when Antonio debased
his only Sports Center career moment by offering up-excuses
like he felt he was drugged! Ahhh, you fantasized, what if
Bernard could only hit a little harder!
#3. The Chad Dawson
Saga- 2007 was the year that Antonio made his return to “the
life of a boxer”- That damn Roy Jones was behind Denzel
getting the American Gangster role. Showtime threw him a bone
with a “tune-up” building towards a fight with young stud Chad
Dawson. Not only did he frustrate you by not taking the Dawson
fight - as if Showtime loves to throw away money; he opted for
another “tune-up” and then plummeted to the depths of self-delusion. It's one thing to say “I’m working my way back,
knocking the rust off” and it’s another to denigrate the guy
(with a belt) and claiming “all roads come through me!!” Not
to mention his baiting of Jeff Lacy, who coming off a serious
injury (and new to 175) has the good sense to work his way
back slowly. After Chad Dawson stepped up to the plate and
beat Glen Johnson, Tarver blatantly delighted in
fighting the guy after “The Road Warrior” softened him up. Not
that Oscar hasn’t made a career out of it but you want “Bad
Chad” to ice him for voicing this sentiment out loud. You want
Chad to lay him out so that when he claims he was drugged
again, you can say, “yeah drug out of the ring.”
Chances of Tarver
getting KTFO? 50%. I say that because Tarver had been knocked
down before and I believe his lanky frame at 39 is compromised
by making 175 lbs. An underrated defensive fighter, it will still
take a guy with aggression and a good set of whiskers to wear
him down. Here are the ways I can see it happening:
-
Glen Johnson and
HBO- Boxing -“the business”- is in constant upheaval, bouts can
be called off and alliances can be re instituted for a myriad
of reasons. By no stretch of the imagination is Glen Johnson
“not” in the middle of the Light Heavyweight mix. I would even
say that he is more in the mix than Tarver, despite the Magic
Man's sound beating of Clinton Woods. It hurt to see Johnson’s
post-fight Dawson interview but the truth is, if anything
happens to a Dawson/Tarver fight and HBO wants
Tarver/Johnson in the interim, it will happen. Johnson is
closer to the guy that rocked Antonio in both 2005 bouts, and
back then Antonio seemed to drown under the Miami fighter’s
pressure.
-
Chad Dawson-
Styles make fights and just because the Road Warrior took it
to Chad, there’s no guarantee Tarver will. Tarver likes to work
at a distance which favors the younger, faster man. Tarver also
won’t have the size/reach advantage that will allow him to sit
back behind a jab and time his man. Also, the Glen Johnson
experience may work against Tarver's exploitive instincts. He
thinks he has a man “softened up” for the kill but at 24 he
may have a young Champion propelled to another level by a
stern challenge. Remember, Tarver views himself as an “A-lister” who can target fighters “when” he thinks they are
ripe- a practice he despised and rallied against when he was
the outsider.
-
Attitude- Sorry
but in 10 years Antonio will be more famous for the red hot
intensity of his obsession with Jones. Only then did you take
him seriously and currently (even with title in tow) you don’t
ever see him being as dangerous as he was in his first two
fights with Roy. That guy had a hunger and a desire that
outweighed the obvious need for fair compensation. When you
listen to him talk now you hear a guy who won't own up to
nearly two years of coming in flat; that is a indicator of
someone who can easily be caught. Even Roy owned up to his
lack of enthusiasm during the latter stages of his career.
Antonio’s calling out of Calzaghe rings hollow and sounds like
a guy ranting and raving for money. If he can’t get Joe or
Chad in the ring, I can see him going for the “tune up cookie
jar” one time too many and getting himself “tuned up” in the
process.
MANNY PACQUIAO
Manny Pacquiao
Why? Hey, I just read the boards and report what I see. I don’t
even feel right writing this because what I see of him I like.
If anyone (in disposition) is an anomaly to this list, he’s the
one. But I believe the Filipino Banger’s recent success
against Mexican fighters and upcoming move up to lightweight
has rendered him a polarizing figure. When you look at his
résumé, what also screams out at you is this guy has been KTFO
twice before! Damn, you folks are cold hearted to wish it upon
him again. But I guess to make this list you not only have to
be doing something “wrong” in the eyes of fans you have to be
doing something right. The most lovable fighter on this list
is someone that in Bob Arum's voice: “Huge segment of fans” want
to see gobbled up by a Mexican. Any Mexican!
Here is what is
really sticking in the craw of many Mexican fans.
-
“The Mexican
Assassin” Nickname- The history of boxing is rooted in race
and jingoist hyperbole; if none of you knew this, you must not
be paying attention. Manny’s aspirations at featherweight
depended upon his performance against the all-time great triad
of Morales, Barrera and Marquez; if he succeeded he too would
be a “great.” Since his stunning 2003 blitzing of Barrera,
Mexican fans have taken personally that Pacquiao can’t be
stopped. With an added victory over Oscar Larios somewhere
along the way, the nickname “Mexican Assassin” was thrust upon
the Pacman. Mind you, this isn’t Roger Mayweather wearing the
sombrero, this is a guy who answers to “Pacman,” yet my Mexican
brothers are boiling with revenge fantasies. Bob Arum, the old
school promoter that he is, reared in the days when New York
Boxing thrived on ethnic rivalry, isn’t about to turn down the
heat. The same promoter who openly touts the Mexican market
(and was quoted as saying "black fighters don’t sell") wants
you to feel the way you do. Add the insane passion of Filipino
fans and you get some nasty stuff on message boards. You, as a
diehard Mexican fan, may even wish you could clone Julio Caesar
Chavez for a day to settle this score; but you’ll accept David
Diaz in the meantime.
-
The second
Marquez Victory- As far back as round 2 of the first Marquez
fight in 2004 you (the Mexican Fan) have had to witness two
“unjust” decisions. You feel Juan Manuel Marquez kicked Manny’s ass after
suffering three knockdowns in round 1 (of the first fight) and he
deserved the victory. You felt JMM deserved his asking price
for the rematch and that it should have taken place that year.
Afterwards, you watched JMM’s career appear on the back of a
milk carton while Manny became a star; a bitter pill to swallow
considering JMM was with Top Rank. Four years later it took
Golden Boy to bring him back from the dead and finally give
this “Mexican Assassin” his comeuppance. Damn if the second
Pacquiao victory hurt more than the draw because you thought
JMM was clearly ahead in rounds. The JMM ordeal is something
that convinces you more than ever that a point’s victory won’t
do the trick, the only way to stop this train is by knockout.
Chances of
Pacquiao getting KTFO? 30%. Listen, I don’t know the
circumstances behind Manny’s prior trips to the canvas but
they do indicate it can happen, again. The only thing to be
learned from a KO is that there is something you're susceptible
to. With that being said, let me see if I can venture a few
scenarios to give Mexican fans something warm and fuzzy to
hold on to.
-
Size- All of the
great smaller men have a tipping point, a weight they can’t
handle when trying to play the “Pound for Pound” game. Manny
started his career at 107 lbs. and at some point he’s going to
land that bazooka of a left hand and get a giggle in return.
Lightweight may be a place that Manny can't handle and David
Diaz could be the one to show him. Manny is so confident he’ll
beat Diaz, he didn’t even bother showing up to kick off the
promotion. Diaz, who is more Chicagoan to fans, was invited to
appear at Cinco de Mayo festivities in the “Windy City.” Think he
ain't the great tan hope? Even if Manny gets by Diaz,
there’s no picnic having to choose between Casamayor,
Campbell, Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis. I don’t see him
beating any of those guys and I haven’t even considered JMM
(who couldn’t miss Manny) being a stronger puncher at 135 lbs.
Although Manny is a great athlete he’s no defensive wizard,
he’s a hit first puncher who can get caught against a
counter-punching master like Casamayor.
-
Chaotic Lifestyle-
Is Manny self destructive in the way Tyson was? Noooo, but
dude is in serious need of a personal assistant. An icon in
the Philippines, Manny is torn into a million pieces by his
massive celebrity. One day the kinetic energy that is Pacman
will suffer from his lifestyle, and in boxing that one day is
usually a day too late. Many of us laugh at how easily we
burned the candle at both ends when we were young; we
learned as we got older that we can’t live this way anymore.
In boxing this lesson is usually realized when you’re sitting
on that stool telling Margaret Goodman (with her cute self)
how many fingers she’s holding up. Manny wouldn’t be the first
charismatic champion to live this lifestyle and suffer this
fate.
OSCAR DE LA HOYA
This ain't 2002
ladies, so don’t go into the “you're just jealous cuz he’s so
fine” routine. What I noticed about the current tenor of fight
fans is that they want DLH on the mat as a ritual of
sacrifice. That sacrifice will hurt a lot of wallets but it
will also eliminate the Golden Boy “sweepstakes” that prevent
the middle divisions from truly sorting themselves out. Two
people on this list are products of that Golden goose and
don’t think Pacman wouldn’t start wolfing down protein shakes
to be the third. Allow me to explain the reasons why you want
the sports biggest draw put on a shield going one way to the
locker room.
-
He won't set you
free- Seeing that twinkle in his eye when talking to Larry
Merchant about making a billion $ is a chilling thought. Oscar
is that charming SOB of an ex-spouse, no longer relevant but
still able to stroll through your front door and make out with
your equilibrium and credit card. You know this dance, and you
know how it ends but HBO (the abused) won’t let you turn away.
The guy is a big event junkie, noble of any promoter unless
that promoter is in the middle of the ring. You want
intervention, because neither of you can do what is right and
the only way Oscar will let you go is at the end of a fist.
Trust me, if he loses to Mayweather in impressive fashion
he’ll dial you up in 2009 and ask you to accept a clash with
Trinidad as his “true” retirement.
-
Impose a purse
“cap” and change business plans- How it is that everyone that
puts Oscar in their sights wants you to believe they are master
businessmen? Umm, my cousin Pooky can figure out Oscar is the
fight you want and he doesn’t even pay attention to boxing.
You believe he has a lot to give the sport but it won’t be in
the ring. But like many greats, only a sustained ass kicking
can convince him of such. If he were KTFO that would be better
because at 36 years of age, that kind of ending puts a cloud of risk over
stepping back through those ropes.
-
The Monopoly- You
ain't dumb, you see the purchase of Ring Magazine, the signing
of Juan Diaz (after his beat down loss to Campbell) and the
swallowing of HBO dates. Oscar plays (promoter) to win and
“winning” won't be good for fans of the sport. As long as Oscar
is standing upright he can barter his relevance as a “fighter”
to secure dates and sponsorship. On his ass, well let’s just
say that might be a little tricky proposition.
Chances of Oscar
getting KTFO? 50%- I look at it like this, he “says” he has
two
fights left and his glorified sparring session with Forbes
left him lumpy. Astute observers know that the pillow-fisted
Forbes should not have been able to bust Oscar up like that,
which may point to more things you thought you’d never see.
The greats are always betrayed from within; the same quality
that made them will indeed destroy them. Oscar is no
different- his passion to end strong is real but Mother
Nature’s dominion of us all is absolute. There are only two ways
I can see the Golden Boy getting KTFO and I’m willing to
forfeit future media credentials to tell you what they are.
-
Floyd Mayweather
is stronger than he looks. There were several times in the
first fight where Oscar was jarred by the straight right counters of
“Money.” Speed + Technique + timing = power. Oscar is
sacrificing to keep his “WAW” (walk around weight) down to
seek his revenge. I don’t believe he will be the welterweight
puncher of old in the second fight; just a shriveled up version
of himself. Many of us can get to our high school weight, but
we won’t take strength and vitality with us. Floyd
Mayweather’s “WAW” is 150 lbs and if this fight is for Floyd's
147 lbs. Ring/GBP strap Floyd is the stronger guy. Had Floyd
pushed the envelope in the first fight I wouldn’t be writing
this article today.
-
Anything ending in
Margarito or Cotto. Listen, there are some places not meant for
old folks and in front of one these guys is such a place.
Shane Mosley is a freak - an exception, Oscar never (even in his
prime) could be mistaken for one. Both fighters (Cotto and
Margarito), even after they try to kill one another in July
will have enough in the tank to knock Oscar off. If Oscar is
allowed a moral victory in September, I can see him
thinking he can get by one of these young lions on superior
boxing skills alone. That will be a huge mistake; he then will
have broken Boxing's “golden” rule (the one that even Evander adheres
to) which is… “Stay out of young (“hungry”) folks business.”
The Honorable
Mentions you sent me via e mail:
Roy Jones- Some of
you say you wouldn’t mind seeing him go down again, ugh! Now
that’s wrong.
Zab Judah- When
has a man had enough? Let him be an underachiever in peace!
John Ruiz- since Tua starched him, the heavyweight took a vow
to suck the life out of every fight he’s in and you resent him
for it!?!
Questions? Comments? Email Martin Wade
here
~~Editor's Note: In case you missed Part One, click here~~
5-8-2008
