Aiiiiiiiiiiiiight fight fans! 2007 was a banner year and pretty damned good for a sport that was “dying.” Lesson #1 when someone and/or something in (perceived) direct competition with you (for a job, a woman, money) prophesizes your doom that doesn’t make it fact. In truth, propaganda is only a “tool” utilized in war, it doesn’t guarantee victory. Haven’t we endured enough smack talk from boxers to know the difference between talk and reality? Now we’re in 2008 and lo  and behold there’s been a Roy Jones sighting, and I mean a big one, with 500,000 pay per view buys in the bank! That’s enough to give "Magic Man" Antonio Tarver and B-Hop the  “Jan Brady syndrome” - Marsha Marsha Marsha! So, without further delay, let me kick off the New Year and show you fight fans how to move your hands and hustle.
 

THE FULL PADWORK!
 

• Jones vs. Trinidad Certified Gold at 500,000 Buys

What can I say? The old rooster showed flashes of what made him a major content provider in the 90’s and early 00’s. Tito exorcized a few ghosts early on by taking some patented whacks at Superman’s midriff but once he failed to dent Roy’s chin, it was over. It was nostalgic to see a facsimile of a guy that pound for pound IS the greatest athlete to ever lace 'em up. Roy, although faded, is probably faster than 90% of active fighters even in the lower divisions. What's funny is Roy’s newfound willingness to fight anybody, anytime, anywhere. Come again? Ain't that like the old girlfriend who frustrated you to no end (when she had options) coming back depreciated and wanting to act right? Umm, Roy we could have used that when you were in your prime, yet you chose to fight off-duty security guards and told us we should like it.

Roy seems to think the good Lord (and not Tito) had something to do with all of those PPV buys that night. OK, so God is guiding a man's earthly endeavor in the chosen profession of putting hands on other men. OK, I’ll bite Roy, God is guiding your career, but answer me this one. If God is in the boxing advisory business then who is Al Haymon? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Now Mr. Untouchable wants the winner of Pavlik/Taylor, Calzaghe/Hopkins and Oscar de la Hoya at 166! Poor Chad Dawson, he doesn’t fit into that old, small or the entire above category; he’s just the best light heavyweight in the damn word. Truthfully, if I were the winner of Taylor/Pavlik I would look for a match up with Felix Trinidad. The money would  be there and I don’t think Tito knows this, but, he’s not shot. Trinidad is in dire need of some good, old-fashioned matchmaking at this stage of his career. Pavlik or Taylor would come to him, allowing him to do what he does best,  and boxing fans would be treated to a great scrap. But if he wants to save himself for the possibility of a December swan song with Oscar maybe he can get at John Duddy. I would rather cash the kid (Duddy) out in MSG against a past-his-prime Trinidad than put him in with a killer like Pavlik.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, Hopkins can’t beat Roy Jones. If B-Hop pulls off the upset against the “Wonder of Wales” he’ll negotiate with Roy by offering him a 98-2 split. Oscar, ever the business man, will have to call Bernard to the office and point out the Winky Wright PPV numbers. I also don’t think Calzaghe will beat Roy up like some believe, because even at 39 Roy is the one old guy Joe can't out speed.
 

• The Undercard, Short and Sweet

Big ups to Alex Bunema; his performance in knocking off former belt holder Roman Karmazin was inspiring. It just goes to show whether a solid pro is a “stay busy” fighter is entirely up to him. His excitement after the fight and the press conference was inspirational. Hopefully, he’ll get a shot at the winner of Spinks-Phillips and stay away from being used as fodder for up and coming middleweights.

Devon Alexander did what he had to do but something tells me he won’t get any “shine” with Juan Diaz, the Peterson brothers and Carlos Ortiz in the mix. Why is it that he reminds me of an Oba Carr type, a guy who has all of the tools but somehow ends up a competitive stepping stone for more famous peers? I could be wrong; the great thing is dude is younger than a lot of the appliances in my kitchen.

Andrew Golota vs. Mike Mollo (AKA “Mesi- Chicago”) was entertaining in a club quality sort of way. That’s no knock on either combatant, for it’s the club shows that feed our sport. Golota is in a word “compelling” because he brings a certain drama; whether it's going tooth and nail with a slippery Chris Byrd or saying “to hell with this” against Iron Mike. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Foul Pole get it on with Shannon Briggs in a co-main in the near future. Why not under Duddy/Trinidad? 
 

• Povetkin/Chambers

Is it me or do both of these young heavies possess a lot of the skills we’ve lost sight of, the ones that used to be common in the glamour division? Chambers is a relaxed fighter and he works behind a serviceable jab…when he wants to.

Povetkin is all heart and he lets his hands go in an era when everybody is so afraid of being countered and made to “look bad.” In the second half of that fight Povetkin didn’t care if he was risking getting countered; he did what he had to do. I don’t believe Chambers should move down to cruiserweight behind this performance.

There’s still a long list of guys that would wilt in the face of his sharp shooting attack. It’s a lesson learned, and if he faces a guy of Povetkin's ilk (as if there are plenty at heavyweight) he should bring his lunch pail and a DVD of Toney-Jirov. Hopefully young fighters will learn from this fight that it’s not always about “looking good.” Rocky Marciano built a legend on hitting whatever was available to be hit. American heavyweights aren’t missing the talent of their European counterparts, yet they simply lack what my mamma used to call “go git it.” Bravo to both young guns for taking the fight; hopefully the powers in boxing will create incentive for young prospects to put it on the line more often.

NEWSFLASH
 

• Zab Judah is a Promotional Free Agent.

OK... (eyes rolling)... I’m gonna say this really slow so Zab and his Super Cartel can understand. You can start your own promotional company when you WIN MAAAAAAN!

Would somebody explain to Zab he’s an opponent? You can’t start a record company when you ain't got no damn hits! Well, you can, but don’t tell everybody, and expect not to hear stuff like this. I mean, how can you lose most of your big fights and demand a promoter’s share of the revenue? You ain't Oscar! Then to make matters more comical than the number of chances Judah gets, he wins a “pissing away $” contest against Mayweather 50,000-7,000 at some swanky Hollywood joint. Looks like Floyd suckered Zab into “blowing his wad” again - decision Mayweather.  Note to both of these cats: if Mike Tyson could blow his roll, so can you. At least Mike had a live tiger to show for his lack of financial prudence.
 

• Cotto Stays Busy, Williams, Floyd and B-Hop the Racist

I’m not hating on Cotto taking “The Contender” into a dark alley with a bag of nickels. “PR-Supastar” just went 12 hard ones against the Sugar Man and this fight is merely a late night snack to the feast of Margarito vs Cintron. I’m not hating on this match up like most scribes because underestimating a Puerto Rican-Mexican match up is like underestimating any other sports rivalry when one team is down. After that, Cotto will be faced with a big, broad shouldered welterweight primed to take him out. All of this sorting out at welterweight will commence with the angular one (Paul Williams) taking on Carlos Quintana February 9^th. While Floyd (I tried not to mention him) readies himself for his daddy “putting family business out in the street” in September, here are my thoughts on that division. History has shown us that all of the great artists of the ring are finally beaten by less talented foes. Floyd Mayweather’s “situation” with Cotto is time sensitive, not money sensitive. Floyd is slowly becoming a pocket fighter practicing just spurts of mobility. By late 2009 or early 2010, however long he wants to play this game, he will risk going in the ring with slippage. He won’t retire (not with that ego) and trust me there’s a reason he wanted Arum to feed him Cotto back in 2005.

Now that it is vogue to call Bernard Hopkins a racist, let me offer some perspective. Bernard Hopkins and black men of his age are only one generation removed from the civil rights movement. “We” grew up in the 70’s with a chip on our shoulders, passed down from our parents (and grandparents) who still remembered Jim Crow.  What they wanted for us, in a lot of cases, was to never have to turn tail and run from a person “just” because that person happened to be white. This manifested itself in the schoolyard(s) and I remember relatives saying the very same words (to me) Hopkins directed at Calzaghe. I think it’s funny when brothas act all offended like they’ve never heard that mantra before.

That being said, I grew up, traveled and developed my own sense of values but I never judged my parents for “the times.” What is shocking about Bernard’s statement is the immaturity of it all. He’s not a black kid being bused into a white school, circa 1974. He’s a grown man who (with his income) should be a lot more refined than you or I. The lesson he is about to learn from Joe Calzaghe is one that he’s been on a collision course with since he first started talking smack. There are other legends active today; other fighters that are not only champions but truly gifted, and (regardless of race) Calzaghe is one of them. Hopkins may say he’s promoting the fight but that’s what Ali said in defense of his antics before the first Frazier bout. How’d that work out for you champ?
 

• What I’m Looking Forward to in February 2008

I’m going to try to check out Brock Lesnar's UFC debut at a friend's Saturday night. Hopefully I will be able to appreciate what the great MMA athletes have to offer, without my buddies trying to make me swear off boxing. I’m morbidly curious as to whether Kendal Holt can put together enough punches to actually stop Ben Tackie on the VERSUS network on February 7th. On February 8th, Darnell Wilson vs. BJ Flores will be ESPN's first competitive offering. Hopefully Teddy Atlas will be back then, and hopefully he will refuse to be muzzled. February 9th brings us “countdown to Taylor vs. Pavlik 2” after the Paul Williams - Andre Berto doubleheader. I want to see what the hell all the hammering on tires is about. Is that supposed to be the new “photo op” workout? Ayo get that shot of me hammering this tire so they know I mean business.

Latin Fury - Geesh, you’d think these promoters never heard of youtube. I’m interested in the development of young guys like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., but not at that price. Deals with internet websites for up and comers, regional cards and “off TV” bouts of PPV’s is the last frontier. Get it done Chief!

I also have the birthdays of my best friend (2/3), my son and my main squeeze (2/7), my mamma (2/13) and my baby sister (2/20).  

On the 16^th Pavlik and Taylor get on at 166 lbs and on PPV? This is not a PPV worthy event but the Castillo vs. Montiel scrap will be a great match up for fans of the little guys. On February 23rd Wlad Klitschko will take on Sultan Ibragimov in the Mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden. It’s good to see that the tickets are moving briskly for a unification scrap between two European champs in the “Big Apple.” Don’t sleep on Robert “the Ghost” Guerrero vs. Jason Litzau on Showtime Championship Boxing February 29. 'The Ghost' is focused on getting the most out of his talent and the “American Boy” is focused on blowing his.