Mailbag…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Sorry for the delay, fight fans. Got a little caught up in other areas the last couple of days. Now for the first installment of the Boneman’s Mailbag (a big high five to someone who comes up with a creative name).
FightFanMoon asks my assessment of Oklahoma boxers?
Without question, no one can touch Allan Green at this point. His falling out with Tony Holden does not take away from his natural talent and skills. The super middleweight from Tulsa can be a world champion. But right now, he just needs to get back in the ring. He’s wasting a prime year of his life with these promotional issues.
After that, there’s a dropoff for sure, but there are still some solid names such as Grady Brewer, Carson Jones and George Tahdooahnippah. There are questions for each (Grady’s age, George’s opposition level and Carson’s focus), but each provides that certain something that makes you want to show up to a fight.
Now if you ask me in six months, names like Kyle Sherman and Noah Zuhdi might be thrown in, especially Kyle. He’s just waiting for that right opportunity. Sadly in boxing, you can spend your whole career just waiting.
Pappy asks if I’m crazy for thinking Brock Lesnar can take out Randy Couture?
I’ve been called worse. I remember Brock at Minnesota, so I just think of what a physical specimen he is. But of course, Couture has the experience and knowledge to make Brock’s night a forgettable one. It’s their old cliche of Couture has forgotten more about MMA than Brock even knows.
The buzz for this is going to be something the sports world has not seen from MMA. This is a legit Super Fight, and Dana White knows this is his time to strike. Nov. 15, OU is off and OSU is at Colorado, no reason for my Oklahoma brothers to miss this showdown on PPV. I’ll have a boatload more to say about this fight as it gets closer, but right now I’m leaning toward Couture.
Some e-mails. David in California asks who is my favorite Ninja Warrior contestant (this goes back to me saying former OU gymnast Jonathan Horton would make a great contestant)?
There are so many to choose from. It’s sad that you reach the point where you feel like you know those guys. They build courses in their backyard and stuff like that. It’s kinda nuts.
For my money, you can’t top Shingo Yamamoto aka the gas station man. We’ve watch him advance in his days at the gas station from attendant to manager, and he’s always there. He’s starting to get a lil old as well, but he’s always fun to watch.
Bill in Kansas asks who are my favorite boxers today?
I’ll never believe he’s retired, so Floyd Mayweather is going to top that list 11 times out of 10. Ever since he battered Angel Manfredy in 1998, I’ve been riding his wave. I’m in awe of the things he can do in a boxing ring.
But if Floyd has called it quits (he hasn’t), Manny Pacquiao is right near the top as is Paul Williams and Kelly Pavlik.
PacMan is never involved in a dull fight and has just taken on an insane list of who’s who in the fight game in the last few years. Williams is a freak at welterweight and couldn’t have made a better debut at middleweight Thursday night with a first round KO. I’ve always gotten mad at him about not sitting on his punches. Looks like he is starting to do that. Pavlik because he is one of the most personable guys around. The blue-collar aspect definitely rings true, and he is an Ohio boy as well. I don’t know what I would like to see more, Williams vs. Pavlik or Calzaghe vs. Pavlik.
Jenny in Tennessee asks about some of my favorite fights?
Hey, I have a female reading the site, whoo hoo. Seriously, that’s almost as tough as asking an all-time fighter list. There are so many.
Let’s see, I’ll just throw some out there. If anyone wants to know why these have been chosen, comment or send me an e-mail and maybe I’ll do a follow-up.
The entire Israel Vazquez and Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy, Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo I, Erik Morales-Marco Antonio Barrera I, Pernell Whitaker-Julio Cesar Chavez, Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson I, Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali I, Oscar de La Hoya-Fernando Vargas, Tito Trinidad-Fernando Vargas, Ivan Robinson-Arturo Gatti I & II, Hasim Rahman-Lennox Lewis I, Holyfield-Riddick Bowe trilogy. Wow, I could go on and on and on. It’s almost sad, I bet I could name more than 100 fights within 10 minutes that I absolutely love and have watched multiple times on my created DVDs.
Jeff in Texas asks my prediction for Kimbo and Ken Shamrock next week?
I won’t make any bones about it. I am pulling for Shamrock with everything in me. And it’s not because I don’t like Kimbo or appreciate what he can bring to MMA. I’ve always had that soft spot for Ken, going back to his WWE days in the late ’90s. Unfortunately, I don’t think he has anything left. Now I’m more or less just hoping Ken is physcially OK after the fight.
Tyrone in Mississippi asks will there ever be another major player in MMA besides UFC?
Excellent question. I don’t think so, but I’m not necessarily sure it’s not a good thing. Dana White is showing he knows what he’s doing. Elite XC is struggling beyond belief. HDNet has just offered to buyout the IFL (International Fight League). I’m no businessman, so I don’t know what’s going on here.
Competition is good but competent competition is much better. Perhaps Affliction is on the right path with the partnership with Golden Boy. We’ll see. It’s just so tough to stay afloat these days.
Appreciate the questions and keep ‘em coming. Next week is Shamrock and Kimbo, and we’re getting closer to Chad Dawson and Antonio Tarver and Bernard Hopkins and Kelly Pavlik. It’s a great fall for fight fans.
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Hope to see more of these. Between the mailbag and the random thoughts, the blog has been very engaging and sharp. As much as I like and/or respect your position on the various subjects, I humbly disagree on your take of the De la Hoya-Beristein boxer-trainer connection. At Oscar’s peak, he was a guy who could box circles around you (the Tito Trinidad) and blindside you with that sludgehammer-like left hook of his (Ike Quartey)–the classic boxer-puncher style. Maybe I’m wrong, but Juan Manuel Marquez (Beristein’s guy) at his best was a heck of a boxer-puncher. With all that being said, I have a question: Do you have an early prediction for PacMan-De la Hoya?