At The Weigh-In, Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez Gets More Fraudulent

(This entry, or some version of it once more information becomes available, will post to The Queensberry Rules boxing blog, which is having technical problems, later.)

Whatever interest Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez had, it has to have a lot less now after the weigh-in, where Marquez weighed 142 pounds and Mayweather weighed 146, scratching the consensus view that the bout was to be held at 144. Marquez was already making a big leap up from lightweight, and those extra pounds count all the more because of it. Marquez was a serious underdog from the start. He has to be even more of one now.
You have to wonder if this wasn’t always part of the plan. For reasons that the boxing press could ever really determine – a massive failure of said boxing press, it must be noted – nobody would ever go on the record and say what the weight was. Contradictory reports abounded for months, with some writing that the bout was at the welterweight limit of 147 but most writing that it was 144.
The higher the weight limit, the less the boxing public would have bought in to the fight, because it translates to a lesser chance for Marquez winning, and people were already skeptical of his chances anyway. Who wants to pay $50 to watch a mismatch? So, keep the figure under wraps, give the people an illusion that this will be competitive.
But it probably goes beyond marketing. Mayweather may never have intended to make 144. Reporter Dan Rafael said on ESPN News today according to Twitter pal @T_MONEY_TX – and you have to take it with a grain of salt, because as good as Rafael usually is, he, like everyone, kind of got hoodwinked here – that the limit was changed last night from 144 (as Rafael’d reported it would be quite vigorously) to 147.
Even if everyone who reported the 144 limit all along merely got the wool pulled over their eyes – that somehow, it was always, as others reported, 147 – this makes Mayweather even more of a joke of a fighter. To insist on a 147-pound limit at any point against a 135-pound man betrays, once again, just how much Mayweather is afraid of a challenge. Alternately, Mayweather "couldn't" make weight and he's unprofessional. No matter what it is, he sucks.
Everyone who’s said anything about this should be ashamed of themselves. I raged for weeks about the boxing press not getting this nailed down, but I guess I should have done it more. I ran with the 144 pound assumption after everyone in the boxing press said they had it on good authority. I apologize to the readers of this blog for my role in misleading them. It makes everything I’ve written this week suspect.
I have a really bad taste in my mouth about all this right now. The only thing that will get rid of it is if Marquez overcomes the increasingly insurmountable odds and wipes the canvas with Mayweather’s head.

Seven Punch Combo On Indefinite Hiatus, See Me At www.mvn.com/boxing

It's gotten a little burdensome maintaining both sites -- here and where I do most of my blogging, www.mvn.com/boxing -- so I'm going to put Seven Punch Combo on indefinite hiatus.

If you link to me now, please switch over to www.mvn.com/boxing, also known as "Ring Report."

I'm mainly leaving this up as a storehouse to some of my former writing from here on out, although there's a chance I could come back some day, I guess.

But in lieu of that, thanks to everyone who's provided me support and stopped by. It was fun, using 7PC as a way to get started in the blogging world.

The Week In Boxing, 1/7/08: Malignaggi's rough outing, Mayweather's bad rapping and more

Let's just pretend it's Sunday and act like this didn't happen.

• In the biggest fight of the week, Pauli Malignaggi barely won a junior welterweight (140 lbs.) title defense against Herman Ngoudjo. Few different opinions on that. I actually read somewhere that someone thought this could help him get a big fight with Ricky Hatton by looking more hittable. Ridiculous. I say he hurt himself, but maybe not much. Others, like Maxboxing, saw it as a big, big setback. I don't know that it's that bad for him, but there's no way he helped himself, right?
• In other results, super middleweight (168 lbs.) contender Allan Green coasted to victory over Rubin Williams. About time to see Green in against a titlist. The Peterson Bros. took care of business in typical fashion. Time for them to get a title shot, too. Pint-sized puncher Brian Viloria (108 lbs.) got back in the win column.
  
• Looks like a few very good fights are on track as of the last week. Two of them are light heavweights (175 lbs.) on the same date, alas: Chad Dawson -- the talented youngster -- will take on Glen Johnson -- the tough-as-nails vet -- on April 12; so, too, will Bernard Hopkins (likely) take on Joe Calzaghe in a battle of two top five pound-for-pound bests. Hopkins/Calzaghe could fall apart at any minute, though. Not as significant, but potentially more entertaining than both of those scraps put together, is the Roberto Guerrero/Jason Litzau featherweight (126 lbs.) showdown.
• Then there are a few fights that have come up this last week that are in various degrees of "maybe." Hatton and 130-pound star Manny Pacquiao are showing real interest in squaring off, which would be fascinating if it weren't for the fact that there's a very real chance Pacquiao will lose to Juan Manuel Marquez in March, let alone subsequent bouts at higher weights to set up the Hatton meeting. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, fellas. I'd love to see welterweight (147 lbs.) contenders Zab Judah and Antonio Margarito get it on, as discussed. And Kassim Ouma-Cornelius Brundrage is a 154-pound crossroads fight. I wouldn't mind seeing, either.
• Boxing lost one of its own when Korean former titlist Yo-Sam Choi died last week. I've avoided the topic because generic sympathies from me would mean little, and I've already said what I have to say about ring deaths in general. But it's a sad occasion.
• Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s video is out. Review: I've heard worse rappers, but he's far short of very good. Nice beat, crappy video. Also, the calls are pretty unanimous for him to stay the hell away from mixed martial arts. I'd agree more but don't want to play into the publicity stunt. Suffice it to say that Mayweather'd just be better at focusing on boxing over whatever else he's doing, from running a practically non existent record label to not doing a very good job promoting other boxers.
• On a personal note, Deadspin picked up one of my mvn.com/boxing links. Excellent.
• Only meaningful fights on the horizon are separate super middleweight clashes involving Edison Miranda and Jean Pascal Friday night to set up a possible fights against each other. Miranda could get a rough go of it stylistically from David Banks first, but if you like brawls, you're rooting for Miranda and Pascal to win Friday so the fight can go through.

It always works out when athletes become rappers.

The Week In Boxing, 12/30/07: Beware The Left Hook, Magic Man On Deck And More

Rushing out like James Kirkland, no defense and no nonsense...

• All the end-of-the-year award roundups are floating out. There's The Ring, there's ESPN, and then there's everyone else. So what have we learned? Welterweight (147 lbs.) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is a popular choice for Fighter of the Year. I can dig it on one level, because beating Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya in the two biggest fights of the year is a good argument for him. But I liked the years of Miguel Cotto, a fellow welterweight, and Kelly Pavlik, a middleweight (160 lbs.), better for the extra win each collected and the fact that they were both in fight of the year candidates. What else? Judging by the list of knockout of the year candidates over at ESPN, beware the left: 13 of the 21 candidates came on left hooks or straight lefts, a skewed statistic given the deficit of southpaws in boxing. Also, judging by the SecondsOut.com readers' pick for worst decision of the year (middleweight win for Jermain Taylor over Cory Spinks), they're as blind as the judges who gave lightweight (135 lbs.) Joel Casamayor his win over Jose Armando Santa Cruz.
• I updated some of my links along the side rail -- boxing and non-boxing. Check out the book/music reviews of Corduroy Books, the boxing musings of No Mas, and the aforementioned Seconds Out for the simple fact that Thomas Hauser writes for them. And more. P.S.: I felt crazy for leaving Ricky Hatton in my top 10 "pound for pound" list after everyone else dropped him, but The Ring has him even higher than I do. I'm assuming it's on the merits.
  
• I've already recapped some of the busy week for the cruiserweights (200 lbs.) over at mvn.com/boxing -- first Steve Cunningham forced the corner of Marco Huck to throw in the towel, then we get a big, big March match-up in David Haye versus Enzo Maccarinelli... and then, last night, Tomasz Adamek beat a nobody in a tune-up. I don't know if Adamek's big enough to make noise in the division, but he's worthy keeping an eye on.
• Likewise, I've already addressed the Mayweather-MMA chatter, but I'm now thoroughly convinced that it's mere bluster.
• And last on my list of retreaded turf: Roy Jones Jr. visited the Knicks for a practice in the week prior, and somehow, few made the connection between two former greats falling on hard times.
• The first meaningful fight of 2008 is upon us Saturday -- the inaugural title defense for 140-pound belt-holder Pauli Malignaggi, against Herman Ngoudjo on Showtime. I really, really like Paulie, who's got a warrior's heart and excellent skills but the punch of Peach Schnapps. On the other end of the scale is Allan Green, the opposite of Malignaggi in charisma but a mean puncher, who'll be in a super middleweight (168 lbs.) battle with a significant opponent in Rubin Williams Friday night on ESPN2. And the vaunted Peterson brothers are in against decent competition Friday night, too, on Showtime.
  

Go, Paulie, go!

Broken Promises, But Just By A Little

Already, my vow to post once a week is broken, by a day.

I'd intended to put up a little "No post this week, happy holidays!" thing Sunday, but it will have to come today....

No post this week, happy holidays!

Enjoy this footage of people getting punched just before eating.

Last Week In Boxing, 12/15/07: More Mayweather-Hatton Aftermath, And Too Much Jumping The Gun?

For no apparent reason, the beautiful photo above of a kangaroo punching a strange creature as someone in a basketball jersey looks on has been horribly disfigured by blogger.com. You know, you try to give the people want they want, and the people are unanimous: That picture is the only thing I really have going for me. So I'm upset about that.

Boxing's hit the end-of-the-year doldrums, so it doesn't have much going for it right now, either, but there still are a few things to talk about, so let's get to it.

• Over at mvn.com/boxing, we've handed out our year-end awards already. Maybe we're jumping the gun, but as I said, we reserve the right to alter them. We gave out awards for Fighter of the Year; Knockout of the Year; Round of the Year; and Fight of the Year. Then I gave out a roundup of awards, some serious and some not. Although I stick by my pick for "Best Fight Between A Man And A Bear." Where possible, we included clips of our picks, so you can get caught up on plenty of good boxing in 2007.
  
• Dear Bernard Hopkins: All of us want you to knock off the racism. Everyone just wants you to fight "white boy" Joe Calzaghe. If it was promotional bluster, it still isn't cool. If the fight happens (at light heavyweight, 175 lbs.), you may very well find yourself unable to "go back to the projects" because if Jermain Taylor outpointed you simply by being busier, wait until you get a load of Calzaghe's perpetual motion.
  
• More Floyd Mayweather, Jr.-Ricky Hatton aftermath: Mayweather encouraged Hatton to retire in light of his loss in their welterweight (147 lbs.) showdown, fearing Hatton could end up like, say, a Fernando Vargas who fought in too many wars. I say: Nah. Hatton's nowhere near that yet, and could still have some nice fights at 140 lbs. Maybe without his trainer, Billy Graham. If he looks bad in his next fight, I might jump on the "Hatton retire" bandwagon. As it is, there are few good 140-pound bouts Hatton could/might make. I like the idea of a bout with Paulie Malignaggi, since it would sell out Madison Square Garden with both British Hatton fans and NYC Malignaggi fans, plus the contrast of styles would likely deliver fireworks. I'd like to see Hatton versus fellow countryman Junior Witter eventually, but Witter's style could give Hatton headaches, and there's personal animosity there, so I doubt that'll happen; if Hatton takes it, I'll be very impressed. Hatton might want a rematch with Mayweather, but that's pride talking. It'd be exactly the same. Manny Pacquiao seems intent on constantly moving up in weight, and there's been some talk of a Hatton fight. I'd prefer Manny stay at 130 lbs., but I can't deny the money-making appeal of this one. And the previously discussed fight with Oscar De La Hoya just shouldn't happen, given the size differential. Mayweather-De La Hoya II is more feasible, but I'm simply not interested. I want Mayweather in against the following, in this order: Miguel Cotto; Shane Mosley; and if he truly wants to do this middleweight (160 lbs.) experiment, Winky Wright. If he does all that, and wants to keep fighting, I'd be OK with a De La Hoya rematch, or a fight with Vernon Forrest, or young welterweight gun Paul Williams, or welterweight vet Antonio Margarito.
  
• Larry Holmes finally made it into the Hall of Fame. What took so freaking long?
• There's going to be a Rocky Marciano biopic. I don't see much in producer Morris S. Levy's credits to ensure it'll be as good as "Ray," his ambition, but maybe Yahoo! Movies is sucky.
  
• A few bouts of moderate importance over the weekend. Hot young fighters Jorge Linares (featherweight, 126 lbs.) and Edwin Valero (junior lightweight, 130 lbs.) won rather easily, according to the news accounts, with Valero demolishing his no-name opponent to continue his gaudy KO streak and Linares scoring what Bad Left Hook called a candidate for "knockout of the year." Meanwhile, Alex Arthur (junior lightweight) had an unexpectedly tough night in what Eastsideboxing called a candidate for "fight of the year." Maybe we did give out those awards too soon.
  
• I could hardly be madder about Don King standing in the way of a sure-fire 2008 "fight of the year" candidate. That relic needs to get out of the way of a February lightweight (135 lbs.) showdown between Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis. I don't care about the contract he has with Diaz; King lost the purse bid to promote the fight to Golden Boy fair and square.
  
• Boxing historian Hank Kaplan died.
• Evander Holyfield and long-time trainer Ronnie Shields have parted ways. Maybe this'll go one step further toward convincing the thick-headed former heavyweight great that it just isn't going to happen for him, but I doubt it.
  
• What's with Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor already looking for what's next after their February rematch? This fight (at a catchweight of 166 lbs.) is too important and dangerous to both. Sure, Pavlik would ruin John Duddy in a big-money meeting. And sure, Jermain could make a lot of dough against Calzaghe. But, I mean, come on. Focus, boys.
  
• Boxing's week ahead: Joshua Clottey and Shamone Alvarez in a welterweight fight is about the only thing on the ledger, for Dec. 20, on Vs. Network. I don't know Alvarez, but I like Clottey -- he's a tough, skilled, hard-hitting guy who was a hand injury away from upsetting Margarito this year. If he wins, he's in line for a title fight with Kermit Cintron or maybe even Cotto in March, so it's a not-insignificant bout.

Nothing says "class" like a man in a tuxedo and gold chain, and there's nothing more I want in a landlord than someone who shows up to my door in boxing gloves, but "The Easton Assassin" is extremely Hall of Fame-worthy.

Last Week In Boxing, 12/9/07: The Big Fight Delivers, Some Up And Comers Come Up, Another Ill-Considered Comeback Possibility And More

Let's do this one old school gossip column-style. The news is in the first sentence of each item, and my commentary comes after.

Item!: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. knocks out Ricky Hatton in a superfight at welterweight (147 lbs.). And it was actually good. And Mayweather was exciting, too. Here's hoping Mayweather doesn't retire as threatened; we need to see him in against Miguel Cotto. Oscar De La Hoya looms for Hatton, but De La Hoya's too big for Hatton, if Mayweather was. My complete coverage of Saturday night is at Ring Report.

Item!: Jeff Lacy (super middleweight, 168 lbs.) beats Peter Manfredo by unanimous decision, Daniel Ponce De Leon (junior featherweight, 122 lbs.) does the same to Eduardo Escobedo and Edner Cherry (lightweight, 135 lbs.) KOs Wes Ferguson in the boringest undercard ever. Lacy looked rusty. I'll give him one more chance at it before abandoning all hope, even if it's against old, rusty Antonio Tarver. De Leon looked awful, too. He lacks skill to accompany his power, and while Escobedo looks like a talent, he lacked the seasoning to take advantage. Cherry, a favorite of mine, crushed Ferguson, a talented Mayweather protege who didn't deserve a rematch of his loss to "The Cherry Bomb."

Item!: Amir Khan (lightweight) and John Duddy (middleweight, 160 lbs.) get career-best wins over Graham Earl and Howard Eastman. I'm a Khan fan, but I'm worried he's moving too fast at just 21. Duddy's 28, so stepping up makes sense. Still, nice wins for both sensations.

Item!: Marco Antonio Barrera may have a farewell fight, he revealed on ESPN's Mayweather/Hatton blog. It got overshadowed by Hatton/Mayweather, but Barrera talked about wanting to get his hand raised one more time. Don't do it, Marco. Go into the Hall of Fame the same time as rival Erik Morales, who also retired in 2007, when everyone will talk about how you were better than him. Wouldn't that be the ultimate win?

Item!: I update my pound-for-pound list, and explain it. See it along the right side rail, and read the "whys" here.

Item!: Impressive youngsters Edwin Valero and Jorge Linares will go pay-per-view this week against nobodies. Valero (junior lightweight, 130 lbs.) and Linares (featherweight, 126 lbs.) are both entertaining -- Valero for his shocking power and Linares for his well-rounded skills -- but how's this a pay-per-view?

Item!: Tickets for the 170-pound clash in January between Roy Jones, Jr. and Felix Trinidad go on sale Monday. People will talk about this one, but... ugh.

Item!: Sechew Powell (154 lbs.) takes out Terrance Cauthen. Powell wants to fight Cory Spinks. Wow, I didn't think anyone wanted to scrap with the most boring boxer there is. But that would be a good win if Powell could pull it off, since Spinks is a good fighter, and he's got a title belt, so maybe that's the motive.

Item!: Nonito Donaire (flyweight 112 lbs.) is feuding with promoter Gary Shaw. It's ugly stuff. I wish it wasn't happening, because I think Donaire is a rising star, and a promotional feud is not something he needs.

Item!: Seven Punch Combo nitpicks at The Ring again. Every time I buy "The Bible of Boxing," I argue with it. I love it, don't get me wrong. But I've stayed silent too long on this -- who the hell is Jackson Bonsu, and why is he a top-10 welterweight according to Ring Magazine? I can't recognize a single soul Bonsu's fought. Why couldn't Andre Berto take his slot at #10? Or Carlos Quintana? Or Alfonso Gomez? Or even Shamone Alvarez, Richard Guttierez, David Estrada, Jesse Feliciano, Mark Suarez or...

Item!: 2K is going to put out a boxing video game. Good! There needs to be some competition for Fight Night, because as amazing as it is, EA has a tendency to get lazy; the Wii boxing game is fun, but I don't have a Wii. Only downside? Don King's name is on the game under development. Expect lawsuits against the game designers.