Dougie’s Friday Mailbag (Mayweather-Paul, Subriel Matias, Devin Haney)

MAYWEATHER-PAUL

Hello Dougie!

I’ve been a long-time reader of your mailbag, however that is my first-time writing in. I hope you and your loved ones have remained properly all through the pandemic.

The large information for the weekend is the Mayweather-Paul exhibition. I perceive that boxing followers are upset with Floyd’s choice, however how is that this unhealthy for boxing?

I’d completely like to see Floyd tackle top of the range opposition, however he’s already grinded for therefore a few years that I discover it exhausting accountable him for taking it simple in these later years. It’s only an exhibition and if that is the sort of factor that will get new folks enthusiastic about boxing, I can’t actually be mad at it. What are your ideas on the general occasion, and your prediction?

Legendary Matchups:

Floyd Patterson vs Joseph Parker

Candy Pea vs Fairly Boy Floyd at Light-weight

Inoue Naoya vs Younger Pacquiao at 118

Thanks! – Carter, Fresno

Thanks for lastly sharing your ideas with the mailbag, Carter, and thanks for the good phrases about my household (we’re doing fantastic).

You’ve introduced some attention-grabbing Legendary Matchups (properly, two out of three ain’t unhealthy, I’ve acquired the Whitaker-Mayweather matchup 1,000 occasions). I’m going to go along with Patterson by shut UD in an entertaining boxing match, Whitaker by clear UD in a aggressive chess match, and Inoue by mid-to-late KO (in all probability a physique shot) in both an exciting shootout or battle of attrition.

The large information for the weekend is the Mayweather-Paul exhibition. It’s certainly, and that’s truthful, as a result of there aren’t any huge official boxing occasions going down this weekend.

I perceive that boxing followers are upset with Floyd’s choice, however how is that this unhealthy for boxing? It’s not. It’s bought as a lot to do with the game of boxing as a film about boxing. It’s a star exhibition – a retired corridor of famer vs. a well-liked YouTube character – on pay-per-view. You recognize what’s unhealthy for boxing? Promoters and networks which can be incapable of working collectively to ship the most important boxing matches that followers demand, akin to Fury vs. Joshua and Spence vs. Crawford.

I’d completely like to see Floyd tackle top of the range opposition, however he’s already grinded for therefore a few years that I discover it exhausting accountable him for taking it simple in these later years. The person’s been retired from boxing since 2015. (The Conor McGregor “struggle” ought to have by no means been sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Fee. What goes down on Sunday can be each bit the exhibition that the Tenshin Nasukawa sham was.)

He ain’t coming again to actual boxing, and I assist that call. Floyd can do no matter he needs with the remainder of his life. Loads of corridor of famers engaged in exhibitions after they retired. If he can do it for gazillion {dollars}, extra energy to him.

It’s only an exhibition and if that is the sort of factor that will get new folks enthusiastic about boxing, I can’t actually be mad at it. I received’t be mad at it even when it fails to deliver a single new fan to boxing.

What are your ideas on the general occasion, and your prediction? I’ve no opinion on the occasion. Prediction? It’s an exhibition, such as you famous, there can be no official verdict. In the event you’re asking me how I think about the pretend struggle will go, clearly I feel Mayweather will toy with Paul, who I witnessed lose a six-round cut up choice to KSI from press row in 2019. Paul’s an sincere athlete, who I’m certain has skilled as exhausting as he can for the exhibition, however from what I noticed at Staples Heart, he’s bought the skillset of a four-round stage membership fighter. Finish of story. Mayweather will make him miss, stick him with a jab and an occasional straight proper, carry the massive dude for just a few rounds after which strike when he senses that Paul is exhausted. He may take Paul out with a physique shot or counterpunch to the jaw, or he may simply carry the YouTuber to the ultimate bell. Who cares!? It’s simply leisure for the devoted followers of each celebs (and so they each faucet into huge markets) or curious casuals. Nothing incorrect with that.

SUBRIEL MATIAS

Dougie,

I hope you’re properly. I’ve adopted you since your days at Maxboxing and love your perception.

Why is nobody speaking about that wrecking machine Subriel Matias? I feel it was the struggle of the night time, contemplating there have been so many fights on Saturday. As a fellow PR, this man excites me. I’m an enormous Tito fan and haven’t been this excited since. I do know he’s defensively careless at occasions however what a run he has been on as of late/ I’m not certain how we’d do in opposition to Josh Taylor however boy would it not be enjoyable.

Are you able to write one thing up on him to your mid-week mailbag or subsequent week’s mailbag? In the event you haven’t watched the struggle but take a great look. His punches sound like Tito’s did. Sorry to hassle you dude, I’m certain you’re busy.

Sustain the great work! – Rolando Quiles

Thanks, Rolando, I’ll do my finest. And thanks for following my work for the reason that MaxBoxing days.

Try to be enthusiastic about Matias. He’s a legit participant within the loaded 140-pound division. Mauro Renallo talked about through the Showtime broadcast that there are solely two Ring-rated fighters who’ve received all their fights by KO (Artur Beterbiev and Victor Ortiz Jr.) and opined that if Matias (who has additionally received all of his fights by KO) beats Batryzhan Jukembayev, the Puerto Rican will possible enter our rankings. Nicely, Mauro is appropriate, as a result of Ring Rankings Panel member Anson Wainwright advised that Matias re-enter the 140-pound rankings as excessive as No. 6. Panelist Martin Mulcahey advised that your fellow Boriqua are available in at No. 10. No person on the panel was in opposition to his re-entry.

I don’t assume Matias is anyplace close to as gifted or expert or highly effective as a first-rate Felix Trinidad, however he’s formidable. He’s sturdy, bodily robust, heavy handed, decided, and he places punches collectively properly on the within. I feel he might be beat to the punch by a faster/sooner boxer, and outmaneuvered by a stick-and-mover, however he’s going to be very exhausting to beat by anybody who thinks they’ll stand and commerce with him (though Petros Ananyan proved that it’s attainable to try this).

Why is nobody speaking about that wrecking machine Subriel Matias? My Twitter TL was buzzing concerning the heated aggressive nature of the Matias-Jukembayev struggle through the early rounds after which switched to reward for the Puerto Rican by the mid-rounds. In the event you’re not a part of Boxing Twitter, it is best to be a part of our cult. We’re a digital insane asylum, however there are quite a lot of high quality follows (considered one of them is one other Puerto Rican star, Rosie Perez).  

I feel it was the struggle of the night time, contemplating there have been so many fights on Saturday. I’m certain Matias’ struggle/victory was overshadowed by Nonito Donaire’s bantamweight title-winning KO of Nordine Oubaali and the Devin Haney-Jorge Linares struggle, however I additionally marvel if his tragic struggle with Maxim Dadashev causes some followers to curb their enthusiasm of his persevering with profession.

As a fellow PR, this man excites me. Nothing incorrect with that.

I’m an enormous Tito fan and haven’t been this excited since. Actually? Miguel Cotto did nothin’ for ya? You weren’t even a bit of bit excited throughout JuanMa Lopez’s the early world title years?

I do know he’s defensively careless at occasions however what a run he has been on as of late/ I’m not certain how we’d do in opposition to Josh Taylor however boy would it not be enjoyable. He’s not prepared for Taylor.

Are you able to write one thing up on him to your mid-week mailbag or subsequent week’s mailbag? I want I had the time for mid-week mailbags.

 

IS HANEY THE NEW CAMACHO?

Hope you’re properly.

Simply rewatched the Haney-Linares struggle; and the quantity of holding and clinching jogged my memory of Hector Camacho’s techniques (significantly post-Rosario). I consider it was your fellow journalist and good friend Steve Kim who coined the time period “he’s been Rosario’d,” referring to the submit Rosario model of Camacho.

Very totally different characters exterior the ring, however contained in the ring there are similarities & solely time will inform whether or not Linares is Haney’s Rosario, however Haney for all his technical brilliance, very similar to Comacho, is pleased to win ugly.

Legendary match ups:

Johnny Tapia-Roman Gonzalez

Hector Camacho (pre-Rosario)-Teofimo Lopez.

Jose Napoles-Errol Spence Jr.

And…drum roll (the 1 struggle in my lifetime that ought to have occurred, however didn’t)

Kostya Tszyu-Oscar Del Hoya

Thanks for the continued top-quality content material from The Ring. Variety regards. – Jaime

Thanks for the type phrases (and sort regards), Jaime.

Good Legendary Matchups (apart from Tszyu-De La Hoya, which I’ve answered 100 occasions, together with THIS WEEK!)

Your MMs:

Johnny Tapia-Roman Gonzalez – Tapia by shut, perhaps disputed UD or MD, sensational struggle, in fact.

Hector Camacho (pre-Rosario)-Teofimo Lopez – Camacho by shut and entertaining UD (though the Macho Man may endure a “Rosario” second or two on his technique to the factors win).

Jose Napoles-Errol Spence Jr. – Napoles by UD or late stoppage in a aggressive and entertaining scrap.

Simply rewatched the Haney-Linares struggle; and the quantity of holding and clinching jogged my memory of Hector Camacho’s techniques (significantly post-Rosario). Hey man, if Haney DIDN’T seize onto Linares whereas he cleared his head and bought knocked out in Spherical 11 or 12, we’d all be asking: “Why didn’t he maintain!?” If Camacho hadn’t held onto Rosario (who might crack a hell of quite a bit more durable than Linares), he might need been KO’d in that all-Puerto Rican light-weight showdown.

I consider it was your fellow journalist and good friend Steve Kim who coined the time period “he’s been Rosario’d,” referring to the post-Rosario model of Camacho. LOL. Yeah, that Kim is a pisser, ain’t he? He’s stated that about Chad Dawson (post-

Glen Johnson, first struggle) and my man Keith Thurman (post-Jesus Soto Karass). I’m certain there are others. He’s imply, however he’s not incorrect. Nevertheless, lets see how Haney fares vs. his light-weight friends (Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia, Luke Campbell) or the highest 140 pounders, earlier than we declare that he’s been “Rosario’d.”

Very totally different characters exterior the ring, however contained in the ring there are similarities & solely time will inform whether or not Linares is Haney’s Rosario, however Haney for all his technical brilliance, very similar to Camacho, is pleased to win ugly. Such as you stated, “solely time will inform.” I feel it’s a too early in Haney’s profession to label him a stinker or to name him “Camacho 2.0.” And by the best way, even when he does flip about to be the subsequent Camacho, is that actually a foul factor? Camacho was highly regarded, and yeah, a lot of his attraction was as a result of his polarizing nature, however he was nonetheless a staple on community TV, cable (primary and premium), and later, PPV occasions. He was a three-division titleholder who fought one of the best fighters of the Eighties and ’90s, solely misplaced six out of 88 professional bouts, and was by no means stopped. (Three of these losses have been to fellow corridor of famers, Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad, and Oscar De La Hoya, and he was positively previous his prime by the point The Golden Boy bought him).

 

A REQUEST

Hey Dougie,

I haven’t wrote shortly, however I nonetheless been watching your IG Lives and been studying your mailbags. The boxing schedule is kicking up a variety of hidden gems, however man any individual has to inform them that different days exist in addition to Saturday.

I really wrote in for a request. Are you able to ask the writers if they’ll check with fighters which can be unified/undisputed or have The Ring belt as “Champions” of their divisions, and the fighters with minor belts as rated fighters, like how Sulaiman tried to elucidate what the diamond and gold belts represented. I get texts and calls by family and friends about how three fighters have the identical belt (Teo, Haney, Ryan) on a regular basis, and I’m beginning to perceive extra why they might slightly watch MMA, the place they’ve one champ.

I hope I didn’t come off impolite with my query. The Ring Journal has essentially the most affect in boxing so perhaps different boxing web sites may do the identical, and pressure fighters to really wish to be the person at their division, and never simply accumulate minor belts.

Is the Thompson Boxing card going to permit followers? I do know the Mayweather struggle is on this Sunday, however I want actual fights. I’d catch the Lemieux struggle Friday night time if I’m off early.

As at all times handle your self Dougie. – Joey, Pomona

I hope ole Lemmy can recapture his mojo tonight and construct some momentum towards a major struggle at 168 kilos.

The Thompson Boxing present just isn’t open to the general public, however as at all times, you understand you may be a part of me, Steve Kim, Beto Duran and Jessica Rosales by way of the stay stream on ThompsonBoxing.com or TBP’s Fb or YouTube channel. Possibly TBP’s subsequent present can be open to the general public. We’ll get there.

Are you able to ask the writers if they’ll check with fighters which can be unified/undisputed or have The Ring belt as “Champions” of their divisions, and the fighters with minor belts as rated fighters, like how Sulaiman tried to elucidate what the diamond and gold belts represented? I can’t ask or inform different writers who to acknowledge as legit champions (though any boxing journalist price his or her salt ought to know). There are even common RingTV.com and Ring Journal contributors who should be reminded to acknowledge The Ring title or to not check with a WBA secondary beltholder as a “world champion.” Loads of boxing writers/media have egos and are temperamental. If I (or some other member of the press) have been to ask them to do something, they could get offended and refuse out of spite. If it comes from me, they’ll say it’s MY “agenda,” and rail in opposition to it like a toddler with ODD (oppositional defiant dysfunction). The decision for the media to acknowledge the fighters who’re really deserving of “champion” standing should come from the followers. The followers have to stress the networks to assist make title unifications and to acknowledge The Ring Journal championship belt. And the followers have to name “bulls__t” on members of the media who faux that each one beltholders are equal. In the event you learn an article or watch a YouTube video the place the media member is referring to the winner of Barrios-Davis as “the junior welterweight champ,” you should go away a remark (respectfully) setting her or him straight: “No he’s not, the junior welterweight champ is Josh Taylor.”

I get texts and calls by family and friends about how three fighters have the identical belt (Teo, Haney, Ryan) on a regular basis, and

I’m beginning to perceive extra why they might slightly watch MMA, the place they’ve one champ. Bro! Simply inform them that the Ring champ is the REAL champ. Examine the rankings on RingTV.com when you don’t know all of them by coronary heart (however it is best to!)

I hope I didn’t come off impolite with my query. Under no circumstances.

The Ring Journal has essentially the most affect in boxing so perhaps different boxing web sites may do the identical, and pressure fighters to really wish to be the person at their division, and never simply accumulate minor belts. Once more, we will’t pressure anyone to do something. The fighters should wish to be nice as a way to goal for true champion standing. They should wish to show they’re one of the best of their division. We’re lucky that there are nonetheless some fighters on the market who wish to go away an actual legacy on this sport, akin to Teofimo Lopez and Vasiliy Lomachenko, all of the fighters that took half within the WBSS tournaments, Taylor and Jose Ramirez, Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano, and the junior featherweights who’re being featured on Showtime (Stephen Fulton, Brandon Figueroa, Danny Roman).

 

E-mail Fischer at [email protected]. Comply with him on Twitter and IG at @dougiefischer, and be a part of him, Tom Loeffler, Coach Schwartz and pals by way of Tom’s or Doug’s IG Dwell each Sunday.