Escape the plastic panchos and splash-guard eye shields, it’s time for an additional Thursday equine-like cash shot of gooey, salty boxing reality. This week we have now questions/feedback relating to subsequent strikes for Canelo Alvarez, Tank Davis, and Terence Crawford, in addition to sincere assessments of Teofimo Lopez and PBC’s presence in boxing.
Canelo’s Alternative
What’s good P Magazine? Hope all is effectively with you and your loved ones. Everybody desires to see Canelo battle Benavidez (Benny) subsequent, someday this yr, or earlier than he retires. If this battle does not occur it does not actually matter to me and fairly frankly it will not cease Canelo from stepping into the Corridor of Fame. I do perceive this about being a money cow, there’s ALWAYS going to be another person on the market to battle. Do I feel Canelo/Benny is a good battle? Completely!!! However once more, I am not slamming Canelo if the battle does not occur? Ideas?
— Robert Elmore
Hey Robert.
Zero doubt, Canelo is already a Corridor of Famer. That shouldn’t be in query by anybody, particularly given present Corridor of Fame requirements. However, I gained’t lie, not preventing Benavidez WILL carry him some merited derision and, in my eyes not less than, a little bit of a success within the space of legacy. I do know there’s all the time going to be another battle, another opponent for the highest canines, which all the time offers critics the opening to name them a “duck.” However Benavidez as an opponent shouldn’t be the identical as Antonio Margarito, for instance, when Floyd Mayweather was accused of ducking him. Within the case of Margarito (and I simply picked this instance off the highest of my head), he was by no means THE man for Mayweather. He was A man and a high man, however he was by no means the consensus “should battle” for Floyd and had by no means, at any level, earned that distinction. Within the case of Benavidez– he HAS earned his solution to being the ONLY man worthy of a shot at Canelo’s unified 168 lb. title. There’s, actually, no person else extra deserving. Not even shut. The place Benavidez was as soon as a proficient younger fighter with a few titles who perhaps deserved a shot, he’s now confirmed himself, by way of blowouts towards Plant and Andrade, to be THE man who completely deserves that chance. And for Canelo to not meet that problem, effectively, it is going to converse very poorly of him. It actually opens up the query of why Canelo is round, holding all of the titles, if he’s not going to reside as much as his duties and obligations as unified champ, particularly as a star attraction supposedly centered on giving followers the largest fights. For Canelo, the Benavidez battle shouldn’t be solely the largest one on the market for him, but in addition one of the best. It’ll seem like a really cynical enterprise determination if the battle isn’t made. I’ve religion that it occurs, although. We’ll see.
Tank/Teo/Canelo
Hello Paul. Hope you’re doing effectively.
Tank: What’s the deal on him not asserting something? He’s such an enormous fighter and I’m beginning to imagine fighters are steering clear from him. Ideas?
Teofimo: That battle sucked to look at [vs. Jamaine Ortiz]. Snorefest. Nearly assume the carnival walkout was in all probability the spotlight of that shit and ESPN was fast to chop out of his battle ASAP (particularly when he informed everybody to suck a d**okay no homo reside). Are you a fan of this man or is he all hype?
Canelo’s Subsequent Alternative: Rumor mill is swirling on Canelo’s subsequent fighter. American fighter? Until Charlo is bluffing, fingers level to Crawford? What are your ideas on his subsequent fighter (s) in 2024.
Lastly, I attempt to learn different blogs on boxing however because you talked about the Saudis influencing boxing journalism, i see it an increasing number of. You do nice work and I Admire you sticking to your craft and staying true…for now…
— Alexis from Oregon
Hey Alexis.
I’ll deal with these so as.
I don’t know why Tank doesn’t have something on the schedule but. Probably, as a result of it IS troublesome to get him an enormous battle in the mean time. Whereas there are high guys calling him out, the enterprise in all probability isn’t proper for Tank and his staff, who imagine (and perhaps rightfully so) that these different guys must battle underneath Tank’s banner and never anticipate 50-50 throughout the board. The truth is that Tank is the A-side– by a mile– towards anybody from 135 to 140 and whereas I’ll bristle at that “A-side” speak generally, it’s only a enterprise actuality. It all the time has been relating to reducing offers in boxing. At all times.
Teofimo is strictly who I all the time thought he was– a proficient younger fighter who is great at what he does, however who shouldn’t be superb at adapting mid-fight. I additionally see him as a little bit of a head case, to be sincere. However I wouldn’t name him a hype job. What he does, how he does it, is nice sufficient to beat most everybody at 140. His individuals simply must hold him away from sure forms of fighters– movers, spoilers– or, higher but, have him learn to deal with these forms of guys.
I do not know relating to Canelo’s subsequent opponent. Given his said preferences– no Mexicans, no Terence Crawford, massive fights only– there aren’t many choices on the market. Mainly, we solely have David Benavidez and Jermall Charlo– and Charlo’s erratic habits, mixed with the stink left over from his twin brother’s battle with Canelo, makes him an unlikely Could 4 foe. So, I do not know. I’m considering Benavidez is the one route left if Canelo’s concerned about a blockbuster. However I wouldn’t be shocked at a swerve from Alvarez, perhaps concentrating on one other UK opponent (Chris Eubank Jr.?) or perhaps middleweight interim champ Carlos Adames.
And thanks for the sort phrases. I attempt.
Terence vs. Teo? Has PBC benefited boxing?
Hello Magno,
Thanks on your articles. The boxing world is stuffed with BS and rumors and I respect your willingness to deal in FACTS whereas additionally being clear on when one thing is concept or simply your opinion. That mentioned, I’ve received a number of questions for you.
Can Teofimo v. Crawford get made?
Because the Terence “Boo Boo” Crawford (lack of) saga continues, it seems that he won’t have a dance associate any time quickly. I do know that is going to set off the “Bud Buddies”, however Crawford is a enterprise legal responsibility. With the BLK Prime crap he pulled within the first Spence negotiations, him stalling on the Spence rematch, and along with his measurable worth being inconsistent along with his compensation calls for, the Fits don’t desire something to do with this guy- and who can blame them? And might we dispatch with the Crawford-Canelo speak? He’s not getting anyplace close to Canelo for all the explanations I simply said. So why not battle Teofimo? He is the largest title on the market who is looking Crawford out. It looks as if a really winnable battle. I feel Teo is loopy personally, however I counted him out towards Loma and Taylor and was mistaken so, why not? We all know that Bob Arum was clear that he didn’t need to be within the “Terence Crawford Enterprise”, so can the battle be made?
Has the PBC benefited Boxing?
I used to be skeptical at first, however I feel that the PBC has been the largest enchancment that we have now seen in boxing in many years. Nevertheless, it appears that there’s a community of Black, race-baiting YouTubers who’re dedicated to disparaging Al Haymon, the PBC, and PBC fighters. WTF? Al Haymon shook up a complete trade whose enterprise mannequin was just about, white guys exploiting minorities for acquire. I imply, youngsters ought to be writing about Al Haymon for his or her Black Historical past Month experiences, however you will have these fool YouTubers (claiming to be pro-Black) spouting nonsense, half-truths, and flat out lies. I do know the PBC has it is faults, however general, do you assume that it has been helpful to the game?
Thanks.
– Will
Hey Will.
Thanks for the sort phrases. Dealing in actuality is certainly an uphill battle in boxing.
I’ll admit that I’m a complete mark for Terence Crawford, the fighter. Outdoors the ring, although, the person is a frustratingly cussed piece of labor who’s ceaselessly his personal worst enemy. The reality is that he’s the largest motive he’s not an even bigger star. From the shitty re-signing with High Rank to those newest travails in getting a battle, Terence Crawford solely has Terence Crawford in charge. After beating Spence, there was a wave of help and a focus washing over him. However, aside from present up on some speak exhibits, he took no benefit of it. Fairly than getting again into the ring to proceed to construct his star momentum, he’s spent the final seven months telling us who he WON’T battle and, basically, doing unto others what he feels they did unto him relating to alternatives. So, with nothing on the horizon and the dream of a Canelo battle slipping away, why not battle Teofimo? It in all probability gained’t occur, although. Making that battle would imply working with Bob Arum once more and, given Crawford’s obvious mindset, that’s not more likely to occur. On the opposite aspect of the fence, I additionally assume Arum could be very reluctant in giving Terence an opportunity to beat one in every of his high guys.
Lots of these YouTube/social media guys who hate so aggressively on Haymon and PBC had been individuals who, at one level early on, tried to get a PBC gig or hoped they might get some form of piggyback experience from the boxing firm. They’re personally butt-hurt from the rejection (or perceived rejection) and are actually all about burning down the home that wouldn’t give them room and board. It’s defeatist habits, however they’ve discovered slightly area of interest in interesting to the haters, cynics, and boxing tradition warriors out to carry Haymon/PBC down. Their time is numbered, although. They usually higher hope and pray that PBC DOESN’T exit of enterprise as a result of, with out the fixed harping on all issues Haymon, they don’t have anything to say, zero content material to usher in site visitors.
So far as whether or not PBC has benefited boxing? I feel boxing is boxing and any modifications which have occurred within the enterprise, general, had been set to occur whether or not PBC was round or not. I’ve gone on file, nonetheless, as saying that I do assume the PBC enterprise mannequin is the proper solution to go along with the game. It has put extra money instantly into the fighters’ arms, has given fighters extra energy over their very own careers, and has chipped away on the foundations of the previous guard enterprise mannequin/energy dynamic, which had sunk boxing into a large number of corruption that served to push away the mainstream sports activities world. Main mainstream enterprise entities– like Amazon Prime, for example– seeking to discover boxing content material is a testomony to a hit story, even when some individuals attempt to paint the PBC story as an abject failure.
There’ve been some setbacks and mis-turns of their run, however I feel Al Haymon and PBC, on the very least, have paved the best way for boxing to re-enter the dialog among the many much-needed company energy brokers. And that’s a primary, large step in getting boxing to be seen as soon as once more as a “actual” sport.
Bought a query (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? One of the best of one of the best will get included within the weekly mailbag section proper right here at FightHype. Ship your stuff right here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.
