V8:Mayweather, Pacquiao/Cotto, Campbell, Jones, and More!!!

Mayweather/Marquez: Fill In The B-L-A-N-K-S

Ok.....There's no question Marquez presents a solid opposition for Mayweather, particularly considering that he's one of the sports best counter-punchers. What adds to the intrigue in this fight is the fact that everyone saw the sports current P4P king struggle to barely eek out victories against this same man. I hate to play devils advocate here, but I'm a little curious know the same thing many of you are thinking......What will the word on the streets be if Mayweather does earn an easy victory? A decisive Mayweather victory will undoubtedly prompt one of two "B" word responses in the end. Which one exactly, I suppose depends on who you ask. Some will say he was simply the "Bigger" man, so no big deal.....Others will say he was simply the "Better" man, which is a big deal. Considering that Marquez is actually a bigger framed fighter than Mr. Pacquiao, (who was able to also step up into the welterweight ranks and make some noise), I think it's safe to say it has to be a big deal if Mayweather gets a decisive nod, particularly a KO. Does that mean Mayweather is better than Pacquiao? By no means. But it sure as hell sets the stage to see these two settle the score going forward. Now, who wins that inevitable showdown if and when it does happen? Well, lets just say that comes back down to another friendly game of "Fill In The Blanks".

Cotto/Pacquiao To Decide Who's Lord of the 'Ring'....

Despite the contracts finally being signed, the latest snag to come between the Pacquiao and Cotto camps is the ring size. Pacquiao's camp is said to be in full pursuit of a bigger ring (24ft.), while Cotto's camp is said to be fine either way. Some would argue that Pacquiao is the better boxer between the two, but there's no question the larger ring would suit him well. Bob Arum has stated that the ring size should be no dispute, as "both parties are well aware" that the ring (per Nevada state rules) will be 20ft. Less room to maneuver in and out for Pacquiao will challenge Freddie Roach and the amazing Filipino's strategical ability even more, as less wiggle room will inevitably lead to more heated exchanges, which could lead to less time to execute, which could lead to....well....you get the point! Roach and Pacquiao have found a way to defy the odds time and time again without fail, but coming in against a powerful body-snatcher with limited room to roam could be key in deciding the fight. Could this one declined request by the Nevada commission be the the one that halts the progress of the famed tandem in the end?

Hatton Feeling 'Itchy' About Ring Return...But Should He?

Ricky Hatton has recently gone on record in stating that he doesn't know if he (for sure) will return to the ring, but when the itch comes, basically he'd be willing to scratch it. After the 'blink-of-an-eye' KO to Pacquiao and the severely humbling loss to Mayweather, it's a couple ways one could dissect this scenario. On one side, he has lost in a very troubling fashion more often than not, recently. Then you have the other angle where you have to realize (as he states) that his only losses have been to the sports top P4P guys. Despite the contrasting views, the truth lies somewhere down the middle, like always. Yes, Hatton can be competitive...No, not on a world class level. So the true question here is what exactly is Hatton looking to accomplish? And more importantly, how does he really expect to do it? Think about it....he had the best minds in the business at his disposal for the complete Pacquiao fight camp (ODH, Mayweather Snr., Hopkins, Mosley, etc), yet when the bell rang, he reverted right back to those bad habits that he was taught for months not to do. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, and clearly, this British bulldog has no room left for mental growth (no pun intended). That being the case, I love the 'Hitman', but I see no need for him to stick around if he can't make the necessary adjustments. Do you?

HBO 24/7: Where's The Beef? (Not The 'Beef')

You know, it could be me, but despite strong interest in each of the men involved, I really think the whole HBO 24/7 series should take a totally different tone. These two men (Mayweather/Marquez) have so many intriguing things to discuss relative to their respective careers and the paths they took getting from the land of the unknown to the stage in which they now stand. There really has to be far more to these guys than what I saw on television the other night. I think if there was a strategical breakdown dissecting certain wars they had in the past, or a look at why this is such an intriguing showdown, taking fight game execution as a point of contention, it would be a great product, and also help give non-fight fans something to really chew on. In other words, rather than a ton of appetizers, why not give the people some meat and potatoes? I thought it was cute how Mayweather took his daughter on a date, and how Marquez's Father showed his sons how to jab, but the trouble is, that only equated to about 2 minutes of a 27 minute program. Most of us could care less about the alleged riff between Mayweather and the local kid at the skating rink, or Rogers outside issues. Save that for the Paparazzi and TMZ. Fight fans are hungry for the stuff that's tough to chew....like why Mayweather's defensive style may not be enough against a counter-punching genius who knows this could be his last hoorah. In other words, save the salad....Give us the beef!

Bernard Hopkins Gives Roy Jones The Silent Treatment...

Roy Jones Jr. has been very vocal in recent weeks, following his amazing performance against Jeff Lacy. Jones has never been shy about speaking his emotions, but this time he isn't aiming his words to the media.....or atleast not alone. His attention is being directed towards a man who's probably tired of hearing from him...yet hasn't been provoked enough to respond (surprisingly). That man is none other than Bernard 'The Executioner' Hopkins. With both men facing the proverbial 'westside' of their careers, there's a huge contingent around the sport that has become vocal about seeing the two do it again in a swansong finale. Hopkins has revitalized his career with his amazing performance against a still humbled Pavlik. Jones, similarly, has attempted to resuscitate his own by going on a tear and showing glimpses of old lately. I haven't agreed with Jones on everything, but in this case, even though I'm a huge B-Hop fan as well, I do think the best way to settle the score of who gets what in the end is to let the winner take the lions share. No one to blame, no questions to ask. Now, what could be more fair than that?

Juan Urango Lookin' To Face Another Homeboy? (Nate Campbell)

On the same card that gave us a glimpse into what could be the potential future of the light heavyweight division, we saw the heart of a man who has plans of his own to take over another division. That division is the jr. welterweight weight class. Juan Urango came into his fight against Bailey on the heels of a loss to Andre Berto, and many wrote him off without ever considering that he was facing a guy in a division he never stepped foot in a day in his life (professionally). It was basically a gamble that didn't pay off. I don't know how many jr. welters could handle Berto, but the fact that Urango couldn't seems like even more of an afterthought after watching Urango scrape himself off the deck and answer the call of duty. There are plenty of fights in the division for him, but the one I'd like to see most is a fight against Nate Campbell. I don't see Bradley and his integrity-less team providing the rematch that is due to Campbell, therefore, I think the best matchup for Campbell could be found right at home in Urango. It would be an ultimate gauge of two men who I personally think has far more to offer the division than some seem to think, and each are just one shot away from that shot. Both have that grind 'em out style and both come to fight until the final bell. Both are also Florida boys with a solid fan base. This is such an easy fight to make that I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned. Malignaggi (IBF #3) is trying to get a rematch against Diaz. Kendall Holt (IBF #4) is believed to have his attention elsewhere, and Zab is the IBF #5 ranked contender but he has yet to really make a splash in the jr. welterweight division since returning. With no #2 ranked IBF contender, I think Campbell fits the bill quite well, and I'm sure the IBF governing body would feel the same. Right fellas?

Tavoris Cloud: A Star On The Rise....

Prior to last Friday night, few paid attention to Tavoris Cloud. In the aftermath, I must say, it's a crying shame that it took that type of performance to get the recognition this guy rightfully deserved a long time ago. Granted, this was his first major test in the eyes of some, but truth be known, in the mind of his doubters, even this test wasn't big enough. For that reason and that reason alone, Cloud needs to do exactly what he did against Woods, which is continue to silence those critics by winning. Clinton Woods is far from a journeyman and his only true losses were to some of the best in the biz. Now that Cloud has added his name to that list, clearly, the spotlight is on him to capitalize and build on that momentum. With Dawson already set to battle Johnson, options are pretty scarce. No question though, this is a name that we'll all be hearing from quite a bit in the future. As we used to say in the U.S. Marine Corp.....Stand by!

Samuel Peter: Another 'Nightmare' Waiting To Happen?

On September 12th, former Nigerian Samuel Peter will attempt to resuscitate his career by facing 44year old journeyman Ronald Bellamy. Peter was once viewed as one of the perennial contenders of the heavyweight division, but after a major lack of focus kicked in, coupled with a weakness for the fridge, there seemed to be no turning back. Fortunately for Peter, today's talent pool in the heavyweight ranks is quite shallow, which could inevitably land him right back in the thick of things. If a mega fight doesn't materialize first, I could see someone like Haye trying to use him as a stepping stone to add some pop to his resume. Whatever the case may be and whoever the opponent may be, clearly, it's up to Peter to reignite that flame that he has unquestionably lost for his craft. There's no telling what could happen with a string of hot performances, but one loss, and there would be no question where he would be headed next. I can only hope he daydreams on that before another nightmare happens to him.

Source: http://www.8countnews.com/news/125/ARTICLE/1877/2009-09-02.html