Cotto has blossmed into something fierce

Miguel Cotto has arrived....Nobody must question his chin, his durability, his power at 147 anymore! He proved allot Saturday night in a tough, gritty fight with Zab Judah... He's really grown over the years and now he's showing he's becoming seasoned...

Watch out welterweights!

Zab earned props in showing lots of heart himself and giving a great fight... Cotto however was too strong and complete to be denied victory...

Cotto though stayed disciplined sticking to his fight plan in the face of losing a point for low blows.... Miguel looks like a machine when he fights... He does not loose focus or fade.. He finishes, as he showed against Zab this past Saturday.....

I think with the momentum, confidence, and what he has shown in his past several fights... I would have to favor him against the Margarito vs. Paul Williams winner, Shane Mosley and even Ricky Hatton provided Hatton gets by Castillo....

Margarito has been looking far more beatable lately, Shane looked good in his last fight, but Cotto can punch and bring it...I don't think Shane could keep Cotto off of him... Hatton I don't think would be strong enough to last with Cotto either...

Ya, as it shows... I'm pretty high on Miguel right now... Cotto is dangerous right now...He has earned his high praise though and seems to get better with each fight...

Each fight with better fighters....Great fighters do that...

This old dog can learn new tricks!

With all the bullshit flying around that boxing is dying I wanted to post this great article penned by Bernard Fernandez on Bob Arums promotional tactics and experience... Here is the link...http://www.maxboxing.com/Bernard/Fernandez060107.asp

When enough of that bullshit about boxing is dying is spread.. The naive actually begin to believe it... It's like all those idiots that spout out insane predictions that the world is ending on this date... People get worked into a frenzy and think it might be true...

With ticket sales anticipated to reach over 20,000 for this weekends big fight Cotto vs. Judah.. Boxing is nearing no grave! Does 20,000 ticket sales resemble a faint heart beat of interest in boxing to you!? Ya, I thought so!

Arum is a old school but hip to the current trends promoter.. He has over 40 years of experience in staging BIG fights.... Electric fights such as Hagler vs. Hearns....

Arum is hip to the beat of making his shows more electric, with making the experience far more enjoyable for the fans with music, glitz, no long lapses in time between fights, and main events supported by solid under card fights...

Cotto vs. Judah is supported by a solid under-card that futures Yuri Foreman (22-0, 8 KOs) ( Who I seen fight in the amateurs many times, a good fighter) vs.Anthony “The Messenger” Thompson (23-1, 17 KOs) also Pac Man's brother Bobby Pacquiao (27-12-3, 12 KOs) vs. Humberto Soto (41-5-2, 25 KOs) rounding out the under-card will be...Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (31-0-1, 24 KOs) vs. Grover Wiley who handed the shop worn Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. his last loss...

Arum knows how to pick a location such as Madison Square Garden to host a fight that will sell more tickets, get the ethnic fans attention and support, and create more fans....

Arum also knows how to support a great main event with a solid under-card as the above matches suggest....

Alright you guy's... The next person that tries to tell you that boxing is dying... Have them watch this weekends fight and the atmosphere will be electric at the garden.. I have been to fights there before and they were great experiences...

They will see the truth.. As seeing is believing... Maybe then they will stop drinking that acadine kool aide that some of these morons are serving... At least they aren't promising that a UFO will come take them to the promise land if they drink and stop watching boxing....

Oh ya you guy's... With Ricky Hatton vs. Jose Luis Castillo coming up on the 23rd of this month....Bernard Hopkins vs. Winky Wright which might surprise some folks and turn out to be a better than anticipated fight, Klitschko vs. Brewster II and the rematch of Rafael Marquez vs. Israel Vazquez coming Aug. 4Th these fights will keep the momentum of boxing going as it's going nowhere but up....

It's ok...Go ahead... Sip on this cool aide... I guarantee you will like it....

Missing ingrediants.......

How really committed is Jermain Taylor to his boxing career? Fighting twice a year shows lack of it.. How the hell are you going to improve and get better with 2 fights a year? How can a trainer improve you with 2 fights a year?

Gone it seems are the days when champions such as Chavez and Toney would take low paying non title fights to stay sharp and and build of their talent. They didn't care the non title fights were low paying... there commitment to the game was more important, they knew that this would serve them well in the bigger payday fights that engaged in...They loved the feeling of staying sharp and working on certain things they have been adding...

That is a pro! That's what a true pro does....

Another thing I want to know... Is Jermain studying any old fight films of great fighters?... His technique again lacks for a reason, his style is very basic for a reason... It is a reflection of his true commitment to get better his lack of passion for the fight game... Don't tell me any different.. cause it shows big time...

Some of today's fighters neglect studying old fight films and study what made the all time greats great...To take from those films and try and add it to their own style or at least trying it in the gym.

It's bullshit to have a champion who has errors in just the basics of boxing alone and being matched against fighters with little power who can capitalize on it! Champions are supposed to get better with each performance... What the hell is going on?!

It's all about... How much $$$ am I making.... Some of these fighters that take this route wonder why they aren't considered elite fighters, or they get badgered allot about their sub par performance and being matched against smaller or lesser skilled fighters....

Managing/Promoting a fighter has become an art of it's own... fooling the public of displaying a fighter of false superiority and actually having the fighter think he is superior and hence demanding the big $$$ paydays that come with this hysteria...

Gone is the art of commitment.. The fighter doing his homework.. Not waiting on a quick fix trainer to come in try to make him better... The fighter taking the intuitive to hone his craft..to study... to stay sharp... to leave no doubt of greatness instead of worrying about media appearances, photo shoots, video shoots etc...

It's ass backwards and it's showing BIG TIME with some of the current champions development and performances.....

And still.... Jemaine "Bad Decisions" Taylor

This weekend Jermaine Taylor again showed worth in earning the nick name Bad Decisions Taylor...

I thought Spinks outboxed Taylor,, Despite the whacked out cheer leading from the HBO crew. Cory could have through a bit more, he damn sure showed the hand speed to do so.. But thought he did more than enough to win.He made Taylor look so freaking ordinary...

That wasn't running from Spinks.. That was boxing.. Common Jermaine. Do you call what you did fighting? I thought so.

As many knowledgeable scribes are keenly noting... Jermaine Taylor seems to be slipping. He is not improving, not even under the watchful eye of hall of fame trainer Manny Steward. Manny was flipping out for a reason in instructing Taylor between rounds. He saw what was going on.

If this is as good as Jermaine will get we now know why he is being carefully matched.. Yes, that was another junior middleweight he fought. Notice THROUGHOUT his career, He has faced zero hard punchers.

Jermaine isn't improving or dominating like he should after each fight or proving the saying right, that winning a title makes a fighter better..

In the 90's fighters like James Toney and Bernard Hopkins improved with each fight.. They would fight anybody.. More so Toney who's non title defenses were more dangerous than Taylor's present title defenses.

Hopkins stayed at middleweight for legacy.. he could have chased the money at super middleweight and Light heavyweight... James rose in weight cause he out grew the middleweight division.. Still he fought the best at each weight division he stopped at, and was obsessed with doing so.A true pro.. Both of them..

My point..... Taylor tells Larry Merchant " Where ever the money is that's who I'm fighting" this after Merchant asks Taylor if he will grant Pavlik a fight. Damn Jermaine.. After all that shit he was talking at the pre fight presser. Dude acted like he blew through Hopkins and Winky.. Which was hardly the case.. In many people eyes and mind should be 0-3 in those fights and that he will fight anyone! Prove it... Show us...

I would pick Pavlik in a heart beat over Taylor. The ghost looked fabulous in KO Miranda a ferocious puncher. Kelley took Miranda's best punches and kept to his game plan. Can anyone say discipline proof of maturing as a pro. He showed a polished arsenal, I liked how he finished his combos to the body. I liked his grit, his chin, mental toughness, stamina.. Damn what else can you say.. What a coming out party for Kelly...

Yes, I'm high on him for the obvious.. He showed us what he is about and he is constantly improving with each fight.. unlike someone else who is still some how the Champ.

Pavlik is more than ready for a title shot and has the physical gifts and the mindset to capitalize on it. Jermaine is going in the opposite direction.

If that wasn't the case and if he's truly in it to fight the best.. He would of said.. Give me Pavlik now.. That's the fight I want.. I want the best in the division...

I guess Taylor would say that if he wasn't suffering from Roy Jonesitis...

They were not what legends are made of....

The De La Hoya vs. Mayweather playback is on this saturday... Ya.. So what I say...

First off....That fight should not have been scored a split descion! I think 116-112 for Mayweather was imore in line of what really happened...

It was great for boxing though... But.. it should have been better... I know you guy's have to agree! If you don't for some bizarre reason... Hold on!.... My rant begins!!!

Both fighters failed to make a lasting impression that was billing this fight up as a huge superfight... Oscar really never stuck with anything that worked.. His jab was working.. Why the hell did he stop using it?..

Great fighters see what works and use it and use it well... Great fighters don't fight in spurts and throw lot's of punches that don't land cleanly, or fade down the strecth...

Great fighters don't pop shot and throw 1 or 2 punches at a time.... They don't misuse there true talent and potential and bank on a fighter to fade...

This guy's didn't do anything that made you say damn!.. i want to see that again... or how in the hell did he do that?....

Common you guy's... Tell me?... Did they do anything that made you think or wonder could "The Real Suger Ray" Robinson, Leonard, Whitacker, Benny Leonard, young Duran, fight like that?

Nope... I didn't think so.....

At this stage in their careers with all the millions they made you would think that they would both want to leave a true legacy, a true stamp of their greatness and skill.... I mean there both at the tail end of their careers.. More so Oscar.. That was their chance with the huge audiance viewing to lay it thick!

Well... They didn't...

Bottom line.. Oscar again falls short in a big fight... Mayweather did jack shit to prove he is to be mentioned with the imortal greats....

Now please don't get me wrong.. they both are good fighters and are hall of famers... but not all time greats.... No damn way they are...

If anything... If you really analyize their carrers... They both were a product of great promotion.. hand picking oppenents....

Something fighters like Hagler, Charley Burley, Pernell Whitacker know nothing about...

Those guy's did it the right way.. That's why they are considered all time greats.....

I tell you guy's... Watch the upcoming Castillo vs. Hatton fight in June.... Now those are fighters who fight for pride and fight cause they love it...They make you say Shit!.. How the hell can they sustain that punch rate, show that much aggression, take those shots and fight like that... All the while making you want more.... They take risks in fights cause they really want it....

The late Diego Corrales was of that breed too....

That's why their fights will forever be mentioned and remembered more....

Big Fight.. Big Pressure.. Somebody is Cracking Up...

I gotta tell you guy's... I'm so glad that Mayweather/De La Hoya 24/7 is coming to an end and the fight is upon us.....

Sure is was cool to see the in camp training footage, and behind the scenes dealings... But the level of class was so telling from the get go...Team De La Hoya were all pros and classy gentlemen throughout the show.... Now the Mayweather camp has been a polar opposite... All the talk and antics from the Mayweather camp has been enough... That's it... No more... Can't watch anymore without putting the TV on mute....

Me myself... I have met Floyd Jr. in Vegas before... he was VERY cool and down to earth.. great guy... Understand this about Floyd Jr. All that shit he is talking is that.. Just hype.. He really does have more class than he's showing.. He's just hyping and trying some physiological warfare.. If you call it that on Oscar...

I chatted with Floyd Sr. for a half hour in Vegas too.. Sr. is what he is.. I'll give him that.. He's no fake.. What you see is what you get.. At least he isn't taking the low class road like Roger...

The 3rd and final episode airs tonight and I'm still trying to figure out what the hell has happened or is happening to Roger with half the shit he is saying.. It just makes you sit back and go... Huh!!?!??? The guy seems to have gotten more loony with each passing show..

Now I heard what he said at the final presser yesterday about Roach and Eddie Futch...

Roger has balls and much ignorance to be dissing Futch... I mean common! Futch has trained 19 more world champions than Roger... The biggest thing though... Is that he did it with class...

Roger refers to Freddie Roach as that punching bag over there... Hmmm.... well that punching bag is a 2 time trainer of the year and is a much in demand trainer... This is reality...

Now Roger... Back to reality man... Common.. you can do it... Your not in la la land anymore were you are king...and the best trainer ever... where Futch's legendary accomplishments don't exists... Wake up and face reality... I mean you might really be facing it hard after the fight Saturday night.. We'll see...

One thing I wanna know is... Hey so called best trainer living... What or how many contenders/champions do you have or will train after your cash cow nephew retires?

Roger has been cracking up lately and it's beginning to make me wonder.... Is the big fight pressure bearing down on him... Damn.. It makes me wonder if he will make it to the fight without getting shot or his ass severely kicked!

That's one thing about boxing... It's a great sport no doubt.. But... It's characters like Roger who tarnish it, and make people turned of to the sport....

I will be writing in tomorrow with my fight prediction... I hope you guy's enjoy the fight and for you boxing junkies out there if you like watching the pre fight interviews and such.. do your selves a favor and mute the TV when Roger appears!

Have a great and sane day you guy's...

Winning at all costs?... There is no other way....

Hey all... This is a great topic to discuss.. That was discussed a bit..on another message board...The importance of winning... How important is it?.. Compared to Losing?

Well.. In many, and most situations, activities, and sports.. It must be...It has to be to get you through the breaking points.. the points that usually crush the average person, and having the thinking it's OK I can come back another day and try again... That thinking in tough times is not good for extreme, dangerous sports like...

Let's take combat fighting for example... Those of us that compete or have competed in combat sports know that winning is everything.. It has to be to keep you from going out on a stretcher.. But more so we seek it as.... It is a very sensual, climatic feeling that gives us ultimate pleasure.. hmmmm see the correlation to the other activity we all dig... Don't worry.. It's alright!.. I'm not going XXX here.. Not here.. But.. If you talk to be in person.. I must warn you.. I have some XXX analogies I use sometimes as examples for certain situations in fight sports to help get the point across... Yes.. I know.. I agree with you.. I am one sick F***! .. What can I say!?..

Now.. where was I?.. Oh yes... at the same time it can be short lived as we now focus on.. next.. what's next.. who's next.. your managers already talking of the next fight after your sensational win...

Compare the above exotic..ummm Damn it.. Sorry!.. I mean glorified feeling to the most painful and demoralizing feeling of losing...

Losing just sucks! Period.. You know what.. It has to be to.. if you want to make it out in one piece when your in the ring, or Octagon..

That's not being a sore loser.. That's being real!

We athletes fighters have to live with that.. We are on a high one moment, walking on water, and bang!.. Just like that.. we lose.. We can feel like the biggest losers ever...Can is the word.. You don't and mustn't think that.. but many do have this feeling..Again That's being real and those of us that are truly training in the fight sports, or train athletes in general know this...

That's why great trainers, and corner man like Teddy Atlas use the feeling of losing as a powerful anchor, motivator, and reminder for his fighters to get them through the tough and bleak moments of the fight...

Teddy Atlas knows what losing can do to a fighter, (persons) mindset... It's a slow, pain that eat can eat at you..

Nobody wants that...

If the ring, or Octagon.. When the going gets tough.. and defeat is right in your face,.. getting ready to swallow you.. The last thing you want in your mind is the thought of.. Hey.. it's OK.. I can live and fight another day.. I can just learn from this.... Hey...did you just hear the burp defeat let out?

Exactly.. That's what happens to you in pressure situations thinking that way... Thinking that way gets you beat.. thinking that way can be a habit.. making you weak when you face the tough spots.. making you fold...giving you that false belief that it's OK...

True learning is getting through those tough spots.. That's true growth.. That's were you learn more about yourself than ever...That's were you develop much envied character...

You have to and must think that losing isn't possible, you think of the horrible feeling.. what defeat will do to you.. all the while at the same time knowing that the pain and fatigue your feeling now will go away, it will pass.. but the win you are seeking will be in the record books for ever... that will not go away or die.. it will be there as a reminder to you of what you chose to do and feel.. What you did not give in too...What you truly focused on..

Is winning everything?.. What do you want the record book to read when you are old and on your rocking chair looking at it? W or L.... What do you want your grand kids to read?

PS.. I know in other areas of life.. defeat is a short lived lesson.. we all make mistakes and grow, and yes the mistakes, and losses are blessings and lessons...that further our growth.. We must look at that that way, as the strong do..

But......again....

In many sports, combat particularly... That thinking will get your ass kicked get you hurt when your in the tough spots and will snatch victory from you.. That's also just what your tired, ready to go, but not showing it opponent wants you to think...so he can snatch the desired W...