V8: Manny Pacquiao: What Would Happen If.......

Manny Pacquiao: What Would Happen If.......
 
In a recent interview on Eastside Boxing, Floyd Mayweather Snr. spoke with host Geoffery Ciani about the fact that he feels he could improve a lot of fighters as a trainer. When pressed for specifics, oddly enough, one man he stated that he would have the ability to "make better" was none other than the Filipino's finest, Manny Pacquiao. This dialogue is a pure irony, as just the other day I was asked "what would I criticize about Roach", after making a number of statements that would make some feel I see no flaws in the master trainer. The one thing I stated that I would change?.....defense....as the one common thread amongst virtually all of his top acts is the fact that they all tend to get hit far more than one should. Pacquiao's power is so incredible that he has been spared a bit, but I'll never forget my Mom asking "Son, you mean to tell me my boy Packee lost"!, after seeing him at the post-Clottey interview on an ESPN clip. The reason for her misguided belief.....a heavily battered face...which was a landing strip for Clottey's thunderous jabs. At the end of the day, it's tough to argue with perfection, and although Pacquiao isn't, he's close enough to stop me from 'illegal tampering'. That being said....Wouldn't it be cool to see MP with a Mayweather-esque defense? To hell with a "Fighter of the Decade". This hybrid would be "Fighter of the Millennium"! Uncontested! No need for a vote!

Andre Ward: P4P King (In The Making)
 
For well over a year now I've stated publicly that Andre Ward (in my humble opinion) is the second best pure fundamental fighter in the sport, behind only Floyd Mayweather jr. No question, Pacquiao is the most exciting to watch, but when it comes to simply winning at all cost - be it ugly or boring - these two men simply have the tools to take most to school. Inside, outside, box, brawl....the kid can do it all. Against Kessler we saw excitement. Against a taller, more athletic Green, we saw a gameplan to nullify his best attributes. Against Dirrell? Well.....we'll need to see something else we haven't seen, because that's what it'll take to get the nod in his stiffest bout yet! Stay tuned... 

Alan "It Ain't EZ Being" Green
 
Last weekend, Allan Green took his biggest professional test to date. He failed. A few years ago it was a similar scenario when he faced Colombian by way of Puerto Rico, Edison Miranda. Unfortunately, in that test, he failed, too. Let critics have their way, Allan Green is nothing more than a glorified journeyman who barks louder than he has shown the ability to bite. Well....truth be known, Green is far more than that, and anyone thinking along those lines could be proven otherwise when he squares off against a talented, but very hittable Mikkel Kessler. With a recent loss in his rear view mirror and very little comfort about his performance, there's no better time than the present to silence his critics. Tomorrow brings a ray of hope for Allan, but right about now, "it's not easy (being) Green"!
 

Antonio Tarver: A 'Heavy-Weight' To Carry?

The heavyweight division is probably at its weakest state in the history of the game. Two dominant champs with zero opposition, and to show how thin the talent pool truly is, those two dominant champs hail from the same household.....literally....meaning no other man present on the current landscape from anywhere around else the world is truly worth noting. That's either a helluva endorsement on the two champs, or a testament to their perfect timing. With few other options available, America is about to present another offering to the mix in an effort to see if it can compete. Trouble is, the man being offered - although skilled - has never faced the likes of what soon awaits. Tarver's rise to fame was catapulted with a stunning a victory over the legendary Roy Jones Jr. His fall from fame could come at the hands of a few men more than equipped to 'push' him down. It'll be an interesting story to watch, but my better judgment tells me this former 'light' will truly have a 'heavy-weight' to carry. Champ...Square those shoulders and man up! It's Showtime!!!!!

 James Kirkland: Out of Jail, Back in 'Trouble'
 
Recently, James Kirkland was released from prison to complete his sentence in a halfway home. This news was highly celebrated by many, as his pre-prison performances gave us quite a bit to hope for. Only a few days removed from his prison stint, there seems to be more 'trouble' in the world of Mr. Kirkland. Rumor has it that he and trainer Anne Wolfe aren't quite seeing eye to eye on a number of issues and the tandem could be on the brink of splitting. The chemistry between these two have been nothing short of amazing. One could only wonder how the future of Kirkland would pan out if they do in fact go separate ways. Hopefully things fall in place for the tandem, as according to some, this was the only thing about Kirkland's life that was truly stable. Time will provide a very necessary answer...If that answer is a permanent split, this could spell 'trouble', yet again for James. But thank God not the kind that could land him behind bars again. Stay tuned.

Hopkins/Bute: Eastern Canada....'West' Bound Road?

Rumor has it that the legendary Bernard Hopkins is more than likely gonna be paired with the very talented Lucian Bute. For many, Bute is an unproven fighter who has accumulated his wins by feasting on a few less-than-talented foes. Truth is, no matter how you wanna view his level of competition to this point, Bute is easily and arguably one of the best fighters in the world today, and had he been entered in the famed Super-6 Tournament, things may have gone vastly different thus far. Hoopla and age aside, Hopkins is a totally different puzzle to solve when compared to the men of the Super-6 Tournament. Not to say he could defeat them all at this stage in his career, but without question, his Ring IQ is higher than each of them, with Ward coming the closest. On paper, this looks to be a solid night of action, but as we learn time and time again in the world of boxing, paper burns! In the end, this could be another snoozefest in which Hopkins wins a tactical chess match, or he could find himself in Canada's eastern region, suddenly facing the proverbial 'westside' of his career! (as in the sunset). It's been a great journey, but it has to end somehow. Could this be it?

Shane Mosley: Mora, or Simply More?

Shane Mosley is said to have his passion for the ring back, full tilt, and as he prepares for a ring return, the one name being kicked around with any true weight is Sergio Mora. Mora would be an interesting fight because he once defeated a man who Mosley had no answer for, in Vernon Forrest (RIP). In talking to fight fans around the globe about this potential showdown, there seems to be one common theme. Many seem to think Mora is a trap fight waiting to happen. A deeper analysis from one fan in particular presented the point that Mosley should let it all hang out, opting instead to take a big money/big name type fight, rather than a man who seems to be middle-of-the-road, who in the end could very well explode. At first glimpse, in my opinion, Mosley is making a good choice, but a weak performance or a loss could seal the deal, as few would take the risk going forward. Pretty interesting stuff....Hope the 'Sugar-man' is taking notes!

Amir Khan: Lay Off Won't Pay Off!

It was recently revealed that Amir Khan will no longer be facing Cuban star Joel Casamayor in July as previously discussed. This plan comes as not-so-great news in the eyes of British promoter Frank Warren, many of Khan's fans, and a certain boxing scribe that does a V8 Column every week over at the highly acclaimed 8CountNews! With all sorts of action heating up in the division he calls home, how in the world this decision to keep him inactive for what will amount to roughly 8 months could be made is beyond me! Bradley, Alexander, Maidana, and all other pertinent parties will shake off the rust during that span, while Khan is forced to sit back and watch, without an injury serving as a primary preventive reason. Poor, poor planning, and a poor, poor decision. I've never seen a layoff that paid off. If Khan doesn't find success when he returns, to quote a famous movie mobster...."Some heads will roll"!

(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vwallace@8countnews.com, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), Facebook and Myspace).