Hello wrestling fans and welcome to a special Monday gathered around my bulging sack, waiting for my weekly load of sticky and salty truth. This week, we have questions/comments on Bivol-Ramirez, Paul-Silva, Ryan Garcia, the role of fans in boxing’s decline, and the timing of the Spence-Crawford announcement.
Bivol-Ramirez, Ryan Garcia, Spence-Crawford
Hi Paul, how are you? It’s me, again. Well, we have some good fights to come. I really like Bivol and RamÃrez. What is your opinion? Do you think RamÃrez can give the surprise? I give the advantage to Bivol and not because he beat Canelo, but because I think he is so good??? And what do you think of Ryan the talkative Garcia? He is the biggest joke in boxing, just like De La Hoya’s hate ass. They talk about a great game, but he fights against no one. And my last question… When will we get confirmation from Spence-Crawford? I’m a great Canelo guy, but that’s the fight I really want to see. Let me know what you think.
Thanks. I always enjoy your opinions on all things boxing.
— OF
Hi AF.
Bivol-Ramirez is going to be good. I’ve noticed some downplaying of Ramirez’s résumé and skills in the last few days/weeks, but I think he’s the real deal. He is big, strong and can fight. Don’t underestimate the importance of him being a lefty either. Bivol hasn’t fought a southpaw since Cedric Agnew in 2017. The Russian definitely won’t be able to fight the same epiphany fight he did against the short-statured, short-armed Canelo Alvarez. Ramirez will come hard on him and he will have the confidence of a former undefeated world champion in his prime. He will come to hurt Bivol, not just outmatch him, and will have the advantage in both size and range. Bivol may deserve to be the favorite going into this fight, but Ramirez is a real live dog in this one.
My position on Ryan Garcia is the same as my position on UFOs: I’ll believe it when I see it. Garcia definitely has the basic tools to be a special fighter. That light-speed left hand, alone, already puts him in the top 1% of fighters and can end any fight at any time. He’ll need more than the threat of a big gun when he starts to take on the other one percent. His body of work is still light, so there’s a lot he hasn’t tried yet. His mouth and social media reach have far outstripped his work in the ring right now, so he’s going to piss off a lot of people and generate a lot of heat. However, in terms of promotion, that’s not a bad thing. Garcia’s problem is within himself. Will the pressure, early fame and, perhaps more importantly, his ability to make money outside the ring, keep him from the harsh and nasty world of boxing? Realistically, the child could get out before he’s fully in.
As for Spence-Crawford, my half-educated opinion is that we’ll hear confirmation soon. I think this one is probably finished, registered and ready to be announced. The lack of conversation on all sides is a good sign. I’m guessing the announcement will be made just before Wilder-Helenius in October or right after. Although it could be sooner. Perhaps during Sebastian Fundora-Carlos Ocampo on October 8, a week before Wilder-Helenius? I’m just playing an amateur promoter here, but they could spark the Fundora-Ocampo card announcement, draw people to that fight and not only make the big announcement, but also promote the Wilder-Helenius pay-per-view. PBC/Showtime/Fox all lined up to take on each other. That’s what the suits call SYNERGY, baby!
Jake Paul-Anderson Silva
Hi, Pablo.
This one just crossed the wires. Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva on October 29. I ask you about this because you are one of the only…maybe THE only…boxing writer who gives the kid a fair chance when it comes to boxing him. I think this is a very legitimate challenge for him. But will win, lose or draw bring him any degree of respect among boxing fans and the media? I think I know the answer to that, but you say it much better than me. So, Mags, what do you think of Paul-Silva?
– John L.
Hi John.
It IS a big challenge for Paul. Anderson Silva has real boxing skills and instincts. Much of the success that he had in the UFC was due to his boxing skills and the boxing rhythm that he had inside the octagon. He has had four real professional boxing fights and is 3-1, with his only loss coming in 1998. Most recently, he outboxed Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June 2021 and went on to defeat Tito Ortiz by first-round knockout in a boxing match. three months after that.
Yes, he’s 47 years old, but he’s only a year away from beating Chavez Jr., who, despite being undertrained and undermotivated, was still a “legitimate” veteran boxer and should be a few levels above a rookie pro. like Jake Paul.
As for Paul? Let’s be honest here. Hating him for being a YouTuber or a social media influencer or a C-list celebrity, but how many rookie pros are going to fight someone as good as Silva, in just his sixth pro fight? I would say none. I’d say anyone who faces someone as good as Silva in his sixth pro fight is probably a rare guy with a stellar, extended amateur pedigree. He is definitely not someone who learned boxing as an adult.
So, give the boy credit. He’s working to improve his game and now he’s taking a big risk against a guy with real skills.
But, no, he won’t get any respect from the dumb fake “purists” or the media no matter what. They will point out the 22-year age gap in Paul’s favor. Silva will be disparaged for not being a “real” fighter. And when all else fails, they will cry to fix it. However, win, lose or tie, this should be a source of respect for Jake Paul.
The fans are the problem.
Everyone wants to blame PBC, Top Rank, Matchroom, GBP, etc. But the fact is that the fans dictate how the promoters move.
Devin Haney is the undisputed champion at 135 pounds. However, the lawsuit at 135 is Ryan Garcia v Tank Davis. Neither man has a belt at 135. In a perfect boxing world, the lawsuit would be Haney v Davis.
Usyk v Fury is supposed to be an undisputed fight. You’d think the fans would want to see that fight. However, the lawsuit is Fury v Joshua. It’s absurd that Fury can make more money fighting a guy who just lost twice to a cruiserweight instead of fighting the same cruiserweight.
No one is dodging anyone today. Promoters don’t hide their stable of dangerous fights. The promoters are only supplying the public demand.
If Usyk v Fury doesn’t happen next. Whose fault would it be?
–Rahman nail
Hello Nail.
You’re playing something I’ve been saying since, well, forever. Boxing is, and always has been, a star-driven sport. As it happened, in the past, wrestlers built their star power by taking part in tough, high-profile fights on their way up the ladder, and it often turned out that the best wrestlers would become the greatest in a more difficult way. organic. . That is no longer the case and there are many reasons for that: the impact of social media, the fragmentation of the business, the move away from the mainstream sports world, etc. But the fans and their fickle and capricious ways are at the center. root of everything Promoters and networks are constantly pulling fans out of their proverbial shoes and have conditioned the hardcore base to buy whatever is offered to them. Instead of hoping for what could be (and should be), fans are content with the “best available.” The fan base has been whittled down to a comparatively select few who will watch anything thrown at them. And, because of this, for top fighters there is often not much more money in a risky and challenging fight than in a second-tier fight. If fans stopped buying, subscribing, and attending live events, I guarantee all these promoters, managers, and network execs would be rushing to some fancy boardroom, singing Kumbaya, eager to work together for the good. common sport. .
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