Hands of Fire Boxing Podcast Frampton beats Santa Cruz. Crawford PPV flo...

...Better than "not at all" Why the Pacquiao vs Mayweather is still a HUGE fight

As a Blogger, most of my time is spent reading alot of articles from many different outlets. So when the news broke last Thursday night that Floyd Mayweather had (Finally!!!) agreed to fight Manny Pacquiao you could imagine how many browser tabs were open the next day. Though the first 15 minutes of me hearing the news was spent making sure that this wasnt a moment of 'he said, she said' rumor mill, It was indeed true. Floyd has finally signed to a fight that he has a very good chance in loosing. The May 2nd event soldout MGM grand in only 15 minutes with admission seats spanding from $1,000- $5,000 and ringside seats $250,000 according to Jonathan Snowden of The Bleacher Report. So anyone who says "this fight is 5 years too late" will be lying to you if they say they still were not going to watch the fight. To that point, lets look into why exactly this still is the best fight in boxing.


 For starters, The two fighters are still the biggest names in the sport. Mayweather continues to rack up  PPV revenue with cherry picked opposition. While lacking the action in the ring, Floyd does most of his selling through the pre-fight activities and promotions. Often using the access shows (24/7,hbo or all access,showtime) to show off his usual short distance punching  routines and berating his opponents to the camera about how much quality they lack to an extent where you ask yourself " well, why the hell are you even fighting Roberto Guerraro?". From the showing of his last two fights with Marcos Maidana, it appears  that Floyd has slowed significantly (hand speed and legs). There were times Maidana was slipping Mayweather easily in order to close off the ring where he would get most of his success. This is usually the game plan for most when they fight Mayweather, especially for brawlers, but the fact that he did it enough for it to be a close fight should have the Pacquiao camp licking their chops.

Pacquiao continues to show his devolpment as a fighter from the one-punch, left-handed dynamo he was when he first fought on US soil. Manny's opposition of late has come into question, but it's no doubt he fears no one or anything inside the squared circle. With the likes of Antonio Barrera (2), Erik Morales (3), Juan Manuel Marquez (4), Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya, and Antonio Margarito (whom in his prime stalked Mayweather press confrences for years to get a fight) under his belt,and the fashion he won those fights; Its no wonder Manny won "fighter of the decade" for the 2000s. Manny has been on his bounce back of his perceptions to fans after his KO loss to Marquez and a meekly judged fight with Timothy Bradley. To his credit, he took the unneeded rematch, which turned out to be tougher than the first fight with Bradley who was desperate to prove to fans that he did deserve the decision. Then showing his abilty to beat up bruisers with his pattoned speed in Brandon Rios, and the physically dominate Chris Algeri. Though he wont get much credit for those fights, there seems to be a more callculated Pacquiao now.

Stylistically these two now have elements of a good fight. Though many will say that both fighters arent what they were, theres still the defensive art of Mayweather and still the quick powering combinations of Pacquiao. The only precaution I ever had, even 5 years ago was that the defensive-minded Floyd would ruin any action of a fight, but with his showing against the much slower Cotto and Maidana to stand toe-to-toe (not by design) you can't help but wonder what Pacquiao's ring generalship, foot work, speed, power, and combinations will bring to ths fight.

Much has been made about oppsosition of late from fans but that maybe because they just had not fought each other yet and chances for big money fights without each other was limited. Through the build up of this annoucment there were many of fans that were ready to protest Mayweather PPVs if he did not fight pacquiao next. He (Mayweather) did miss out on quite a number of challengers who would surley made him work like Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez, Antonio Margarito. But this Floyd's big moment of actually quality where you could say there's a good chance of him loosing. There are actually plently of challenges out there that can be explored for who could be the next to reign champion as a household name boxer like Danny Garcia where there would be more risk than reward, But the fans and experts have waited long enough. In the words of the late Mills Lane "Lets get it on"

The Best excuses "I'm a coward, but I'm smart"

The following is a video, and what should be proof that Floyd Mayweather wants no part of Manny Pacquiao.

What Mayweather proclaims as reasons why he believes Manny consuming some form of HGH (human growth hormones) turns into what he fears of the outcome of fighting the  8-divison Filipino Champion.  







Numbers of other interviews where Mayweather points to Pacquiao's PPV numbers, his promoter, and his lack prominence to "be his own boss" as to why a deal cannot be made. But what started as a simple question turned into furious rant,Floyd goes on to diminish Pacquiao's incredible accomplishments to date as too good to be true. " I aint just ,walk through Cotto" Floyd states. Pointing to the demolition Pacquiao orchastrated against the Puerto Rican Brawler, Floyd indirectly tells Josh Slagter of mlive.com that his precaution of a fight with Manny Pacquiao is the possiblity of getting seriously hurt.



Say what you will but it seems very clear that Mayweather seems to only fight for one thing and one thing only ... himself

2014, a marker year

Some of you may know from previous entries that I stated that I would try to post more, but as always life got in the way which lead to me really not inspired to do much of anything. It has been a quite a year. Of all the times for me to feel uninspired to write, it was an observant writer's dream no to. So many events, deaths, and moments.

The years started for me with some optimism. 2013 wasn't a bad year for me but I was looking to ride the high I had toward the tail end of the year into 2014, and it did. I got out aside my reluctance and met some pretty cool people. Also was able to build my tolerance with people (because I really don't like people) and enriched my ways of searching for solutions. My single streak was also broken

It was awsome to finally see the world cup back as well and see the brief popularity of soccer in the USA. by the wall, the USA played pretty well and everyone should be proud of them but now that they can play with the big boys, they have to now learn to beat the big boys. It was great to see Brazil host the game that Brazilans perfected, but the climax of their competition was heart breaking. You simply cant win a game on heart, and that was the lesson Germany taught us. But with a new coach (kinda) brazil has yet to loose a game since the world cup. Hopefully they can make it up to us in Copa America.

By the time spring semester was winding down I could not wait to start my break. But shortly after it starting I heard the news that a friend of mines father had passed away, whom I and many others simply knew him as "Pops". But little did I know the grieving would not stop there. As I do most summers, I stayed in Jersey in the company of friends, my grandparents, and girlfriend's. Seen my teammate endure a very grusome injury, that still gives me chills thinking about it. But it is good to see Kalea recover well. It was rough   for me financially and some good people helped me out, and I personally thank them for it.  

Toward the twilight of the summer, much of my time was job searching back in Delaware and getting everything prepared for the fall semester. But a chapter in my life was only beginning to end. 

There must of been an calling of mortal angels to the afterlife beause it was almost eerie to see how many of my friends lost someone, including celebrities and people gone due to violence. Anyone who knew me, knew my pop pop. 

There was no bigger figure in my life than this man. Within him I lost and grandfather, a father,  and a best friend. When they someone is irriplaceable, he's it. There will never be anyone in the world that will have my back like he did. He didnt needed to do any of the things he did for me. All of it was his choice and for someone reason put so much faith and time in me. And when I gave up on basketball to tryout other sports he completely supported it even though everyone else didnt like it. Especially the fact that it was him who drove me 45 min every morning to expensive NBA basketball camps, he didnt mind and understood why I did not want to play anymore. He would even heard it from other family members about me saying that he spoiled me and etc. But he always defended me, and truly got upset when anyone sin the family bad mouthed me. So when I got that call on September 16, 2014 you better believed every once of moisture my eyes could hold were gone. Theres still a hole in my heart that will never fill. I could go on and make this whole entry about him because he deserves that. For the sake of completing this I won't but its hard limit the words I could tell you how much this man meant to me and just how hard its been for me to move on. I will leave it at that.

During the time of pop pop's passing, there was also alot going on in the world of news with Micheal Brown, Robin Williams, and Maylasian airplane disappearance. This is what the sixties most of been like. Protesters hitting the streets and police beating up people, it was almost like being back in time. This really created a divide throughout the country but the media finally focusing the killing of young black men not only by self proclaimed neighborhood watchers, but police as well. Its been going on for awhile now but this year it really seemed the force its way in to the homes of surburban America through television. What was surprising to see was just how much racism still exist in this country. Unfortunatly, there are a few Americans who seem to believe it and think that every prosecution and killing of a young African American is warranted. this is why there is so much anger. Its an epidemic of young black men that would truly get more attention had it been anyother race, and the fact that police can also be imcompetent with there jobs and abuse their powers on not just black men but anyone. Women,children, and people with special needs are all victims of this. So that fact that there is a divide in this country about this and the rest of the world can clearly see this as a problem too shows just how lost in their ways some americans are. 

Its not to say all cops are bad, (and the fact that has to be said is really just a deflection) its that they dont have anyone repercussions to their mistakes. And that there can be holes in their story but will always get off. The fact that cops know how to set up a scene of a crime once they've done wrong is always forgotten. But the pressure of the people is consistent and that is the only way your (our) voices will ever be heard. That is what I can say is the most positive outcome I can say about this year. 

I eneter this year with a fracture heart but hope each month with make it easier to mend. 2014, Gone but never forgotten

RIP

David Gautier

Keith Davis

George E. Wilson 

The peddler's son

Once there was a little boy who peddled fish on the streets with his father. The father peddled down one block while son peddled another. The modest boy found it hard for he was not as vocal as his father, and for weeks could not sell the an mount of fish for him and his father to get by. One day the father, furious with his son, made the choice to omit his son from the shack house and add the boy's fish cart to his, believing he could double his sales. The boy took to the streets with only selling fish as his trade. So roamed till he could no longer see land, made fishing line and fished at the waterfront ahead of him. He reeled in plenty of fish, until one moment he retrieved a fish he had never seen before. With shimmering scales and large fins, the boy kept the fish in a separate bucket. The boy, knowing he was not the best salesman, took to the local fish market to sell his catchings. The merchant repayed the boy for the fish with enough earnings for the boy to eat for two weeks. Then the boy handed the merchant the bucket with the gorgeous fish. The merchant's jaw dropped at what he saw. The fish was extremely rare and was known to no longer exist. The boy would rewarded handsomely for catch enough to have a market of his own if he wanted. Instead he bought a shack house near the waters where he roamed until other fish peddlers would come to him to buy. One day, one if those peddlers were his father. Over joyed to see what the boy had became, the father rejoiced and said " together we could really do great business together". With his chin tucked to his chest and unable to look his father in the eye, the boy replied "I cannot father. If you can't take me at my worst, you do not deserve me at my best"....

You didn't hear it from me...

So as many of you know , last summer did not entirly go as according to plan. However, with competence restored and old ties knotted, new line of production is ready to be filmed, written, and reported.
People familiar with me know that I had a few comedy skits and short film pieces, but were done back in 09/10 and very amateur. At the time we were bullshitting with a camera, now with production experience and better ideas I believe I have a good foundation to build a consistent production team. Ofcourse comedy piece are always on the table, but along with ideas for short films I'm also writing something worth making a documentary.
Lastly, there will be a time to cast so if ever called upon please make sure you're are serious about it. People get scared when it's time to get to work. See you soon!!!

Oldie goodies

This was made a year ago but should have been posted here, still proud of what probably is the best production I ever done. On the up and up right.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10151662509420955&id=728600954