The Watchdog Answers on Mayweather, Cotto, Mosely, Trinidad, Jones Jr and More
 WATCHDOG by Steve Hudgins (Nov 9, 2007) DoghouseBoxing (Photo © Everlast)
This week the Watchdog answers questions on, down with the alphabet soup gangs!!! Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Diaz, Contender Finale, Miguel Cotto vs Shane Mosley, Jones Jr vs Trinidad and so much more! So sink your teeth in and enjoy!
That was a great letter to Ring magazine. You said what I and so many other boxing fans have been saying for years now. If you eradicate the ABC insanity from the sport, then the sport will return to prominence. It's just too difficult for anyone to get enthused over a heavyweight division with almost zero talent and four or five belt holders. By
getting rid of the WBC, WBO, WBA, IBF, etc. you also eliminate all these silly mandatories that are out of line with reality. Your point about too many divisions is also spot-on. No one knows about any of the divisions outside of lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight for the most part. Anyway, keep the pressure on them. If something doesn't change, boxing will continue to sink and that would be awful. There's no reason it shouldn't be relevant again. – James, Houston
THE WATCHDOG’S RESPONSE: Great letter James. We all need to keep the pressure on those who actually have the power to make a change. Let Ring Magazine, HBO, SHOWTIME and ESPN know how you feel! Don’t be silent any longer! By the way, I received an email from Ring Magazine editor Nigel Collins letting me know that he is going to address my comments in a future edition of Ring Magazine. So keep an eye out for that.
Hey watch dog I just wanted to comment on what the last guy in your mail bag said about organization bodies. I completely agree, I really do not see why any fighter wants to hold any of those meaningless belts. If I were a boxing champion I would drop all trinkets once I won the ring magazine belt, I honestly do not understand why a young man has to go thru so much to win a championship then turn around and has to pay fee’s on his belt he rightfully won in order to keep it. – Brian P
THE WATCHDOG’S RESPONSE: Ah yes, “The sanctioning fee”. The very reason we have 17 weight classes, Super Champions, Regular Champions, Interim Champions etc etc etc. Sickening isn’t it? The Ring Championship is the only one that matters. And guess what? There’s no FEE attached to it! How ‘bout that?
It was disappointed to hear this from you: "The only champion at 147 lbs is Floyd Mayweather. Anyone else who claims otherwise is simply wrong." – Daniel, Amarillo
THE WATCHDOG’S RESPONSE: Like Mayweather or not, he’s the champion. I have nothing to do with that. He won The Ring Championship fair and square in the ring. That’s just the way it is.
Hey there watchdog, I have two questions. First one is do you think Juan Diaz deserves a spot in the top 10 pound for pound list yet or does he still have to beat the old Joel Casamayor who seem to be avoiding the faster younger Diaz. And second do you think the winner of Juarez, Marquez fight should fight Pacquiao next. – Isaac
THE WATCHDOG’S RESPONSE: Yeah, I think he’s probably earned a spot in the lower half of the pound for pound top 10 at this point. In order to be the true lightweight champion he’ll have to beat Casamayor (or whoever beats Casamayor) to be the real champ. And Casamayor is not avoiding Diaz. It sounds like he would like nothing more than to fight Diaz. It’s actually Diaz who is the one who openly speaks about not wanting to face Casamayor. That’s a shame because Diaz is the one and only #1 contender and Casamayor is the one and only Champion. They should be fighting. Soon! And YES! Without question, Juan Manuel Marquez & Manny Pacquiao should be fighting each other next. That rematch is WAY overdo!
What are your thoughts on Trinidad vs Roy Jones Jr? – Barbara, NE
THE WATCHDOG’S RESPONSE: I really have absolutely no interest in that fight whatsoever. They are both way past their prime and haven’t looked impressive in so long. I could really care less. But that’s just me.
Floyd Mayweather for me is on of the best boxers in the world. I’m just wondering why he doesn’t challenge fighters like Cotto, Margarito or Mosley. Is he ducking them? Please share your thoughts. Dexter – Manila
THE WATCHDOG’S RESPONSE: I think that Mayweather has no interest in fighting anyone he thinks is a legit threat to him unless he’s getting paid a ridiculous amount of money. Margarito is big, strong and punches hard. Paul Williams is 10 feet tall and has a style that would give Mayweather fits. Cotto would be relentless to Mayweather’s body. Mosley has speed that will give Mayweather trouble. I think he’d take those fights if the money was huge, but otherwise, I don’t think he’s too wild about getting in the ring with those guys. I have a feeling if Mosley beats Cotto, he may be interested in that fight though. That is IF Mayweather can beat Hatton. And let me give Mayweather a little credit for taking on that fight. Hatton will be no day at the beach. Those are my thoughts on the matter.
Did you think the Contender Finale was the fight of the year? – Sandy, Des Moines
THE WATCHDOG’S RESPONSE: Yes, I think it probably was. In every round there was a moment where I thought at least one of those guys was done and they’d come back. It was a lot of fun! Pavlik/Taylor is a close 2nd.
Does Jose Armando Santa Cruz have a shot at beating the Lightweight Champion of the World, Joel Casamayor on the Cotto/Mosley undercard? Bobbi, Kansas City
THE WATCHDOG’S RESPONSE: Absolutely! Santa Cruz is a young energetic fighter who throws a lot of punches. He has a very strong chance and out working Casamayor and lifting the Lightweight Championship of the World from him. It’s a very interesting matchup!
What's up, watchdog? I am an avid reader of your column and generally agree with your assessments. Because I like you, I am going to bail you out on Mosley/Cotto. While we can agree that Cotto is vicious to the body, going downstairs will leave him open and susceptible to Shane's hand speed. Although not what it was, it is still superior to Miguel's. Couple that with Cotto's shaky chin and Mosley's fantastic conditioning, and that adds up to a mid to late round stoppage for Sugar, who still has some pop on his shots. Glad to help you out, watchdog. Scott – Illinois
THE WATCHDOG’S RESPONSE: Haha, well thank you Scott for the attempted bail out, but I’m sticking with my prediction. I will say there are a lot of people out there who agree with you on your assessment 100 percent. I’m just not one of them. But I’ve been wrong before and will be again.
So should we buy the Cotto/Mosley PPV? – Marty, Alaska
THE WATCHDOG’S RESPONSE: Be sure to check out my PPV Criteria which should be coming out tomorrow here on Doghouse Boxing.
THE WATCH DOG’S NOTES
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