Peter H

I'm going to UFC 118 in Boston tomorrow, and I'm just preparing myself to have to defend boxing to all my buddies and random guys at the bars before and after - I think we has fans have to just take a deep breath and accept that a punch to the gut is coming for boxing by the end of the year. My question is what is the most devastating part:

1. James Toney likely getting embarrassed in an MMA match (boxing is fighting to seperate itself from the UFC and bring in younger fans, this hurts)

2. Manny v. Floyd no go - clearly the biggest fight out there not happening, and with both guys appearing to not be planning being around much longer, along with possiblities of losses for either before it comes off - time and place was set, NO GO

3. Still pretty dormat heavyweight division - Wlad and Vitali continue to dominate sub-sub- par competition. Haye talks and talks but won't fight - or maybe Sam Peter KOs Wlad and further sinks the division by cementing the horrid era of the heavyweights

4. Nothing on the horizon - PPVs for Marquez v. Diaz 2? Mosely v. Mora? Kessler sucks the wind out of the Super Six? Clottey and Mosely disappoint in mega-fights?

Boxing looks like it has painted itself into a corner - there are 2 guys anyone outside the hardcore base cares about - they don't fight, and every sports fan under 30 watches a "big-name" boxer (as billed) get completely dominated by a UFC superstar....what could possibly save this?

I can't believe I haven't seen a question about this one coming up on Sat.? I think its going to be the toughest fight for Dawson so far. Pascal is a real threat and will have his hometown crowd backing him.

Who are you picking?

I can't believe I haven't seen a question all day about this fight coming up tomorrow.

Cinton's blemishes are to Margarito (who knows what happened in those) and Martinez who is clearly a top p4p guy.

Martinez dropped Williams clean and hurt him several times, Cintron is a very big puncher - any chance he catches Williams and pulls off the upset? I think this fight isn't getting the attention it deserves.

It used to be the best player at each position - top C, top PF, top SF, top SG and top PG. I think its part of the NBA marketing arm that loves to highlight stats and accolades way too much. This year you have 1 center and 4 guys who alternate betweent the SF/SG position.

C - Howard

PF - Dirk or Amare

SF - Durant

SG - James

PG - Williams

I get the feeling that however this fight turns out, it may be very one-sided, and do nothing but attempt to settle this crazy debate.

I was also wondering if anyone else got the notion that this could end up looking a lot like Toney v. Roy Jones, where 2 top pound for pound guys match up and its just hell for one of them. I'm not picking a winner, but if Manny wins, anyone else think it could resemble RJJ's style of domination?

Toney and Floyd both have similar styles and attributes, and Manny is more unorthodox like Roy was - I think if Manny is quicker to the trigger he could just have Floyd reacting without countering like Roy did to Toney.

Thoughts (again not picking just asking if anyone else sees the potential similarities)?

Take their whole careers, skill, opponents, accomplishments - if you want to include PPV numbers, be my guest.

Assuming neither ever steps into the ring again, who should go down as the better fighter all-time.

Both top welterweights; considereing it was a post-Margarito Cott and a 38 year old Shane coming off the layoff.

Not trying to start anything - just curious.

Take this version of Floyd considering his track record at 147 and Wright at his best at 154 - who would be tougher for....say a guy like Shane Mosley?

Please explain why without saying one is undefeated and one isn't.

I'm convinced that a huge part of this being such an anticipated fight is not the sytle matchup, or any other real boxing related factor. I think its because Floyd is undefeated (and is a superstar because of this). I know Sportcenter and general sports sites will lose interest. But for boxing "fans" if Mosely wins (and Manny wins) would everyone on here who can't stop clamoring for Manny v. Floyd still be more insterested in that matchup rather than Mosely v. PacMan?

Everyone has been going back and forth about Manny and Floyd and where they rank all-time, etc.

What if Mosely beats the best or second best fighter of this decade? Where does he then rank all-time. P4P, 147 and 135?

I already have him as one of the top 3-4 lightweights in history, he was one of the top 5 of the 90's and maybe the 00s, in my opinion.

Thoughts?

It looks like anyone who isn't a complete diehard Manny of Floyd fan, and actually has an interest in other fights and fighters, will have to seek shelter from this storm until these 2 finally meet in less than a year (I would bet) - or one of them loses before the end of summer.

Does anyone else know of a free boxing forum similiar to this one?

I've been very impressed with his offense and power - very technical, quick and explosive. The KO last night reminded me a bit of the Prince as far as effect and accuracy of some of the power shots, and I rate the Prince as the biggest puncher I've ever seen at 126.

I think he should be in the top 10 p4p right now, with the sky as the limit for him...I was very, very impressed.

Who takes it at lightweight between Cerrone and Nate Diaz?

I really don't see where all the complaining was coming from - Ward wasn't swining his head around like Bernard Hopkins or anything like that. Kessler's corner didn't even say anything until like the 8th round.

Ward just beat him, he beat him basically every round - Kessler didn't appear to have any secret plan to catch him later in the fight, in fact, it looked like he was ready to wrap it up after 7 rounds - the interpreter was hard to follow, but someone is Kessler's corner said they wanted to stop the fight, and whether it was Kessler or not, he just didn't look like he wanted much more after that.

Ward is going to be tough for anyone in the field because of his agility and technical ability - he doesn't throw one punch power, but he hits hard enough to let the other guy know he's there. Kessler felt his power and didn't just walk through it, it stopped him and backed him up.

Kessler can definitley still be a force in this tournament, but he really has to focus on being able to adjust and fighting in close quarters. I think Froch's awkward style could give him a lot of trouble unless he is able to make adjustments during the fight.

I have the fight dvr'd, I didn't get to watch it this weekend. I've read about it - but from those who watched this weekend, what am I going to see?

That was simply a great fight and incredible performance down the stretch by Pac. I know this whole forum is going to be flooded for the next 6 months with Mayweather v Pac questions. Can we just take a second to appreciate last nights fight - the first 5 rounds were absolutely epic. Cotto is a complete class act and a huge credit to the sport, and PacMan cannot be denied as the best of the decade.

Maybe I'm gonig crazy, everyone on here, and all the writers say that Abraham was on his way to a dominating points decision before the KO with about 6 secs left. Showtime claimed that he probably had a 10-8 round when he landed that big shot that rocked Taylor - I don't know when one punch, that doesn't drop a guy, gets you 10-8, but whatever.

I scored the first 5 for Taylor clearly - then I believe the 11th was his pretty easy too. Even if you only gave him the first 4, I think the 11th was all Taylor (even the Showtime commentary seemd to agree).

So at worst it was 6-5 going into the 12th, right? Taylor says up for the last 6 seconds Abraham wins 12, its 7-5 Abraham...how is that so dominating?

I'm trying to get a sense of how people on here rate the top guys of the past 25-30 years.

Please rate in order and what you think their best performance was.

Take the 147-154 Mayweather, could he have gone up to 160 and taken on the prime Bernard Hopkins?

I was thinking about some of the great guys who started at 130-135, and the only one that I could think of (in recent years) who was able to go way up and be successful was Roberto Duran.

Thoughts on either?

He has basically fought only Carlos Baldomir, Zab Judah and Ricky Hatton at 147 (the last to being natural 140 pounders). Put him where you want pound for pound, but it is an insult to guys who are making their mark in that division, taking on other top level welterweights.