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The Daily Bread Mailbag returns with Stephen “Breadman” Edwards tackling topics such as Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo, the rematch between Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce, comparing Oscar De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez, Andre Ward, and more.
Hey Mr Edwards,
I don’t know about this but reading one of your recent mailbags, and especially the answer where you dealt with keeping things distant and impersonal with your idol, I could swear you might have been a philosopher in another life. I agree 100%, with you. I read something once that said the late, great Muhammad Ali could be quite nasty in private or something like that. I was left downcast and indignant at the same time that perhaps someone wanted to sully the reputation of a colossal human being. When you think of Cassius Clay, still wearing an amateur vest and telling Heavyweight Champion, the late Floyd Patterson, at a random airport encounter, that he’s coming for him, when you think of his upset of the late Sonny Liston, when you think of his rejecting the name Clay as a slave master’s name, when you think of his turning away from a mainstream Christian upbringing to embrace a then little known Islamic religion, when you think of how he sacrificed his prime fighting and earning years to defend his beliefs, when you think of how proud he made black Americans feel when he thumbed his nose at the American Establishment, when you think of the ring brilliance and when you remember how he freed hostages from Iran, all these things simply didn’t reconcile with that allegation.
But on to what I want to briefly do, which is to honor the promise to break down Canelo Alvarez v Jermell Charlo. My starting point is still that it is a grab for money but here we go.1. Size and strength. People are fooled by the face-off. I hear talk Charlo is bigger. This is like saying Thomas Hearns was bigger than the late, great Marvelous Marvin Hagler. This is false. Charlo is longer and rangy but he’s not bigger than Canelo. I look at bone density and I’m telling you Canelo is far bigger than Charlo. And that translates to strength. Charlo might have the more impressive muscle definition but that does not make him stronger than Canelo. Ask GGG and Daniel Jacobs who were very strong at the weight. 2. Power and chinBoth are loud punchers. Charlo’s power is more eye-catching.
Everyone can see it. Canelo’s power is deceptive. There’s a reason why GGG just didn’t walk him down with impunity like he did with every other opponent up to that point. He felt something. However, as you often remind us, the harder puncher is the fighter who can take the other’s power and come firing back. Charlo’s chin is unequalled at 154. But we are talking 168. Canelo has carried his power and chin from 154 to 175. Some even say he debuted at 147. Charlo hasn’t even shown he can carry his power and chin to 160. Maybe he’s doing so in the gym. But the ring in the arena is a truth machine. It’s not the ring in the gym where the star fighter is protected except when he’s caught flush and knocked out. Of course, that has to be hushed up and denied. I think how this thing rolls is Charlo catches Canelo like Hearns caught Hagler in the first round and momentarily stuns him. But Canelo will be the same juggernaut Hagler was. He won’t stop. The problem is going to be when Canelo takes Charlo’s power and fires back. Hearns had moved up only one division but once Hagler hit him he started to feel it. Charlo is moving up two divisions. It doesn’t end well for Charlo once Canelo starts getting to him.3. Speed and footworkCharlo has more speed and can move his feet around the ring.
The popular narrative is Canelo has feet of clay. Oscar De La Hoya is the cheer leader in this but only since he and Canelo broke up. So, the sour grapes are there to see. I’m going to say only two things. Firstly, given a choice between speed and quickness, I will always go for quickness. Charlo is faster but Canelo is quicker. I don’t need to unpack that. You know what I mean. The impression being created is that Canelo is so slow of foot he can’t get to Charlo. Canelo will process Charlo’s speed and footwork and he’ll make the necessary adjustments. Charlo’s footwork is not that of Floyd Mayweather or Erislandy Lara or Austin Trout. That’s because Charlo is more offensive minded. However his transition from defensive to offensive footwork is not smooth. So far, he has gotten away with it because he has not met a fighter at the level of Canelo who will time his transition and boom!. Brian Castano and Tony Harrison in the rematches could not time the speed of Charlo’s transition. Canelo will. 4. Big fight temperamentCharlo has never been in a big fight. It’s not his fault. 154 is as it is and that’s how he found it. And, to his credit, he cleaned it out. But at a very young age, Canelo was up against Mayweather. He’s fought GGG. People say he aged GGG then took advantage. That’s wrong. Canelo waited for his body to grow into 160. He’s not like someone who’ll jump two divisions in a grab for money and the false term being used today is daring to be great. Canelo knew that the big money fight with GGG would always be there. He’d been in a big money fight with Mayweather. He was outclassed. He went back to the drawing board and he now walks into big fights like he’s walking into his living room. Look at how he walked Kovalev down. People say Kovalev was finished. But Kovalev had only lost to an ATG, Andre Ward.
Charlo has probably been at big fights but only as a spectator. He’s about to find out what it means to have the lights shining on you in a big fight. It’s a very different feeling. I don’t think his nerves hold.5.ResumeI won’t be long here. There’s no comparison. Twenty years from now, no one will remember the fighters Charlo has beaten and lost to. A hundred years from now, someone will still remember the fighters Canelo beat and lost to. In the preceding paragraph you see Mayweather, Ward and Kovalev. Enough said. The loss to Harrison and draw with Castano are important yardsticks. Of course, there’s an argument Charlo won both fights. It’s not the results that worry me. It’s who Charlo had the results against. There’s no shame in losing to Mayweather and having a controversial draw with GGG says something about your quality.6. Proneness to mistakesThe last time I saw Canelo make mistakes was against Mayweather but that’s no disgrace. Mayweather has done that to a lot of fighters at a high level. Yes, Canelo made mistakes against Dimitri Bivol but he was up against a bigger and highly skilled fighter. In-between those two fights, show me one fight where Canelo made mistakes. Yes, he struggled a little bit against GGG but that was on competitiveness. He wasn’t reaching and falling short or leading with his face in any of the fights between Mayweather and Bivol. I like Jermell more than Jermall and I think he’s more dynamically offensive and willing to take risks more than his brother.
But funny enough, I think Mall has a better chance against Canelo because he doesn’t make the same mistakes Mell makes. It’s been a long email and I must stop here. I think Charlo is competitive over the first five rounds and is slightly ahead but Canelo begins to break him down from the middle rounds and stops him by the 11th round. People think Canelo has slipped. He hasn’t. It’s the golf and the silk gowns. Looks to me like for this deal with PBC he’s packed away the golf clubs and he’s wearing the ordinary cotton or wool gowns. That means he’s back to being Canelo. Charlo is slow to recover from his mistakes. While he has speed, he has no reflexes. The two things are not the same. Canelo’s reflexes are underestimated. I take you back to two out of ring incidents. Caleb Plant attempted to surprise Canelo with a punch or slap before their fight. Anyone would have been caught by Plant that day. Not only did Canelo react catlike but Plant actually ended up with a marked face. Recently the same Plant slapped the elder Charlo. He ducked after Plant had landed. I’m not saying Mell is Mall. But they are cut from the same mould. The only difference is the younger Charlo fears no one and brings the action. But that does not give him reflexes or take away his mistakes.
Keep punching Mr Edwards
KatlholoJohannesburg, South Africa.
Bread’s Response: This was an excellent comment but try to shorten them up for future consideration. The thing that I realized early in life, is that more than one thing can be true about a person. And depending on the side that you see of a person, it will determine the impression that you get. It’s just not good in my opinion to delve too hard into knowing everything about anyone. Idols, parents, children…..Imagine picking up your grown daughter’s phone and reading text messages from a man she’s dating. The reason why it would be toxic, is because a man who dates her, is coming from a different perspective than you are as her father. The same goes for idols. We idolize them for whatever they did to make them famous. So I don’t need to know too much about their personal lives.
In today’s climate it seems cool to KNOW everything, about everybody. But it’s a slippery slope. A toxic one. No one is perfect. Everyone has a side that is not so bright. So I personally discipline myself in not indulging into that. I don’t want to know.
Every life lesson I’ve learned, I retained. My mother’s brother was someone I looked up to as a little kid. I thought he was the coolest guy. Best athlete. Just the ultimate man. I looked at him through the lens of a small innocent kid. Then I turned 18 and I saw different sides of him. I wasn’t looking at him from a little kid’s perspective anymore. I was looking at him from a young man’s perspective. And what I found was he was the biggest loser and lowest person I ever met.
The same can be said about any great athlete if we delve hard enough. Love Ali for what he was to you overall. And don’t go too deep into a negative story here or there. I don’t know if it’s true or not and I don’t want to know. Ali is the Greatest in my eyes and I won’t let a general story that I couldn’t verify change my outlook on him. On top of that we live in an envious world, where people can say or make up anything….And they do say or make up anything.
Onto Canelo vs Charlo…1. Charlo is longer, taller and more athletic. But Canelo has thicker bone density and is quite possibly the stronger man. I brought up Charlo’s height and length advantage to show that he would have those advantages. Not to say that they would be the end all be all. But I agree with you about Canelo’s physical strength, he’s very strong. But we don’t know who’s the strongest until they fight and we see how they apply their strength.
2. Both have excellent chins and are excellent punchers. I suspect that Canelo is the harder puncher but I don’t know it. But Jermell is clutch and he’s a great LATE round puncher. He hits you with great shots once your awareness is lowered. Again let’s see how it plays out.
3. I agree about the speed and quickness analogy. Charlo is faster and suspect he would win a foot race between him and Canelo. But Canelo is quicker. He processes really fast and he’s harder to hit clean than Charlo. It’s common to say that Canelo has bad feet. But I think they have gradually improved over time. He’s only 5’8” and if his feet were as bad as everyone says he wouldn’t have been able to beat, taller more mobile boxers like Saunders, Plant and Kovalev if his feet were a grade D.
4. That BIG fight atmosphere is something you can’t explain until you’re in it. But that doesn’t mean Charlo won’t handle it because he hasn’t been on this stage before. Again we have to wait and see.
5. Canelo’s resume is much better. No one would argue that. Jermell is a smart guy, he knows that his resume isn’t as good as Canelo’s. And yes Jermell did struggle with Harrison and Castano. I don’t like to do the triangle theory in boxing. I’m not saying it doesn’t apply at times but it’s often inaccurate. You’re saying because Canelo is looked at as a better fighter than Harrison and Castano. And Charlo struggled with them, so therefore he can’t beat Canelo. I’m not saying you’re wrong. But boxing works in mysterious ways. Sometimes logic can be applied, sometimes it can’t.
Evander Holyfield struggled with Bobby Czyz. I was a big Holyfield fan and I was scared because of how he struggled with Czyz that he would have big trouble vs Tyson. But what I learned is that the level of an opponent can make a great fighter elevate. What I learned is that fighters have off nights and don’t come in as focused for each opponent as they should.
Recently we have a case of this. Teofimo Lopez lost to George Kambosos. Josh Taylor is a better fighter than Kambosos. So does that mean Taylor will surely beat Lopez. Logic says yes, but Lopez won. I’m not saying you’re wrong but if Jermell is truly a great fighter, his level will rise and he will be better than the Jermell that fought Harrison and Castano. Again, I say let’s wait and see.
6. Canelo’s reflexes are better, I agree. Canelo has some serious reflexes and he’s better defensively than Jermell. I won’t argue that. I also agree that Canelo makes less mistakes. No argument.
But One thing that you didn’t point out, is that Canelo takes breathers during fights and that Jermell is a great late round puncher. I think Canelo wins a competitive fight but objectively this is where Jermell has a shot and this should be mentioned. However, Good breakdown.
Hey Bread!
Hope all is well in Philly for you & yours. How important is rhythm in boxing? Can you be successful as a boxer without it? Can you think of any boxers who’ve been successful despite having poor rhythm? Can you develop good rhythm in a fighter who doesn’t appear to have it? As a trainer do you consider poor rhythm as a problem that needs to be addressed, or do other things matter more? As a pro musician I’m interested in the answer.
Cheers, Dave Panichi
Bread’s Response: Rhythm may be the most important thing in boxing. Every boxer needs rhythm even if they don’t know it. Every boxer has rhythm even if they don’t know it. It may not be pretty to look at but it’s theirs. I don’t say a fighter has poor rhythm. Because we all dance different. What I will say is, some fighters lose their rhythm easier than others. Some fighters get their rhythm and never lose it.
Floyd Mayweather is a fighter that I have never seen lose his rhythm once he got it. Floyd was a savant in that way. But other guys have a great rhythm and they lose it after a few rounds and lose CONTROL of fights. So to answer you again. Every fighter has his own unique rhythm. But not all recognize it and understand how to keep it.
Call me crazy but I love it when a fighter can dance. It has a direct correlation to fighting. The great Emanuel Steward said he couldn’t come up with a game plan for Evander Holyfield in his rematch with Riddick Bowe. But one night they went out to dance at a club and he saw how well Holyfield danced and a light bulb went off in his head. If you look at that fight, Holyfield bounced in and out and countered Bowe’s jab with a double jab all night. Brilliant!
What do you expect to happen in the rematch between Zhilei Zhang and Joe Joyce? Despite Zhang’s dominance in the first fight, I find this to be one of the most fascinating heavyweight matchups of the year. I think Joyce improves and makes it much more competitive. What do you think? Thank you so much!
Bread’s Response: Zhang may be a bigger more durable version of Corrie Sanders. Sanders was a very good heavyweight of the last era. And if he was son, he could ko anybody. Ask Hall of Famer Wladimir Klitschko, who NEVER rematched Sanders after being kod by him as a huge favorite. My question is, is Ismael Salas in Joyce’s corner for this fight. I think Salas is one of the best trainers in the game. And maybe he can come up with an adjustment. I don’t know, but I’m interested. It’s a big obstacle because Zhang seems to just get off faster and Joyce can’t avoid his attack. Joyce has an iron chin but fast, violent attackers, with durability give slower pressure fighters hell. See Mosley vs Margarito.
Evening Loving the mail bag as always. Did you pick canelo over ward at 168?
Bread’s Response: No I didn’t. I APOLOGIZE to the great Andre Ward. When I do my mailbags, the computer often times generates two saved versions of it. So I usually take the latest version, edit it, and send it in. I realized I said Canelo was #4 All Time at 168 and I changed it but I sent in the wrong version. So to be clear I think Canelo is All Time Top 5 at 168lbs behind Roy Jones, Joe Calzaghe, James Toney and Andre Ward. And after giving it great thought he has a case for top 10 at 154lbs. Tommy Hearns, Mike McCallum, Emille Griffin, Terry Norris, Felix Trinidad and Winky Wright are top 6 in my opinion. And after that 6 you will have a hard time naming another 4 fighters above Canelo at 154lbs.
Off the top of my head I can’t name 4 fighters above him at 154lbs. Probably Floyd Mayweather who doesn’t get enough credit for his big wins at 154. But Floyd beat Oscar, Cotto and Canelo at 154 which is huge. So again off the top of my head, Canelo comes in somewhere around 7 or 8 at 154. My point was that Canelo is an ATG fighter. I wasn’t to downplay Andre Ward. My mistake and I apologize.
Hey Bread,
Reading through your latest mailbag and you have Canelo on Mt Rushmore at 168 with RJJ, Calzage, and James Toney. Please give me the context on why Canelo gets that mark and how he’d do against each of them.For context, I’ve trained in boxing to round out my skill set in MMA. So, I know what I am seeing between the ropes. But, I AM NOT a historian so I find your breakdowns on All Time fighters super valuable.
Thanks Bread!
Marcus in Rochester
Bread’s Response: I meant to say Canelo was top 5. So Mt. Rushmore is top 4 usually….Roy Jones is an awful match up for Canelo. Canelo would just be a step behind Jones. I’ve only seen two things give Jones trouble. Low pressure like Montel Griffin applied but Griffin has faster feet than Canelo. And long patient stalking like Eric Harding and Antonio Tarver applied. I would take a Jones on a lop sided decision over Canelo.
Joe Calzaghe was a tireless whirlwind. I think Canelo would land nice single shots because Calzaghe could be hit but I just think the volume would be too high for Canelo, so I say Calzaghe by a closer decision.
James Toney and Canelo would be a great match up. The Toney that beat Iran Barkley is a good as they come as far as inside and mid range warfare. It would be very few clinches. Both have great chins and great reflexes. But I think Toney’s hands flow a little more. And his stamina is better. In a tactical war I would take Toney by decision.
Andre Ward is just too complete in my opinion. Ward could beat Canelo several different ways. He could maul him and smother him. Or he could be mobile and pot shot him. Canelo would have to be careful not to get beat up late because Ward would grapple him and fatigue him. Today I won’t say Ward would stop him but I will say Ward would beat him. I know Ward isn’t looked at as a big puncher but his meanness and stamina would be an issue for Canelo late…
To be fair to Canelo the other great fighters and top guys at 168 were Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Steve Collins, Mikkell Kessler and Carl Froch. I’m sure I forgot a few but those guys stand out to me. I think he’s right with each of them and would win more fights vs them than he would lose.
Bread,
Reading your comments about becoming a boxing trainer (not necessarily needing high level boxing experience to be a successful trainer) made me think of an Italian soccer coach, Arrigo Sacchi. He was a hugely successful coach – led Italy to the 1994 World Cup final and AC Milan to several championships – but hadn’t been a high level player himself. When questioned by the media on it, he said, “I didn’t realize that to be a jockey, you had to have been the horse first.” Thoughtful line, and mirrors what you’ve previously said. Question: have you come across trainers who limit sparring in training (more than most trainers)? I remember reading that Brendan Ingle only had his boxers do body sparring. I can see how it’s the closest thing to a real match (and thus hugely helpful), but also long term lead to health problems. Anything you can think of that would at least partially replace it? I read that many old time boxers used wrestling/grappling in training. Also saw that Terence Crawford has a wrestling background. Have you used wrestling in training or seen other trainers use it?
Thank you for the fantastic mailbags!
Pat
Bread’s Response: Great line Arrigo Sachi used. And guess what, he was right. I never understood why people care about another person’s background if that person isn’t applying for a job with them specifically. There is a coach that I know that’s always talking about what someone has or hasn’t done. But he never does anything with his fighters. I never understood his obsession with other coaches qualifications. If all of the other coaches suck, so bad. And none of them have the background to be successful. Then he should have an easy time excelling because he’s better than all of the coaches, according to him. Well needless to say he’s been in boxing for over 40 years and has ZERO fighters of credible accomplishments. No good amateurs. No good pros. He’s just sits around on social media talking about other coaches instead of actually coaching.
Personally I could care less what someone’s background is. Their success or lack of success doesn’t have a bearing on me. If I feel like someone doesn’t have the background that I want for something specific, I just won’t hire them. But I’m not going to down talk them or gossip about them. It’s just a weird thing that goes on in boxing for some reason.
I’ve seen trainers who don’t like their fighters to spar really hard work. But not so much limit rounds. Sparring is the most important thing that will get a fighter ready for a fight. He has to replicate the anxiety, physical contact and intensity of the fight. So yes I’ve seen coaches who don’t allow their fighters to spar fighters who will BEST them consistently. I’ve heard of coaches who don’t like a lot of sparring but I’ve never seen it personally as far limiting sparring ,they will just spar lesser fighters but still put in the rounds.
A camp is on the average 8 weeks. You spar for 7 of those weeks. On the average of 3 times per week. Each session on the average is 6 to 8 rounds. Often times 10 and 12 rounds. So you can do the math. For the record these are just averages but for the most part this is a rough copy of how the sparring in camp goes.
You take damage in the gym so you have to monitor it but it also builds you up to be able to take it in a fight. It’s complex but it’s the truth although it seems like a contradiction. Fighters start getting hurt and dropped when they haven’t been hit in a while. It’s not that they can’t take a punch, it’s that they aren’t used to taking a punch. So as a coach you have to figure out what’s not enough and what’s too much.
The pads, the heavy bag and intense running also give you productive workout but nothing tops solid sparring.
Wrestling and grappling is a great cardio and strength training for boxers. Yes I have used it and it does work.
Hey what’s up Bread? Hope all is well with you and your family. I just read about the potential Munguia-Ryder fight, and as usual Oscar can’t seem to help himself to slip in a personal dig towards Canelo, lol. So, I am curious, how do Canelo and Oscar’s careers compare? I know that Canelo has earned more money, I assume, and he did become undisputed at super middleweight, so he has that going for him. But I know Oscar fought the better opponents, even though he came up short in a few of them, yet was still competitive in losing efforts. Just curious how a knowledgeable and neutral observer views their careers in comparison to the other’s.
Take care. Mike, from Salt Lake City
Bread’s Response: Oscar and Canelo are very similar in terms of their careers. I don’t like to compare who made more money between fighters unless they are in the same era. Because you have to factor in the value of a dollar in each era. So the money Oscar made in the 90s and 2000s may be more in terms of dollar value than what Canelo has made. I don’t know but it’s just something we have to factor in.
In terms of accomplishments, titles, accolades it’s very close. Both are in similar places as far as ATG rankings. I think Oscar rates slightly higher because his competition was just so insane, anytime he rates at a similar level to a fighter I give him the edge. Oscar fought Ruelas, Hernandez, Chavez, Gonzales, Whitaker, Quartey, Trinidad, Camacho, Gatti, Mosley, Vargas, Hopkins, Mayorga, Pacman and Mayweather. Most were in their primes or close to it. No one in history is going through that line up undefeated over a 14 year span. The wear and tear and adjustments you have to make with your style is incredibly hard. So I believe it’s pretty much a push in terms of everything considered but because of Oscar’s insane resume, I rate him slightly higher but both are in the top 100 fighters ever.
I see you responded to my comments about you being too emotionally attached to a fighter and giving them the benefit of the doubt with an emotional response to me. First off I told you I consider you a grandmaster in terms of analysis so not sure where you get the idea I’m not a fan of yours or this was to get attention. I said I see points where you attach the potential of someone and when your heart becomes into the equation these potentials are placed with more emphasis. Someone like you who sees things and potential openings so well will allow it to multiply when you have an inclination to root for that person. Not sure how that’s so out of pocket. Secondly, I used the term idiotic (and could have used a better term and I’m sorry about that) simply to the idea of comparing attributes as if they are equal when they are clearly not. Boots may have an amazing processor and I will take back any comments about it should he show that in the future. But he’s taken 100% of A side fights as the far more talented and skilled and has had to make basically no adjustments in his career thus far as being so much more talented than his opposition.
Even in my message to you I told you it wasn’t his fault for this happening as I believe he wants tougher fights. And moreso than anything has been sloppier in fights than he needed. To say as a comparison term that him and Crawford both “process fast” makes no sense to me. The accurate way to say that is one guy might be up with ATGs with processing speed and the other guy has seemed to make the right adjustments so far in his career. I’m saying there’s things he has not shown he is capable of doing yet and shouldn’t be matched on an attribute equally with an ATG in it because he has only showed some potential. I would not consider that an outrageous take by me. I would take Crawford to win because not using emotion I know they are both very quick and accurate and powerful with great skills. And one has ATG processing and the other has not shown even great processing yet.
So I would consider the opposite emotionally choosing on potential of him having that processor close to Crawford. As far as me not handling the same energy back, I don’t mind and would hope you wouldn’t mind as well and would post for the future. I did pick Inoue BIG. That doesn’t mean I’m trying to look like some expert and if we picked 100 fights you would out pick me I’m sure of it as I’ve already complimented your boxing IQ being ELITE. But the ones I would get you on are where I believe you pick with your HEART. I know you have Benavidez as a slight favorite to beat Andrade but I know you have a soft spot for Andrade. If the fight gets closer and you choose Andrade it would be another one I believe I would have a big advantage and if you even consider it close to 60-40 I would consider that a big mistake voting on emotion because this will be destruction by Benavidez.
Feel free to hold onto this as well I don’t mind being wrong or being called out. It’s not for attention, it’s because there should be critical discussion and awareness in things you may not see. Lastly, one more question. What are your thoughts of Charlo v Canelo after seeing James have such difficulty getting a game plan ready for Bud? Those are two different fights and different fighters but I’ve seen Charlo have somewhat poor game plans and get bailed out by a big shot. Is this something you think about when trying to pick this fight when you have an ATG guy like Canelo to prepare for? I think James is a great trainer but I see him struggle with some game plans where his fighters natural strengths don’t control the fight.
Peace!
Jake
Bread’s Response: I’m not going into why I responded the way I did. You already know. But I will address this comment specifically.
You come trying to be humble but at the same time you talk in absolute terms like your opinion is a fact and not just an opinion. Ok we don’t see eye to eye about Boots. I think he’s special and you need to see more. All we can do is wait and see. It’s nothing to debate about.
I’m not even entertaining a conversation about Boots and Bud because it doesn’t seem like they will be fighting anytime soon, if ever. But you can’t tell me HOW to describe Ennis’s talents. Just because you need to see more doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m looking at. I articulate, how I see fit. I had these same arguments about Crawford for years. Everyone attacked his level of competition but I kept saying he’s special and his opponents aren’t as awful as the fans and media make it seem. More importantly you can’t fight, who doesn’t want to fight you. Now I’m saying the same thing about Ennis. He’s special. Villa, Karen and Lipinets are solid wins and no one has ever looked better vs them. And if he got the chance to fight an A level guy he would show he’s on the level. Let’s see what happens.
Andrade……Now you’re talking nonsense…. I don’t have an emotional attachment or soft spot for Demetrius Andrade. No one really brings him up in the mailbag. All I’ve said is he’s a talented fighter with a hard style to figure out. I’ve never said he was a HOF. A great fighter. An ATG. So again you say things like you know things to be facts and in fact what you’re doing is making up s#$% to prove a point. Benavidez vs Andrade is a good fight. Good styles contrast. Period. I never picked Andrade to win. I just said it was a good fight.
You keep using the word emotional because I’m defending myself against a lie. I’m not being emotional, I’m being honorable. This is a Q & A. I’m supposed to answer the questions. It’s what I get paid to do. You somehow are making my responses personal when in fact they are just responses. I’m just giving it to you, how you give it to me. It’s not emotional. It’s an eye of an eye.
Every single coach in history who has taken top level fights with multiple fighters vs multiple opponents have lost. I haven’t seen evidence that Derrick James can’t make adjustments. Jermell Charlo had 2 rematches with Derrick James and he scored 2 kos. Frank Martin was getting outboxed in his last fight and he turned it around and won down the stretch. News flash. Every trainer struggles when their fighters natural strengths don’t control the fight. Trainers aren’t miracle workers, they’re trainers.
Did Angelo Dundee struggle when Leonard couldn’t outbox Hearns? Maybe, but Hearns is a great fighter. What trainer doesn’t struggle if their fighter’s natural strengths don’t control the fight? And what do you consider a struggle?
I haven’t seen every fight that Derrick has worked. But I can say in the fights I’ve seen he’s won a good share of them. I personally have only seen Derrick lose 3 fights as a trainer. Marcus Browne vs Beterbiev. That’s a really hard fight for anyone and Beterbiev is a monster.
Jermell Charlo vs Tony Harrison. It was a good competitive fight.
Errol Spence vs Terence Crawford. Crawford put on a master class. I don’t know what anyone could’ve done with Crawford that night. He was in the ZONE and whatever adjustments you may think Errol should’ve made, maybe Crawford wasn’t allowing it.
Again every trainer struggles when their fighter’s natural strengths don’t control. Ali had a hard time dealing with Norton’s jab. Ali had a great, great jab. So he struggled. It doesn’t mean Dundee is not a GOAT.
Hearns was swarmed by Hagler and Hagler wasn’t on the END of that right hand.. So yes he struggled. Emanuel Steward is still a GOAT.
Duran couldn’t corner Ray Leonard in the rematch. Is Ray Arcel a GOAT? Of course.
Joe Frazier couldn’t come forward vs George Foreman. Yes he struggled. Eddie Futch is still a GOAT.
This isn’t a emotional response. This is a response from a trainer, who’s in the middle of the GRIND everyday. And all I hear is super critics who love to criticize. And with their zest to criticize they move goal post for those they want to critique but they keep them still for themselves in their lives when they aren’t successful.
I once had a trainer call himself schooling me on how to train and what my guys should or shouldn’t be doing. I tried to be humble for literally a few years because I just don’t have the energy to argue. But I finally said, why don’t you train your guys to do, everything you tell me to train my guys to do. It may sound simple but it’s not easy. The conversation was OVER at that point, he hasn’t texted me since.
I judge trainers on maximizing their fighter’s potential. Period. Wins and losses happen but getting the MOST out of your guys is the most important thing to me. That will entail taking fights as the underdog or at least 50/50 fights. No trainer goes undefeated in those fights. Derrick hasn’t had many fights where his guy were the underdog. I can only think of Spence vs Crawford where Crawford was the slight favorite and Browne vs Beterbiev. So let’s see more before we start saying Derrick struggles with game plans when his guy’s strengths aren’t in control. I don’t think we have seen enough to say that. I think you enjoy being a super critic and you hide it with sly compliments but you’re looking to be a cynic.
James was the 2022 Trainer of the Year. He has high profile guys from around the world seeking him out to train them. And now that he’s lost a big fight…The cynics are out. I say let’s see how Jermell, Joshua and Garcia perform. I’m not going to judge a man on a microcosm of work when he’s been doing a great job for the last decade.
I don’t think Charlo has poor gameplans. Charlo just loses rounds. He’s not a master boxer. He’s not a super busy pressure fighter. But Derrick has helped him believe in his power and he has improved his left hook. Derrick can’t fix every single flaw in Jermell. Boxing doesn’t work that way, fighters improve in small increments. I think Canelo has the edge because he’s the superior boxer, and it’s hard to win a decision over him with Jermell’s style. But let’s see how it goes. It’s not out of the question that Jermell will win.
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