There are unanswered questions for both fighters. Miguel has only lost once. That was a little over a year ago when Antonio Margarito beat him in what would eventually be looked at as a controversial outcome. Why? Well, Margarito would later beat “Sugar” Shane Mosley with illegal, hardened inserts in his hand-wraps. Makes you wonder if he wasn’t similarly outfitted when he beat Miguel. So, I’m wondering how good Miguel really is. Should he be currently undefeated? And even so, is he past his prime? He will be making a huge statement with a win over Manny Pacquiao.

As for Manny, I wonder if he’ll be able to take the punches from a bigger, arguably tougher fighter? Sure, he is quick and fierce. He’s like lightning in a bottle. But can he withstand the power of Miguel Cotto? Of course, if you look at the way Manny destroyed Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds, I don’t doubt he’ll be ready to knock Miguel out and prepare for what would be one of the most anticipated fights of all-time—Pacquiao vs. Mayweather—next year. Until then, I’m going to enjoy this one. It should be a great fight.

Source: HBO.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Countdown to Pacquiao-Cotto Begins Tonight

I’m not bound by boxing and apparently neither is Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Whereas I express myself by losing at poker for the majority of a Friday night and thus not watching the live boxing, Floyd demonstrates his determination by issuing a heartfelt and pained press release stating he’s gone for good and is forsaking his $20M fight against Oscar De La Hoya.

Boxing writers the blogosphere over have responded with their own heartfelt remembrances of the 31-year-old. Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole tells Floyd how much he’ll be missed, ESPN’s Kieran Mulvaney wonders what might have been and even the usually doubtful Tim Starks from Ring Report thinks that this time it might be real.

I don’t believe Floyd is permanently retired at all. I’m so dubious of his statement that it’s hard for me to even classify it as news. In fact, I’m only half-heartedly writing the blog post. Practically speaking his “retirement” means the De La Hoya fight is off. No more no less.

It also means that Floyd’s squared circle swan song is now officially his Wrestlemania XXIV match against Big Show. If that’s not a reason for un-retirement than I don’t know what is.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Floyd Mayweather Retires Again

Image details: Vince McMahon Honored At The Hollywood Walk Of Fame served by picapp.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Vince McMahon to Announce Million Dollar Plans Tomorrow at Noon

It’s 8:00 p.m. EST on Saturday night. Your probably know already whether you’re going out or not. We here at www.jabandgrapple.com are indeed leaving the humble abode and headed to this party. Just because it’s an art show doesn’t mean we’re not tough. Heck, we’re watching Steven Seagal and DMX’s Exit Wounds right now.

Nevertheless if you are staying in you really need to watch tonight’s Boxing After Dark on HBO. We can’t explain why any better than Tim at Ring Report:

Yuriorkis Gamboa = Mike Tyson + Roy Jones + Floyd Mayweather. Gamboa, a 130-pounder, may not end up being as good as any of the three boxers mentioned in the headline there. But stylistically, he resembles an amalgamation of them — Tyson’s fearless charges, Jones’ dangling left hand and sneaky power, Mayweather’s quickness and defensive reflexes.

For more on the fight you should be watching tonight — we’ll watch it tomorrow morn on the DVR (perhaps even at 3 a.m. if we can’t wait) — check out these glowing testimonials:

Tim at Ring Report: Yuriorkis Gamboa Clips… See For Yourself
Tim from Ring Report (Again): If You Don’t Watch Yuriorkis Gamboa Saturday, Your Children Will Be Born With Hooves
Maxboxing: Gamboa: Next In Line
SC from Bad Left Hook: Saturday Fight Night
Sean from Ring Report: By The Way, Gamboa Is Not The Only One On the HBO Card Saturday
Fightwriter.com: Gamboa is hurtling along the fast track towards a championship and so far everyone has been swept away.

Picture Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Watch HBO Tonight, Tell Everyone How Great Gamboa is Tomorrow

Image details: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Portraits served by picapp.com

Could that headline be true? Could Floyd Mayweather, Jr. really be driving a 240+ mph open-wheel car at the Brickyard this year? Here are the top 10 reasons as to why that could be true.

1) The recently re-merged Indy Racing League and CART circuit needs publicity.
2) The American open-wheel leagues have been hemorrhaging qualified drivers to NASCAR in the last few year.
3) Floyd has lightning quick reflexes that would serve him well in auto racing.
4) We’ve seen his stable of cars on HBO’s 24/7 show which he humbly listed in 2007 as a 2006 Bentley GT, Ferrari, Rolls Royce Phantom, Maybach 62, Mercedes S550, Mercedes CL 65, etc… Floyd knows his way around high-priced machinery. We’ve also seem him driving on the same show at 120 mph.
5) He is becoming the king of cross promotion with his Dancing With the Stars and WWE appearances.
6) He’ll do anything to keep his name out there and in turn hyping his sport to it’s rightful place in the public eye. He’s a marketing master.
7) His 5′8″ frame would be the perfect fit for an open-wheel cockpit.
8) He still smarts from losing to Helio Castroneves on DWTS.
9) The WWE wasn’t dangerous enough and MMA lacks fast-paced excitement.
10) There’s no more competition in boxing and he has to move on.

Of course Floyd isn’t driving at Indy but, the Grand Rapids Press reports, he will be waving the green flag to start the race. Mayweather’s adviser Leonard Ellerbe explained “It’s just another example of reaching a new audience, of raising Floyd Mayweather’s profile, building his brand, and having fun at the same time.”

He continued “And I guarantee you, every one of those 400,000 people at the race, and the 300 million watching on television worldwide, will know who’s dropping the green flag.” Ellerbe is right.

Floyd has done wonders in transforming himself from “Pretty Boy” Floyd, a fighter who had difficulty in 2001 selling out his hometown Grand Rapids arena, to “Money” Mayweather, America’s biggest pay-per-view star, a crossover hero, and a household name.

Post from: EveryJoe

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to Participate in Indy 500

Image details: Paul Spadafora served by picapp.com

Paul Spadafora begins his second return to boxing Friday night at Erie, Pennsylvania’s Avalon Hotel against journeyman Shad Howard. Since relinquishing his IBF lightweight title in 2003 Spadafora has been in and out of prison, emerging in 2006 to begin a comeback but swiftly violating parole and sinking further into despair and anonymity.

Just five years ago, at 28, the awkward southpaw was on top of the world. He had held a world title from the time he was 23. He had fought two fights on HBO. He was a likely big money opponent for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. He was the next great white hope. His triumph over tragedy story (he was confusingly shot in the Achilles tendon by police after a routine traffic stop) elicited sympathy and gave him a distinctive peg-legged-walk boxing style.

In this epic 2005 Pittsburgh Post Gazette story Spadafora cites alcohol as the reason for his cataclysmic descent that culminated in October 2003 when he shot his girlfriend in the chest. But the real catalyst might have been his much derided May 2003 HBO-broadcasted draw against Leonard Dorin, then the WBA lightweight titleist.

The brutal fight lasted the full twelve rounds. Both fighters were blooded and incoherent and Dorin seemed to be the clear winner. But the fight was taking place in Spaddy’s Pittsburgh as had nearly all of his previous bouts; Spadofora had, in turn, often been criticized as being a hometown fighter and nothing more.

When the cards revealed the controversial draw result Spaddy looked shell shocked, defeated, and maybe a little ashamed. After declaring his desire to move up to junior welterweight Spaddy self-admittedly turned to more alcohol, Ecstasy and cocaine. The shooting incident occurred before he would enter the ring again that year.

Since the Dorin fight he’s fought only four times, all in the rust belt, all against sub-standard opponents, and all resulted in victories. We still should remember that despite Spaddy’s difficult past he’s still only 33, he’s still undefeated at 40-0-1, and he still has every chance in the world to be great again. Let’s hope he can stay out of trouble, off the alcohol, and away from prison. The sky is still the limit, but this time, Paul, fight a few bouts outside of the greater Pittsburgh area and good luck on Friday.

If you’re in or around Erie tickets are $20, $40, and $60. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Post from: EveryJoe

“Pittsburgh Kid” Paul Spadafora Returns on Friday

Post from: EveryJoe

Programming Note: WWE on Larry King Live Tonight