If you weren't listening closely to President Obama's Reelection, er I mean, State of the Union Address you might have missed his reference to professional boxing circa 2012.
"No bailouts.
"No handouts.
"No copouts."
So sayeth our Commander In Chief. I mean, this had to be a reference to the muddled state of our boxing disunion, did it not?
Let me explain for those of you who don't know the difference between Loony Ron, Nuclear Newt and Miffed Mitt...
NO BAILOUTS: But now HBO, despite its Under New Management operation, has just completely wasted the TV date of April 28 by underwriting a rematch between Real Gangsta Bernard Hopkins and Real Gagsta Chadwick Dawson.
Does anyone recall what a farce their fight of last year was? It looked like some scripted by Vince McMahon's worst writer, a rassling match which ended with BHop on BFloor refusing to continue.
If there is a New Way Forward message coming out of HBO on this one, I missed it. I'm all for green energy but some garbage is beyond recycling.
NO HANDOUTS: Will either HBO or the also Under New Management Showtime crew underwrite Floyd Mayweather Jr. and/or Manny Pacquiao fighting whoever their respective camps choose when they won't commit to fighting each other in November?
If they do, then so much for no handouts. Drumbeats from Vegas continue to make noise about that classic Pacman-Tim Bradley June 9 PPV fight.
I'm underwhelemed. Pacquiao fighting a whose best victories have come at slightly under 140 pounds and who is most definitely not a PPV attraction.
I can see why Bob Arum salivates over this in house special but what can Michael Koncz and Pacman be thinking here?
If Pacquiao loses to Bradely, it's a nightmare that pretty much wrecks a Floyd-Manny jumbo jackpot. And Pacquiao could win but get into a stinker with Billy Goat Bradley, who is nothing but ram tough. A ram with sharp horns, that is.
Bradley-Pacquiao, truth be told, makes Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez look like Robinson-LaMotta.
NO COPOUTS: Let's remain in truth serum swilling mode.
I don't blame either the Pacman or the "Money" camps for not arranging the so called Super Bout.
A pox on both their houses. They share the blame.
Mayweather chose the May 5 date knowing his unilateral action would upset Uncle Bob so much that it would never be deemed accedtable.
And Arum keeps woof, woof, woofing about how Mayweather could fight Pacquiao on June 9, conveniently ignoring the fact that he's well aware that Floyd will be enjoying his all expenses paid stay in a Las Vegas jail commencing on June 1. (Arum teased everyone, at first suggesting May 26.)
So, the bottom line is neither camp wanted or wants this fight in May and Mayweather will be wearing the jail jumpsuit all during June.
Maybe Andre Berto and Vicious Victor Ortiz can give us a second scorcher on Feb. 11. Maybe James "Mr. Excitement" Kirkland will light up our screens again.
I hope so because Boxing 2012 is off to a shaky start.
More bailouts.
More copouts.
More handouts.
Boxing just may kill itself yet.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Comments