More on Pacquiao and Steroids

Take a look at Pacquiao as a younger fighter. He was taller, lankier than other Flyweights and Bantamweights. It's similar to Paul Williams among other Welterweights. Assuming that Williams does well as a Middleweight does that mean he's on steroids? No.

Manny's new found dominance is due to his improving as a boxer. He was a wild swinging brawler as a youngster and is now a superbly trained boxer.

Alexis Arguello v Kevin Rooney

I never thought I would see this. Kevin Rooney, one of Mike Tyson's trainers under Cus D'Amato, fought Alexis Arguello while they were both with D'Amato. It was a second round KO by Arguello. No shame there.
Here's the footage from YouTube:

Greatest KOs by a Body Shot

Most of the time one uses body shots to wear down ones opponent, to slow down a swift-footed opponent. It's rare to see a one punch KO to the head, and even more unusual to see one to the body. Here's some of my favorite one punch KOs to the body.

Roy Jones v Virgil Hill

Mayweather Should Roll / Half Guard

Interesting training video.

Marciano v Walcott I -- The KNOCKOUT

Arguably the greatest knock out in boxing history.

Mike Tyson's Foot Speed

Outrageous footspeed displayed at 7:10

Cus D'Amato on Fighters Getting Tired

"When two men are fighting, what you're watching is more a contest of wills than of skills, with the stronger will usually overcoming the skill. The skill will prevail only when it is so superior to the other man's skill that the will is not tested.... As many times as you see a fellow get tired in the course of a fight, note that he gets tired when pressure builds up, after he gets hurt or he's been in some kind of doubtful situration, not being able to control the situation. That's when he starts getting tired. That's why when two good fighters get to fight, they're head to head, so to speak, they won't give an inch and they're using all their skill and ability, until maybe about the seventh or eighth or ninth round, one fighter starts to visibly weaken. It only means he's reached a point where he no longer can stand the pressure. He's now become dominated, because when two people fight it's very much like two armiers. They seek to impose their will on one another."

"When the novice throws punches an nothing happens, and his opponent keeps coming at him ... the new fighter becomes panicky. When he gets panicky he wants to quit, but he can't quit because his who psychology from the time he's first been in the streets is to condemn a person who's yellow. So what does he do? He gets tired. This is what happens to fighters in the ring. They get tired, because they're getting afraid ... Now that he gets tired, people can't call him yellow. He's just too "tired" to gon on. But let that same fighter strike back wildly with a visible effect on the opponent and suddenly that tired, exhausted guy becomes a tiger. ... It's a psychological fatigue, that's all it is, but people in boxing don't understand that."

From Bad Intentions

Pacquiao and Steroids

Now people are saying that the Pacman is on steroids. His rise up the boxing weights is remarkable but why would he need steroids to do so? He started boxing in his mid-teens, obviously his body would fill out. The new argument is that he's put on 20 pounds of muscle in two years while keeping his tone.

What would be interesting to know -- and I don't have the time for the research -- is how hard was it for him to make weight for his Featherweight and Super Featherweight. We could tell a little bit by how much he rehydrated after the weigh-in. If I remember he has not being "gaining" weight after his recent weigh-ins at welterweight.

I don't see steroid use as a means of putting on muscle but I do see it as a means to recuperate faster after training; this would allow Manny Pacquiao to train harder and train more frequently. Is this being done? Maybe.

EDIT 12/17/2009

There's a great article dealing with just this at The Boxing Truth

"This Should be Stopped"

I'm coming up with a list of boxing comebacks. Too often I hear "this should be stopped" and we're only in the first round. So here's the beginning of this list.

David Haye v Carl Thompson


The last round btwn Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo.

Is modern man less robust than our ancestors?

This anthropologist thinks so.

Many prehistoric Australian aboriginals could have outrun world 100 and 200 meters record holder Usain Bolt in modern conditions.

Some Tutsi men in Rwanda exceeded the current world high jump record of 2.45 meters during initiation ceremonies in which they had to jump at least their own height to progress to manhood.

Any Neanderthal woman could have beaten former bodybuilder and current California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in an arm wrestle.

These and other eye-catching claims are detailed in a book by Australian anthropologist Peter McAllister entitled "Manthropology" and provocatively sub-titled "The Science of the Inadequate Modern Male."

Have to get the book.

Fury v Mcdermott

Didn't see the fight but everyone on boxingscene.com says the decision for Fury was a robbery. Seems like everyone had McDermott by at least 2-4 rounds and the decision was 98-92 Fury.

Arreola says he's going to beat Vitali

“I guarantee that it’s going to be an exciting fight and I guarantee that I’m going to come out with the world title and I’ll work my (expletive) off,’’ Arreola said.



The dude looks strong, he certainly looks focused in a lot of the photos HOWEVER it's hard to tell how good a shape he's in two weeks before the fight when he's wearing a shirt in all the photos. I hope he puts up a good and exciting fight; I hope he's able to test Vitali; but I can also see him outclassed badly by Vitali. Regardless, I can't see him able to win the fight. I would be surprised and pleased for him if he wins 1 or 2 rounds.

Haye v Valuev

There are a lot of fights I can wait to see Mayweather v Marquez; Pacquiao v Cotto; Clottey v Mosely even the Klitshcko v Arreola but I really can't wait to see Haye v Valuev.

If Haye is not all f**king hype he should be able to get inside and hit Valuev almost at will without getting hit. If he can't knock Valuev out it should be a 12 round shutout. I don't see Valuev having the skills to keep Haye away ... IF Haye is the fighter I think he is.

I didn't think that Haye had much of a chance against Klitschko but this is a different story. Klitschko, for all the criticisms leveled on him, is several classes above Valuev.

Andrew Golota is another who should retire

Golota had his chance against Bowe and F**KING blew it. He definately needed a life coach like Anthony Robbins. Now all he can do is make a few dollars and get brain damage. I hope he's realistic. As much as I hated to see McCline not do his all and get up against Arreola it made sense if he felt he wasn't in a position to win. He put up a show, tested Arreola and got a pay check.

Mayweather: Is he an ass or is it all show?

At the end of his fight with Hatton Mayweather showed excellent sportsmanship and once again I was convinced that his assholeness was all show. I don't think he needs to do that to get fans to come and see him fight but obviously he and his crew do. Now with this fight with Marquez we have another clue:

“I think the negativity sells.” Mayweather said in his opening comments. “In sports it’s entertainment. Don’t judge me when I’m entertaining because when people see me they are compelled to watch…. because I’m an entertainer. The difference between me and other fighters is that I can go out there and box. I can adapt and adjust to anything once I’m in the ring.”

I love Marquez. I want to see him win. But Mayweather will win. This quote from the same interview says it all:

“First of all, I don’t consider myself a defensive fighter.” Floyd quipped. “I’m a defensive genius! Marquez is tough, he’s rugged, he’s a good counter puncher. He carries the Mexican flag on his back with grace and I have nothing but the utmost respect for Mexican fighters. At the end of the day I’m sure my Uncle Roger and my team have a great game plan in place and that we will go in there and beat Marquez come Sept. 19.”

Klitschko v Arreola

The only way the Klitschkos will get recognition is if they fight 4 or 5 times a years fighting and beating all comers. Their style is boring but effective and I still haven't decided how good they are. Still, in this case I think Arreola is grossley overmatched. Vitali will take him apart. Jab, jab, jab, jab, jab, jab, jab, right, jab, jab, jab, jab, jab, jab, right.

I don't think Arreola has the skills to slip the jab and get inside and hurt Vitali. As long as this loss doesn't shatter his confidence it will be fine and the experience and money will be worth it.

He better come in shape and not pudgy as he did against Walker and McCline -- and have improved a lot -- otherwise not only can't I see him winning but I see this as a dominant Klitschko victory.

Verno Philips should retire.

Philips is fighting again. He's closing in on 40 years old. I would hate for him to start sounding like Tommy Hearns. Unless he REALLY needs the money and is spending it wisely he needs to get out of the game. As a fight fan though: Philips v Quintana should be a good fight.

Kessler v Perdomo

I don't know anything about Perdomo but I'm rooting for Kessler. Would love to see Kessler against Paul Williams.

Tyson Fury

I don't know how good he is but he's good for boxing. I hope he wins and looks good against McDermott. Let's hope that along with his promotional skills he has the smarts -- and skills - enough to get a good trainer and has the work ethic to make an impact at the upper levels of the division.

McDermott is a step in class. He's fought Danny Williams and Matt Skelton. Now McDermott lost to both and neither Williams nor Skelton are A list fighters but Williams has held the British Championship and has been in the ring with Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko; Matt Skelton has been the British Champion and fought Chagaev for the WBA title.