The Square Ring

Amazing, simply amazing Jeeves. Poor Bernard (Hopkins), gets a bit confused when it comes to Australia and Europe,” writes Ricardo. Jeeves was in Bangkok to enjoyed the Christmas Buffet at Bourbon Street with Doug. One would suspect Jeeves ambled across Washington Square to visit with Ned at the Silver Dollar. He’s back now from a holiday season of suspected debauchery and has secluded himself until the pain goes away. So if this column lacks a little pananche or je ne sais quois blame it on Jeeves, Doug or Ned. There’s three to draw to.

It’s good that Jeeeves isn’t here because he lied to loyal reader Pat O’Daniel’s. “The Mayweather jr.- Pacquiao fight will take place on March 13 in Las Vegas .” Naw, Naw. The fight is off tossed in file 13 because Manny Pacquiao wouldn’t submit to Olympic-style drug testing. Instead Pacquiao will fight Joshua Clottey on that date in Dallas at the Cowboy’s house that Jerry built.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said, “Pacquiao wanted the fight but Mayweather didn’t.” Might have cut Arum a little slack here even if his statement has all the creditability of the Teelock who departs her drearily beloved when the Baht runs out saying “I love you too much.” That idea was discarded when Arum told the AP, “Mayweather is “a psychological coward who doesn’t want to fight anybody who has a chance of beating him.” Pacquiao’s defense against random testing has more holes in it that a Swiss cheese. With Pacquiao staking out his public indefensible position on drug testing in an era where “not testing” is the third rail his public persona will forever be tarnished.

Contrast that with Mayweather jrs. saying “I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.” While many, mostly in the boxing media, are calling Mayweather jr. a “chicken” for not fighting TSR won’t. For whatever reasons Mayweather jr. is taking principled stand. So the biggest fight in boxing history goes by the board because Manny Pacquiao refuses to be tested unless the test is “meaningless.” Meaningless in the sense that only a blood tests can detect HGH, human growth hormone, or EPO (commonly used in Blood doping) which are the performance enhancer most used today. Why random? Random testing doesn’t allow for the use of “masking agents” that could alter the test.

ESPN’s Teddy Atlas and New York Daily News boxing writer Tim Smith have both reported that a trusted source inside Pacquiao’s camp told them that two separate emails were sent from the Pacquiao camp to Mayweather’s. The first asked “if Pacquiao tested positive would the fight still go on?” The second askedthem to keep any positive test secret for the “good of boxing.” Atlas concluded his report by saying, “if you ask the man on the street, the average Joe he’ll say ‘If you have nothing to hide why won’t you test?”

Ed Graney a sport columnist for the Las Vegas the Review Journal best describes the feelings of TSR in a year end “note” to Pacquiao. “Realize that if you are going to continue pulling off that whole “People’s Champion” thing, you probably need to come up with better reasons for ducking random blood tests than being fearful of needles and worrying that a tablespoon of blood taken before a fight would weaken your resolve. Because right now, well, any of the people with a shred of common sense are a little bit suspicious.” A men, A women and A declined to state.

GREEN-HOPKINS
The Hopkins–Green fight that looked like a certainty before we all made fools of our self’s on New Year’s Eve may be headed for “the round file”. The pair had agreed on a 50- 50 purse split for the mega fight late the spring in Aussie. When Hopkins found out HBO intended to televise it to the USA live Hopkins wanted a 60–40 split in his favor. Makes some sense as HBO has no interest in showing a Danny Green fight in the USA unless a American boxer is involved. After Green defeated Roy Jones Green bragged, “after the momentum of the Roy Jones fight, I could fight Sponge- Bob Square Pants and still make good money.” That may be true but a USA televised fight against Hopkins isn’t about money it’s about MONEY. The money issue will probably be solved as Bernard Hopkins is as good as there is when it come to counting especially when’s it’s millions of dollars. The real sticking point is probably for Green to guarantee Bernard that Australia is not in Europe as Hopkins has repeatedly said that “I won’t go there cause things can happen when you fight in Europe.”

RICKY’S RETURN
It’s about 110% sure that Ricky “I Got Hit Man !” Hatton will be back in the ring before 2010 has reached it end and those still standing are singing “Auld Lang Syne”. “It will probably be around summertime with no date or opponent confirmed just yet,” said Hatton. The question is where? The Manchester Evening News is speculating the site will be the City of Manchester Stadium against Juan Manual Marquez. Marquez would seem to be a perfect opponent for Hatton’s return as they have at least one thing in common. Both lost to Pacquiao and Mayweather jr. although Marquez went the distance with both. Marquez lost a SD to Pacquiao with judge Duane Ford having him ahead 115–112. This would seem to be a giant leap for Hatton who would surely be the underdog. Another theory has the two squaring off in Las Vegas on May 1 on PPV as part of a Cinco de Mayo show. Cinco de Mayo? That means the 5th of May a big time Mexican holiday. But if it’s held on May 1 shouldn’t it be Uno de Mayo? Naw it’s a Las Vegas thing. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on the first Saturday in May regardless of the date. In ’09 Mayweather jr. KO’d Hatton in 2 on Dos de Mayo. In ’07 they actually celebrated Cinco de Mayo on the 5th with Floyd Mayweather jr. winning a SD over Oscar De La Hoya. True fact.

POONSAWAT MARCHES ON
Tip of the hat to Poonsawat Kratingdaeng– gym as he defended his WBA super-bantam title recently in the Land of the Rising Sun. One way to add a little pananche to TSR is with the words of Hall of Fame writer Joe Koizumi. “ Poonsawat Kratingdaeng-gym (40–1) continually showed his persistent attack in the close range, displayed his abundant stamina and pounded out a majority but well–received decision over previously unbeaten Satoshi Hosono (16–1) over twelve see-saw rounds in Tokyo, Japan. It looked like a couple of tiny bulls kept swapping punches from the outset to the end. But it was the more aggressive and energetic champ that dominated a bit more rounds by slightmargins in a close affair.” This was only Poonasawat’s second title defense of the title he won in September of ’09 when he KO’D Irelands Bernard Dunn in 3 at the 02 Arena in Dublin. A KO predicted by TRS. Why? Because we be good. Next for Poonasawat? From the ring he challenged WBC bantam champ Hozumi Hasegawa who was doing the TV yakking. “If you move up to my class, I’m willing to fight you.” Hozuma (28–2) would have to add five pounds for what would be a good fight.


ON DECK
The Cuneta Astrodome, Manila, The Philippines

January 23 Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria (26–2) makes the second defense of his IBF jr. fly title. Viloria, as the nick name implies is from Hawaii, but is of Philippine heritage so this would be a home fight. He won the title in April of last year when he KO’d Ulises Solis in 11. Cousin Bruce MacTavish was the third man in the ring. This out Viloria faces Columbian Carlos Tamara (20–4). Tamara has never been knocked out so Viloria will have his hands full. A win here sets up a Viloria-Ivan Calderon (33–0–1) bout in April. The two go back to the amateurs when they traded wins.

Las Vegas, Nevada
The first really big fight of the year takes place on the 30th of January when Shane Mosley (46–5) defends his WBC Welter title against Andre Berto (25–0). As a record of 25–0 indicates Berto is no “gimme” opponent despite the fact that Mosley comes off the demolition of Antonio Margarito more than a year ago. Boxing fans will remember that was the fight where Margarito had is hand wraps confiscated before the fight which led to his suspension by the California Commission for “loading up.” The one year hiatus from the ring might be too much for Mosley to overcome. While Mosley has never been the most active boxer at 38 years of age sometimes father time creeps up and lands a KO. At one time the winner of this one was in line for a match with either Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayeather jr. With both a part of Golden Boy the chances of facing Pacquiao are less than “slim and none.” Upset alert here.

JEEVES TIME
“Your Lordship before I trundle off to re–supply you with lager, fire sticks and that dreadful music you like I have some late breaking news. Jermain Taylor has dropped out of the Showtime Super Six Boxing Tournament after he was KO’d by Arthur Abraham. He wasn’t a factor as after 20 years in the ring he was showing some age. We wish him well. I leave your Lordship with a quote from the great philosopher Dave Barry as emailed to TSR by your pal Jaguar Jon. “Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.” That’s why Cheewit dee khrup”