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Jim Lampley, looking back on his career, predicts the end of Canelo’s career

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2 months ago

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“The best boxing commentary I ever heard didn’t come from a professional boxing commentator.”

Jim Lampley, longtime voice of HBO Boxing and currently a contributor to PPV.com’s live commentary with BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire, is sitting in the media room at the MGM Grand, contemplating Saturday’s super middleweight fight between Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga, when he begins to reminisce about what he’s going to illustrate.

“Have I told you this story before? It’s in the book.” Lampley, now 75 and with just over five decades in the ring and on the sidelines, has written a book — titled, perhaps after his most renowned comment, (and titled “A Uniquely Lucky Life in Sports Television”) – set to premiere in April; perhaps as a result of reliving his life in his mind for publication, the author finds many memories readily available.

Still, this particular memory quickly takes an unexpected turn. The best boxing commentary he ever heard came, he says, “from Mick Jagger.”

OK, I didn’t expect that. Please continue.

“I was in a conference room in the ABC building in Recent York in 1980 as part of the crowd that Roone Arledge had gathered to watch the closed-circuit broadcast of Muhammad Ali versus Larry Holmes,” he explains. “And if you’re a intelligent critic of the sport, you know that this is going to be a gradual and ultimately excruciating beating. So about the eighth or ninth round of this gradual and excruciating beating, I was standing there looking at the screen when I felt a little stab in my chest. I looked to my right and it was Mick. I met him at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, so he knew me. He looked at me and said, ‘Lamps, do you know what we’re watching here?’ And he said, ‘No, Mick, what are we watching?’ He said, ‘This is the end of our youth.’ Nothing Larry Merchant ever said was more profound than that. And I’m sure I’ll go to my grave and say that the best boxing commentary ever came from Mick Jagger.

The heart of the story, he continues, is that too often our favorite fighters—those we may have grown up watching and admiring, or whose careers we’ve followed from the beginning—stay on the field too long, and our once-great rivals end up humiliated and hurt by opponents who might not have caused them even the slightest inconvenience. And one day, he notes—maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but probably soon—that could happen to Canelo Alvarez. Indeed, with 65 professional fights and no knockout wins in nearly three years, it seems clear that Alvarez is, depending on the analogy used, on the home stretch, the ninth hole, or entering the final rounds of a long and successful career.

“One day it might happen, and Mexican fans will have to accept it,” he says. “Like Oscar De la Hoya getting taken apart against Manny Pacquiao on a night when a lot of people really believed that Oscar was too huge, Oscar was too powerful, Oscar could handle Manny’s momentum and speed, etc., etc. At the end of the day, he walked into the ring and had nothing.”

Should that day come, if it does, there will be plenty of critics complaining from the sidelines that Alvarez was never really good, that he picked his opponents or waited for them to get ancient. As Canelo nears the finish line of his career, where will he ultimately rank when he hangs up the gloves for good?

In response, Lampley tells a different story.

“What’s really compelling to me is that I was recently at the International Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony. And I spent the whole weekend hanging out with Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales,” he begins. “You wouldn’t have said, ‘I spent the whole weekend hanging out with Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales,’ but that’s what happened. They were more or less arm in arm the whole weekend, just confirming and confirming something that I always say, which is that this sport is ultimately about falling in love. It looks like brutality. It looks like life and death. It looks like two guys trying to kill each other, but they’re actually falling in love. The classic example: Mickey Ward and Arturo Gatti. But anyway, I asked them about Canelo. And Erik said — and Marco agreed — that Canelo has a logical reason to present himself as the greatest Mexican fighter of all time. ‘Better than Salvador Sanchez?’ They said that Canelo has a longer and more diverse resume. “Bigger than Ruben Olivares?” More dimensions, more different things he can do in the ring. You know, they had a point. And again, he has a case to make.”

But if the wheels fall off one day, when might that be? Could it be Saturday against Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas?

“In my opinion, the only way Berlanga would win the fight is if Canelo aged overnight, and we’ve seen that happen,” he says. “But I don’t think that’s going to happen.” In fact, he says, Canelo’s control over his career and his environment is so great that he may be one of the few, like Lampley’s former teammate Lennox Lewis, who bucks the trend and retires while he’s still at his peak.

The fact that Lampley — and he’s not alone — is struggling to figure out a path for the unbeaten Berlanga to beat Canelo inevitably raises a point that the Mexican’s critics, and even some of his fans, have been making with greater frequency and intensity: that Alvarez has seemingly decided that his legacy is secure, and that he’s perfectly content to wear down the chain against non-threatening opponents, while the likes of David Benavidez are forced to turn elsewhere. That frustration only grows every time Alvarez simply shrugs off such criticism with the dismissive contempt with which you’d pick a piece of crap off a sweater.

“I don’t think he pays much attention or invests much emotion into what I say about him, what you say about him, what people in boxing say about him,” Lampley says. “When someone stands on the podium and criticizes him, and other fighters are talking about why he’s overrated and how they can beat him, etc., etc., then he listens. he keeps it in some safe and sound box inside of him. But you never see an external response that says, “You got me.” That’s not him.”

As anyone who has faced Canelo in any professional capacity can attest, Alvarez is one of the most composed and self-aware individuals, embracing life on his own terms and acutely aware of his strengths and weaknesses. That’s one reason Lampley suspects the Mexican can avoid the devastating end to his career that has plagued so many — but also, he believes, why Alvarez will have no one but himself to blame when and if that time comes.

“Someone was intelligent enough, and I would say artistic enough, to convince him as a adolescent man that everything in life was going to be his responsibility, that he was going to rise and fall according to the judgments that he made and the decisions that he made about what he was going to do,” Lampley suggests. “And that was the only way he could, especially in a profession like that, go to bed at night knowing that whether it was all the glorious victories or the two defeats that are on the books, he chose to step into that ring. And he, more than any other fighter I know, is entitled to that level of self-satisfaction. And it helps me to know that when he gets somewhere at the end, and it’s almost inevitable in this sport, the apple cart is going to fall apart, all the apples are going to roll out into the street, and the next day people are going to say, ‘Oh yeah, he was awful,’ when all that stuff happens, he’s going to have no one to blame but himself. And I think he likes that.”

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Boxing

George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team

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16 hours ago

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November 23, 2024

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George Kambosos beats Teofimo

Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.

Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.

The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.

Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.

The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.

“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.

“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.

“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”

Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.

“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].

Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.

“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.

Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.

“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.

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Boxing

Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul

Published

2 days ago

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November 21, 2024

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Mike Tyson comeback black

One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.

WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.

Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.

“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.

“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.

“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.

He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”

Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.

Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.

Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.

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Boxing

Lauren Price looks to win Jonas vs Habazin with an undercard victory

Published

3 days ago

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November 21, 2024

By

Lauren Price

Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.

Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.

Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.

Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.

Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.

Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.

There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.

Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.

McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.

English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.

Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.

Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.

After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.

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