Metal Reviews

I understand what you are saying but basically what you are saying is the whole problem with boxing these days. Protected fighters who fight guys they know they can beat. That is why the Heavies suck so bad.

No, not at all. I don't think boxers should be fighting people they know they can beat, but I don't think these glaring mismatches should be made at all. Ruiz's management made stupid mistakes putting him in there with two fighters that he can't compete with. That was dumb. Ruiz against fighters like Oquendo, Golata, etc., on paper those are competetive fights. Ruiz vs Toney and Jones were not. You knew what was going to happen, though Ruiz did much better against Toney than I expected, he just fell into Toney's trap and fought his fight.

It's not about protecting your fighter, it's about managing a career. Make it challenging, make good fights, don't make stupid fights.

Totally don't agree. It is about champions fighting the best fighters out there, for their title, period.

That's because you're a fan and aren't thinking correctly. These fighters need to make a living, dude.

No, you are totally wrong on that, I agree. WTF you think Johnny fought Jones Jr and Toney? So he could make mass bucks..... He made the best choice regardless he could win or not by fighting those two. Think about it some, you will see what I mean. I am a fan, but I am a realist and know the dark side of the sport too. I hate to see youngsters rushed (Davis Reid) but I just demand good fights as a "fan" who helps pay their salaries.

Eyesore, from a business standpoint, you are correct. But I have to agree with leee. If you can't say at the end of your career that you fought the best and never ducked anyone, regardless of the outcome, then what's the point? Unfortunately, boxing doesn't work like that.

When the Red Sox play the Yankees don't they make sure Curt Schilling is pitching the night that Randy Johnson is pitching? Or do they put Wakefield in that night, a pitcher that is a knuckle-baller and could potentially give up a lot of runs on a night where Johnson is pitching and typically gives up very little runs? There's an obvious choice here and it's a choice that is made to keep it competitive.

The same thing should happen in boxing, but with boxing it's perceived in a different light because it's one boxer versus one boxer not a team versus a team. In the end it's a business that manages a career or careers and bad business decisions are detrimental to those careers. If Ruiz fought Jones and Toney for money then that is completely retarded, but they fought Jones and Toney because they genuinely felt they could beat them and that was stupid because anyone on the outside looking in knew what was going to happen.

You make GOOD business decisions to make is competitive, match the best with the best, or make the best choices. Making mismatches is not competitive. I understand demanding good fights, I want good fights, too, but a heavyweight fighting two former middleweights does not make for good fights (though I admit they were more entertaining that I expected) and they were clearly bad business/career moves.

just saw the rerun of Judgement Day - London/Kendrick vs MNM was pretty cool.

i was getting pretty sick of mnm, and London/Kendrick (LK) are a very entertaining team. theys hould use more ground attacks though, a ddt and stuff like that here and there wouldn't hurt. also it's a shame London doesn't do the Shooting Star Press anymore :/

but still, yeah, a good match!

Apples and oranges, dude. I'm simply stating that you can't legitimately say you are the best, unless you beat the best. Ducking a guy because you think you'll be at a competitive disadvantage is pussy shit as far as I'm concerned, even if it is a good career move.

I like Paul London. The dude can pull off some crazy stuff, it's just too bad that the E won't let him do any of it. I saw SmackDown Live about a month ago, and London and Kendrick stole the show.

It's a catch 22 that is part of boxing. And don't get me wrong, if Ruiz is ducking fighters like Golata and Wlad then that's bullshit, these guys are his size. Fighting Jones was like taking on the Tazmanian Devil and fighting Toney is like fighting a turtle (albeit a soft one). Being the best and fighting the best makes sense, but being stupid is not being the best. Would you suggest MAB go and fight Toney? Of course not.

Taylor/Wright perdictions right now (for those of us that watch boxing and don't cry over Metal Gear Solid stuff)

I want to take Winky bad, just cause I like him but I guess I might have to go with JT, bigger, younger, stronger etc........but Bernanrd basically laid back against him and still should have won at least one of their fights. Winky will throw the jab at him and come forward, can Taylor hit him? I don't know......shit.....

All right I change my mind......Winky by Decision.

I'm kind of in the same boat. I like Winky, but I heard that he was at the Hopkins fight looking fairly out of shape. Despite this, I have to go with Winky in a unanimous decision because his excellent defense is just too much for Taylor to land many scoring punches. I think this could be the fight of the year so far.

Here's the thing, though the Taylor/Hopkins fights were close I think Taylor clearly won each fight. Had Hopkins fought Taylor like he fought Tarver I have a hard time feeling like Taylor could have won, but that's just speculative at this point. I don't think Taylor has been tested yet so I can't assume what he would have done. I mean, he could have pulled out a left hook and KO'd Hopkins for all we know.

What we do know is that he beat Hopkins, a fighter who laid back and even when Hopkins poured it on Taylor still did well, and really well at points, and he did better all around in the second fight. Now with the experience of those two fights he'll surely be better in this fight, plus with the added help of Steward it's a guarantee. If Taylor can beat a laid back Hopkins, he'll easily beat Winky.

Moreover, he's bigger and better at everything but defense, I feel. I predict a late KO by Taylor. If not it'll be a UD for Taylor, 8 rounds to 4.

Def FOY for purist fans

I don't know, this could potentially be one boring fight if Taylor decides to not press the action.

If he decides not to press the action he will lose. Winky is best coming forward, making guys hit his elbows and gloves and popping them in the face with the jab until the get discouraged (See both Mosley fights and the Trinidad fight). Taylor, if he is smart will use his size and power to back up Winky and take him completley out of his game, if he doesn't he is going to get a beat down lesson like Calzaghe gave Lacy.

No way can Winky beat Taylor in the same manner. No way.

Winky is dead. Taylor looks like a fucking light heavyweight! :shock:

Size matters not. Its all in the defense. Winky made Tito look like a timid amateur and blocked over 1000 punches when he fought Sam Soliman. That's enough to sell me on the guy. Taylor does look bigger, but that really shouldn't matter.