Topic of the Week: Andre Ward

This past Saturday night, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward scored a one sided decision victory over former middleweight contender Edison Miranda.

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

The Boxing Bulletin writers give their thoughts on Ward's performance and what they'd like to see next from the up and coming super-middleweight contender.

Showtime's commentators Steve Farhood and Nick Charles were full of praise for Andre Ward's performance. Was it that good? Ward certainly didn't look bad, although I think very little of Miranda. I wasn't impressed nearly as much as I was bored after the first three rounds. - Mark Lyons Ward did well, arguably winning every round, which means he probably hasn't clearly lost a round since his scare against Darnell Boone in 2005. The fact that he can fight just as well, if not better, out of the southpaw stance makes him a difficult puzzle to solve for anyone. In the second half of the bout, he showed he has Ricky Hatton's style down pretty well too. Add it up and he has the type of versatility not many other young fighters possess. I did think he was going to knock out Miranda in the middle rounds so I can't say he exceeded my expectations. Most would agree that he could have gotten the stoppage if he pressed. And that's where my criticism lies; he's content with staying in the 3rd or 4th gear. We might have to see him in against the cream of the division to see if a 5th gear exists. - Michael Nelson I thought he was very effective, and showed a gritty side that will serve him well against better opponents, but it wasn't an outstanding performance. Granted Miranda was a step up, but he's also extremely limited and as Michael mentioned, there was a real opportunity for the stoppage if Ward put his foot on the gas - and he didn't. - Andrew Fruman I thought the Shobox team was over praising Ward for most of the night. He did well, but no better than anyone should have expected against a limited, though admittedly dangerous opponent. In the end he showed a lot of good things, but failed to explode onto the scene. It was an above average performance, and earmarked him as a Contender, but nothing more yet. - Jeff Pryor

Who would you like to see Ward fight next? He isn't the most entertaining fighter, but he has some skills. He dominated a fringe guy like he should and deserves an opportunity. I would like to see him fight and Allan Green fight. Not that it has a chance of happening.- Mark Lyons All of his opponents thus far have been relatively slow, so a fight with Pascal would be good. He's a mandatory for Carl Froch, but I doubt that fight happens next. If it does, I'll be watching with interest. - Michael Nelson Someone like Sakio Bika would be good. Bika's been waiting for someone to step in against him, and he's a tougher out than Miranda, but a step down from the elite of the division. - Andrew Fruman I think a bout with Andre Dirrell or with Allen Green would be outstanding. I don't expect either of those two to happen, but I think he should step up again soon. Maybe a rebounding Jermain Taylor or Jeff Lacy/Roy Jones. My hunch is he'll take a few more mediocre opponents and then try for a belt. - Jeff Pryor

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Topic of the Week: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Manny Pacquaio

Who's next for Manny Pacquaio? Possibly Floyd Mayweather Jr., the previous claimant to the mythical pound for pound title that the Pacman now calls his own. Of course Floyd still has the difficult task of getting by Juan Manuel Marquez, but should he pass that test, the path appears clear for what could be this generation's most significant fight.

So how does this potential blockbuster match-up play out? The Boxing Bulletin writers give their thoughts...

It's pretty impossible to make a prediction without seeing Floyd end his layoff first. He is at an age when reflexes can begin to diminish and that is his game. The clean life he leads and the way he stays in shape makes me think he will be fine after 19 months. But you can't really be sure. Manny is simply a monster who is peaking now. It was impossible to think when he was butchering MAB and warring with Morales that he wasn't even fully developed at that point. The only prediction I could comfortably give at this point is it will sell more PPV's than any fight in history and Pacquiao will force Floyd into a war that will elevate both mens standing, no matter who wins. - Mark Lyons

I don't need to see Floyd against Marquez to decide how Manny would do because Marquez is a totally different style (one that will make Money look rather ordinary) and I've already seen the best Mayweather has. Manny can, and will beat the best Money May. I'll write more about this later, but when it comes down to it, I think the style match-up favours the Filipino destroyer. Floyd has no physical advantages that I can see. In fact, in my opinion anyway, he will be in against a faster man, who can cut an unbelievable pace while throwing some serious heat for 12 rounds. He'll either keep Mayweather on the defensive enough in each round to earn a decision, or catch him on the button somewhere along the line. Pac can be caught with counters, but he's got a helluva chin, and always hits right back when tagged. Floyd better knock him out with one of those, or he's in for a long night. In my opinion, over the last few years, he has relied more and more on potshots, as it is the safest route to go. It won't be enough on this occasion. Oh, and the shoulder roll he loves so much is specifically designed to work against conventional fighters. It's clear to me that Money isn't at his most comfortable against lefties. You can just tell when looking at the footage, he has to think about things a little more than usual. That extra time could be lethal against the Pac-Man. - Lee Payton

I'm not ready to make a prediction, but I agree with Lee, Floyd won't be able to beat Pacquiao just doing his usual potshotting routine. One of the reasons Pac struggles with Marquez is because Marquez is the best combination puncher in boxing. He's always on balance, so he knocks back Manny during most of their exchanges. Trying to counter with single shots would just lead to Floyd getting out-worked. Moreover, the only times Floyd has gotten hurt (Corley) or knocked down (Judah, unofficially) were from right hooks. No one should have any doubt that Manny has a serious right hook after seeing him take apart Hatton with it. If it happens, which is still a huge if, it will be a historic night. - Michael Nelson

I like Manny in this one by emphatic decision, perhaps even stoppage. Floyd's air of invincibility has been overstated for a long time. Some may say that it depends on how Floyd looks coming back after the layoff... I say even "Money May" circa 2007 loses to 2009 Pacquiao. Speed is a wash, size difference is minimal to the point of indifference, power, activity and determination goes to Pacquiao. From an X's and O's stand point, Pacquiao's combination punching will force Mayweather to fight out of character, while his elusiveness inside will trump Floyd's shifty shoulder. While Mayweather is a legitimately great fighter, one who could certainly win with a precision punch or two that shakes up the Filipino, I believe that Pacquiao's faced the better competition and would be well prepared to face that level of talent. In the end I suspect we would look back on this bout and say that it was not Manny's toughest fight. If we look at the history of these two men to assess how a fight between them might unfold, we might conclude that based on said history, Mayweather will likely find an easier opponent and avoid Pacquiao all together. - Jeff Pryor

I'll be rooting for Manny if they do end up fighting, but I think Floyd will take it. It's true that the size difference is minimal - but Floyd will have a significant reach advantage, and I think Manny will have a difficult time getting into range without walking into Floyd's precise right hand counters. As far as Floyd's lay-off goes, I don't think it's a big deal. It's not all that uncommon for fighters to go a year without fighting - even those that haven't "retired", and I get the impression that Floyd has been keeping himself in good condition. - Andrew Fruman

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Topic of the Week: Paul Williams

With his dominating win over Winky Wright last Saturday, Paul Williams sent a message that he's a legit middleweight threat. Should he go after Kelly Pavlik? Or take care of unfinished business at 147? Or try and settle in at 154?

Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

We asked our writers to give their thoughts on what they would like to see next from the talented southpaw.

What would you like to see next from Paul Williams? "I want to see him get his chance at Kelly Pavlik. While Williams has never been in with a big hitting middleweight, or even a real power puncher at any weight, Pavlik would actually have to hit him more than a few times, and that's not going to be easy when you consider the athletic difference between the two and the champ's unproven counter punching ability." - Lee Payton "I don't have much interest in seeing Williams at welterweight anymore. While there's plenty of talent at 147, I think he's just too big for those guys. If a fight with Pavlik or Abraham can be made, I'd like to see it, but since they are rumored to be fighting each other later this year, perhaps looking at 154 would be best. I'd love to see Williams against either Kirkland or Angulo. He's a little ahead of those guys in terms of experience, but they're both strong as hell and I think will push him harder than anyone at 147 could." - Andrew Fruman "I agree that Williams should look at 154 since Pavlik's locked up for the rest of 2009 and Abraham will likely move up a division after fighting Pavlik. Fighting the winner of Dzinziruk/Kirkland would be a good move, and how well they perform against each other will tell us more on what their chances are against P-Will. I believe Angulo will handle Kermit Cintron easily and his performance should drum up some interest for a matchup with him. Daniel Santos is a dangerous opponent as well. Most of these guys are hungry so Paul has options." - Michael Nelson

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Topic of the Week: Lightweight Lightning

This Saturday night at 9 PM EST, Golden Boy Promotions is putting on a unique pay per view event billed as Lightweight Lightning. The card features four scraps in the 135 pound lightweight division, with the idea being that the winners will move on to face each other in the future.

Australia's Michael Katsidis pictured right, Photo © Tim Barry / timbarry.wetpaint.com

The concept is an interesting one, and we asked our writers to chime in with their opinions on the show.

**Check out Lee Payton's recap of the show: "Lightweight Lightning" A Hit!**

Lightweight Lightning Schedule

Julio Diaz vs Rolando Reyes - 10
Carlos Hernandez vs Vincente Escobedo - 10
Jesus Chavez vs Michael Katsidis - 10
Edwin Valero vs Antonio Pitalua - 12

1. Do you like the idea of it? "Yes, putting on several fights in the same division on the same card is great for building interest in future fights and comparing the fighters." - John Vaci "I love the idea of it. Some sort of legitimate way of ranking is what the sport needs. Tournaments do that. If they could have split these bouts over two Saturdays on HBO it would have been perfect." - Jeff Pryor "I think the Lightweight PPV is a great idea. As it turned out, there's a nice mix of more obscure fighters like Valero, Escobedo, and Pitalua, with guys who have been on HBO and Showtime a number of times like Chavez, Hernandez, and Katsidis. Even though the original mix with Casamayor and Barrios had more mainstays, it promises action, and it's still a solid card. It'll be interesting to see who impresses." - Michael Nelson "I love it. Boxing could use more tournaments. It would be a helluva lot easier for the average sports fan to follow the sport, that's for sure. My main gripe is these types of events tend to only involve one promoter, which limits the participation of some other top fighters." - Lee Payton "I'm a fan of the idea." - Andrew Fruman

2. Are you looking forward to any of the fights? "Seeing Edwin Valero against a solid, if not spectacular opponent should be interesting. Any fight with Michael Kastidis is typically worth watching, especially if Chavez still has some fight left in him. The other two fights aren't amazing match-ups but are fairly even on paper and should be decent." - John Vaci "Katsidis-Chavez looks to be the best bout; two fighters, fighting. Valero is always worth watching, and Pitalua should be a solid foe for him." - Jeff Pryor "I'm always interested in seeing Valero fight, although I think his opponent may be over-matched. Katsidis and Chavez makes for a fight with guaranteed action." - Michael Nelson "At first I was most looking forward to watching how Edwin Valero was going to handle the always tough Jorge Barrios, but now I just want to see some good fights. I am hoping that Jesus Chavez' body holds up against Michael Katsidis. If he's right, that could be a war." - Lee Payton "I'm looking forward to the Valero/Pitalua fight. If Chavez was a little younger, I'd be more excited for his fight with Katsidis, but I have a feeling he's not going to have enough left to really push the tough Australian." - Andrew Fruman

3. Is the show good value and are you thinking of buying it? "It's an ok deal. If the card were free I'd definitely watch it. Or if the original line-up of fighters was still intact I'd be tempted to buy it. It's so/so as a pay-per-view, but it's good by Golden Boy's standards of the past few years. I always like being able to sit back and know I've got 3-4 competitive fights to watch, which unfortunately doesn't happen often in boxing. It's a step in the right direction by Golden Boy who are maybe waking up to the fact that their cards and others need to offer a better value to fans in a bad economy." - John Vaci "At $40 you're paying $10 a piece for each fight. That's not so bad, but it hurts that Casamayor and Barrios dropped out. I'm not going to buy it. If one of these fighters where "One of my guys" I would though. As it is the card is worth about $20 for me." - Jeff Pryor "It has solid value. It's reminiscent of the Golden Boy PPV a few years back with Barrera-Juarez, Gonzales-Vasquez, and Guzman-Barrios. I doubt it'll be quite as good as that, but it should make for an entertaining night of boxing. The only reason I may not be watching is because the competing Showtime card with Holt-Bradley interests me more." - Michael Nelson "I won't be buying this one. $30 would have been perfect for the original line-up. $40 for what we're left with is just too much. It would be a great card to see live though." - Lee Payton "While I really like the concept of the event, I think the price tag has been set a little too high. For $20, I'd say it's a definite purchase, but for $40, I'm not sure." - Andrew Fruman

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Topic of the Week: Roy Jones Jr.

With Roy Jones back in action this Saturday against one time super-middleweight contender Omar Sheika, we decided it would be a good time to give the old man the Topic of the Week treatment.

We asked our writers 5 questions, ranging from whether or not they care if Roy's still fighting to his historical standing in the sport.

1. Do you care that Roy's fighting Omar Sheika on Saturday? "Not really, but I will watch and it does have the potential to be somewhat exciting. I've never been one to tell fighters when to retire. He is in with the right type of competition at this point." - Mark Lyons "No. Roy is no longer relevant. I care about the fight in so much as I hope it convinces Roy to retire, without him getting hurt." - Jeff Pryor "Don't care. Haven't cared about his career since 2004. And really 2003 and 2004 were the only years his fights have interested me in the past decade." - John Vaci "I'll watch it, but I wish it wasn't happening." - Lee Payton "No. I've seen more than enough of the shell of Roy Jones to want to see anymore." - Andrew Fruman "No." - Michael Nelson

2. Are you a Roy Jones fan? "Yes. Always have been and always will be. The closest I came to turning was the rubber match with Tarver. He had two great rounds and it was clearly a fight he could win, then he just shut it down and survived. That was difficult to watch." - Mark Lyons "I'd say I'm more of an admirer. Amazing ability in his prime, unpredictably explosive and devastatingly fast. Frustrating in some of his opponent choices, and I can't say I always rooted for him. All in all though, I like him." - Jeff Pryor "No. The guy wasn't interested in challenging himself in his prime years. He had all the talent in the world and chose to fight mandatories most of the time." - John Vaci "I've been a fan of his since I got into boxing. At one point he seemed unbeatable, and was fun to watch. The guy has a bigger heart than many of his haters believe, or want to admit. The way he dug down in the championship rounds to beat Tarver sealed it for me." -Lee Payton "I was a big fan at one stage, but as the years went by, I found myself becoming indifferent towards his career. The Ruiz fight was the last time I rooted for him, and that was mainly because of who he was fighting. Now as a commentator, I was always a fan and wish he was back with HBO. - Andrew Fruman" "I'm a Roy Jones fan, though I didn't become one until I revisited his career and took another look (in some cases, a first look) at his earlier fights at middleweight and super middleweight. He tended to cruise and potshot at light heavyweight, which was where most of my memories of him were." - Michael Nelson

3. Do you think at the peak of his popularity, Roy was overrated? "That depends on who you are speaking with. I do feel he was one of the best fighters ever to lace them up, Top 50ish. On the flip side I don't think he was the best fighter of his generation or an all time top 10 fighter. All and all, I think he is placed properly by most." - Mark Lyons "Roy was a bit overrated. Talent wise probably not, but he didn't always challenge himself as much as one would like. I also think the Ruiz win gets blown up a bit. Otherwise, I think his performances over the last few years have balanced it out a bit and made some realize the enormity of his reliance on natural ability without a solid foundation of boxing skills." - Jeff Pryor "Just a little bit. He wasn't the God that some of his craziest fans thought he was, but he was pretty damned good. Maybe he was a boxing God, but he himself didn't seem too interested in finding out." - John Vaci "That's a tough one. He's a first ballot Hall of Famer, and I think his physical tools create a nightmare for many of the greats, but it does feel like he's missing a little something. Judged like most other fighters, his career look pretty damn good. Look at some of the wins he has on paper. A handful of impressive names there. However, I think the W's he has over Hopkins and Toney are his most overrated achievements, and those are the two most fans are quickest to point out. The Hopkins fight was a dreadful sparring session, where nothing happened, and Toney probably wasn't in peak condition. I'm not one of those "winning is the only thing that matters" kinda fans. I think the fights themselves are the most important thing to consider, and based on performance vs. top flight competition, I'll take the revenge blowout of Montell Griffin (who I feel is underrated), the body shot KO of Virgil Hill and the utter domination of Reggie Johnson. Those were top pros who he destroyed. I'd love to be able to see how the best light heavyweights in boxing history handled that." - Lee Payton "Yes. As good as Roy was, his accomplishments didn't quite measure up to the hype." - Andrew Fruman "I feel that Roy underachieved during his career, and it was disappointing in the sense that he may have had the potential to become a consensus top 10 fighter of all time. There were talented, well-known fighters in Europe he could have fought. He chose not to. Some reasons as to why were legitimate, but if he had the desire to consistently test himself that some of his contemporaries had, I don't doubt that most of the fights would have gotten made. With that said, he wasn't overrated. His physical talent is only matched by a few in boxing history. With a unique mix of speed, power, and unorthodox punch placement, he knocked opponents out with a single shot that went the distance with the likes of prime Julian Jackson, Nigel Benn, and James Toney. Guys like Thulani Malinga, Thomas Tate, Montell Griffin, and Virgil Hill were notoriously hard to hurt. All were KO'd with one punch. Blowing out fighters who were not supposed to be blown out is the underrated aspect of his career." - Michael Nelson

4. Among his contemporaries (let's say 1988 onwards) where does Roy rank? "I think Whitaker is clearly the best of them. Roy is in a lump with Hopkins & Holyfield for me. I have them both ahead of him, but I wouldn't argue too hard if you flip flopped them." - Mark Lyons "I think Hopkins and Whitaker are ahead of him, at the end of the day, Pacquiao will be too." - Jeff Pryor "I'd put Whitaker, Hopkins and Pacquiao ahead of him for sure. Maybe James Toney. I think he was arguably the most talented fighter of the past 20 years, but that doesn't count for anything in and of itself. Although, he still managed to have a great career by any standards." - John Vaci "The list is Hopkins, Whitaker, Holyfield, Roy and Pacquiao. Who do I think was the best? Hopkins. Who did the most? Sweet Pea. Manny still has time to change my mind." -Lee Payton "Right now, anywhere from 1 to 3. It's real close between Whitaker, Hopkins and Roy." - Andrew Fruman "As far as fighters who started their career in or after 1988, I'd only put Bernard Hopkins above him. Manny Pacquiao is level and may surpass him this year." - Michael Nelson

5. Do you consider him an all-time great (let's say top 30 all-time)? "Saying all time greats are only top 30 is a bit limited to me. He is in that range. Closer to top 40 for me, but that qualifies as an all time great from where I sit." - Mark Lyons "Based on talent he's an all time great. Probably not top thirty, but he's got a solid chance to win against anybody who ever stepped into the ring. Less talented greats are above him. He's a bit like a Ferrari in the garage; amazing car, but if you never take it out or only to a controlled track and keep it at fifty five mph, who's to say that your average jalopy on the highway doing seventy isn't the more valuable vehicle." - Jeff Pryor "Roy wasn't an all-time great. Although he was close--probably only a 2-3 quality wins away from being one." - John Vaci "Yeah. I consider him a all-timer, partly because I recognize that boxing was much different 60+ years ago, and therefore it's going to be extremely tough for any modern fighter to break into that select group. The old time fighters just had more opportunities to prove themselves. It's a little harder to rack up a load of top quality wins these days, and losing a fight is much more devastating to a fighter's career and legacy than it used to be. Say from 1970 to present day, how many fighters could you possibly have above him? He's in that top 10 for sure, and when you're that good, you can hang with anyone. That's good enough for me. I don't expect that explanation to satisfy everyone though. If I was being strict about it, I'd have to say no. The way his career ended prevented him from reaching that territory." - Lee Payton "On his best night, I'd say he's probably among the top 10-15 fighters (maybe even higher) ever to step in the ring. But in terms of what he actually accomplished, he might fall a little short." - Andrew Fruman "I'd consider him an all time great. Perhaps being a greedy boxing fan, I wish he would have tested himself enough to reach for GOAT status." - Michael Nelson

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Topic of the Week: Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Money Mayweather. Love him or hate him, there's no question that he gets people talking, and even though he's officially retired, it's about time we discussed him on the site.

This week, we asked our panel a 3-part question related to Floyd's potential come back...

Photos © Ray Kasprowicz

Do you want to see Floyd come back? "I look forward to Floyd coming back. Any fight he is in is a mega event and he is supremely talented. I enjoy watching Mayweather apply his craft. I'm not going to say all of his fights are exciting. But he gets more heat than he deserves from a lot of people." - Mark Lyons "Like him or not, Floyd is good for boxing. He is one of the few big draws we have left, and much of that comes from his being a polarizing figure. Some people think he's a careful prima donna, while others enjoy the hype. Personally, I don't have strong feelings when it comes to Money Mayweather, but I do enjoy his work in the ring. Hey, not everyone can be a Sugar Shane or Holyfield. Those guys would take on anyone, anytime, but they have both paid a price for it. Floyd is much more calculating and given the success he's enjoyed, it's hard to argue with his formula." - Lee Payton "I'd rather not see Floyd return. He's more opportunist than fighter. Which is great for him and bad for the fans. If he decides he's interested in taking on the best available competition then I then I'd like to see him return, but he hasn't had that attitude since early in the decade." - John Vaci "I'm not a huge Floyd fan, but if he's willing to fight the guys he should, then I'd be glad to have him back in the sport. He's probably the most recognizable current fighter outside of De La Hoya and boxing needs all the mainstream notice it can garner. If that means Mayweather plays the villain and mucks around like a sideshow, even better. Somewhere along the line people forgot that personality garners attention, and a reaction. Reactions by mainstream or even the sports media is something that boxing rarely gets these days." - Jeff Pryor "I didn't mind when he retired, as the thought of pointless rematch with Oscar sickened me. Since that's not on the table anymore, I'd be okay with Mayweather returning to the ring, provided he's going to take the fights fans want to see." - Andrew Fruman "Although I'm not a huge fan, I wouldn't mind Floyd coming back. Polarizing figure or not, he generates a lot of interest and it often is a pleasure to see his unique defensive ability and ring intelligence on display." - Michael Nelson

If Floyd comes back, who would you like to see him fight? "Man, there are so many guys i would love to see him fight. If Pacquaio (pictured left against De La Hoya) beats Hatton that would be a special match up, although I have my doubts about Pacquaio's chances in that fight. But either way, if I had my choice, it would be Shane Mosley. It's a fight I have wanted to see for many years and it would be great to see it while Shane is still on top." - Mark Lyons "Bring on Sugar Shane vs Money May! These two were sharing the covers of boxing magazines as far back as 1998. The time is now. Sign on the dotted line, Floyd!" - Lee Payton "Pacquiao, Marquez, Mosley, Cotto. I might favor Floyd against all of them, but they all bring more to the table than anyone Floyd's faced in a long time." - John Vaci "Those guys he should fight would include, first and foremost Shane Mosley. It's the most interesting of the possibilities and it's the right time for it. Aside from that match, I would say the names Cotto or Pacquiao, in that order, are the best choices. There are not many other names to consider. Paul Williams would be one other good, but unlikely candidate." - Jeff Pryor "I'd like to see Mayweather challenge himself if he returns, and that means taking on a legit top welter like Mosley or Cotto. I'm tempted to say Andre Berto as well, but that's probably not realistic until Berto can make a bigger name for himself. I know that a Manny fight would be a mega-event, but it's not on the top of my list, as I think Floyd would win fairly comfortably." - Andrew Fruman "It's to the point where I wouldn't be intrigued by a Mayweather fight unless I thought he was in some kind of danger of losing. Before the 'retirement', I felt that way with matchups between him and Cotto, Margarito, Williams, and Mosley. Scratching Margarito off the list, I'd add Clottey if he looks impressive against Cotto, and Pacquiao if he decisively defeats Hatton. Out of those names, a Cotto fight interests me the most. Cotto has the style, particularly the jab and foot speed, to give Floyd fits. It needs to happen." - Michael Nelson

According to Dan Rafael, Richard Schaefer and Al Haymon have had preliminary talks regarding a Marquez/Mayweather fight. Are you interested in a Mayweather/Marquez bout? Does JMM have a shot? "I have a bad habit of underestimating Marquez. So I'm going to do it again. I really don't like his chances against mayweather at all. Floyd would force him to press the fight and at this stage in his career I can't see him doing that successfully against a bigger, faster and stronger man. Mayweather knocks him out." - Mark Lyons "Floyd is a little bigger, stronger, faster and younger. What advantage does Marquez have? I'm struggling to come up with one. While I'll certainly watch, this match-up sounds more like a business move than a fight. That said, I'd expect JMM to put up a damn good fight. And honestly, I'd be kinda surprised if Floyd toyed with him, because of the champ's technical skills, fire and toughness." - Lee Payton "A Marquez fight isn't my first choice, due to Floyd having a size advantage. But Marquez has some of the best skills in the game, and has displayed a great will to win the past couple years that may have been lacking earlier in his career. That should be enough to make the fight at least interesting." - John Vaci "One of those names that he really is not "supposed" to fight would be Marquez. I'm not interested in this bout being that Mayweather has legitimate challenges at his weight and Marquez has unfinished business with Pacquaio. The fight itself would be a bad styles matchup, would not be entertaining and probably wouldn't be all that competitive due to Floyd's advantages, in size, speed and youth. Marquez's only shot would be to not play into Floyd's hands. Don't be the aggressor; make Mayweather come after him. It may mean the fight dies on the vine and everyone absolutely sleeps through it, but if Marquez tries to push forward he'll get picked apart by the speed. If he refuses to lead, and Mayweather gets just a little antsy to do something, he has a chance to time Floyd and maybe get something going. It's not ideal, but I think it's probably the only chance." - Jeff Pryor "I'm not really interested, although I can see the appeal of this match-up for both fighters. It's a good comeback fight for Mayweather, as he'll have all the advantages, and a win would set up a Pacquaio fight nicely. For Marquez, he's looking at a career high payday, and regardless of the result, his reputation won't take a hit. Does Marquez have a chance? I doubt it, although I don't think he'll take a bad beating, as I'd imagine it would be a tactical battle short on thrills." - Andrew Fruman "Juan Manuel Marquez is far down the list. As talented as he is, he's barely getting comfortable at lightweight, and now he'd be fighting a man with similar talent who's last five fights have been at welterweight. If Marquez was even slightly competitive, it'd make for heated discussion over who would have beaten who if they were the same size. But since they aren't, I wouldn't give Marquez much of a chance, nor am I interested in seeing it." - Michael Nelson

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Topic of the Week: Chris John

This past Saturday night, Indonesian featherweight Chris John made his US debut, with an exciting 12 round draw against perennial contender Rocky Juarez.

Rather than argue the merits of the decision (we might save that debate for an edition of Score it! down the road), The Boxing Bulletin Panel offers up our opinions on John's performance and what fights we would like to see him take next.

What did you think of Chris John's American debut? "Considering he had been sick with the flu the previous week, Chris John put up a great fight against Rocky Juarez. With a good jab to go along with good footwork, stamina, and chin, he's a handful for anyone. He also showed championship level heart and toughness to rally in the second half of the final round (though I still scored that round for Juarez)." - Michael Nelson "Chris John did enough to retain his title, but just barely. Whether it was due to a lingering flu effect or because he and Juarez are at the same level I'm not quite sure. Though skilled, he lacks heavy hands and was unable to discourage Juarez. I felt that by the end, it was Juarez's fight to take and as usual he came up short. Overall, I was more impressed by Juarez, but perhaps John was truly affected by the illness and I certainly wouldn't mind seeing this skilled boxer again, so long as he's matched competitively." - Jeff Pryor "In standing up to a late-round charge by Rocky Juarez to keep his title belt, Chris John showed that he's not just a protected fighter that needs to stay at home to succeed. Rocky is sort of limited, but one thing he does well is punch hard, and John took the incoming well. He's not only quite skilled, but he seems like a tough guy with good stamina. Most people expected a rather dull affair, but were instead treated to a high level fight between two pros, and I think we can expect more of the same if John is matched correctly. Considering the landscape at 126 lbs, I think he should be considered the top guy at the weight, if he's not already." - Lee Payton "I was expecting John to have a slightly easier time with Juarez, but as has already been mentioned, it's hard to know how much his illness hampered his performance. That said, I thought he showed good overall skills, an excellent chin and some real toughness in taking some clean hard shots and firing right back, especially late in the fight when he was looking a little tired." - Andrew Fruman

Who would you like to see Chris John fight next? "A rematch against Rocky would be ideal, and I'd favor him to win if he came in at full strength. Otherwise, John against Mario Santiago is a good fight to put on Boxing After Dark. If he stays at Featherweight for a minute, Yuriorkis Gamboa would be something to look at for 2010." - Michael Nelson "John's career thus far resembles Joe Calzaghe's, having nabbed a title belt and almost exclusively defending it in his home country for six years. Like Calzaghe, he has remained at featherweight long enough, where by all the fighters who were, perhaps, better than him have moved on to other divisions, or been beaten by others, and now he is head of the class by default, without facing too many real challenges. Featherweight is a poor division right now; I'd like to see him move up to face someone like Jorge Linares or Robert Guerrero, and truly test that undefeated record." - Jeff Pryor "Featherweight isn't exactly loaded. A fight with Yuriorkis Gamboa could possibly be fun, and could turn into a valuable lesson for the youngster. It would interesting to see how Gamboa's physical talent matches up with John's experience and professionalism. More than likely though, the champ heads back to Asia to defend his crown." - Lee Payton "Anytime a great fight ends in a draw, a rematch is a good idea, so let's see another Juarez bout. If John isn't having too much trouble making weight and is planning on staying at 126, then an eventual showdown with Gamboa is a must." - Andrew Fruman

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Topic Of The Week: Nate Campbell at 140

With his lightweight belts gone, and no real incentive left to keep draining his body down to 135, Nate Campbell has decided to move up to the junior welterweight division. Naturally, that begs the question of how he will do against the top fighters at 140, such as Manny Pacquaio, Ricky Hatton, Timothy Bradley, etc.

Here's what The Boxing Bulletin writers have to say on Nate's 140 pound prospects...

(Potential future Campbell opponents, Kendall Holt & Ricardo Torres - pictured right © Ray Kasprowicz)

Nate Campbell has a sturdy chin and is very good defensively, so I believe he can do well at 140. Off the bat, I'd make him a favorite over most of the top 10, particularly Ricardo Torres, Kendall Holt, Junior Witter, Paulie Malignaggi, and Andriy Kotelnik (who impressed me against Maidana, but still leaves his body too open). One opponent that I don't think bodes well for him is Juan Urango. It may be a natural fight to make since both men come out of Florida, but if I was Nate's matchmaker, I wouldn't make that his introduction into the division. The way to beat Urango is to take advantage of his heavy feet, and Campbell doesn't fight well backing up. In a war inside the trenches, I feel that Juan would be too strong and too difficult to hurt for Campbell to beat decisively. If there was a man Nate should "duck", at least initially, it would be Juan. The risk/reward doesn't add up. I consider bouts against Ricky Hatton and Timothy Bradley 50/50. I would especially want to see him against Bradley, and I think that's an easy fight to make. If somehow his name got dropped into the Pacquaio sweepstakes, I would solidly favor Manny to win a decision, but not before getting roughed up. Regardless, time is not on his side. He can make his mark at 140, but he needs to dive in right away. I'll be watching with interest. - Michael Nelson

Nate's a tough old pro. And even though age looks like it might be creeping up on him he won't be an easy out for anyone. Ricky Hatton is far from invincible. A Pacquiao fight is highly unlikely, so it's not worth discussing. Timothy Bradley looks solid, but he's still green and doesn't appear to have overwhelming talent. There's a few other notables at 140, but Nate is right in the mix even if I don't see him dominating due to age and having moved up two weight classes. - John Vaci

Nate's fighting attitude, chin and power will keep him in any fight, but at his age, I'm not sure he should be fighting too many contenders or title holders, in order to make the big score. There simply isn't time. Really, he just has to hope that either Pacquiao or Hatton gives him a call when they finish their business. His chances at snagging the winner or loser of that one may be better than anyone else at 140 because of the wins he has on HBO. As far as how he matches up with the other players in the division, I think he makes interesting fights with nearly all of them. A shootout with Ricardo Torres jumps out at me, in particular, but I'd watch him scrap it out with anyone in the top 10. Realistically, Campbell has about a year to make something big happen for himself. He's going to need a little luck. -Lee Payton

Nate is a good fighter, sound defense, excellent body puncher and I don't think carrying the weight will be a problem. He is also inconsistent and I would worry about him looking for bigger purses than will be available. It really comes down to activity and matchmaking. I don't see more than two years left for him, if that. He would have an excellent chance against Judah, Malignaggi, Holt and Torres. I see trouble for him against Bradley, Hatton, Pacquiao and Ortiz. If he goes through another long layoff my guess is it's a wrap. If they can't get a big fight, he needs to just remain active on ESPN & Versus and avoid ring rust. He didn't look good to me against Funeka, but ring rust and a less than stellar camp gets him another shot before I would point to declining skills. One thing is for sure, the time is not for talking, action and activity is the only way. My educated guess is Nate will come in focused and get a big win if matched properly. But the success will be short lived and he will squander his standing as quickly as he achieves it. - Mark Lyons

Due to Nate's physical style, I'd be much more confident in his chances at 140, if he was a little younger. Plus, I think he'll be a little undersized against the elite of the division, nearly all of whom are natural junior welters. Of the current Ring Top 10, I think Hatton, Bradley and Urango would beat him. Urango's not on the same level talent wise, but as mentioned already, that's just not a good style match-up. Against the rest of the top 10, I think Nate would win more than he'd lose. I'd love to see him against any of Kotelnik, Torres, Ngoudjo or Maidana. I think all of those match-ups would be terrific fights. - Andrew Fruman

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