uh... did I say Guinn was the future?

[thebadguy]

I think it's time for me to re-evaluate who I think the future of the HW division is. I thought for awhile that Guinn might be the best HW since Evander Holyfield, but I was badly mistaken. Even a badguy admits when he is wrong. I think I will rate Guinn back to a 7 or 6. What can I say? I am disappointed. Im not ashamed at all that I was wrong about Guinn, but I am saddened that the HW division has NO rising stars (as of tonight). We desperately need a new Tyson, a new Holyfield, a new Ali... something!!! Until that happens, the division will continue to decline. Who is the HW savior gonna be? Its certainly not anyone on the current roster.

[PittPanther]

Come on, you mean you don't think Mesi is good?

[mh2365]

He didn't seem to have any kind of desire ... is that normal for him? I've seen him fight twice and both times it looked like he could care less.

Taylor, however, wow!

[crusadecat]

Yes I agree Taylor was a big Wow. Maybe Guinn can take something from this fight. Although he lost and didn't look good doing it, this may be the wake up call he needs . I still think he'd beat most of the other "young guns" .

[mking55]

Guinn reminded me of Kirk Johnson, without the flab.

The only enjoyable thing about that fight was that Larry Merchant was wrong about a fighter, again.

And as an aside, am I the only person who can barely understand a word Emmanuel Stewart says. I am most interested in his viewpoint but he either mumbles or doesn't speak clearly. At least I could understand what George Foreman said.

[PittPanther]

Back to Manny, if you listen closely he says that Barrett looks great to him as he walks out, of course a great example of certain forshadowing by the master as to what is to come. He really does have some insight when it comes to these things.

Anyway, I've never had a problem understanding him.

[Cap]

Wonder which fight the first judge was watching? I had Barrett way ahead, but I don't think he was an improved fighter; he was just better than this Guinn.

Does anyone pick Lamon Brewster over Wladimir Klitschko? If I've ever seen Brewster fight, I must not have been too impressed as I can't recall him. I hear his nickname is "That Guy Over There".

As for Byrd-Golota, I see that ending early on a DQ against the big Pole. Byrd's people will be on the ref's case from the parking lot, and he'll probably give Golota his first warning just before the two fighters touch gloves.

Ruiz-Oquendo is already being prescribed as a sleep-inducer by local physicians. They may have to call a halt early to avoid putting the judges to sleep. Ruiz has already complained of a foul by Oquendo in a letter Fres sent him last week.

Cap

[hamed]

Guinn like Kirk without the flab - great point!

You have to love Taylor though! Who'd want to fight that guy? As tough as Hopkins is, he might have wished Taylor came along 5 years ago because beating Taylor @ 40 years old won't be easy!

[PittPanther]

That pay-per-view card is miserable, I'll be staying away from that one.

Let us hope that Taylor and Hopkins ink the deal soon.

I'm not quite ready to rule Hopkins out just yet, but Taylor sure does have some skill.

[Austin]

Thoughts’ on HBO card

1. Does the bad guy have any membership forms left for the “I thought Guinn is the future” club?

2. Larry Merchant did have one good comment regarding Mesi’s performance against Barrett.

3. As for the judge who was visually impaired, he had Goliath on points over David a couple of years ago!

4. Hopkins by KO over Taylor at this point in time.

[Bam Bam]

Ok... I'm officially on the Taylor bandwagon...whoa...thats a class A jab....best young fighter I've seen in a long time...
Badguy, you had Guinn as the future of heavyweight boxing? ouch
Pitt Panther, finally someone that apreciates a great boxing analyst, Manny Steward.....when he speaks, I listen, as opposed to the crap that came out of Foreman's mouth ( I like him, but he had no biz speaking on TV)

Is Mesi good? would have said yes 100%, if he didn't fall apart in the last round with Jirov......
You know what... I think Ruiz/Oquendo might be an ok fight..call me crazy....Taylor/Hopkins would be a PPV, but Hopkins only fights once a year, what are the chances of him taking Taylor? I want to see Taylor beat up a feew more middlewieghts first, let em wup Joppy, and go after Calzaghe, Hopkins plays too many games...

[erickdamac]

I think Barett is better then both of them, I must be honest I did not think he would win the fight but I knew it wasn't awalk over, I had Monte winning the mesi fight 6-4 And I had him winning guin fight 7-3, Monte is a good fighter who should be in the HW mix.

[Bam Bam]

I agree, he is a top 10 fighter. Think he could beat Byrd, and he's supposed to be a top Fiver, ( I can't stand Byrd)

[thebadguy]

Taylor and Hopkins will NEVER fight. I've read quite a bit of interviews from both fighters. It seems that Taylor is content accepting the fact that Hopkins has other plans. Taylor will wait, let Hopkins ride off into the sunset and THEN take over the MW division. Hopkins admits without hesitation that Taylor is the "heir to the MW Title"... after he leaves of course.

It doesn't make sense from a business standpoint. If Hopkins were to win, it would take away from Taylor's "mystique". If Taylor were to win, people would just say he beat an old man. Taylor knows his time is near, but he will let Hopkins bow out first, not because he is afraid of him, but out of respect for boxing.

[Bam Bam]

badguy, I think you hit it right on the head, I can't imagine Hopkins ever signing for that, and not because he's dodging. I think Hopkins is a great fighter, and he's a tuff guy and he tells it like it is, and he's from Philly,so for the life of me I can't figure out why he won't fight anybody.?? He makes Roy Jones look like Marvin Hagler(fighting anybody and everybody). I don't know why more people don't get on him for abusing his titles the way he does....Jermaine is going to murder everyone else in the division when Hopkins is gone , no doubt badguy

[sabotai]

When people become desperate to find great young heavyweights, you get people saying fighters like Guinn and Mesi are the future. I don't think I thought too much of either fighter. When Guinn beat Grant (first time I saw him), he didn't seem like he wanted to be there for most of the fight. I didn't think much of him then. And we all know what Mesi has been like in his last two fights.

If Guinn and Mesi are the future of the HW division, the HW division is in BIG trouble.

[crusadecat]

It is in big trouble Sabotai . Hopefully someone of that group or someone we haven't even thought of steps up , but no doubt about it the Hw is in big trouble.

[Rasmuth]

The HW division has been in trouble for a long time. Lewis was an extremely boring champion. Ho Hum.

Since Buster Douglas destroyed Tyson...its been lackluster. It was kinda fun when Foreman came back...especially his fight against Holyfield...entertaining anyway.

But really since Tyson imploded...the division has been filled with false hope and disappointing could-be's.

[IceTea]

Originally posted by erickdamac
I think Barett is better then both of them, I must be honest I did not think he would win the fight but I knew it wasn't awalk over, I had Monte winning the mesi fight 6-4 And I had him winning guin fight 7-3, Monte is a good fighter who should be in the HW mix.

I had the Mesi Fight a draw and Barrett 7-3 over Guinn. I think Barrett was a bit too cautious against Mesi, Mesi does punch harder than Guinn, but appeared more fluid last night. I hope Barrett solves the issue of hanging his chin in the air soon. Other than that, he has good movement and a good jab and throws that sneaky short right hand behind it. I think his left hook isnt natural, he is often out of position when he cuts it loose and leads with it far too often, but as heavies go today, he is in the top 15 along with Mesi and Guinn.

Guinn was too stiff in the upper body last night and didn't throw enough punches. I also think his punching power isn't much better than average. With boxers, I believe you have to throw out thier best fight and thier worst, what's left over is a better judgement on what you have. I still believe Guinn will be heard from down the road.

E. Stewert I like on HBO, he state something and contradict himself a minute later like Big George often did. I also believe that Teddy Atlas does a great job for ESPN.

This brings us to Larry Merchant. I remember in 1996, he stated that Courage Tshabalala would be the heavyweight champion in the year 2000 and if it wasn't him, it would be Shannon Briggs. Briggs got KO'd that night by Darroll Wilson and Courage was on his back for the count 6 months later by a country bumpkin from Montana. I like him on the show because he disagrees with the others, but I don't take his opinions and go to Vegas.

I'm not sure who the next great Heavy is, I remember everyone saying that Holifield, Bowe, Lewis, Mercer, Morrison, Douglas and before that Witherspoon, Page, Holmes, Thomas, and Cooney weren't any good, I think I would take any of them over the current crop.

Golata over Byrd, Don King needs the big Pole to fight Mesi in Buffalo this summer with a title attached.

MJ

[mh2365]

Maybe it was just me but did Taylor remind anyone else of Jordan .... All the desire, the game face, and the killer instinct once he smelled fear. Easily the best jab I've seen in along time ... maybe since Holmes in his prime