Mandingo versus Floyd, Magic Man versus Showtime Porter Dream Fights
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Considering the way the rejuvenized southpaw James ‘Mandingo’ Kirkland brutally dispatched 20-0 Glen Tapia in their brief but violent light middleweight violent encounter at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City this past weekend, Mandingo versus Floyd Mayweather Jr. might be a more likely matchup in 2014 than rematching Mandingo with current IBF light middleweight titleholder Carlos Molina. Mandingo has already beat Molina by ten round disqualification in 2012. If not Erislandy Lara or Ishe Smith, Floyd could be next.
Kirkland, now 32-1, 28 knockouts, is 32-0 when working with trainer Ann Wolfe. Against Tapia, Kirkland landed 305 of 644 punches thrown to Tapia landing 132 of of 437 punches thrown. Land almost 200 more punches with violent intent on your opponent’s body in a few rounds, and you will take away his heart and resistance. Kirkland exposed a legitimate 20-0 contender as not even a six round fighter at the world championship level when he does the work. After a 20 month layoff and a five week camp, Kirkland laid waste to Tapia in Jersey Boy Tapia’s home territory, no simple accomplishment.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be looking at Erislandy Lara for a bout over here, perhaps Amir Khan if the Europeans put up the dough to stage the show. Lara is undoubtedly the best fight on the table. Anthony Mundine, with his recent victory over Shane Mosley, could have an outside chance of a bout with Floyd. If Kirkland is a southpaw Mayweather doesn’t want, 20-0 southpaw Demetrius ‘Boo-Boo’ Andrade, a Joe DeGuardia fighter, could also be considered. 37-0-1 Polish fighter Damian Jonak has quietly boxed his way into contention. The winner of 22-0 Jemell Charlo versus two time title challenger Gabriel Rosado in a January 2014 bout at the DC Armory might also be of interest, particularly if Charlo wins. WBC Silver and EBU European Light Middleweight titleholder Sergey Rabchenko of Belarus, now 25-0, could be a dark horse candidate for Floyd.
Mandingo could be of great interest for Floyd because Mandingo is a known Las Vegas commodity, where Floyd likes to stage his fights, and Floyd would believe a fight with Mandingo winnable. A few more big wins would undoubtedly help Kirkland’s cause for a big money fight with Floyd. Whatever Floyd’s move, Floyd will put it on the table soon. Floyd’s next bout is scheduled for May 3, 2014, and word in Forbes Magazine has it Floyd is interested in doing the bout at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Neither Floyd nor Kirkland have fought there. Thus MSG as a Floyd venue next year would essentially be neutral for whoever Floyd fights there, and no fighter alive would turn down a payday with Floyd. Why not Mandingo? As if a tuneup by torturing a 20-0 fighter isn’t good enough?
Meanwhile, Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi, now 33-5, seven knockouts, added the NABF light welterweight belt to wardrobe with an easy 12 round decision over an aging Zab Judah in an all Brooklyn affair at Barclays Center this past weekend. Zab talks the talk, but somehow he never seems to win the big fight. True, Zab put on a great performance against Danny Garcia. Zab’s trouble in this fight was underestimating Malignaggi’s technical jab work rate. Zab started well for four rounds, but Paulie set a blistering pace of pressure and volume. For the last seven rounds, Zab was on his bicycle, and could do little more than eat Paulie’s lightning fast jabs and tenacity to get inside and pound on his bald head. Zab may still win a few more fights, and he is more effective at 140 pounds than 147 pounds, but father time has slowed his work rate down. Malignaggi landed 220 of 607 punches, while Judah landed 121 of 498 punches, getting outworked.
Shawn ‘Showtime’ Porter, a 23-0 fighter who won the IBF World Welterweight title by 12 round decision over Devon Alexander this past weekend, would be a great match for Paulie at 147 pounds for the title in 2014. Paulie won the WBA World Welterweight title by 12 round split decision over Pablo Cesar Cano in October 2012 at Barclays Center, and then lost it to Adrian Broner by split decision. A Porter versus Broner megafight is not under consideration, and since both Malignaggi and Porter both won at Barclays Center on the same card, a Porter versus Malignaggi match in 2014 seems feasible between the two. As for Zab-well-he could try a ten rounder against Pablo Cesar ‘El Demolador’ Cano, who decisioned Ashley Theophane at the MGM Grand this past September.
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