Speaking of DiNiro and Stallone, Do We Really Want To See Grudge Matches Like Pacquiao versus Bradley II?
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Sylvester Stallone and Robert DiNiro are on the big screen in ‘Grudge Match’. Which reminds me, how keen are we for grudge matches in professional boxing?
When we think of the heavyweight division, We think of the classic matches and rematches between James Jeffries and Gentleman Jim Corbett, James Jeffries and Bob Fitzsimmons, James Jeffries and Gus Ruhlin, Chrysanthemum Joe Choynski versus Philadelphia Jack O’Brien, Chrysanthemum Joe Choynski versus Charles Kid McCoy, Marvin Hart versus Mike Schreck, Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, Joe Louis and Billy Conn, Rocky Marciano and Ezzard Charles, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Muhammad and and Jerry Quarry, Muhammad Ali and George Chuvalo, Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton (three times in fact), Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks, Ron Lyle and Ossie Ocasio, Ron Lyle and Jimmy Young, Michael Dokes and Mike Weaver, Evander Holyfield versus Riddick Bowe, Andrew Golota versus Riddick Bowe, the list is endless. Jack Johnson fought Joe Jeanette seven times! In 1945, the two of them, despite being really old, were still at it, fighting an exhibition for United States War Bonds.
When we leave the heavyweight division, there is Sugar Ray Robinson versus Carmen Basilio, Archie Moore versus Yvon Durelle, Sugar Ray Leonard versus Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard versus Roberto Duran, Carlos Monzon versus Rodrigo Valdez, Bernard Hopkins versus Roy Jones Jr., Chad Dawson versus Bernard Hopkins, Manny Pacquiao versus Juan Manuel Marquez………..
The list of fighters and rematches goes back to the beginning of boxing’s pioneer era, and stretches through the present moment. There are many examples of boxing rematches yielding different results. Pacquiao is going to rematch Timothy Bradley now. Most experts agreed Pacman won the first fight with Bradley but got robbed. However, Bradley is an improving fighter whose chin is nonetheless suspect despite his unbeaten record.
We want to see Timothy Bradley win the WBO World Welterweight title rematch with Pacquiao by a 12 round decision and win on the three judges’ scorecards clearly this time in Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 12, 2014. Pacquiao wins if there is a knockout. Bradley appears to be totally focused, and could get a shot at Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, or Floyd Mayweather Jr. if he wins this rematch.
The chance to fight Floyd is enough motivation for Timothy Bradley, the BoxRec number one welterweight in the world, to win this bout and silence his doubters and critics. Floyd, still toying with Amir Khan and Marcos Rene Maidana for his next fight by having fans vote their choice of opponent on Facebook, will undoubtedly go after the winner of this bout. Bradley thoroughly outboxed Juan Manuel Marquez. Despite the presence of trainer Freddie Roach, Pacman is a fading fighter. Pacman’s bout with Bradley is Pacquiao’s final flash. The media lost interest in Pacquiao versus Floyd long ago. Bradley versus Floyd seems destined to happen later this year or in 2015.
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