Combat Talk Radio

Reports from watchers is that Makabu should not have had his hand raised. Regardless, he did.

The question is, will Canelo's camp want to book a fight with Don King in the mix? Is it possible that Makabu's performance turns Canelo off and makes him want to go another route?

We analyze the other possibilities, from 168 through cruiserweight, and why we think that Joe Smith Jr. (WBO @ 175) makes the most sense (for those that don't recognize the name, Smith is the one who in 2016 literally knocked Bernard Hopkins out of the ring and into retirement, causing B-Hop to claim he "Pushed me out the F'n ring!" (Yeah, with his fist).

Many will say "Smith can't get ready that fast!" If Makabu was next, it'd be the same thing. What's the difference?

[Originally Recorded Nov 5, 2021 - that's why the audio sounds different]

Deontay Wilder is one of the most polarizing and controversial sports figures of the modern era, triggered mostly by his previous "Body on the Record" fight promotion speech (despite the fact that fans cheered Tyson talking about eating children and homosexual assault prison-style), comments about certain female interviewers possibly using sex to advance their positions, (despite the fact that fans cheered Rampage Jackson dry humping an interviewer live on air) and the various excuses that came out after Wilder/Fury 2.

Regardless of this, Wilder had always said that he was willing to die in the ring, because he loved doing it so much and wanted to make sure the fans were sent home happy every time. Fury/Wilder 3 showcased why Deontay Wilder is one of the few fighters in current boxing that actually practiced what he preached, fighting as hard as he could until he could fight no more. Deontay Wilder has never been in a boring fight, no matter what you thought about his opposition. We challenge you to contrast that with Frank F'n Sanchez and stinking out the joint every time.

Wilder's recently talked about retiring, which I think would be a mistake. The heavyweight division is (especially now) in desperate need of true warriors like him, and he could still 'baptize' guys like Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller before hanging them up and enjoying time with his family. The heavyweight division has needed all-out war for a long time, and those two didn't disappoint.

No matter which way he goes, and no matter what NSB might say, the Fury/Wilder trilogy WILL be reflected on years from now as one of the greatest trilogies in history. Not for the "boxing masterclass", but for the psychology, the emotion, the feeling of not knowing who was going to get knocked spark out and not really believing that a guy who looks like Tyson Fury could completely decimate a guy that looks like Deontay Wilder.

Don King Promotions - PPV via FITE TV apparently. The winner is frontline to fight Canelo Alvarez next.

Same story we always hear, another late replacement - and you know what means...possible upset incoming.

Chocolatito seems to not like aggressive fighters that aren't afraid of him, and Martinez is a tough fighter who will likely come in trying to make a name against a highly regarded A-Side.

It wouldn't surprise us.

You strike me as a fairly learned follower of the sport.

Notice I said sport. Not the BUSINESS of boxing.

Because ultimately, A-Side fighters call the shots. Always have, always will.

B-Side fighters (which Crawford is for a Spence fight) don't.

Fighters have to be inspired by what Floyd had to do against Oscar de la Hoya, which catapulted him into superstardom - accepting whatever he had to in order to make the fight, as B-Side, then going in there and doing what he had to do.

Fighters today should be learning from what Canelo is doing, which is to collect belts and make a legacy that keeps continuing, not just hanging on to what you did at lesser weight classes.

Crawford should have challenged Teixeira when Teixeira was 154 WBO as Crawford had basically a guaranteed shot - didn't do it, and that would have been an easy belt for him to win. Then defend in two divisions.

Crawford should have challenged Ugas the moment Ugas got elevated for WBA. Didn't happen.

Instead of paying Crawford $12-15 million to fight a slew of lesser fighters, he should have told Arum to stack that money, pay him $1-2 per fight and then use the bulk of the excess to get the Spence fight made instead of chasing a Manny fight he knew wasn't going to happen.

Crawford himself said that Arum failed to get him fights. Then why'd you re-sign with him when you knew the smoke was over at PBC? At that time, Keef was undefeated WBC/WBA, Spence was undefeated IBF, Danny Swift was still at the top of the division as was Porter.

Regardless, blaming only Arum makes no sense when Arum was able to book multiple fights with Wilder/Fury.

Manny got a temp deal with PBC.

Mikey got a temp deal with PBC.

Canelo got a temp deal with PBC.

All three were financially better off and had signature fights as a result.

So why does Crawford get a pass for not doing the same when we know he could have?

It's because in the BUSINESS of boxing, Crawford knew that he could make guaranteed $3 million each to fight guys he's supposed to beat with ease. He also knew that it's not assured he beats Ugas or Spence, and he just wanted to beat Manny on the way out for an easy payday, as everyone did.

Going forward: assuming Keef gets past Barrios (which isn't guaranteed), Crawford should sign with PBC, fight Keef, the one guy Spence won't fight, make a statement, then unify with Spence/Ugas winner.

OR

Go up to 154 and take belts and keep making a name.

AS I mentioned on a previous episode, with no evidence of the accusations against Rolly, it wasn't going to go anywhere.

Now, the WBA has come out and ordered the two to make a deal within 30 days under mandatory rules.

Since they had an agreement before with veritable ease, it's fairly safe to believe there'll be another agreement made as these two don't like each other - UNLESS 'CM Punk' Kambosos decides to go after Tank which wouldn't make any sense; but Tank is mandatory for one of Kambosos' titles.