Hello,  I wasn't intending to write and this isn't for publication anyway. But, since many of your comments, both past and present seem pretty accurate, such as your opinion of Mayweather versus Hearns, Chavez, Whitaker and his level, Ali Armstrong, Robinson, etc- (and there are many more you could add in)  in my opinion anyway- I was a bit surprised to see that you think Mayweather is the tops in the past 10 years. 
 
Roy Jones was at least one or two classes above him. I was no accident that Jones was the # 1 P4P or 10 years. And his fights, against no matter whom, were both interesting-and to a greater or lesser degree (even though the outcome was already known) exciting. You can't say that at all about Mayweather. Any of the interest and excitement in his fights are supplied by the other guy. And it's for interest and excitement that people follow the fight game.
 
I'd even go as far to say that Hector Camacho, in his blazing heyday, would have beaten Mayweather. You never saw his at his best, when he was a real phenomenon. I saw him when he was at his very best, even though he was hardly a gym devotee. He did as little as he could get away with. Anyway, it's interesting to read your opinions, which you are not shy about giving. I like that.
 
Sincerely,
Edgar G. Wallace


Ishe Response:  Great email!  Whenever the topic comes up about the best fighter p4p in the last 10 years, you will always get the Roy Jones debate, and rightfully so.  Roy Jones was on top of his game for many years, but he came crashing down as fast as OJ in a hotel room with senseless memorabilia.  This is an argument I’m sure will continue to last for many years, but in my honest opinion I think Floyd has done more in his reign as P4P king than Roy did.  The light heavy weight division was as weak as they came in those days, it wasn’t Roy’s fault, but the truth is in the pudding, the division was excruciating to watch outside of Roy Jones.  This guy was fighting police officers for goodness sake, he looked pretty in dominating people, but looking pretty has nothing to do with being great.  I want you to think about all of Roy’s opponents, can you name me one great fighter on his resume besides Hopkins?  Was he and is he a great fighter? Yes, Roy is a great fighter, but just because he dominated a very sub par division for many years doesn’t make him the best of this era.  Think about it, and I will gladly debate this over and over again. 

wooooooo sup shay?
good to see you back in the mail bag...man whoever said boxing is dead...another great weekend of fights past. i saw cotto-mosley as a draw but regardless they both looked great and shane was gracious in defeat.  margaritos back. also now is the time to start pushin for winky vs the winner of pavlik-taylor2...why is the world not demanding this fight...winky vs pavlik is a dream match for boxing fans...and id rather see pacman fight jmm again, but certainly wouldnt complain if he fought juan diaz....take
care..good luck in the future shay..peace..weedman.


Ishe Response:  I would love to see Winky take on the winner of Taylor vs. Pavlik, I just don’t know how willing the winner would be in fighting Wink.  Boxing has been great so far this year, and to close out the year with Mayweather vs. Hatton; man what more can a fan ask for.  I would love to see Pacman take on Diaz personally, but who knows what is going to happen, and in all honesty Marquez was lucky they scored that fight a draw.  Thanks for the email 

Whats up Ishe......I have some things i wanna get off my chest.  I was reading the Alfonso Gomez interview and noticed that he didn't put Andre Berto's name in the mix for a future opponent he would like to face.  I mean am i the only guy that see's clearly when i say that Andre Berto is the best shot you can go for in the welterweight division if you wanna make a point? I mean besides Victor Ortiz, Berto owns the prospect/contender/up-coming fighter category.  If the Alfonso Gomez vs. Julio Ceaser Chavez Jr. fight happens (IF CHAVEZ JR. IS MAN ENOUGH TO FIGHT A DECENT FIGHTER) i think that Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz or Zab Judah should happen, then the winner between those two fights should face off giving the winner a title shot at any welterweight champion holding a alphabet belt. G? Am i seeing clearly or what? Give me your opinion.......Dmoney
 
P.S. No disrespect or anything but in your last mailbag you said that Berto is a (Hype Job). Are you saying that you can beat him? I mean if ya'll fight and he beats you like i'm sure he will, would you give him the respect that he deserves? i'm not trying to put you on blast but just giving you my opinion.


Ishe Response:  I think Gomez realizes that a fight between him and Chavez Jr makes the most sense economically, it’s a fight most boxing fans and Mexican fans would want to see, and I am pretty sure if they did the fight in a heavily populated Mexican area the fight would sell out.  Berto is very overrated in my opinion, he is a hyped up fighter who cannot take a punch.  He has a good offense, but absolutely not one shred of defense, he couldn’t catch a punch if he had a catcher’s mitt.  Tell me one named fighter he has defeated besides Estrada and I will gladly continue this debate, other than that the guy has done absolutely nothing in the sport to warrant the attention he gets.  Had Estrada been a remotely the same fighter he was when I fought him, I can guarantee he would have defeated Berto.  No I am not saying I would defeat him, that’s too easy for anyone to say, Berto would be easy work man, easy work!   

 

I think Mayweather is the best PFP of a weak lot.  Most of the current PFP fighters wouldn't have been oN the list 10-15 years ago. Mayweather has been in his prime for years and only when the other top fighters got old or beaten by other top fighters he was pushed to the top. I've been following the top fighters
closely over the last 15 years, including Mayweather, and I really don't think he is any better now than he was in 2000. Most experts had him in the top 5 but not many considered him the best during that time. He is a great fighter in this era but not especially strong as the best PFP and not as a good as Whitaker
or Jones were in their primes. I think he would have given Whitaker, Pryor and Chavez close fights and because of his style would have had a good chance against Chavez especially. BTW, what do you think of Chad Dawson? Do you think he would beat Calzaghe at 168? Kevin

 
Ishe Response:  That isn’t a fair assessment Kevin, you can only go by era’s in the sport of boxing, and I agree with you that this era is pretty weak, but we still have some great fighters fighting in this era who could have competed in the era you’re talking about.  I don’t believe Floyd could have hung with any those fighters, they were cut from a different cloth and they found ways to win boxing matches.  The weakest and most disappointing division in boxing today has to be the heavyweight division, what a joke it has become. I will argue you this all day long; name me one fighter who has done it better than Floyd in the last 10 years?  I will humbly wait for your response.

PS:  Please don’t hit me with Roy Jones.

Hey Ishe its Bread from Philly. The one thing about you is you keep it real. I don't always agree with you but at least you speak from the heart. Also you are very knowledgable to be a fighter most are not. Also thank you for setting the record straight with Floyd. But no he's not the best fighter ever, no he can't beat a prime Ray Robinson,Leonard, Duran, Pryor, Whitaker, Armstrong, Chavez these new wave internet kids are crazy. And judging by his fight with a past his prime rusty Oscar I'm not so sure he beats Oscar, shane or donald curry in there primes. Floyd doesn't like contact. Also what do u think of Shane pressing Cotto down the stretch what a great old fighter. Also Ishe fuck these haters who talk about you. People who haven't accomplished nething are always critical of those of us who fall short of there expectations. Just keep praying and give it all you got its gods will anyway. People used to hate on me in highschool for getting 18pts 6 assist and we win


Ishe Response:  I think Shane showed a lot of class in defeat and he certainly didn’t lose any style points in the way he fought.  Floyd is great for this generation, but when you start talking Armstrong, Chavez, and Ray Robinson, I personally think he falls short.  Maybe in a few years he will be there, but as of right now he is not there yet.  Like my man Kat Williams said, “Haters have a job to do, so let them hate.”  Trust me Bread I am not sweating anyone in this industry, thanks for the email.
 


Ishe, glad to see your back.  Hope to see you fight soon.  I think you would take berto, I think you have better defense and better skills.  Would you stand in the pocket like you did with Powell?  Man that would be cool, I luv that style, just like james toney.... peace...
 HO


Ishe Response:  Berto to me is like a lot of great fighters over time that has a great offense and no defense at all.  His chin is very suspect and in all honesty I have not been impressed with him, I believe Gomez would beat him, and so would Paul Williams.  This guy has 20 fights already and he hasn’t fought one meaningful fight, if you don’t know if you got a housewife or whore after 10 years of dating, its time to move on!  I would stand right in front of him; the fight would not go over 6rds.

 


Hey Ishe,
Do you think anyone at middleweight can beat Pavlik? I've been
thinking about what type of fighter would be the biggest challenge for him, and I'm thinking it would probably be someone with a lot of speed and movement. But who at middleweight has a lot of speed and movement? What do you think? Also, do you think Taylor can win a rematch? I agree with you to an extent about Berto being overhyped. His defense is definetly flawed, and he's been decked by guys like Cosme Rivera. But then I think--wait a minute, Cotto got decked by lesser fighters too when he was coming up, and he just beat Shane Mosley. Maybe Berto will improve? I don't agree with everyone saying Mayweather is going to destroy Hatton the same way he destroyed Gatti. Hatton is much quicker than Gatti, and he's not going to try and box Mayweather like Gatti did. He's going to smother Mayweather, probably foul him a lot, and just in general make it an ugly fight. I still think Mayweather is going to be too smart and too crafty for Hatton, but I think it will still be a pretty good scrap. Mayweather definetly won't be able to run cirlces around Hatton and potshot him the way he did to Baldomir; Hatton is quick enough to keep on Mayweather and make him fight. If Mayweather KO's or stops Hatton, it'll be late, say round 11ish Thanks, Jeff from RI


Ishe Response:  You were correct in first assessment of Berto, please let’s keep it right there and not change anything.  You were right, he is over hyped with a suspect chin, and you cannot change the game in the 9th inning, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it is a Duck Kevin.  I don’t know if anyone can beat Kelly at 160lbs man, the guy is really good, Winky would be a very good match up for him, other than that I think he pretty much dominates the division.  I think he is going to beat Jermain much worse this time around than last time, but maybe Taylor can surprise us all.  The fight will be very interesting and competitive, but I still see Mayweather pretty much dominating the fight.  Maybe not totally like he did Gatti, but I think it will be easy work.

 

I gotta tell you Ishe, Havent been too keen to watch you fight as I dont particularly enjoy your style. However I appreciate that u r in a tough business & you are only trying to make the most of the talent you were blessed with. I have to say upon readingg your mail bag I was truly moved not just by your honesty but also the great humility in your words. I have never written to this site but check it everyday. I will be rooting for you 2 turn the corner & enjoy great success in your life .

By the way have you done any professional writing?
You might have just found another talent.

Nathan
From London


Ishe Response:  Thanks a lot for your kind and truthful email, it was well put and very courteous. The only writing I have done is for boxingtalk.com, but I would love to try different things later in my life.  Once again thanks for your honesty and truthfulness. 


Closing thoughts:  Why do people seem to cheer or like when others fail in life?  I don’t know what kind of self righteous world we live in today, but we all fall in life and no one should be happy when someone fails or falls.  As a result of our own selfishness, I find it just as hard to live in today’s world as it was in the 60’s, truth be told I don’t think we gained much ground at all; if anything we have lost a lot ground.  We should be there to lift each other up when we fall, not pull one another down, if you’re the pulling type and not the lifting type, then your not the solution, you’re the problem, and my advice for you would be to check yourself. If you are the pulling type, shame on you, but further more you need to read these great words from Malcolm X:

“There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.”

God Bless you all.

M

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