G, glad you finally paid your bills, nice to have you back. I gotta tell you, I don't think it was cool that you posted the finalists for the contender out in the open, without even putting a spoiler link on the site. This is the first year I went into the show without knowing who made it until the end. Not cool, not cool at all.  Anyway, what's the latest with Manfredo? Is he going to be fighting Lacy or Green? Both will be very tough fights for Peter, who took bunches of punches in his last two fight. I'd give Peter the edge over Lacy, because Jeff hasn't fought in a long time, not sure about Green, that one is a toss up, Green might be too much for him..........

Leon's Response: Perhaps I should have put a spoiler alert out there, perhaps I should have done that each of the last three years. Perhaps if they aired the show and fights live, they wouldn't encounter this problem. Of course then they wouldn't be able to show you what they want to. In my opinion the results of boxing matches shouldn't be kept secret from the public. The Contender, for the most part, gives fighters who HBO would have laughed at, enough exposure to justify them as opponents to world class opposition. The latest with Manfredo is he underwent hand surgery and plans on taking a tune up before the end of the year before making a much bigger fight in early 2008. I'd love to see Lacy and Green fight each other.


What up G, Seriously, do you guys not know about having a Spoiler warning??
This is the second time you guys do this for the contender. I would like to watch the show not knowing one of these guys isn’t going to make it. You guys don’t do much wrong, but that is twice you have done that Don’t’ agree with how you do that You guys are a great site but you need to have a spoiler warning before people read it or click on it Sergio Herrera


Leon's Response: What's a spoiler warning? Actually it's the third time. I'll try my best to close my ears when the information comes to me next year.

Whats up G good job on the site. Just a quick one. Why no talk about the Juan Diaz. He is tha truth. Going to law school and still no loss on his record. He is my favorite boxer but I don’t hear any one talking about him. Whats up with that? I got him making the other Diaz look like a beat up bean bag. Corey/Dallas

Leon's Response: I spoke with Juan a couple of weeks ago. Feel free to scroll through the archives to look for it. I definitely plan on speaking with Juan again before the unification bout. Diaz is one of my favorite fighters and I've been telling people his fights are must see TV since he was fighting on NBC.

G, Good to see the sites up and running again. Kinda had a void left without it, lol. I have never experienced such a void left inside with a lack of top quality boxing over the last month and a half. I see Pavlik setting his mark on the boxing world with a ground breaking late round knockout. If a 40+ year old BHOP had Taylor against the ropes in their first battle, I dont see why a stronger, stand and deliver type fighter like Pavlik can lose here. But I do understand that if the pre-Daniel Eduard Jermain Taylor shows up, we could be in for a Castillo-Corrales like matchup. I do also believe my fellow pinoy Manny Pacquaio will take care of Marco Antonio Barrera in impressive fashion, but something tells me to NEVER count out the babyfaced assasin. I'll be at the Mandalay Bay for this one. Just wanted to hear your thoughts. Keep up
the good work Greg! Chi Town Dan

Leon's Response: The first three weeks of this month have been pretty rough, but as B-Talk's Matthew Aguilar so eloquently articulated, the drought is over. I can't wait to see what happens in Atlantic City this weekend and I'm definitely looking forward to all of the action next week. I don't think the Taylor-Pavlik fight will go ten rounds. I got Pacquiao over Barrera and I'm favoring Taylor, though I'd be far from shocked if Pavlik stopped him. I'm staying local next week. Had I known Peter-Maskaev would have become Peter-McCline, I would have definitely been in the 702 next weekend.

Yo G heard Zab is fighting Nov 17 any word on who his opponent may be? Also If he can get a few good wins you think there is a chance the golden boy wold look at a possible fight with superman?

Leon's Response: Not yet, but I'll be speaking with Superman shortly to see what the latest and greatest is with Team Judah. De La Hoya-Judah will never happen. Zab would have to win a few major fights before the demand would be high enough for that to happen.


This up coming fight between Floyd and Hatton will be the easiest and I repeat EASIEST fight of Floyd's career!  In all fairness Floyd should not even be fighting this chump!  Ricky Hatton is a JOKE!  To call Hatton a fighter is like saying that  O.J. was innocent!  Floyd will stop Hatton with a body shot in the 5th or 6th round!  I'm a boxing fanatic and a student of the game and I would like to see Floyd fight someone that will present a challenge.  I would like to see Floyd fight Vernon Forrest because I truly believe that Vernon presents a much bigger challenge for Floyd than anyone from 154 lb. down.  Styles make fights!  I know a lot of people are thinking that this wrestling that Hatton does is a style that can cause Floyd trouble.  Like the pressure that Jose Luis Castillo put on Floyd in their first fight. But, Let's not get it twisted JLC is a  boxer Hatton is a wrestler and that's the difference between the two!  Yeah, Yeah, Yeah I know Hatton stopped JLC and Floyd didn't!  If Hatton  would have fought JLC when JLC was in his prime  (like Floyd did)  Hatton would have gotten his ass whooped!  Yo Greg as you already know I'm a big fan of Floyd's, hell probably his biggest fan but I'm just telling you what Gods loves and that's the truth!  This fight should not
be happening just like the Gatti fight!  Floyd is the best fighter in the world and will one day be recognized as what I already know him to be "THE GOAT"!  Let me know what you think, Daniel Telley Colorado Springs, CO Boxingtalk.com my Bible of boxing!

Leon's Response: I'm expecting Floyd to win the fight as well, but to say Hatton is a joke of a fighter is way out of line. He's undefeated for a reason and jokes don't beat Kostya Tszyu. Mayweather-Forrest would be a very interesting fight and Forrest could have enough height and reach to offset Floyd's skills, but I think Mayweather would look to fight the Cotto-Mosley winner or Oscar De La Hoya before thinking about a fight with Vernon. I don't confuse Hatton and Castillo. In my not so humble opinion, a prime Castillo is a MUCH better boxer than Hatton. Hatton has just as much will and determination, but I doubt those intangibles will be enough to pull the upset against Mayweather.

 

Wats goin on G. Leon I been a long time fan of the site now. This is actually my first time every  writing. I think this Haton-Mayweather fight wont be as good as everyone is  making it out to be. I personally think its going to be a GIANT style  mismatch in Floyd's favor. The slick style Mayweather poseses will control  the tempo of the fight and ultimately pick apart and fustrate Hatton. Im not  a Hatton hater, its just the way it'll happen. Whats the latest with James  Toney? I know he got his licence back in California, but are there any fights  in the horizon? Also, Im really excited for RJJ v. Tito. This fight will be  HUGE. I would put my money on RJJ. What are your thoughts on the fight. Have  a good one bud. Keep the good work up.
 -David L.

Leon's Response: Mayweather's participation in dancing with the stars doesn't help his chances or winning as much as it helps the PPV buys, and most important to Team PBF, maximizing the exposure of the brand that is Floyd Mayweather Jr. I need to get JT on the record to get some specifics, but last we spoke he was planning on returning before the end of the year. Something tells me a Toney-Jirov rematch could take place in the near future.

M,

Send questions and comments to: gleon@boxingtalk.com