DAILY BREAD WEDNESDAY EDITION
Stephen "Breadman" Edwards

Bread, I love you on the Web. I respect your picks and the thought behind them. I enjoy your mailbags. [You wrote that new promoter and hip hop star] 50 Cent is the one of the greatest buisnessmen in the World? The World? Come on, Man. When is the last time you drank Vitamin Water or heard 50 on free radio. The World??? There are a  lot of businessmen out there neither of us have even heard of... Keep it real, Baby, keep it real.-- CT (Bethel Park, Pa)

Bread’s Response: I am keeping it real CT. I don’t have to drink Vitamin Water. 50 Cents made 8 figures off of that company bro. How can you dispute that was a great business move? How many rappers, athletes and specifically boxers have you seen that have been successful but when their prime earning stages ran out, they went broke? Now watch 50.

Look I don’t know him personally. He’s not my friend. But the TRUTH is he is a great businessman. I don’t want to get into all of his business but I know people who know him. The dude has his game down pat. Sometimes people are blessed to always make the right move as far as investments.

Speaking of investments, you don’t have to invest in 20 different things  to be smart. Sometimes the best investment is saving your money and waiting for the right thing to open up. 50 jumped on Vitamin Water and his kid’s kids kid’s won’t have to work because of it.

50 is not stupid. You notice how he has stayed in the boxing light for the past 5 years. He’s always on 24/7. He’s always at the weigh ins. He always doing the ring walks. Floyd even played one of his songs in one of his big fights. I think it was the De La Hoya fight. You think that was all a coincidence. I think not. I’m not saying 50 will be another Don King. King has 40 years in the game. But I do expect him to be successful over the next few years if he decides to pursue boxing.

Hey Bread, it is Jazz from London. Just watched your team USA do their thing against Nigeria. Not a basketball fan but I can appreciate talent, athleticism and greatness. Saw all those things tonight. Are these guys as good as that Jordan Barkley Ewing team back in the 90s?

Anyway, BOXING! You been watching the Olympics? I mentioned Joshua to you before in emails, the London superheavyweight. THought he actually lost his bout but guy is only 22 and could turn into a monster. What have you made of the Olympic boxing so far? Also, on the bad decisions, you probably heard a decision was overturned after a guy took six counts and still won! But what do you think about the fact that since back in 84 guys have suffered complete robberies on the biggest amateur stage ever and the sport is so f*cked that nothing ever changes? Kinda makes me sad.

Also, do you know of George Groves 14-0 (11)? Did you see his american debut last week? If not, please do so, a guy local to me in London, absolute killer of a boxer. Hand speed, power, combinations, bit slack defensively but Adam Booth (the guy who created David Haye) is turning him into a future Andre Ward opponent. Please youtube him and tell me what you think.

Finally, I said this before but it didn't go in your mailbag. Don't you think London is among the best fight cities ever? You guys at Phili have huge numbers but through history we have produced Ted Kid Lewis an all time great, real quality champs like Eubank (ok he was schooled in New York though but he became a rudebwoy in London), Benn, Haye, Henry Cooper, Frank Bruno, even Lennox Lewis was born here and upandcoming we have James DeGale, Groves, Kevin Mitchell and others. One of the all time great sporting coaches footballer manager Sir Alex Ferguson said there is something in the water in London. What do you think?-- @JazzTheJourno

Bread’s Response: The 92 Dream Team would punch these kids in the mouth. Too BIG, Too much Barkely and Too Much rebounding. That’s easy work.

Yes I have seen George Groves. He actually fought on the undercard of the fight I just worked. I like Groves a lot. He has lots of rhythm to and slickness to his game. On top of that he seems quick minded. Groves was fighting a tough opponent and he got nasty with him and put him in the trunk. In two years Groves could be one of the best supermiddleweights in the world. He has an extremely bright future.

 
First off I want to say that I really respect Emmauel Steward for his boxing mind and all the great fighters that he has trained. Manny has forgotten more about the sport than I have every learned. However I have a question about a statement that I have heard him make from time to time. Recently in the Khan vs. Garcia fight he stated that "Khan really did not make a mistake, he just got caught with a good shoot." I also remember Manny saying that in the Diego Corrales vs. Angel Manfredy fight when Chico caught Angel with a huge left hook in the first round; at the end of round when Angel went back to his corner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFtC9XErf3c&feature=related), he stated that "Manfredy really did not make a mistake." My question to you is, "When a fighter gets caught with a good shot, is it is what it is or can that be situation be prevented?" It may sound like a strange question but I wanted to no your opinion! Do you think all fighters get caught no matter what they do in the ring (some more often than others) and the elite fighters are just the ones with the better chins and last longer?


C-Hawk
Bread’s Response: Every fighter gets hit. Disregard punch stats and look back at ALL of the fighters who you would consider to be the best of their times. When you watch them you will see that they get touched. Even guys like Pernell Whitaker and Floyd Mayweather get hit in their primes. Now what I will say is that the truly elite guys for the MOST part don’t get hit continuously with extended combinations. That’s a rarity. You probably won’t ever see a top p4p guy get hit with a 3 punch combo twice in the same round. That doesn’t usually happen.
But if a guy is trying to win and he’s opening up, he will get hit. It’s very difficult to avoid a punch while you are committing to a punch of your own.


To answer your question specifically about Emanuel Steward I think he is just trying to illustrate to those with regular boxing eyes who sometimes OVER analyze, that fighters will get hit and hurt if they are trying to win. Everything can’t be broken down to technical minutia. I can remember Steward said this about Fernando Vargas when Vargas was knocked down by Wilfredo Rivera with a perfect , short inside right hand. There was nothing Vargas could have done about that punch. I’m just assuming but I think Steward tries to tell the public, that every time a guy gets hurt or dropped it doesn’t mean he has a glass jaw. Sometimes you get hit in a bad spot and you go down. Some people think when they see a fighter go down he automatically can’t take a punch.


In Khan’s case I do think it’s something he could do about getting hit with so many looping shots. But that’s just my opinion and I would never challenge Mr. Steward. He could be the best trainer ever…..


 
What up Breadman,
You are the truth in this boxing "game" so who else would I turn to for well..... the "TRUTH" on Hank Lundy's horrible decision to fight a FNF against a tough opponent for peanuts when he's the number one contender and due a title shot and more importantly more money. On average FNF headliners make less than 30k which is a lot of money to me but when a title fight can get you a 100k payday I don't understand what you gain by fighting a meaningless fight that Hank obviously wasn't up for cause he looked horrible. Now he will be a FNFer for at least another year maybe longer, he's also lost a considerable amount of money, and if he doesn't have a major promoter he's just made it tougher to get the attention of a major player who could help guide him to the title. By the way who is his manager and promoter and would you have allow JRock to take that fight had he been in the same position as Hank?
Knowing when to hold em and knowing when to fold em is an en exact science I get that but there has got to be some type of benefit versus cost analysis that is used in boxing. Do you have a method to your madness when advising fighters on what fights to take and which fights to pass on what are the variables you consider??
With that being said if you were managing Andre Dirrell, Mickey Bey Jr, Vanes Martirosyan, Peter Quillin, Mike Alvarado and the Magdaleno brothers how would you guide there careers all are on the verge of big money fights who would you try and match them with to get them to the next level. Appreciate you taking the time to read this look forward to hearing your response.
Htwon
tstew
Bread’s Response: I’m not going to say publicly what I would do if I was managing the guys you stated. It’s disrespectful to them and their teams. More importantly some guys may read this and do what I suggested and as you know the game is to be sold, not to be told.

As for Hank Lundy I don’t think it was a bad move at all to fight Raymundo Beltran. Let me tell you why. Lundy has to fight to LIVE. The kid doesn’t make a lot of money on ESPN. You said 30k. Try more like 10-15k at the most. Now Lundy was the number contender in the WBC. Do You know how long it takes to enforce that with all of the BS that is going on? Ask Ajose Olusegun? Let me ask you how is Lundy supposed to pay his bills if he’s waiting for a title shot for a year and his biggest career payday is about 12k?

I don’t know what Lundy’s bank account looks like. But I do know what ESPN pays for their main events. I also know that’s the biggest stage Lundy has ever fought on. Therefore it’s not like the kid had 100k to sit until he got his title shot.
Lundy did the right thing by taking that fight. Who wants to go into a title fight off of a huge layoff anyway. If he did that then he wouldn’t be giving himself the best chance to succeed. There are times when I say a guy shouldn’t take a fight. But this is not one of them. Lundy just didn’t win the fight. It happens. But that wasn’t this BIG risky fight on paper. Lundy was supposed to handle Beltran. Period.

He will probably go to the back of the line now, and people will say he should not have taken the fight. But I’m not one of those people. The guy has to eat and as far as I’m concerned Beltran is not the boogeyman. I’ve seen fighters take on much tougher guys in their preludes to a big fight. Oscar De La Hoya fought Oba Carr before he challenged Felix Trinidad to get ready. Floyd Mayweather fought Sharmba Mitchell to get ready for Zab Judah.


Think about that……

 


What it do Breadster? Hope all is well with you and urs as I am an avid fan of the mailbag, your insights, knowledge, opinions, etc. On to a disturbing topic that is starting to gain more steam. I respect Adrian Broner as a fighter, the kid has speed, power, reflexes, natural gifts, etc., cant take that away. I also respect, unlike numerous fans, his manner of mimicking Floyd, in the manner he fights, steals his quotes, etc, I know it bother alot of fans but I will let it ride because that is his idol, cool. What is a huge turnoff and I am sure many, many fans will agree is that he gives nothing but ridiculous interviews. The dude did a recent interview on fighthype: http://www.fighthype.com/news/article12983.html , which by the way Ben Thompson on that site does a remarkable job of stroking LiL Floyd and now Broner, totally displayed himself as the jackass that he is. Broner has done absolutely nothing in boxing other than gain easy paychecks courtesy of his manager Al Haymon and not for his work ethic as we all know and not for his grueling schedule. This kid did nothing at 130lbs where as Floyd cleaned the division out and fought some hard heads. Next, Floyd travels to 135lbs and faces a hardnose Castillo, and even gave him a rematch. Meanwhile Broner is thinking he's the next best thing for pummeling an overmatched and underweighed Escobedo, or how about his stellar victory in beating a coked-up Eloy Perez, I mean where does it stop. Now hes talking this mad head about Gesta being "tht lil filipino dude," it sounds as if hes not following in Floyd's footsteps but rather sucking on him. Mimic Floyd but build yourself on your own, not follow on someone else's coattails. He talks about him, floyd, and pacquaio being the best fighters in boxing to give paychecks, that they are being hunted. LoL, is he delusional or just plain stupid, lol. This is what happens when some young, dumb, punk gets a couple g's thrown at him and he starts talking reckless about how great he is without doing nothing to earn that rep. I'm from LA and your Philly, Im far from street but I did grow up in the head, and the manner in which Broner speaks would have gott him clipped by now. It will definitely happen in boxing, as soon as he faces someone with a pulse. I would to hear your feedback, you need to address this for my personal sanity and for the public to get educated. PS: The more I read Ben Thompson interviews, the more they turn into suck-off jobs, Im glad you don't interview in that manner. Realness gets farther in life than phoniness. Stau up my man, one love.
Bread’s Response: I think Broner is young. When you are young , you are going to say and do things that you wouldn’t when you become older and wiser. Everybody has to go through that. I have said a thing in my early 20’s that I should have smacked myself for. I would never say those things now that I am in my 30’s. Since HBO is giving Broner the stage, if he keeps winning we will all get to witness his growth. Hopefully he grows.


I do not mean anything I said as an insult to Adrien. I think his team is letting him be himself to a degree. HBO seems to be in love with him and they are cutting him his checks. He seems to be a HIT. I’m sure with Adrien’s new found success he doesn’t think he needs to change a thing.


Personally I like the kid. He hasn’t turned me off as of yet. Maybe he could tone certain things down but I actually think he’s funny at times. He may try a little hard with a gimmick or one liner after a fight but it isn’t old yet. At least not to me. Maybe I don’t mind it because he is boxing his way to brutal stoppages and I’m focusing in on his performances.
As for his competition, it has been of the showcase variety.

Adrien needs to simply fight the BEST available fighters at 135. His promotional company owns the RING magazine. Adrien can simply go through the RING rankings and start chopping scalps. Start at the top and work his way down. That way his accomplishments will match the treatment he has received and he can shut people up.

Send questions and comments to: dabreadman25@hotmail.com