In this week's mailbag, coach Stephen Edwards looks ahead to Barrios-Garcia, discusses Usyk's legacy, reflects on James Toney stopping a veteran Holyfield and looks at the qualities of a good manager.
Hi Bread, Pray that you and your family are doing well. You are so astute at boxing predictions and analysis that I wonder if you’re ever surprised or caught off guard by a result… What are a couple of boxing results/outcomes that have shocked you the most based on your pre-fight predictions or thoughts?
Bread’s response: Let’s see… James Toney stopping Evander Holyfield and Toney is an excellent puncher but he’s not a one punch guy at any weight. I wasn’t shocked that Toney was able to beat Holyfield because Holyfield was 41 years old and well past his best but the stoppage is what surprised me.
Dmitri Bivol outboxing Canelo Alvarez. I really got that one wrong. I thought Canelo knew something about Bivol from the gyms in California. I figured Bivol was not durable enough or else Canelo wouldn’t be fighting him. The outcome also shocked me.
Rolly Romero outboxing Ryan Garcia. I figured Rolly could give Garcia trouble with his heavy hands. But I didn’t see him outboxing Garcia.
Hello Mr Edwards, Your mailbag is always a beautiful thing to read and I thank you. I would like to ask some different questions from the usual fare, if I may.
1) Who do you think are the most playful, carefree four fighters you have witnessed in your lifetime? And if they had a World Boxing Super Series, which one would be most likely to eat a cheeseburger before having their hands wrapped?
2) If you could travel back in time and change only one controversial boxing decision in all of history, which one would you choose?
Please take care of yourself,
Phil Winters
Leeds,
West Yorkshire,
UK
Bread’s response: The most playful carefree fighters… .This is tough because one of the most carefree fighters I’ve seen is NOT playful. Muhammad Ali, Jorge Paez, Naseem Hamed and James Toney. James Toney is not playful but he’s carefree.
If I could change one decision in boxing history, it will be one that benefits me. This is not a popular fight but Kyrone Davis vs Anthony Dirrell. Watch that fight close and tell me if you think it was a draw. This fight was for the WBC eliminator at 168lbs. If Kyrone gets the win instead of a draw, his entire career trajectory is changed. I thought he won.
Mr Edwards, As always, thank you for your column, insight and wisdom. In today’s column, you said something interesting about Tank and that because of his draw against Roach, more people might be eager to fight him. That got me thinking about Bud Crawford and how many boxers wouldn’t fight him and often used the excuse that he didn’t bring in the money - that he didn’t have the name recognition. I always thought they were scared but there is probably some truth to it. Hypothetically speaking - or maybe this has happened- say there is a killer that people are ducking. Would it be in that Killer’s best interest to take a fight and maybe hold back somewhat, make himself look like he’s not so good, maybe lost a step? The idea would be to win the fight but look a little weak by carrying the opponent. Granted this is dangerous because you never know how today’s judges will score a fight and you don’t want to take a loss. But if the killer wins, maybe it gets other stars thinking: ok he’s not so great, I’ll fight him now! Have you ever seen or thought you’ve seen a fighter do this just to get people talking and to get better fights? And I know you’re one to speak your mind, so if this is an asinine question, feel free to tell me this is the dumbest idea you’ve ever heard! Thanks!
Mike
Bread’s response: I won’t say the fighter or his trainers name but I saw a fighter struggle in a fight and win a close decision. And his trainer claimed he took it easy on the fighter in order to get the big super fight. I thought the fighter was slipping because of age and this was just an excuse. He finally got the super fight. I won’t say the result because you guys will figure it out. But my suspicions were correct. The fighter was slipping.
I believe fighters make excuses for struggling in order to get big fights. But I don’t believe they actually look bad on purpose in order to get big fights. Looking bad causes too many issues, from social media criticism, to their stock getting lowered, to possibly taking the chance to lose and simply taking unnecessary punishment. When a fighter struggles, he gives his future opponents too much confidence. Dominant killers should stay dominant killers. The moment their future opponents think they can really win, their fights become 5% harder and in a game of inches, 5% is plenty.
Bud Crawford was smart. He stayed dominant and in order to be successful against him you had to earn it.
I’ve also seen this in another context. I saw several times in sparring an older slipping fighter spar an emerging younger killer. And the older fighter is literally getting destroyed and he acts as if he’s coaching the younger fighter to beat him up. I would tell the younger fighter, do not buy what he’s selling. You’re not his son. He doesn’t want you to succeed so much that he’s allowing you to punch his brain loose.
I love boxing. I have since I was a kid, which was a LONG time ago. But the sport has in my opinion moved in a direction I simply cannot support. And I don’t think I am alone. Muhammad Ali is and always has been one of my heroes, and not because of his undeniable prowess in the ring. It was because he was willing to risk everything for his beliefs, and persisted even when it seemed he had indeed lost everything. He persisted even through his defeats to Frazier and Norton that many reveled in. I realize that the whole world, boxing included, have become more of a business over the years. But I cannot endorse the takeover of boxing by Zuffa and Saudi Arabia. Their combined force takes boxing about as far from the legacy of Ali as it can go. It is oddly fitting that the Muhammad Ali Act is soon to be amended, or, better said, rendered meaningless by these two dark presences. I hope boxing survives its current crisis, and it once again becomes recognizable to me. But until then I will refrain from watching Zuffa and Saudi sponsored events.
Sincerely, Kevin G. Little Attorney at Law
Bread’s response: I still don’t have an opinion on Zuffa. I want to let this thing play out. But I see you’re a lawyer. I would suggest you get involved in boxing and help fighters. You seem passionate and fighters can always use an attorney with passion and integrity.
Daniel Dubois is getting another title shot. Does he deserve it? He was chosen to fight for the WBA regular title in 2022 and the IBF title in 2024. He got shots at Usyk’s titles in 2023 and 2025. He’s now getting a chance at the WBO in 2026. It feels like someone else should get a chance at this point.
Bread’s response: I don’t have a big issue with Dubois getting another shot. Only Agit Kabayel and Moses Itauma deserve one more. And Itauma doesn’t seem to want one right this moment. So that leaves Kabayel who is gunning for Usyk…
Greetings Breadman! Thanks for the mailbag... I assume you don't train many beginners, that being said I'm starting boxing training at a neighborhood gym, and it's still difficult for me to take punches, what can I do to get used to it? Thanks
Bread’s response: Taking a punch is an acquired trait. Most beginners just don’t understand how to brace their bodies for punch impact. It takes time. I would suggest you do technical sparring at about 40% impact where you get to work without the stress of being hurt. As you get more comfortable doing the tech sparring, gradually step up to live sparring. But here is the catch. Sometimes I see two beginners on the same level and they try to kill each other. It’s a fight and not a lesson. Try sparring someone who won’t try to hurt you but is on an advanced level. If he’s not trying to kill you, it will allow you to evolve. But I have to stress, if he’s more advanced make sure he’s not a moron who’s trying to hurt you. Try to spar as often as possible. Not long rounds but quality rounds. No more than three or four rounds per session but do it consistently at least three times per week.
What are your thoughts on Keyshawn Davis and Shakur Stevenson refusing to fight each other? They seem like they’re the best two fighters at lightweight and junior welterweight and they’re match up seems inevitable. If they’re truly friends, why can’t they help each other make money?
Bread’s response: If the era was cleared out and Shakur and Keyshawn were the last two fighters standing, I would say they should fight. But the era is far from cleared out. They both have several options. I don’t have an issue with it right at this moment.
Why do you think Mexican fighters get promoted in a more favorable way than black fighters. For example your fighter Kyrone Davis upsets Elijah Garcia and instead of Davis getting the treatment that Garcia got, Davis gets benched for a year and Garcia fights before him when he was the one not only lost the head to head fight but he unprofessionally missed weight. It seems like Davis was punished for winning. We have seen this before at higher levels but I know this hits home for you.
Bread’s response: I almost didn’t answer this question but my integrity didn’t allow me to duck the smoke. It definitely stings that Kyrone was off a year after beating Garcia but in boxing you can’t feel sorry for yourself. Kyrone did get an opportunity last year against Yoenli Hernandez but we couldn’t pull it out. That was a very tough fight, but Kyrone is a very tough man.....
I think Mexican fighters get promoted different from black fighters because there is an assumption that the Mexican fan base is more influential than the black fan base. Money is a motivating factor and I understand that. The contrasting issue is the assumption that every fighter of Mexican heritage will sell big. Every Mexican fighter is not Canelo or Oscar. There have been several excellent Mexican fighters who were not stars. I feel like it’s a little misleading to assume a fighter will sell big at the box office before he actually sells big at the box office. But we see it happening all the time. Before I end this I want to say Elijah Garcia is a solid young fighter and he seems like a nice young man. It’s certainly not his fault he’s getting opportunities. He’s a fighter. He’s fighting and doing the best he can. He has a tough fight coming up with Kevin Newman. There is a real chance he could lose this fight. It’s not a cakewalk. So in context, Garcia is getting opportunities but he’s not getting easy ones.
Hey Mr. Edwards… I want to discuss Oleksandr Usyk’s legacy, and this Saturday’s fight between Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia... A couple of years ago, Oleksandr Usyk gave an interview and said he was considering going back to the cruiserweight division to finish out his career, because he had nothing left to prove at heavyweight. I’m puzzled by that, because he was already unified/undisputed at cruiserweight, and has nothing to prove in that weight class, and the cruiserweight title is not as glamorous or prestigious as the heavyweight title. I also think it would be hard on his body to lose 25 pounds and perform at his best, approaching 40 years old. If Oleksandr Usyk wants to enhance his impressive list of accomplishments and legacy even more, I think I have the solution - fight for the bridgerweight title. When the bridgerweight division was first formed a few years ago, I thought it was a ridiculous idea, because there were already 17 weight classes in boxing and too many title-belts, and it seemed like it was just a way for the WBC to collect another sanctioning fee, but I believe another one of the 'big four' sanctioning bodies also recognizes the bridgerweight division now. If Oleksandr Usyk fights for the two bridgerweight titles, it's a relatively easy way to become an undisputed champion in a new weight class, because there are only two titles available at that weight class, and Usyk wouldn't even have to cut any weight, because he usually weighs in for his heavyweight fights right at the bridgerweight limit. If Oleksandr Usyk captures those two bridgerweight titles, he could match Terence Crawford's feat of being an undisputed champion in three weight classes, and then retire. What do you think about that idea? I also want your opinion about the WBC allowing a fighter who's coming off of a loss to fight for one of their world titles in his VERY NEXT FIGHT. Ryan Garcia is not coming off of a close, competitive and controversial loss - he was dominated and got dropped by Rolly Romero, and almost lost every round, and now he gets to fight for the WBC welterweight title, against a guy who was appointed as WBC welterweight champion, without having to win the title in the ring - it was awarded to him after it became vacant. In my opinion, the WBC is everything that is wrong with boxing and ultra-corrupt, and has been as long as I can remember. For example, letting Manny Pacquiao fight for it’s junior-middleweight title, for his debut at the weight class, at a catchweight. I actually don't have a problem with a champion moving up to a new weight class to fight for a belt at his debut in the weight class, but Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito were unranked at junior-middleweight, and more deserving contenders than Margarito should've got the fight for the vacant belt against Pacquiao. I love Manny Pacquiao and he was on a long winning-streak at the time, but the WBC should've had him fight the #1 contender for the belt, or whoever was available in the top-5 rankings at Junior-middleweight - not the human punching bag (and attempted cheater), Antonio Margarito. I considered refusing to watch any WBC-sanctioned fights, but I'm going to watch the Barrios-Garcia fight, because I'm a boxing fan and Mario Barrios hasn't done anything wrong. I have no idea who will win, but I will be rooting for Mario Barrios, because he seems like a really nice guy and he's always respectful of his opponents. So how do you feel about a fighter coming off of a loss and fighting for a world title in his next fight?
John, Sacramento, California
Bread’s response: Bridgerweight doesn’t resonate enough with the general public for Usyk to need to fight for that title to become 3x undisputed champion. I don’t like the idea. Usyk has four possible high profile fights that can enhance his legacy before he retires. Fight Agit Kabayel who is his mandatory and the most deserving fighter at heavyweight. It wouldn’t be a good idea to retire and not fight such a noteworthy challenger. It's going to be considered a duck.
The next opponent would be Moses Itauma. Itauma is a young gun and with another year or so of experience I feel like it’s a great match up. It certainly will be an intriguing fight.
Then you have Jai Opetaia and David Benavidez emerging. Because Usyk is not a huge heavyweight I feel like those are intriguing fights. I don’t know if Usyk has the time to fight all four. But two out of the four is fine. I also would like to say Usyk’s legacy is excellent. He was the best heavyweight of his era and the best cruiserweight of his era. He never lost and he fought the best in his division. He’s an ATG fighter if he never fights again…
When some fighters get title shots after losses I don’t have a huge issue with it. Especially if it was a close, competitive fight or a robbery. Or if the fighter has an iconic status. I’m not outraged that Ryan Garcia got a title shot. But I am concerned that Souleymane Cissokho is being deprived of something he has earned. He just won the WBC silver belt vs Mean Machine. He’s undefeated. And he has earned a title shot before Ryan Garcia. But because he’s not looked at as marketable, no one seems to care. That’s the real issue with Garcia getting a title shot. It’s not that he’s getting one. It’s the fact that a fighter like Cissokho has earned one and he got overlooked for the more marketable Garcia.
In a perfect world Garcia would have been made to fight Cissokho to earn his title shot. Or Barrios would have been mandated to fight Cissokho and then take a voluntary defense against Garcia. By the way this is why boxing needs a union. But Cissokho is now the #2 ranked fighter by the WBC at welterweight. Conor Benn was installed at #1 even though he hasn’t competed at the weight in a few years. So to answer you directly, I don’t have an issue with elite fighters being ranked high and getting opportunities in new weight classes. My issue is if a more deserving fighter gets screwed over. Cissokho has done more than Garcia and Benn at welterweight and he’s being overlooked. That’s again is the real issue.
Greetings Breadman, We love to ask about mythical matchups and this is kind of the same - If Ali wasn’t stripped for his stance on Vietnam and does not miss out on THREE prime years of his career, do you think he retires undefeated? Interestingly enough, without the three year halt, do you think Ali becomes the legend we now know? I feel Ali’s career had to play out the way it did otherwise we’d be hearing the BS case of “never challenged himself” because he beat everyone. I had no idea who Boots Ennis was until you mentioned him in one of your mailbags. I’ve followed him since. A while ago, you mentioned that your protege, Romuel “Coco” Cruz stopped boxing. Are you able to provide more details? I was really looking forward to seeing him. What are your thoughts on Malignaggi - his boxing career and as an analyst? I may be biased but I can't think of a better analyst than him. Lastly, rumors swirling about Floyd vs PAC 2. If it happens, how do you see that playing out and if either of them was to win a welterweight title beating the likes of Rolly Romero, Barrios/Garcia or the other belt holder from the UK, will it have any significance other than “the oldest WW champ in history?
Thanks
K. Low
Bread’s response: Ali’s career played out how it was supposed to play out. I don’t like to overthink and question a person’s destiny. But you didn’t write the question for me not to answer it. I would say no Ali would not have retired undefeated but he would’ve had a similar legacy to what he had. Ali was too much of a gun to retire undefeated. He would have kept challenging himself vs tough opponent after tough opponent and he would’ve slipped up a few times. He would’ve most likely had more fights but retired earlier. Ali was on a torrid schedule from 1965-67. And had he not retired for those three years there is a good chance he would’ve fought at least ten times over that three and a half-year period.
So we most likely wouldn’t have seen him in the late 70s and early 80s. We would have seen a more complete peak but we also would have seen a sooner drop off.
I get a lot of heat for saying Boots is the real deal. If he proves me correct, I will feel redemption from some of the abuse I’ve taken over the years for just giving my honest opinion.
Romuel "Cuco" Cruz was my 11-0 junior featherweight. He stopped boxing because a judge ordered him to get a real job because of his custody hearing for his children. Boxing wasn’t cutting it in terms of W2s or 1099’s. He chose to get the job and put his career on hold. I respect his decision. I don’t like missing one event in my children’s lives. I used to fly home from Vegas every weekend on my days off just to see my kid's sports events. Being an active parent is the best job in the world bar none.
Paulie Malignaggi got everything out of his boxing career. He won titles in two divisions, he was popular and he had a good career. I think he’s even better as an analyst. If there was a P4P rankings of boxing minds and analysts he would be on it. He should be very proud of himself.
Hi Breadman, Another exciting 50/50 has been announced, Callum Smith vs David Morrell. Seems like a shootout to me. Who do you like, and how? Before the Khataev fight, I would have said Morrell, but he took a beating in that fight, regardless of the result, and the likely Khataev juicing. On a similar/side note, what do you do with fighters like Galal Yafai, who seemed to have the world at their feet, but have clearly been traumatised by a beating from a drug cheat? (I'm amazed that still counts as a loss for him on his BoxRec page!)
Massive respect to Haney for doing so, moving on from it, and seemingly improving, and this is from a person who doesn't like his character. Thanks,
Bread’s response: I feel like David Morrell should beat Callum Smith. Morrell is younger, bigger, more athletic, hits harder and he’s a southpaw. But I also feel like Smith has a chance because Morrell doesn’t fight with a sense of purpose. I don’t know if he’s a boxer/puncher or an athletic attacker. He doesn’t use his jab as much as he should. He shells up in defense, when he seems to have the talent to apply a different defense. I don’t like how he uses his IQ but I do like his meanness and physicality. But the IQ is the window that Smith has to pull out a win if he fights the perfect fight. But if you’re asking me my pick, I just think it comes down to durability and Morrell appears to hit too hard and Smith, who is a tough guy, has been through some wars and his skin is brittle these days.
Do you feel like there will be any upsets this weekend? I think I like Oscar Duarte to upset Richardson Hitchins. Hitchins seems to be a fighter who is conning the system. He wants big fights without taking the risk of a tough fight to get the big fight. I know you like him Bread, but I think Hitchins is a fraud. He acts like he boxes on Shakur’s level but he had split decision against Argenis Mendez. A split decision against Liam Paro and he struggled against Gustavo Lemos. He’s nowhere near the level of boxer that Shakur or Devin is. Hitchins lost to GAR everytime they fought as amateurs and he doesn’t want to go anywhere near him as a pro. Your boy Boots also owned him as an amateur. I’m telling you Bread you may have the best eyes in boxing but you got it wrong on Hitchins. I also think Andy Hiraoka has a shot against GAR. Talk to me baby!
Bread’s response: You guys like putting words in my mouth to win arguments. I gave Richardson Hitchins a compliment about his jab and his balance and you make it like I said he was the second coming of Sugar Ray Robinson. You’re correct about his fights with Mendez, Lemos and Paro. But I never said he dominated them. If you want to pick Duarte just pick him. But don’t lie on me while you’re doing it. I’ve seen Duarte fight and he’s solid but I can’t get out of my head how Ryan Garcia dominated and stopped him. I know Hitchins doesn’t punch like Ryan but he’s a better boxer. I think Hitchins will take a decision. A close one, maybe 115-113 in a solid fight. But it wouldn’t shock me if Duarte won, especially in Vegas in front of a pro Mexican crowd.
I think Barrios and Hiraoka have chances at the upset. But speed bothers Barrios so it’s hard for me to pick him. He seems to have a hard time processing speed. But if the Barrios who showed up against Tank Davis shows up against Garcia I think he wins. But that Mario hasn't been around since the Davis fight....
Andy Hiraoka can fight. I was surprised when I watched him. I’m going to assume he’s a mandatory because this would be a tough voluntary defense. I’m not picking Andy, I just don’t know enough about him. I’m also high on Gary Antuanne Russell. But this fight can be a trap fight for Russell. What I observed worries me for Russell. Russell holds his hands very high on the sides of his head. He also leans forward because of his natural aggressiveness. He’s susceptible to uppercuts. And Andy has a nasty, sneaky uppercut. So while I don’t have enough information to pick Andy, look out specifically for his uppercut vs GAR. It could be the deciding difference in the fight.
What do you think of Rick Mirigian as a manager? Some people don’t seem to like him and some say he’s the guy you want. He seems to be holding up the Ortiz vs Ennis fight but it’s not his job to please the public, it’s his job to protect his client. Give me the pros and cons on Mirigian and your top managers in the game currently?
Bread’s response: Let me start out by saying I don’t know nor have I ever met Rick Mirigian. But I do think he’s a shark of a manager. I mean that in a good way. The mark of a good manager is one who is not afraid to get on the promoter’s bad side. Mirigian is that guy. He’s not afraid to piss the promoters off. That tells me something. What it tells me is he's not in the promoter's back pocket and his loyalty is to his fighters.
Mirigian is the kind of manager that you love if he works with you and you loathe if you work against him. Again that’s a good thing. I think Mirigian is passionate in his beliefs. And he’s passionate about his job. I think he has done an excellent job with his fighters, namely Vergil Ortiz and Jose Ramirez. Both Ortiz and Ramirez have made great money and had great opportunities. There aren’t many cons about Mirigian’s management skills but if I had to name them. I feel like Vergil Ortiz is too good of a fighter to never have fought for a world title. Belts do matter at Ortiz’s level. I also felt like Mirigian talked about the Ennis negotiations too much in the media. That causes issues in this ego driven sport.
And I felt that Mirigian kept Jose Ramirez away from Regis Prograis and that was a mistake. Prograis has slipped drastically over the last few years and Ramirez would have had a very good chance to beat him. But maybe Mirigian knows something about his client that I don’t. Other than that, he’s one of the top managers in the game.
So Keith Connolly and Rick Mirigian are among the top younger managers in boxing. Shelly Finkel and Egis Klimas are the gold standard. And Luis Decubas Jr. may be the P4P #1 manager right at this moment in terms of what he gets his fighters compared to their market values. See Rolly Romero and Mario Barrios. There are other excellent managers like Bill Haney, Jolene Mizzone and J Prince that would also be in the top 10 P4P of managers if there was such a thing.
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