Today I was asked if there was anything in the world I could
have for Christmas, what would it be? World peace comes to mind… maybe a
million dollars... an Xbox One… eternal life would be quite intriguing… but if
I could have the choice of anything in the world, it would be to sit ringside
at my imagination’s ultimate boxing card.
The event would take place on Christmas Day at the MGM Grand
in Las Vegas . I’d fly in early Christmas Eve for the
weigh-in where the stare down between Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano would be
eerie. The crowd would make Mayweather-Hatton’s
weigh-in look like a backyard cookout.
Mexican flags would dominate the backdrop with Puerto Rican and
Panamanian flags sprinkled throughout the crowd. Chants of “Chavez, Chavez” would cause
Roberto Duran to shout obscenities at the obnoxious fans while Sugar Shane
Mosley’s devious smile belittled Pretty Boy Floyd. It would be mayhem! The type of weigh-in that
was so spectacular, that it could only be seen on pay-per-view.
Prior to the card, I’d have dinner at Battista’s Hole in the
Wall accompanied by Bert Sugar, Al Bernstein and Dan Rafael. We’d discuss each fight in detail, only to
disagree on our final predictions.
When I’d walk into the MGM Grand escorted by the gorgeous
Minka Kelly, the atmosphere would be scintillating. The arena would be electric… DJ Premier in
the center of the ring warming up the crowd playing hip-hop’s finest… Movie
stars, singers, personalities everywhere… I’d take my seat with Jack Nicholson
to my left and Charles Barkley to Minka’s right. Nothing could beat my viewpoint of the
ring. HBO would broadcast this amazing
card with the likes of Jim Lampley, Emmanuel Steward and Max Kellerman. Joe Cortez would ref every match and Michael
Buffer would announce every fight like it was the main event. This is the preface of my one wish… my one
dream.
The
ultimate night of boxing
Ultimate Featherweight Championship
Fresh off his 15th round TKO of Azumah Nelson,
Salvador Sanchez would come into the ring against Manny Pacquiao an
overwhelming favorite. Chants of
“Me-hee-co, Me-hee-co” would reach decibel levels unheard of. Once the bell
rang, Manny would utilize his agile footwork to create odd angles to land his
vintage straight left. His hand speed
and footwork would confuse the Mexican superstar. The beginning of the fight would belong to
Manny with Salvador ’s
moments coming few and far between. In
round 6, and over-aggressive Manny would get countered by a beautiful right
hand, landing him on the both knees.
Cortez would get to an eight count before Manny rose up. The round would end with both men on their
feet, but momentum clearly swinging in Salvador ’s
direction. They’d battle back and forth…
Manny’s one-two… Salvador ’s
counter right and left hook to the body… it would be the ultimate battle of
attrition. By round ten, Manny would
slow down just enough for Sanchez to land a barrage of punches forcing referee
Joe Cortez to stop the fight! The crowd
would erupt!! Sanchez would run to the ring post closest to me with his arms in
air, thanking God for this one last opportunity to prove he’s the best
featherweight in boxing history.
Ultimate Lightweight Championship
“Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. “Sugar” Shane Mosley
I’ve always dreamt of what a Mosley-Mayweather Jr. matchup
would look like with both fighters in their prime. Sugar would be a slight favorite upon
announcement of the fight, but the thought of Mayweather Jr. losing would have sports
books in Vegas having no choice but to declare the fight a pick-em. From the moment the clock began to tick in
round one, it would be evident that we were seeing something we’ve never seen
before. The amount of hand speed
administered in the ring would be blinding.
Mosley’s jab-jab-right would keep Mayweather Jr. at a distance while
Floyd studied his opponent for the first two rounds. In round three, Mosley would connect with a flush
right hand, too quick for Floyd to incorporate the infamous shoulder roll, and
wobble the young champ. Mosley would
press and go for the finish but Floyd’s superior footwork and athleticism would
allow him to escape near tragedy in the ring.
The crowd would be in a frenzy!! The next round would change the course
of boxing forever. The young Floyd
Mayweather Jr. would come out in round four with something to prove. He’d control the first half of the round sticking
Shane with his jab and opening up lanes for his quick combinations. Shane would look for opportunities to counter,
but Floyd would be too slick. A
flustered Mosley would throw out the countering strategy and box with
Floyd. Jab with his jab.. match Floyd
punch for punch. A flurry of hand speed
would explode in the middle of the ring only to finish with a beautiful left
hook ending what would forever be known as “the hook that changed boxing”. There would be no need for referee Joe Cortez
to count as the recipient of this beautiful left hook would lie face down on
the MGM branded canvas. The face of
boxing for coming years would only be known by his moniker…. Sugar.
Ultimate Jr. Welterweight Championship
Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Roberto Duran
If I had to choose only one fight, this would be it. This would be the ultimate battle of will,
heart, strength and determination. It’s
the type of fight that would be so action packed, you wouldn’t wanna
blink! Duran would start off fast!
Slipping punches and countering everything Chavez brought his way. Julio would absorb Duran’s punches while
working to land his patented left hook to the body. Rounds would pass and each fighter would lose
just a little bit more with each passing moment. The fight wouldn’t end their careers, but
each fighter would never be the same.
There’d be no knockdowns and each round would be incredibly tough to
score. Duran’s face would look unscathed but his gasping for air would suggest
that his body had gone through war.
Chavez’s face would wear a mask of blood with a grimace so rugged, the
doctor wouldn’t have the guts to call a halt to the bout. It would be a man’s fight. At the end of round eleven, both men would
collapse on their stools, pleading with their corner not to stop the
fight. I’d sit there wishing the fight
was over because my respect for both fighters is so high, I’d want them to
fight another day. Luckily, Chavez’s
corner would throw in the towel to the dismay of the beaten Mexican
superstar. It’d be a fight so
tumultuous, the entire crowd would need an hour intermission to recover from
the brutality. Hands of Stone vs. El Cesar del Boxeo… doesn’t get much better than that.
Ultimate Jr. Middleweight Championship
Thomas “Hitman” Hearns vs. Felix “Tito” Trinidad
I love boxing more than any other sport. No sport is more emotionally taxing than the
sweet science. My favorite fighter of
all-time is Felix “Tito” Trindidad. To
get the opportunity to see him fight Thomas “Hitman” Hearns would be boxing
entertainment at its finest. The amount
of tension in the crowd was so thick, it would look like the fighters were
walking in slow motion to the ring.
Thoughts of Hagler-Hearns would run through everyone’s mind. We would all know that this fight wouldn’t
last more than three rounds, but the action would be enough for three fights
combined. Chills would capture my body
from head to toe. The bell would ring
and I’d be shaking. There’d be no
feeling out process, this was war.
Hearns would stick Tito with his stiff jab with the pure intention of
opening up a lane for his devastating machine-gun like right hand. Tito would
eat the jab but fire his off his own version.
Tito’s sole intention would be counter his right hand with his
award-winning left hook. By the middle
of round one, Hearns right hand would create an opening and pull the trigger.
No counter, just an explosion of power.
Tito’s body would stumble forward as if he was shot by a sniper. In round one?! The crowd would react with a
shock! What a right hand!! The same right hand that saw Roberto Duran collapse
face first on the canvas! But Tito would
rise before Joe Cortez’s ten count. He’d
escape the round. Tito’s father, his
trainer, would slap him on both sides of his face, pleading with his son to let
his hands go. Round two would begin and
Tito would be a different animal. Hearns
would come out intent on ending the fight, but Tito would share the same
intentions. Hearns would unload another
vicious right hand at the same time as Tito, but Tito’s landed first with a
demoralizing left hook to follow. Hearns
wouldn’t know what hit him. He’d crumble
to the canvas, only to attempt to rise too quick and fall across his body like
a dizzy child. Hearns would make one
more attempt to pull himself up, only to rise a second later than Joe Cortez’s
ten count. It would be over and the
crowd would explode!! Everyone in the arena would look at each other in awe of
what they just witnessed. Power… pure
power. In the end, while Hearns right
hand was the greatest of our era, “Tito” Trinidad
possessed lightning in both hands.
Ultimate Heavyweight Championship
“Iron” Mike Tyson vs. Rocky Marciano
What better way to end my ultimate fantasy boxing card then
to have toughest man in the sport face the baddest man on the planet! Both fighters would enter the ring to nothing
but crowd noise. No entry music. No announcers. Marciano would enter in his old school satin
robe and Tyson in his famous white towel, black trunks and black shoes. The fight would end in a knockout, that was
inevitable… the question was “who?”… The
stare-down in the middle of the ring would be that of a chase scene in a horror
movie. We all would know what was about to happen… mayhem in the form of
organized boxing. There’s no need to go
into the specifics of this fantasy fight.
We all know what both fighters are about and that’s hitting with bad
intentions. Tyson would knockout Rocky
Marciano, giving him his first loss and appeasing his mentor Cus D’amato. The hype, weigh-in and post-fight interviews
would all be longer than the fight itself.
Either way, the crowd would walk away satisfied.
If I could choose whatever I wanted for Christmas, this
would be the ultimate gift! The power to
create my own fantasy fight card would be heaven for me. My life would be complete! Well, almost
complete… is it too much to ask for a Cleveland Browns Super Bowl Victory?
