From konmanrad:
Favorite working man’s fighter, a la Ward, Gatti… or erm, I dunno… Tex Cobb?
I’m not even British but for me, Ricky Hatton is up there. I just really loved Hatton as a fighter, flaws and all. He brought a sort of blue collar energy and passion to everything and that’s what made him such a star. People saw him as real, as one of them, and I think that translates to any culture or country or whatever.
Erik Morales was largely portrayed in his rivalry as a working man’s representative against
the more upper crust Barrera, and he’s one of my favorite fighters ever.
Kelly Pavlik was another for me. Kelly and I are about the same age, from the same geographic region and kind of of place. Youngstown, Ohio, is a bit more dramatic in its Rust Belt decline than most places, but the entire Great Lakes/midwest/upper midwest/whatever you want to call it region had and has places like that scattered all over. Pavlik reminded me of a lot of people I grew up with, but more talented and punched a lot harder.
From _ray:
Mythical matchup: Marciano vs Usyk?
I again find it hard to compare eras like this, because so much goes into it, but I’d edge to Usyk. Not overwhelming, Marciano wasn’t just some clod from the olden days or anything. But Usyk is really, really special, I think he’s someone who would do well in any era in history, because he has the sort of mindset that the old fighters had, which is, to a lot of critics, what fighters today lack. (Along with many other things, like better trainers.)
From VeryMadMax:
Who would you rather have a beer with: Tyson Fury or Billy Joe Saunders?
Fury. I feel like he has a lot more interesting things to say, generally speaking. Just a more charismatic individual. And when he turns off the shtick I’ve always thought you really saw a pretty interesting guy in there, and someone who’s a lot more serious and thoughtful than he often lets on.
From brokelefthand:
Will we ever get a good boxing video game again? If we don’t, is it because they’re hard to make, too expensive for the rights, or just not a big enough audience. Undisputed was not good and the sequel will be another shameless cash grab.
I hesitate to say never, but man, it’s been a long time now.
I think if it happens it’s going to be a game that comes without licensed, real life fighters, but also isn’t a joke-y, gimmicky sort of thing. And I don’t know if anyone would put in the effort and money to make that happen. And even if it does, it’ll probably be an indie game that is really more equivalent to 16 or 64 bit gaming, which is in itself a gimmick now.
The ideas for Undisputed were good, it just didn’t work, and I think it’s because it absolutely was more cash grab than serious attempt with the end product. The lack of a serious boxing game for so long made it a very easy early sell to what is a very dedicated audience, before too many people started telling everyone else that it kinda sucked. With the state of boxing combined with the state of major studio video games — in other words, anyone who can pay to get licensing and a field of real fighters that will make people happy — I don’t think it’ll happen any time soon.
From PaulMFightFan:
Will Zuffa Boxing eventually put Top Rank/PBC/Golden Boy out of business? Their reach in North America is enormous compared to DAZN (which even after years, shockingly few Americans know exists).
They might, but I’m hesitant to count chickens on any of this stuff. The Turki Alalshikh-led Saudi backing of Zuffa and the TKO crew can go away in an instant. I keep saying this, but it’s because it has to be said. Everyone needs to be prepared for that to end.
But if we get a few more years, even, can Zuffa and TKO do enough to take over even if/when that backing ends? Yeah, they could. I have a lot of criticisms of Dana White and Nick Khan and the rest of the ghouls at TKO, but:
- It’s not meant to champion the ghouls who were already promoting boxing.
- Nick Khan is an exceptionally smart executive.
- Dana White is a very, very charismatic individual who knows how to sell things, knows how to convince an audience to spend money.
I do think “reach” of things sometimes gets overstated. You still have to put something on that anyone really wants to watch, and most Zuffa cards so far haven’t been that. It’s the first year, it’s dipping the toes, I don’t think they’ve even scratched the surface of what they’re capable of producing. So I don’t mean that as a criticism. But if they don’t acquire all this top talent and put on more events people really want to see, the reach won’t matter because nobody’s going to bother. Like when all the boxing promoters were horny to get back on network TV like getting there alone was going to solve all their problems, and it did absolutely nothing because they didn’t produce quality cards people wanted to watch, in part because those networks weren’t giving them much money to routinely finish fourth in the ratings for the time slot.
From ALroc718:
What’s your opinion on Hitchins vs Keyshawn Davis? That Hitchins jab is a difference maker and I think he can pull off the upset.
Right now I’d probably pick Keyshawn, but Hitchins can beat him. I think it could be a really interesting fight, even if it’s dull in terms of sustained action. Keyshawn is more dynamic, more in the bag, more all-around athletic, better puncher (if Davis’ power comes up with him), even a better boxer at his best. But Hitchins has become better over the last few years, too, I think the gap has closed some between them. This isn’t like when they were both turning pro and Davis was obviously a blue chipper and Hitchins was whatever chip is lower than that but a promising guy.
If Hitchins can get started well, even if it’s slow, and he can bank some early rounds, I could see Keyshawn getting frustrated and making mistakes that Hitchins can pick apart.
From daboxingisback:
What is one to change to most boxing broadcasts that you would make? Pacing? Too many talking heads? If we set aside the same dumb ads into its own category what’s something that can be changed to make our viewing experience better?
P A C I N G
I accept that there’s probably some over-studied reason that boxing shows are paced the way they usually are, at least anything you could call a “major” show, and that goes a lot further down the line than where most would cut off what they consider a truly “major” show.
And the thing is, I don’t think I care. It’s garbage for the viewer and it sucks.
From majordanby:
If you were managing him, what would you do with Floyd Schofield next after winning a belt last weekend against Bahdi? How do you think he would fare against Mason and Zepeda?
Truthfully, I’d keep him away from both. Mason’s better than him right now and I think Zepeda would be pretty rough, too. He might beat Zepeda, mind you, but I think with Floyd being 24, look, you’ve got time to be 100% sure he’s as ready as he’s going to get.
If I’m managing him, right now I might try to get him in with Corey Marksman, who was at last update rated No. 8 by the WBA, whose title Schofield now holds, or even Francisco Fonseca, who is No. 12. Is either matchup particularly exciting? No! But in this scenario I’m his manager. My job isn’t to entertain you, the masses.
From 1eyedpoolshooter:
Zhilei Zhang vs Luis Ortiz. Both over 41, both very slow, both can still punch. Who wins? I got Luis.
I’m going Zhang, but the biggest thing is, bring it on. I’d watch that. Let me see it December 11 from Cardiff or any old time.
From Blood:
Scott, do you feel that Oleksandr Usyk is now properly retired or is there something else going on, please? I thought the Deontay Wilder fight was a real thing, but it seems not. Why the heck not? Money? What am I missing? Thank you.
Part of me wonders if they haven’t discovered the lack of demand for Usyk vs Wilder. It’s a bucket list thing more for Usyk — beat all of that generation’s top names at heavyweight! — than it is something that today’s active boxing fans want to see in 2026. I loved Wilder’s fight with Chisora, it was the sort of thing that is special because of the limitations. But Wilder hasn’t beaten a top level fighter in years now. He’s looked awful in several fights. His star power is basically gone.
I don’t know if there’s anything out there that will grab Usyk’s interest enough to want to do a whole camp and go through the routine again. The time to strike on a Rico Verhoeven rematch has maybe come and gone. I won’t pretend to know what Usyk will or won’t do, but it would not surprise me if we just don’t see him fight again.
