DAILY BREAD SUNDAY EDITION: 8-12-12
By Stephen "Breadman" Edwards

A bunch of us scattered across the USA talk about boxing on a daily basis, we stay connected through e-mail and we consistently love to read your mailbags and watching your video predictions. Your breadth of knowledge and assessments into the sport of boxing are spot on. Shout out to the fellas on the boxing thread, ya'll know who I am talking about!

I wanted to get your take on a guy I started to follow late last year that I am really high on. He's former WBC 122 champ Toshiaki Nishioka [stripped by WBC, not beaten in the ring] and wanted to see what are your thoughts about him and his fight with Nonito Donaire on Oct. 13th. I wanted your take on this matchup and what do you think of Nishioka against Guillermo Rigondeux and Abner Mares.

Also do you think right now Andre Ward is the best technical fighter in the game outside of Floyd Mayweather, if not who would you say is the best? Also who ya got in Ward vs Chad Dawson on Sep. 8th?-- BB

Bread’s Response: I like Nishioka. He’s very explosive, and I love high contact guys. I think he and Nonaire will mesh well in the ring and I expect an explosive fight. I’m picking Nonito however. He’s due for a highlight reel ko.


Andre Ward could be the best technical fighter in boxing period. He’s right there with Floyd, Anselmo Moreno and Juan Manuel Marquez. Ward’s ability to adjust technically is fight changing!.!.!.!

Yo Breadman long time no talk, cant wait to see J-Rock in action again...with Money May being released, what do you think is next??? I think Guerrero would be a great tune up, and since we will never see Mayweather-Pacquiao, i believe the Alexander-Bailey winner should fight Malinaggi...the winner would have a hell of a bargaining chip, as they would give Floyd the oppurtunity to win his first undisputed title. That way Pacman can handle his unfinished business with Bradley & possibly Marquez then we could have all four belts on the line if the two superstars ever decide to get it on...if not, Floyd could go fight Kell Brook in a soccer stadium...your thoughts?....wassup with K9 turning down a Trout unification bout? he kept crying over getting no fights with DKP & seemed to be willing to face anybody but then turns down a chance to fight on TV & add another belt? Maybe he is hoping to land that Cotto Dec.1 bout? i think cotto beats him up in a rough fight, what about you? and what do you think of RJJ fighting for the WBC title against El Diablo the Polish guy? i hope he doesnt fight Kayode for the IBO title, i dont think Roy can keep him off of him for 12 rounds, and the IBO is not a major belt in my opinion...
JJ from Pensacola
Bread’s Response: I can’t wait to see J Rock back in action either. Hopefully we can get on this Ward/Dawson undercard. I really don’t know who Floyd will fight next. I have to study the landscape.


I assume K9 turned down the Trout fight because he doesn’t need a non aggressive southpaw in his life at this moment for short money. Emanuel Steward is his manager he knows what he’s doing.


I hope Roy Jones does not fight anybody who has a chin and can punch. That’s all I can say about that. I wish him the best….


 

Mr. Edwards,
Good job in helping work the corner of Shawn Porter. I thought you gave real good advice and I also like how you let him know your scorecard by rounds to give him an idea of how the fight was. I look forward to watching you work your corner magic some more down the road. There are lots of interesting topics in boxing right now from Peterson’s independent PED test result investigation to the Men’s US Olympic team not winning any medals. I’d like to comment on a few of these and then get your ideas on them.
Peterson was allowed to keep his IBF title at the conclusion of an independent test which showed that his testosterone levels were in line with therapeutic use, and not enhancement use levels. Being as this was a test ran by an “independent physician”do you think this is accurate information, or someone trying to spin it some. My point being, do Tarver and Berto need their own independent physicians? Or do the circumstances show Peterson to be innocent while Tarver and Berto aren’t?
Congratulations and take a bow Claressa Shields!!! This girl saved the day for the US Olympic team. I know most fans don’t care for female boxing, but I’m proud of her. I have always enjoyed a good scrap regardless of gender. Lucia Rijker was a pleasure to watch even though Laila Ali outshined her in popularity. Even in MMA, its fun to watch submission specialist and champion Ronda Rousey. I did see Miss Shields interview and I like her personality. Do you think she can, being a gold medalist, make a mark on the sport perhaps like Christy Martin or Lucia Rijker did years back by making it to undercards of PPVs. Or can she make an even bigger mark and become a star like Laila Ali was? Do you know much about her?
Finally, are you as excited about Alvarado-Rios as I am? I’m thinking Fight of the Year Candidate. Also, how about Deontay Wilder? I know it has been limited opposition, but the way he is getting rid of them is highly impressive, all I can say is wow. I think America will have a heavyweight champion again, or am I crazy? Thanks for your thoughts and time.
Alan from Burlington
Bread’s Response: Thanks, I am thankful Shawn and his dad gave me the opportunity to work with them.
I don’t know what to say about an independent investigation in boxing. I don’t have enough pertinent information to form an opinion on Lamont Peterson’s case. But I do have one question for everybody who gives and receives therapeutic testosterone. And the organizations who make up the illegal limit lines.


If the average person is around 1 to 1 as far as testosterone ratios are concerned, why is it that a 4 to 1 and 6 to 1 ratio in some cases are allowed. I just don’t understand the logic behind that. For example let’s say Amir Khan is 1.2 to 1. Let’s make him a little higher because he is a world class boxer. And let’s say Lamont Peterson is .5 to 1, which is very low. Follow me guys.


I would assume the reasonable thing to do would bring Peterson up to 1 to 1 or even 1.5 to 1 at most. But to bring him up to 3.7 to 1 and Amir is at 1.2 to 1 is not a level playing field and NO ONE can tell me different.
I think it would really help boxing if testosterone test were done on ALL boxers and the results were made public. We could easily come up with an average number. Then we could find out if letting a fighter get into the ring with a 4 to 1 ration is practical……..


Stand up Claressa Shields. I am happy for her. I have no idea how she will be marketed but judging by what happened before she won the gold she will be shortchanged and she won’t get all that usually comes with an Olympic Gold Medal. People may not like me saying this but the other young lady who won bronze seemed to be the one getting the PUSH with the commercials and endorsements BEFORE she won anything, yet Shields was clearly the more talented fighter. I know talent isn’t everything but at this stage it should be the most important thing. Oh well I hope she can at least parlay a college education out of her success.


 

 


 

Hi Bread!  You've done it again. Once in a while, you break down a topic and it feels like you clarify everything that was in my brain.  I watched Pacquiao against De la Hoya, Cotto and Margarito.  I believe that margarito was his best performance although the two others were unreal.  He was precise as a surgeon, imaginative, relentless and fierce.  He definitely lost a step.  Maybe it's the comfort or age.  At this point, because of the style and the decline in Pacquiao, I would favor greatly Mayweather.  My question is, do you think a guy like Pacquiao who lost a bit of fitness, precision in his punches, hunger, can step it up in training and pull a rabbit out of the hat a last time before its really the end, or when your prime is over, it's over?   I know for a fact that fighters seems to make us believe they can, but I don't have many examples to prove they were right and delivered.  Thanks. 
 
Mike Lafleur
Bread’s Response:  What up Mike? I don’t know if Manny can regain the spark he had. I think physically he had it for Marquez. He was sleek and in shape. He pushed that fight. But I think his lack of success with the unrealistic expectations of him knocking Marquez out sort of drained him mentally. He was no where near as fit for Bradley as he was for Marquez.


The interesting thing about boxing, is that although sports science has evolved so much over the last century. Great fighters usually decline between 32 and 34 and this has not changed for over a century in boxing. Think about this for a second. Look at Ali in 1975 when he was 33 and look at him in 1964 when he was 22. See if you watch someone fight by fight like how we watch Manny now, the erosion will be gradual and you may not see it. But if you take a big step back and watch them from different time periods you will see a difference.
Look at Pernell Whitaker in 1992, then look him in 1997 on. In 1997 he turned 33. Look at Ray Leonard in the Terry Norris fight. He was 34. Then look at him in 1982 against Bruce Finch. Look at Oscar De La Hoya against Floyd Mayweather in 2007, he was 34. Then look at him in 2000 against Shane Mosley. For some reason around 90% of the time the cut off age is somewhere between 32 and 34.


I’m not saying Manny can’t get it back for a night or two. But what usually happens is guys become inconsistent around this time. Like say a Holyfield. He would look like a million bucks against Tyson, then struggle against Vaughn Bean and Bobby Czyz. Manny could fight the fight of his life against Floyd, who knows, but Freddie Roach will also have to step his game up and tweak some things.


 

What do you think of fighters employing trademarks of races not their own? For example Salvador Sanchez fought like a black fighter and some say James Kirkland fights like a brawling Mexican.  Is this beneficial to a fighter.
Bread’s Response: Great question. I think a fighter should be themselves but whatever you can pick up from a fighter regardless of race you should use. Salvador Sanchez excelled at a high level but he did not fight like a typical Mexican fighter, you’re right. I think people get into labels too much. If you really look at things, lots of great fighters have qualities that the average fan wouldn’t associate with someone of that race.


A fighter would be foolish to say I am not going to do that because only fighters of a certain race does that. How stupid. Have You ever seen Roy Jones RIP a left hook to the body? I don’t think he cared that Mexican fighters are known for the shot.  How about watch Floyd Mayweather in fight. Floyd will hold his guard real high like the African fighters and walk you down and beat you up. Then we have Joe Calzaghe fighting with the rhythm of a Jazz Master.


I personally look at successful things that ALL fighters have done regardless of the race. If a fighter is too stupid to become offended because I point out something that another fighter has done because they are not of the same race then he’s a fool.


I actually think a mindset like that limits a fighter. If a fighter can be as well rounded as possible and can adapt to any scenario that they encounter it will be easier for them to be successful and their handlers won’t have to DUCK certain types of fighters. Sometimes the naked truth will hurt a fighters feelings but the truth only comes one way.


Limited fighters have to duck certain opposition. Guys like Roberto Duran and Ray Leonard can fight punchers, height, pressure, southpaws, slick, fast and conditioning guys because they can do absolutely everything. Think about that.
I don’t want to disrespect any current fighters but you know we have plenty that can’t be matched a certain way because they can’t do enough. Thanks for the question.


 

What's up bread,
I'm not sure what to make of Adrien Broner. Didn't like how he didn't even try to make weight, don't like that he thinks he's Floyd Mayweather. Floyd put his hands on Victor Ortiz throat. Two months later Adrien Broner did the same thing to Eloy Perez. His style is very similar to Floyd style..The other day he posted a picture of Young Floyd and a picture of himself with the caption reading.. "a lot of people say me and Floyd look alike" like really dude? 
Anyways their is a video out there.. A couple of fighters from Floyd's gym were asked who would win In a Marquez vs Broner fight.
All of them with the exception of one young kid say Marquez wins the fight including Jeff Mayweather..
 
Who do you think wins that fight?
Bread’s Response: Marquez is respected a great deal in the IN crowd in boxing. I honestly don’t think Team Broner would make the fight right now. But Broner is getting better as Marquez is getting older so a year from now who knows. At this moment I would guess Marquez just because I know more about him.

Send questions and comments to: dabreadman25@hotmail.com