May 9 Fight Is a Juicy Encore to May 2 P. 66 New Champ's
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MAYWEATHER VS. PACQUIAO THE BIBLE OF BOXING MAY 2015 $8.95 MAY 9 FIGHT IS NEW CHAMP’S ENERGY LINGERS A JUICY ENCORE WILD RIDE TO 30 YEARS TO MAY 2 P. 66 THE TOP P. 72 LATER P. 78 MAY 2015 52 Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao probably never imagined when they looked like this that they would one FEATURES day meet in a superf ght. 66 ALVAREZ STEPS ASIDE MAYWEATHER VS. PACQUIAO Pages 34-65 CANELO MOVES JAMES KIRKLAND BOUT TO MAY 9 34 AT LONG LAST 52 LEGACIES ON THE LINE By Ron Borges THE SPORTÕS ICONIC STARS THE PERCEPTION OF THE WILL FINALLY DO BATTLE PRINCIPALS COULD CHANGE 72 WILDER ARRIVES By Norm Frauenheim By Bernard Fernandez NEW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPÕS RAPID RISE TO THE TOP 40 CHA-CHING 58 BOOM OR BUST By D.C. Reeves THE MATCHUP WILL DESTROY MEGAFIGHTS THAT DID AND DIDNÕT ALL REVENUE RECORDS LIVE UP TO THE HYPE 78 HAGLER-HEARNS By Norm Frauenheim By Don Stradley THE EPIC WAR STILL REVERBERATES 30 YEARS LATER 46 HAVE THEY SLIPPED? 62 HEAD TO HEAD By Ron Borges TRAINERS ASSESS THE AGING THE RING COMPARES THE FIGHTERS BOXERS AND THE FIGHT IN 20 KEY CATEGORIES THE RING MAGAZINE By Keith Idec By Doug Fischer COVER ILLUSTRATION BY MIKE METH– MIKEMETH.NET 5.15 / RINGTV.COM 3 DEPARTMENTS 6 RINGSIDE 14 7 OPENING SHOT Recently retired Mikkel 8 COME OUT WRITING Kessler revealed his top opponents in “Best 11 ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES I Faced.” 14 BEST I FACED: MIKKEL KESSLER By Anson Wainwright 16 READY TO GRUMBLE By David Greisman 18 JABS AND STRAIGHT WRITES By Thomas Hauser 20 OUTSIDE THE ROPES By Brian Harty and Thomas Hauser 23 PERFECT EXECUTION By Bernard Hopkins 26 RING RATINGS PACKAGE 84 LETTERS FROM EUROPE By Gareth A Davies 88 DOUGIE’S MAILBAG By Doug Fischer 90 WOMEN’S BOXING By Thomas Gerbasi 93 RINGSIDE REPORTS By Norm Frauenheim 96 COMING UP AT RINGTV.COM NEW FACES EMANUEL STEVEN BUTLER AUGUSTUS IS OFF TO THE UNLUCKY A FAST START WARRIOR GO TO: http://bit.ly/ GO TO: http://bit.ly/ steven-butler emanuel-augustus DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK.COM/RINGTV @RINGMAGAZINE THERINGDIGITAL VNTOFT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES INSTAGRAM.COM/RINGTV# KELD NA 4 RINGTV.COM / 5.15 RINGSIDE By Michael Rosenthal IT HAD TO HAPPEN VOLUME 94, NO. 4 | MAY 2015 The May 2 fight between Morales and Marco Antonio FOUNDER Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Barrera sets him apart. Nathaniel Fleischer (1888-1972) Manny Pacquiao will come The sport itself might’ve been five years too late but it’s a the biggest casualty had the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF damned good thing they finally f ght not been made. The drawn- Michael Rosenthal came to terms. out Mayweather-Pacquiao MANAGING EDITOR Mayweather would never have negotiations became a running Brian Harty been able to live it down had he joke in and out of boxing. Had not fought Pacquiao. Of course, the f ght never been made – ASSOCIATE EDITOR he would have been seen as one particularly after the promise of Douglass Fischer of the best of his era with or these latest talks – fans would’ve ART DIRECTOR without the f ght or even if he been alienated like never before Lamar Clark loses. That is set in stone. and non-fans would’ve dismissed But had Pacquiao’s name been the sport as pathetically CONTROLLER Deborah L. Harrison missing from Mayweather’s dysfunctional. resume, it would’ve been the Now, with the f ght set, boxing CIRCULATION DIRECTOR equivalent of an asterisk. Fans gets its Super Bowl. It will Kenneth J. Gudaitis would’ve always said, “Yes, he command the attention of the ADVERTISING INQUIRIES was a great f ghter but ….” In sporting world like no other Robert Gasparri other words, he would not have f ght perhaps since Sugar Ray 213-233-2952 realized his full greatness. Leonard fought Thomas Hearns [email protected] And make no mistake: in 1981 – 34 years ago. SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES Mayweather would’ve been For one night, boxing will BACK ISSUES INQUIRIES blamed more than Pacquiao had be the most important sport in DIGITAL ORDERS INQUIRIES the f ght not happened because the world. Sports and Entertainment of his perceived clout in the And that wouldn’t be the Publications P.O. BOX 433122 business. He has always held a case if the f ght were truly Palm Coast, Fl 32164-3122 stronger hand than Pacquiao. happening too late in the careers 800-846-6438 Yes, Pacquiao’s legacy also of Mayweather and Pacquiao. [email protected] would’ve suffered had he It should’ve happened in 2010, SEND EDITORIAL not fought Mayweather. He when Pacquiao was at the peak COMMENTS TO: would’ve been denied the of his popularity and powers [email protected] opportunity to prove he was and Mayweather had returned or P.O. BOX 251753, the best of his generation. At from a 21-month layoff. The fact Los Angeles CA, 90025 the same time, the Filipino it didn’t is lamentable. THE RING (ISSN: 0035-5410), Vol. 94, NO. 4 (May 2015), is would’ve emerged less damaged But they remain arguably published nine times per year (no issues in June, October and February) by Sports and Entertainment Publications, LLC, P.O. because he is perceived as the the Nos. 1 and 2 f ghters in Box 90254 Brooklyn, NY 11209. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY 11209 and additional post off ces. Postmasters: inferior fighter. He’s expected to the world. That cannot be Send change of address notices to: THE RING, P.O. Box 433122, Palm Coast, FL 32164-3122. Single copy price $8.95 in U.S.A. lose anyway. overemphasized. No. 1 vs. No. and Canada (£4.95 in the U.K.). Subscription price U.S. And possession $49.00 for nine issues; Canada and Mexico add $7 Plus, Pacquiao has more 2, the very best vs. the very best. for nine issues per year and all remaining countries add $15.00 for nine issues per year. Not responsible for the loss or non-return def ning f ghts than Mayweather. How often does that happen? of unsolicited articles or photographs, which will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed envelope bearing the They share victories over Oscar It’s why the f ght still matters proper amount of postage. The entire contents of this magazine are copyright ©2015 Sports and Entertainment Publications, De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, strictly in terms of boxing. And LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel when you factor in f ve years Publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the content of advertisements appearing in this magazine, nor the delivery or Marquez and Shane Mosley but of hopes and hype, it’s why quality of merchandise or services offered. No endorsement of any such advertisement is intended or implied. Advertisers and I believe Pacquiao’s nine-f ght we all should be thrilled that agencies assume liability for claims arising from the content of their advertisements. FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRES AND RATES: series (6-2-1) with the Mexican Mayweather and Pacquiao will (213) 233-2952. U.S. / Canadian and International distribution by Kable Distribution Services Inc., 14 Wall Street, Suite 4C, New Big Three of Marquez, Erik f nally meet in the ring. York, NY 10022. UK distribution by Comag Tavistock Rd., West Drayton, Middlesex UB77QE, England. Printed in U.S.A MIKE COPPOLA/GETTY IMAGES 6 RINGTV.COM / 5.15 THE LIGHTER SIDE OF A SERIOUS SPORT OPENING SHOT Not even an oversized glove could save actor J.B. Smoove in this scenario. He and Wladimir Klitschko were at a party at Madison Square Garden in New York. COME OUT WRITING MAYWEATHER VS. Marquez trilogy has shown us Observers focus so much on PACQUIAO how he can be timed, out-punched, Pacquiao’s f ve losses but I believe Manny Pacquiao has always out-boxed and ultimately knocked his imperfect pugilistic record is surprised us when his back is out. Mayweather will cruise to a part of the reason he is so great against the ropes. In 2001, he was a unanimous decision. today. Defeat is a part of life that two-weeks’ notice replacement for Hugo Adame causes the weak to crumble and Lehlo Ledwaba. He TKO’d him. He Los Angeles the strong to grow. Some f ghters romped on Marco Antonio Barrera are f attened by it (Ricky Hatton) in front of a Mexican crowd. He I have Pacquiao winning this f ght. I while others learn from it and can pummeled Oscar De La Hoya think that the combination of the eventually f ourish as a result of it. into his retirement when everyone work rate of a Jose Luis Castillo, Pacquiao is part of the latter group. thought he was too small. He took the awkward angles of a Maidana His ability to make a spectacular on the big guys, notably Miguel and the speed and power plus comeback after such a crushing Cotto and Antonio Margarito. I southpaw stance of a Zab Judah (all defeat to Marquez and his ability wouldn’t be surprised if Pacquiao guys Mayweather had trouble to humbly accept it, learn from it pulls the biggest surprise come May with) is the perfect recipe to defeat and evolve from it, are the reasons I 2 and that is to put the “1” in Floyd Mayweather.