Marley Praises Beloved Warrior!
August 13, 2012 | By: Michael Marley
Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be a lot of things but he can admit he’s no Time Bandit.
Therefore, Mayweather’s import public statement praising Pacman’s ring talent and his saying he hopes “we can fight in the future.”
To Pacquiao, the future is next April and he’s so instructed his promoter, Bob Arum. Suddenly, there is no talk of Pacquiao against Who Cares #1, Who Cares #2 or Who Cares #3 in November.
Steering clear of the daily rigors of training, particularly the knocking about of sparring, for six months may turn out to be a career elixir for Pacquiao.
Coming back fresh, renewed and against his toughest foe ever may inspire the Pinoy Idol to what many regard as an Impossible Dream, being the first opponent to hand the highly skilled Mayweather an “L.”
So, if Manny’s told Arum to go make the Mayweather match chop-chop, what bout the Mayweather Minions?
Will they sit down and rap out with Cousin Todd duBoef? Will 50 Cent, Al Haymon and Laughing Lenny Ellerbe break bread with the Top Rank No. 2 man?
Their “boss” wants the fight now. So does Megamanny.
I expect to word about negotiations to come fast and furious, chop-chop and I don’t mean Chop Chop Corley.
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Former WBA heavyweight champion Michael Dokes, dead at 54 from liver cancer, was a man of voracious appetites, be it for fine wine, finer women and potato sacks filled with cocaine.
Fast Hands Dokes played with England’s John Gardner as he marched to WBA heavyweight title. Photo credit: AP Photo
But those of us who knew the personable Dokes also knew he had a keen sense of humor.
That was brought to mind in the nice Cleveland.Com obit written by longtime fight scribe Joe Maxse. He reprised a gem of a quote when a fatty Dokes (a lumpy 244 pounds) was not too strenuously prepping for a KO 1 loss to Riddick Bowe, himself a top notch fresser (eater).
“The past is history,” Dokes said over a heavy pasta meal. “The future is not here yet. And the present is linguini with clam sauce.”
An email from longtime Dokes’ associate Bobby Goodman reminded me that, if he was more dedicated and not so fond of gourmet cuisine and other delights, Dokes might have reined as cruiserweight champ for many years.
” As you know, through the years, I was pretty close to Michael. He was a great talent, and an underrated heavyweight. He had speed to burn, smarts, a good chin, and nobody ever placed shots any better than Dokes. When he first started, I had to find opponents for him when he was only about 185 pounds. I tried to put him in with guys that were plodders, even if they were big,” Goodman wrote.
“Do you have to keep putting me with these giants?”, he asked me. “I just told him that at this stage, his speed was his greatest asset and these big guys couldn’t hit him in the ass.”
“He did build himself up, and his timing and placement made him a very effective puncher.
“He was a very bright guy and loved life. He started loving it too much though and got himself involved with drugs, which spelled the end of his first world championship career.”
If know Bobby The Good Man, he’ll join me in toasting the good memories, not the awful ones, of Dynamite Dokes.
Bartender, bring Bobby The Good Man, a gin and tonic.
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I don’t know what Christian Guidice is doing penning books, albeit excellent ones, about boxing supernovas such as Roberto Duran and now Alexis Arguello.
With a master’s degree in journalism, he should probably be writing on loftier, more crucial subject but he writes fluidly and certainly can discern the difference between a left hook and a fish hook.
If you didn’t read his “Hands Of Stone: Life and Legend of Roberto Duran” then go find it.
And double up by grabbing his Potomac Books new title, “Beloved Warrior: The Rise and Fall of Alexis Arguello.”
“El Flaco Explosivo,” or the Explosive Thin One to you gringos, was a consummate boxer and a classy guy away from the ring.
Arguello and Duran covered by the same author is appropriate.
Theirs is one of the all time great match ups that never took place, not even when they ruled the world and were just five pounds apart.
Who would’ve won?
If Duran did not get knocked out, he could’ve won I suppose. But I think it would have been bullets and gun-smoke for 15 torrid rounds and the winner is…
Boxing history…
Read the full review here.