http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=33373
By Michael Marley
Back when he was a scrawny, teenager in Detroit with big boxing dreams and fascination with hometown heroes named Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson, Emanuel Steward began to have an appreciation for the legend and lore of the sport.
Steward, who was a 1963 National Golden Gloves champion before he became a legendary trainer as the heartbeat of the famed Kronk Gym in Motown, speaks from that sensibility when he proclaims that the next fight for Manny Pacquiao should be a third bout against Mexican sharpshooter Juan Manuel Marquez.
Steward is not a promoter who only has his eye on the financial bottom line.
As an integral part, no make that a moving force, in the historic Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns two bouts, Steward thinks that Juan Ma deserves a third crack at the Pinoy Idol.
Steward thinks posterity should be valued as much as profits in this ring rivalry.
Steward also thinks Marquez-Pacquiao III could produce real fistic fireworks, maybe more so than their two earlier bouts.
“I just don’t think the public is going to buy Manny against Shane Mosley right now, not after they saw Shane against Floyd Mayweather and then (Sergio) Mora,” Steward said by phone from Austria where he is fine-tuning Wladimir Klitschko for a Dec. 11 heavyweight title defense against Derek Chisora.
“Manny and Marquez is a big fight now, right now. I believe both Pacquiao and Marquez are their plateaus, at their fighting best, now which should make for a great third fight. If they can’t get together and make Mayweather-Pacquiao, then this is the fight that should be made next for Manny.”
Steward believes that Pacquiao jumping weight divisions and demanding and getting “catchweight” concessions from foes is “all played out by now.
“I think you see Marquez walking around about 138-139 pounds even though he can be 135 pounds two weeks before a fight and then weigh in at 133,” Steward said. “As for Manny, he was only 144 1/2 the day before the (Antonio) Margarito bout so they can work that out.
“Marquez and Manny both have something to prove, something they can only prove against each other.”
The first Leonard-Hearns bout, which took place Sept. 16, 1981, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas the Ring magazine Fight of the year, a wild see-saw battle in which the surprise was Hearns outboxing Leonard and then Leonard outslugging puncher Hearns.
Ref Davey Pearl halted it in the 14th as Leonard swarmed and overwhelmed a wobbly "Hitman."
Though there was talk of a quick rematch, Leonard had eye problems (detached retina) and a few "retirements" before they squared off at the same location in 1989.
There was again plenty of excitrment and a touch of controversy as it ended in a draw which most saw as favoritism for Leonard.
Judge Dalby Shirely called the 12th round a 10-8 round for Leonard. If he had made it 10-9 like his colleagues, Hearns (who had floored Leonard in rounds three and 11) would have won as split decision.
There never was a third bout as Hearns moved up in weight.
Certainly, the public would have bought Chapter 3 but it just never came to fruition.
By Michael Marley
Back when he was a scrawny, teenager in Detroit with big boxing dreams and fascination with hometown heroes named Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson, Emanuel Steward began to have an appreciation for the legend and lore of the sport.
Steward, who was a 1963 National Golden Gloves champion before he became a legendary trainer as the heartbeat of the famed Kronk Gym in Motown, speaks from that sensibility when he proclaims that the next fight for Manny Pacquiao should be a third bout against Mexican sharpshooter Juan Manuel Marquez.
Steward is not a promoter who only has his eye on the financial bottom line.
As an integral part, no make that a moving force, in the historic Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns two bouts, Steward thinks that Juan Ma deserves a third crack at the Pinoy Idol.
Steward thinks posterity should be valued as much as profits in this ring rivalry.
Steward also thinks Marquez-Pacquiao III could produce real fistic fireworks, maybe more so than their two earlier bouts.
“I just don’t think the public is going to buy Manny against Shane Mosley right now, not after they saw Shane against Floyd Mayweather and then (Sergio) Mora,” Steward said by phone from Austria where he is fine-tuning Wladimir Klitschko for a Dec. 11 heavyweight title defense against Derek Chisora.
“Manny and Marquez is a big fight now, right now. I believe both Pacquiao and Marquez are their plateaus, at their fighting best, now which should make for a great third fight. If they can’t get together and make Mayweather-Pacquiao, then this is the fight that should be made next for Manny.”
Steward believes that Pacquiao jumping weight divisions and demanding and getting “catchweight” concessions from foes is “all played out by now.
“I think you see Marquez walking around about 138-139 pounds even though he can be 135 pounds two weeks before a fight and then weigh in at 133,” Steward said. “As for Manny, he was only 144 1/2 the day before the (Antonio) Margarito bout so they can work that out.
“Marquez and Manny both have something to prove, something they can only prove against each other.”
The first Leonard-Hearns bout, which took place Sept. 16, 1981, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas the Ring magazine Fight of the year, a wild see-saw battle in which the surprise was Hearns outboxing Leonard and then Leonard outslugging puncher Hearns.
Ref Davey Pearl halted it in the 14th as Leonard swarmed and overwhelmed a wobbly "Hitman."
Though there was talk of a quick rematch, Leonard had eye problems (detached retina) and a few "retirements" before they squared off at the same location in 1989.
There was again plenty of excitrment and a touch of controversy as it ended in a draw which most saw as favoritism for Leonard.
Judge Dalby Shirely called the 12th round a 10-8 round for Leonard. If he had made it 10-9 like his colleagues, Hearns (who had floored Leonard in rounds three and 11) would have won as split decision.
There never was a third bout as Hearns moved up in weight.
Certainly, the public would have bought Chapter 3 but it just never came to fruition.
And Manny's the biggest draw in boxing?
and exposes a certain favoritism he has towards Pacquiao that colors his opinion. How he would openly cheerlead for that fight over a 3rd with Marquez or even one with welterweight champion Berto (who just knocked a dude out, looking sensational against weak comp) is beyond me.
