Every Thursday here at FightHype, I pull out my gigantic, bulbous, bulging sack and give truth-minded boxing fans a gander. This week, I shoot ropes of truth all over comments/questions regarding Andy Ruiz, Canelo, Canelo-Benavidez, Bam-Gallo, and Devin Haney’s future.
The Future for Andy Ruiz
Hey Magno.
I hope all is well down there in old Mexico and that the senoritas are keeping you young and busy.
My question is about Andy Ruiz.
He’s got a fight with Jarrell Miller on that August 3 card in Los Angeles and I think we can all safely say that this fight is a do or die for his career. If he wins and looks good he may be brought into that Saudi Arabia circuit and get a few more good paydays out of his career. If he loses or looks bad, it’ll be hard to sell a fight of his anywhere to anyone.
What do you see happening in this upcoming fight and how do you see his career progressing from there? As well all know, Andy is known for his inconsistencies, but I think his back is against the wall this time.
Thanks for all your work over the years. You are appreciated.
– John in Denver
Hey John.
I would hope for Ruiz’s sake that he could fairly easily handle a bloated and not-all-that-serious Jarrell Miller. I think the Saudis already have interest in bringing him into their heavyweight mix and that’s why they’re feeding him what should be a soft touch. I don’t think this fight’s much of an issue. Andy Ruiz’s toughest opponent, though, is always Andy Ruiz and he’ll need to stay focused and in shape if he wants to make a serious run at a title again. BTW, I think he would do well against Usyk at his best. So, it’s to his benefit that he doesn’t distract himself and take his foot off the accelerator in his career-- as he always seems to do when things are going well. It’s gotten hard to root for him in recent years, despite his mega-feel-good upset of Anthony Joshua back in 2019, but he’s got the goods when he’s right and boxing could certainly need another high-end heavyweight in the mix.
Devin Haney, Done or Not?
Mags.
So, Haney doesn’t want to fight Sandor Martin for peanuts. He petitions the WBC to become champion in recess and now he moves on with his career. His people and his fans should just admit it that he’s still shook from the Garcia beating. I saw where you mentioned that it would be hard to come back from the kind of loss that he suffered that night. Do you see Haney ever coming back and being elite again? I personally always saw him as overrated, but I did recognize that he was skilled. In my opinion, he’s done and this extended vacation won’t matter one bit. What’s your take?
– Sam Trey
Hey Sam.
Like I wrote, I think it’s going to be very hard for him to come back from what happened in the Ryan Garcia fight. He was not only beaten physically, but he was utterly humiliated losing to (and getting beat up by) a guy he (and almost everyone else) treated as a joke fighter and as a soft touch. IMO, you just don’t recover from a public de-pantsing like that. In all my boxing decades, I can only recall one fighter having the resolve and mental wherewithal to bounce back from a humiliation on this scale-- Roberto Duran, after the “No Mas” fight against Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980. But, even then, one could argue that he never quite recaptured his full mojo. We’ll see what happens with Haney, but, if I were asked to make a guess on what his future holds, I’d say he’s done. He may win some fights and do well in those wins. He may even win another world title because, let’s face it, titles fall off trees these days. But if he was ever on the road to being a true elite of this generation, I think he’s off that road now. Taking a long break is the right move to make. It can only help him heal his mind and body. Again, though, I think he’s done as a consistent high-end player.
Bam-Gallo, Fighters Now vs. Fighters Then
Hi Paul
Hope you and your family are doing well. I would like to discuss a couple of topics this week:
1- I don't care about Teofimo's fight, this week is all about the 115 pounders. The more podcasts I hear the more it seems they are all on alignment that activity matters, Gallo has been quite inactive versus Bam Rodriguez who has fought at least 3 times a year. Add that to the fact that he has an amazing technique and poise, I am very confident on picking Bam by late stoppage.
2- I wanted to ask about fighters prior to 2010 vs fighters nowadays. Why do you think? a) Current fighters aim at throwing ~30 avg punches per round whereas fighters prior 2010 would focus a lot on volume? b)Why is it that fighters nowadays look like bodybuilders vs. the prototype fighter prior 2010 being tall lanky and skinny?.
You would think that the answer to these questions is obvious, but in my mind its not just one factor, I would like to read your input on this.
Best regards.
– Miguel
Hey Miguel.
I agree. Bam-Gallo is THE fight this weekend. I can’t wait. I wouldn’t predict an upset, but I will say that Estrada may surprise...maybe even shock. We’ll see.
As for your two-part question.,,
A) I think the decreased output is due to fighters utilizing less and less of an inside fight game. They simply don’t stick in the pocket too long these days. They prefer to potshot from the outside for points and/or the flashy highlight reel KO. Whatever the reason, though, fighters are simply not being taught the inside game like before. This has been a trend for a while.
B) Fighters are ripped as fuck these days because of the emergence of the strength & conditioning coach (and maybe, in some cases, because of certain, um, performance enhancing...supplements). Fighters are spending more and more of their time on conditioning and, from what I see in ring performances, less and less time working on the nuanced skills of the game. So, the argument could be made that boxers these days are better athletes, but maybe not as good as fighters. I don’t work with fighters anymore, but I’d tell a young man or woman that working on a strong base of fundamentals and spending more time in actual boxing-related activities would be of greater use than the ability to jump higher, run faster, and burn energy longer. Remember, a great fighter is also a smart, economical fighter who doesn’t waste movement and doesn’t burn unnecessary energy. They don’t need all the fancy machines and training techniques. Hit the road, hit the bags, hit the ring for sparring. That’s it.
Canelo Grows Stale, Benavidez Must Happen
Hey Paul.
I don’t have a question. I just want to say that I don’t give a shit anymore about Canelo Alvarez or Canelo fighting Benavidez or why he won’t fight Benavidez. That dude’s act is old. Let’s move on. Next.
– L. J.
Hey L.J.
You know what? I actually kind of agree with you. Canelo is definitely stale at this point. This last fight against Munguia was the first actually exciting one he’s had since the Bivol fight-- and that one was only exciting because Bivol started beating his ass handily. Canelo needs to be in a fight and not a showcase and the only one at 168 who can give him that fight is David Benavidez. I don’t want to see him against anyone else. I don’t want to hear excuses about why he’s not going to fight him or why some other guy is more deserving. Fight Benavidez or go away. And, to be honest, even my interest in Canelo-Benavidez is starting to wane.
Got a question (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The best of the best gets included in the weekly mailbag segment right here at FightHype. Send your stuff here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.