In his latest mailbag, Stephen “Breadman” Edwards looks ahead to the heavyweight clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, explains why he favors Crawford over Canelo, and he reflects upon the Upset of the Year, with Bruno Surace stunning Jaime Munguia
Hello Breadman, trust you’re in good spirits and Merry Christmas to you and yours. Here goes: I sincerely believe that Tyson hasn’t forgiven himself. He loathes the life he led as a younger man and knows he flunked the one shot he had to live an incredibly awesome life. Cus D’Amato dying on him also contributed because if he had lived longer, Mike would have had that ‘still small voice’ helping him navigate his troubles. To buttress my point; imagine Virg dying just around the time Ward was to go to the Olympics or win his first title. That would have been disastrous as he was the remaining family/father figure he had at a critical moment in his life. I say this as a result of Mike’s response to a 12 or 13 yr old girl who questioned him about his legacy and Mike totally bamboozled the little girl with his response. His intelligence helped him get clarity but that clarity is haunting him. I am of the opinion that every week he gets to reflect on the past and that experience is eating him up. I feel like if Mike doesn’t do nothing crazy and lives to his 70s or beyond, then he has truly won the battle against his demons. What is analysis of the Usyk v Fury 2 fight this weekend. Also, what if Morrell wins and overachieves in his fight with Benavidez, how would that rank in your all-time best wins? Thank you
Bread’s Response: I don’t know Mike Tyson but I assume he lives a great life at this point. He seems to have loving children and a great wife. He also seems to be very grounded when he talks.
But as far as his career, I’m sure he has some regrets. It’s only natural. Although he’s an ATG, he could be higher up the pantheon of greats. But Tyson is not alone. I would be willing to bet that 99.9% of fighters have regrets about their careers.
I have no doubt that Cus D’Amato dying had a negative effect on his career. But that’s where those life and boxing lessons need to be retained. Let’s remember D’Amato died before Tyson won the title, so he hit his prime streak after D’Amato died. I personally think D’Amato dying hurt him but I think the worldly things of having the money he had at 20 years old, Don King, and the divisive energy that caused him to separate from Kevin Rooney, Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton had an overall bigger effect.
That was the team that D’Amato put in place and after the team broke up, things were never the same for Tyson unfortunately. I also don’t think Tyson wants us to feel bad for him. I don’t think he wants pity. I think he’s ok. I hope he’s ok. I pray he’s ok.
Out of all of the greats. He’s the one I would love to sit and just talk with. No cameras. No people. Just us talking. I don’t believe in meeting legends or heroes. But he’s the one I would make an exception for, if I ever got the opportunity.
If Morrell beats Benavidez it would be a great win but I can’t rank it among the all time best wins just yet. All time great wins usually get recognized long after careers are over, or if the fighter who loses is already an established ATG. So it may take time to marinate if Morrell wins.
Hey Bread, First off, I want to thank you for doing the mailbag. I treat it as a privilege whenever I write in and I don’t think some people who follow this mailbag hold it in the same regard. You offer us a unique opportunity to see behind the curtain of professional boxing and without you, many people would be cut off from any true connection to someone deep in the sport. So when I saw last week’s write-in filled with cussing and name calling I shook my head. People like that don’t realize they can ruin it for the rest of us. Thanks for hitting the mute button on them.
Onto the BIG upset of Jaime Munguia! Now, I didn’t get the chance to watch the fight live and had no clue who Bruno Surace was. But it was shocking to see a man with a 25-0 (4KO) record to one shot KO the normally iron-chinned Munguia. When I re-watched the fight. This man does not look pillow fisted at all…so here comes the question. How the heck did he not manage to knockout more of his opponents? I spent 2 minutes scanning his record and I noticed that many of his pro fights have only been 6 rounders. So less time to find a KO makes some sense. Second, many of them appear to be journeymen opponents. Those guys know how to survive and maybe were trying to see the end of the fight and not win it. Any other theories you got to enlighten me? Thanks, Brent from Canada
Bread’s Response: Thanks bro but don’t sweat the idiots. The world is filled with them. Actually idiots serve a purpose. They create visibility and spike up the algorithms so people like me can get paid.
I always say that all punches hurt. I mean it figuratively. But literally all punches have an effect on you. And just because a fighter does not have a high ko% it doesn’t mean he can’t hurt you. I have seen welterweights ko cruiserweights in the gym. So these type of things don’t surprise me, although I didn’t expect Munguia to lose.
Bruno Surace is a clever fighter. Once he got warmed up, he was doing his thing. He wasn’t winning rounds but he was winning moments and that’s all he needed.
You ask why, he hasn’t scored more kos. I have many theories but I’m going to go with this. Some fighters aren’t ko artists when their opponents are trying to survive. But they can score kos when their opponents try to ko them. It’s easier to hit a fighter clean, when he’s throwing 70 punches/round and most of them are power punches like a Munguia. On top of that, Surace probably had the camp of his life. Fighters are very dangerous in their FIRST BIG opportunity. They put everything into, like a music artist puts everything into their FIRST album. #Allpuncheshurt
After watching Jaime Munguia’s shocking loss to Bruno Surace, I think there’s a huge problem with how Munguia is being trained. I see Munguia using a wide open offensive style that is better suited for lighter weight classes. His trainers have had great success using that style. Munguia has also had great success against smaller, or less explosive, fighters. But at 168 pounds and above, defense needs to be a priority. You cannot walk into a flush right hand, even against a guy who isn’t a puncher. You will be in big trouble, as Munguia experienced. Is that what you see when you watch Munguia, or do you think there’s another issue? Is Munguia just not that good? Is he finally in a weight class that can handle him? Is Surace just actually good? Was it just a punch from that heavens and that’s how boxing goes? I appreciate your perspective on this issue. I am firmly in the camp that Munguia is being mishandled but I would love to hear your opinion on this one. Thank you!
Bread’s Response: I can’t criticize Munguia’s trainers but I can say he switches trainers often. From my recollection he has switched trainers at least 4 times. Maybe more. All trainers have their own set of solutions to problems. A trainer creates muscle memory in a fighter. When that muscle memory gets confused, often times disaster can strike. Munguia was doing good with Robert Alcazar. He was doing good with Freddie Roach. He was doing good with Erik Morales. I never understood all of the switching. My only small critique of Munguia is how BIG he’s getting. For a fighter who used to fight at 154lbs. He looks huge at 168lbs. I can tell when a fighter cuts a lot of weight. And he cuts a lot of weight. He looked like he was well over 190lbs in the ring. I’m not saying it’s wrong. But that’s a lot of weight for a fighter who won his only title at 154lbs. Other than that I think Surace rose to the occasion. It happens. Sometimes you get a better version of a fighter that has ever been seen before. It’s not luck. It’s just his night. Sometimes he can repeat it. Sometimes he can’t. Let’s see.
Hi Breadman, I’m really looking forward to the Usyk Vs Fury rematch. When the first one came about everyone around me said it was there for Fury, but I didn’t see it, my response was, simply ‘Usyk will find a way’. Halfway through the fight it wasn’t looking great for Usyk, but he did indeed find a way. In my opinion Usyk is a generational talent, comparable and matchable against any of the all timers, but this time something tells me he might not do it. I’m not sure what it is, but the fact that Fury is so much bigger and did implement a workable gameplan before the 9th tells me, if he is more disciplined, it’s there for him, I can also see controversy lending itself for a third fight. I hope I’m wrong, given the brilliance Usyk has shown in beating these giants and the credentials this brings, but something tells me Usyk has gone too far this time, legitimately or not, sadly to say. It would be great to have your thoughts.
Bread’s Response: This is a very close fight. Usyk has a clutch gene and he has an excellent chin. But he had to show a great deal of will power in order to get Fury to that dark place he had him at in the 9th round. I don’t know if he can conjure up that kind of effort again. The smaller man who has to expend the most energy is not usually as good in these type of rematches. See Frazier vs Ali and Duran vs Leonard. History favors the bigger fighter in these cases.
I also don’t have confidence that Usyk can get another decision over Fury. Remember the last time, it was a split decision…. So my pick is Usyk by ko or Fury by decision.
Hello Breadman, Any word on why Boots didn’t take the fight with Ortiz. This fight just seems tailor made for him. As a one off fight he could still stay champion at 147. I know he says he wants to unify, but the champions there are in no hurry to fight Boots. I think Boots’ team is going to realize they made a mistake not paying Brian Norman the extra money he asked for and make the fight. Now they may have to pay much more. Pay the extra and take the title from Brian Norman. Go up and fight Ortiz and get the title at one fifty four. I realize the fight is a little short notice, but Boots is in the gym anyway. And the fight with Karen was not that tough on Boots. When he comes back down he has two titles at one forty seven and the interim title at one fifty four. But more importantly he has a fight on the big stage. He has clout, this will go along way in calling out the other two champions at 147. I see now where there is talk of a fight with Teofimo Lopez. This would be a big fight. But if the goal is to unify he is going the wrong way. Lopez has no titles at 147. I cant believe Top Rank would want this fight for Lopez. I see Boots winning big. What do you think is the best strategy for Boots going forward, and what do you think of the Lopez fight should it happen. Thank You J.B.
Bread’s Response: I think the best route is simple but it may not be easy. Set aside three dates each year so he can stay visible to the paying public. Be willing to overpay for whatever he wants. So that means taking a little money out of his pay to get certain fighters in the ring, it will be worth the investment.
Basically the route GGG took when he first got on HBO, because of that early route GGG was able to make some huge paydays vs Canelo. If I’m not mistaken he made over 20Ms for one of their fights which is a huge amount for anyone in boxing.
Turki Alashikh is publicly backing Tyson Fury. I feel like Usyk is up against it this time more than ever and if he doesn’t score a knockout he can’t win. I also haven’t heard of any of the judges for this fight and I just saw a judge switch at the last minute. What are your thoughts on Usyk getting a fair fight?
Bread’s Response: I did hear Turki Alashikh support Tyson Fury. But this is boxing and people have a right to support who they choose to support. If I’m a Fury fan, I like it. If I’m an Usyk fan, I dislike it. If I’m Usyk’s manager I would be concerned. But if I’m Usyk’s trainer or Usyk himself, I raise my game, lock in and I don’t care what anyone wants. I focus on my objective and that objective is to win. So it all depends on who you are in terms of how you feel. Let’s see how it plays out.
Hey Mr Edwards, Hope you and yours are fine and doing well. Seasons greetings to you. So, the Jaimie Mungia bubble has finally burst? It is simply ridiculous to me how people can fail to see Mungia’s crushing defeat as conclusive proof of the ability of Canelo Alvarez. I’ve written to you several times since Canelo started ducking David Benavidez but I’ve been unfortunate not to make your list. The point I’ve been making has been that if Canelo’s career is held up under a microscope, he’s very fortunate to make it into the HOF as a floor sweeper. All talk of him being an ATG is preposterous. Canelo was outclassed by a past prime Floyd Mayweather and was given debatable victories over Trout, Lara and GGG in the first fight. He beat a Shane Mosley who was no longer with us and was humiliated by Dimitry Bivol. And he’s hardly been a ball of fire against low level guys like Mungia and Berlanga. And he’s now running from a guy who started his career at 135 pounds in Terrence Crawford. Some Hall of Famer he is. What is your take on another overrated fighter in Tyson Fury when he rematches Oleksandr Usyk? I think people must begin to see the insult I was referring to when Fury was being mythically pitted against all-time greats like Ali and Frazier and given some recognition that he could trouble them with his size. It had to take an overblown cruiserweight to come to my aid. Frazier, small though he was, was a wrecking ball and unless you had the brute force of a Foreman or the natural gifts of Ali, I fail to see how a guy like Fury keeps him at bay. The way I see it, there are no adjustments Fury can make against Usyk. If he fights the same way as he did in the first fight, expect Usyk to stop him late. If he becomes more aggressive like he threatens, expect Usyk to stop him early. Usyk is the first real world class opponent Fury has faced if we discount a past prime Wladimir Klitschko, who was no great shakes himself. In fact, the Klitschko brothers were a blot on the heavyweight history books. What I think the Fury strategy will be is to go for Usyk’s one weakness, his body. I don’t know what’s up with Usyk. He’s got good whiskers but touch him to the body and I think even a flyweight would stop him. However, Fury will pay a heavy price for going to the body because he’s got to lean into the punch and Usyk is a very good counter-puncher. The British are eternal optimists. They will still think Fury will turn it around. They forget there was a time their heavyweights were called horizontal. I was disappointed with the American heavyweight assembly line for its failure to deal with that brief spell of British domination from Anthony Joshua to Tyson Fury. All power to Ukraine. Usyk is not Deontay Wilder, who could not box to save his life. It doesn’t matter how heavy Fury comes in on fight night which has quite often been his trump card. That weight will just allow Usyk more angles.
Sorry to be long. I want to write in about Boots Ennis next time. I’m not your typical critic who has a celebration with one bad night at the office for Boots and tries to gloat in your face. I’ve told you from inception that I don’t think that highly of Boots. Let’s have that discussion.
Mythical match, Michael Spinks v Artur Beterbiev, don’t know what the rave is about concerning the Bivol-Beterbiev fight. I think Spinks beats them both on the same night on those performances. However I want you to break him and Beterbiev down at their best. I think Beterbiev makes too many mistakes to beat Spinks. I also think Spinks has an argument for being the best light heavyweight ever, a point you have made, with the Ezzard Charles caveat. Charles achieved nothing at light heavyweight, so I have to differ with you there. Keep punching Mr Edwards, Katlholo Johannesburg, South Africa
Bread’s Response: I can tell you know what you’re talking about but I strongly disagree with your takes. Canelo is an ATG fighter. But yes he has holes in his resume. As do all fighters. You can be great but flawed. Canelo is easily an ATG. One of the ten best fighters of this century. One of the ten best fighters ever from Mexico. And one of the ten best fighters ever at super middleweight. You have to take your personal feelings out. You brought up his bad nights but didn’t bring up his great nights. You have to factor in both.
I believe that Usyk is a greater fighter than Tyson Fury. But there are adjustments Fury can make. And if he wins, he’s a legitimate great fighter. I think he’s already a HOF.
I like Spinks over Beterbiev. For as great as Beterbiev is, he resets himself too much to beat Spinks. Spinks has a world class jab, world class ring generalship and equal or better pedigree than Beterbiev. Plus, Spinks is a 15-round fighter. I believe Beterbiev would be in the fight but I don’t think he would win.
You’re tripping if you think Ezzard Charles didn’t do anything at light heavyweight. Did you know he beat Archie Moore 3x at light heavyweight in Moore’s prime and stopped him once? He owned Joey Maxim who is a HOF light heavyweight. He beat Lloyd Marshall, Jimmy Bivins and Elmer Ray while weighing under the light heavyweight limit. The only reason Charles fought at heavyweight is because during one of the great career runs in history from 1944-51 he lost one fight! And he couldn’t get a title shot at light heavyweight, so he moved up and won the heavyweight title while weighing 181lbs while Joe Walcott weighed 195lbs.
You have no idea what you’re talking about if you think Ezzard Charles did nothing at light heavyweight.
Sup Breadman, I once saw an interview where a respected boxer said that when a fighter can punch he can usually carry that punch with him as he moves up in weight, is there any truth to this? What are some of the nuances that we don’t see behind the scenes when a fighter prepares to move up in weight? How much does physical strength matter in a boxing match? Does it vary from fighter to fighter? I think Crawford has a real chance if he were to fight Canelo, I think many believe that Canelo’s physical advantages will offset Crawford’s style/skill advantage, but I think Crawford has something that anyone else jumping from 147 to 168 wouldn’t, and that’s physical strength! Crawford’s wrestling background is also a huge x-factor to go along with the IQ, athleticism, switch hitting, and mean streak etc and is part of the reason why I think he’s so special. Don’t get me wrong either, I don’t think he’s the favorite against canelo, i think Canelos most overlooked attribute is his composure in the ring, he always seems to be in control, in addition from his electric punching, chin, defense etc. this potential fight intrigues me, and frankly I want to see it! Hope you and yours are doing well, Thank you
Bread’s Response: I don’t know who you’re talking about. But moving up and carrying your punch depends on the fighter. Some fighters do. But most ko% go DOWN as the fighter moves up in weight. So I’m not sure who said that. There are rare cases like Terence Crawford who scored more kos at 147 than he did at 135 but for the most part, the opposite happens.
Physical strength is different from punching power and it surely does play a role in moving up. I like Crawford’s chances vs Canelo also. I’m actually picking him if they fight. But Canelo is the truth and it’s a very difficult fight. Still and all, I like Crawford by decision.
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