“Fights are not settled by the mental gymnastics of nonparticipants, however—even when these gymnastics come with visual aids. Whatever technical superiorities Cotto has, whatever advantages his experience provides, could mean very little when the bell rings. Hugh McIlvanney once wrote: “Perhaps only boxing among major sports offers a man the frustration of demonstrating unquestionable superiority at the same as he is moving irrevocably to defeat.” The earnest pursuit of Cotto by Alvarez and GBP reflects their belief that Saturday will play out in such a way.”

Read Fight the Future: Miguel Cotto-Saul Alvarez Preview on The Cruelest Sport.

“Or perhaps Max Kellerman, Jim Lampley, and Roy Jones Jr. celebrated fittingly the effort Bradley put forth, and this perceived lack of praise was the result of the ménage of fawning that preceded it. Because the commentary provided during the opening bout, which saw Vasyl Lomachenko dissect Romulo Koasicha in ten rounds, was shameless proselytizing. Lomachenko is a wonderful fighter, that much is obvious, (though, and this point may be lost on HBO, not made more so by the quality of opponent Lomachenko has recently faced). But his efforts were exceeded by those of the commentary team, who over ten rounds constructed a mythology for Lomachenko out of keeping with a fighter who needed more than a single punch to turn Koasicha into dust.”

Read The Wrong Kind of Drama: On HBO and Mythmaking on The Cruelest Sport.

“Unlike Bradley, the question of what Lomachenko has left is hardly worth asking: he is only 27, and but two years into his professional career. And yet, how Bradley reached his precipice is something Lomachenko might consider. Lomachenko will be the best fighter in the ring Saturday night, but greatness, which someone of his pedigree and ambition should be concerned with, demands more of such attributes than their mere possession. In speaking of that ambition, Lomachenko declared, “I love boxing for the sport of competing against the best. I want to fight the fighters who will challenge me. I have shown that I only want big fights.” If this is what he wants, Lomachenko wants a career like Bradley’s. But is he positioned for one?”

Read New Ambition: On Timothy Bradley and Vasyl Lomachenko on The Cruelest port.