IBR on The Cruelest Sport

“With yesterday’s press conference announcing the final chapter in the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez quadrilogy, December 8th should find this rivalry renewed under the lights of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It was on that same blue canvas that Pacquiao suffered a split-decision loss to Tim Bradley in June. It was his first defeat since March of 2005, when Erik Morales’ belligerent craft trumped the Filipino’s fury. Pacquiao would avenge the loss to Morales twice via knockout, reducing the defeat to the exception confirming the rule in a roughshod assault that produced fifteen consecutive victories in five weight divisions. Unlike Morales, Bradley is being denied a rematch.”

Read “Only the Lonely: Tim Bradely Without Manny Pacquiao” on The Cruelest Sport.

IBR On The Cruelest Sport

“If Tim Bradley defeats Manny Pacquiao on June 9th, knocking one of boxing’s celestial bodies off its orbit, melancholy predictions for the sport’s future surely will follow. Sombre though the mood may be, boxing will persist—violence always finds an audience. But the consolation of boxing’s survival is too modest an expectation. Despite inclinations to settle for mere palliatives, there is cause for genuine optimism with a Bradley victory.”

Read “He Who Would Be King: Why Manny Pacquiao Losing To Tim Bradley Wouldn’t Be Bad for Boxing” on thecruelestsport.com

IBR on The Queensberry Rules

“2011 may well prove to be Miguel Cotto’s last successful year as a prize fighter. It was a year that saw him notch probably his most meaningful victory—a 10^th round stoppage of nemesis Antonio Margarito—but also struggle with treadless tire Ricardo Mayorga. Much as Ecce Homo betrays glimpses of Nietzsche’s impending madness, Cotto’s performances in the last two years have evidenced the irreversible deterioration of his abilities. With a lopsided defeat at the hands of Floyd Mayweather looming, and a timely retirement unlikely, the time to reflect on his career is now.”

Read “Behold The Man: Sketching Miguel Cotto” on The Queensberry Rules.