IBR on The Cruelest Sport

“Last night, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, self-proclaimed greatest fighter ever, Floyd Mayweather Jr., again proved too much for less-than-great Argentine slugger, Marcos Maidana. What does it say of a fighter with Mayweather’s bold moniker that he needed 24 rounds to firmly establish his dominance over a fighter of Maidana’s cast? Best leave such questions to the spin doctors, sycophants, myth-makers, and the rest who feel their own greatness lurch incrementally skyward whenever they exalt their idol to new heights. But let us at least admit this much: Mayweather promised to deliver a more dominant performance in his rematch with Maidana, and he kept his word.”

Read Reality Bites: Floyd Mayweather Jr. W12 Marcos Maidana on The Cruelest Sport.

IBR on The Cruelest Sport

“Broner may be too lost in the swirl of his own hype and hype-men to ever learn from, or even acknowledge, his shortcomings. But Broner is unlikely to forget whatever he gleaned from the twelve painful rounds he shared with Maidana. Brought in yet again as a supporting player for another network star, Maidana, like he did to Victor Ortiz in 2009, threw the script in the garbage. Largely dismissive of Maidana in the build up to Saturday night, Broner, Cincinnati, Ohio, assured all that the plodding slugger was not on his level. The stoic Maidana promised only to do his part and to hit his opponent very hard. Which is what he did, for twelve merciless rounds.”

Read A Lesson In Violence: Marcos Maidana W12 Adrien Broner on the Cruelest Sport.

IBR on The Cruelest Sport

“If we are to permit the words their full intention, it is either premature, or patently false, to say that “Pacquaio is back.” Yes, the fighter that so easily befuddled and abused Rios looked similar to the little terror who ran roughshod over a handful of divisions before running headlong into catastrophe against Juan Manuel Marquez. The lateral movement and hand speed were there; and the power, despite Rios’ predictable protestations to the contrary, was certainly on display. But it was a subdued performance from Pacquiao, one marked not by tentativeness—you cannot be tentative against Rios—so much as curiosity. Pacquiao seemed to be reacquainting himself not only with violence, but also its consequences.”

Read The Perfect Foil: Manny Pacquiao W12 Brandon Rios on The Cruelest Sport.