Tyler's 'Real Bite' w/ Tom Moran - On Mayweather, Pacquiao, Khan, Cotto, Martinez, Fury, Golovkin and more
 By David Tyler, Doghouse Boxing (May 1, 2014)
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Tom Moran |
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| One of boxing's great managers sizes up this Saturday's PPV event. Tom Moran has been in the boxing business for many years and seen it all during his time. Let's welcome him into the doghouse.
David Tyler: Tom, let's skip the introductions and go straight to the Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Madiana fight this Saturday, May 3, on Showtime PPV. How do you see this fight?
Tom Moran: Floyd is a heavy favorite but there is the interesting possibility of a dangerous puncher like Madiana landing a big shot. There is always the chance that Madiana can land a solid punch on Floyd's chin. Saying this I realize that Floyd is such a terrific defensive fighter. People are expecting Floyd to display his boxing skills along with his ring smarts and out class Marcos.
DT: Tom, have you ever seen a better boxer than Floyd Mayweather Jr.?
TM: If I have, it's been a long time. He is probably the most complete boxer I have ever seen. There has been better punchers, but you have to respect his unbelievable talent. I just not sure he has fought the best out there. He still hasn't fought Manny Pacquiao.
DT: We will come back to the Pacquiao fight. Tom, if you were the trainer for Marcos Madiana, how would you advise him to fight Floyd?
TM: I would have Marcos turn the fight into a street rumble. Throw caution to the wind and go mug the guy. He is taking future money out of your kids mouths...go get him! Stay on top of him...don't give him any room. Whatever he gives you take it and take it with power. Marcos is going to have to land a lot of punches to win this fight.
DT: Assuming that the experts are correct and Floyd wins, who would you like to see him fight next?
TM: Manny Pacquiao. I know that they have been in negotiations for the past few years but let's face it...this fight is a 50:50 split of the purse. I understand that Floyd has been a better draw on PPV but both of these fighters together will draw an incredible PPV audience and with that audience comes an incredible amount of money. The fact that this fight has never been made is horrible indication of the state of boxing today.
DT: Do you realistically think that Manny has a chance of beating Floyd?
TM: Three maybe four years ago I would say yes to that question. Today, I would say that he has a better chance than anyone else. I wouldn't be a fool and bet against Floyd. I'm sure that most boxing experts would pick Floyd to beat Manny but the point is that the fans want to see the fight and we are talking about a record number of PPV buys. Now if Floyd wants his legacy to be that of one of the greatest fighters of all time...he needs the Pacquiao fight on his record as a victory. If the fight doesn't take place then there will always be the talk that maybe Pacquiao could have beat him. That may not be fair to Floyd but there will be those fans who bring up the issue if the fight never happens.
DT: Why do you think the fight has never happened?
TM: I really don't know. I would think that if both fighters wanted it to happen then it would. I know Floyd doesn't want to do business with Bob Arum but Arum has promoted fights with Don King. If Golden Boy, Floyd Mayweather, Bob Arum, and Manny Pacquiao are looking for the fight that will bring them the most money then why not make this fight happen? This could literally be a 200 million dollar payday for Floyd? Again, it's been my experience that if both fighters really wanted it to happen, then it would. Someone just doesn't want this fight to happen.
DT: Maybe the promoters?
TM: No, I think they want it to happen...Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer do want this fight to take place...there is too much money on the table. I'm not sure who it is but one of the fighters doesn't want the bout to take place.
DT: I really don't see a Mayweather/ Pacquiao bout in the near future. Who will Mayweather fight in September?
TM: Danny Garcia is a tough kid from Philadelphia. He is a strong kid and I know he didn't look that great in his last fight but he is still undefeated and has beat some name fighters like Lucas Matthysse. Maybe Floyd fights Amir Khan but the question would be how a Mayweather/ Khan fight would appeal to the PPV audience?
DT: Amir Khan is set to face Luis Collazo on the undercard of the Mayweather/Madiana fight. Your thoughts about the Khan/Collazo bout?
TM: A very interesting fight and could be the best fight on the card. Collazo probably won the fight against Ricky Hatton. I'm sure that Collazo's team is telling him that one good shot to the chin of Amir Khan will win the fight. Collazo must pressure Khan immediately and look for the big shot. Just my opinion but I believe that Amir Khan has some excellent boxing skills but a weak chin. However, if Amir wins this fight, he might just be the next opponent for Mayweather. I just ask the question, Danny Garcia knocked out Khan, then why would he not be the next fight for Floyd? Maybe Floyd takes a bigger risk and fights a guy like Shawn Porter who just recently scored a knockout over Paulie Malignaggi.
DT: Let's look to the next PPV event, that would be the Sergio Martinez / Miguel Cotto fight June 7th on HBO PPV. Your thoughts about this bout?
TM: The question about Sergio Martinez is "has he gotten old"? I will tell you a story about Martinez. A while back one of my fighters, Kassim Ouma, who was World Champion at the time, was offered a fight with Martinez by Golden Boy. A friend of mine from England has been to a few of Martinez's fights and advised me to turn down this fight because it would be a very dangerous fight for Ouma. I thought my friends words for quite a while prior to turning down the fight. Now I am sure that I made the right decision. Martinez turned out to be a terrific fighter and World Champion. In his last fight he looked light he was slowing down a bit and did not look that good in pulling out a close decision. With Miguel Cotto what can you say? He also has been a great fighter and World Champion. Through his fights with Pacquiao and Mayweather he gained a large following of fans. Now we have the question: Are we looking at two fighters that are past their prime and not at their best? Maybe that will make for a more interesting fight.
DT: If Sergio Martinez were to score a knockout decision over Cotto, where would he go next?
TM: Certainly a match with either Mayweather or Pacquiao could be made or he could fight another big puncher in Gennady Golovkin. To me, Sergio Martinez coming off a knockout of Miguel Cotto, would be a much more interesting opponent for Floyd Mayweather than either Danny Garcia or Amir Khan. I would like to see Floyd fight Golovkin. Gennady is a big puncher and I just don't see Floyd taking that kind of risk at this point in his career.
DT: Floyd did fight Canelo Alvarez and looked very good. He fought Shane Mosley and took a huge punch from the hard hitting Mosley.
TM: Canelo is still very young and has a lot to learn. Golovkin has been around and is a more vicious fighter than Canelo. Maybe a couple of years from now, Canelo will develop the necessary skills that he will need to move his career further along. As for the Mosely punch, that is just a testament to how good Mayweather really is as a professional prizefighter. You are talking about one big punch and I am referring to a fighter (Golovkin) who could land several big punches.
DT: Fair enough. What's your take on the recent Bradley /Pacquiao II fight?
TM: I was glad to see Pacquiao win and look good. It was a very sloppy fight as the say goes...styles make fights. It showed us that Manny still has something but that something is not what it was four or five years ago.
DT: Tom, who are the next group of young fighters waiting for their day in the sun?
TM: We have already discussed Canelo and Shawn Porter but I have some Irish fighters that will have a big impact on boxing in America. John Joe Nevin won the Olympic Silver Medal, and he is just one of many young Irish fighters waiting for their opportunity to fight in America. As for American fighters, just look at the Olympics and you can see we don't have much in the way of talented young fighters here in the United States.
DT: Any Heavyweights?
TM: I like Tyson Fury, he is a 6'9" heavyweight with more personality than all the people in boxing put together. I think he could come to America and become a big star in this sport.
DT: Tom, let's go back to the beginning and analyze this Saturday's undercard and main event. The first fight of interest will be Adrien Broner vs. Carlos Molina. How will that fight go?
TM: That's a gift for Broner.
DT: Ok, let's move to the next fight, Amir Khan vs. Luis Collazo. A good fight?
TM: That's a 50:50 pick 'em. Should be a great fight for boxing fans. I have to give credit to Golden Boy for stacking their fight cards. It's good for boxing fans to get a great undercard and the Khan/Collazo bout will be a good fight for this PPV undercard.
DT: We both take Mayweather in the main event. Will this fight go the distance?
TM: Yes, I believe it will go the distance. I would like to see Madiana land a few punches to make it interesting.
DT: Tom, thanks for taking the time for this interview. I like your perspective on boxing and your thoughts for this Saturday's PPV events on Showtime PPV.
TM: David, you're welcome and let's both enjoy the boxing Saturday evening.
Readers: Thanks for visiting doghouse boxing and reading this interview.
Many Blessings,
David Tyler
***David Tyler replies to all his e-mails and loves to hear from the readers. Comments, Questions, Suggestions, E-mail  David now at: dtyler53@cox.net
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