A few links to boxing-related sites

Not much time right now, but here are a few links to boxing-related sites that you might enjoy:

Saddo Boxing -- great discussion forums and more: http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxingforum/index.php

Ross Training -- Blog articles, fantastic conditioning info, and great forum:
http://www.rosstraining.com/forum/

Is PacMan the p4p best in the world today?

I think you have to say that he is. He doesn't duck tough competition (which is a complement you can give to Mike Cotto too!), and he's shown that he's stronger, faster, and more effective than his opponents no matter the weight class he chooses.

It's amazing that "little" Manny Pacquiao can look so dominant against a true welterweight. Miguel Cotto is no joke, and Manny handled him with astonishing ease.

When have we ever seen Mayweather pick a tough opponent and dominate him? Answer: never.

Chris Getz Ultimate Boxing Lessons

Here is a review: Chris Getz ultimate boxing lessons. It discusses the 8 DVD set of (you guessed it) boxing lessons by coach Christopher Getz.

It's a generally positive review.

Are MMA people setting themselves up for hand problems?

MMA fighters generally wear light, 4-ounce gloves when they fight. Although they went commando in the past, these days they do tape their hands. But I get the impression that most MMA fighters -- especially the amateurs -- don't take hand protection all that seriously.

Hand protection is a long-term affair. It's not enough to say "my hands are fine" just because you didn't break a bone. Repetitive stress injuries creep up on you, but they can be as debilitating as an acute fracture and they can take longer to heal. They're insidious in that they may feel OK after a bit of rest, but when you start training again, they're back with a vengeance.

I would like to see the same focus on hand health in MMA gyms as you see in boxing gyms. For kids especially, it's the habits you form when you first start out that will save you a lot of unnecessary pain and dehabilitation when you're older.

Is Antonio Margarito a cheater or a victim?

Margarito's fall from grace

Antonio Margarito, who came out of nowhere to enjoy a brief moment of stardom after demolishing Miguel Cotto, was just as quickly forgotten after Shane Mosely made him look like he was out of his league.

The most interesting thing about the Mosely/Margarito fight wasn't what happened inside the squared circle, it was what happened during the pre-fight check of Margarito's handwraps.

Officials found a hardening agent (probably plaster of paris) on his wraps. He was forced to re-wrap his hands, then later suspended for a year.

No record of prior cheating

There were no credible whispers of doubt about Margarito's handwraps prior to the Margarito/Mosely fiasco.

Antonio Margarito was known as an iron-chinned competitor with unbelievable stamina but unschooled technique. His punches came in bunches but they weren't pretty, and he was just as likely to lead with his chin as with a jab.

Most of the elite boxers seemed to be ducking Margarito -- Mayweather wouldn't go near him with a 10-foot pole -- and it was to Cotto's credit that he agreed to a fight that offered all risk and very little reward.

After Margarito beat Cotto into the canvas, nobody suspected any foul play.

It wasn't until after the Mosely fight that anyone thought to question the Cotto/Margarito result.

Why would Margarito adulterate his handwraps?

It's tempting to look for answers other than the obvious: he wanted to win.

Margarito -- undoubtedly possessed of a lot of heart -- doesn't have much skill. He punches like a madman, all the while shrugging off his opponent's best shots. He wins wars of attrition rather than well-fought strategic clashes.

When fighters throw massive barrages of wild punches, they inevitably develop hand problems. Proper technique does more for a fighter than just make him look pretty, it protects his hands from damage. Unsurprisingly, Margarito has acknowledged hand problems in the past.

It stands to reason that he would protect his hands in training by using plaster-soaked wraps. From there, it's tempting to do the same during a boxing match, despite the unethical aspects of such a practice.

With potentially millions of dollars at stake, it doesn't surprise me that Margarito and his team would resort to cheating. It's just a shame that he couldn't resist the temptation of this sort of Faustian bargain.

Who is to blame?

Aside from the obvious answer, that is.

The blame lies in the coach who had a young Antonio Margarito, a kid with immeasurable potential, and who rushed him into professional competition without ensuring that there was a basic level of boxing skill present.

If Margario had learned half the technique that Miguel Cotto has, he might have been able to protect his hands better during his career. Cheating would have been unnecessary.

It's not enough to just hit hard and be a tough guy. If you don't have proper technique, you'll be a flash in the pan. Heart can only take you so far; technique won't desert you.