Full View V8: Roach/Pacquiao, Hatton, Super-6, Taylor, and Abraham

One and Done!: Roach Predicts Round 1 KO Against Cotto

Everybody knows when Freddie Roach talks, we listen. Some trainers talk to pump up the fans or give their fighter a false sense of security, tipped with an edge of bravado; but when Freddie Roach speaks, rarely have any of us found the weight of his words to be shallow. Bearing that in mind, it probably doesn't serve Puerto Rican warrior Miguel Cotto too well to know that Roach has come out publicly and stated that he's sure his charge will "definitely" get the KO, possibly even in the first round of their November 14th scheduled showdown. In a very Nostradamus type fashion, practically everything Roach has said leading up to prior fights has come to fruition, and if Pacquiao is as primed as we're being told, look out! There's 3 weeks remaining until showtime and rumor has it that Pacquiao has already tipped the scale at 149lbs. All of a sudden those 8 weeks of training that many thought would not be enough is looking like it was more than enough time for Pacquiao to transform. If Roach's prediction comes to fruition, perhaps the operative question at that point will be did Cotto's head start to the gym backfire, causing him to peak too soon? A rarely spoken, but very possible scenario....Stay tuned...

Ricky Hatton Talks Pacquiao, Floyd

Ricky Hatton has been far away from the sport lately in the flesh, but despite his free time lately, apparently his mind can't seem to stay away from the place where his heart clearly remains....the ring. Hatton recently shed some light on two very intriguing topics when interviewed in South Africa with David Isaacson of TimesLive. Those topics? The hardest puncher he ever faced, and the man he thinks could defeat him. Hatton was quoted as saying that "Pacqiuao is the hardest puncher [he ever faced]", but if he and Mayweather faced off, as much as he "dislikes" Mayweather, he clearly fancies him if the two ever squared off. Very interesting words, and pretty revealing, considering that Pacquiao was a complete gentleman with him, and Mayweather was a complete moron. It'll be nice to see if he was correct, but first, Pacquiao has to bring Freddie Roach's recent prediction to life. Good luck on that one!

Jermain Taylor: Has The Time Come?....

Jermain Taylor has given fight fans quite a bit to marvel over the years. Whether you had him defeating Hopkins decisively or not, until Roy Jones Jr. gets his shot and proves he can do so, Taylor remains the only man to ever defeat the 'Executioner' twice. With the Olympic accolades and other great moments in the ring behind him, perhaps it's time for Taylor to look ahead. We've seen Roy Jones Jr. and a few other fighters make a new name for themselves after multiple knockouts on a devastating level, but confidence is the main thing Taylor seems to lack down the stretch, and last Saturday it proved to be far more than a simple case of butterflies. One can only hope that careful consideration plays a key role the decision making process for Taylor at this time. He has accomplished as much as there is to do so in the sport, and right now, his worth to his family is far greater than it is to the fight public. I know you pride yourself on "Bad Intentions" Jermain, but this time, do the right thing. Please.....

Arthur Abraham: Little Package, Big Results

Coming into the Super-6 Tournament, Germany's Aruthur Abraham found many questions surrounding his ability to pack a punch 8 pounds north of his comfort zone. After nearly 12 full rounds of solid execution, he seized the moment with little time left to do so. Although Taylor is considered damaged goods in the minds of many, his effort can't be questioned. No doubt, at least (minimal) three more fighters in this tournament could face the same fate if they aren't careful, with Kessler and Ward (based on superior defensive skills) being the lone guaranteed exceptions. Abraham was never the underdog in this race, but after one fight in, no question, it isn't a far shot to consider him the leader of the pack.

Carl Froch: Sneaky 'Cobra' Amidst 3 Snakes?

Carl Froch got away with one. To use the word robbery is a stretch, but in reviewing the fight time and time again, (a total of 4 thus far), there's no question who landed the cleaner and more effective punches. What's even more intriguing is that the only thing anyone can say in defense of Froch is that Dirrell "fought an ugly fight", but that 'punch-punch-hold' tactic never seemed to keep Hatton and others from winning. Then there's the contingent that says, "hey, if you're gonna beat a champion on his home turf, you have to do it decisively". Well, I hate to shoot that one down too, but Dirrell's loss was far more convincing than Calzaghe's win over Hopkins, yet to this day, Hopkins stands as not only the only undisputed champion I can remember to lose his title via split decision (against Taylor), but also one of the few huge names in the sport to lose a major magnitude showdown via split decision in his own country against a foreign opponent (Calzaghe). So that was proof that fair can happen, but to quote Don King, apparently that happens "ONLY IN AMERICA"! I just hope that trend ends there.


Andre Dirrell: How Far Can He Go?

Dirrell came up short in his quest to defeat Carl Froch, but no question he answered a lot of questions. Some felt he had no business in the tournament to begin with, but his performance (despite certain fundamental flaws) proved that when his level of experience finally catches up to his level of talent, the skies the limit. Great speed, very good power, and great mechanical defense showed that he has far more chance in this tournament than many initially thought. Trouble for Dirrell is that his next pit stop will be here at home, but against a man he probably shouldn't face right about now. The great thing about this tournament is that it's built on not only opportunity, but redemption, and for a man coming off of a loss that's hungry to set us straight, the time to do something grand probably couldn't come sooner. His loss to Froch has an asterisk next to it, and there's nothing like a win against Abraham to erase the memory.

Andre Ward: Dark-Horse In A Tight Race

Despite the fact that few have said so out loud, the talent of Andre Ward is easily and arguably the best of all Super-6 Tournament participants. What's intriguing about his position in the tournament is the fact that he'll get to prove that by facing the man that many view as the man to beat. At first glance, on paper, it appears that Ward is vastly unproven, while Kessler has done it all. Trouble with that theory.... paper burns! Anyone who thinks Kessler is headed for a walk in the park may find themselves rudely awakened come the morning of November 22nd when the headlines print around the world. Stay tuned.

Mikkel Kessler: Will He Be The Last Man Standing?

What's there not to like about Kessler? A great guy, in and out of the ring, and an overall great talent. He failed short a few years back at the hands of Joe Calzaghe, but hey, everyone else who attempted that feat did too, so that's little to cling to when analyzing his true worth. Kessler has the power, the strength, the chin, and the determination to get the job done. Ward has the ability to outbox him, and will without question be the best fundamental boxer that Kessler has ever faced in his pro career. If Kessler can move beyond a fundamentally sound fighter like this, the only other option to defeat him will come by way of stand-and-trade, and we all know, Abraham aside, no one in this tournament has the power/chin combination to even truly consider that. In the final round, Abraham will get that chance, but winning that fight means very little if Kessler can't dismiss Ward first. It's the old "crawl before you can walk" theory, which definitely applies when you consider Kessler's plans to runaway with the victory!

(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVE747), Facebook, Myspace, and www.vivekwallace.com)