racingmeridian.com

…it’s fight night in Toronto. We’ve invested time and energy following the career of Steve Molitor and are on the precipice of discovering if he is primed for ascension to elite status. It’s just a huge, damn fight. Of course memories of Shawn O’Sullivan and Willie DeWitt will haunt the arena at Casino Rama. I was in the third row for Shawn’s big coming out party against Simon Brown in June 1986. I had been to many of Shawn’s amateur and professional fights and was used to observing him as the boss of the ring, the one setting the tone and pace of his encounters. Subtle psychological signals always left you feeling O’Sullivan was comfortable and in control. That sense was obliterated seconds into the first round against Brown. In the pantomime where command and ownership of the ring is decided, Shawn was giving ground. The reign of blows that followed only confirmed the inevitable. I hope Molitor is psychologically prepared for the challenges in store tonight. He’ll be pressured and countered with minimal time to gather his resources once the battle is underway. It will be hellacious. It will be exhausting. The series of ridiculous exhibitions he has recently engaged in at Rama will have undermined his progress and ability to sustain a high impact pace. He will, however, benefit from hometown judges and that makes him “live” if the fight goes the distance. My mind and wallet tap Caballero in a close competitive fight. The heart will be with Steve …the memorable pugilistic weekend continues Saturday with Ricky Hatton’s scrap with Paul Malignaggi. I sense another upset. Why Hatton’s brain trust would want to fight the slick and speedy Malignaggi is beyond me. The Englishman seems most comfortable when fighting in close quarters and that will not be the case Saturday. Malignaggi dropped a lopsided decision to Miguel Cotto but was brave and determined throughout. He should be able to create more distance with Hatton and find a comfort zone on the fringes of Hatton’s punches. Ricky looked slow and weary in his last fight with Juan Lazcano. Not reported in the mainstream media was Hatton’s need to rely on the referee’s blatant interference to avoid being knocked out in the late rounds. A wobbly Hatton was guided back to his corner to have his gloves tied while Lazcano steamed in the neutral corner. I never really “got” Hatton and his sloppy haphazard fistic attacks. I think he’s made an error in opponent selection and expect him to be on the wrong side of a twelve round decision Saturday night…word on the street has Oscar De La Hoya currently weighing 145 pounds. Believe me, if true this is a monumental development and an enormous mistake. Older fighters, soaked in hubris and ego, look longingly on their past and attempt to relive their salad days. Remember Ali weighing in at an anaemic 218 before he fought Larry Holmes? If only it was that easy to find the talents and merit of one’s athletic peak. De La Hoya, a storied Lion in Winter, appears to be playing out the same worn script. He should be at least 10 lbs heavier at this stage, only slipping under the welterweight limit just before the weigh in. And he should fight in the 156 lb range. A fight I had just about written off has suddenly attracted my interest. The stamina questions always associated with a De la Hoya fight become especially prominent if a misguided Oscar has starved his body. Can Pacquiao take the Golden Boy into the late rounds and drown him? It is a question suddenly worth considering…Antonio Margarito has inexplicably opted to turn down the February fight with Sugar Shane Mosley. Margarito is now unlikely to fight until summer when he will be matched with Miguel Cotto in a highly anticipated rematch. Margarito needed the work and a washed up Mosley would have provided maximum media with minimal risk. Poor decision making abounds in the sweet science these days…