Morilla’s Spit Bucket – AJ-Takam Wrap-Up, WBA Convention News and More

The Spit Bucket is your weekly source of random thoughts, opinions and comments about the Manly Art, compiled by TSS boxing writer Diego Morilla. Make your suggestions and comments and dare to give us your own short commentary on this week’s boxing issues by commenting on this article in our forum or sending us an email at diegomorillabox@hotmail.com .

Joshua TKO’s Takam

It is safe to say that a knockout in a heavyweight title fight is the equivalent of a game-winning home run in a World Series game. It is the moment everyone waits to finally breathe a sigh of relief and tell themselves that they got their money’s worth.

But not all stoppages are created equal, and certainly the Anthony Joshua stoppage win over late replacement Carlos Takam bears, if not a proper asterisk, at least a few comments about its nature. Sure, Joshua got to keep his unblemished, all-KO record in place, but even though the consensus says that the stoppage large inflatable water slides was not unfair, the mere suggestion that the decision to stop the bout was rushed is enough to put Joshua’s entire record in doubt, as if there was a wide conspiracy to keep his beautiful record intact, which is just nonsense.

Could it have been a more proper stoppage? Yes. Does a heavyweight title fight deserve a clearer, more definitive result? Sure. But asking for a few more combinations to Takam’s head just to prove a point was not going to change the result. Or give Joshua any more satisfaction in his victory.

The WBA Convention and its Decisions

Full confession: I’ve never been to a “sanctioning body” convention. Ever. I think of it as an intrusion at best, or as taking part in a private event held by the very people I am supposed to monitor and criticize when necessary. Sure, my hero and mentor Hunter Thompson famously infiltrated a law enforcement congress carrying a suitcase full of pills, powders and other questionable substances, but I’d rather sit back and look at them from afar, if I can.

And in doing that, I was always amazed by the Corleone-esque way in which promoters, boxers and others approach a stand or a microphone to state their wishes, hopes and dreams in front of the consiglieres or godfathers du jour and then have them resolve their issues just like Don Vito used to do on her daughter’s wedding day. I am sure it is a sacred part of their yearly gathering, but isn’t there a more proper way to advance the case of a fighter who believes himself worthy of a higher ranking or a promoter trying to air his grievances? What’s next? Having the presidents of the sanctioning bodies appear in Santa costumes and allowing every guest to sit on their laps and ask for that big bright green/red/black/maroon belt covered in gold?

It’s probably me, but I still find this whole thing kinda creepy. Seriously, get a fax machine and have everyone send their requests in writing. Just a thought.

McGregor Still Swinging 

You’re a true boxing fan. You hated the idea of the whole Mayweather-McGregor thing, and you are glad it’s over. Well, tough luck, punchy: the guy is still out there taking attention away from the real issues to continue dragging us into his intrusions in a sport he doesn’t belong in. Think of him as the Russian meddling investigation that won’t go away, regardless of how hard you try to have everyone focus on tax reform. Yep. McGregor is the Bob Mueller of boxing, and his guile and his imaginary subpoena that allows him to intrude infinitely and indefinitely in our affairs are keeping us from completing our sacred mission of Making Boxing Great Again. Sad!

Among the many outrageous utterances that escaped his mouth recently we can count an unbearable interview with the BBC in which not only does he launch a long, F-word-laced tirade against former sparring partner and Showtime-employee-sent-by-the-top-brass-to make-him-look-good-in-the-ring Paulie Malignaggi to supposedly lure him into a big fight, but he also tries to lure a proper boxer into a UFC bout in a disgraceful return of favors between fellow combat sports practitioners. The line of boxers waiting to risk their lives and their careers in a kicking contest will surely be something to behold, should McGregor’s pointless yacking ever take the form of a proper contract with a sum of money high enough to attract anybody into his realm.

Speaking of Conor McGregor, HBO’s Boxing Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Lampley created quite a stir on social media when he told TMZ that McGregor had good success against Mayweather in the early rounds only because Mayweather allowed him to. “It (was) all a set-up,” said Lampley. “I think there’s a decent chance there’s enough suckers out there Floyd could maybe make another $150 million (in a rematch).”

What’s your take?

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