NO HOLDS BARRED

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with boxing analyst Frank Lotierzo.

Our discussion focused on the most important fight both in the heavyweight division and in boxing in general this year, the February 22 rematch between undefeated fighters Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. This fight will be shown on pay-per-view and streamed live in several countries, and take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

We spoke with Frank Lotierzo by phone Wednesday.

Calling this fight "unfinished business" because of the highly controversial split draw outcome of the first Wilder-Fury fight in December 2018, he said, like the great majority of observers, that he thought Fury deserved to win that fight on points. But the rematch, he argued, may end differently if Fury's skills have declined more than Wilder's have since then. He did add that Wilder is often viewed as "a one-trick pony" whose sole effective weapon is a right hand thrown from the right distance, meaning that Fury's best hope is box, move, and elude that right hand for 12 full rounds.

We discussed why the outcome of this evenly-matched fight is hard to predict, the various scenarios of how this fight might play out and differ from their first fight, why Fury's boasting that he will knock out Wilder is one of the least likely outcomes, what each fighter has to do to win, how Fury possibly coming in at a heavier weight than he did for their first fight may affect him, what a victory for either fighter will mean for boxing and the heavyweights, why Anthony Joshua should be ringside for this fight to challenge the winner, and much, much more.

(Photo of Wilder and Fury from Mikey Williams/Top Rank.)

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link does not work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is available at Google Play Music.

Also, No Holds Barred is available at Apple Podcasts.

No Holds Barred is also available on Spotify.

You can also listen to No Holds Barred via Stitcher through iOS or Android devices or on the web here.

The PodOmatic Podcast Player app is available for free, both for Android at Google Play, and for iOS on the App Store.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is sponsored by:

Skullz Combat Sports Equipment, creator of the patented Skullz Double-End Bag, is the perfect punching bag for your combat sports training. Skullz Double-End Bags provide a realistic striking target, and help improve speed, distance, and timing skills. Hang it and hit it right out of the box! No pump required. Skullz Combat Sports Equipment - Advancing combat sports equipment for the next generation of fighters. For more information, go to https://instagram.com/skullzcombatsports and https://facebook.com/skullzcombatsports.

Adolphina Studios. Original art prints and handcrafted fine jewelry. For more information, go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/AdolphinaStudios.

Labels: boxing, Deontay Wilder, Eddie Goldman, Frank Lotierzo, heavyweight, No Holds Barred, rematch, Tyson Fury

by Eddie Goldman

There has suddenly been renewed interest in an obscure 1947 short film produced for the then-called U.S. Department of War called Don't Be a Sucker! The basic theme of this film is anti-racist and anti-fascist, and exposes those who would like to bring Nazism to America.

While this 70-year-old film is surely quite dated, and its message severely limited by the prevailing prejudices of the time, it nevertheless has been reposted online by many following the recent riot by various fascists, Nazis, and white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The film gained even wider attention when Trump declared that the fascist rioters included "very fine people" -- exactly the kind that the U.S. War Department warned against in this film.

While fascism, white supremacy, etc., may be the real big cons, the combat sports world is full of its own, however lesser the consequences may be. The biggest con today, which is apparently getting lots of modern-day suckers to empty their wallets, is the upcoming farcical mismatch between Mayweather and McGregor. And true to many cons, this one has utilized racism, misogyny, anti-LGBT bigotry, and vulgar hysteria to try to peddle its damaged goods.

Some of the best minds in boxing and the combat sports, each with many decades of experience in them, have already commented on and deconstructed this scam. There is thus no need to repeat what has been said and written, nor any desire on our parts to revisit an issue which we would have been quite content to ignore and leave to those either who are part of this con job, or who have no knowledge or understanding of how they are being played for suckers.

So if you haven't already checked these out, here are the links to these articles and podcasts:

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Vs. Conor McGregor Is The Second-Biggest Possible Fuck-You, by Charles Farrell.

Mayweather-McGregor: "The Sting", by Frank Lotierzo.

No Holds Barred: John Perretti on the Mayweather-McGregor Scam.

No Holds Barred: The Disastrous Mayweather-McGregor Con Continues.

Labels: boxing, Charles Farrell, con, Conor McGregor, Don't Be A Sucker, Eddie Goldman, Floyd Mayweather, Frank Lotierzo, John Perretti, MMA, No Holds Barred

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with the noted boxing writer and historian and former fighter, Frank Lotierzo, about the dominant 12th-round TKO victory by Manny Pacquiao over Miguel Cotto November 14 in Las Vegas.

In an in-depth discussion, we analyze the fight itself, the brilliant use of boxing technique by Manny Pacquiao, the place of Pacquiao in boxing history, the potential for a fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year, how the careers of Pacquiao and Mayweather compare, and much more. This is another meaty discussion for fight fans and aficionados, and you do not want to miss it, right here on No Holds Barred.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.

Make sure to visit the official boxing forum for No Holds Barred, the MySpace Boxing Forum.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

GRACIEMAG, the most reliable source of information on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. GRACIEMAG represents Jiu-Jitsu philosophy and features news, profiles, history, photos, videos, and tips and secrets of the mother of all martial arts. Published since 1996 in Brazil, GRACIEMAG: The Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle, is in both English and Portuguese, and is also online at GRACIEMAG.com.

FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.

Labels: Eddie Goldman, Frank Lotierzo, Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather, No Holds Barred

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with our colleague and correspondent Charles Farrell, and veteran boxing journalist and former fighter Frank Lotierzo.

We start by analyzing the August 22 junior welterweight fight between Paulie Malignaggi and Juan Diaz, won by Diaz by a unanimous decision which most observers have described as being unfair at best and a robbery at worst. Then, in a lengthy and lively discussion, we proceed to examine the repercussions of this hotly disputed decision for the sport of boxing, try to assess just how much damage it has caused to this already declining sport, and consider what, if anything, can be done to restore some credibility to boxing. Plus, we also discuss the rivalry between boxing and mixed martial arts. This is an unbiased and brutally frank discussion at the highest level, so make sure to check it out in its entirety.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

You can also order tickets for the 2009 ADCC World Championship, which will be held September 26-27 in Barcelona, Spain, through Ticketmaster.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.

Make sure to visit the official boxing forum for No Holds Barred, the MySpace Boxing Forum.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

Gladiator Magazine, for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

GRACIEMAG, the most reliable source of information on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. GRACIEMAG represents Jiu-Jitsu philosophy and features news, profiles, history, photos, videos, and tips and secrets of the mother of all martial arts. Published since 1996 in Brazil, GRACIEMAG: The Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle, is in both English and Portuguese, and is also online at GRACIEMAG.com.

BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.

Wrestling 411, providing coverage of the sport of wrestling on TV, the Internet, and radio. Wrestling 411 is produced by Media Sports Productions, whose sole mission is the marketing and promotion of the sport of wrestling.

FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.

Labels: boxing, Charles Farrell, Eddie Goldman, Frank Lotierzo, Golden Boy, HBO, Juan Diaz, Lou DiBella, mixed martial arts, MMA, No Holds Barred, Paulie Malignaggi, UFC

NO HOLDS BARRED on PodOmatic

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with boxing writer, historian, and former boxer Frank Lotierzo about the crushing second-round knockout victory by Manny Pacquiao over Ricky Hatton Saturday night, May 2, in Las Vegas.

In a lengthy and pointed interview, we discuss the Pacquiao-Hatton fight itself, the historical significance of Pacquiao's victory, whether Pacquiao can be considered an all-time great, the return to boxing of Floyd Mayweather Jr., the July 18 Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez fight, a potential Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown, what fights of note are coming up in the next few months, and much more about the always intriguing and often perplexing world of boxing.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

Gladiator Magazine, for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear.

BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.

Wrestling 411, providing coverage of the sport of wrestling on TV, the Internet, and radio. Wrestling 411 is produced by Media Sports Productions, whose sole mission is the marketing and promotion of the sport of wrestling.

FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.

Fair Deal for Atlantic City Dealers, a campaign organized by an alliance of casino workers and unions in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to fight for justice in the gaming industry and achieve a fair deal for all casino workers.

Labels: boxing, Eddie Goldman, Floyd Mayweather, Frank Lotierzo, Freddie Roach, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, No Holds Barred, Ricky Hatton

We have a pair of new threads on our online journal of boxing, The Boxing Standard, about this coming Saturday's double dose of title doubleheaders on HBO and Showtime.

On HBO, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, two welterweight title fights will be featured. The undefeated WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (31-0, 25 KOs) will defend his title against the popular Alfonso Gomez (18-3-2, 8 KOs). Also, IBF welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (29-1, 27 KOs) will try to avenge the only defeat of his professional career when he fights Antonio Margarito (35-5, 25 KOs).

Also on April 12, at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, two light heavyweight title fights will be featured on Showtime. The former undisputed light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (26-4, 19 KOs) will try to win another belt when he faces IBF light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods (41-3-1, 24 KOs). Also, one of the rising stars in boxing, WBC light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson (25-0, 17 KOs), will face former world champion Glen Johnson (47-11-2, 32 KOs).

Here are the titles of our most recent articles:

Are You Watching the Fight Saturday Night?

April 12: Good, But Not The Best

Intelligent comments, no matter how short or long, are more than welcome, so stop on by and join the discussion!

Labels: Alfonso Gomez, Antonio Margarito, Antonio Tarver, boxing, Boxing Standard, Chad Dawson, Charles Farrell, Clinton Woods, Eddie Goldman, Frank Lotierzo, Glen Johnson, Kermit Cintron, Miguel Cotto

If you haven’t done so already, it would be well worth your while to visit our new online journal of boxing, The Boxing Standard. Intelligent comments, no matter how short or long, are more than welcome.

Here are the titles of our most recent articles:

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Is James Moore the Next John Duddy?

Monday, March 10, 2008
Bedtime Story

Sunday, March 09, 2008
Some Observations About Last Night's Fights

Saturday, March 08, 2008
135

Thursday, March 06, 2008
Your Weekend Itinerary for March 7-8

The Next Great Champ?

Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Knockout Reporting

NO HOLDS BARRED: Charles Farrell and Frank Lotierzo on the Fight of the Year: Vazquez-Marquez 3

Monday, March 03, 2008
Vazquez-Marquez "Everything Boxing Should Be"

Still They Came

Saturday, March 01, 2008
Why Can’t They All Be Like Vazquez and Marquez?

Stop on by and join the discussion!

Labels: boxing, Boxing Standard, Carlo Rotella, Charles Farrell, Eddie Goldman, Frank Lotierzo

NO HOLDS BARRED on PodOmatic

On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman speaks with our colleagues Charles Farrell and Frank Lotierzo of The Boxing Standard.

Our lengthy discussion focuses mainly on this past Saturday's thrilling rubber match between super bantamweight champion Israel Vazquez and former world champion Rafael Marquez, won by Vazquez by split decision. We analyze this fight, what it means for boxing, how the American boxing media once again largely blew this story, and more.

To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click here and just press the play button on the player.

You can also download it by scrolling down that page and clicking on the download link (right-click to save it).

You can also listen to it through the player on this blog and the NO HOLDS BARRED MySpace page, also by pressing the play button on the player.

Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes.

The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.

The NO HOLDS BARRED theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter.

NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

YAMMA Pit Fighting. The producers of the original UFC and Live Nation, worldwide leaders in live entertainment, present YAMMA Pit Fighting mixed martial arts. On the streets, it's against the law. In the pit, it IS the law.

IFL, the International Fight League, the world's first professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) in the U.S. and to check your local listings for dates and times. Check out the IFL web site, ifl.tv, for a listing of IFL live events and their TV schedule.

Gladiator Challenge, shaking up the mixed martial arts world since 1999, and now with 30 shows per year. For more news and info, check out their web site, GladiatorChallenge.com.

BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.

Gladiator Magazine, for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear.

FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.

Labels: boxing, Boxing Standard, boxing writers, Charles Farrell, Eddie Goldman, Frank Lotierzo, Israel Vazquez, No Holds Barred, Rafael Marquez, Showtime