Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA The Seventh Letter
AKA I can’t leave the Streets alone, The Game needs Me
The Guide to Getting More out of Life http://www.thegmanifesto.com
(Want to see something in The G Manifesto? Send suggestions to thegmanifesto@yahoo.com)
Two of boxing’s greatest practitioners will toe the line on July 21st, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins and Ronald “Winky” Wright. This fight does not necessarily shape up to be the most exciting fight, but should be a real tactical war. Both fighters should be hungry and after one more significant win.
Bernard Hopkins is a future Hall of Famer and defended his middleweight title 20 straight times. I have rolled in his Entourage plenty of times and I know he is a very hungry and is as intense as they come (If you watch tapes of Hopkins fights from the late 90’s its easy to pick me out in his Entourage; I am the handsome, young, sharp dressed guy, usually Versace or Armani’d down, also the only guy who is not African American). Hopkins is a tough customer that can almost always find a way to win with his rough and tumble style. He is a defensive master who has patience to wait for an opening then strikes. His boxing style is a lot like my Game.
Hopkins has power, but has usually knocked out opponents by grinding them down. He should be physically stronger than Wright, but I think his mental strength is what is going to give him an edge.
Winky Wright is a defensive master with a venomous jab. He keeps his hands very high, but is also adept at slipping punches. He has two big wins over Sugar Shane Mosley, a dominant victory over Felix “Tito” Trinidad, and a good win over Ike “Bazooka” Quartey. With his airtight defense he has looked very dominant over otherwise great fighters.
The Prediction
Although Hopkins final days have to be soon (he is 42 years old), I think he has one more great performance left. If there is anyone out there that can solve the puzzle that is Winky Wright it is Hopkins. He is really going to have to be aggressive, but willing to exchange, and rough up Winky. On the flip side, Winky might dominate Hopkins. But I think Hopkins win over Antonio Tarver proves that he still has plenty left. I see Hopkins taking a hard fought decision. That is of course if the judges see it that way. The Rest is Up to You………
Side Note:
Let’s hope Arturo Gatti stays retired. The only category that Gatti beat Alfonso Gomez in was “better hair” during their fight last Saturday. Having “better hair” is important for a Playboy out on the town, but in a boxing ring it doesn’t matter too much. However, Gatti was swooping a pretty fly girl after the fight so the night wasn’t a total loss…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA The Seventh Letter
AKA I can’t leave the Streets alone, The Game needs Me
The Guide to Getting More out of Life http://www.thegmanifesto.com
(Want to see something in The G Manifesto? Send suggestions to thegmanifesto@yahoo.com)
On the evening of July 14th in Atlantic City, we might have the Fight of The Year when two boxers/playboys, Arturo “Thunder” Gatti and Alfonso Gomez square off. Alfonso Gomez is best known for “The Contender” series (the only reality show I really watch, save America’s Next Top Model, which I only watch because I have swooped on a bunch of the girls that have been on that Show), where he proved himself to be an action packed fighter with plenty of heart. Unless you have lived under a rock for the last 16 years, you know Arturo Gatti as the most action packed fighter with the most heart of our generation. Hell, he has been involved in four of Ring Magazine’s Fights of the Year, and has at least a dozen more that could easily have taken those honors. The big questions for this fight are: How much does Gatti have left? And, Is Gomez the real deal? We will find out on July 14th in a fight that is all but guaranteed to be dope.
An interesting side not is that Mickey Ward will be working Gatti’s corner. You know Mickey Ward, the guy that went to the best war of the 2000’s (the war in Iraq being the worst war of the 2000’s) in a trilogy with Gatti. It will be interesting to see if Ward will be a plus in his corner. He will get Gatti in shape, no doubt, but will he tell Gatti to box and jab and not war? But I truly believe that having Ward as a motivator for Gatti will help. Gomez is for sure the hungrier fighter.
Good Gatti Video
Everyone loves a warrior. And throughout his whole career, Arturo has been The quintessential warrior. Gomez appears to be the heir apparent. We will see on June 14th. Let’s break it down:
Big edge to Gatti. His left hook to the body is the thing nightmares are made of. (Which is weird because my Game is the thing that gives nightmares to rival players.) Gomez can punch, but hasn’t shown the kind of one punch power that Gatti can.
LL Cool J, Mamma Said Knock You Out
Physical Attributes
I have sparred with Gatti and he is a monster, but Gomez is the Natural welterweight. This could be dangerous for Gatti, since Gomez is somewhat like Carlos Baldomir in this respect.
Gatti VS Ward
Hand Speed
This is an interesting one. Gatti would appear to have the faster hands, but if Gomez can rough up Gatti, we could see him slow down considerably.
Good Gatti Video
Footwork
Same as hand speed. Gatti would appear to have the edge, but in the middle rounds when this fight show turn into an all out war, this could be even.
Defense
Gomez is no Pernell Whitaker or Winky Wright, but Gatti’s defense is like regular guy’s Game in a Nightclub: Full of holes.
Gatti is as durable as a VVS diamond. But he cuts if you breathe on him too heavy. He cuts easier than window glass of a socialite’s mansion that you are heisting. Gomez has proven to be mighty durable against the competition he has faced so far. Keep in mind though; the competition Gomez has faced couldn’t lace up the gloves of the competition Gatti has faced.
LL Cool J ft. Keith Murray, Fat Joe & Foxy Brown- I Shot Ya (G Manifesto Certified Track)
Heart
Not to take anything away from Gomez, but nobody can be Gatti in this category (save your humble author). If the chips are down, Gatti only becomes more dangerous. A coward dies a thousand deaths and a warrior dies just one. If Gatti loses, best believe he will be carried out on his shield.
Gatti come from behind win
Killer instinct
Gatti. If Gatti has got you, then he has got you. He can kill you fast, he can kill you slow, and he isn’t afraid to put a tag on your toe.
Endurance
Gomez being the younger man, should have a slight edge here.
Ring Generalship
Gatti has been in more wars than Alexander the Great. He knows his way around the ring. Sometimes, when he gets into trouble, however he forgets to clinch. This can get him into serious trouble. But keep in mind, this is why people love Gatti so much, he is a flawed warrior (unlike why people like me so much, I my Game has zero flaws, but I still remain The Peoples Champ).
This fight will come down to heart as I see it. And I would love to see Gatti pull off one more miracle. But the good news is, if Gatti does lose, we will have another warrior to take his place. Alfonso Gomez.
No disrespect to Gomez, but I will be strongly in Gatti’s corner come July 14th. As far as the smart money? I am placing my bet right before the fight (I still have to assimilate some data). But you can bet that you will hear about who I picked after the fight. The Rest is Up to You……….
“Mason delivers like Holyfield in the 9th once again. I learned from underground sources of your “lock down” on the gentlemen’s clubs in NYC, NO, LA, Vegas and Miami for some time now, and it is a work of art to say the least. What is your policy on being strapped in a club? Grinder and shakers could feel the piece, so to speak. Word on the street is your order take out from the finest restaurants in town to your booth and you hand feed the meat performers the finest pâté, caviar and escargot money can buy? I tend to think you leave out key elements in your manifesto’s out of fear a up and coming top G like myself may dissect key ingredients to your finest dishes?
In any event, exotics are exotics, much like a zoo exhibit and I even heisted a few in my day just for fun, making out with hard cash, soiled panties and even one exotics rollie. I know it sounds cruel, but a G is a G, and we do what we do best! A toast to you Mason on another hard hitting manifesto.”
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA The Seventh Letter
AKA I can’t leave the Streets alone, The Game needs Me
The Guide to Getting More out of Life http://www.thegmanifesto.com
(Want to see something in The G Manifesto? Send suggestions to thegmanifesto@yahoo.com)
Side note:
The Fernando Vargas VS Ricardo Mayorga could also be the Fight of the Year. Good press conference. Good Business. Machismo.
LL Cool J, Rock The Bells (G Manifesto Certified Track)
The Golden Boy VS The Pretty Boy is in the books. Here are some thoughts:
The fight wasn’t that close
Mayweather put on a masterful performance and completely out-boxed De La Hoya. The judges were obviously swayed by a crowd that seemed to be pro-De La Hoya outside of like two-hundred people. Every time De La threw a punch (most of which didn’t land), every blond, fake Dior wearing, silicone enhanced Platinum Digger in the crowd went bonkers. As we know, Platinum Diggers can get their scream on. Mayweather’s clean punches were greeted with silence. The judges shouldn’t have been so swayed. The judge that had Oscar winning was more out of his mind than an early 90’s pig-tailed Rave Girl on E-Tabs. I had it 8 rounds to four, Mayweather. The second half of the fight he had Oscar in deep water. In a 15 round fight, Mayweather would have drowned him. (I am not going to say “I told you so” but I knew Oscar has trouble with skillful fast boxers, read: Cinco de Mayweather: De La Hoya VS Mayweather)
Oscar had the ring he wanted, the weight he wanted and the gloves he wanted. Mayweather was a clear two weight classes smaller that Oscar. And he was still able to make pretty easy work of the future Hall of Famer. Oscar deserves mad credit as well as he has had a career of stepping into the ring with anyone. That’s gangster.
Eric B. & Rakim- Don’t Sweat The Technique, G Manifesto Certified Track
Larry Merchant
Larry Merchant gave one of the most biased commentating sessions anyone has ever heard. He couldn’t make a single comment that was Positive towards Mayweather or negative toward The Golden Boy. Oscar and Merchant also exchanged a weird look at the end of the fight that made me uncomfortable. At least congratulate Mayweather for winning the Richest Prizefight in Boxing History.
Lampley is typically one of the classiest figures in Boxing. Which makes it seem so strange that he took the opportunity to take a parting shot at Mixed Martial Arts:
“Will boxing have to cede its place on the stage to other fighting forms, like mixed martial arts? Mixed martial arts is entertaining. The kind of skill level you saw in the ring tonight – there’s nothing in mixed martial arts which is within light years of what Mayweather and De La Hoya are able to do with their hands.”
If Lampley is worried about the “younger demographic” liking MMA more than Boxing, dissing MMA isn’t the best way to go about getting new fans.
MMA VS Boxing
MMA and Boxing are two different sports, end of story. All the talk of Mayweather would get killed by whoever is the UFC champ in the Octagon is worthless. Tiger Woods would kill Michael Jordan on the Golf Course and vice versa, Allen Iverson would destroy Wayne Gretsky on the asphalt and vice versa, Smelly Kater would dismantle Jerek Deter surfing and vice versa, Smarty Jones would crush Amarillo Slim on the Race Track and vice versa. I would beat them all in a Swooping Models and Exotic Dancers Game Competition and I have guys in my crew that would beat all of them in a Street Fight with Gun Play. It is what it is.
Boxing and MMA can co-exist. There are people that just like watching fighting and combat sports. I am one of those. If I lived in Ancient Rome, I would be ringside at The Colosseum, dressed in the height of fashion, with two Italian girls feeding me grapes, gluping Vino, while watching Gladiators kill each other. True G’s will always appreciate both sports.
Max Kellerman
Kellerman deserves some props for firing back at Lampley with this:
“I disagree with Jim. I think there are mixed martial artists who are operating on a very similar skill level in what they do to these fighters and that’s one of the reasons that the sport’s becoming very popular.”
Kellerman, keep in mind, is the heir-apparent for the commentating crown and was smart to take advantage of Lampley’s bad move. Kellerman wins by decision.
Side Note I:
Vargas VS Mayorga is in the works but HBO seems like they don’t want the fight. Bad play. This could be the most action packed fight on the Docket.
Side Note II:
Gatti and Ward together again. This time Ward will be in Gatti’s corner against Alfonso Gomez of Contender fame (the only reality show I can really stomach). Should be can’t miss action between two Playboy/Boxers.
Eric B. & Rakim- Juice, G Manifesto Certified Track
Side Note III:
Boxing should take a page out of the UFC’s book and start promoting Boxing Cards not just one big fight.
Side Note IV:
Hit a trifecta on the Kentucky Derby earlier in the day and rolled the winnings into Mayweather by Decision and rolled that into a late dinner with six twenty-one year old Southern California girls with my main Running Partner. Like Butch and Sundance. Outlaw G’s. Not a bad way to start Summer….. The Rest is Up to You……..
Rock and Roll Gangster by Aalon, summertime G Manifesto Track
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA The Golden Pretty Boy
The Guide to Getting More out of Life http://www.thegmanifesto.com
(Want to see something in The G Manifesto? Send suggestions to thegmanifesto@yahoo.com)
Many people are expecting the sport of Boxing to fade away after Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. meet in the Ring on May 5th Fight Night in Las Vegas. If the fight is anything less than great, the fading is predicted to much quicker. I for one, think it is going to be a fight well worth watching and interesting to figure out who will win.
Fight The Power by Public Enemy (G Manifesto Certified Track)
After Floyd Mayweather Jr. completely dismantled Diego Corrales back in 2001 (remember Corrales was like 30-0 with 27 KO’s and largely considered unbeatable at 6 feet tall and 130lbs) I swore I would never bet against Mayweather. I could tell that he was a fighter that comes along very infrequently. And although I think Oscar De La Hoya has many advantages going into the fight with Mayweather (Size, Power to name two) I have a difficult time thinking De La can win. Three reasons:
The “Sugar” Shane Mosley Fights
Sure the second one was very close, but the first one Mosley cooked Oscar. And Shane ginsued Oscar for one reason: Speed. Sure, I know all the talk about Mosley sparring with Oscar to get him ready and all that, but Mayweather is a far superior technician that Mosley ever was.
“Officially” Oscar won this fight. And Oscar showed a ton of heart with his round 12 rally. But anyone who can add up rounds knows that Quartey mathematically won this fight and Oscar got a gift from the judges. Oscar didn’t want any part of a rematch either. Quartey had a jab that was a battering ram and probably better than even Mayweather’s jab, but Mayweather is a far more complete fighter that Quartey. The only reason that Oscar closed the show so hard was that Quartey gassed. Something Mayweather does not do.
Side Note I:
Quartey went on to become one of Ghana’s most successful business men. Ironically, he was robbed again after most observers thought he had out boxed Vernon “The Viper” Forrest in his comeback.
The Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker Fight
“Officially” Oscar won this fight also. But anyone with working eyes and a heart beat knows that Sweet Pea won the fight with The Golden Boy. Many fights seem closer with repeated viewings; Hagler vs Leonard or De La vs Mosely II for instance. Each time you watch De La vs Whitaker the fight seems like a wider margin in which Whitaker won. In fact, it’s hard to find instances in which Oscar even laid a glove on Whitaker. But here you had a rising star with tremendous box-office appeal against an East Coast fighter with far less earning power. Again, Oscar didn’t really jump at a rematch. You know Pernell wanted one, he never got hit.
Analyzing those three fights show that Oscar has had mad trouble with fast, skillful boxers. The question you need to ask is:
Is De La Hoya better than he was today at 34 years old than he was when he fought those guys? I am not really sure. Being 34 years old is good for an International Playboy on the Rise picking up on Models girls in South Beach and Paris. Being 34 years old in a boxing ring is not good. Also consider that De La has not defeated a fighter of any significance since Ferocious Fernando Vargas…in 2002! (no disrespect to Ricardo Mayorga who is a significant fighter, but tailor made for Oscar).
But I read a quote from one of the men I respect most in boxing Angelo Dundee (G Manifesto Hall of Fame Member). (My Grandfather knew Dundee quite well and I had the pleasure of meeting him and Muhammad Ali, another G Manifesto Hall of Fame Member, many times as a kid). His quote read:
“This is a great fight and we are so grateful because boxing needs that shot in the arm. Mayweather has never fought a guy as big and talented as De La Hoya. The good big man almost always beats the good little man. I see it going the distance and De La Hoya winning convincingly.”
If there is one thing I have learned in life, it is don’t underestimate Angelo Dundee’s opinion.
So there you have it. Boxing has many people predicting that “The World Awaits” will be Boxing’s last gasp of air before certain death, I only hope that there will be two winners on May 5th: Boxing and The People!
Side note II:
I really don’t think Floyd has been the smartest guy in the world for walking around his house with $100,000 cash on national TV. There are plenty of heist men out there. Ski Masks and Mack 11’s with silencers.
Side note III:
The Kentucky Derby is also on May 5th. This means May 5th is the official start of summer on The G Manifesto Calendar. (I guess I will have to be at the Derby during the day and Jet out to Vegas at night for the Fight). Let’s all take a moment and review tactics for The Race Track and a Formula for Resort Style.
“I had a feeling you would pop up a few weeks before the Golden Boy takes his chances with Floyd. I assume there will be multiple sticks dangling on the event from your end? Having set up shop multiple evenings at the Sunset since becoming a G, I always seem to score a knockout with the females and never pay for a room. For instance last month I took that LA nightlife princess hotel heiress chick for a spin on my French tickler and sent her back to her DJ boyfriend gimping like a Vietnam Vet. I enjoy the views, especially the one I had of another high end European swimsuit model pinned up against the window sill last week. Currently I am on a Leer Jet about 6 beans deep, my nose is powdered like a Krispie Kreme doughnut and I am on my way to Turks & Caico’s for brief case exchange and after orgy with 5 Brazilian models that will cost me 40K. I will see you ringside come May Mr. Mason, until then stay out of my mansion in Laguna with your cat mask, I assume the Monet that is missing from my den was your work!”
