Archived Q&A with Jim Lampley

• Q

  

  hboboxing

  Thank you Jim Lampley for joining us for today's Q&A! Jim, what did you think of Pacquiao vs. Marquez 4?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Well it was the fight of the year. It was obviously a violent explosion which sort of encapsuled everything that had happened in the rivalry up to that point. It was as though all the emotions and frustrations that both fighters have mustered from the 36 rounds that didn't seem to provide a convincing result...it was clear that on this night that both fighters wanted to provide a convincing result. It was a classic finish because the fighter who dominated the fight and was reaching and pressing for the KO, left himself open to the other fighter who ultimately got the KO finish.

• Q

  

  Veronica Soundwave Hernandez

  Jim, how is this historical fight symbolic to the sport of boxing?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Number 1, it's a symbol of how older fighters as they progress towards the end of their careers, become more vulnerable and therefore their fights can become more exciting. Neither Pacquiao nor Marquez is as capable of defending himself as was the case a few years ago. That means they risk more and are at risk more. Number 2, it symbolizes the end of Manny Pacquiao's long run at the very top of the sport. Number 3, it shows us that some genuinely great rivalries just don't have a logical stopping point, this one probably isn't over yet.

• Q

  

  Louie Gutierrez

  Has Manny's stardom finally caught up with him, or is jmm getting better at age 30?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Juan Manuel Marquez is definitely getting stronger at age 39. Manny Pacquiao is still a truly great fighter but, it is worth considering that his election to congress and all the new responsibilities that are created probably infringed on his central commitment to boxing.

• Q

  

  Paul Limgenco

  Did Marquez's knockout win last night prove that he is the real winner of their other 3 fights?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  No. This was a different fight between two fighters who are different now than they were one year ago, 5 years ago or 9 years ago. Even though the first 3 fights look so much alike, each one stands alone. They took place at different weight levels and at different moments in these fighter's careers. There is no one story of these fights, there are four stories.

• Q

  

  IamMenyfresh

  Hey Jim what we witnessed last night, was this a end of a Era of boxing at its best? Will there ever be greats of the future?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  I don't know why that would be the case. The sport is 120 years old and everytime one great fighter ages or is eclipsed by another, the wheel keeps turning. 5 years from now we'll be heaping the same kind of glory on 2 other guys, the same way we've been heaping on Pacquiao and Marquez the past 9 years. That wasn't the end of anything.

• Q

  

  Mejia_MarioA

  What made you so emotional during the closing statements of the broadcast?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Because I have a lot of sympathy for Marquez because of the degree to he has lived in the shadow of other fighters. I've known him for more than 15 years and I know his frustration. I know how hard he's had to work to put that behind him and the risks he has taken to do so. If I showed emotion, it was because of the thrill I felt for him. He finally had a moment that put him front and center. He's waited a long time for that.

• Q

  

  theblacdragon

  Do you see a need for a 5th match up between manny and jmm?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  I don't think there is any "need," but I'm sure there will be a demand. Anytime you see something that thrilling, you hover the hope that you might see it again. So, I fully expect to see a 5th fight. From a business standpoint it seems obvious. If Bob Arum goes to Marquez and asks him do you want to fight Brandon Rios for X or do you want to fight Pacquiao again for X plus a lot more, the answer to that is obvious.

• Q

  

  Santiago_AZ

  What Were you feeling when you saw pacquiao Knocked out and seeing him not get up for so long ?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  I thought it was quite fascinating that Juan Manuel Marquez appeared to have suddenly become a devastating one punch KO artist at age 39 and also that one of the central realities of boxing is that you are most vulnerable when you're most on the attack. Never has Pacquiao been more on the attack than at the moment when he got knocked cold.

• Q

  

  PennyWise1983

  Out of all the fights you have been ring-side for, which would you say had the best atmosphere. Thanks?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Joe Calzaghe vs Mikkel Kessler, October 2007, 55K people in a Welsh Soccer Stadium, best fight atmosphere of all time.

• Q

  

  FattyToro

  What do you see as a future fight for Brandon Rios? Do you see Floyd and Sergio going at it in 2013?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  I'll answer the second question first. I do not think Floyd Mayweather will ever take the risk of fighting Sergio Martinez. Rios probably lost his date with Pacquiao on Saturday night and now must look elsewhere while awaiting the outcome of Marquez vs. Pacquiao 5. But Rios is very active, likes to fight, I expect to see him back in the ring soon.

• Q

  

  Anthony Carino

  Do Juan Manuel Marquez Still Have A Couple Fights In Him Left ?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Yes, although he talked retirement on Saturday night. He will have a chance of upward to 15MM dollars to fight Pacquiao again. I know of only 2 fighters in history who have walked away from 8 figure paydays and stayed away. Their names are Marvin Haggler and Lennox Lewis, I do not expect Marquez to extend that list to three.

• Q

  

  WalterLyon

  Did Marquez's decision to utilize strength and conditioning coach, Angel Heredia diminish the win, given his questionable past techniques?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Yes. It is impossible to avoid a certain amount of suspicion and speculation regarding Marquez's training techniques because of Angel Heredia's past. It is all there in black and white, in court records, it is simply unavoidable.

• Q

  

  FattyToro

  What match ups do you want to see happen in 2013?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  I would love to see Sergio Martinez fight Floyd Mayweather but don't expect to see it happen. I would like to see Mayweather fight Canelo Alvarez. I assume we'll see Pacquiao vs. Marquez 5 and that's great. I wouldn't mind a rematch of Rios vs. Alvarado now that Rios has lost his date with Pacquiao. I fully expect to see Martinez and Chavez in the ring together before the end of the year.

• Q

  

  GrantRants

  Jim, before the KO, what did you think about Pacman's performance. To my eye he looked better than he has in a while and had control.

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  Jim Lampley says:

  He had a brilliant gameplan. He was executing it very well. He dominated the fight, except for two right hands by Marquez. I agree, it was the best Pacquiao we have seen in years.

• Q

  

  dallaslatic

  Is there a better counter puncher out there than Juan Manuel Marquez? Where does he rank in your pound for pound list after this fight?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  I have always called him the most creative, offensive fighter in boxing. He is very definitely, the most skilled counter puncher in the sport. But, he has defensive weaknesses which showed the other night. He slipped out of my p4p top 5, a year or two ago. Off the win the other night, I would right now rank him 5th behind Mayweather, Ward, Martinez and Donaire.

• Q

  

  Christian Diaz

  do you think a fight with marquez and richard abril can go down if so, who do you think would win

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  Jim Lampley says:

  No one will want to see Marquez against a defensive counter puncher like Abril. There is simply no market for that fight. People will want to see Marquez in tremendously offensive wars, like he fought in Saturday night. That means Marquez vs. Pacquiao, Rios, Alvarado and others like them.

• Q

  

  dementeny

  Do you think that Manny will ever be the same fighter he was before the KO? As we've seen before KO like this change fighters.

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  Jim Lampley says:

  I do not expect again see Manny Pacquiao at the level he showed in his long run at the top of the sport. That has to do with the KO punch, his life and general, his age and the 61 prize fights in which he has participated.

• Q

  

  Alix2534

  Do you see anything on the 24/7 episodes that surprises you or helps you prepare to call the fight?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Sometimes there are personal moments, even visual moments in the 24/7 episodes which amplify my understanding and expectation of what I am going to see. After 25 years of calling fights and knowing all of the fighters and trainers as I do, I read body language, and so do 24/7's cameras.

• Q

  

  Cardena55019603

  Who do you think would be the best opponent for either fighter now that the rivary is settle between then two?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Regardless of who would be the best opponent, the likely opponent is each other. They just produced the most explosive fight in recent memory. Why wouldn't we want to see it again? I would have no argument against either fighter retiring, in fact, I would celebrate it. But, I don't expect that to happen.

• Q

  

  Joshuaz22

  Do you think there's still a possibility for a Pacquiao/Mayweather fight?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  No. I gave up a year ago. Saturday night sealed the deal. It's a terrible loss for boxing which I will never understand.

• Q

  

  rextex3000

  Hey Jim out of all the fights you were ringside for, which ones had the most controversial decisions and how shock were you by the calls?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Pacquaio-Bradley was a shock. Briggs over Foreman was worst I have ever seen. Lewis-Holyfield I still a tragedy for the sport.

• Q

  

  John Stallings

  Jim, I'm a huge fan of boxing and I'm a huge fan of you. Which fight that you called was the greatest?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Gatti-ward I still tops list of MANY candidates.

• Q

  

  Alberto Hernandez

  Jim, which have been the 3 most memorable fight nights you have hosted? and why?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Too many to choose from here. All the way back to Tyson-Spinks, huge atmosphere and anticipation. Lewis-Tyson because we waited YEARS and I wasn't sure it would ever happen. Calzaghe-Kessler, most significant all-Euro fight in recent years, 55 000 people in Cardiff soccer stadium, incomparable crowd atmosphere. Could go on all day.

• Q

  

  hboboxing

  That's all the time we have for today's Q&A. Jim is there anything else you'd like to say to your fans before we go?

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  Jim Lampley says:

  Thank you to all boxing fans who have been so supportive of our boxing telecasts and particularly supportive of "On Freddie Roach" and "The Fight Game with Jim Lampley." I could not be more grateful to every subscriber who tunes in.