Las Vegas Boxing Examiner | Chris Robinson
If there is anything that Lou Dibella knows, it’s boxing. Before venturing off and starting his own promotional firm, Dibella was the head of programming for HBO Sports for ten years and has a deep love and knowledge for all the good and bad that the sport of boxing encompasses.
Over the years Dibella Entertainment has played host to a nice selection of world class fighter, from former Middleweight champions Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor to rising standouts such as WBC Welterweight champion Andre Berto and former Jr. Welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi.
Dibella was in Chicago, Illinois this past weekend as the above mentioned Malignaggi was scheduled for a heavily desired rematch against Juan ‘Baby Bull’ Diaz at the UIC Pavilion. Malignaggi claimed to have been robbed in his first encounter with the Mexican slugger in Houston, Texas this past August and had been vocal ever since. This past weekend Paulie put everything together in producing one of his finest boxing performances, capturing a 116-111 victory on all three judges’ scorecards.
After seeing one his prized fighters perform so well, Dibella was all smiles afterwards. He was more than gracious to all fans and reporters who approached him and spoke about an endless list of topics, from Paulie’s win, his plans for the rest of the year, and even the upcoming Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather showdown. When ask his thoughts on seeing the Filipino icon and American superstar linking up, Dibella came off as a fan first.
“I’m dying to see the fight like everyone else,” Dibella said with a genuine exuberance in his voice. “I think it’s a great clash of styles. About two months ago I would have said honestly that Pacquiao has no shot because Mayweather is so fast and he wouldn’t be able to catch him. But now I think differently.”
The key reason that Dibella thinks differently has to do with the fact that Pacquiao is coming off of one of his most impressive performances to date in stopping proven champion Miguel Cotto on November 14th at the MGM Grand. With the win Pacquiao captured the WBO Welterweight title and also changed many people’s perceptions of him, yet again.
“What I saw in the Cotto fight was like ‘wow’,” Dibella gushed. “That’s a real fight now. Pacquiao-Mayweather is our Superbowl. As a boxing fan and a boxing professional that’s the fight I want to see.”
In closing Dibella took a look at the contrast in styles between each man. While obviously being respectful of Mayweather’s skills and what he brings into the ring, Dibella noted that Floyd has a lot to look out for if he ends up facing Pacquiao on March 13th.
“He has to watch out for the power and the workrate. He’s got to watch out for the fact that Pacquiao doesn’t fade late. He’s got to use his speed and stay in control and within himself and just box, box, box.”
Source: Examiner.com
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