I hope you’re right. Thank you.

Very nice of you to let me know. Thank you.

Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.

I’m flattered. This is a wonderful response. Thanks.

That’s sounds like a proper thank you to me. Much appreciated.

I really appreciate your doing that. Thank you.

Thank you, man. Time is definitely a motherfucker.

Thanks for the thumbs up. I agree that Hopkins’s going through his routine, and assuming that sage matchmaking would carry him through was imprudent. But, unlike with musicians, there comes a time that, no matter how diligent in your preparation you are or how active on the live stage, you’re not going to remain…

I’m definitely being unfair to Lawlor—probably more than a little. And I understand that, as an opponent, you take the fights. And if the wins are there, you take them too. My disapproval is subjective, based on issues of artistry, mostly.

Thanks, man. I’ll try to do a worthwhile piece on Hagler one of these days.

He does, doesn’t he?

Thanks for letting me know that you enjoyed the piece. I’m very appreciative.

Thanks for the kind words. To be clear: I think he was great. But, if you’re comparing him to all-time greats, he didn’t have the competition, the freedom to learn by losing or being in fights where he was forced to struggle, or the natural talent to be included among the best of the best.

I’d say he was a great fighter, Not nearly as great as he made himself out to be, but great nonetheless.

It’s tricky. Miami is so close to Cuba in many ways, and the exiles feel at home there to an extent. Boxing is never just about boxing; culture inevitably factors in. So, while the Cuban fighters might be better appreciated outside the States, they might not have the day to day support that they get in a community…

I don’t think I’d have time. But Hamilton Nolan’s piece on Ward-Kovalev (referenced a couple of posts below) is as good as boxing writing gets.