From the comments I read a few days ago I guess a few of you saw the fight [LOL... anyway, one thing that came to my attention today, actually two related items, and I felt the need to clarify something (u never know who is reading, right?) Apparently in the second round of the fight fans tuning in to the fight were led to believe I said something along the lines that I viewed Hawk as an untalented guy or something...and I just want to make it clear, because Hawk doesnt deserve that, that I wouldnt disrespect a fighter by calling him untalented or anything like that...I wouldnt be that blatant and if anyone here knows Hawk (I know he posts on some message boards) I would appreciate it if you would let him know what I said...I am sure that when asked about the fight I said something like Hawk is not as talented as Godfrey or Hawk wasnt on the level of Matt yet in terms of overall skills, experience, level of comp, etc etc...but if Shawn watches the tape and comes away with the impression that I was degrading him as a boxer, well, I was not...I was merely pointing out that I didn't think he was on the level of Matt Godfrey yet...and I think that was a fair assessment...then, though, apparently Teddy used that to kind of say how "oh, well that explains it then," implying that we chose Shawn Hawk to fight because we had been on a card with him a few months ago in North Dakota and that we chose him because we felt he was a guy we were sure to beat, like we were picking and choosing our opponents and, in this case, were taking what we perceived as an easy road...and I just want to say that is VERY INACCURATE!!!!! The main thing that needs to be put out there is that we didnt choose anyone, Shawn Hawk chose us! The same night of the fight in North Dakota were told that Hawk's father wasn't impressed with us and that he felt his son would beat us. Next thing we know we are offered the main event on ESPN and we are told that Hawk is one of the main ones ESPN wants to put in with us. First it was Aaron Williams and we took it no questions asked but something came up a few days later and that fight was scratched. Then Hawk was offered and we took it no questions asked. So, just to set the record straight, we didn't go looking to fight Shawn Hawk because we thought he was a guy we would beat on TV and it would look good because he was 18-0...it was nothing like that...he chose us and we accepted HIM. One thing I will say about Matt...love him or hate him, he would fight anyone offered...to my knowledge he has never turned down a fight as an amateur or a pro...I was with him when they offered Jeremy Williams and he took it...Aaron Williams, he took it, top rated Rudolph Kraj, took it, Herbie Hide, he took it, Adamek he took it...he has accepted every fight ever offered him and some of them, like the ones I just mentioned, fell out before they could be finalized...and I know some of you are not happy with his performance the other night (even though he won 9 of 10 rounds and outpunched and outlanded his opponent by a wide margin)...but the fact is that this was his fourth ESPN showing, the first 3 ended with early knockout victories and then u have this one...unexciting as it may have been to hard core fans, everybody is all over Matt but very few have (rightfully) pointed out that Hawk threw way less punches than Matt did...Matt is a very good counterpuncher by nature but it is difficult to land great counter shots when your opponent isnt throwing very many shots of his own...and obviously Matt's boxing skills, range, jab, etc are what caused his opponent to not be able to get off like he wanted...so I am not going to sit here and say u all should be ecstatic about the fight because of the things I bring up here...not making any excuses for a victory...just giving reasons why a certain fight may go a particular way...that is all
Well, he did finally step it up in the last two rounds and actually had your man worried. It was the only two rounds Hawk seemed to be Hawk. Too little, too late. The most boring fight in Hawk's, and Godfrey's, respective careers. Can't believed I recorded that dissappointment.
I"m glad that you cleared up the statement about Hawk, because I thought Teddy and you by extension were being way out of line by basically calling the kid an untalented bum on national tv like that. Good to know you aren't that cold and didn't mean to come off like that.
Man, I REALLY hate the fact that it came across like that...I didnt see the tape, someone told me about it...BELIEVE ME, I wouldnt call a guy a bum or a scrub or anything like that...there must have been some miscommunication there somewhere...I might have tried to imply that I felt Godfrey was more talented, experienced etc etc...but would never dismiss a boxer like that...I actually hope someone who knows Hawk can relay him my message... as far as the eneding of the fight Hawk definitely did his best work...to be fair to both guys I look at it like this: Hawk knew it was the end and knew he needed to really press things, as the fight was almost over....Godfrey on the other hand knew in his mind he was way ahead, probably didnt have the same internal desire to finish like gangbusters like Hawd did...thats just human nature and instinct at work there...
Also Teddy was very wrong for insinuating that we picked Hawk because we saw him fight before and felt he would be an easy fight for us...NO, no, no...Hawk picked us! Truthfully, we were told after the fight in North Dakota a few months ago that Hawk's father wasnt impressed with Matt and that his son would beat him...then when this chance on ESPN cam,e up we were offered Shawn by ESPN and accepted it...thats the truth...
Anyone who knows you knows you would never do this. Additionally, anyone who knows you knows you are way too smart to disparage an opponent.
Good to know. How do you see a Godfrey-Flores bout turning out John? I got Flores in a close one. :good
who cares hawk is not that talented. i really wanted to watch the fight but forgot to record and hope to see godfrey in the future
I care, though, I am NOT one to diss a boxer like that...I know people who know me know this but I want EVERYONE to know it...as far as Matt and Flores, one of them would have to press the fight more for it to be TV worthy...and the TV people right now might need to see both of us in with someone else to see how we look before they put us in together...we would take that fight in a minute, though, if it was offered...
As someone who missed the whole "controversy" but watched the fight, I am surprised people took issue with anything that got said. Matt Godfrey proved by about the third round that he was the far superior fighter in terms of skill. Nobody was trying to denigrate Hawk, the fight was just that one sided. It happens sometimes. Besides, anyone who follows boxing closely knows you are a class act. Don't take people on here too seriously Iceman, God knows you have more important things to take care of.
I appreciate that very much, thanks a lot. And yea, its odd...some people are saying that it sounded like I was really disrespecting Shawn while others say it wasnt that big of a deal. I just want to give the give the credit he deserves and let him know that I ddint disrespect him in the manner that some seem to think I did
