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Ross (Canton, Ohio)

Max, Two questions: First, tell me why I should go buy Built 4 Cuban Linx and Liquid Swords. You mentioned them a couple of weeks ago, and now I'm intrigued. Second, do you think Barrera-Pacquiao will go the distance? What's your prediction? Thanks, and keep up the good work!!

Max Kellerman

  (3:11 PM)

Hello everyone, and congratulations to me on my first "Around the Horn" anniversary. All I can tell you is that once you skip the first song, Only Built for Cuban Linx is a strong candidate for greatest album of all time any genre. Liquid Swords is also a classic, but its a little more mood music as opposed to music-to-be-listened-to-as-primary-activity music. "Rainy Days "(#6 Cuban Linx) one of the greatest ever - and there are 4-5 more songson the album on that level.Now, I think Barrera will respect Pacquiao's power, and therefore box carefully. He will eventually break Pacquiao down and stop him late.

Dario

Take my question for once. On FNF(after a big fight like Delahoya-Mosley or Mayorga-Forrest), why does Brian Kenny always say "we" scored the fight 116-112(or any score)for Fighter A. Is it just a coinsidence that you and Brian always score a fight the same way? Do you have one collective brain? I would much prefer to hear your score of a fight and then his, instead of him saying "we" all the time.

Max Kellerman

  (3:14 PM)

Often times two guys who watch fight together come to a consensus scorecard - that is they discus and then score rounds that could go either way together. Most in the media do this without realizing it. Brian and I are conscious of it and do it anyway, then we call attention to it in order to excuse it. Clever of us isn't it? There are many fights however, that we watch together and come to different scores. By the way, I hate scoring fights. Its work. I like watching and enjoying fights.

Greg (RI)

How tough is Tiger Balletto? That guy took a beating Friday and kept coming back for more.

Max Kellerman

  (3:16 PM)

There is no such thing as a guy tougher than Gary Balletto. By the way, how good is Goyo Vargas. This guy was giving Kevin Kelley all he could handle a decade ago! He also gave Mayweather a pretty good fight at 130.

mike (antioch, ca)

max, who do you think winsa fight between juan manuel marquez vs. marco antonio barrera and do you think the fight will be made?

Max Kellerman

  (3:18 PM)

I think Marquez boxes well enough to upset Barrera. Marquez is not a face first fighter (not that Barrera is either - anymore), and guys like Freddy Norwood and Derrick Gainer who chose to stink Marquez out can do so because Juan Manuel will not change his tactics to accomodate either his counterpunching opponent or the action-starved fans. Juan Manuel still has not won a dog fight and we still need to know how tough he is, but his talent and skill cannot be questioned.

Sully (Levittown, NY)

Does Toney have a chance against McCline?

Max Kellerman

  (3:19 PM)

I think Toney beats McCline.

Carlos (Mexico City, Mexico)

Max, settle this for me please: semifinals: Salvador Sanchez vs Erik Morales and M.A. Barrera vs Carlos Zarate. Who gets to the final and who wins it all? Thanks

Max Kellerman

  (3:22 PM)

Zarate, was at his best at 118, while Barrera was at his best at 126. At 122 Zarate might win, at 126 Barrera wins. Sanchez would outbox Morales by a little and win on points. If Barrera fought Sanchez carefully he would lose on points, if he really put the pressure on, Sanchez would knock him out.

Nunz, New York

Hey Max!! I'm only 19 and I started watching boxing when I was around 12 and Roy Jones Jr. is by far the best boxer I have ever seen. Who's the best you've seen? Top 5?

Max Kellerman

  (3:24 PM)

Roy Jones. Though if fighters who fought before I was born count, then I have to say that the Ray Robinson I saw on home movies taken when he was fighting at 147 pounds probably takes it. Inm my lifetime: 1.Roy Jones, 2.Pernell Whitaker, 3.Roberto Duran, 4.Sugar Ray Leonard, 5.Evander Holyfield/Salvador Sanchez.

Culley, Fairbanks Alaska

I'm looking at the pole on Espn.com, and how could anyone give Tarver a chance against RJJR? I think the only way Jones loses is to not show up.

Max Kellerman

  (3:25 PM)

Or, in his rush to hurt Tarver, he rushes into a big left hand.

paco east chicago ,indiana

hey max sweet pea #10 all time of last 80 years in ring magazine pleeeeease.chavez was robbed since when did sweet pea engage in classic wars or sell out 135,000 at aztec stadium?

Max Kellerman

  (3:29 PM)

The only thing Chavez was robbed ofwas a loss. Whitaker was more dominant than Chavez in every division in which he competed, and then clearly demonstrated his superiority over Chavez when they met in the ring. The idea that the Whitaker-Chavez fight was a passing of the torch is ridiculous. The Whitaker-Chavez fight was a confirmation of the obvious. Once Whitaker beat Haugen andthen Tyson lost to Douglas, Whitaker was clealry the best fighter, pound for pound in the world, until Roy Jones caught him about five years later. Whitaker did not engage in classic wars in his prime because no one could compete with him.

Geo(UCLA)

Now that Mayweather finally showed his worth do you actually believe he would have a shot the top notch opponents in the 140's let alone 154 and Oscar DLH?

Don (Baltimore)

Max, does anyone south of 147, who's name is not Vernon Forrest, have a chance against Floyd? Also, who do you like Floyd v. Kostya, Floyd v. Zab Judah?

Max Kellerman

  (3:32 PM)

I deal with the Mayweather issue in this week's column. I will here say: let's take it one weight division at a time. I agree that Mayweather is too much for anyone 135 pounds or less. I would also pick Floyd against anyone at 140. But let's see how he looks at 140 before comparing him to the 147 and 154 pounders.

J.R. Sniper

Max, do you think that Antonio Tarver has made a big mistake in giving Roy Jones Jr. emotional incentive, anger and a want to really hurt him,in their upcoming fight on saturday ?

Max Kellerman

  (3:36 PM)

As I wrote in my column a couple of weeks ago, Tarver's enraging Roy (if in fact Roy is enraged) might bring out the very best in Roy by making Roy more aggressive, but then again, if Roy is more aggressive, he might also be more defensively vulnerable. Tarver can really hit with the left hand - ask Eric Harding.

Max Kellerman

  (3:39 PM)

Alright, I have to run. Thanks for chatting, and watch "Around the Horn" (weekdays 5pm ET) and Friday Night Fights. As always, let me end by telling you all to support everything I do so that I can become rich beyond your wildest imaginations. -Max