Ray Mancini talks PBC on FOX fights

Badlefthook.com

The chat got off to a horrid start when I forgot that he was the once and eternal fighting pride of Youngstown, Ohio.

But Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini didn’t hold it against me, showing again that his decency and chill factor hasn’t diminished over the decades.

Boom Boom touched down in NY and was at Barclays Center on Thursday, as part of the FOX crew with Kate Abdo and Shawn Porter, covering the final presser for the Saturday card at the Brooklyn fight hot spot.

After I stepped in it, we got back on track, and he shared his analysis on what he thinks we’ll see come Saturday, on FOX free.

After Mancini, 57, wrested himself away from a fan who was asking about one of his wars (in 1984, 1985) with Livingstone Bramble we talked Jermell Charlo vs Tony Harrison and Jermall vs Matt Korobov.

“Three great fights, Jermell Charlo against Tony Harrison, it was a little weird Tony saying he was there for the payday, little weird, little lacking for him to say that, but he’s a good fighter. Do I think he poses problems? It depends on how good his chin is, if he can come back from getting hit, he’ll put on a good fight,” Mancini told Bad Left Hook.

“I think Korobov aesthetically for the fans it’s a better fight (than versus Willie Monroe), but training for a guy who moves, not a big puncher, now fighting a guy who punches pretty good who comes at ya — better for him, guy coming at him — but I think it’s gonna be exciting. Korobov’s got a shot, a lotta heart, he could be a headache. He’s got no pressure, he’s got no expectations, it’s the best kind of fight, what’s he got to lose?”

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