What do you think of James Kirkland ?

[leftylee]

I just rewatched his fight with Vera and he seemed a little one-dimesnsional. He put on a great performance don't get me wrong and floored him multiple times but he just relied solely on his power. He could get exposed when he steps up. He could do with getting a better trainer, Your thoughts ?

[killersheep]

I agree with you here, I think Wolfe has done a great job of making him tough, but now he needs to learn more fundamental skills. Someday he's going to run into someone with a chin like Vera's but actually has a slight level of boxing ability and that spells trouble for him. He is an exciting fighter though and I think he is in a division where he could do some damage even as he stands now. His stamina ultimately will be his downfall though.

[Wayne]

I agree with you here, I think Wolfe has done a great job of making him tough, but now he needs to learn more fundamental skills. Someday he's going to run into someone with a chin like Vera's but actually has a slight level of boxing ability and that spells trouble for him. He is an exciting fighter though and I think he is in a division where he could do some damage even as he stands now. His stamina ultimately will be his downfall though.

I think his stamina is typically good, but not for this fight. He needs to keep Wolfe. Just like with Jermain Taylor, you could bring in a better trainer and get a worse result. He and Wolfe are very close, like siblings and I think far more harm would be done to his progress if she weren't around. Bring in someone who knows what she doesn't to teach him and I guarantee you the Junior Middleweight division will have a monster on its hands. And then the Middleweight division.

[killersheep]

I agree with you here, I think Wolfe has done a great job of making him tough, but now he needs to learn more fundamental skills. Someday he's going to run into someone with a chin like Vera's but actually has a slight level of boxing ability and that spells trouble for him. He is an exciting fighter though and I think he is in a division where he could do some damage even as he stands now. His stamina ultimately will be his downfall though.

I think his stamina is typically good, but not for this fight. He needs to keep Wolfe. Just like with Jermain Taylor, you could bring in a better trainer and get a worse result. He and Wolfe are very close, like siblings and I think far more harm would be done to his progress if she weren't around. Bring in someone who knows what she doesn't to teach him and I guarantee you the Junior Middleweight division will have a monster on its hands. And then the Middleweight division.

I think Sergio Martinez would pick apart and decimate Kirkland, I'm excited with the influx of good fighters emerging at 154. I understand what you are saying about a new trainer, but don't you feel Kirkland has learned what he can from Wolfe?

[Trainer Monkey]

It isnt the trainer,his fundamental flaws are all his own,he doesnt trust his jab,and tends to pursue right to his fighter. I highly doubt that the all time greatest female fighter didnt mention cutting the ring or getting his jab going. Put him in with Emanuel Roach McGirt III esquire,and unless he decides to trust his jab and cuts the ring,you'll get the exact same result

[killersheep]

It isnt the trainer,his fundamental flaws are all his own,he doesnt trust his jab,and tends to pursue right to his fighter. I highly doubt that the all time greatest female fighter didnt mention cutting the ring or getting his jab going. Put him in with Emanuel Roach McGirt III esquire,and unless he decides to trust his jab and cuts the ring,you'll get the exact same result

Using Emanuel as an example look what he did with Klitschko with his jab, he went from not using it to using it to dominate his opponents.

[Wayne]

I agree with you here, I think Wolfe has done a great job of making him tough, but now he needs to learn more fundamental skills. Someday he's going to run into someone with a chin like Vera's but actually has a slight level of boxing ability and that spells trouble for him. He is an exciting fighter though and I think he is in a division where he could do some damage even as he stands now. His stamina ultimately will be his downfall though.

I think his stamina is typically good, but not for this fight. He needs to keep Wolfe. Just like with Jermain Taylor, you could bring in a better trainer and get a worse result. He and Wolfe are very close, like siblings and I think far more harm would be done to his progress if she weren't around. Bring in someone who knows what she doesn't to teach him and I guarantee you the Junior Middleweight division will have a monster on its hands. And then the Middleweight division.

I think Sergio Martinez would pick apart and decimate Kirkland, I'm excited with the influx of good fighters emerging at 154. I understand what you are saying about a new trainer, but don't you feel Kirkland has learned what he can from Wolfe?

He came up in large part with Wolfe, both of them being trained by the same person before she took the reigns. He probably knows everything she would tell him to do backwards and forwards. I'm talking about what her absence would do to him psychologically. Some guys do worse with a better trainer because they just don't gel right. Like Jermain Taylor and Emmanuel Steward. Does anyone think Manny wasn't better than the trainer Taylor went back to? Kirkland has a deep respect with Wolfe that probably wouldn't be there the same way with a new trainer and he wouldn't train right and wouldn't respond the way a new trainer would want him to.

[Wayne]

If Kirkland had to switch trainers the one person I can think of who could make it work is Floyd Mayweather Sr. Now I'm not saying it would work out, but the best chance for success would be there. Also, Sr. as his trainer would probably be the most likely to explode. Mayweather would shore up his defense and that mouth would be running non-stop until Kirkland heard it in his sleep. There wouldn't be any way for him to forget his fundamentals. The problem would lie in Kirkland being able to set his ego aside to do what he's told, but I don't know how problematic that would be for a guy who trains by chasing a heavybag attached to a moving truck or wrestling out of the grip of several guys in the ring.

[Boom Boom]

Tough guy who likes to fight and can smell blood. I dont think he will do well against a good boxer though cause as you said he relies a lot on his power and lacks a sound defence. A guy like Forrest, or even Spinks, would trouble him (assuming either has anything left). Hope he improves cause he has good potential.

[leftylee]

Tough guy who likes to fight and can smell blood. I dont think he will do well against a good boxer though cause as you said he relies a lot on his power and lacks a sound defence. A guy like Forrest, or even Spinks, would trouble him (assuming either has anything left). Hope he improves cause he has good potential.

Spinks could actually take him to school IMO. He has that style that can trouble a lot of fighters.

[Tam Seddon]

I think he had a good learning curve against Vera. We know that hes very fast and powerful, he showed that against Vera, but if he fights against somebody like Vera who i add was limited he found problems. Vera no doubt had a good chin, and his defence was weak. At times when he applied combinations I think that got Kirkland in trouble, im thinking in terms of a decent fighter at 154-160 ie Paul Williams he will get beaten.

Kirkland cant go all out for the ko every second of every round and maybe because it has worked for him in the past its going to be hard for him to change this. Vera proved that he will gas out in the later rounds, a fighter like williams would be able to take what he has and finish him off. Kirkland needs to box more and think about his shots more than simply just throwing them at a very high tempo.

No doubt Kirkland is a very good prospect, but I just cant see him being able to use his tactics in the championship level. If he makes a few changes, we will see him champion late 09 IMO.

[littlebif]

He's a good prospect with a few slight changes he could be alot better! every exciting fighter to watch.