John Scully: “For boxing people Kovalev vs. Ward would be just as important as Mayweather and Pacman”

The 2015 boxing year is coming to a close and with only a few fights left on the boxing schedule, it’s time to look back at the year that was and the fights that happened. In part 1 of my interview with boxing trainer and analyst, ‘Iceman’ John Scully, I get his thoughts on some of the very best fights of the year. Scully also shares his views on events that did not live up to expectations and where the sport goes when Mayweather and Pacquiao retire. Additionally, John talks about his 2015 and what fights he would like to see happen in the new year. Here is what John Scully had to say.

Jenna J: John, we have come down to the end of 2015. When you look at the year and the fights that happened, which ones were some of your favorite fights and why?

John Scully: Any Kovalev or ‘GGG’ fight is something that stands out with me. My favorite fight, though, was probably Keith Thurman against Luis Collazo down in Tampa. I was there live and it was really something to see. Luis landed one of the cleanest body shots I’ve even seen landed on anyone ever and the reaction from Keith, the way he sagged, I honestly 100 percent thought the fight was about to end.

To see Keith persevere through that and get himself together, to see him almost literally have to escape the onslaught at one point, it showed you what kind of distress he was in and anyone who has ever been caught with clean body shot like that can tell you how truly terrible it is. I recognized what it took for Keith to come back from that and he did so like a real champion. In some ways, for me, that was the best moment of the whole year. High drama, really, and he proved something that literally you can only prove one single solitary way.

Also, when it comes down to the recent fight between Kid Chocolate Peter Quillin and Danny Jacobs, I have to say that it was such an important fight and Danny really stepped up in a manner in which I don’t think anyone could have really foreseen. He made a huge statement and he earned his new place in the upper echelon at 160lbs.

The highlight, though, may have been Peter’s post fight interview. I know Peter a little bit, we hung out in the gym with him a bit in Los Angeles before, and he really came across to me as a good guy then and his interview after that loss really made me an even bigger fan. Maybe the most humble interview after a loss I’ve ever seen. A real class act, definitely, and I was already a fan but I’m definitely an even bigger one now. Danny is obviously on the road to big things but I think Peter still has the tools to get back in the mix as well.

Jenna J: It seems for every good event, there are a bunch that disappoint. Can you talk about some of the fights that you thought did not live up to expectations, and why you think they were not as good as fans expected?

John Scully: Well, Mayweather and Pacquiao obviously leads the pack in that regard and maybe always will. To be fair, there was no way possible that fight could have lived up to expectation as long as it wasn’t the second coming of Hagler-Hearns. But the mind boggling part for me is the fact that so many people paid such unbelievable prices for tickets expecting that, when the reality was that any really knowledgeable boxing person who could take a breath, step back and look at it realistically could have told you that was the way it was going to go. Floyd is Floyd, love him or not, and what you’ve seen is what you’re always going to get in terms of his approach to boxing.

I think in general terms, the fights that have the most at stake and have the most skilled guys involved in them are not always the best action fights. Those guys didn’t get to where they are by going in winging shots and looking to trade punches to win. Often times the truly best action fights are between lesser known contenders still trying to get to championship level more than guys who are actually already there.

Jenna J: There has been a lot of talk about the declining viewership of boxing, with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao retiring, do you think that continues, or do you see boxing growing more in the new year with the sport’s new stars?

John Scully: I think boxing is always going to find a way to rebound when it’s mega-stars retire. Ali retired, Leonard retired, Hamed, Hagler, Holmes, Tyson, Holyfield, they all have moved on and boxing is still here. There will always be another as long as the promoters and media do their jobs. I also think the PBC shows are doing their part in bringing boxing and good fights back to moremain stream fans and public. I’m hoping it continues to grow into something at least comparable to the network TV days of the 70’s and 80’s.

If anything, I think with the exit of May-Pac it’s a thing where all these younger guys in and around that weight will be able to fight each other in what will be some tremendous events. If you really think about it, having guys like Keith Thurman, Timothy Bradley, Lamont Petersen, Amir Khan, Errol Spence, Shawn Porter and the rest of them all within striking distance of each other, it really opens up some very exciting possibilities and whoever comes out of it all untouched is going to have a strong claim to being the next superstar to carry boxing.

Jenna J: Let’s talk about yourself, how did you feel about your 2015 that included the KNOCKOUT TV series?

John Scully: I really enjoyed it! I had a great time at Foxwoods doing the show and hanging out, I really was in my element. Away from home for a long stretch doing the show, it was just like old times, almost like when I was an amateur and we were at national tournaments with all the fighters staying in the same hotel and interacting with each other as we do.

There were lots of late nights in the hotel or at the casino with fighters and trainers just talking about boxing. On that note, I have a few things that need to be worked out before I will fully commit to doing the next season. I really want to and it’s shaping up to be very exciting with a spectacular location for filming planned. I’m looking forward to getting some behind the scenes issues straightened out and then we can proceed to season 3.

Jenna J: What fights would you personally like to see get made in 2016?

John Scully: I’m really the type of guy, I’m not always eager to see just the mega-fights that everyone wants to see. I’m more of a boxing person who looks at the game and doesn’t worry about titles or records or who is with what promoter and all of that. I just have certain fighters and events that I feel should come to fruition for fans to enjoy.

For example, take a fight with someone like Curtis Stevens against David Lemieux. Imagine? They both lost to GGG in title fights but I’m thinking of them against each other. A sure fire great fight. Wilder and Fury, definitely. And you know what? People can say what they want but the fact is that if either one of those guys fought Shannon Briggs everyone would tune in.

Finally, we are hearing that the ball is in motion for Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward to meet up in 2016 and obviously that is a fight fans dream match. Maybe not a super fight as far as the general public is concerned but for boxing people it would be just as important as Mayweather and Pacman.