Pacquiao vs Mayweather will not be in the ring anytime soon. As Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been ordered by a judge to testify starting Friday in a case involving pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao.
On Thursday, Federal Magistrate Judge Robert Johnston denied an emergency motion filed by Mayweather, who is being sued by Pacquiao. Mayweather is being led to court for allegedly using defamatory statements accusing Pacquiao of taking performance-enhancing drugs.
The news comes nearly three weeks after Pacquiao settled his defamation lawsuit against Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer over allegations that Pacquiao used PEDs. The lawsuit against De La Hoya and Schaefer was settled on confidential terms and dismissed.
Mayweather was also named in the original suit, filed in December 2009, which stemmed from the contentious leadup to a possible fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao the following year.
Mayweather and Pacquiao never fought, at least in part because Pacquiao wouldn't agree to the Olympic-level drug testing suggested by Mayweather.
The next fight for Mayweather is scheduled for September 17 against Victor Ortiz for the WBC welterweight title.
Source: miamiherald.com
Showing posts with label pacquiao vs mayweather news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pacquiao vs mayweather news. Show all posts
Friday, June 17, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Mayweather to Pacquiao - "Just take the test"
Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr in a recent 8 part video interview conducted by FightHype.com showed the fans his robe and boots that he had already designed for the fight Vs. Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather says that he was under the impression that the fight was a go. Floyd tells the fans that he had agreed to his end of the bargain, but that Pacquiao never did.
Listen to Part 8 of the interview HERE
The 8 part video interview does shed some light on Mayweather's side of things. 8CN gives all sides a fair shake, so we will give credit where credit is due and report what Floyd had to say during the interview.
Throughout the interview Mayweather on more than one occasion said, "Just take the test." This of course meaning that Pacquiao take random blood tests up to the day of the fight. The video interview gives boxing fans an opportunity to see Floyd away from boxing and in a more relaxed type of atmosphere. The multiple part interview gave Mayweather an opportunity to clear some things up that according to Floyd were misreported.
8CN has reported on more than one occasion that Floyd has indeed helped the homeless folks in Vegas and that he has done good charity work. This being said, we also reported on the arrests that were made on him, and his rants on Twitter and YouTube. Nobody is perfect, and Floyd is a human being just like the rest of us are.
Floyd has said some hateful things toward Filipinos in the past, so he will have quite a bit of damage control to do in order to regain some of their respect. That being said, it's not too late for Floyd to do what he has to do in order to regain a lot of support that he has lost over the past few years.
In the video interview, the fans do get to see a more relaxed and much less cocky Floyd Mayweather Jr. There is no doubt that Floyd knows how to sell tickets, and he plays the bad guy role like no other. Hopefully he can get the legal issues behind him, and we can get back to focusing on boxing again.
8CN will be reaching out to Team Pacquiao in the VERY near future for their side of things.
Source: 8countnews.com
Listen to Part 8 of the interview HERE
The 8 part video interview does shed some light on Mayweather's side of things. 8CN gives all sides a fair shake, so we will give credit where credit is due and report what Floyd had to say during the interview.
Throughout the interview Mayweather on more than one occasion said, "Just take the test." This of course meaning that Pacquiao take random blood tests up to the day of the fight. The video interview gives boxing fans an opportunity to see Floyd away from boxing and in a more relaxed type of atmosphere. The multiple part interview gave Mayweather an opportunity to clear some things up that according to Floyd were misreported.
8CN has reported on more than one occasion that Floyd has indeed helped the homeless folks in Vegas and that he has done good charity work. This being said, we also reported on the arrests that were made on him, and his rants on Twitter and YouTube. Nobody is perfect, and Floyd is a human being just like the rest of us are.
Floyd has said some hateful things toward Filipinos in the past, so he will have quite a bit of damage control to do in order to regain some of their respect. That being said, it's not too late for Floyd to do what he has to do in order to regain a lot of support that he has lost over the past few years.
In the video interview, the fans do get to see a more relaxed and much less cocky Floyd Mayweather Jr. There is no doubt that Floyd knows how to sell tickets, and he plays the bad guy role like no other. Hopefully he can get the legal issues behind him, and we can get back to focusing on boxing again.
8CN will be reaching out to Team Pacquiao in the VERY near future for their side of things.
Source: 8countnews.com
Monday, May 16, 2011
Manny Pacquiao: Boxing Needs to Step Up
It was an incredible sports weekend RSR fans, but for a moment, forgive me. As I loved the fight between Pacquiao vs Mosley resulting in a clear cut victory for my beloved Pacquiao, my team, my former defending NBA World Champion Los Angeles Lakers are OUT of the playoffs.
I was on a high on Saturday after the Pacquiao win, but after Sunday, I’m ehhh.
It is that finally emoticon that summarizes how I might feel after a blah date. But please, no tears RSR Readers, I am here, ready to give you my take on the Mosley – Pacquiao bout. And you know what, it’s not pretty – about as bad, if not worse than how my Lakers did against the Mavericks. But give me a moment, I’m just wallowing.
I’ll start with the obvious post fight visual. After the winner was announced, did all of you catch a glimpse of Mosley’s face and skull? He took a few hits from Pacquiao and stated, as he removed an ice pack, “Pacquiao has power.” Mosley should have taken more risks and create an offense, but as one Showtime commentator stated, “Mosley showed all the signs of the aging fighter.”
Throughout the fight, Mosley found himself mostly retreating, unable to counter effectively and create an effective offense and defense. In other words, his mind was “willing, but his body not” willing to take a risk and attack. Mosley looked surprised, but felt the brunt of Pacquiao’s power.
As for Pacquiao, he fared pretty well against Mosley. He looked a bit more cautious in his offense and his tremendous output of punches was cut in half. First, Paquiao admitted at the end of the bout that he had “leg issues and it was less than a perfect performance.” One commentator stated, Pacquiao was “without his A-game, but still won.” This bout demonstrated that Pacquiao is a more disciplined and fit fighter and he seems to do well at 145 lbs. I think any heavier than 145 pounds, Pacquiao may lose his performance speed.
More significantly, if Pacquiao should fight anyone heavier, he could feel the impact of the power more. If you look a little more closely at Pacquiao, his right eye was also a bit swollen, which means that Mosley connected a few as well. Pacquiao is a much better boxer technically and has a controlled, effective aggression and he earned the judges’ scorecards. In defense of his WBO Welterweight title, the final scorecards read as follows: 119-108, 120-108, and 120-107.
So, RSR readers, the bout wasn’t even close.
So, that’s the post fight assessment. With every Pacquiao bout, I usually give Pacquiao about two or three rounds to figure out his opponents. But in this bout, whether or not his legs tightened up, Pacquiao did not produce very many punches from all angles as he normally does.
According to one stat, Pacquiao landed 182 of 552 punches along with 48 jabs of 268. As we know from both the Clottey and Margarito bouts, he usually produces over 1,000 punches in a bout without expending too much energy. Pacquiao will win a fight because his productivity is endless and he doesn’t allow his opponent to ever look busier. Mosley perhaps, in his reluctance, couldn’t put together the amount of punches he needed to show he could take the fight away from Pacquiao. In the opening round, Mosley did his best to make solid shots to the body. Pacquiao also looked relaxed and had a tentative offense as he tried to figure out Mosley.
In the 2nd round, there was a clash of heads, but Pacquiao put together enough combinations to show that he was about to take control of the fight. Finally, it happened, in the 3rd round, Pacquiao landed a solid left hook and Mosley got knocked down convincingly as the champion fighter had a glazed look on his face while he was on the mat.
Had Pacquiao been a heavier, KO puncher, he could have ended the fight. But since Mosley hasn’t ever been knocked out, a KO result would have been a tough one for Pacquiao to pull off.
So, RSR fans, the fight continued…and continued. And, not much to really comment on. Pacquiao was winning the bout. He was a more tactically strong boxer. But then, in the 10th round, Mosley scored a knockdown, in what really, fight fans, looked like a push.
I think Mosley even looked surprised.
The bout ended with a dazed Mosley just wondering how it is the Filipino fighter managed to generate his power. It left no doubt for Mosley that Pacquiao is the best pound for pound fighter. And, he should know, he’s faced Mayweather JR and he lost. But give credit to Mosley for making a fight with Pacquiao happen. It’s definitely more than can be said about Mayweather JR.
It’s definitely sad to say that I have to agree with the Showtime commentators that Sugar Shane Mosley definitely showed he has to reconsider the ‘R’ word in boxing – retirement. Although his body may be willing, he was really outclassed mentally and psychologically.
Mosley has shown heart throughout his career and he provided great challenges to his opponents, but he is definitely a different Mosley than from 10 years ago. And, it’s the naturally progression of a boxing career. Mosley should be proud that he went the distance against the best boxer in the world and he really didn’t need this bout. But actually, he showed a courageous fight against a superior boxer. He even took a pay cut, so to speak, by accepting $5 million for the fight as Pacquiao was guaranteed $20 million.
I also give a nod to Showtime and Top Rank for making the bout a premier event. I admit that I am used to HBO Commentators Jim Lampley, Emanuel Stewart, and Larry Merchant. And, I missed the Lederman card. But, there was something more straight laced in this bout. With the Super Six Middleweight Tournament coming to a close, Showtime and its commentators have provided a fresh new voice to boxing and have revamped the sport and spectacle of a sport that definitely needs some excitement.
So, as I write this article, internet rumors are whirling. I don’t read them all because we all know that not everything we read on the internet is true. Regardless, the rumor afloat right now is that Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR may be fighting Victor “Vicious” Ortiz, 29-2-2, 22 KO’s. Do you remember Ortiz? He fought against Andre Berto, 27-1, 21 KO’s in April and earned the 12 round unanimous decision for the WBC Welterweight title.
Ortiz is also currently ranked #2 among welterweights. Mosley is now ranked #3 and Berto ranks at #4. Noticeably absent from the list? Floyd Mayweather, JR remains absent as well as inactive. With the current state of boxing, the sport needs a big bout and the only bout that should happen is Pacquiao vs Mayweather JR. The bout needs to happen. And luckily there is still enough time in the year to make the mega-bout the premier fight of the year.
So far now, as I mourn the loss of my Lakers, I’d offer that with this bout, Manny Pacquiao won the bout convincingly as a skilled, powerful, and technical fighter. And, right now, he can and will take on anyone willing to fight him.
ringsidereport.com
I was on a high on Saturday after the Pacquiao win, but after Sunday, I’m ehhh.
It is that finally emoticon that summarizes how I might feel after a blah date. But please, no tears RSR Readers, I am here, ready to give you my take on the Mosley – Pacquiao bout. And you know what, it’s not pretty – about as bad, if not worse than how my Lakers did against the Mavericks. But give me a moment, I’m just wallowing.
I’ll start with the obvious post fight visual. After the winner was announced, did all of you catch a glimpse of Mosley’s face and skull? He took a few hits from Pacquiao and stated, as he removed an ice pack, “Pacquiao has power.” Mosley should have taken more risks and create an offense, but as one Showtime commentator stated, “Mosley showed all the signs of the aging fighter.”
Throughout the fight, Mosley found himself mostly retreating, unable to counter effectively and create an effective offense and defense. In other words, his mind was “willing, but his body not” willing to take a risk and attack. Mosley looked surprised, but felt the brunt of Pacquiao’s power.
As for Pacquiao, he fared pretty well against Mosley. He looked a bit more cautious in his offense and his tremendous output of punches was cut in half. First, Paquiao admitted at the end of the bout that he had “leg issues and it was less than a perfect performance.” One commentator stated, Pacquiao was “without his A-game, but still won.” This bout demonstrated that Pacquiao is a more disciplined and fit fighter and he seems to do well at 145 lbs. I think any heavier than 145 pounds, Pacquiao may lose his performance speed.
More significantly, if Pacquiao should fight anyone heavier, he could feel the impact of the power more. If you look a little more closely at Pacquiao, his right eye was also a bit swollen, which means that Mosley connected a few as well. Pacquiao is a much better boxer technically and has a controlled, effective aggression and he earned the judges’ scorecards. In defense of his WBO Welterweight title, the final scorecards read as follows: 119-108, 120-108, and 120-107.
So, RSR readers, the bout wasn’t even close.
So, that’s the post fight assessment. With every Pacquiao bout, I usually give Pacquiao about two or three rounds to figure out his opponents. But in this bout, whether or not his legs tightened up, Pacquiao did not produce very many punches from all angles as he normally does.
According to one stat, Pacquiao landed 182 of 552 punches along with 48 jabs of 268. As we know from both the Clottey and Margarito bouts, he usually produces over 1,000 punches in a bout without expending too much energy. Pacquiao will win a fight because his productivity is endless and he doesn’t allow his opponent to ever look busier. Mosley perhaps, in his reluctance, couldn’t put together the amount of punches he needed to show he could take the fight away from Pacquiao. In the opening round, Mosley did his best to make solid shots to the body. Pacquiao also looked relaxed and had a tentative offense as he tried to figure out Mosley.
In the 2nd round, there was a clash of heads, but Pacquiao put together enough combinations to show that he was about to take control of the fight. Finally, it happened, in the 3rd round, Pacquiao landed a solid left hook and Mosley got knocked down convincingly as the champion fighter had a glazed look on his face while he was on the mat.
Had Pacquiao been a heavier, KO puncher, he could have ended the fight. But since Mosley hasn’t ever been knocked out, a KO result would have been a tough one for Pacquiao to pull off.
So, RSR fans, the fight continued…and continued. And, not much to really comment on. Pacquiao was winning the bout. He was a more tactically strong boxer. But then, in the 10th round, Mosley scored a knockdown, in what really, fight fans, looked like a push.
I think Mosley even looked surprised.
The bout ended with a dazed Mosley just wondering how it is the Filipino fighter managed to generate his power. It left no doubt for Mosley that Pacquiao is the best pound for pound fighter. And, he should know, he’s faced Mayweather JR and he lost. But give credit to Mosley for making a fight with Pacquiao happen. It’s definitely more than can be said about Mayweather JR.
It’s definitely sad to say that I have to agree with the Showtime commentators that Sugar Shane Mosley definitely showed he has to reconsider the ‘R’ word in boxing – retirement. Although his body may be willing, he was really outclassed mentally and psychologically.
Mosley has shown heart throughout his career and he provided great challenges to his opponents, but he is definitely a different Mosley than from 10 years ago. And, it’s the naturally progression of a boxing career. Mosley should be proud that he went the distance against the best boxer in the world and he really didn’t need this bout. But actually, he showed a courageous fight against a superior boxer. He even took a pay cut, so to speak, by accepting $5 million for the fight as Pacquiao was guaranteed $20 million.
I also give a nod to Showtime and Top Rank for making the bout a premier event. I admit that I am used to HBO Commentators Jim Lampley, Emanuel Stewart, and Larry Merchant. And, I missed the Lederman card. But, there was something more straight laced in this bout. With the Super Six Middleweight Tournament coming to a close, Showtime and its commentators have provided a fresh new voice to boxing and have revamped the sport and spectacle of a sport that definitely needs some excitement.
So, as I write this article, internet rumors are whirling. I don’t read them all because we all know that not everything we read on the internet is true. Regardless, the rumor afloat right now is that Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR may be fighting Victor “Vicious” Ortiz, 29-2-2, 22 KO’s. Do you remember Ortiz? He fought against Andre Berto, 27-1, 21 KO’s in April and earned the 12 round unanimous decision for the WBC Welterweight title.
Ortiz is also currently ranked #2 among welterweights. Mosley is now ranked #3 and Berto ranks at #4. Noticeably absent from the list? Floyd Mayweather, JR remains absent as well as inactive. With the current state of boxing, the sport needs a big bout and the only bout that should happen is Pacquiao vs Mayweather JR. The bout needs to happen. And luckily there is still enough time in the year to make the mega-bout the premier fight of the year.
So far now, as I mourn the loss of my Lakers, I’d offer that with this bout, Manny Pacquiao won the bout convincingly as a skilled, powerful, and technical fighter. And, right now, he can and will take on anyone willing to fight him.
ringsidereport.com
Friday, May 13, 2011
Fans want Pacquiao vs Mayweather
MANILA, Philippines — Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao scored another ho-hum victory by outfoxing, outhitting and overpowering Sugar Shane Mosley.
Pacquiao’s unanimous decision victory was cheered by the millions of fans over at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas and the people who watched the match via pay-per-view. Others were glued to their radios where the outcome had already been known as early as lunch time in Manila.
Among the highlights of the bout included that 3rd round knockdown and the controversial push that merited a count from referee Kenny Bayless in the 10th round. Mosley, who chose to fight defensively and dodge Manny’s attacks got booed even if the “Pambansang Kamao” tried his best to give the fans a good show.
As per promoter Bob Arum, they will be sitting down next week to discuss who Pacquiao’s next opponent will be.
The names of Juan Miguel Marquez and Timothy Bradley have been mentioned although based on reports, Marquez will be his next opponent this coming November.
While the third installment of the Pacquiao-Marquez match-up appears interesting, fans would like to Pacquiao collide with the controversial Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Negotiations were made before but Mayweather’s demands have become too much for Pacquiao’s camp (which included that Olympic-style drug testing rant), a sign that Mayweather may indeed be just trying to make excuses to avoid a confrontation with the pound-for-pound king.
At the time of these negotiations, Pacquiao and Mayweather were practically on the equal footing.
With Mayweather being taken out of the list and at the same time in trouble with all the lawsuits, a light of hope may yet rekindle that this much awaited dream match where Pacquiao obviously has the upper hand right now.
But the earliest that this could happen is probably by 2012 after the brewing bout between Pacquiao and Marquez.
Pacquiao and Marquez first met in 2004 where the match ended in a questionable draw. Marquez got floored three times in the first round in their match but still managed to escape with a draw.
Source: mb.com.ph
Pacquiao’s unanimous decision victory was cheered by the millions of fans over at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas and the people who watched the match via pay-per-view. Others were glued to their radios where the outcome had already been known as early as lunch time in Manila.
Among the highlights of the bout included that 3rd round knockdown and the controversial push that merited a count from referee Kenny Bayless in the 10th round. Mosley, who chose to fight defensively and dodge Manny’s attacks got booed even if the “Pambansang Kamao” tried his best to give the fans a good show.
As per promoter Bob Arum, they will be sitting down next week to discuss who Pacquiao’s next opponent will be.
The names of Juan Miguel Marquez and Timothy Bradley have been mentioned although based on reports, Marquez will be his next opponent this coming November.
While the third installment of the Pacquiao-Marquez match-up appears interesting, fans would like to Pacquiao collide with the controversial Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Negotiations were made before but Mayweather’s demands have become too much for Pacquiao’s camp (which included that Olympic-style drug testing rant), a sign that Mayweather may indeed be just trying to make excuses to avoid a confrontation with the pound-for-pound king.
At the time of these negotiations, Pacquiao and Mayweather were practically on the equal footing.
With Mayweather being taken out of the list and at the same time in trouble with all the lawsuits, a light of hope may yet rekindle that this much awaited dream match where Pacquiao obviously has the upper hand right now.
But the earliest that this could happen is probably by 2012 after the brewing bout between Pacquiao and Marquez.
Pacquiao and Marquez first met in 2004 where the match ended in a questionable draw. Marquez got floored three times in the first round in their match but still managed to escape with a draw.
Source: mb.com.ph
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Floyd Mayweather: No Manny Pacquiao Next, but Maybe Champion Victor Ortiz
Floyd Mayweather and No Manny Pacquiao Next, but Maybe Champion Victor Ortiz
While Floyd Mayweather won’t admit that he watched the Manny Pacquiao fight, I bet my bottom dollar that he was watching it closely.
Mayweather is scared and now it looks like he will try to dodge the Pacquiao bullet again by fighting WBC Welterweight Champion Victor Ortiz.
Ortiz tells Kansan.com:
Next, Ortiz will face Floyd Mayweather Jr. The details of the fight are still being worked out, but Ortiz said contracts should be signed soon.
“I have been striving for success, to be that All-American and to be all that I can,” Ortiz said.
MUST READ: Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley: "Sugar" Shane's Sweetest Knockouts (With Video)
While I feel Mayweather is the better fighter, Ortiz has the ability to rock a rusty fighter that doesn’t take him serious. I hope this is just the appetizer for Mayweather and he is eyeing Pacquiao as his main dish.
While this all sounds good, there are serious flaws in Ortiz story.
Ortiz tells KUSports.com:
WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz, a native of Garden City, told the Journal-World on Tuesday night that he plans to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Sept. 16 in Las Vegas.
“I just need to look at the contract and make sure everything is OK. It’s not 100 percent sure yet, but that’s what I’m setting my sights on.”
I want to believe him, but it doesn’t seem likely. September 16 is a Friday and there are other big fights scheduled that weekend including the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito Rematch on September 17 in Las Vegas.
Source: bleacherreport.com
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather jr have a new opponent in Tim Bradley
He is still a nobody in the top boxing world but Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather jr have a new opponent in Tim Bradley
There is a new challenge to Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Though he is still being taken as nobody but he aspires to fight the two fighters some day in the near future.
Tim Bradley is an emerging fighter and his powerful punches are already talk of the boxing world.
In his weight class 140 pound, he is among the most promising boxers and is yet to find a boxer who could beat him. Now this frail looking boxer is looking towards meeting the top two fighters some day in the boxing ring.
In a recent interview he talked everything from his being the top boxer in the world to the one who could beat Manny and Mayeather saying that after some time the world would demand that Manny Pacquiao face him.
In a freewheeling interview he said, “And if Manny Pacquiao's still going to still be in the game, then, it's going to be inevitable that he will have to fight me. Trust me. The fight fans, the media, everyone will be calling for the fight.”
Notwithstanding the big mouthed talk of Tim Bradley, he is still talking of probabilities. It is like Amir Khan taking on Mayweather Jr and Manny pacquiao.
Source: ndchronicle.com
There is a new challenge to Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Though he is still being taken as nobody but he aspires to fight the two fighters some day in the near future.
Tim Bradley is an emerging fighter and his powerful punches are already talk of the boxing world.
In his weight class 140 pound, he is among the most promising boxers and is yet to find a boxer who could beat him. Now this frail looking boxer is looking towards meeting the top two fighters some day in the boxing ring.
In a recent interview he talked everything from his being the top boxer in the world to the one who could beat Manny and Mayeather saying that after some time the world would demand that Manny Pacquiao face him.
In a freewheeling interview he said, “And if Manny Pacquiao's still going to still be in the game, then, it's going to be inevitable that he will have to fight me. Trust me. The fight fans, the media, everyone will be calling for the fight.”
Notwithstanding the big mouthed talk of Tim Bradley, he is still talking of probabilities. It is like Amir Khan taking on Mayweather Jr and Manny pacquiao.
Source: ndchronicle.com
Pacquiao may opt to fight Antonio Margarito outside US
FILIPINO boxer Manny Pacquiao, a seven-weight-division winner, is willing to fight former world champion Antonio Margarito outside the United States if his mega bout against unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would not go on. Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz divulged to boxing.funhouse.com that Pacquiao (51-3-2 win-loss-draw with 38 knockouts) could also possibly hold a rematch against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto (35-2 with 28 KOs).
Pacquiao seized Cotto’s World Boxing Organization’s welterweight belt in 2009.
For Margarito, he can’t fight Pacquiao in the US soil since his boxing license was revoked by the California State Athletic Commission after an illegal hand-wrapping scandal in January 2009 when he beat Cotto.
“We are looking at a venue outside of the US, and it doesn’t make a difference whether it’s Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto. It’s not Mexico, but until I have a concrete deal in place, I don’t want to divulge what country that is,” said Koncz.
Margarito (38-6 with 27 Kos) is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision last May against Roberto Garcia in a junior middleweight clash that was fought in Mexico, which licensed him for the bout.
Margarito could not still apply a license in Nevada last week.
“But it doesn’t eliminate a possible fight against Manny. If Manny decides to fight Margarito, just because he got denied in Nevada—that’s not going to squash the fight,” he added.
Source: manilatimes.net
Pacquiao seized Cotto’s World Boxing Organization’s welterweight belt in 2009.
For Margarito, he can’t fight Pacquiao in the US soil since his boxing license was revoked by the California State Athletic Commission after an illegal hand-wrapping scandal in January 2009 when he beat Cotto.
“We are looking at a venue outside of the US, and it doesn’t make a difference whether it’s Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto. It’s not Mexico, but until I have a concrete deal in place, I don’t want to divulge what country that is,” said Koncz.
Margarito (38-6 with 27 Kos) is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision last May against Roberto Garcia in a junior middleweight clash that was fought in Mexico, which licensed him for the bout.
Margarito could not still apply a license in Nevada last week.
“But it doesn’t eliminate a possible fight against Manny. If Manny decides to fight Margarito, just because he got denied in Nevada—that’s not going to squash the fight,” he added.
Source: manilatimes.net
Money Talks: The Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather JR Superfight Complications
ver the past few months professional boxing has delivered some good match- ups. The first half of this year has not been that bad! Even though the biggest fight of the decade fell apart, the sport continued to stride. With the access of HBO Sports, Showtime and ESPN2, boxing is alive and well. There have been some exciting fights on all of these networks.
We enjoy HBO Boxing, HBO Boxing After Dark, Showtime’s Super Six and ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Some of these events were with the best fighters boxing has to offer, such as; Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez, Andre Berto, Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Victor Ortiz, Joshua Clottey, Vitali Klitschko, David Haye, Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather JR.
These fighters and there were some I didn’t mention here, have already fought in this first half of 2010. The sport is off to a good start. It seemed that most of the match ups went pretty well, even the negotiations.
Why is Floyd Mayweather JR. and Manny Pacquiao fight so complicated?
First of all, these two fighters are special, but human. Sometimes the bigger the demand, the more complicated it gets. The public has made these two special fighters immortals. To add to that, they know how important they are to boxing fans. Right now these two fighters are sitting at the very top of the world in boxing with their promoters strapped to their ankles.
Even though we have enjoyed some good fights this year, it seems the one everybody wants to see is Floyd “Money” Mayweather JR. vs. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. It seems the boxing public do not care what other good match ups are out there and I’m sure there are some. Right now it seems nothing can fill this void, except that fight. Fight fans are like junkies needing a fix when it comes to these guys. These two fighters know the magnitude of this fight and what it’s worth in dollars, which has somewhat made them gods.
They are so big that their promoters have very little power over them. Turn the calendar back five years and these two fighters were known only by boxing fans, now they are both household names. When you think of one, you automatically think of the other. That’s why this fight has to happen. They are forever linked together even if a fight never materializes.
I don’t believe either fighter is afraid of the other. Fighting is what they are trained to do, it’s their job. Some believe the media and all the hype around it is what delaying this match. The promoters and the way they have handled things has made this fight complicated. What happen to the days when a both promoters get the signatures of their fighter, and then put together a contract they both agree on, then make the announcement?
Say what you want about Don King, I must admit, I can’t remember any of the big fights that he promoted in the past (and he’s promoted some big ones); go through this kind of behavior. This is ridiculous! These two fighters are in the position to take part in one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport, and they continue to drag their feet.
Marketing a fight is a good thing, but enough already… This fight doesn’t need anymore marketing. If it was a fruit it would have fallen off the tree already, “it can only get so ripe.” These two fighters are at the very top of their game right now and it would be sad to see this fight fall apart for a second time.
There should be no questions regarding the conditioning of these fighters come fight time, because neither fighter has showed problems in the past. Floyd Mayweather, JR., is undefeated as a boxer. He has beaten everyone who’s stepped in the ring with him. Winning is all he knows. Mayweather JR. is one of the smartest fighters in the ring today. He usually figures his opponent out within the first few rounds.
By the middle rounds, he starts to punish his opponents. It’s like watching something on the Discovery Channel. There are certain animals like the lion for instance. I’ve seen the lion catch its prey and not kill it right away. They seem to enjoy seeing their prey struggle first, before taking it out. Floyd Mayweather, JR., has displayed this type of embodiment in the ring against his opponents.
What makes Manny Pacquiao different from Mayweathers JR’s past opponens?
It is his will to win. He is a southpaw who is more skillful and hits harder than Zab Judah, the last southpaw Mayweather JR. faced. Judah gave Mayweather, JR., problems early in their fight. Manny Pacquiao has improved tremendously over the past few years. He brings everything he has, when he steps in the ring and lately, he’s been beating up elite fighters, left and right.
Fight fans already know if anyone out there who can give Floyd some problems or maybe even his first loss, is none other than Manny Pacquiao. That’s what makes this fight so exciting! Pacquiao has speed and power which keeps most of his opponents on their toes. He brings the fight to his opponents and once he gets into a rhythm he usually takes them out.
The biggest problem I see for Pacquiao, if and when this fight takes place is his defense. Well, some would say a good offense makes up for a bad defense, and in most cases this would be true, but not with Mayweather JR. No one knows how well their offense will work until in the ring with him. He is hard to hit clean. During the Shane Mosley fight back in early May; Mayweather JR. got hit clean in round two, but never hit clean again throughout the whole fight.
He has a way of making adjustments in the ring. If Pacquiao doesn’t move his head while fighting Floyd, he will get beaten badly. Trainer Freddie Roach better put in some serious work regarding the defense and head movement, because Floyd’s hands are lightening fast. He will not let Pacquiao get out a single round without tasting some leather. That’s the type of fighter he’s dealing with in “Money” Mayweather.
This fight can become very ugly going into the later rounds, if it ends up there. Floyd Mayweather JR. lives for big moments when he can shut up his haters. It’s these kinds of fights that he shows up very big, and usually wins by a large margin. As a boxing fan myself, I like both fighters and what they share alike is; they both seem to be great athletes who will put it all on the line to be known as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Tell me what individual would want to live his life 30 to 40 years from now, knowing that he walked away from what could have been the biggest fight in the history of boxing, only because there was a disagreement regarding random drug testing. It’s a given, either way these two names will forever be linked together, so why not give the boxing fans what they want and also pocket one of the biggest paychecks in the history of the sport?
Source: ringsidereport.com
We enjoy HBO Boxing, HBO Boxing After Dark, Showtime’s Super Six and ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Some of these events were with the best fighters boxing has to offer, such as; Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez, Andre Berto, Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Victor Ortiz, Joshua Clottey, Vitali Klitschko, David Haye, Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather JR.
These fighters and there were some I didn’t mention here, have already fought in this first half of 2010. The sport is off to a good start. It seemed that most of the match ups went pretty well, even the negotiations.
Why is Floyd Mayweather JR. and Manny Pacquiao fight so complicated?
First of all, these two fighters are special, but human. Sometimes the bigger the demand, the more complicated it gets. The public has made these two special fighters immortals. To add to that, they know how important they are to boxing fans. Right now these two fighters are sitting at the very top of the world in boxing with their promoters strapped to their ankles.
Even though we have enjoyed some good fights this year, it seems the one everybody wants to see is Floyd “Money” Mayweather JR. vs. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. It seems the boxing public do not care what other good match ups are out there and I’m sure there are some. Right now it seems nothing can fill this void, except that fight. Fight fans are like junkies needing a fix when it comes to these guys. These two fighters know the magnitude of this fight and what it’s worth in dollars, which has somewhat made them gods.
They are so big that their promoters have very little power over them. Turn the calendar back five years and these two fighters were known only by boxing fans, now they are both household names. When you think of one, you automatically think of the other. That’s why this fight has to happen. They are forever linked together even if a fight never materializes.
I don’t believe either fighter is afraid of the other. Fighting is what they are trained to do, it’s their job. Some believe the media and all the hype around it is what delaying this match. The promoters and the way they have handled things has made this fight complicated. What happen to the days when a both promoters get the signatures of their fighter, and then put together a contract they both agree on, then make the announcement?
Say what you want about Don King, I must admit, I can’t remember any of the big fights that he promoted in the past (and he’s promoted some big ones); go through this kind of behavior. This is ridiculous! These two fighters are in the position to take part in one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport, and they continue to drag their feet.
Marketing a fight is a good thing, but enough already… This fight doesn’t need anymore marketing. If it was a fruit it would have fallen off the tree already, “it can only get so ripe.” These two fighters are at the very top of their game right now and it would be sad to see this fight fall apart for a second time.
There should be no questions regarding the conditioning of these fighters come fight time, because neither fighter has showed problems in the past. Floyd Mayweather, JR., is undefeated as a boxer. He has beaten everyone who’s stepped in the ring with him. Winning is all he knows. Mayweather JR. is one of the smartest fighters in the ring today. He usually figures his opponent out within the first few rounds.
By the middle rounds, he starts to punish his opponents. It’s like watching something on the Discovery Channel. There are certain animals like the lion for instance. I’ve seen the lion catch its prey and not kill it right away. They seem to enjoy seeing their prey struggle first, before taking it out. Floyd Mayweather, JR., has displayed this type of embodiment in the ring against his opponents.
What makes Manny Pacquiao different from Mayweathers JR’s past opponens?
It is his will to win. He is a southpaw who is more skillful and hits harder than Zab Judah, the last southpaw Mayweather JR. faced. Judah gave Mayweather, JR., problems early in their fight. Manny Pacquiao has improved tremendously over the past few years. He brings everything he has, when he steps in the ring and lately, he’s been beating up elite fighters, left and right.
Fight fans already know if anyone out there who can give Floyd some problems or maybe even his first loss, is none other than Manny Pacquiao. That’s what makes this fight so exciting! Pacquiao has speed and power which keeps most of his opponents on their toes. He brings the fight to his opponents and once he gets into a rhythm he usually takes them out.
The biggest problem I see for Pacquiao, if and when this fight takes place is his defense. Well, some would say a good offense makes up for a bad defense, and in most cases this would be true, but not with Mayweather JR. No one knows how well their offense will work until in the ring with him. He is hard to hit clean. During the Shane Mosley fight back in early May; Mayweather JR. got hit clean in round two, but never hit clean again throughout the whole fight.
He has a way of making adjustments in the ring. If Pacquiao doesn’t move his head while fighting Floyd, he will get beaten badly. Trainer Freddie Roach better put in some serious work regarding the defense and head movement, because Floyd’s hands are lightening fast. He will not let Pacquiao get out a single round without tasting some leather. That’s the type of fighter he’s dealing with in “Money” Mayweather.
This fight can become very ugly going into the later rounds, if it ends up there. Floyd Mayweather JR. lives for big moments when he can shut up his haters. It’s these kinds of fights that he shows up very big, and usually wins by a large margin. As a boxing fan myself, I like both fighters and what they share alike is; they both seem to be great athletes who will put it all on the line to be known as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Tell me what individual would want to live his life 30 to 40 years from now, knowing that he walked away from what could have been the biggest fight in the history of boxing, only because there was a disagreement regarding random drug testing. It’s a given, either way these two names will forever be linked together, so why not give the boxing fans what they want and also pocket one of the biggest paychecks in the history of the sport?
Source: ringsidereport.com
Pacquiao set to slug it out in Congress
MANILA, Philippines—The world’s best pound-for-pound boxer is raring to slug it out in the political arena where he promised to be vocal, productive and always present.
“For me, I don’t consider it as an achievement my election as a congressman. It is my ambition to help those who have long wanted to get help from government. It’s just like boxing, I dreamed of becoming a world champion. Now, my dream is to become a good public servant and good leader of Sarangani,” said Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao after attending a special orientation program for neophyte lawmakers Thursday.
Pacquiao said he had already expressed his interest in joining the House committees on sports and on energy and he was eager to join in on his debates or defending his bill in the session hall.
“I’m not nervous (about making a privilege speech or engaging peers in a debate), I’m even excited to represent my constituents because I don’t want to let down the people from Sarangani,” said Pacquiao.
Time management
He said it was important that he attend every session or have a full attendance sheet because this is what his constituents expected from him even though he would continue to pursue his boxing career.
“It’s just time management. I can’t turn my back on sports because that is the one which gave me my name and honor,” said Pacquiao.
With no final deal on the table for his next fight, Pacquiao said he was focused on living up to his duties as a representative, particularly the promises he made during the campaign.
“I really want to show everyone the right governance,” said Pacquiao who noted that his managers were hoping to put the finishing touches on his much-anticipated bout with American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“They’re just ironing out some things in the contract.”
Pacquiao hinted that his fight with Mayweather could be his last because he was really serious in making a good name in public service.
Political savvy
He admitted sheepishly that he would be earning more by fighting in the ring rather than being a representative. “Abonado nga ako. I am getting funds out of my own budget but that is okay. I really want to help,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao showed his political savvy when pressed on some issues that he would tackle as a lawmaker.
On the proposal to cut the pork barrel allocation, Pacquiao said it was difficult to make a decision on something that needed deeper study.
On the need of the government to impose new taxes to bridge the widening budget deficit, Pacquiao said he was all for it as long as it would help in uplifting the lives of Filipinos.
When he was reminded that “sin taxes” were likely to be the first tax measures to be pushed by the government and that San Miguel Beer was his biggest corporate sponsor, Pacquiao did not waver and quickly pointed out that he would still push for it if the majority of the people would benefit from the measure.
“We are just representatives of the people and we are thinking of what is good for the majority and not just what will benefit a few people,” said Pacquiao.
Source: inquirer.net
“For me, I don’t consider it as an achievement my election as a congressman. It is my ambition to help those who have long wanted to get help from government. It’s just like boxing, I dreamed of becoming a world champion. Now, my dream is to become a good public servant and good leader of Sarangani,” said Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao after attending a special orientation program for neophyte lawmakers Thursday.
Pacquiao said he had already expressed his interest in joining the House committees on sports and on energy and he was eager to join in on his debates or defending his bill in the session hall.
“I’m not nervous (about making a privilege speech or engaging peers in a debate), I’m even excited to represent my constituents because I don’t want to let down the people from Sarangani,” said Pacquiao.
Time management
He said it was important that he attend every session or have a full attendance sheet because this is what his constituents expected from him even though he would continue to pursue his boxing career.
“It’s just time management. I can’t turn my back on sports because that is the one which gave me my name and honor,” said Pacquiao.
With no final deal on the table for his next fight, Pacquiao said he was focused on living up to his duties as a representative, particularly the promises he made during the campaign.
“I really want to show everyone the right governance,” said Pacquiao who noted that his managers were hoping to put the finishing touches on his much-anticipated bout with American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“They’re just ironing out some things in the contract.”
Pacquiao hinted that his fight with Mayweather could be his last because he was really serious in making a good name in public service.
Political savvy
He admitted sheepishly that he would be earning more by fighting in the ring rather than being a representative. “Abonado nga ako. I am getting funds out of my own budget but that is okay. I really want to help,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao showed his political savvy when pressed on some issues that he would tackle as a lawmaker.
On the proposal to cut the pork barrel allocation, Pacquiao said it was difficult to make a decision on something that needed deeper study.
On the need of the government to impose new taxes to bridge the widening budget deficit, Pacquiao said he was all for it as long as it would help in uplifting the lives of Filipinos.
When he was reminded that “sin taxes” were likely to be the first tax measures to be pushed by the government and that San Miguel Beer was his biggest corporate sponsor, Pacquiao did not waver and quickly pointed out that he would still push for it if the majority of the people would benefit from the measure.
“We are just representatives of the people and we are thinking of what is good for the majority and not just what will benefit a few people,” said Pacquiao.
Source: inquirer.net
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Pacquiao won't entertain more demands from Floyd
MANILA, Philippines - Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said Saturday that the super fight between him and Floyd Mayweather Jr. now depends on the American boxer after he has agreed to undergo a blood test 14 days before their faceoff.
"Talagang hindi siya lalaban kung mangatwiran ulit siya," Pacquiao told radio dzMM when asked what he would do if Mayweather comes up with a new demand.
He said that if ever the superfight fails to push through, he may still fight another boxer or just retire and focus on his newfound career in politics.
Pacquiao has been proclaimed as winner in Sarangani Province's congressional race. He toppled a member of a powerful political clan in the province.
The Filipino boxer said he will take a 1-week crash course on public administration and governance at the University of the Philippines.
He said he is also determined to finish his business management course at the Notre Dame University in 2 years and then take up law.
Pacquiao clarified Friday that the blood that would extracted from him should only be minimal for the drug test.
“Pumayag naman ako pero hindi yung talagang maraming dugo na kukunin. Kung anong dugo ang kelangan sa drug test, ganoon lang karami. Fourteen days [before the fight],” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN News' Dyan Castillejo.
Pacquiao said during the radio interview that he has yet to receive a feedback from the camp of Mayweather.
The reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion said he softened his stand after listening to boxing fans’ clamor for a mega fight between him and Mayweather.
“Everywhere I go… gusto talaga nila ng Mayweather fight. [They ask me] over and over,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao made the decision to fight the former pound-for-pound king weeks after he received permission from his mother, Dionisia Pacquiao, for one last bout.
The blood test controversy was the reason the negotiations between the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps collapsed early this year.
The two would have fought last March 13, but Mayweather ended up fighting Shane Mosley and Pacquiao battling Ghana's Joshua Clottey.
Pacquiao’s camp earlier agreed to undergo tests 24 days before the fight, but Mayweather’s group insisted that blood should be taken 14 days prior to the fight.
Blood test as the drug protocol is the personal requirement for Mayweather. Athletic commissions require urine tests on boxers as the form of drug testing, and Pacquiao has never had a problem.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said he learned the last day for blood testing used by Mayweather and "Sugar" Shane Mosley in their recent fight was 18 days prior to the fight.
"The USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) stopped the blood test... they took 5 or 6 tests but the last one was 18 days for Mosley and 19 days for Mayweather," he told ABS-CBN News' Dyan Castillejo in a phone interview.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
"Talagang hindi siya lalaban kung mangatwiran ulit siya," Pacquiao told radio dzMM when asked what he would do if Mayweather comes up with a new demand.
He said that if ever the superfight fails to push through, he may still fight another boxer or just retire and focus on his newfound career in politics.
Pacquiao has been proclaimed as winner in Sarangani Province's congressional race. He toppled a member of a powerful political clan in the province.
The Filipino boxer said he will take a 1-week crash course on public administration and governance at the University of the Philippines.
He said he is also determined to finish his business management course at the Notre Dame University in 2 years and then take up law.
Pacquiao clarified Friday that the blood that would extracted from him should only be minimal for the drug test.
“Pumayag naman ako pero hindi yung talagang maraming dugo na kukunin. Kung anong dugo ang kelangan sa drug test, ganoon lang karami. Fourteen days [before the fight],” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN News' Dyan Castillejo.
Pacquiao said during the radio interview that he has yet to receive a feedback from the camp of Mayweather.
The reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion said he softened his stand after listening to boxing fans’ clamor for a mega fight between him and Mayweather.
“Everywhere I go… gusto talaga nila ng Mayweather fight. [They ask me] over and over,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao made the decision to fight the former pound-for-pound king weeks after he received permission from his mother, Dionisia Pacquiao, for one last bout.
The blood test controversy was the reason the negotiations between the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps collapsed early this year.
The two would have fought last March 13, but Mayweather ended up fighting Shane Mosley and Pacquiao battling Ghana's Joshua Clottey.
Pacquiao’s camp earlier agreed to undergo tests 24 days before the fight, but Mayweather’s group insisted that blood should be taken 14 days prior to the fight.
Blood test as the drug protocol is the personal requirement for Mayweather. Athletic commissions require urine tests on boxers as the form of drug testing, and Pacquiao has never had a problem.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said he learned the last day for blood testing used by Mayweather and "Sugar" Shane Mosley in their recent fight was 18 days prior to the fight.
"The USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) stopped the blood test... they took 5 or 6 tests but the last one was 18 days for Mosley and 19 days for Mayweather," he told ABS-CBN News' Dyan Castillejo in a phone interview.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Pacman’s big plans
The candidate himself–Manny Pacquiao–was the least surprised over the outcome of the fight for the lone congressional seat of Sarangani. A week after being proclaimed winner over the heavily-favored Roy Chiongbian, Pacquiao said there was not even an iota of doubt in his mind that he would bounce back from the humiliation that he suffered in 2007. “I didn’t have doubts that I would win,” said the 31-year-old boxing star during a recent interview while he was shooting a commercial. “I was confident that I was going to conquer another world.”
Pacquiao credits his long-term preparation as key to his victory, a win that ranks alongside his 2008 knockout of the great Oscar De La Hoya.
“I lost in 2007 because I was not prepared. This time, I had everything in place and I showed the people of Sarangani that I will bring about change,” said Pacquiao, referring to his donation of firetrucks, hospital beds and other basic needs the last two years.
Pacquiao got 120,000 votes, while Chiongbian only earned half, something the one-time construction worker and vendor described as being “the voice of the people.”
“The people of Sarangani really wanted change,” said Pacquiao, who is eyeing a return to the ring on Nov. 13 either in Las Vegas or Dallas.
Since he will now be also working as a lawmaker, Pacquiao said he has decided to cut back on activities that are close to his heart.
Told about his perennial participation in big-time derbies, Pacquiao said he would still take part but will no longer immerse himself the way he used to.
“I will greatly reduce my participation in derbies and other things that give me joy. I now have two responsibilities,” said Pacquiao, stressing that quality healthcare and education and the welfare of athletes as tops in his priorities.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao is hopeful that the Mayweather fight finally pushes through for November 13 “for the sake of the boxing fans from around the world.”
Pacquiao has agreed to be tested 14 days before the fight but Mayweather hasn’t come out with an official stand regarding Pacquiao’s bold move.
Source: fightnews.com
Pacquiao credits his long-term preparation as key to his victory, a win that ranks alongside his 2008 knockout of the great Oscar De La Hoya.
“I lost in 2007 because I was not prepared. This time, I had everything in place and I showed the people of Sarangani that I will bring about change,” said Pacquiao, referring to his donation of firetrucks, hospital beds and other basic needs the last two years.
Pacquiao got 120,000 votes, while Chiongbian only earned half, something the one-time construction worker and vendor described as being “the voice of the people.”
“The people of Sarangani really wanted change,” said Pacquiao, who is eyeing a return to the ring on Nov. 13 either in Las Vegas or Dallas.
Since he will now be also working as a lawmaker, Pacquiao said he has decided to cut back on activities that are close to his heart.
Told about his perennial participation in big-time derbies, Pacquiao said he would still take part but will no longer immerse himself the way he used to.
“I will greatly reduce my participation in derbies and other things that give me joy. I now have two responsibilities,” said Pacquiao, stressing that quality healthcare and education and the welfare of athletes as tops in his priorities.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao is hopeful that the Mayweather fight finally pushes through for November 13 “for the sake of the boxing fans from around the world.”
Pacquiao has agreed to be tested 14 days before the fight but Mayweather hasn’t come out with an official stand regarding Pacquiao’s bold move.
Source: fightnews.com
Thursday, May 13, 2010
BOB ARUM - Pacquiao vs Mayweather this November
BOB ARUM: I am back from one of the most exciting trips of my life and one of the most fulfilling trips. I am thinking now whether to pack it in as a boxing promoter and be a political consultant…but only in the Philippines and around the world. I don’t think there is anything more exciting and more interesting than politics and I really have to compliment Manny. People don’t realize that this victory over the candidate that he beat was a tremendous upset that very few people expected him to pull off. His opponent’s family holds all of the major businesses in this province. All the mayors and the congressman in the province are either related to this family belong to the family or are associates of the family. Manny Pacquiao was running against the elder son of the family and they hadn’t been defeated and won overwhelmingly in every election for 25 years. Manny Pacquiao is a fighter and with his grit and determination was not only able to win but to win by a landslide.
It reminded me of when he was fighting Oscar De La Hoya and all the boxing writers said we should be ashamed of ourselves because it was a mismatch and De La Hoya would destroy him. It was a mismatch but it was a mismatch the other way with Manny destroying De La Hoya. This was the same thing. Everybody said he was crazy, spending his own money. In certain precincts, Manny was beating this guy 90-10 and in other precincts 70-30 and when the dust settled, Manny will win by about a 3/1 margin. Manny is so humble and so soft spoken, you think, how can he be a politician? Then you go to his rally, and you hear him speak in the native dialect and he gives a rousing speech that brings the crowd to its feet. It is tremendous to hear him speak even though you don’t even understand a word. Something else that I learned – there are 7 dialects in the Philippines and Manny can speak every one of them.
Some of the reporters over there, who understand English, don’t even understand some of the dialects. I’m pumped up. When he’s 35 he can run for Senate, and when he’s 40, I am sure he’ll be President of the Philippines. He is special and we in boxing are lucky to have him be part of the sport.
Where do we stand with Manny’s next fight?
BOB ARUM: Manny is definitely going to fight in November. It’s amazing how many people came up to me as I was leaving the Philippines and asked me when is the Mayweather fight going to happen. That’s the fight people want to see. That’s the fight that I’m going to do my darndest to make happen. I don’t want to discuss any of the issues involved in making that fight because we are going to be involved in negotiations and my first goal and Manny’s first goal is to make that fight happen. But we are not going to negotiate this thing in the press, because given the egos of all the camps, it would never happen.
Did you discuss boxing at all with Manny?
BOB ARUM: Obviously, everybody was consumed with politics. But we did a lot of rallies, held on big stages, and before they get to Manny all the other politicians would speak. But we did discuss what we would do next.
What does Manny want to do next?
BOB ARUM: It’s the Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight. There is no question that is the fight that the public wants and that is the fight that Manny wants. I am not going to go into any details of our discussion only to say that is the case.
How do you engage with the other side?
BOB ARUM: I don’t want to get into that, only to say that there is a plan. I don’t want to get into what’s happening but there are things happening on the ground.
Do you think his political career will affect his boxing?
BOB ARUM: As far as psychological make-up I really can’t answer that. Let me again go through what I believe his duties will entail and how it will blend with boxing. A Congressman in the Philippines, especially one that is elected in a province has responsibilities over and above that of a congressman in the United States. By that I mean the federal government allocates the money to him that goes to the province. He in turn must allocate that money to various towns and mayors and so forth and that is a pretty big responsibility. He also has to attend sessions of congress, but that I believe is not time consuming. The sessions are not particularly lengthy. There will be a session in July then they are off for a few months. When he is training, he runs in the morning then sleeps then trains in the gym and then eats dinner then he has all this free time – that you see on 24/7. He’s around with his people. A lot of that free time will now be devoted to his people. I think that will be better, because there will be less wasted time that there appears to be now. There will be plenty of time to do his politics when he is in training and when he is out of training. The one activity I know it will affect is his playing billiards. He devotes a lot of time to playing billiards. I don’t see where his political responsibilities will affect how he prepares for fights, but we have to be aware of what those responsibilities are.
When do you plan to initiate contact with the Mayweather camp?
BOB ARUM: I would rather not comment on that. Just to say I have my marching orders and it will be sooner rather than later.
Do you expect Dallas to be interested?
BOB ARUM: Yes, I think the two sites we would be looking at are the same two sites, the MGM and Cowboys Stadium. Jerry is certainly interested and so is the MGM Grand. If the fight happens and I hope it will, in mid-November in one of those two places.
Do you think media reports affected negotiations in a bad way?
BOB ARUM: Absolutely. Once you start negotiating through the media, it becomes ego driven. People can’t wait to give a statement to the press. The flames just shoot up and there is no real opportunity for rational behavior to take over. Everyone is so interested is setting forth his position to the media that it becomes the contest. That involves me as well as everybody else.
Did you reserve specific dates?
BOB ARUM: Yes, November 13. November 6 would be reserved, but that is not as good a date because No. 1, I think the baseball World Series could possibly go that late and there is also question of the election. There is a big senatorial and congressional election.
Do you have reason to believe either side has softened its stance?
BOB ARUM: A negotiation is a negotiation. A lot of nice things happen if people negotiate in good faith and people want something good to happen and negotiate without going through the media. So let’s see what happens.
Could we bring the fighters to the table?
BOB ARUM: My guy is too busy with his congressional duties to do that. That’s why he has to delegate these things. The answer is he couldn’t do it. He doesn’t have the time to do it. He is not a congressman like the U.S. Congressman, he will get an allocation of millions of dollars of American money and he has to allocate to hospitals, schools, municipalities. To sit and spend time negotiation a fight is not something that’s productive. But he does have time to train and perform his best for a fight.
Do you think Manny will move on the drug questions?
BOB ARUM: I am not going to discuss through the media. I understand you need to ask the question, but I am not going to answer because that starts the negotiation in the media.
Did he say he only wants to fight one more time?
BOB ARUM: He discussed it but I’m not going to say what the answer is. It was told to me in confidence and I’m not at liberty to say. My belief is, based on my conversations with him, he will engage in probably 3 more fights.
Is your marriage with Dallas something that you are willing to let go?
BOB ARUM: First of all, I’m not married to Dallas. I’m a Giants fan, not even a Cowboys fan but I love Jerry Jones but I am not going to advocate putting any fight of Manny’s unless it makes the most sense. That’s not necessarily Dallas.
Is the lawsuit still in play?
BOB ARUM: Not in play, but the lawsuit is still being actively pursued.
Is this the biggest fight that boxing has ever seen?
BOB ARUM: Ever is a hard word. You are comparing different eras. There is no fight in my time that is equally anticipated as the first Ali-Frazer fight. But electronically, it was like the dark ages when we look back on it. There was no PPV, no satellite and so forth. Moving on, when Leonard and Duran fought. That was a huge fight. Leonard was on the cover of Newsweek which was a very big thing then and that was anticipated. And Leonard-Hearns. This fight in this era is probably the most anticipated fight and probably if it happens, will do the most dollar business. It is a different dollar now than it was then, and secondly it is not a fair comparison because electronically we can do so much more, not only in the U.S. but also around the world. We have all these PPV homes in the U.S. and in England, Canada, Puerto Rico…Philippines…all over. It’s THE FIGHT, that people want to watch. Getting on the plane in Manila, Going through that airport, hundreds of people came up to me and asked “is the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight going to happen? That’s the fight people want to see, there is no question a bout it.
BOB ARUM: I have no idea whether it is going to happen or not. Anybody that believes that the fight should happen should bet with Kevin Iole who doesn’t think the fight is going to happen. I don’t know.
Does the lawsuit become a deal breaker?
BOB ARUM: All these issues are on the table and they will be negotiated and nothing cannot be discussed.
If this fight doesn’t happen do you turn to Margarito?
BOB ARUM: California does not have to license him and obviously if we went to a Margarito fight he would apply for the license in the state he would fight in next, whether that would be Nevada or Texas, I would expect a good result.
Why is a stadium important?
BOB ARUM: Stadiums are important to boxing because it enables the most possible people to watch the event and that helps deal with the popularity of the sport. It’s not unique to boxing. Look at the Final Four, all now take place in massive venues and the reason is they can accommodate more people at a better price for the fans. I’m not the genius that figured this out. I’m just going along with what seems to be common sense. If you want your product seen by the most people you have to put it in the biggest venue.
What would this fight mean to you?
BOB ARUM: It would be great but there are other things other than fights. My great dream is to still be around to be at the inauguration of Manny Pacquiao of President of the Philippines. That would be the greatest achievement in my career. But that fight would be one of the greatest experiences in my career.
BOB ARUM: I think the person that lost is going to cooperate with Manny because it would be in their best interests to do that. I know that flying home from General Santos to Manila, I happened to be seated next to the candidate’s brother-in-law and he couldn’t have been more gracious in congratulating him.
Are you going to argue over the shape of the table?
BOB ARUM: No, I think we have moved on from that and I’m very optimistic that once we start we will conclude this time. I have to get on with it because I have another big campaign coming up. I feel very James Carville-like and have to make sure that my guy Harry Reid gets re-elected.
Have you been re-energized?
BOB ARUM: That is exactly what happened. It turned back the clock. I was checking on the precincts and the Philippines. I was amazed how I got into this and some of these discussions we were having. I really think that maybe more than a boxing promoter, my calling was as a politician or an operative. Manny will be in New York and will be at the Boxing Writers Awards dinner on June 4 and the Yankee Stadium fight on June 5. By the way, when we did another media tour we stopped in San Francisco and Manny threw out the first pitch to the Cy Young winner Lincicum and he said Manny threw a really good pitch.
If you can’t make this fight, is the back-up plan to fight in Dallas?
BOB ARUM: I can’t say that now but why not? I can’t look at that now. I thought you were going to ask whom he would fight, but the number one guy would be Margarito.
He was originally on the undercard of the Clottey fight, what happened?
BOB ARUM: We needed to have a hearing to get him licensed in Texas and we didn’t have enough time. We’d have to have a hearing, but we have time now.
* * *
BOB ARUM: On June 30, Manny will be sworn into office and we are planning to do a worldwide telecast of the swearing in. These are very exciting times. When he knew that he won the election, he told me two things. It made him so happy, even more than the big victories in the ring. And secondly he said something that really touched me. He said, “Bob, I am so proud of what I have accomplished. When someone says that, you know it was a life-long dream of his. He pulled it off and I am so happy for him. I have never seen anything like it and to me it is the pinnacle.
Source: fightnews.com
It reminded me of when he was fighting Oscar De La Hoya and all the boxing writers said we should be ashamed of ourselves because it was a mismatch and De La Hoya would destroy him. It was a mismatch but it was a mismatch the other way with Manny destroying De La Hoya. This was the same thing. Everybody said he was crazy, spending his own money. In certain precincts, Manny was beating this guy 90-10 and in other precincts 70-30 and when the dust settled, Manny will win by about a 3/1 margin. Manny is so humble and so soft spoken, you think, how can he be a politician? Then you go to his rally, and you hear him speak in the native dialect and he gives a rousing speech that brings the crowd to its feet. It is tremendous to hear him speak even though you don’t even understand a word. Something else that I learned – there are 7 dialects in the Philippines and Manny can speak every one of them.
Some of the reporters over there, who understand English, don’t even understand some of the dialects. I’m pumped up. When he’s 35 he can run for Senate, and when he’s 40, I am sure he’ll be President of the Philippines. He is special and we in boxing are lucky to have him be part of the sport.
Where do we stand with Manny’s next fight?
BOB ARUM: Manny is definitely going to fight in November. It’s amazing how many people came up to me as I was leaving the Philippines and asked me when is the Mayweather fight going to happen. That’s the fight people want to see. That’s the fight that I’m going to do my darndest to make happen. I don’t want to discuss any of the issues involved in making that fight because we are going to be involved in negotiations and my first goal and Manny’s first goal is to make that fight happen. But we are not going to negotiate this thing in the press, because given the egos of all the camps, it would never happen.
Did you discuss boxing at all with Manny?
BOB ARUM: Obviously, everybody was consumed with politics. But we did a lot of rallies, held on big stages, and before they get to Manny all the other politicians would speak. But we did discuss what we would do next.
What does Manny want to do next?
BOB ARUM: It’s the Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight. There is no question that is the fight that the public wants and that is the fight that Manny wants. I am not going to go into any details of our discussion only to say that is the case.
How do you engage with the other side?
BOB ARUM: I don’t want to get into that, only to say that there is a plan. I don’t want to get into what’s happening but there are things happening on the ground.
Do you think his political career will affect his boxing?
BOB ARUM: As far as psychological make-up I really can’t answer that. Let me again go through what I believe his duties will entail and how it will blend with boxing. A Congressman in the Philippines, especially one that is elected in a province has responsibilities over and above that of a congressman in the United States. By that I mean the federal government allocates the money to him that goes to the province. He in turn must allocate that money to various towns and mayors and so forth and that is a pretty big responsibility. He also has to attend sessions of congress, but that I believe is not time consuming. The sessions are not particularly lengthy. There will be a session in July then they are off for a few months. When he is training, he runs in the morning then sleeps then trains in the gym and then eats dinner then he has all this free time – that you see on 24/7. He’s around with his people. A lot of that free time will now be devoted to his people. I think that will be better, because there will be less wasted time that there appears to be now. There will be plenty of time to do his politics when he is in training and when he is out of training. The one activity I know it will affect is his playing billiards. He devotes a lot of time to playing billiards. I don’t see where his political responsibilities will affect how he prepares for fights, but we have to be aware of what those responsibilities are.
When do you plan to initiate contact with the Mayweather camp?
BOB ARUM: I would rather not comment on that. Just to say I have my marching orders and it will be sooner rather than later.
Do you expect Dallas to be interested?
BOB ARUM: Yes, I think the two sites we would be looking at are the same two sites, the MGM and Cowboys Stadium. Jerry is certainly interested and so is the MGM Grand. If the fight happens and I hope it will, in mid-November in one of those two places.
Do you think media reports affected negotiations in a bad way?
BOB ARUM: Absolutely. Once you start negotiating through the media, it becomes ego driven. People can’t wait to give a statement to the press. The flames just shoot up and there is no real opportunity for rational behavior to take over. Everyone is so interested is setting forth his position to the media that it becomes the contest. That involves me as well as everybody else.
Did you reserve specific dates?
BOB ARUM: Yes, November 13. November 6 would be reserved, but that is not as good a date because No. 1, I think the baseball World Series could possibly go that late and there is also question of the election. There is a big senatorial and congressional election.
Do you have reason to believe either side has softened its stance?
BOB ARUM: A negotiation is a negotiation. A lot of nice things happen if people negotiate in good faith and people want something good to happen and negotiate without going through the media. So let’s see what happens.
Could we bring the fighters to the table?
BOB ARUM: My guy is too busy with his congressional duties to do that. That’s why he has to delegate these things. The answer is he couldn’t do it. He doesn’t have the time to do it. He is not a congressman like the U.S. Congressman, he will get an allocation of millions of dollars of American money and he has to allocate to hospitals, schools, municipalities. To sit and spend time negotiation a fight is not something that’s productive. But he does have time to train and perform his best for a fight.
Do you think Manny will move on the drug questions?
BOB ARUM: I am not going to discuss through the media. I understand you need to ask the question, but I am not going to answer because that starts the negotiation in the media.
Did he say he only wants to fight one more time?
BOB ARUM: He discussed it but I’m not going to say what the answer is. It was told to me in confidence and I’m not at liberty to say. My belief is, based on my conversations with him, he will engage in probably 3 more fights.
Is your marriage with Dallas something that you are willing to let go?
BOB ARUM: First of all, I’m not married to Dallas. I’m a Giants fan, not even a Cowboys fan but I love Jerry Jones but I am not going to advocate putting any fight of Manny’s unless it makes the most sense. That’s not necessarily Dallas.
Is the lawsuit still in play?
BOB ARUM: Not in play, but the lawsuit is still being actively pursued.
Is this the biggest fight that boxing has ever seen?
BOB ARUM: Ever is a hard word. You are comparing different eras. There is no fight in my time that is equally anticipated as the first Ali-Frazer fight. But electronically, it was like the dark ages when we look back on it. There was no PPV, no satellite and so forth. Moving on, when Leonard and Duran fought. That was a huge fight. Leonard was on the cover of Newsweek which was a very big thing then and that was anticipated. And Leonard-Hearns. This fight in this era is probably the most anticipated fight and probably if it happens, will do the most dollar business. It is a different dollar now than it was then, and secondly it is not a fair comparison because electronically we can do so much more, not only in the U.S. but also around the world. We have all these PPV homes in the U.S. and in England, Canada, Puerto Rico…Philippines…all over. It’s THE FIGHT, that people want to watch. Getting on the plane in Manila, Going through that airport, hundreds of people came up to me and asked “is the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight going to happen? That’s the fight people want to see, there is no question a bout it.
BOB ARUM: I have no idea whether it is going to happen or not. Anybody that believes that the fight should happen should bet with Kevin Iole who doesn’t think the fight is going to happen. I don’t know.
Does the lawsuit become a deal breaker?
BOB ARUM: All these issues are on the table and they will be negotiated and nothing cannot be discussed.
If this fight doesn’t happen do you turn to Margarito?
BOB ARUM: California does not have to license him and obviously if we went to a Margarito fight he would apply for the license in the state he would fight in next, whether that would be Nevada or Texas, I would expect a good result.
Why is a stadium important?
BOB ARUM: Stadiums are important to boxing because it enables the most possible people to watch the event and that helps deal with the popularity of the sport. It’s not unique to boxing. Look at the Final Four, all now take place in massive venues and the reason is they can accommodate more people at a better price for the fans. I’m not the genius that figured this out. I’m just going along with what seems to be common sense. If you want your product seen by the most people you have to put it in the biggest venue.
What would this fight mean to you?
BOB ARUM: It would be great but there are other things other than fights. My great dream is to still be around to be at the inauguration of Manny Pacquiao of President of the Philippines. That would be the greatest achievement in my career. But that fight would be one of the greatest experiences in my career.
BOB ARUM: I think the person that lost is going to cooperate with Manny because it would be in their best interests to do that. I know that flying home from General Santos to Manila, I happened to be seated next to the candidate’s brother-in-law and he couldn’t have been more gracious in congratulating him.
Are you going to argue over the shape of the table?
BOB ARUM: No, I think we have moved on from that and I’m very optimistic that once we start we will conclude this time. I have to get on with it because I have another big campaign coming up. I feel very James Carville-like and have to make sure that my guy Harry Reid gets re-elected.
Have you been re-energized?
BOB ARUM: That is exactly what happened. It turned back the clock. I was checking on the precincts and the Philippines. I was amazed how I got into this and some of these discussions we were having. I really think that maybe more than a boxing promoter, my calling was as a politician or an operative. Manny will be in New York and will be at the Boxing Writers Awards dinner on June 4 and the Yankee Stadium fight on June 5. By the way, when we did another media tour we stopped in San Francisco and Manny threw out the first pitch to the Cy Young winner Lincicum and he said Manny threw a really good pitch.
If you can’t make this fight, is the back-up plan to fight in Dallas?
BOB ARUM: I can’t say that now but why not? I can’t look at that now. I thought you were going to ask whom he would fight, but the number one guy would be Margarito.
He was originally on the undercard of the Clottey fight, what happened?
BOB ARUM: We needed to have a hearing to get him licensed in Texas and we didn’t have enough time. We’d have to have a hearing, but we have time now.
* * *
BOB ARUM: On June 30, Manny will be sworn into office and we are planning to do a worldwide telecast of the swearing in. These are very exciting times. When he knew that he won the election, he told me two things. It made him so happy, even more than the big victories in the ring. And secondly he said something that really touched me. He said, “Bob, I am so proud of what I have accomplished. When someone says that, you know it was a life-long dream of his. He pulled it off and I am so happy for him. I have never seen anything like it and to me it is the pinnacle.
Source: fightnews.com
Sunday, May 9, 2010
No More Bull, Give us the fight we want Pacquiao vs. Mayweather
By George Napier: Like many fans across the globe, I have become sick and tired of the whole Pacquiao vs Mayweather facade. It’s time this fight was made; or for both fighters to disappear, because frankly there are no other fighters out there for either man.
Both have fought their way to a position where nothing else matters, they both reside #1 and #2 in both the welterweight and pound for pound rankings; so anything less is simply not good enough. I’m not interested in seeing either fighter face off against a fighter making the transition from light-welterweight, neither am I interested in witnessing either man take on a soft touch at light middleweight; to win yet another phoney title.
Fans, or should I sat worshipers of both fighters need to seriously take a reality check; I myself am a fan of the sport of boxing and not any one particular fighter. Yes, I like and appreciate certain styles, but that’s where the buck stops. However, when it comes to some fans of these two fighters it’s like they worship the man, and not the sport.
The sad thing about this is they probably don’t even realise they are being ripped-off. Let’s start with Pacquiao’s last fight, anyone who knows anyone who actually picked Clottey to win please let me know, because of all the fans I interact with on social networking sites and boxing forums I never did come across anyone who picked the Ghanaian to win. Is this really, what we want form a pound for pound fighter, facing off against someone whom no-one gives a chance. In truth the bout was a facade and the smokescreen was the venue in where the bout was staged, the Cowboy’s stadium, Arlington, Texas, it was the venue, the event as a whole we looked forward to and not the fight.
So rather than both sets of fans throwing verbal assaults at each other why not be more constructive by openly criticising both fighters.
Drug Testing
In my opinion, camp Mayweather’s approach was all wrong, if they handled it in a different manor and put the proposal forward as a request rather than a demand we could have ended up with a different outcome. Voices from the camp openly expressed their views and literally accused Manny Pacquiao of using performance enhancing drugs. This accusation added a completely new dimension to the negotiations, instead of both agreeing to clean up the sport and to undergo stringent testing, they found additional problems with the defamation of character citations that followed.
Photo By Yehoshua Rey
I find it hard to criticise a man who is trying to clean up the sport, yes, we can question the motives behind this stance, but when it’s all said and done if it results in the implementation of more stringent testing through the sport, I don’t really care about the motives.
Now it’s a matter of principle, was Pacquiao right to walk away from the fight, I don’t think so; and let me tell you why. This is the sport of boxing where most opponents through the history of the sport have tried underhand tactics including slander to get under the skin of their opponent. There is also the persona projected by Pacquiao, Pacquiao is regarded the peoples champion, a man fighting for a nation and a higher cause; giving his fellow countrymen hope and inspiration. (We don’t need to even mention Mayweather in this segment as he openly admits he fights for money).
So if you were fighting for a nation and the people would you not do anything to give the fans the fight they want, would such a man not walk through walls to give the fans the fight they crave?
Example: Willie Pep was Featherweight Champion and widely regarded as the peoples champion in 1947. On January 5th, 1947, Pep was in a small plane that overshot Newark Airport and landed in nearby woods killing 5 people. Pep had 2 broken vertebrae as well as a broken leg; Doctors told him he would never fight again. He was in a cast until June, and incredibly several days after the cast was removed with little, training or preparation he returned to the ring on June 17th and won a tenth round decision, his opponent Victor Flores was sent to the canvas twice during the fight.
Will o' the Wisp went on to compile ten fights through 1947. That’s what you call a peoples champion. People say Pep was never the same after the crash; he lost something as a fighter. Before the plane crash, Pep had a record of 108-1-1, and retired almost 20 years after the crash with a record of 229-11-1, testament to a great fighter and a great champion.
Source: theboxinghistorian.com
Both have fought their way to a position where nothing else matters, they both reside #1 and #2 in both the welterweight and pound for pound rankings; so anything less is simply not good enough. I’m not interested in seeing either fighter face off against a fighter making the transition from light-welterweight, neither am I interested in witnessing either man take on a soft touch at light middleweight; to win yet another phoney title.
Fans, or should I sat worshipers of both fighters need to seriously take a reality check; I myself am a fan of the sport of boxing and not any one particular fighter. Yes, I like and appreciate certain styles, but that’s where the buck stops. However, when it comes to some fans of these two fighters it’s like they worship the man, and not the sport.
The sad thing about this is they probably don’t even realise they are being ripped-off. Let’s start with Pacquiao’s last fight, anyone who knows anyone who actually picked Clottey to win please let me know, because of all the fans I interact with on social networking sites and boxing forums I never did come across anyone who picked the Ghanaian to win. Is this really, what we want form a pound for pound fighter, facing off against someone whom no-one gives a chance. In truth the bout was a facade and the smokescreen was the venue in where the bout was staged, the Cowboy’s stadium, Arlington, Texas, it was the venue, the event as a whole we looked forward to and not the fight.
So rather than both sets of fans throwing verbal assaults at each other why not be more constructive by openly criticising both fighters.
Drug Testing
In my opinion, camp Mayweather’s approach was all wrong, if they handled it in a different manor and put the proposal forward as a request rather than a demand we could have ended up with a different outcome. Voices from the camp openly expressed their views and literally accused Manny Pacquiao of using performance enhancing drugs. This accusation added a completely new dimension to the negotiations, instead of both agreeing to clean up the sport and to undergo stringent testing, they found additional problems with the defamation of character citations that followed.
Photo By Yehoshua Rey
I find it hard to criticise a man who is trying to clean up the sport, yes, we can question the motives behind this stance, but when it’s all said and done if it results in the implementation of more stringent testing through the sport, I don’t really care about the motives.
Now it’s a matter of principle, was Pacquiao right to walk away from the fight, I don’t think so; and let me tell you why. This is the sport of boxing where most opponents through the history of the sport have tried underhand tactics including slander to get under the skin of their opponent. There is also the persona projected by Pacquiao, Pacquiao is regarded the peoples champion, a man fighting for a nation and a higher cause; giving his fellow countrymen hope and inspiration. (We don’t need to even mention Mayweather in this segment as he openly admits he fights for money).
So if you were fighting for a nation and the people would you not do anything to give the fans the fight they want, would such a man not walk through walls to give the fans the fight they crave?
Example: Willie Pep was Featherweight Champion and widely regarded as the peoples champion in 1947. On January 5th, 1947, Pep was in a small plane that overshot Newark Airport and landed in nearby woods killing 5 people. Pep had 2 broken vertebrae as well as a broken leg; Doctors told him he would never fight again. He was in a cast until June, and incredibly several days after the cast was removed with little, training or preparation he returned to the ring on June 17th and won a tenth round decision, his opponent Victor Flores was sent to the canvas twice during the fight.
Will o' the Wisp went on to compile ten fights through 1947. That’s what you call a peoples champion. People say Pep was never the same after the crash; he lost something as a fighter. Before the plane crash, Pep had a record of 108-1-1, and retired almost 20 years after the crash with a record of 229-11-1, testament to a great fighter and a great champion.
Source: theboxinghistorian.com
Sugar Ray: Mayweather vs Pacman inevitable
MANILA, Philippines - It’s a toss-up between two pound-for-pound champions who just can’t get it done in the ring.
Sugar Ray Leonard, one of the great boxers of all time, said it would be too close to call if Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. ever get to face each other.
“It’s a toss-up, a pick-’em fight,” Leonard, who with Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns formed of the Fab Four of the 1980s, told the Grand Rapids Press.
The big question, however, is if the fight that the entire planet wants to see would ever happen.
There’s a big disagreement regarding the drug-testing procedure, and it’s so big that the fight that should decide who the greatest boxer of this era truly is might never take place.
Pacquiao is against Mayweather’s call for random blood testing Olympic-style, one that would require probably a dozen tests in the months, weeks, days or hours before the fight.
Pacquiao said Mayweather knows how he hates the drawing of blood close to a fight, and the Filipino icon said it’s Mayweather’s way of dodging the fight, his only way out of it.
On the other side of the coin, Mayweather’s father said the fight would never ever happen because Pacquiao wouldn’t take the test. All along, he had doubts if Pacquiao is into performance-enhancing drugs.
But Leonard insists that the fight should happen, probably with or without the blood tests.
“The fight has to happen,” Leonard told David Mayo of the Grand Rapids Press, adding that it would be a big disappointment if Pacquiao and Mayweather end up hanging up their gloves without fighting each other.
“They both are letting people call them pound-for-pound. They both are considered pound-for-pound right now. They’ve got to fight each other to prove who’s the best, pound-for-pound – fact.
“It’s about the money, because boxing’s a business. But also, if you want to be considered one of those guys, you’ve got to put up. That’s a fight that appears to be inevitable at some point in time, hopefully sooner than later,” Leonard said.
Sooner perhaps.
Source: philstar.com
Sugar Ray Leonard, one of the great boxers of all time, said it would be too close to call if Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. ever get to face each other.
“It’s a toss-up, a pick-’em fight,” Leonard, who with Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns formed of the Fab Four of the 1980s, told the Grand Rapids Press.
The big question, however, is if the fight that the entire planet wants to see would ever happen.
There’s a big disagreement regarding the drug-testing procedure, and it’s so big that the fight that should decide who the greatest boxer of this era truly is might never take place.
Pacquiao is against Mayweather’s call for random blood testing Olympic-style, one that would require probably a dozen tests in the months, weeks, days or hours before the fight.
Pacquiao said Mayweather knows how he hates the drawing of blood close to a fight, and the Filipino icon said it’s Mayweather’s way of dodging the fight, his only way out of it.
On the other side of the coin, Mayweather’s father said the fight would never ever happen because Pacquiao wouldn’t take the test. All along, he had doubts if Pacquiao is into performance-enhancing drugs.
But Leonard insists that the fight should happen, probably with or without the blood tests.
“The fight has to happen,” Leonard told David Mayo of the Grand Rapids Press, adding that it would be a big disappointment if Pacquiao and Mayweather end up hanging up their gloves without fighting each other.
“They both are letting people call them pound-for-pound. They both are considered pound-for-pound right now. They’ve got to fight each other to prove who’s the best, pound-for-pound – fact.
“It’s about the money, because boxing’s a business. But also, if you want to be considered one of those guys, you’ve got to put up. That’s a fight that appears to be inevitable at some point in time, hopefully sooner than later,” Leonard said.
Sooner perhaps.
Source: philstar.com
Floyd Mayweather is the Greatest Ever? Don't Let Him Fool You
Don’t let him fool you. Money talks.
He talks a lot.
Floyd Mayweather is twice as smart as you think he is. In the weeks leading up to last Saturday’s showdown with Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather displayed the skill that truly sets him apart from anyone else—his knack for propaganda.
Through various prefight specials and postfight interviews, Floyd “Money” Mayweather declared his supremacy like a Roman gladiator by defaming past warriors and welcoming all challengers.
“Is there no else?”
Don’t let FMJ fool you.
We all know who’s next—who has to be next. Not even 10 minutes passed after the final bell Saturday before questions about the possibility of a supernatural showdown between FMJ and Pacquiao rose to the surface.
Mayweather talks about a match with the Filipino Pacquaio as if it would be just another fight.
Don’t let him fool you.
Manny Pacquiao would not be just another notch on Mayweather’s belt. A dethroning of Pacman would without a doubt place Mayweather amongst the ranks of boxing history.
Saturday’s victory over Shane Mosley is not enough to crown Mayweather king.
At 46-6, Mosley has had a long and impressive run. But, in reality, he has lost almost all of his big-time fights. His claim to fame—wins over De La Hoya and Margarito—pales in comparison to the image Floyd Mayweather would want us to have of “Sugar” Shane.
The ultimate self-promoter, Mayweather’s performance outside the ring seems to have surpassed his work inside of it. With the way everyone is talking, it’s hard to imagine anyone ever being considered greater than FMJ.
For example, many people thought Shane Mosley had a shot in this contest. Mayweather makes claims of grandeur; Oscar De La Hoya calls him “King of the World”; and everyone starts nodding their head in approval.
At this recognition, Mayweather rolls his eyes, wondering what took us so long to listen to him.
There’s no denying it. Floyd Mayweather is good, very good. Whether he ever beats Manny Pacquiao, he has been very impressive for a long time.
He’s like Mozart. He’s no good to pump through your system for a summer drive. He’s not going to satisfy your thirst for thrills. He won’t have you jumping out of your seat and cheering.
But he’s an artist, and he has mastered his craft. The best way to enjoy Mayweather is to study him—his big picture, his career, his impressive streak of lopsided victories, his flawless technique—all coming together to play a symphony on the canvas.
But, he’s even better at playing up his image.
Before Saturday’s fight, Floyd predicted such a glorious victory that he forced us all to sit back incredulously and dare him to come through.
And in 12 dazzling rounds, Floyd dominated a highly-respected veteran, shooting I-told-you-so looks to the crowd as he assumed his self-made throne.
With an unwavering confidence, and a smile so glossy it would make Lucifer jealous, Floyd Mayweather has once again stolen the show.
But don’t let him fool you.
Whether you were impressed with Floyd’s win Saturday, do not let Manny Pacquiao’s boring dominance over Josh Clottey tempt you to forget who has established a reign of terror in the last decade of boxing.
When Floyd Mayweather announced his return to the ring, it was Manny Pacquiao’s party that he was crashing. For the past five years, Pacquiao has terrorized the best names in modern boxing, with or without Mayweather in the picture.
Don’t let Floyd fool you. Manny Pacquiao is scary for Floyd Mayweather.
He is faster and can hit harder than anyone FMJ has ever faced. Pacquiao knows how to finish when he’s winning, and he knows how to fight back when he’s losing.
Watch the first two rounds of the De La Hoya fight. Pacquiao can hurt his opponent while playing the cherry-picking—one—punch—cover—one—punch style in which Floyd trapped Mosley.
Without the worry of tainting a perfect record, Pacquiao would be playing with nothing to lose. He wouldn’t have to fear a strong counter or a surprise big shot. Pacquiao could just keep coming and coming.
So, don’t let Floyd fool you. He doesn’t want any part of a fearless Manny Pacquiao.
Forget Sergio Martinez or Margarito. Forget Cavs versus Lakers. This is once in a lifetime. This is Ali—Frazier. This is finally making it to Disneyland after years of false promises. This is the Beatles at Shea Stadium.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather. Defense vs. offense. Robin Hood vs. King Midas.
To promote his fight against Mosley, Mayweather posed for a number of pictures in which he was dressed in a classical soldier’s armor with shield and sword, not unlike the hero Achilles.
Remember that in the Iliad, Achilles was the greatest of all warriors, the strongest and fastest fighter in the entire world. He was virtually invincible, unless his opponent was able to find and exploit his one fatal weakness.
Floyd Mayweather claims that he does everything right. He doesn’t have a weakness. In truth, with his unbelievable defense, he seems almost impossible to touch, to hurt. He looks invincible.
Don’t let him fool you.
Source: bleacherreport.com
He talks a lot.
Floyd Mayweather is twice as smart as you think he is. In the weeks leading up to last Saturday’s showdown with Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather displayed the skill that truly sets him apart from anyone else—his knack for propaganda.
Through various prefight specials and postfight interviews, Floyd “Money” Mayweather declared his supremacy like a Roman gladiator by defaming past warriors and welcoming all challengers.
“Is there no else?”
Don’t let FMJ fool you.
We all know who’s next—who has to be next. Not even 10 minutes passed after the final bell Saturday before questions about the possibility of a supernatural showdown between FMJ and Pacquiao rose to the surface.
Mayweather talks about a match with the Filipino Pacquaio as if it would be just another fight.
Don’t let him fool you.
Manny Pacquiao would not be just another notch on Mayweather’s belt. A dethroning of Pacman would without a doubt place Mayweather amongst the ranks of boxing history.
Saturday’s victory over Shane Mosley is not enough to crown Mayweather king.
At 46-6, Mosley has had a long and impressive run. But, in reality, he has lost almost all of his big-time fights. His claim to fame—wins over De La Hoya and Margarito—pales in comparison to the image Floyd Mayweather would want us to have of “Sugar” Shane.
The ultimate self-promoter, Mayweather’s performance outside the ring seems to have surpassed his work inside of it. With the way everyone is talking, it’s hard to imagine anyone ever being considered greater than FMJ.
For example, many people thought Shane Mosley had a shot in this contest. Mayweather makes claims of grandeur; Oscar De La Hoya calls him “King of the World”; and everyone starts nodding their head in approval.
At this recognition, Mayweather rolls his eyes, wondering what took us so long to listen to him.
There’s no denying it. Floyd Mayweather is good, very good. Whether he ever beats Manny Pacquiao, he has been very impressive for a long time.
He’s like Mozart. He’s no good to pump through your system for a summer drive. He’s not going to satisfy your thirst for thrills. He won’t have you jumping out of your seat and cheering.
But he’s an artist, and he has mastered his craft. The best way to enjoy Mayweather is to study him—his big picture, his career, his impressive streak of lopsided victories, his flawless technique—all coming together to play a symphony on the canvas.
But, he’s even better at playing up his image.
Before Saturday’s fight, Floyd predicted such a glorious victory that he forced us all to sit back incredulously and dare him to come through.
And in 12 dazzling rounds, Floyd dominated a highly-respected veteran, shooting I-told-you-so looks to the crowd as he assumed his self-made throne.
With an unwavering confidence, and a smile so glossy it would make Lucifer jealous, Floyd Mayweather has once again stolen the show.
But don’t let him fool you.
Whether you were impressed with Floyd’s win Saturday, do not let Manny Pacquiao’s boring dominance over Josh Clottey tempt you to forget who has established a reign of terror in the last decade of boxing.
When Floyd Mayweather announced his return to the ring, it was Manny Pacquiao’s party that he was crashing. For the past five years, Pacquiao has terrorized the best names in modern boxing, with or without Mayweather in the picture.
Don’t let Floyd fool you. Manny Pacquiao is scary for Floyd Mayweather.
He is faster and can hit harder than anyone FMJ has ever faced. Pacquiao knows how to finish when he’s winning, and he knows how to fight back when he’s losing.
Watch the first two rounds of the De La Hoya fight. Pacquiao can hurt his opponent while playing the cherry-picking—one—punch—cover—one—punch style in which Floyd trapped Mosley.
Without the worry of tainting a perfect record, Pacquiao would be playing with nothing to lose. He wouldn’t have to fear a strong counter or a surprise big shot. Pacquiao could just keep coming and coming.
So, don’t let Floyd fool you. He doesn’t want any part of a fearless Manny Pacquiao.
Forget Sergio Martinez or Margarito. Forget Cavs versus Lakers. This is once in a lifetime. This is Ali—Frazier. This is finally making it to Disneyland after years of false promises. This is the Beatles at Shea Stadium.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather. Defense vs. offense. Robin Hood vs. King Midas.
To promote his fight against Mosley, Mayweather posed for a number of pictures in which he was dressed in a classical soldier’s armor with shield and sword, not unlike the hero Achilles.
Remember that in the Iliad, Achilles was the greatest of all warriors, the strongest and fastest fighter in the entire world. He was virtually invincible, unless his opponent was able to find and exploit his one fatal weakness.
Floyd Mayweather claims that he does everything right. He doesn’t have a weakness. In truth, with his unbelievable defense, he seems almost impossible to touch, to hurt. He looks invincible.
Don’t let him fool you.
Source: bleacherreport.com
Desperately seeking Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Like the rest of the planet, I am fervently awaiting the Pacquiao vs Mayweather match. It could be the sport's last great gift to the huddled masses. Beyond Dempsey-Tunney, Louis-Schmeling, Robinson-La Motta, Ali-Frazier and Hearns-Leonard, Pacquiao- Mayweather will embrace the new multicultural world order and return boxing -- if only for a single night -- to the brightest lights on the biggest stage.
That's assuming they ever fight and assuming folks are willing to pay $64.95 to view it.
(That price might sound steep, but look at it this way -- the next time you fly, if you forego checking two bags, right there you've saved enough money to afford Pacquiao-Mayweather!)
The two have fought outside the ring in trying to set up a fight inside the ring.
Mayweather implied Pacquiao had used performance-
enhancing drugs and insisted on blood testing just before they fight. Pacquiao would not agree and sued Mayweather for defamation of character.
Pacquiao says giving blood just before a fight would weaken him.
(My own anecdotal evidence supports Pacquiao. In 1998, I gave blood and, less than 72 hours later, foolishly proposed to my second wife. Then last year I gave blood just before writing a column on statistical debris in sports, and dozens of readers e-mailed to tell me it was the worst article they had ever read.)
Unable to come to terms on a fight, Pacquiao proceeded to dominate Joshua Clottey March 13 and Mayweather proceeded to dominate Shane Mosley May 1, reviving debate on which champion is the world's best pound-for-pound boxer.
(I am often asked why the term "best pound-for-pound boxer" is used. Indeed, was G. Gordon Liddy referred to as the best pound-for-pound plumber in the business? Is Bobby Flay the best pound-for-pound chef? Is Yo-Yo Ma the best pound-for-pound cellist? The pound-for-pound expression essentially acknowledges the fact that a bantamweight, say, cannot beat a middleweight, but pound-for-pound, the bantamweight might be a better fighter. Of course, outside of the United States, they talk about the best "kilogram-for-kilogram" boxer.)
Whenever Pacquiao-
Mayweather happens, it likely will attract one of the biggest pay-per-view audiences ever; in 2007, Mayweather's fight against Oscar de la Hoya drew a record-breaking 2.45 million buys.
Source: washingtonpost.com
That's assuming they ever fight and assuming folks are willing to pay $64.95 to view it.
(That price might sound steep, but look at it this way -- the next time you fly, if you forego checking two bags, right there you've saved enough money to afford Pacquiao-Mayweather!)
The two have fought outside the ring in trying to set up a fight inside the ring.
Mayweather implied Pacquiao had used performance-
enhancing drugs and insisted on blood testing just before they fight. Pacquiao would not agree and sued Mayweather for defamation of character.
Pacquiao says giving blood just before a fight would weaken him.
(My own anecdotal evidence supports Pacquiao. In 1998, I gave blood and, less than 72 hours later, foolishly proposed to my second wife. Then last year I gave blood just before writing a column on statistical debris in sports, and dozens of readers e-mailed to tell me it was the worst article they had ever read.)
Unable to come to terms on a fight, Pacquiao proceeded to dominate Joshua Clottey March 13 and Mayweather proceeded to dominate Shane Mosley May 1, reviving debate on which champion is the world's best pound-for-pound boxer.
(I am often asked why the term "best pound-for-pound boxer" is used. Indeed, was G. Gordon Liddy referred to as the best pound-for-pound plumber in the business? Is Bobby Flay the best pound-for-pound chef? Is Yo-Yo Ma the best pound-for-pound cellist? The pound-for-pound expression essentially acknowledges the fact that a bantamweight, say, cannot beat a middleweight, but pound-for-pound, the bantamweight might be a better fighter. Of course, outside of the United States, they talk about the best "kilogram-for-kilogram" boxer.)
Whenever Pacquiao-
Mayweather happens, it likely will attract one of the biggest pay-per-view audiences ever; in 2007, Mayweather's fight against Oscar de la Hoya drew a record-breaking 2.45 million buys.
Source: washingtonpost.com
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Roach/Ariza: PED accusation at Manny Pacquiao taken as compliment (at first)
Although Freddie Roach has a slightly different view (click on video above), Alex Ariza, Manny Pacquiao’s head strength and conditioning coach, has insisted the allegations being levelled at Pacquiao, emanating from the Mayweather camp, relating to the smear campaign over PEDs, was not looked on first of all by something negative by the Pacquiao Camp.
Indeed, they saw it as a veiled compliment, at first, towards the intense work they had done to build Pacquiao’s body for his contest with Oscar de la Hoya, a fight in which they knew their man was clearly the smaller of the two. The ballistics analysis they put together created a plan. They didn’t know what they would acheive. But it worked.
“In the beginning, I just thought it [the comments from Mayweather Snr] was a compliment, in a way, because of the work we have done to develop Manny into the fighter he is, but at the end of the day, we know it [the allegations] is not true, ” Ariza told Telegraph Sport.
“It doesn’t hurt us. Fighters are still going to come to Freddie because they want to be trained by him. People are still going to be trained by us, and when they come to the gym, they will see how hard we work there. We know exactly what we put our guys there through.”
Ariza is preparimng Pacquiao for his contest against Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Texas. He explained: “We are following the same format as we did for Miguel Cotto. I sat with Freddie and we felt the training regimen and the diet regimen for Manny against Cotto was dead on correct.”
To keep weight on Pacquiao, he has a protein shake before bed, in the middle of the night, and first thing in the morning.
“The weight-speed conditioning was all there, and we feel Joshua Clottey is a similar opponent in that Manny may have to absorb some punishment. Manny said afterwards that he felt in such good condition, he could take Cotto’s punches, and so Manny changed the game plan early in the fight against Cotto, wanting to demoralise him by absorbing his punching power.”
“It might not be exactly the same against Clottey. But the fight against Cotto went so well, Manny was strong for the entire fight, so we did not see any reason for changing anything. The only real difference between this and the Cotto fight is that we started doing a bit more strength training …”
“Manny was 151 lbs at four and a half weeks out, we keep him on a 7000 calories a day diet, and once we get to Dallas, I just have to take a few things away from the diet. We have to keep his intake up. He has to have a protein shake before going to bed, he has one at 3am, and another one first thing in the morning. He has up to six meals a day and six protein shakes a day when in training for a fight. We have to keep weight on him, as he trains so hard. We can’t have his body dropping calories.”
Source: telegraph.co.uk
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Mayweather: Pacquiao should get less if fight pushes through
Here goes Floyd Mayweather again.
The trash-talking former holder of the mythical title of pound-for-pound king went on the offensive over the weekend, expressing his wonder to his hometown paper – the Grand Rapids Press – why Manny Pacquiao would not agree to “a $25 million drug test.”
Still resentful about the collapse of the lucrative bout with Pacquiao, Mayweather said that if their camps revive talks about a matchup in the next few months, the Filipino will have to agree to get less of the money at stake especially if his May 1 fight with Shane Mosley fares better than Pacquiao’s March 13 bout with Joshua Clottey.
“Instead of 20 or 25 (million dollars), he may have to drop to 15 or 17 and you know me, they have to throw that extra 5 or ten on mine and we can rock and roll. Take it or leave it,” said Mayweather.
Pacquiao and Mayweather appeared on their way to agreeing on a deal but Mayweather demanded that Pacquiao undergo random blood testing to level the playing field even though Pacquiao has never failed a drug test ever.
While Mayweather insists that he is not accusing Pacquiao of somebody who uses performance-enhancing drugs, the American fighter sounds off that the current pound-for-pound king is guilty.
“The thing is this: I’ve never seen a guy who didn’t want to take a $25 million drug test. If you’re clean, take the drug test.”
Mayweather lamented the fact that he had agreed to an unheard-of demand by Pacquiao on the issue of penalties on excess weight.
“In my clause, he told me if you would weigh over 147 I had to pay him $10 million for each pound. I agreed but he didn’t agree to my terms and we both would have had to take tests. It wasn’t just steered toward him. It was both me and him.”
Stung by Mayweather's nasty accusation, Pacquiao has filed a defamation lawsuit against him as well as the Oscar De La Hoya-owned Golden Boy Promotions.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, is right on track in his preparation against Clottey even though he took a break when he traveled to Las Vegas to throw his support behind the Filipino fighters who fought there.
Pacquiao told a Manila-based station covering the fight at ringside that he didn’t find it hard to regain his old fiery form because he was coming off a big fight.
Over at Clottey’s training camp in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, the Ghana banger is said to be awesome as well during sparring sessions, his chief handler Vinny Scolpino told ace fight scribe Mike Marley.
“He’s on target, he’s beating the crap out of people in sparring and I would say he is definitely on his A game,” said Scolpino.
Source: mb.com.ph
The trash-talking former holder of the mythical title of pound-for-pound king went on the offensive over the weekend, expressing his wonder to his hometown paper – the Grand Rapids Press – why Manny Pacquiao would not agree to “a $25 million drug test.”
Still resentful about the collapse of the lucrative bout with Pacquiao, Mayweather said that if their camps revive talks about a matchup in the next few months, the Filipino will have to agree to get less of the money at stake especially if his May 1 fight with Shane Mosley fares better than Pacquiao’s March 13 bout with Joshua Clottey.
“Instead of 20 or 25 (million dollars), he may have to drop to 15 or 17 and you know me, they have to throw that extra 5 or ten on mine and we can rock and roll. Take it or leave it,” said Mayweather.
Pacquiao and Mayweather appeared on their way to agreeing on a deal but Mayweather demanded that Pacquiao undergo random blood testing to level the playing field even though Pacquiao has never failed a drug test ever.
While Mayweather insists that he is not accusing Pacquiao of somebody who uses performance-enhancing drugs, the American fighter sounds off that the current pound-for-pound king is guilty.
“The thing is this: I’ve never seen a guy who didn’t want to take a $25 million drug test. If you’re clean, take the drug test.”
Mayweather lamented the fact that he had agreed to an unheard-of demand by Pacquiao on the issue of penalties on excess weight.
“In my clause, he told me if you would weigh over 147 I had to pay him $10 million for each pound. I agreed but he didn’t agree to my terms and we both would have had to take tests. It wasn’t just steered toward him. It was both me and him.”
Stung by Mayweather's nasty accusation, Pacquiao has filed a defamation lawsuit against him as well as the Oscar De La Hoya-owned Golden Boy Promotions.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, is right on track in his preparation against Clottey even though he took a break when he traveled to Las Vegas to throw his support behind the Filipino fighters who fought there.
Pacquiao told a Manila-based station covering the fight at ringside that he didn’t find it hard to regain his old fiery form because he was coming off a big fight.
Over at Clottey’s training camp in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, the Ghana banger is said to be awesome as well during sparring sessions, his chief handler Vinny Scolpino told ace fight scribe Mike Marley.
“He’s on target, he’s beating the crap out of people in sparring and I would say he is definitely on his A game,” said Scolpino.
Source: mb.com.ph
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Debacle: Five Things We Learned
1. Money doesn’t talk.
The consensus among observers was that there was just too much money involved for the fight not to happen.
The fighters were being guaranteed an equal split of $50 million upfront, plus a percentage of pay-per-view revenues that could have raised the pot to somewhere in the neighborhood of $80 million.
That’s an awfully nice neighborhood to drive past without pulling over for a paltry 36-minutes to collect the large, overstuffed moneybags loitering on the street corners.
I guess money doesn’t always talk. Or maybe it does but sometimes there are just so many idiots yelling and screaming around it that no one is able to hear it.
2. There needs to be a single overseeing body in the sport of boxing.
Manny is promoted by both Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions. Floyd is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, but had authorized Golden Boy to negotiate the fight on his behalf.
So one of Manny’s promoters was negotiating on behalf of Manny’s other promoter who was negotiating on behalf of Floyd.
The fighters haggled over the specifics of adding a regulation to a fight overseen by a commission that has no authority to supervise or prohibit such a change in the regulations.
And we wonder why we’re left without a mega-fight, feeling like we’ve been simultaneously kicked in the teeth, gut, and jewel sack by a three-legged freak.
Power in the sport of boxing needs to be in the hands of a single organization—not splintered among promoters, state athletic commissions and miscellaneous sanctioning bodies.
3. That Manny Pacquiao is one popular dude—and not just in the Philippines.
If Barack Obama is sarcastically referred to as the Messiah, then Manny Pacquiao just may be God himself. And I’m not sure, but I think that would make Floyd Mayweather the devil.
I don’t know much about culture in the Philippines, but Filipino pride is a pretty amazing thing. That is a people who stick together and know what they believe.
Now I think I understand why Manny would rather pass up a $40 million payday than give a teaspoon of his blood—he could get twice that on Ebay.
4. There are some seriously passionate, angry, and insane fans out there.
Which one do you hate—Pedquiao or Gayweather?
Give the wrong answer to the person who asks that question and you may as well have hocked a fat loogie into the urn containing their grandmother’s ashes.
Let’s just get it over with and have all of the Mayweather fans wear red, the Pacquiao supporters wear blue, and start flashing signs, getting affiliation tats, and doing drive-bys.
It’s like we woke up one morning and found ourselves in a Jerry Springer boxing-themed Twilight Zone.
5. No matter how many times we, the fans, get screwed by the sport, we keep coming back.
Being a boxing fan is like being the wife of a mobster—you’re associated with a business filled with scumbags, you know you’re going to be cheated on, and you’re committed to it for life.
Having a fight the magnitude of Pacquiao vs. Mayweather wind up in a toe-tag is more than just another black eye for boxing—it’s the sport’s equivalent of Riddick Bowe having his scrotum used as a speed bag by Andrew Golata.
But, as always, we’ll stagger back to our corners, leer at the ring card girl, and somehow find a way to answer the bell for the next round.
Source: bleacherreport.com
The consensus among observers was that there was just too much money involved for the fight not to happen.
The fighters were being guaranteed an equal split of $50 million upfront, plus a percentage of pay-per-view revenues that could have raised the pot to somewhere in the neighborhood of $80 million.
That’s an awfully nice neighborhood to drive past without pulling over for a paltry 36-minutes to collect the large, overstuffed moneybags loitering on the street corners.
I guess money doesn’t always talk. Or maybe it does but sometimes there are just so many idiots yelling and screaming around it that no one is able to hear it.
2. There needs to be a single overseeing body in the sport of boxing.
Manny is promoted by both Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions. Floyd is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, but had authorized Golden Boy to negotiate the fight on his behalf.
So one of Manny’s promoters was negotiating on behalf of Manny’s other promoter who was negotiating on behalf of Floyd.
The fighters haggled over the specifics of adding a regulation to a fight overseen by a commission that has no authority to supervise or prohibit such a change in the regulations.
And we wonder why we’re left without a mega-fight, feeling like we’ve been simultaneously kicked in the teeth, gut, and jewel sack by a three-legged freak.
Power in the sport of boxing needs to be in the hands of a single organization—not splintered among promoters, state athletic commissions and miscellaneous sanctioning bodies.
3. That Manny Pacquiao is one popular dude—and not just in the Philippines.
If Barack Obama is sarcastically referred to as the Messiah, then Manny Pacquiao just may be God himself. And I’m not sure, but I think that would make Floyd Mayweather the devil.
I don’t know much about culture in the Philippines, but Filipino pride is a pretty amazing thing. That is a people who stick together and know what they believe.
Now I think I understand why Manny would rather pass up a $40 million payday than give a teaspoon of his blood—he could get twice that on Ebay.
4. There are some seriously passionate, angry, and insane fans out there.
Which one do you hate—Pedquiao or Gayweather?
Give the wrong answer to the person who asks that question and you may as well have hocked a fat loogie into the urn containing their grandmother’s ashes.
Let’s just get it over with and have all of the Mayweather fans wear red, the Pacquiao supporters wear blue, and start flashing signs, getting affiliation tats, and doing drive-bys.
It’s like we woke up one morning and found ourselves in a Jerry Springer boxing-themed Twilight Zone.
5. No matter how many times we, the fans, get screwed by the sport, we keep coming back.
Being a boxing fan is like being the wife of a mobster—you’re associated with a business filled with scumbags, you know you’re going to be cheated on, and you’re committed to it for life.
Having a fight the magnitude of Pacquiao vs. Mayweather wind up in a toe-tag is more than just another black eye for boxing—it’s the sport’s equivalent of Riddick Bowe having his scrotum used as a speed bag by Andrew Golata.
But, as always, we’ll stagger back to our corners, leer at the ring card girl, and somehow find a way to answer the bell for the next round.
Source: bleacherreport.com
Friday, January 15, 2010
As Pacquiao-Mayweather fails, boxing proves its own worst enemy
A picture is worth a thousand words. So let's make a visual out of the current state of boxing.
Close your eyes and remember. October 1993. Las Vegas. The land is needed more than the building, so they fill the venerable Dunes Hotel on the Strip with dynamite, push a button and it implodes.
January 2010. The good ol' USA. No dynamite, just stupidity and ego. Same thing happens. Boxing implodes.
Last Sunday, promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank announced that Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines will fight Joshua Clottey of Ghana. The fight will be March 13 in the Dallas Cowboys' new football stadium.
Later that same day, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions announced that Floyd Mayweather Jr. would fight an opponent to be determined. The fight will be March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
Yes, these are the two premier boxers in their sport.
Yes, they were supposed to fight each other.
And yes, that fight was supposed to be on March 13.
The world anticipated that one. Wallets and checkbooks were open. Sponsors were lining up. The estimated $60 pay-per-view tab even seemed reasonable. The bout would put boxing on the front pages next to the likes of Lakers and Dodgers, and in the same breath with them on the nightly newscasts.
This was a big deal, and then it wasn't. The fight was off. Mayweather's camp implied that Pacquiao must be enhancing his performances with drugs because he got so big and so good so fast. Pacquiao, with no credible hint whatsoever of any such activity, was offended, eventually said he wanted no part of the Mayweather camp and even sued for defamation.
Keep in mind that each fighter was to be guaranteed $25 million, and the likely final take for each, with projected pay-per-view revenue, was closer to $40 million.
In the end, this was an impasse the size of the Grand Canyon.
Then boxing made it worse.
By announcing separate fights on the same date, they split everything in two, especially their fan base. Television networks would have to choose. HBO is the sport's cash cow and it now must choose, alienating whomever it rejects.
Even if the two shows come off at different times with a two-hour difference from Central to Pacific zones, few are likely to plunk down money to buy both. Sports editors, website editors and TV program directors are likely to look at this mess, look at their ever-dwindling budgets and keep their reporters at home.
In essence, boxing canceled a Super Bowl and replaced it with two lesser events at the same time on competing channels. Nice work.
What ever happened to "United we stand, divided we fall"? In boxing, it appears to be "Every man for himself and take the other guy down with you."
If you are looking for a winner in this non-fight fight, it is probably the Pacquiao side. His fight with Clottey has the possibility of being competitive. It also has the attraction of a shiny new venue. Plus, whatever media attention is available, it will go more to the current star, Pacquiao. He has been backing up the Brinks truck after each fight for the last several years, while Mayweather, already retired and unretired once, has been less active.
Pacquiao, and promoter Arum, were in much better financial standing to walk away from a mega-fight. Mayweather has made millions, but has also fought recently, at least in part, for the benefit of the Internal Revenue Service.
Arum was Mayweather's promoter for many years, and is not shy about telling people he never made money with Mayweather and that Mayweather walked away from him just as his career became financially viable. Mayweather is now managed by Al Haymon, with whom Arum has dealt over the years for many fights. They like each other like cattlemen like sheepherders.
Walking away from these guys had to bring Arum at least a tinge of satisfaction.
The possibility of a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight later in the year will depend on several things, including Pacquiao's possible status as a congressman in the Philippines. If he is elected in May, he could conceivably do all his fighting henceforth in political chambers, not boxing rings.
Throughout this saga, Mayweather has acted badly, as is his wont. As recently as last week, with the fight and his likely $40-million payday falling apart around him, he issued a statement that used foul language and further insulted Pacquiao.
Ultimately, he trash-talked his way into the garbage bin.
The last word on this story will go to Golden Boy's Schaefer, who unwittingly summed it all up. Early on in the talks, he said, "If we can't make this fight, we are idiots."
Source: latimes.com
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Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao