By Roy Luarca
AN EXPLOSIVE BOUT BETWEEN FILIPINO pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and knockout artist Edwin Valero is on the drawing board with promoter Bob Arum doing the preliminary sketching.
The name of Valero resurfaced as a possible Pacquiao opponent after the Venezuelan stopped Mexican Antonio Demarco in nine rounds Saturday to keep his World Boxing Council lightweight title in Monterey, Mexico.
Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, however, clarified that it won’t happen right after the Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight on March 13 for the World Boxing Organization welter crown.
Though the 28-year-old Valero holds a fearsome 27-0 record, all by knockout, Arum feels he still needs some more quality fights and more poundage before getting a crack at the 31-year-old Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs).
“He (Valero) wants to fight Manny, but to fight Pacquiao he has to prove himself at 140,” Arum told BoxingScene on Sunday.
“The (Valero) plan would be to go up to 140 ... fight some good light welterweights.”
Arum added Valero also needs to secure a United States visa (revoked due to drunken driving) and a license to fight in Nevada.
Meanwhile, Arum told BoxingTalk.com Sunday that ticket sales for the Pacquiao-Clottey battle at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, have exceeded 30,000.
Source
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Floyd Mayweather continues his 'Anti-Pacquiao' campaign
Floyd Mayweather is continuing his one man crusade against the drug problem in boxing one interview at a time, and predictably never misses an opportunity to bring Manny Pacquiao into the discussion.
Rather than concentrating on his upcoming fight against Shane Mosley, all Floyd seems to be doing lately is talking about Pacquio and how he backed out of the fight and wouldn't take what he called a '$20 million dollar drug test'.
Before Floyd makes anymore impassioned speeches about cleaning up boxing he should remember two things.
Firstly that Pacquiao has never tested positive for anything so continuously bringing him up and accusing him of backing out of the fight is rather moot.Secondly if anything Mayweather should be keeping quiet about drug use in the sport when he himself has been using a widely banned drug for most of his career.
Perhaps Mayweather thinks that by repeating the same answers over and over again to each interviewer he talks about, he can somehow turn public opinion in his favor. Clearly his baiting is having little effect on Pacquiao and his team, who appear to be making quick progress in preparing for Joshua Clottey.
Along with his recent comments about not caring about the fans and claiming that Manny needed him and not the other way around, Floyd just seems to be digging himself ever deeper into unpopularity.
Billy Rios, Baltimore, Maryland: "If Floyd is overlooking Shane with all this talk about Pacquiao he's in for a shock. I didn't have Shane winning this fight, but if Jr. doesn't focus and take is seriously he's in for a hiding"
I agree to an extent Billy, in that Floyd should drop all the Manny talk now that he has a fight on the horizon. I can't see him coming into the fight out of shape or not focused on the day though. All this talk about Pacquiao is probably just a weak attempt to get people to believe his accusations about Pacquiao.
There isn't any question that Floyd is a great fighter but he isn't going to convince anyone that he's better than a more exciting fighter willing to take on all comers with words alone. He can claim whatever he wants about Pacquiao, but until eh starts backing up his words in the ring there aren't many who will believe him. Even some of Mayweather's most ardent.
Darren Thorpe, Pittsburgh PA: "Why is Fraud (Floyd) so obcessed with Pacquiao, every interview all he talks about is Pacquiao, Shane Mosley barely gets a mention, seriously Floyd, let it go"
Also back by popular demand, I talked to that irascible rogue Bernie Walker again:
Bernie Walker, Pittsburgh PA: "I heard what everyone had to say, and I'm still right. Mayweather has the right to tell everyone how he got ducked by Manny. Notice nothing comes back from Manny? He knows he ducked Mayweather and thats all there is to say about it"
Source
Rather than concentrating on his upcoming fight against Shane Mosley, all Floyd seems to be doing lately is talking about Pacquio and how he backed out of the fight and wouldn't take what he called a '$20 million dollar drug test'.
Before Floyd makes anymore impassioned speeches about cleaning up boxing he should remember two things.
Firstly that Pacquiao has never tested positive for anything so continuously bringing him up and accusing him of backing out of the fight is rather moot.Secondly if anything Mayweather should be keeping quiet about drug use in the sport when he himself has been using a widely banned drug for most of his career.
Perhaps Mayweather thinks that by repeating the same answers over and over again to each interviewer he talks about, he can somehow turn public opinion in his favor. Clearly his baiting is having little effect on Pacquiao and his team, who appear to be making quick progress in preparing for Joshua Clottey.
Along with his recent comments about not caring about the fans and claiming that Manny needed him and not the other way around, Floyd just seems to be digging himself ever deeper into unpopularity.
Billy Rios, Baltimore, Maryland: "If Floyd is overlooking Shane with all this talk about Pacquiao he's in for a shock. I didn't have Shane winning this fight, but if Jr. doesn't focus and take is seriously he's in for a hiding"
I agree to an extent Billy, in that Floyd should drop all the Manny talk now that he has a fight on the horizon. I can't see him coming into the fight out of shape or not focused on the day though. All this talk about Pacquiao is probably just a weak attempt to get people to believe his accusations about Pacquiao.
There isn't any question that Floyd is a great fighter but he isn't going to convince anyone that he's better than a more exciting fighter willing to take on all comers with words alone. He can claim whatever he wants about Pacquiao, but until eh starts backing up his words in the ring there aren't many who will believe him. Even some of Mayweather's most ardent.
Darren Thorpe, Pittsburgh PA: "Why is Fraud (Floyd) so obcessed with Pacquiao, every interview all he talks about is Pacquiao, Shane Mosley barely gets a mention, seriously Floyd, let it go"
Also back by popular demand, I talked to that irascible rogue Bernie Walker again:
Bernie Walker, Pittsburgh PA: "I heard what everyone had to say, and I'm still right. Mayweather has the right to tell everyone how he got ducked by Manny. Notice nothing comes back from Manny? He knows he ducked Mayweather and thats all there is to say about it"
Source
Roach: Paulie 'little stiff'' for Pacquiao
by Dennis Gasgonia
MANILA, Philippines -- Manny Pacquiao’s outspoken trainer Freddie Roach took a swipe at Italian-American boxer Paulie Malignaggi, who slammed the Filipino champ for allegedly using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).
In an interview with FightFan.com, Roach threw a verbal jab against the “Magic Man” while explaining Pacquiao’s decision to face challenger Joshua Clottey of Ghana.
“We have to fight challengers out there. [Floyd] Mayweather [Jr.] didn't happen and we couldn't pick Paulie Malignaggi… you know he's a little ‘stiff’,” said the American trainer.
Pacquiao was supposed to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title. But when talks collapsed between the two camps, the Filipino decided to take on Clottey.
Roach said he never considered Malignaggi as a “quality opponent”.
“[Malignaggi is one of] those little guys with big mouths but can't fight. We have to fight a quality opponent,” he said.
Malignaggi has been echoing Mayweather’s allegation that Pacquiao’s recent victories might have been helped by PEDs.
In an interview over Boxing Truth Radio with Ricardo Lois and John Chavez, Malignaggi claimed that Pacquiao is too small to crush “world-class killers.”
“He gets a broken eardrum [after Miguel Cotto] and yet, he is walking around afterwards like he was dodging spit balls. There are things out there that can do that,” said the Italian-American.
“You’re hiding under a rock if you can’t see what I am talking about. This is a guy who was life and death with Juan Manuel Marquez at 120 pounds and now, he’s got 15 to 17 pounds of muscle on him. Look at how short he is. He didn’t get taller, did he?” Malignaggi added.
Although he won his last bout over Juan Diaz via a unanimous decision, Malignaggi has lost 2 of his last 4 matches.
The Italian-American boxer lost to Britain’s Ricky Hatton by technical knockout (TKO) in 2008 before winning over Christopher Fernandez of the US in 2009. Four months later, he lost to Diaz by points before exacting revenge on the Mexican-American late 2009.
In contrast, Pacquiao has demolished his last 4 opponents.
Before beating Miguel Cotto by TKO last November, Pacquiao knocked out Hatton in 2 rounds. The Filipino also outpunched boxing great Oscar de la Hoya in 2008 after stopping David Diaz 6 months earlier.
Source
MANILA, Philippines -- Manny Pacquiao’s outspoken trainer Freddie Roach took a swipe at Italian-American boxer Paulie Malignaggi, who slammed the Filipino champ for allegedly using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).
In an interview with FightFan.com, Roach threw a verbal jab against the “Magic Man” while explaining Pacquiao’s decision to face challenger Joshua Clottey of Ghana.
“We have to fight challengers out there. [Floyd] Mayweather [Jr.] didn't happen and we couldn't pick Paulie Malignaggi… you know he's a little ‘stiff’,” said the American trainer.
Pacquiao was supposed to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title. But when talks collapsed between the two camps, the Filipino decided to take on Clottey.
Roach said he never considered Malignaggi as a “quality opponent”.
“[Malignaggi is one of] those little guys with big mouths but can't fight. We have to fight a quality opponent,” he said.
Malignaggi has been echoing Mayweather’s allegation that Pacquiao’s recent victories might have been helped by PEDs.
In an interview over Boxing Truth Radio with Ricardo Lois and John Chavez, Malignaggi claimed that Pacquiao is too small to crush “world-class killers.”
“He gets a broken eardrum [after Miguel Cotto] and yet, he is walking around afterwards like he was dodging spit balls. There are things out there that can do that,” said the Italian-American.
“You’re hiding under a rock if you can’t see what I am talking about. This is a guy who was life and death with Juan Manuel Marquez at 120 pounds and now, he’s got 15 to 17 pounds of muscle on him. Look at how short he is. He didn’t get taller, did he?” Malignaggi added.
Although he won his last bout over Juan Diaz via a unanimous decision, Malignaggi has lost 2 of his last 4 matches.
The Italian-American boxer lost to Britain’s Ricky Hatton by technical knockout (TKO) in 2008 before winning over Christopher Fernandez of the US in 2009. Four months later, he lost to Diaz by points before exacting revenge on the Mexican-American late 2009.
In contrast, Pacquiao has demolished his last 4 opponents.
Before beating Miguel Cotto by TKO last November, Pacquiao knocked out Hatton in 2 rounds. The Filipino also outpunched boxing great Oscar de la Hoya in 2008 after stopping David Diaz 6 months earlier.
Source
Manny Pacquiao says Peñalosa was real winner
WBO welterweight champion and Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao believed Cebuano veteran slugger Gerry Peñalosa, was the real winner in the fight against Eric Morel at the Hilton in Las Vegas.
“Gerry won that fight. Gerry was the winner,” Pacquiao told journalist following the announcement of a very close split decision.
Morel controlled most of the action in the first half of the fight but it was Peñalosa who mauled Morel in the next half, despite cuts on his both eyes that was caused by an accidental headbutt.
Source
“Gerry won that fight. Gerry was the winner,” Pacquiao told journalist following the announcement of a very close split decision.
Morel controlled most of the action in the first half of the fight but it was Peñalosa who mauled Morel in the next half, despite cuts on his both eyes that was caused by an accidental headbutt.
Source
Mayweather: Pacquiao should get less if fight pushes through
By NICK GIONGCO
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
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
Manny Pacquiao: Violently Graceful
Boxing is a very violent sport, bloodshed is a common scene in a boxing match. Most of the time, boxers seem to be like wild, hungry beasts release to unleash horror. Pain in inevitable. Danger is always around, but just like any other sport, boxing is also a display of the extremes of human body's performance. Boxers are poets in action. Even though it is a bloodied sport, it is a sight to be hold.
A lot of boxers can punch hard, be agile and tireless. But only a handful have all of the three. One of them is Manny Pacquiao. Skills mesmerize the fans. From the die hard boxing fan to the casual boxing viewers, most people who watch boxing want to see something amazing. Something out of the ordinary. Something that can take your breath away and keep you at the edge of your seat for the whole 12 rounds. That is where Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao comes in.
Manny started in the lower divisions in his native country (The Philippines). Since boxing was his way of living, he didn't have enough resources to give him an advantage. He used his determination and hard work to survive in a cruel sport. He has come a long way since then, but one thing stayed consistent. Since the bell rang in his first ever match as a professional boxer, Manny has captured the attention of those who watched him. He defied the odds of poverty to be the best that he can be. He didn't mind being cheated as long as he plays the game with all his heart and believing that God is with him.
Read more...
A lot of boxers can punch hard, be agile and tireless. But only a handful have all of the three. One of them is Manny Pacquiao. Skills mesmerize the fans. From the die hard boxing fan to the casual boxing viewers, most people who watch boxing want to see something amazing. Something out of the ordinary. Something that can take your breath away and keep you at the edge of your seat for the whole 12 rounds. That is where Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao comes in.
Manny started in the lower divisions in his native country (The Philippines). Since boxing was his way of living, he didn't have enough resources to give him an advantage. He used his determination and hard work to survive in a cruel sport. He has come a long way since then, but one thing stayed consistent. Since the bell rang in his first ever match as a professional boxer, Manny has captured the attention of those who watched him. He defied the odds of poverty to be the best that he can be. He didn't mind being cheated as long as he plays the game with all his heart and believing that God is with him.
Read more...
The Final Score: Pacquiao is NBA All-Stars’ Choice
BY MICO HALILI
DALLAS, Texas - The stars came out for the Lone Star State for the 59th NBA All Star Game last Sunday (Monday morning in Manila). Celtics legend Bill Russell, hip-hop mogul P. Diddy, comedian Chris Tucker, rapper Drake, Knicks die-hard Spike Lee and actress Gabrielle Union dotted the glitzy landscape. During the game, another star quietly entered Cowboys Stadium. He strolled with his entourage and looked for his VIP seat.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. made a nondescript entry into the scene. Cowboys Stadium was set aside for Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather said, “No thanks." Then, those who wanted to watch Floyd and Pacman in the ring, including many of the 2010 NBA All-Stars, retorted, “No way."
“Oh, I was very, very disappointed that the fight didn’t push through," West All-Star Chauncey Billups, a fan of Pacquiao, admitted. “I love Manny Pacquiao. He’s one of the greats. I love his heart. I love his passion out there and he fights to the end."
Many of the 2010 NBA All-Stars believe Pacquiao knocks out opponents the way LeBron James slams the ball. Successful athletes, after all, recognize skill and resolve the way Simon Cowell identifies talent. They also recognize a missed opportunity for Mayweather to test his greatness against Pacquiao.
“Pacquiao’s just tenacious," West All-Star Brandon Roy said. “I mean he goes in there and not only gives a great show but a great fight, that’s why you really want to see him in boxing. He’s just a great athlete, a great competitor and he fights at a high level every night."
“I’m very impressed with Manny Pacquiao," 1st time All-Star Deron Williams added. "He’s arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter and the way he has been beating people has been ridiculous."
Read more...
DALLAS, Texas - The stars came out for the Lone Star State for the 59th NBA All Star Game last Sunday (Monday morning in Manila). Celtics legend Bill Russell, hip-hop mogul P. Diddy, comedian Chris Tucker, rapper Drake, Knicks die-hard Spike Lee and actress Gabrielle Union dotted the glitzy landscape. During the game, another star quietly entered Cowboys Stadium. He strolled with his entourage and looked for his VIP seat.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. made a nondescript entry into the scene. Cowboys Stadium was set aside for Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather said, “No thanks." Then, those who wanted to watch Floyd and Pacman in the ring, including many of the 2010 NBA All-Stars, retorted, “No way."
“Oh, I was very, very disappointed that the fight didn’t push through," West All-Star Chauncey Billups, a fan of Pacquiao, admitted. “I love Manny Pacquiao. He’s one of the greats. I love his heart. I love his passion out there and he fights to the end."
Many of the 2010 NBA All-Stars believe Pacquiao knocks out opponents the way LeBron James slams the ball. Successful athletes, after all, recognize skill and resolve the way Simon Cowell identifies talent. They also recognize a missed opportunity for Mayweather to test his greatness against Pacquiao.
“Pacquiao’s just tenacious," West All-Star Brandon Roy said. “I mean he goes in there and not only gives a great show but a great fight, that’s why you really want to see him in boxing. He’s just a great athlete, a great competitor and he fights at a high level every night."
“I’m very impressed with Manny Pacquiao," 1st time All-Star Deron Williams added. "He’s arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter and the way he has been beating people has been ridiculous."
Read more...
No Margarito return on Pacquiao card
By Dan Rafael
Top Rank has scrapped its plan for disgraced former welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito to make his comeback March 13 as the co-feature on the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey pay-per-view undercard at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Last month, Top Rank signed Carson Jones to a contract to face Margarito in a planned 10-round bout at 155 pounds, pending Margarito being licensed in Texas. That fight has been canceled, Jones manager Bobby Dobbs told ESPN.com.
"[Top Rank] said the fight is off. It's dead. I didn't ask exactly why," said Dobbs, who said Top Rank told him not worry about Margarito being licensed when they signed the contract. "I don't know if Texas made a public announcement or just told Top Rank, but Margarito isn't going to get a license and he's not going to fight Carson at this time. I don't care about the specifics of why, I just know he's not fighting.
"We're heartbroken. Carson has been training for five week for the fight and didn't even get any training expenses for it," Dobbs said. "He was trying to get in the best possible shape for a fight that isn't going to happen now."
Although Top Rank did not mention Margarito, it announced on Friday that Humberto Soto and David Diaz would meet for a vacant lightweight belt in the March 13 co-feature.
Top Rank president Todd duBoef said the company had no comment regarding the change in plans or on Margarito.
Read more...
Top Rank has scrapped its plan for disgraced former welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito to make his comeback March 13 as the co-feature on the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey pay-per-view undercard at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Last month, Top Rank signed Carson Jones to a contract to face Margarito in a planned 10-round bout at 155 pounds, pending Margarito being licensed in Texas. That fight has been canceled, Jones manager Bobby Dobbs told ESPN.com.
"[Top Rank] said the fight is off. It's dead. I didn't ask exactly why," said Dobbs, who said Top Rank told him not worry about Margarito being licensed when they signed the contract. "I don't know if Texas made a public announcement or just told Top Rank, but Margarito isn't going to get a license and he's not going to fight Carson at this time. I don't care about the specifics of why, I just know he's not fighting.
"We're heartbroken. Carson has been training for five week for the fight and didn't even get any training expenses for it," Dobbs said. "He was trying to get in the best possible shape for a fight that isn't going to happen now."
Although Top Rank did not mention Margarito, it announced on Friday that Humberto Soto and David Diaz would meet for a vacant lightweight belt in the March 13 co-feature.
Top Rank president Todd duBoef said the company had no comment regarding the change in plans or on Margarito.
Read more...
Joshua thinks he can beat ‘PacMan’
By JUN MEDINA
DESPITE being at least a 5-1 underdog, challenger Joshua Clottey thinks he has the tools and the strategy to defeat Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao in their March 13 title fight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
“One thing I’m sure, I know how to handle southpaws,” Clottey said in a video interview courtesy of the Hart Krystal Show that was posted on FightFan.com. “Pacquiao is faster, let’s see if I can handle him.”
Clottey defeated former three-time world welterweight champion Zab Judah to win the International Boxing Federation welter title in 2008.
The iron-chinned slugger from Ghana said he respects Pacquiao’s power and explosiveness and that he intends to keep him at bay with his jab and tight defense.
“I have a stiff jab and I will throw it a lot against Manny Pacquiao. He will be coming to me and you’ll see what I can do,” said Clottey (35-3, 21 knockouts), a native of Accra, Ghana, now fighting out of the Bronx in New York City.
“I will stay in front of him with my tight guard using a stiff jab. He’s going to get hit some while he’s traveling in.”
Clottey also said he has been training very hard for what he called the biggest fight in his career, which assures him a purse of at least $1 million.
“I’m running a lot and I’m training hard. I’ve beaten welterweights for years. If you look at me from head to toe I’m a big guy and I need to train hard to make the welterweight limit. In the past I may have over-trained but I feel comfortable now at 147,” he said.
As of Monday (Sunday night in Manila), Pacquiao was a 5-1 betting favorite in SportsBetting.com. This means to win $100, a Pacquiao die-hard must wager $500. A $100 bet on Clottey, however, wins $350.
Clottey, 28, said he would not fall in the same trap that led Pacquiao’s bigger opponents to suffer knockout losses to the only fighter to win seven world titles in as many weight classes.
“Pacquiao’s opponents did not respect his power [and they paid for it],” Clottey said.
Source
DESPITE being at least a 5-1 underdog, challenger Joshua Clottey thinks he has the tools and the strategy to defeat Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao in their March 13 title fight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
“One thing I’m sure, I know how to handle southpaws,” Clottey said in a video interview courtesy of the Hart Krystal Show that was posted on FightFan.com. “Pacquiao is faster, let’s see if I can handle him.”
Clottey defeated former three-time world welterweight champion Zab Judah to win the International Boxing Federation welter title in 2008.
The iron-chinned slugger from Ghana said he respects Pacquiao’s power and explosiveness and that he intends to keep him at bay with his jab and tight defense.
“I have a stiff jab and I will throw it a lot against Manny Pacquiao. He will be coming to me and you’ll see what I can do,” said Clottey (35-3, 21 knockouts), a native of Accra, Ghana, now fighting out of the Bronx in New York City.
“I will stay in front of him with my tight guard using a stiff jab. He’s going to get hit some while he’s traveling in.”
Clottey also said he has been training very hard for what he called the biggest fight in his career, which assures him a purse of at least $1 million.
“I’m running a lot and I’m training hard. I’ve beaten welterweights for years. If you look at me from head to toe I’m a big guy and I need to train hard to make the welterweight limit. In the past I may have over-trained but I feel comfortable now at 147,” he said.
As of Monday (Sunday night in Manila), Pacquiao was a 5-1 betting favorite in SportsBetting.com. This means to win $100, a Pacquiao die-hard must wager $500. A $100 bet on Clottey, however, wins $350.
Clottey, 28, said he would not fall in the same trap that led Pacquiao’s bigger opponents to suffer knockout losses to the only fighter to win seven world titles in as many weight classes.
“Pacquiao’s opponents did not respect his power [and they paid for it],” Clottey said.
Source
Clottey: Pacquiao in for a tough fight
DESPITE internet reports that he has been cramming in his training for his March 13 fight against Manny Pacquiao, Ghanaian Joshua Clottey has expressed confidence he has what it takes to beat the Filipino boxing star.
In a report carried by Fightfan.com, Clottey was quoted as saying: "I have a stiff jab and I will throw it a lot against Pacquiao. He will be coming to me and you’ll see what I can do. I will stay in front of him with my tight guard using a stiff jab. He’s going to get hit while he’s traveling in."
Pacquiao’s camp has repeatedly noted that Clottey is bigger and has never been stopped in his past fights but trainer Freddie Roach is confident his ward can handily win.
Clottey is training in Florida but recent internet reports have claimed he has not been focused in his regimen. Roach, meanwhile, has even ordered Pacquiao to slow down in his training.
In a recent interview on the Krystal Hart Show, however, Clottey said: "I’m running a lot and I’m training hard. I’ve beaten welterweights for years. If you look at me from head to toe I’m a big guy and I need to train hard to make the welterweight limit. In the past I may have over-trained but I feel comfortable now at 147."
Pacquiao took time off from his training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym last Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to watch five Filipino fighters, led by Nonito Donaire Jr., take on Latin opponents.
Source
In a report carried by Fightfan.com, Clottey was quoted as saying: "I have a stiff jab and I will throw it a lot against Pacquiao. He will be coming to me and you’ll see what I can do. I will stay in front of him with my tight guard using a stiff jab. He’s going to get hit while he’s traveling in."
Pacquiao’s camp has repeatedly noted that Clottey is bigger and has never been stopped in his past fights but trainer Freddie Roach is confident his ward can handily win.
Clottey is training in Florida but recent internet reports have claimed he has not been focused in his regimen. Roach, meanwhile, has even ordered Pacquiao to slow down in his training.
In a recent interview on the Krystal Hart Show, however, Clottey said: "I’m running a lot and I’m training hard. I’ve beaten welterweights for years. If you look at me from head to toe I’m a big guy and I need to train hard to make the welterweight limit. In the past I may have over-trained but I feel comfortable now at 147."
Pacquiao took time off from his training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym last Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to watch five Filipino fighters, led by Nonito Donaire Jr., take on Latin opponents.
Source
Fight odds soar for Pacquiao
MANILA, Philippines - Not even Freddie Roach’s statement that he sees the fight going the distance could keep the fight odds from sky-rocketing in favor of Manny Pacquiao.
The other day, the four-time Trainer of the Year told fightfan.com that he’s not looking for a knockout. Instead, he said he sees a 12-round battle with Joshua Clottey.
But no one seemed to listen as oddsmakers for the March 13 showdown at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas remained convinced it’s going to be one-sided.
At least four online betting stations in the United States have placed Pacquiao as the overwhelming favorite, and the only way he could lose if he doesn’t show up on fight night.
Sportsbook, which has control of the betting stations in Las Vegas, has the 31-year-old Filipino superstar at -500 and Clottey, the hungry challenger from Ghana, at +300 with less than a month left.
It’s so huge that you need $500 to win a hundred bucks if you’re rooting for Pacquiao, and that a $100 bet on Clottey gives you $300 in return in case he pulls off the upset of the century.
At sportsbetting.com, Pacquiao was at -500 and Clottey at +350. Bookmaker.com was a little more conservative with its -440 for Pacquiao and +350 for Clottey while sportsinteraction.com has it at -556 and +300.
Clottey having problems in training makes it easier for oddsmakers to point at Pacquiao as the favorite.
Read more...
The other day, the four-time Trainer of the Year told fightfan.com that he’s not looking for a knockout. Instead, he said he sees a 12-round battle with Joshua Clottey.
But no one seemed to listen as oddsmakers for the March 13 showdown at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas remained convinced it’s going to be one-sided.
At least four online betting stations in the United States have placed Pacquiao as the overwhelming favorite, and the only way he could lose if he doesn’t show up on fight night.
Sportsbook, which has control of the betting stations in Las Vegas, has the 31-year-old Filipino superstar at -500 and Clottey, the hungry challenger from Ghana, at +300 with less than a month left.
It’s so huge that you need $500 to win a hundred bucks if you’re rooting for Pacquiao, and that a $100 bet on Clottey gives you $300 in return in case he pulls off the upset of the century.
At sportsbetting.com, Pacquiao was at -500 and Clottey at +350. Bookmaker.com was a little more conservative with its -440 for Pacquiao and +350 for Clottey while sportsinteraction.com has it at -556 and +300.
Clottey having problems in training makes it easier for oddsmakers to point at Pacquiao as the favorite.
Read more...
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Ticket sales booming for Manny Pacquiao fight
More than 20,000 tickets have been sold for Manny Pacquiao's March 13 fight against welterweight Joshua Clottey at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, and officials say there could be close to 60,000 in attendance on fight night.
"The first days of sales for boxing events can be about 25% of the total," said Texas boxing publicist Lester Bedford, who's assisting Top Rank and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in the Pacquiao-Clottey fight promotion. "There'll be a heavy Hispanic undercard that has yet to be announced, and that could trigger more sales.
"With the fight being in this new stadium there's no history to predict how a boxing event will do. It could go to 50,000, 60,000."
Jones originally arranged a seating plan to accommodate 40,000, and tickets went on sale Saturday through Ticketmaster.
The undercard could feature the return of former world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito, who had his boxing license revoked by the California State Athletic Commission February 2009 after officials removed plaster-caked inserts inside wraps on both of his hands before being defeated by Shane Mosley last January at Staples Center.
Margarito is planning to apply to get his license restored in Texas next month, and promoter Bob Arum said if Margarito wins the super-welterweight undercard fight against Carson Jones, he'd strongly consider making a Margarito-Pacquiao bout at Dallas Cowboys Stadium later this year.
Bedford said former lightweight world champion Jose Luis Castillo will also appear on the Pacquiao-Clottey undercard.
Source
"The first days of sales for boxing events can be about 25% of the total," said Texas boxing publicist Lester Bedford, who's assisting Top Rank and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in the Pacquiao-Clottey fight promotion. "There'll be a heavy Hispanic undercard that has yet to be announced, and that could trigger more sales.
"With the fight being in this new stadium there's no history to predict how a boxing event will do. It could go to 50,000, 60,000."
Jones originally arranged a seating plan to accommodate 40,000, and tickets went on sale Saturday through Ticketmaster.
The undercard could feature the return of former world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito, who had his boxing license revoked by the California State Athletic Commission February 2009 after officials removed plaster-caked inserts inside wraps on both of his hands before being defeated by Shane Mosley last January at Staples Center.
Margarito is planning to apply to get his license restored in Texas next month, and promoter Bob Arum said if Margarito wins the super-welterweight undercard fight against Carson Jones, he'd strongly consider making a Margarito-Pacquiao bout at Dallas Cowboys Stadium later this year.
Bedford said former lightweight world champion Jose Luis Castillo will also appear on the Pacquiao-Clottey undercard.
Source
Wild Card saddles up for Pacquiao training
By NICK GIONGCO
LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao was given the green light Thursday by trainer Freddie Roach to spend what was supposed to be his first day of training with his friends after the two arrived here close to midnight from a two-city promotional tour in Dallas and New York for the March 13 fight with Joshua Clottey.
“See you on Friday, Manny,” Roach told his prized pupil late Wednesday night at a private hangar near LAX International, fresh from a six-hour flight from Newark, New Jersey that made a brief refueling stop in Denver.
“Just take the day off. Rest,” said Roach.
Pacquiao had wanted to show up at the Wild Card in Hollywood on Thursday as originally planned but because of their late arrival back from the tiring tour, the Filipino had no choice but to skip training.
“Okay, coach, I will do that,” said Pacquiao, who was joined in the press tour by Canadian adviser Mike Koncz, lawyer Franklin Gacal and training assistant Roger Fernandez.
At the Wild Card on Vine Street, security chief Rob Peters was already on hand to enforce rules, knowing that Pacquiao would start his workout but he will have to wait for another day.
When Pacquiao goes to the gym Friday, nobody will be allowed in except of course for members of Pacquiao’s team from 12 noon until 4 p.m. until March 8.
Despite missing one day, Team Pacquiao is not worried.
Conditioning coach Alex Ariza said there is still enough time to whip Pacquiao into his old fiery form, stressing that he is the most hardworking athlete he has seen.
“We’re still okay and you know Manny, when he starts training it would be impossible to tell him to stop,” said Ariza, who has the major role of making sure Pacquiao reaches peak form in time for the 12-round welterweight clash set at the Cowboys Stadium.
Since Pacquiao and Clottey are slugging it out at the welter limit of 147 lbs, Ariza said Pacquiao will tip the scales exactly at 147 but will not allow him to bloat.
“He’ll weigh 149 lbs by the time he enters the ring.”
Source
LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao was given the green light Thursday by trainer Freddie Roach to spend what was supposed to be his first day of training with his friends after the two arrived here close to midnight from a two-city promotional tour in Dallas and New York for the March 13 fight with Joshua Clottey.
“See you on Friday, Manny,” Roach told his prized pupil late Wednesday night at a private hangar near LAX International, fresh from a six-hour flight from Newark, New Jersey that made a brief refueling stop in Denver.
“Just take the day off. Rest,” said Roach.
Pacquiao had wanted to show up at the Wild Card in Hollywood on Thursday as originally planned but because of their late arrival back from the tiring tour, the Filipino had no choice but to skip training.
“Okay, coach, I will do that,” said Pacquiao, who was joined in the press tour by Canadian adviser Mike Koncz, lawyer Franklin Gacal and training assistant Roger Fernandez.
At the Wild Card on Vine Street, security chief Rob Peters was already on hand to enforce rules, knowing that Pacquiao would start his workout but he will have to wait for another day.
When Pacquiao goes to the gym Friday, nobody will be allowed in except of course for members of Pacquiao’s team from 12 noon until 4 p.m. until March 8.
Despite missing one day, Team Pacquiao is not worried.
Conditioning coach Alex Ariza said there is still enough time to whip Pacquiao into his old fiery form, stressing that he is the most hardworking athlete he has seen.
“We’re still okay and you know Manny, when he starts training it would be impossible to tell him to stop,” said Ariza, who has the major role of making sure Pacquiao reaches peak form in time for the 12-round welterweight clash set at the Cowboys Stadium.
Since Pacquiao and Clottey are slugging it out at the welter limit of 147 lbs, Ariza said Pacquiao will tip the scales exactly at 147 but will not allow him to bloat.
“He’ll weigh 149 lbs by the time he enters the ring.”
Source
Pacquiao expects close fight vs Clottey
abs-cbnNEWS.com
MANILA, Philippines – It will be tough and it will be close.
World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao said he expects his March 13 date with challenger Joshua Clottey to turn out just like the Ghanaian boxer’s match against Miguel Cotto.
“Sa tingin ko pa nga, close ang labang iyon at puwede ring si Ginoong Clottey ang nanalo,” Pacquiao said, referring to the June 2009 fight between Clottey and Cotto.
Cotto got a split-decision win, but many fans felt it could have been gone either way.
“Ganyan din ang dapat kong asahan sa laban namin sa Marso 13,” he added.
Pacquiao said the size and ability of Clottey, who has won 35 fights against 3 losses, makes the Ghanaian fighter a very dangerous foe.
Pacquiao has 50 wins against 3 losses.
Clottey stands 5-feet-8 and is a full welterweight, while Pacquiao, the only boxer to win 7 world titles, is 5-feet-6.5 and last fought at a 145-pound catch weight.
“Naniniwala akong isa siyang mapanganib na kalaban,” said Pacquiao, who has started training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California.
Still in good condition
Pacquiao’s physical conditioning expert, Alex Ariza, meanwhile, said Pacquiao is still in good shape two months after his 12th round TKO victory over Cotto last November.
“He is looking sharp already,” Ariza said in a report by InsideSports.ph.
Trainer Freddie Roach agreed that the Filipino boxer is in “pretty good shape” at 148 lbs.
“We’re gonna start sparring one day earlier than normal and get the rounds in,” Roach said. “We'll have the game plan down by next week.”
Not giving up on Pacman-Floyd
Meanwhile, boxing promoter Oscar de la Hoya said that despite the bitter feud with the Pacquiao camp, he hasn't given up on trying to convince Pacquiao to fight his client Floyd Mayweather.
"That fight has to happen," De la Hoya said Tuesday of the proposed bout, which fell apart earlier this month over a drug-testing procedure dispute. "It's too big not to happen. We just have to cross one hurdle."
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday to promote a non-title junior welterweight fight, de la Hoya said Mayweather and Pacquiao will fight sooner than people think.
Pacquiao, boxing's pound-for-pound king, was already scheduled to square off against Mayweather on March 13, but they couldn't agree on a 10-day gap in the timing of the pre-fight drug tests.
"The public will hopefully make him change his mind," de la Hoya said. "Why would you not want to earn 40 million dollars? Why would you not want to show the public that all this speculation is nonsense? Be the one to stand up and say it."
De la Hoya also said Mayweather and Shane Mosley are in talks for a possible bout on May 1 which will likely be in Las Vegas. With a report from Agence France-Presse
Source
MANILA, Philippines – It will be tough and it will be close.
World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao said he expects his March 13 date with challenger Joshua Clottey to turn out just like the Ghanaian boxer’s match against Miguel Cotto.
“Sa tingin ko pa nga, close ang labang iyon at puwede ring si Ginoong Clottey ang nanalo,” Pacquiao said, referring to the June 2009 fight between Clottey and Cotto.
Cotto got a split-decision win, but many fans felt it could have been gone either way.
“Ganyan din ang dapat kong asahan sa laban namin sa Marso 13,” he added.
Pacquiao said the size and ability of Clottey, who has won 35 fights against 3 losses, makes the Ghanaian fighter a very dangerous foe.
Pacquiao has 50 wins against 3 losses.
Clottey stands 5-feet-8 and is a full welterweight, while Pacquiao, the only boxer to win 7 world titles, is 5-feet-6.5 and last fought at a 145-pound catch weight.
“Naniniwala akong isa siyang mapanganib na kalaban,” said Pacquiao, who has started training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California.
Still in good condition
Pacquiao’s physical conditioning expert, Alex Ariza, meanwhile, said Pacquiao is still in good shape two months after his 12th round TKO victory over Cotto last November.
“He is looking sharp already,” Ariza said in a report by InsideSports.ph.
Trainer Freddie Roach agreed that the Filipino boxer is in “pretty good shape” at 148 lbs.
“We’re gonna start sparring one day earlier than normal and get the rounds in,” Roach said. “We'll have the game plan down by next week.”
Not giving up on Pacman-Floyd
Meanwhile, boxing promoter Oscar de la Hoya said that despite the bitter feud with the Pacquiao camp, he hasn't given up on trying to convince Pacquiao to fight his client Floyd Mayweather.
"That fight has to happen," De la Hoya said Tuesday of the proposed bout, which fell apart earlier this month over a drug-testing procedure dispute. "It's too big not to happen. We just have to cross one hurdle."
Speaking at a news conference Tuesday to promote a non-title junior welterweight fight, de la Hoya said Mayweather and Pacquiao will fight sooner than people think.
Pacquiao, boxing's pound-for-pound king, was already scheduled to square off against Mayweather on March 13, but they couldn't agree on a 10-day gap in the timing of the pre-fight drug tests.
"The public will hopefully make him change his mind," de la Hoya said. "Why would you not want to earn 40 million dollars? Why would you not want to show the public that all this speculation is nonsense? Be the one to stand up and say it."
De la Hoya also said Mayweather and Shane Mosley are in talks for a possible bout on May 1 which will likely be in Las Vegas. With a report from Agence France-Presse
Source
Manny wins twin ‘Fighter’ honors in US
By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANNY PACQUIAO is last year's top boxer—and the decade’s finest as well. Taking into account the Filipino superstar’s awesome knockouts of his last two foes en route to a record seventh world title in as many weight divisions, the Boxing Writers Association of America on Sunday (Monday in Manila) chose Pacquiao as its 2009 Fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Decade.
The twin honors further buttressed Pacquiao’s reputation as pound-for-pound king and mirrored his earlier selection by ESPN.com and Ring magazine as 2009 Fighter of the Year.
Pacquiao, who will receive his fourth Sugar Ray Robinson trophy at the BWAA’s 85th annual banquet on June 11 in New York, topped the balloting among boxing chroniclers.
The vote noted the impact of his second-round demolition of Briton Ricky Hatton on May 2 and his 12-round annihilation of Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.
Also nominated for Fighter of the Year were WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine, WBA super middleweight titlist Andre Ward of the United States, former two-time welterweight champion Paul Williams, also of the US, and Armenian-German super middleweight Arthur Abraham.
Pacquiao, who will stake his 147-pound title against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Arlington, Texas, was also voted Fighter of the Decade (2000-09). The Filipino ring icon won six crowns in that span while taking over from Oscar De La Hoya as the face of boxing.
Other than De La Hoya, other sure future Hall of Famers who fell prey to Pacquiao’s punches were Mexicans Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Bested by Pacquiao for the decade’s fighter honors were Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, who retired last year, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Marquez and Barrera.
For turning Pacquiao from a one-dimensional boxer into a wrecking machine, Freddie Roach will be honored as Trainer of the Year.
Like Pacquiao, Roach is no stranger to the award having won it in 2003, 2006 and 2008.
WBA-WBO lightweight titlist Marquez, beaten by Mayweather last year, and former 135 lb titlist Juan Diaz will share the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier award for Fight of the Year.
Source
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANNY PACQUIAO is last year's top boxer—and the decade’s finest as well. Taking into account the Filipino superstar’s awesome knockouts of his last two foes en route to a record seventh world title in as many weight divisions, the Boxing Writers Association of America on Sunday (Monday in Manila) chose Pacquiao as its 2009 Fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Decade.
The twin honors further buttressed Pacquiao’s reputation as pound-for-pound king and mirrored his earlier selection by ESPN.com and Ring magazine as 2009 Fighter of the Year.
Pacquiao, who will receive his fourth Sugar Ray Robinson trophy at the BWAA’s 85th annual banquet on June 11 in New York, topped the balloting among boxing chroniclers.
The vote noted the impact of his second-round demolition of Briton Ricky Hatton on May 2 and his 12-round annihilation of Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.
Also nominated for Fighter of the Year were WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine, WBA super middleweight titlist Andre Ward of the United States, former two-time welterweight champion Paul Williams, also of the US, and Armenian-German super middleweight Arthur Abraham.
Pacquiao, who will stake his 147-pound title against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Arlington, Texas, was also voted Fighter of the Decade (2000-09). The Filipino ring icon won six crowns in that span while taking over from Oscar De La Hoya as the face of boxing.
Other than De La Hoya, other sure future Hall of Famers who fell prey to Pacquiao’s punches were Mexicans Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Bested by Pacquiao for the decade’s fighter honors were Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, who retired last year, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Marquez and Barrera.
For turning Pacquiao from a one-dimensional boxer into a wrecking machine, Freddie Roach will be honored as Trainer of the Year.
Like Pacquiao, Roach is no stranger to the award having won it in 2003, 2006 and 2008.
WBA-WBO lightweight titlist Marquez, beaten by Mayweather last year, and former 135 lb titlist Juan Diaz will share the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier award for Fight of the Year.
Source
Mayweather blames Pacquiao for fight's collapse
abs-cbnNEWS.com
MANILA, Philippines – Undefeated fighter Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has found a new opponent in fellow American Shane Mosley, but he still has a mouthful to say about Manny Pacquiao, whom he was supposed to fight in March until negotiations crumbled.
“The question that people want to know is why didn’t Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather fight? It wasn’t my fault! I’m not duckin’ and dodgin’ nobody. 40 have came and 40 have came up short,” Mayweather said in a RadioPlanet.tv interview as quoted by Andre Zurbrug of FightHype.com.
Pacquiao and Mayweather were slated to fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Their blockbuster bout, however, did not push through as they disagreed on the drug testing procedure.
The Filipino boxing sensation will instead face Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas while Mayweather will fight Mosley on May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Mayweather vs Mosley deal is reportedly final, as Mosley already signed the contract, according to ESPN.com. Mayweather’s signature was to come “in the next few days.”
It is uncertain if Mosley, the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super champion, will defend his title.
Mosley was supposed to take on Haitian Andre Berto in January but Berto pulled out because some of his family members died in the devastating magnitude-7.0 earthquake last January 12.
Drug testing issue
Mayweather and Mosley have reportedly agreed to undergo Olympic-style drug testing.
“Shane is fine with Olympic-style drug testing,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “He welcomes more stringent testing. He has nothing to hide.”
The drug testing spelled the end of the Pacquiao vs Mayweather blockbuster bout.
“So all I was saying is I’m just trying to clean up sports period. I’m saying that he’s not the only one that has to take a random drug test, I do too. That’s the only thing I was saying. I never met nobody in sports history that didn’t want to take a 25 million dollar drug test,” continued Mayweather.
“The thing is, what people don’t know about the sport of boxing, in a fighter’s career, a fighter starts off good and he be good all the way to end of his career or a fighter starts off good and goes downhill towards the end of his career. A fighter doesn’t start off like Manny Pacquiao, just ordinary, and then once he gets over the age of 25, he becomes an extraordinary fighter.”
Reade more...
MANILA, Philippines – Undefeated fighter Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has found a new opponent in fellow American Shane Mosley, but he still has a mouthful to say about Manny Pacquiao, whom he was supposed to fight in March until negotiations crumbled.
“The question that people want to know is why didn’t Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather fight? It wasn’t my fault! I’m not duckin’ and dodgin’ nobody. 40 have came and 40 have came up short,” Mayweather said in a RadioPlanet.tv interview as quoted by Andre Zurbrug of FightHype.com.
Pacquiao and Mayweather were slated to fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Their blockbuster bout, however, did not push through as they disagreed on the drug testing procedure.
The Filipino boxing sensation will instead face Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas while Mayweather will fight Mosley on May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Mayweather vs Mosley deal is reportedly final, as Mosley already signed the contract, according to ESPN.com. Mayweather’s signature was to come “in the next few days.”
It is uncertain if Mosley, the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight super champion, will defend his title.
Mosley was supposed to take on Haitian Andre Berto in January but Berto pulled out because some of his family members died in the devastating magnitude-7.0 earthquake last January 12.
Drug testing issue
Mayweather and Mosley have reportedly agreed to undergo Olympic-style drug testing.
“Shane is fine with Olympic-style drug testing,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “He welcomes more stringent testing. He has nothing to hide.”
The drug testing spelled the end of the Pacquiao vs Mayweather blockbuster bout.
“So all I was saying is I’m just trying to clean up sports period. I’m saying that he’s not the only one that has to take a random drug test, I do too. That’s the only thing I was saying. I never met nobody in sports history that didn’t want to take a 25 million dollar drug test,” continued Mayweather.
“The thing is, what people don’t know about the sport of boxing, in a fighter’s career, a fighter starts off good and he be good all the way to end of his career or a fighter starts off good and goes downhill towards the end of his career. A fighter doesn’t start off like Manny Pacquiao, just ordinary, and then once he gets over the age of 25, he becomes an extraordinary fighter.”
Reade more...
Friday, January 29, 2010
Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather: What Can We Really Say?
by Kevin White
By now we've all heard about the cancelled bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. The question now is "where do we go from here?" If something as simple as a drug test can prevent a fight like this, then what's to keep huge fights in the future from suffering the same fate?
Floyd Mayweather and his camp, for whatever reason, assume that Manny Pacquiao may be taking Performance Enhancement Drugs. As a result, they request random blood testing in preparation for the bout. Pacquiao and his camp refuse and, you know the rest of the story.
Fact is, the ball was in the Pacquiao camp's court and they dropped it. Pacquiao and his camp used various reasons for not wanting to take the test including fear of needles, superstion, weakness, etc. If they stuck to one reason consistently it would has been more believable.
Pacquiao's promoter continued to make premature declarations saying the fight was off weeks before it was official. It raises the question whether he really planned on fighting Mayweather in the first place.
Surprisingly many boxing analysts, media, and ill-informed fans blamed Floyd for the cancellation saying he is a coward for making the request. The smear campaign against Floyd has overshadowed the real question of "Is Manny Pacquiao taking PEDS?"
For those of us who disregard Pacquiao's indecisiveness and continue to use Floyd as the scapegoat, what can we really say about him for sure?
Can we honestly say that we're 100 percent sure Pacquiao is clean? No, the only thing we can do is declare to ourselves and others that he's clean. The fact he's passed urine tests is irrelevant considering prior PED users have passed those as well.
The next couple months we will see a barrage of Pacquiao support and Mayweather criticism. However, this more of a defense tactic used to sweep the steroid accusations under the rug.
My advice is don't let hype and ill-informed people keep us from the truth. If we refuse to question certain boxers simply because they are "The people's champ", and simply use the "Villian" as the scapegoat, regardless of the facts, the sport of boxing will continue to be damaged.
Source
By now we've all heard about the cancelled bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. The question now is "where do we go from here?" If something as simple as a drug test can prevent a fight like this, then what's to keep huge fights in the future from suffering the same fate?
Floyd Mayweather and his camp, for whatever reason, assume that Manny Pacquiao may be taking Performance Enhancement Drugs. As a result, they request random blood testing in preparation for the bout. Pacquiao and his camp refuse and, you know the rest of the story.
Fact is, the ball was in the Pacquiao camp's court and they dropped it. Pacquiao and his camp used various reasons for not wanting to take the test including fear of needles, superstion, weakness, etc. If they stuck to one reason consistently it would has been more believable.
Pacquiao's promoter continued to make premature declarations saying the fight was off weeks before it was official. It raises the question whether he really planned on fighting Mayweather in the first place.
Surprisingly many boxing analysts, media, and ill-informed fans blamed Floyd for the cancellation saying he is a coward for making the request. The smear campaign against Floyd has overshadowed the real question of "Is Manny Pacquiao taking PEDS?"
For those of us who disregard Pacquiao's indecisiveness and continue to use Floyd as the scapegoat, what can we really say about him for sure?
Can we honestly say that we're 100 percent sure Pacquiao is clean? No, the only thing we can do is declare to ourselves and others that he's clean. The fact he's passed urine tests is irrelevant considering prior PED users have passed those as well.
The next couple months we will see a barrage of Pacquiao support and Mayweather criticism. However, this more of a defense tactic used to sweep the steroid accusations under the rug.
My advice is don't let hype and ill-informed people keep us from the truth. If we refuse to question certain boxers simply because they are "The people's champ", and simply use the "Villian" as the scapegoat, regardless of the facts, the sport of boxing will continue to be damaged.
Source
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Pacquiao's Weights vs. The Greats
By Avi "Shoefly" Korine
A few weeks ago I argued that the basis for charges that Manny Pacquiao is using steroids - his success moving from super featherweight to welterweight in only 18 months - was built on a faulty premise. While it is true he has moved up in weight very quickly this is largely the result of no longer losing massive amounts of weight before the weigh-in and then rehydrating before the fight. I argued that while this doesn't prove Pacquiao isn't using steroids, it does mean that critic's arguments that he has undergone some radical physical transformation in an impossibly short period of time are simply not true.
Some readers offered that while my point was valid I was only looking at the most recent part of Pacquiao's growth. If we go back to his pro debut, they say, he has moved up from an impossible to believe 106 lbs. This, one might argue, is definitive proof.
To test their argument I decided to compare Pacquiao's movement up the weight classes to some other notable weight jumpers in boxing history. I am using notable points in each fighter's career. For title fights I am not using the official weight, but the weight limit. Partially inspired by a post on boxingtalk, here's what I found.
Manny Pacquiao:
Age 16: Pro Debut: 106 lbs
Age 19: Flyweight title vs. Sasakul: 112 lbs
Age 22: Super bantamweight title vs. Ledwaba: 122 lbs
Age 24: Featherweight title vs. Barrera : 126 lbs
Age 26: Super featherweight title vs. Morales: 130 lbs
Age 29: Lightweight title vs. Diaz: 135 lbs
Age 30: Welterweight tile vs. Cotto: 147 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 41 lbs
Weight gained from early 20s: 25 lbs
Pacquiao's growth has been truly incredible. He has won titles in more divisions than any other fighter in boxing history. Moving from a 106 lbs to the welterweight championship is a breathtaking accomplishment.
This is mitigated by the fact that Pacquiao began his career at the incredibly young age of 16. Many accomplished fighters haven't even had significant amateur experience by that point. At 19 Pacquiao won the Flyweight title. While incredible, this was something of an aberration for Pacquiao. He was losing that fight to Sasakul before he scored a shocking come-from-behind knockout. He would lose his title on the scales months later and immediately move up three weight divisions. Pacquiao's early career, while impressive, is a bit misleading. I would compare it to saying that a bruising NBA power forward was the point guard for his high school team. Interesting, but not particularly relevant after he grew into a more natural body.
By the age of 20, when most fighters are just starting their professional careers, Pacquiao was fighting at 122 pounds. Moving from super bantamweight to welterweight is also incredible, but comparable to what we will see in other fighters.
Floyd Mayweather:
Age 16: first amateur fight: 106 lbs
Age 19: Pro debut: 130 lbs
Age 21: Junior lightweight title vs. Hernandez: 130 lbs
Age 25: Lightweight title vs. Castillo: 135 lbs
Age 28: Junior welterweight title vs. Gatti: 140 lbs
Age 29: Welterweight title vs. Judah: 147 lbs
Age 30: Junior middleweight title vs. De La Hoya: 154 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 48 lbs
Weight gained from early 20s: 24 lbs
Pacquiao's accuser, Floyd Mayweather, has also been an incredibly successful weight jumper. While his growth has been more steady than Pacquiao's his performance has been just as spectacular. Of particular note is that both Mayweather and Pacquiao weighed 106 lbs at sixteen years old.
Tommy Hearns:
Age 18: Amateur: Light welterweight 141 lbs
Age 19: Second pro fight: 144 lbs
Age 21: Welterweight title vs. Cuevas:147 lbs
Age 24: Junior middleweight title vs. Benitez: 154 lbs
Age 26: Middleweight title vs. Hagler: 160 lbs
Age 29: Light heavyweight title vs. Andries: 19 - 175 lbs
Age 30: Super middleweight title vs. Kinchen: 30 -168 lbs
Age 35: Cruiserweight title vs. Ward- 35 - 190 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 49 lbs
Weight gained from early 20s: 43 lbs
The great Tommy Hearns was one of the most exciting fighters in history. Known for his tremendous power and unusual physique he was a very successful weight jumper.
Henry Armstrong:
Age 17: Pro Debut: 120 lbs
Age 23: Western featherweight title vs. Alton Black: 126 lbs
Age 25: Welterweight title vs. Barney Ross: 147 lbs
Age 26: Lightweight title vs. Ambers: 135 lbs
Age 27: Middleweight title vs. Garcia (draw): 160 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 40 lbs
Weight gained from early 20s: 36 lbs
Henry Armstong is widely considered one of the greatest fighters ever. Pacquiao has often been compared to the three division champion over recent years because of his success in multiple weight classes. These statistics are a little misleading because Armstrong would often come into a fight well under the weight limit. It was a different sport back then. Fighters were made to weigh-in just hours before the bout and rarely drained such massive amounts of water weight.
Roberto Duran:
Age 16: Pro Debut: 119 lbs
Age 21: Lightweight title vs. Buchanan: 135 lbs
Age 29: Welterweight title vs. Leonard: 147 lbs
Age 31: Junior Middleweight title vs. Benitez: 154 lbs
Age 32: Middleweight title vs. Hagler: 160 lbs
Age 38: Super Middleweight vs. Leonard: 168 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 49 lbs
Weight gained form early 20s: 33 lbs.
The fierce Duran took on all comers during his decades long career. He started as a bantamweight before becoming one of the greatest lightweights in history.
Roy Jones:
Age 17: Golden Gloves National: 139 lbs
Age 20: Second pro fight: 155 lbs
Age 24: Middleweight title vs. Hopkins: 160 lbs.
Age 25: Super middleweight title vs. Toney: 168 lbs
Age 27: Light heavyweight title vs. McCallum: 175 lbs
Age 34: Heavyweight title vs. Ruiz: 193 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 54 lbs
Weight gained from early 20's: 33 lbs
Roy Jones had an outstanding amateur career, culminating in a shocking robbery at the Olympics. At the age of 17 he won the golden gloves at 139 lbs. Pretty unbelievable when you see his incredible physique against John Ruiz when he challenged for the heavyweight title.
Above is a look at all of these remarkable fighters' career paths. When we look at it we discover something we already knew; they are all great champions. Pacquiao's growth does not stand out as aberrant when compared against these other notable fighters. Indeed, the only path that seems particularly unusual is that of Henry Armstrong; a testament to the different era he fought in and his unquestioned place as a boxing immortal. I fear to imagine what abuse he would endure if he had similar succes today.
Perhaps a more telling comparison would have been to look at the different times when these men fought. During Armstrong's time and into the 1980s there seemed to be a willingness to trust in athletes, to believe in heroes. When someone did something remarkable it was looked at with amazement, but rarely skepticism.
We live in different times. Perhaps it's a good thing, but athletes will never be seen in the same way. We live in an age of skeptics and doubters, where accomplishment is not only worthy of praise but also of investigation.
Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, and Roy Jones may all be steroid users (in fact Jones did once test positive, though the circumstances were somewhat dubious.) We will never know for certain. I happen to give them the benefit of the doubt but I can understand those who don't.
We do, know, however, that they, along with the other men on this list, were some of the greatest fighters in history. Hopefully we can all agree on that.
Source
A few weeks ago I argued that the basis for charges that Manny Pacquiao is using steroids - his success moving from super featherweight to welterweight in only 18 months - was built on a faulty premise. While it is true he has moved up in weight very quickly this is largely the result of no longer losing massive amounts of weight before the weigh-in and then rehydrating before the fight. I argued that while this doesn't prove Pacquiao isn't using steroids, it does mean that critic's arguments that he has undergone some radical physical transformation in an impossibly short period of time are simply not true. Some readers offered that while my point was valid I was only looking at the most recent part of Pacquiao's growth. If we go back to his pro debut, they say, he has moved up from an impossible to believe 106 lbs. This, one might argue, is definitive proof.
To test their argument I decided to compare Pacquiao's movement up the weight classes to some other notable weight jumpers in boxing history. I am using notable points in each fighter's career. For title fights I am not using the official weight, but the weight limit. Partially inspired by a post on boxingtalk, here's what I found.
Manny Pacquiao:Age 16: Pro Debut: 106 lbs
Age 19: Flyweight title vs. Sasakul: 112 lbs
Age 22: Super bantamweight title vs. Ledwaba: 122 lbs
Age 24: Featherweight title vs. Barrera : 126 lbs
Age 26: Super featherweight title vs. Morales: 130 lbs
Age 29: Lightweight title vs. Diaz: 135 lbs
Age 30: Welterweight tile vs. Cotto: 147 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 41 lbs
Weight gained from early 20s: 25 lbs
Pacquiao's growth has been truly incredible. He has won titles in more divisions than any other fighter in boxing history. Moving from a 106 lbs to the welterweight championship is a breathtaking accomplishment.
This is mitigated by the fact that Pacquiao began his career at the incredibly young age of 16. Many accomplished fighters haven't even had significant amateur experience by that point. At 19 Pacquiao won the Flyweight title. While incredible, this was something of an aberration for Pacquiao. He was losing that fight to Sasakul before he scored a shocking come-from-behind knockout. He would lose his title on the scales months later and immediately move up three weight divisions. Pacquiao's early career, while impressive, is a bit misleading. I would compare it to saying that a bruising NBA power forward was the point guard for his high school team. Interesting, but not particularly relevant after he grew into a more natural body.
By the age of 20, when most fighters are just starting their professional careers, Pacquiao was fighting at 122 pounds. Moving from super bantamweight to welterweight is also incredible, but comparable to what we will see in other fighters.
Floyd Mayweather:Age 16: first amateur fight: 106 lbs
Age 19: Pro debut: 130 lbs
Age 21: Junior lightweight title vs. Hernandez: 130 lbs
Age 25: Lightweight title vs. Castillo: 135 lbs
Age 28: Junior welterweight title vs. Gatti: 140 lbs
Age 29: Welterweight title vs. Judah: 147 lbs
Age 30: Junior middleweight title vs. De La Hoya: 154 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 48 lbs
Weight gained from early 20s: 24 lbs
Pacquiao's accuser, Floyd Mayweather, has also been an incredibly successful weight jumper. While his growth has been more steady than Pacquiao's his performance has been just as spectacular. Of particular note is that both Mayweather and Pacquiao weighed 106 lbs at sixteen years old.
Tommy Hearns:Age 18: Amateur: Light welterweight 141 lbs
Age 19: Second pro fight: 144 lbs
Age 21: Welterweight title vs. Cuevas:147 lbs
Age 24: Junior middleweight title vs. Benitez: 154 lbs
Age 26: Middleweight title vs. Hagler: 160 lbs
Age 29: Light heavyweight title vs. Andries: 19 - 175 lbs
Age 30: Super middleweight title vs. Kinchen: 30 -168 lbs
Age 35: Cruiserweight title vs. Ward- 35 - 190 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 49 lbs
Weight gained from early 20s: 43 lbs
The great Tommy Hearns was one of the most exciting fighters in history. Known for his tremendous power and unusual physique he was a very successful weight jumper.
Henry Armstrong:Age 17: Pro Debut: 120 lbs
Age 23: Western featherweight title vs. Alton Black: 126 lbs
Age 25: Welterweight title vs. Barney Ross: 147 lbs
Age 26: Lightweight title vs. Ambers: 135 lbs
Age 27: Middleweight title vs. Garcia (draw): 160 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 40 lbs
Weight gained from early 20s: 36 lbs
Henry Armstong is widely considered one of the greatest fighters ever. Pacquiao has often been compared to the three division champion over recent years because of his success in multiple weight classes. These statistics are a little misleading because Armstrong would often come into a fight well under the weight limit. It was a different sport back then. Fighters were made to weigh-in just hours before the bout and rarely drained such massive amounts of water weight.
Roberto Duran:
Age 16: Pro Debut: 119 lbs
Age 21: Lightweight title vs. Buchanan: 135 lbs
Age 29: Welterweight title vs. Leonard: 147 lbs
Age 31: Junior Middleweight title vs. Benitez: 154 lbs
Age 32: Middleweight title vs. Hagler: 160 lbs
Age 38: Super Middleweight vs. Leonard: 168 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 49 lbs
Weight gained form early 20s: 33 lbs.
The fierce Duran took on all comers during his decades long career. He started as a bantamweight before becoming one of the greatest lightweights in history.
Roy Jones:Age 17: Golden Gloves National: 139 lbs
Age 20: Second pro fight: 155 lbs
Age 24: Middleweight title vs. Hopkins: 160 lbs.
Age 25: Super middleweight title vs. Toney: 168 lbs
Age 27: Light heavyweight title vs. McCallum: 175 lbs
Age 34: Heavyweight title vs. Ruiz: 193 lbs
Weight gained from earliest competition: 54 lbs
Weight gained from early 20's: 33 lbs
Roy Jones had an outstanding amateur career, culminating in a shocking robbery at the Olympics. At the age of 17 he won the golden gloves at 139 lbs. Pretty unbelievable when you see his incredible physique against John Ruiz when he challenged for the heavyweight title.
Above is a look at all of these remarkable fighters' career paths. When we look at it we discover something we already knew; they are all great champions. Pacquiao's growth does not stand out as aberrant when compared against these other notable fighters. Indeed, the only path that seems particularly unusual is that of Henry Armstrong; a testament to the different era he fought in and his unquestioned place as a boxing immortal. I fear to imagine what abuse he would endure if he had similar succes today.Perhaps a more telling comparison would have been to look at the different times when these men fought. During Armstrong's time and into the 1980s there seemed to be a willingness to trust in athletes, to believe in heroes. When someone did something remarkable it was looked at with amazement, but rarely skepticism.
We live in different times. Perhaps it's a good thing, but athletes will never be seen in the same way. We live in an age of skeptics and doubters, where accomplishment is not only worthy of praise but also of investigation.
Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, and Roy Jones may all be steroid users (in fact Jones did once test positive, though the circumstances were somewhat dubious.) We will never know for certain. I happen to give them the benefit of the doubt but I can understand those who don't.
We do, know, however, that they, along with the other men on this list, were some of the greatest fighters in history. Hopefully we can all agree on that.
Source
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Manny still hoping to fight Floyd
By Francis T.J. Ochoa
REIGNING POUND-FOR-POUND KING Manny Pacquiao is confident a ring date with Floyd Mayweather Jr. will still happen, even as the replacement foe for his Mar. 13 bout, Joshua Clottey, made plans to fly to Ghana to address a big trainer problem.
In a report by CNN.com, Pacquiao said: “I’m still hoping a fight with Mayweather will be pushed through, maybe by summer time.”
Meanwhile, Clottey’s trainer was denied a United States visa, throwing off the fighter’s training schedule.
Trainer Godwin Nii Dzanie Kotey and assistant trainer Daniel Clottey were stuck in Ghana after encountering visa problems.
“An officer looked into the documents I had with me and he wrote something that they (were) going to do investigations and give me a call,” Kotey told Joy Sports’ Nathaniel Attoh.
In a separate interview with Eastsideboxing.com, Kotey said: “We are very disappointed. Now, Joshua is all alone in the US and even if he’s training, there’s no supervision.”
Clottey was a replacement for Mayweather when the bout between the last two boxers to hold the mythical pound-for-pound throne collapsed because of disagreements over drug-testing protocols.
Pacquiao has said the negotiations cast him in a bad light and he’d try to prove he doesn’t use performance-enhancing drugs.
“I want to clear my name because I'm a very honest person,” the reigning WBO welterweight champion told CNN. “I’m very disappointed for what he accused me of. I’m clean. I’m not cheating. I’m a very honest fighter.”
Source
REIGNING POUND-FOR-POUND KING Manny Pacquiao is confident a ring date with Floyd Mayweather Jr. will still happen, even as the replacement foe for his Mar. 13 bout, Joshua Clottey, made plans to fly to Ghana to address a big trainer problem.
In a report by CNN.com, Pacquiao said: “I’m still hoping a fight with Mayweather will be pushed through, maybe by summer time.”
Meanwhile, Clottey’s trainer was denied a United States visa, throwing off the fighter’s training schedule.
Trainer Godwin Nii Dzanie Kotey and assistant trainer Daniel Clottey were stuck in Ghana after encountering visa problems.
“An officer looked into the documents I had with me and he wrote something that they (were) going to do investigations and give me a call,” Kotey told Joy Sports’ Nathaniel Attoh.
In a separate interview with Eastsideboxing.com, Kotey said: “We are very disappointed. Now, Joshua is all alone in the US and even if he’s training, there’s no supervision.”
Clottey was a replacement for Mayweather when the bout between the last two boxers to hold the mythical pound-for-pound throne collapsed because of disagreements over drug-testing protocols.
Pacquiao has said the negotiations cast him in a bad light and he’d try to prove he doesn’t use performance-enhancing drugs.
“I want to clear my name because I'm a very honest person,” the reigning WBO welterweight champion told CNN. “I’m very disappointed for what he accused me of. I’m clean. I’m not cheating. I’m a very honest fighter.”
Source
Friday, January 22, 2010
Manny Pacquiao is confident he will fight Floyd Mayweather Jr
• Filipino says rival had been trying to avoid fighting in March
• Says much-anticipated bout could be staged in the summer
Manny Pacquiao, who will fight Joshua Clottey on 13 March, said today that Floyd Mayweather Jr had been looking for a way out of fighting him and that "maybe Mayweather is scared to lose."
The biggest fight in boxing fell apart because of the drug testing protocol, with Pacquiao refusing to have blood drawn more than 24 days before the fight. Mayweather wanted testing done two weeks before the fight.
Pacquiao will defend his version of the welterweight title against Clottey at the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, where promoters are hoping to attract 40,000 fans. The fight will be televised on pay-per-view.
Pacquiao says he will eventually fight Mayweather Jr.
"I believe the fight will happen some other time," he said. " I'm still hoping the fight will be pushed through, maybe by summer time. It would be a good fight if it happened."
Source
• Says much-anticipated bout could be staged in the summer
Manny Pacquiao, who will fight Joshua Clottey on 13 March, said today that Floyd Mayweather Jr had been looking for a way out of fighting him and that "maybe Mayweather is scared to lose."
The biggest fight in boxing fell apart because of the drug testing protocol, with Pacquiao refusing to have blood drawn more than 24 days before the fight. Mayweather wanted testing done two weeks before the fight.
Pacquiao will defend his version of the welterweight title against Clottey at the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, where promoters are hoping to attract 40,000 fans. The fight will be televised on pay-per-view.
Pacquiao says he will eventually fight Mayweather Jr.
"I believe the fight will happen some other time," he said. " I'm still hoping the fight will be pushed through, maybe by summer time. It would be a good fight if it happened."
Source
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Pacquiao is clean - test
By Abac Cordero
MANILA, Philippines - The results of Manny Pacquiao’s urinalysis, done last Dec. 30 as required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, are out. He’s clean.
“The tests came back to us last Monday and it’s no surprise to us that they’re negative,” said Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, in a hastily called press conference last night at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila.
Koncz said Pacquiao, who was in a separate meeting when Koncz faced the media, hardly reacted to the results of the tests because “he always knew he was clean and that there’s nothing to react to.”
The NSAC recommended the urinalysis, as part of its requirements for the boxers’ annual licenses although Koncz said it might have something to do with the blood-testing controversy involving Flyd Mayweather Jr.
Koncz said the papers that came back with the results from Malaysia said “both tests” proved negative, meaning Mayweather could have taken the same test.
Pacquiao and Mayweather were supposed to figure in a superfight on March 13 but disagreements on the blood-testing procedures got in the way. Instead, Pacquiao will face Josh Clottey in Arlington, Texas.
“This is the last time we will comment on these results. What’s important with the results being made public is for us to clear Manny’s name after being tarnished by Mayweather and the Dela Hoya people,” said Koncz.
Koncz said Pacquiao is scheduled to leave for Los Angeles tonight along with trainers Nonoy Neri and Roger Fernandez, lawyer Franklin Gacal and his brother Bobby Pacquiao.
Then Pacquiao flies to Dallas on Monday for a press conference, to New York the following day and back to LA the following day. He begins his seven-week training at the Wild Card Gym on Thursday.
“But Manny asked to take his gear along because he wants to run in Dallas and New York,” said Koncz.
Pacquiao is also scheduled to host a benefit dinner for fellow boxer Z Gorres who’s been released from a Nevada hospital two months after undergoing a brain surgery.
Gorres collapsed after a fight in Las Vegas on Nov. 13 and had been in the hospital since, with bills reaching almost $500,000.
“Top Rank will take care of the $50,000 and the state the rest. We got some criticism why Manny had to wait before stepping for Z but there’s a reason.
“Had we done this earlier, it would have gone straight to the medical bills, and he’ll have nothing when he comes home. We knew the bills would be paid for by the state. We had a plan for Z but waited up to this point.”
Koncz said they plan to hold the benefit dinner three weeks from now and intend to raise as much as $500,000.
He said the other camp saying Pacquiao is into illegal performance enhancers has been proven wrong, and that Mayweather’s ridiculous demands regarding the blood testing is his only way out of the fight.
“We said we can take the blood tests right after the fight and still they wouldn’t agree. If there was anything that would help enhance Manny’s performance during the fight, then it should still be in his system 30 minutes after the fight,” Koncz added.
Source
MANILA, Philippines - The results of Manny Pacquiao’s urinalysis, done last Dec. 30 as required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, are out. He’s clean.
“The tests came back to us last Monday and it’s no surprise to us that they’re negative,” said Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, in a hastily called press conference last night at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila.
Koncz said Pacquiao, who was in a separate meeting when Koncz faced the media, hardly reacted to the results of the tests because “he always knew he was clean and that there’s nothing to react to.”
The NSAC recommended the urinalysis, as part of its requirements for the boxers’ annual licenses although Koncz said it might have something to do with the blood-testing controversy involving Flyd Mayweather Jr.
Koncz said the papers that came back with the results from Malaysia said “both tests” proved negative, meaning Mayweather could have taken the same test.
Pacquiao and Mayweather were supposed to figure in a superfight on March 13 but disagreements on the blood-testing procedures got in the way. Instead, Pacquiao will face Josh Clottey in Arlington, Texas.
“This is the last time we will comment on these results. What’s important with the results being made public is for us to clear Manny’s name after being tarnished by Mayweather and the Dela Hoya people,” said Koncz.
Koncz said Pacquiao is scheduled to leave for Los Angeles tonight along with trainers Nonoy Neri and Roger Fernandez, lawyer Franklin Gacal and his brother Bobby Pacquiao.
Then Pacquiao flies to Dallas on Monday for a press conference, to New York the following day and back to LA the following day. He begins his seven-week training at the Wild Card Gym on Thursday.
“But Manny asked to take his gear along because he wants to run in Dallas and New York,” said Koncz.
Pacquiao is also scheduled to host a benefit dinner for fellow boxer Z Gorres who’s been released from a Nevada hospital two months after undergoing a brain surgery.
Gorres collapsed after a fight in Las Vegas on Nov. 13 and had been in the hospital since, with bills reaching almost $500,000.
“Top Rank will take care of the $50,000 and the state the rest. We got some criticism why Manny had to wait before stepping for Z but there’s a reason.
“Had we done this earlier, it would have gone straight to the medical bills, and he’ll have nothing when he comes home. We knew the bills would be paid for by the state. We had a plan for Z but waited up to this point.”
Koncz said they plan to hold the benefit dinner three weeks from now and intend to raise as much as $500,000.
He said the other camp saying Pacquiao is into illegal performance enhancers has been proven wrong, and that Mayweather’s ridiculous demands regarding the blood testing is his only way out of the fight.
“We said we can take the blood tests right after the fight and still they wouldn’t agree. If there was anything that would help enhance Manny’s performance during the fight, then it should still be in his system 30 minutes after the fight,” Koncz added.
Source
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Parents as true heroes in ‘Wapakman’
By JUDE THADDEUS L. BAUTISTA
The value of appreciating parents is underlined in the film “Wapakman,” starring our Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao.
Indeed, this film could’ve been just an action flick with a few laughs here and there, but the producers, wisely, ensured it was more than that. Plus, Manny’s close relationship with his own mother, now christened ‘Mommy D’ by the press, also proves the boxing champ walks the talk; more so, if one thinks that Manny in real life forgave his father who abandoned them to start a new family.
That said, fans who expect a slam-bang action movie with exciting fight scenes will love this film. The fight scenes were very professionally choreographed and a lot of kung fu moves were incorporated. You’ll see Manny Pacquiao kick, do somersaults, and throw a few punches in the course of battling giant crabs and other super nemeses.
A lot of families will also relate to the experience of Magdo Meneses’ (Manny Pacquiao) family. Ruffa Mae Quinto plays Magda, the sexy wife of Magdo who is an OFW working in Italy. She communicates regularly with her brood of five through webcam. The film is able to capture how technology is shaping family relationships.
That although they are able to see each other and talk, the distance between them puts a strain on the marriage. Magdo is left to fend for the kids, giving them baths, cooking, and washing their clothes. At the same time, he works hard as a plumber specializing in toilet drainage. His job is a source of embarrassment for his kids, especially during a ‘Parents Career Day.’
Magdo is part of a team much like the ‘Ghostbusters.’ Their boss is a Michelle Obama look-alike and their company is called the United Septic Association (U.S.A.). PBA superstar turned actor Benjie Paras is a wonderful addition to the cast as the wise and funny co-worker. Ditto with Onyok Velasco who is cast as a member of the U.S.A. team.
The film has the best child actors of today: Mica Torre, Edinburgh Kyle Balili, Jairus Aquino, Miguel Magalong, and Chacha Cañete. John Vladimir Manalo, especially, shone in playing the rebellious son trying to cope with the absence of their mom.
Bianca King who usually tackles dramatic roles shows her versatility in the action sequences as Agent Mystika. The controversial Krista Ranillo is the teacher who gains powers as Octavia. The handsome face of Polo Ravales was mostly hidden in the amazing visual effects as the human torch nemesis, Combust.
Any fan of Manny the fighter would enjoy watching “Wapakman,” even as anyone whose mom or dad works hard for the family will relate to the film’s message.
Source
The value of appreciating parents is underlined in the film “Wapakman,” starring our Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao.
Indeed, this film could’ve been just an action flick with a few laughs here and there, but the producers, wisely, ensured it was more than that. Plus, Manny’s close relationship with his own mother, now christened ‘Mommy D’ by the press, also proves the boxing champ walks the talk; more so, if one thinks that Manny in real life forgave his father who abandoned them to start a new family.
That said, fans who expect a slam-bang action movie with exciting fight scenes will love this film. The fight scenes were very professionally choreographed and a lot of kung fu moves were incorporated. You’ll see Manny Pacquiao kick, do somersaults, and throw a few punches in the course of battling giant crabs and other super nemeses.
A lot of families will also relate to the experience of Magdo Meneses’ (Manny Pacquiao) family. Ruffa Mae Quinto plays Magda, the sexy wife of Magdo who is an OFW working in Italy. She communicates regularly with her brood of five through webcam. The film is able to capture how technology is shaping family relationships.
That although they are able to see each other and talk, the distance between them puts a strain on the marriage. Magdo is left to fend for the kids, giving them baths, cooking, and washing their clothes. At the same time, he works hard as a plumber specializing in toilet drainage. His job is a source of embarrassment for his kids, especially during a ‘Parents Career Day.’
Magdo is part of a team much like the ‘Ghostbusters.’ Their boss is a Michelle Obama look-alike and their company is called the United Septic Association (U.S.A.). PBA superstar turned actor Benjie Paras is a wonderful addition to the cast as the wise and funny co-worker. Ditto with Onyok Velasco who is cast as a member of the U.S.A. team.
The film has the best child actors of today: Mica Torre, Edinburgh Kyle Balili, Jairus Aquino, Miguel Magalong, and Chacha Cañete. John Vladimir Manalo, especially, shone in playing the rebellious son trying to cope with the absence of their mom.
Bianca King who usually tackles dramatic roles shows her versatility in the action sequences as Agent Mystika. The controversial Krista Ranillo is the teacher who gains powers as Octavia. The handsome face of Polo Ravales was mostly hidden in the amazing visual effects as the human torch nemesis, Combust.
Any fan of Manny the fighter would enjoy watching “Wapakman,” even as anyone whose mom or dad works hard for the family will relate to the film’s message.
Source
Saturday, January 16, 2010
From $2,500, Pacquiao premium tickets to cost just $700 – Arum
By NICK GIONGCO
LOS ANGELES — Tickets to the March 13 welterweight war between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey will be priced reasonably, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said on Sunday night after returning to Las Vegas from a weekend visit in Dallas, Texas.
The premium ringside seat will cost $700, while the cheapest at $50, said Arum with the Cowboys Stadium to be reconstructed to sit 50,000, stressing that in case a demand is felt in the days leading to the fight, it would be easy to add more seats.
“Manny will enter a new realm with this fight in Dallas,” said Arum, whose promotional outfit Top Rank is staging the show in close partnership with Texas billionaire and Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones.
Weeks ago, when it appeared that a deal had been made for Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Arum said the top seat would be sold at an unheard of $2,500, higher than the $2,400 that was retailed when Lennox Lewis faced Mike Tyson in June 2002 in Memphis.
All it took for Arum to make a deal with Jones was pay him a visit as the Cowboys were playing the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday night.
The next morning, Arum and Jones easily dotted the Is and crossed the Ts and Arum hurriedly hopped on a plane bound for Sin City with the frame of mind of a boy who found himself inside a candy store.
“The arena is just magnificent. I’ve been to a lot of venues but the Cowboys Stadium is unbelievable. I have no doubt this show is going to be a huge success,” said Arum.
Arum was compelled to look elsewhere for an opponent for Pacquiao after a falling out with Mayweather and his promotional team last week.
Even though Clottey’s popularity is not as immense as Mayweather, the New York-based Ghana native has a solid reputation of being a tough customer in the ring, something that Pacquiao will have to contend with once they finally get it on.
Source
LOS ANGELES — Tickets to the March 13 welterweight war between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey will be priced reasonably, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said on Sunday night after returning to Las Vegas from a weekend visit in Dallas, Texas.
The premium ringside seat will cost $700, while the cheapest at $50, said Arum with the Cowboys Stadium to be reconstructed to sit 50,000, stressing that in case a demand is felt in the days leading to the fight, it would be easy to add more seats.
“Manny will enter a new realm with this fight in Dallas,” said Arum, whose promotional outfit Top Rank is staging the show in close partnership with Texas billionaire and Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones.
Weeks ago, when it appeared that a deal had been made for Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Arum said the top seat would be sold at an unheard of $2,500, higher than the $2,400 that was retailed when Lennox Lewis faced Mike Tyson in June 2002 in Memphis.
All it took for Arum to make a deal with Jones was pay him a visit as the Cowboys were playing the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday night.
The next morning, Arum and Jones easily dotted the Is and crossed the Ts and Arum hurriedly hopped on a plane bound for Sin City with the frame of mind of a boy who found himself inside a candy store.
“The arena is just magnificent. I’ve been to a lot of venues but the Cowboys Stadium is unbelievable. I have no doubt this show is going to be a huge success,” said Arum.
Arum was compelled to look elsewhere for an opponent for Pacquiao after a falling out with Mayweather and his promotional team last week.
Even though Clottey’s popularity is not as immense as Mayweather, the New York-based Ghana native has a solid reputation of being a tough customer in the ring, something that Pacquiao will have to contend with once they finally get it on.
Source
Friday, January 15, 2010
Dallas welcomes Manny Pacquiao title defence against Joshua Clottey
The Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has welcomed the opportunity to host world championship boxing at the new Cowboys Stadium after Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey's welterweight clash was confirmed for 13 March in Texas.
In the wake of the collapse of the proposed Pacquiao megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr on the same date, the Filipino has opted to defend his WBO title against Clottey of Ghana.
Jones was convinced the fight would sell the 40,000 tickets necessary for a capacity crowd once his stadium was configured for boxing.
"I have wanted to bring a major boxing event to north Texas for many years, so why not bring in the biggest and the best?" Jones said. "Manny Pacquiao is boxing's number one pound-for-pound attraction and the world champion.
"Manny defending his title against Joshua Clottey is not just a great fight, it's a great event, and one we can showcase to the fullest in Cowboys Stadium. We're going to promote this like it was the Super Bowl."
The Top Rank chairman and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said Jones had convinced him Cowboys Stadium, which on Saturday hosted more than 100,000 fans for the NFL play-off victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, was an ideal fit.
"Jerry Jones knows exactly how big and important this event is which is why it was so easy to put this deal together," Arum said. "If Jerry could sell me on Cowboys Stadium and the North Texas market, you know he is going to have no problems selling out Cowboys Stadium.
"We are ready to roll up our sleeves and promote Manny's debut as world welterweight champion."
Pacquiao cemented his status as the best pound-for-pound fighter when he won the WBO welterweight title with a 12th-round knockout of Miguel Cotto, who was also Clottey's last opponent. New York-based Clottey lost a split decision to the Puerto Rican at Madison Square Garden last June.
Pacquiao's victory over Cotto in Las Vegas last November set up a proposed encounter with the unbeaten Mayweather Jr, but the two camps failed to agree terms for a 13 March bout following a row over pre-fight blood testing and Arum moved quickly to secure an alternative fight.
Source
In the wake of the collapse of the proposed Pacquiao megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr on the same date, the Filipino has opted to defend his WBO title against Clottey of Ghana.
Jones was convinced the fight would sell the 40,000 tickets necessary for a capacity crowd once his stadium was configured for boxing.
"I have wanted to bring a major boxing event to north Texas for many years, so why not bring in the biggest and the best?" Jones said. "Manny Pacquiao is boxing's number one pound-for-pound attraction and the world champion.
"Manny defending his title against Joshua Clottey is not just a great fight, it's a great event, and one we can showcase to the fullest in Cowboys Stadium. We're going to promote this like it was the Super Bowl."
The Top Rank chairman and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said Jones had convinced him Cowboys Stadium, which on Saturday hosted more than 100,000 fans for the NFL play-off victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, was an ideal fit.
"Jerry Jones knows exactly how big and important this event is which is why it was so easy to put this deal together," Arum said. "If Jerry could sell me on Cowboys Stadium and the North Texas market, you know he is going to have no problems selling out Cowboys Stadium.
"We are ready to roll up our sleeves and promote Manny's debut as world welterweight champion."
Pacquiao cemented his status as the best pound-for-pound fighter when he won the WBO welterweight title with a 12th-round knockout of Miguel Cotto, who was also Clottey's last opponent. New York-based Clottey lost a split decision to the Puerto Rican at Madison Square Garden last June.
Pacquiao's victory over Cotto in Las Vegas last November set up a proposed encounter with the unbeaten Mayweather Jr, but the two camps failed to agree terms for a 13 March bout following a row over pre-fight blood testing and Arum moved quickly to secure an alternative fight.
Source
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Pacquiao named Athlete of the Decade
Freddie Roach could meet a boxer for the first time, shake his hand, peer into his eyes, and see the future.
In Manny Pacquiao, the renowned trainer saw the makings of a world champion, a glittering gem from an uncut, unpolished stone.
But something else escaped Roach’s ring clairvoyance: A crowning beyond the alphabet titles nobody foresaw.
“I didn’t see this coming,” said Roach, recalling the first time he worked the mitts with the boxing icon early in 2001 at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles. “I never thought he’ll be this great.”
Roach was in the same boat as everyone else.
In typical Pacquiao fashion, the former bread vendor and construction worker turned boxing superstar defied the odds, stunning the boxing world with a sixth round technical knockout of fearsome South African Lehlo Ledwaba to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-bantamweight title, his first.
The win began Pacquiao’s meteoric rise to the top. The world would later recognize him as the top pound-for-pound boxer, considered one of the best – if not the best – southpaw fighters in prizefighting history.
Pacquiao is the first and only boxer to win seven world titles in seven different weight classes (flyweight, super-bantamweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight), and among the few who made a lasting imprint in a sport teeming with stars and heroes.
Pacquiao, indeed, has come a long way from a struggling, skinny teenager who first fought as a pro in the mid-90s, to the electrifying sports icon who has become the face of boxing today.
The Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) is not one to deny Pacquiao his achievements, and will confer on him Athlete of the Decade honors during its traditional annual Awards Night set March 1 at the historic landmark, Manila Hotel.
Having been elevated by the country’s oldest media organization to the Hall of Fame last year, Pacquiao is no longer eligible for the coveted Athlete of the Year award, but remains a major part of the year’s top achievers’ list on account of his Hall of Fame exploits in the first 10 years of the new century. He was named Athlete of the Year five times – in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2008.
During that span, Philippine sports saw Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin score breakthrough wins in the LPGA Tour, CJ Suarez ruling bowling’s World Cup, Team Philippines winning a historic first overall championship in the Southeast Asian Games, Miguel Molina emerging as the Best Male Athlete in the SEAG for his four gold medals in swimming and Ronnie Alcano reigning as a double world champion in billiards.
Source
In Manny Pacquiao, the renowned trainer saw the makings of a world champion, a glittering gem from an uncut, unpolished stone.
But something else escaped Roach’s ring clairvoyance: A crowning beyond the alphabet titles nobody foresaw.
“I didn’t see this coming,” said Roach, recalling the first time he worked the mitts with the boxing icon early in 2001 at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles. “I never thought he’ll be this great.”
Roach was in the same boat as everyone else.
In typical Pacquiao fashion, the former bread vendor and construction worker turned boxing superstar defied the odds, stunning the boxing world with a sixth round technical knockout of fearsome South African Lehlo Ledwaba to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-bantamweight title, his first.
The win began Pacquiao’s meteoric rise to the top. The world would later recognize him as the top pound-for-pound boxer, considered one of the best – if not the best – southpaw fighters in prizefighting history.
Pacquiao is the first and only boxer to win seven world titles in seven different weight classes (flyweight, super-bantamweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight), and among the few who made a lasting imprint in a sport teeming with stars and heroes.
Pacquiao, indeed, has come a long way from a struggling, skinny teenager who first fought as a pro in the mid-90s, to the electrifying sports icon who has become the face of boxing today.
The Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) is not one to deny Pacquiao his achievements, and will confer on him Athlete of the Decade honors during its traditional annual Awards Night set March 1 at the historic landmark, Manila Hotel.
Having been elevated by the country’s oldest media organization to the Hall of Fame last year, Pacquiao is no longer eligible for the coveted Athlete of the Year award, but remains a major part of the year’s top achievers’ list on account of his Hall of Fame exploits in the first 10 years of the new century. He was named Athlete of the Year five times – in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2008.
During that span, Philippine sports saw Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin score breakthrough wins in the LPGA Tour, CJ Suarez ruling bowling’s World Cup, Team Philippines winning a historic first overall championship in the Southeast Asian Games, Miguel Molina emerging as the Best Male Athlete in the SEAG for his four gold medals in swimming and Ronnie Alcano reigning as a double world champion in billiards.
Source
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Clottey a dangerous opponent for Manny
by Josef T. Ramos
OUTSPOKEN trainer Teddy Atlas said Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao will have a hard time against Joshua Clottey when the two clash on March 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
Atlas told boxingscene.com that compared to World Boxing Association junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, Clottey ranks higher in terms of durability, strength and physicality.
“I think it’s a mistake for them to go with Clottey instead of Foreman. I know [Pacquiao] is looking at the size [of the 5’11”] Foreman but sometime it’s not about size,” said Atlas. “If Clottey would have kept the pressure on [Miguel] Cotto [when they fought on June 13], I think he would have stopped him [Cotto].”
Clottey, who stands 5’8”, has never been stopped and even survived 12 rounds with former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito. Many believe Clottey could have beaten the 5’11” Margarito if he did not break his hand in the fourth round.
“They are wrong when they assume this will be an easier fight because Foreman is one weight class up and Clottey is one weight class down,” said Atlas.
Atlas also mentioned that Foreman doesn’t fight a physical fight and Clottey has enough strength to hurt Pacquiao.
“He’s [Foreman] bigger but doesn’t use his size in a way that is dangerous, which is how Clottey uses his size one weight class below,” said Atlas.
“At 147 pounds, Clottey is much more physical and much more dangerous in this fight than Foreman.”
The camp of Pacquiao may have chosen Clottey because the New York-based fighter is also exciting inside the ring.
“I wanted an action fight, I don’t want Manny in a boring fight,” Roach said.
Atlas was the assistant of the late Hall-of-Famer trainer Cus D’Amato when the latter trained former heavyweight king Mike Tyson. He also trained former heavyweight king Mike Moorer and is currently the boxing commentator of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.
Atlas gained notoriety for pointing a gun at Tyson after the fighter tried to force himself on Atlas’ young niece.
Source
OUTSPOKEN trainer Teddy Atlas said Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao will have a hard time against Joshua Clottey when the two clash on March 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
Atlas told boxingscene.com that compared to World Boxing Association junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, Clottey ranks higher in terms of durability, strength and physicality.
“I think it’s a mistake for them to go with Clottey instead of Foreman. I know [Pacquiao] is looking at the size [of the 5’11”] Foreman but sometime it’s not about size,” said Atlas. “If Clottey would have kept the pressure on [Miguel] Cotto [when they fought on June 13], I think he would have stopped him [Cotto].”
Clottey, who stands 5’8”, has never been stopped and even survived 12 rounds with former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito. Many believe Clottey could have beaten the 5’11” Margarito if he did not break his hand in the fourth round.
“They are wrong when they assume this will be an easier fight because Foreman is one weight class up and Clottey is one weight class down,” said Atlas.
Atlas also mentioned that Foreman doesn’t fight a physical fight and Clottey has enough strength to hurt Pacquiao.
“He’s [Foreman] bigger but doesn’t use his size in a way that is dangerous, which is how Clottey uses his size one weight class below,” said Atlas.
“At 147 pounds, Clottey is much more physical and much more dangerous in this fight than Foreman.”
The camp of Pacquiao may have chosen Clottey because the New York-based fighter is also exciting inside the ring.
“I wanted an action fight, I don’t want Manny in a boring fight,” Roach said.
Atlas was the assistant of the late Hall-of-Famer trainer Cus D’Amato when the latter trained former heavyweight king Mike Tyson. He also trained former heavyweight king Mike Moorer and is currently the boxing commentator of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.
Atlas gained notoriety for pointing a gun at Tyson after the fighter tried to force himself on Atlas’ young niece.
Source
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Pacquiao-Clottey fight booked for March 13
By Jun Medina
It’s final—Manny Pacquiao will defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight title against former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao will be named the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Athlete of the Decade during its traditional annual Awards Night set on March 1 at the Manila Hotel. Pacquiao has been named PSA Athlete of the Year five times this decade—from 2002 to 2004, then in 2006 and 2008.
Already elevated by the country’s oldest media organization to the Hall of Fame last year, Pacquiao is no longer eligible for the coveted Athlete of the Year award, but remains a major part of the year’s top sports achievers’ list on account of his Hall of Fame exploits in the first 10 years of the new century.
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum announced he has reached a deal with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to host the fight at the modern arena, which will be configured to seat 50,000 or more.
Arum told the Los Angeles Times that Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 by knockouts) stands to earn $10 million to $20 million from the fight against the hard-punching Clottey (35-3, 20 knockouts).
A press conference announcing the fight is scheduled for January 18 at the Cowboys home turf, also known as Jerry World, in Arlington, Texas. This will be followed by another press conference in New York the next day.
According to Matt Stalow of Dallas Boxing Examiner, March 13 is a firm date because the March 20 fight date being considered by Top Rank is already taken by a motocross event at the $1.2 billion arena.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said his prized Filipino fighter is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles Sunday from Manila and will immediately plunge into training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
Read more...
It’s final—Manny Pacquiao will defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight title against former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao will be named the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Athlete of the Decade during its traditional annual Awards Night set on March 1 at the Manila Hotel. Pacquiao has been named PSA Athlete of the Year five times this decade—from 2002 to 2004, then in 2006 and 2008.
Already elevated by the country’s oldest media organization to the Hall of Fame last year, Pacquiao is no longer eligible for the coveted Athlete of the Year award, but remains a major part of the year’s top sports achievers’ list on account of his Hall of Fame exploits in the first 10 years of the new century.
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum announced he has reached a deal with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to host the fight at the modern arena, which will be configured to seat 50,000 or more.
Arum told the Los Angeles Times that Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 by knockouts) stands to earn $10 million to $20 million from the fight against the hard-punching Clottey (35-3, 20 knockouts).
A press conference announcing the fight is scheduled for January 18 at the Cowboys home turf, also known as Jerry World, in Arlington, Texas. This will be followed by another press conference in New York the next day.
According to Matt Stalow of Dallas Boxing Examiner, March 13 is a firm date because the March 20 fight date being considered by Top Rank is already taken by a motocross event at the $1.2 billion arena.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said his prized Filipino fighter is scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles Sunday from Manila and will immediately plunge into training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
Read more...
Monday, January 11, 2010
Five Fighters Who Can Beat Manny Pacquiao Today
By Lester Salvador
I really hope that Bob Arum, Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao can drop their stubbornness and work in a sane manner tomorrow, when Arum and Golden Boy promotions CEO Richard Shaeffer who represents Floyd Mayweather Jr. go through mediation to help save the Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Manny Pacquiao fight.
If the fight doesn’t go through and they don’t come to terms then Arum has already has two guys lined up for Manny Pacquiao they are Paulie Malignaggi and 154 pound champion Yuri Foreman and they are two guys no one wants to see Pacquiao fight basically hand picked opponents once again and with no punching power.
Here is my list of the 5 fighters today that have a good shot at beating Manny Pacquiao if the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight doesn’t happen.
Here it goes:
5. Nate Campbell (33-5-25-1)- Nate Campbell was avoided like the plague by Pacquiaos team when Manny went up to look for a title at 135 pound lightweight division, instead of fighting Nate Campbell or another slick boxer like Joan Guzman they chose the slow methodical paper champion David Diaz for his WBC belt. David Diaz was getting beat up by a super old washed up Erik Morales and got the gift decision in that fight. Nate Campbell is an oldschool throwback fighter he has a great chin and some underrated power. He is a crafty old fox that would out fox Pacquiao at 135 or 140 if Pacquiao decides to go back down in weight instead of facing guys at catch weights.
4. Sugar Shane Mosley (46-5-39) – Shane Mosley is the true welterweight king, he destroyed the man who beat the man in Antonio Margarito. Mosley knocked out a Margarito who was convicted of trying to use plaster leading up to the fight. Mosley is another old throwback fighter who would out muscle and out power Pacquiao and take all of Pacman’s best shots and probably knock Pacquiao out if Pacquiao decided to trade with him. Freddie Roach said himself that Mosley is too dangerous and he would only let Manny face him if Mosley drained himself to 142 pounds which is very typical trend in the Pacquiao camp, make the guys come down in weight or face them when they look weak.
3. Edwin Valero (26-0-26)-This is one tough undefeated Venezuelan who is willing to die in the ring and only wants to destroy his opponent. The man is more exciting than Manny Pacquiao and has more courage and power than Pacquiao. Valero has been chasing Pacquiao all over the place and even willing to fight him at any weight just to get a shot to knock out Pacman. Freddie Roach is smart not to allow Valero to face Pacquiao, Roach knows the Latino is too dangerous and a high risk fight. Not to mention that every single one of Valero’s fights have ended in a knockout or TKO.
2. Timothy Bradley (25-0-11)- The junior welterweight champion is my choice for fighter of the year 2009. He accomplished more than Pacquiao against prime dangerous fighters like Kendall Holt, Nate Campbell, and Lamont Petersen. Bradley would school Pacquiao with his speed and timing, Bradley was even willing to step up regardless of steroid blood tests and face Pacquiao in March. Pacquiao’s camp became silent and refused the offer. Timothy Bradley is one of the most complete boxers in the game he has faster hands and faster footwork than Pacquiao something Pacman has never faced in the ring before.
1. Paul Williams (28-1-27)- The 6 foot 2 inch modern day Henry Armstrong and most exciting boxer today is Paul “The Punisher” Williams. The man is so brave that he was even willing to fight Kelly Pavlik at 160 pounds and even had Pavlik pulling out of the fight several times and shaking in his boots. Williams notable wins are against Antonio Margarito, Sergio Martinez and Winky Wright. Paul Williams has been the most avoided boxer in the game today. If a fight between him and Manny Pacquiao happens at 147 , Pacquiao will not make it past the first round. Paul Williams would be on Manny Pacquiao like white on rice and not stop throwing punches in bunches on the small Filipino southpaw.
There you have it my list of the 5 fighters that could beat Manny Pacquiao should the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight falls through for good.
Source
I really hope that Bob Arum, Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao can drop their stubbornness and work in a sane manner tomorrow, when Arum and Golden Boy promotions CEO Richard Shaeffer who represents Floyd Mayweather Jr. go through mediation to help save the Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Manny Pacquiao fight.
If the fight doesn’t go through and they don’t come to terms then Arum has already has two guys lined up for Manny Pacquiao they are Paulie Malignaggi and 154 pound champion Yuri Foreman and they are two guys no one wants to see Pacquiao fight basically hand picked opponents once again and with no punching power.
Here is my list of the 5 fighters today that have a good shot at beating Manny Pacquiao if the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight doesn’t happen.
Here it goes:
5. Nate Campbell (33-5-25-1)- Nate Campbell was avoided like the plague by Pacquiaos team when Manny went up to look for a title at 135 pound lightweight division, instead of fighting Nate Campbell or another slick boxer like Joan Guzman they chose the slow methodical paper champion David Diaz for his WBC belt. David Diaz was getting beat up by a super old washed up Erik Morales and got the gift decision in that fight. Nate Campbell is an oldschool throwback fighter he has a great chin and some underrated power. He is a crafty old fox that would out fox Pacquiao at 135 or 140 if Pacquiao decides to go back down in weight instead of facing guys at catch weights.
4. Sugar Shane Mosley (46-5-39) – Shane Mosley is the true welterweight king, he destroyed the man who beat the man in Antonio Margarito. Mosley knocked out a Margarito who was convicted of trying to use plaster leading up to the fight. Mosley is another old throwback fighter who would out muscle and out power Pacquiao and take all of Pacman’s best shots and probably knock Pacquiao out if Pacquiao decided to trade with him. Freddie Roach said himself that Mosley is too dangerous and he would only let Manny face him if Mosley drained himself to 142 pounds which is very typical trend in the Pacquiao camp, make the guys come down in weight or face them when they look weak.
3. Edwin Valero (26-0-26)-This is one tough undefeated Venezuelan who is willing to die in the ring and only wants to destroy his opponent. The man is more exciting than Manny Pacquiao and has more courage and power than Pacquiao. Valero has been chasing Pacquiao all over the place and even willing to fight him at any weight just to get a shot to knock out Pacman. Freddie Roach is smart not to allow Valero to face Pacquiao, Roach knows the Latino is too dangerous and a high risk fight. Not to mention that every single one of Valero’s fights have ended in a knockout or TKO.
2. Timothy Bradley (25-0-11)- The junior welterweight champion is my choice for fighter of the year 2009. He accomplished more than Pacquiao against prime dangerous fighters like Kendall Holt, Nate Campbell, and Lamont Petersen. Bradley would school Pacquiao with his speed and timing, Bradley was even willing to step up regardless of steroid blood tests and face Pacquiao in March. Pacquiao’s camp became silent and refused the offer. Timothy Bradley is one of the most complete boxers in the game he has faster hands and faster footwork than Pacquiao something Pacman has never faced in the ring before.
1. Paul Williams (28-1-27)- The 6 foot 2 inch modern day Henry Armstrong and most exciting boxer today is Paul “The Punisher” Williams. The man is so brave that he was even willing to fight Kelly Pavlik at 160 pounds and even had Pavlik pulling out of the fight several times and shaking in his boots. Williams notable wins are against Antonio Margarito, Sergio Martinez and Winky Wright. Paul Williams has been the most avoided boxer in the game today. If a fight between him and Manny Pacquiao happens at 147 , Pacquiao will not make it past the first round. Paul Williams would be on Manny Pacquiao like white on rice and not stop throwing punches in bunches on the small Filipino southpaw.
There you have it my list of the 5 fighters that could beat Manny Pacquiao should the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight falls through for good.
Source
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Malignaggi Keeping Fingers Crossed For Pacquiao Clash
By Ryan Songalia
These past holidays were much happier for Paulie Malignaggi than last year's.
Not that Malignaggi had trouble buying gifts for anyone on his list in 2008. Quite the contrary, as he was coming off the biggest payday of his career against Ricky Hatton. The Brooklynite was full on cash but low on pride.
You just can’t put a price tag on some things.
After being thoroughly outclassed and stopped in 11 rounds by Hatton a day before his 28th birthday, Malignaggi was faced with a number of tough decisions regarding his future as a prizefighter.
"I had made a very good payday with Hatton so I knew if I made the right investments with that money I could go on without fighting," says the former IBF junior welterweight champion Malignaggi, 27-3 (5 KO).
"My mind is in a much better place this year than it was last year. Last year I was wondering if my career was gonna go on and if it was gonna go on would I be an opponent or get to where I want to be. I had a lot of question marks and decisions to make. It was really stressful.
"I have a lot of opportunities on the horizon now."
Malignaggi's poor performance against Hatton left him on the verge of becoming a high-profile gatekeeper. His first major assignment following the Hatton fight saw him head to Juan Diaz's hometown of Houston last summer, conceding a weight limit of 138.5 and a smaller ring.
Read more...
These past holidays were much happier for Paulie Malignaggi than last year's.
Not that Malignaggi had trouble buying gifts for anyone on his list in 2008. Quite the contrary, as he was coming off the biggest payday of his career against Ricky Hatton. The Brooklynite was full on cash but low on pride.
You just can’t put a price tag on some things.
After being thoroughly outclassed and stopped in 11 rounds by Hatton a day before his 28th birthday, Malignaggi was faced with a number of tough decisions regarding his future as a prizefighter.
"I had made a very good payday with Hatton so I knew if I made the right investments with that money I could go on without fighting," says the former IBF junior welterweight champion Malignaggi, 27-3 (5 KO).
"My mind is in a much better place this year than it was last year. Last year I was wondering if my career was gonna go on and if it was gonna go on would I be an opponent or get to where I want to be. I had a lot of question marks and decisions to make. It was really stressful.
"I have a lot of opportunities on the horizon now."
Malignaggi's poor performance against Hatton left him on the verge of becoming a high-profile gatekeeper. His first major assignment following the Hatton fight saw him head to Juan Diaz's hometown of Houston last summer, conceding a weight limit of 138.5 and a smaller ring.
Read more...
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Manny Pacquiao may go Roberto Duran on Mayweather
by Glenn Wilson
Everybody has that one little kid in their neighborhood that feels compelled to run his mouth to everyone else, including mouthing off to the adults. It is usually that same kid that you see routinely aggravating your fenced in dog. When you finally confront the boy he lets you know that he isn't scared of your dog. Of course not, the dog is in a fence. But suppose I open the fence, my money is going to be on the dog in a fair fight.
But the boy continues running his mouth, disrespecting you and your dog. And as he walks away all you can think is, "one day that dog will get loose and then heaven help you."
Much has been my thought process every since we found out that the Manny Pacquiao-Bob Arum phone call showed Manny in a new light. The angry Manny. The Manny that has been waiting to get out.
It got me thinking, what fighter would the angry Manny fight like. It was simple, my boxing idol, Roberto Duran. Not the Duran of later years, but the 135 pound Duran who was considered one of the best fighters of all time. Also, possibly the one who most enjoyed inflicting pain on opponents.
What made Duran different was the shear hatred that he had for opponents. After stopping Ray Lampkin and sending him to the hospital, Roberto replied, "Next time, I'll put him in the morgue."
This was a man that even Mike Tyson idolized.
Read more...
Everybody has that one little kid in their neighborhood that feels compelled to run his mouth to everyone else, including mouthing off to the adults. It is usually that same kid that you see routinely aggravating your fenced in dog. When you finally confront the boy he lets you know that he isn't scared of your dog. Of course not, the dog is in a fence. But suppose I open the fence, my money is going to be on the dog in a fair fight.
But the boy continues running his mouth, disrespecting you and your dog. And as he walks away all you can think is, "one day that dog will get loose and then heaven help you."
Much has been my thought process every since we found out that the Manny Pacquiao-Bob Arum phone call showed Manny in a new light. The angry Manny. The Manny that has been waiting to get out.
It got me thinking, what fighter would the angry Manny fight like. It was simple, my boxing idol, Roberto Duran. Not the Duran of later years, but the 135 pound Duran who was considered one of the best fighters of all time. Also, possibly the one who most enjoyed inflicting pain on opponents.
What made Duran different was the shear hatred that he had for opponents. After stopping Ray Lampkin and sending him to the hospital, Roberto replied, "Next time, I'll put him in the morgue."
This was a man that even Mike Tyson idolized.
Read more...
Friday, January 8, 2010
Manny Pacquiao destroys career without random blood tests
by Michael Marley
He’s been in the foxhole fighting alongside Manny Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum.
Butch Lewis, the Svengali who got light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks $13.5 million for a 1987 one round KO loss to then dominating Mike Tyson, was a Top Rank VP many years ago.
Later, he fought against Arum on various fronts.
Lewis also had a brief but explosive promotional partnership with the legendary Arum archrival Don King. Their short-lived company was known as Dynamic Duo.
He also adroitly handled the talented but not dedicated Neon Leon Spinks.
So Lewis, now mainly a music business honcho who pals around with BET founder Bob Johnson and actor Denzel Washington, knows the ins and outs of the boxing boardroom.
Or, as Lewis would put it, he’s been “down in the trenches.”
Lewis said Monday that he thinks the embattled Arum is fighting on two sides in the twisting saga of making or not making the Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather mega bout.
Read more...
He’s been in the foxhole fighting alongside Manny Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum.
Butch Lewis, the Svengali who got light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks $13.5 million for a 1987 one round KO loss to then dominating Mike Tyson, was a Top Rank VP many years ago.
Later, he fought against Arum on various fronts.
Lewis also had a brief but explosive promotional partnership with the legendary Arum archrival Don King. Their short-lived company was known as Dynamic Duo.
He also adroitly handled the talented but not dedicated Neon Leon Spinks.
So Lewis, now mainly a music business honcho who pals around with BET founder Bob Johnson and actor Denzel Washington, knows the ins and outs of the boxing boardroom.
Or, as Lewis would put it, he’s been “down in the trenches.”
Lewis said Monday that he thinks the embattled Arum is fighting on two sides in the twisting saga of making or not making the Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather mega bout.
Read more...
Thursday, January 7, 2010
2009 Year in review starring Pacquiao, Cotto and Mosley Part 2
by Glenn Wilson
The yearly publications continue to announce their best of and reviews for 2009. And we will do the same as we recap the year that was 2009. We will continue to look back at the fights and events that made 2009 so special. So here are a few of the events and fights that took place between July and December.
July
1st- The great Alexis Arguello is found dead of an apparently self inflicted gun shot wound. The hall of famer was known as much for his kindness and sportsmanship as he was for his incredible ring accomplishments. He will also be remembered for the war he had with Aaron Pryor in their first fight. A fight many recognize as one of boxing's best ever.
11th- Joseph Agbeko beats Vic Darchinyan by a 12 round unanimous decision to retain his IBF bantamweight crown.
11th- IBF cruiserweight titlist Tomasz Adamek defends his title with a 4th round kayo of outgunned Bobby Gunn.
11th- Fan favorite Arturo Gatti is found dead in a Brazilian hotel. Gatti's wife is intially charged with murder, but authorities later reversed their findings and say Arturo commited suicide. Family and friends say that Gatti would never have taken his own life and are pursuing other avenues to reverse the Brazilian government's findings.
14th- Showtime announces the formation of it's Super Six super middleweight tournament. The network mysteriously decides not to invite three of the top seven super middleweights in the world.
15th- Former heavyweight Ken Norton receives a statue of himself in his birthplace of Jacksonville, Illinois. It is located in front of the Pathway Service United building. The company helps the developmentally disabled.
25th- Former welterweight and junior middleweight champion Vernon Forrest is shot and killed during a robbery attempt. Vernon was considered one of the real good guys in boxing and helped start Destiny's Child. An organization that helped mentally challenged adults.
July- Former Miguel Cotto trainer, Evangelista Cotto, sues his nephew for torturous acts. The two had been at odds for years and the feud came to a boiling point when Miguel fired his uncle.
July- Former junior lightweight champion Rocky Lockridge is reported to be homeless and living on the streets of Camden, New Jersey for the last ten years.
Read more...
The yearly publications continue to announce their best of and reviews for 2009. And we will do the same as we recap the year that was 2009. We will continue to look back at the fights and events that made 2009 so special. So here are a few of the events and fights that took place between July and December.
July
1st- The great Alexis Arguello is found dead of an apparently self inflicted gun shot wound. The hall of famer was known as much for his kindness and sportsmanship as he was for his incredible ring accomplishments. He will also be remembered for the war he had with Aaron Pryor in their first fight. A fight many recognize as one of boxing's best ever.
11th- Joseph Agbeko beats Vic Darchinyan by a 12 round unanimous decision to retain his IBF bantamweight crown.
11th- IBF cruiserweight titlist Tomasz Adamek defends his title with a 4th round kayo of outgunned Bobby Gunn.
11th- Fan favorite Arturo Gatti is found dead in a Brazilian hotel. Gatti's wife is intially charged with murder, but authorities later reversed their findings and say Arturo commited suicide. Family and friends say that Gatti would never have taken his own life and are pursuing other avenues to reverse the Brazilian government's findings.
14th- Showtime announces the formation of it's Super Six super middleweight tournament. The network mysteriously decides not to invite three of the top seven super middleweights in the world.
15th- Former heavyweight Ken Norton receives a statue of himself in his birthplace of Jacksonville, Illinois. It is located in front of the Pathway Service United building. The company helps the developmentally disabled.
25th- Former welterweight and junior middleweight champion Vernon Forrest is shot and killed during a robbery attempt. Vernon was considered one of the real good guys in boxing and helped start Destiny's Child. An organization that helped mentally challenged adults.
July- Former Miguel Cotto trainer, Evangelista Cotto, sues his nephew for torturous acts. The two had been at odds for years and the feud came to a boiling point when Miguel fired his uncle.
July- Former junior lightweight champion Rocky Lockridge is reported to be homeless and living on the streets of Camden, New Jersey for the last ten years.
Read more...
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
2009 Year in review starring Pacquiao, Mosley and Cotto, Part 1
by Glenn Wilson
The media and the sports publications are announcing their 2009 best of awards. They are reminding us of the reason our sport is so great. But sometimes some of the things that made the year so great are lost or forgotten.
The year passes quickly so here are some of the events that you may remember or possibly forgot about in 2009. Included are some of the upsets, slugfests and mega fights of the first half of 2009.
January
10th Karoly Balzsay wins a 12 round decision over Denis Inkin to win the WBO super middleweight title.
17th Andre Berto and Luis Collazo put on one of the best fights of the year. Each man is hurt during the fight. Berto holds on to win a decision.
19th Jose Torres dies of a heart attack at the age of 72. Torres was the former light heavyweight champion who was inducted into the hall of fame in 1997. As an author he wrote biographies on Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. Truely one of boxing's class acts.
24th Shane Mosley stops Antonio Margarito in a huge upset. The fight was proceeded by Team Mosley finding Margarito wearing illegal handwraps before the bout. Margarito was subsequently suspended for one year.
30th Former heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson dies of Alzheimers at the age of 76.
February
5th Legendary cutman Chuck Bodak dies at the age of 92. Bodak worked with Muhammad Ali, Julio Caesar Chavez, Thomas Hearns and Evander Holyfield. to name a few.
7th Vic Darchinyan stops Jorge Arce in 11 rounds. Arce's trainer didn't help matters by not knowing how to fight a southpaw. Arce was continually going to his right which put him right in the line of fire as Darchinyan constantly landed straight lefts.
Read more...
The media and the sports publications are announcing their 2009 best of awards. They are reminding us of the reason our sport is so great. But sometimes some of the things that made the year so great are lost or forgotten.
The year passes quickly so here are some of the events that you may remember or possibly forgot about in 2009. Included are some of the upsets, slugfests and mega fights of the first half of 2009.
January
10th Karoly Balzsay wins a 12 round decision over Denis Inkin to win the WBO super middleweight title.
17th Andre Berto and Luis Collazo put on one of the best fights of the year. Each man is hurt during the fight. Berto holds on to win a decision.
19th Jose Torres dies of a heart attack at the age of 72. Torres was the former light heavyweight champion who was inducted into the hall of fame in 1997. As an author he wrote biographies on Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson. Truely one of boxing's class acts.
24th Shane Mosley stops Antonio Margarito in a huge upset. The fight was proceeded by Team Mosley finding Margarito wearing illegal handwraps before the bout. Margarito was subsequently suspended for one year.
30th Former heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson dies of Alzheimers at the age of 76.
February
5th Legendary cutman Chuck Bodak dies at the age of 92. Bodak worked with Muhammad Ali, Julio Caesar Chavez, Thomas Hearns and Evander Holyfield. to name a few.
7th Vic Darchinyan stops Jorge Arce in 11 rounds. Arce's trainer didn't help matters by not knowing how to fight a southpaw. Arce was continually going to his right which put him right in the line of fire as Darchinyan constantly landed straight lefts.
Read more...
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Roach defends ‘clean’ Pacquiao
Steve Luckings and Ahmed Rizvi
The trainer of seven-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao has slammed what he called “railroading” tactics by the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr and insisted in the strongest possible terms that his charge is “clean” after rumours surfaced he had used performance-enhancing drugs.
The message emanating from inside Mayweather’s camp yesterday was that they were prepared to walk away from what could be the richest fight in history unless the Filipino pugilist is prepared to bow to their demands of Olympic-standard drug testing in the weeks leading up to the bout.
“My fighter is clean, I have trouble giving Manny protein shakes and vitamins, let alone steroids,” fumed Roach. “He will pass the drug test, because my fighter is clean. We never flunked a urine test, and there is no reason to think my fighter is dirty.”
Mayweather’s camp claim the “Pac Man” is uneasy about having to have his blood tested within 30 days of a bout because of personal superstitions, while Mayweather’s trainer and father, Floyd Sr, said he suspected after Pacquiao’s last bout, in which he beat Miguel Cotto, that the WBO and IBF middleweight champion was using performance-enhancing drugs to move up weight classes and still retain his devastating speed and power.
However, Roach, who has been in Pacquiao’s corner since he first walked through the doors of his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles in 2001, dismissed the American’s tactics and accused Mayweather of looking for a way out of the fight.
He defended Pacquiao’s integrity and clean record and said they would abide by the rules of the boxing authorities in the build up to any fight, not the whim of Mayweather, who returned to the ring in September after a 21-month lay-off to defeat the Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
“This guy [Mayweather] isn’t going to walk all over us, he’s not railroading us.
This is b*******, we will go by the rules of the commission, and that’s it. We’ll go on to other things, and he can make no money fighting some bum.
“We have passed every test ever given to us. We go by the commission rules, not any rule Mayweather puts out there.”
Boxing fans will hope that the latest spat is simply a case of tit-for-tat in negotiating the finer details of a fight that would easily be the biggest this century, with both fighters estimated to net around US$25 million (Dh91m).
A deal was widely expected to be agreed this week with an official announcement coming early in the new year about a possible March date for the titanic battle.
However, neither fighter has signed a formal contract and there have been disputes between representatives of the two fighters ever since Mayweather’s promoter pulled out at the last minute of a trip to Texas, where Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was to make a proposal to host the bout.
But Mayweather’s promoter, Richard Schaefer, said other issues around the fight are settled and all that is left to be agreed is the blood testing issue.
“The good news is we have agreed on all the other points,” he said. “Depending on what Manny Pacquiao decides to do we either have a fight or we don’t have a fight.”
Should a compromise be reached it will be more than just Pacquiao’s belts on the line. The mythical, and in some quarters, more lauded, pound-for-pound title will also be up for grabs. Opinion is split right down the middle on which fighter holds the folkloric mantle, and unless both can find a way around the latest impasse, it may never be known.
Pacquiao has never failed a post-fight urine test in Nevada, including his last fight when he stopped Cotto. Mayweather has also passed urine tests in the state.
Fighters, though, are not routinely tested before bouts for performance-enhancing drugs, and there are no blood tests done for those drugs.
Source
The trainer of seven-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao has slammed what he called “railroading” tactics by the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr and insisted in the strongest possible terms that his charge is “clean” after rumours surfaced he had used performance-enhancing drugs.
The message emanating from inside Mayweather’s camp yesterday was that they were prepared to walk away from what could be the richest fight in history unless the Filipino pugilist is prepared to bow to their demands of Olympic-standard drug testing in the weeks leading up to the bout.
“My fighter is clean, I have trouble giving Manny protein shakes and vitamins, let alone steroids,” fumed Roach. “He will pass the drug test, because my fighter is clean. We never flunked a urine test, and there is no reason to think my fighter is dirty.”
Mayweather’s camp claim the “Pac Man” is uneasy about having to have his blood tested within 30 days of a bout because of personal superstitions, while Mayweather’s trainer and father, Floyd Sr, said he suspected after Pacquiao’s last bout, in which he beat Miguel Cotto, that the WBO and IBF middleweight champion was using performance-enhancing drugs to move up weight classes and still retain his devastating speed and power.
However, Roach, who has been in Pacquiao’s corner since he first walked through the doors of his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles in 2001, dismissed the American’s tactics and accused Mayweather of looking for a way out of the fight.
He defended Pacquiao’s integrity and clean record and said they would abide by the rules of the boxing authorities in the build up to any fight, not the whim of Mayweather, who returned to the ring in September after a 21-month lay-off to defeat the Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
“This guy [Mayweather] isn’t going to walk all over us, he’s not railroading us.
This is b*******, we will go by the rules of the commission, and that’s it. We’ll go on to other things, and he can make no money fighting some bum.
“We have passed every test ever given to us. We go by the commission rules, not any rule Mayweather puts out there.”
Boxing fans will hope that the latest spat is simply a case of tit-for-tat in negotiating the finer details of a fight that would easily be the biggest this century, with both fighters estimated to net around US$25 million (Dh91m).
A deal was widely expected to be agreed this week with an official announcement coming early in the new year about a possible March date for the titanic battle.
However, neither fighter has signed a formal contract and there have been disputes between representatives of the two fighters ever since Mayweather’s promoter pulled out at the last minute of a trip to Texas, where Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was to make a proposal to host the bout.
But Mayweather’s promoter, Richard Schaefer, said other issues around the fight are settled and all that is left to be agreed is the blood testing issue.
“The good news is we have agreed on all the other points,” he said. “Depending on what Manny Pacquiao decides to do we either have a fight or we don’t have a fight.”
Should a compromise be reached it will be more than just Pacquiao’s belts on the line. The mythical, and in some quarters, more lauded, pound-for-pound title will also be up for grabs. Opinion is split right down the middle on which fighter holds the folkloric mantle, and unless both can find a way around the latest impasse, it may never be known.
Pacquiao has never failed a post-fight urine test in Nevada, including his last fight when he stopped Cotto. Mayweather has also passed urine tests in the state.
Fighters, though, are not routinely tested before bouts for performance-enhancing drugs, and there are no blood tests done for those drugs.
Source
Friday, January 1, 2010
Roach wants Khan as Manny sparmate
By Abac Cordero
MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach, wanting to give Manny Pacquiao the best training for his blockbuster fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year, has lined up a couple of topnotch fighters who will serve as the Filipino boxing icon’s sparring partners in his build-up for their March 13 duel.
Roach said he wants Amir Khan, the reigning WBA light-welterweight champion, as their main man in sparring, whether or not Pacquiao trains in Baguio City for a month or stays in Los Angeles the whole time.
Roach is also looking at Tim Bradley to be part of the training team.
Someone close to Pacquiao yesterday said he’d heard of plans for Pacquiao to skip Baguio and train at the Wild Card Gym in LA for seven weeks and move over to Las Vegas on the week of the fight.
“Other than Amir Khan as Pacquiao’s main sparring partner, I like to include Timothy Bradley in my list,” Roach told philboxing,com.
Khan, who won the silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics when he was just 17, is 5-feet-10 and can give Pacquiao a lot in sparring, while Bradley, the top contender at 140 lb, is 5’6” and has the orthodox stance of Mayweather.
Roach thinks these two boxers will be very instrumental as he prepares Pacquiao for the biggest fight of the decade.
“And I have the keys to break down Mayweather even in the earlier rounds. Mayweather will have no more excuses. We’ll catch him early, if not it’s going to be Pacquiao by unanimous decision,” Roach was quoted as saying.
“Pacquiao will strike on at unexpected angles that Mayweather will become frozen from taking too many shots.”
Meanwhile, except for the formal announcement, everything seems to be in place for Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao will stake his WBO welterweight title he won over Puerto Rican champion Miguel Cotto last month at 147 lb. Both boxers will use 8-ounce gloves, and have agreed to random drug testing in the weeks leading to the fight.
Bob Arum of Top Rank, for Pacquiao, and Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy, for Mayweather, are expected to make an announcement on Monday regarding some fight details although the formal press conference takes place Jan. 6 in New York.
Reports said both fighters have agreed to an even 50-50 split and could end up with close to $40 million each in the bank after the fight, whatever happens, whoever wins.
Source
MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach, wanting to give Manny Pacquiao the best training for his blockbuster fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year, has lined up a couple of topnotch fighters who will serve as the Filipino boxing icon’s sparring partners in his build-up for their March 13 duel.
Roach said he wants Amir Khan, the reigning WBA light-welterweight champion, as their main man in sparring, whether or not Pacquiao trains in Baguio City for a month or stays in Los Angeles the whole time.
Roach is also looking at Tim Bradley to be part of the training team.
Someone close to Pacquiao yesterday said he’d heard of plans for Pacquiao to skip Baguio and train at the Wild Card Gym in LA for seven weeks and move over to Las Vegas on the week of the fight.
“Other than Amir Khan as Pacquiao’s main sparring partner, I like to include Timothy Bradley in my list,” Roach told philboxing,com.
Khan, who won the silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics when he was just 17, is 5-feet-10 and can give Pacquiao a lot in sparring, while Bradley, the top contender at 140 lb, is 5’6” and has the orthodox stance of Mayweather.
Roach thinks these two boxers will be very instrumental as he prepares Pacquiao for the biggest fight of the decade.
“And I have the keys to break down Mayweather even in the earlier rounds. Mayweather will have no more excuses. We’ll catch him early, if not it’s going to be Pacquiao by unanimous decision,” Roach was quoted as saying.
“Pacquiao will strike on at unexpected angles that Mayweather will become frozen from taking too many shots.”
Meanwhile, except for the formal announcement, everything seems to be in place for Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao will stake his WBO welterweight title he won over Puerto Rican champion Miguel Cotto last month at 147 lb. Both boxers will use 8-ounce gloves, and have agreed to random drug testing in the weeks leading to the fight.
Bob Arum of Top Rank, for Pacquiao, and Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy, for Mayweather, are expected to make an announcement on Monday regarding some fight details although the formal press conference takes place Jan. 6 in New York.
Reports said both fighters have agreed to an even 50-50 split and could end up with close to $40 million each in the bank after the fight, whatever happens, whoever wins.
Source
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