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...
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