Pacquiao laughing, but should he be worried?
Posted on | February 22, 2012 | No Comments
BEVERLY HILLS – Three times they stood face to face, for the classic staredown, the type of thing that made you call the National Guard whenever Mike Tyson or James Toney was involved.
Three times they couldn’t finish it.
Either Manny Pacquiao or Tim Bradley would turn away laughing.
The photographers gathered at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Tuesday, wanting something confrontational to advertise the June 9 fight in Las Vegas, but eventually Pacquiao took a camera and started shooting them.
You rarely find Little League coaches that seemed more simpatico than Pacquiao and Bradley.
From one angle, it was a fine, civil moment for boxing.
From Freddie Roach’s angle, it was sand between the teeth.
“Manny’s very religious and he says God doesn’t want him to hurt people,” said Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer. “That’s fine, but one punch can change a fight. So let’s go ahead and knock him out. Bradley is not the type who will be your friend in there.”
But then Roach remembers being worried about Pacquiao’s friends.
After that laborious victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in November, almost everything needs attention, particularly when Pacquiao is 33, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. is headed for a prison cell, and there are hardly any guarantees the two will fight when Mayweather gets out.
If Pacquiao and Mayweather staged a staredown, you might need pepper spray. That one is personal. Every other fight sends Pacquiao on a scavenger hunt, for motivation.
“There comes a time when people become so big,” promoter Bob Arum said. “I’ve seen it with Muahmmad Ali. They become distracted and they don’t perform like they did when they were younger and hungrier.”
Condtioning coach Alex Ariza was upset when Pacquiao strayed from the program before Marquez.
“We have to focus on strength and conditioning,” Ariza said. “We can’t rely on hard work in the gym and hoping that strength just piggybacks on that. We had two fights (Shane Mosley and Marquez) that shouldn’t have been difficult
source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/pacquiao-341353-fight-mayweather.html
Pacquiao vs MarquezMarquez and Donaire on Potential Big Show on July 14th
Posted on | February 22, 2012 | No Comments
By Rick Reeno
According to several sources who spoke to BoxingScene.com, Top Rank is considering a potential “Mexico vs. Philippines” theme for July 14th at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The date was initially reserved for a junior welterweight bout between Juan Manuel Marquez and IBF/WBA champion Lamont Peterson. Those plans were scrapped when Peterson finalized a deal to fight Amir Khan in a rematch on May 19th at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Based on the recent discussions, Marquez (53-6, 39KOs) would still be the headliner. The opponent is unknown at the moment. However, based on the event’s ”Mexico vs. Philippines” theme, Marquez defending his lightweight titles against Top Rank’s undefeated Filipino Mercito Gesta (24-0, 12KOs) would be a possible option to explore, in my opinion.
Also being discussed for the card, Donaire (28-01, 18KOs) would make the first defense of his WBO super bantamweight title. Donaire was being positioned to return on June 16, but now the July date is more likely. The opponent being considered is Victor Terrazas (32-2-1, 18KOs), who last year defeated veterans Nehomar Cermeno and Fernando Montiel.
Another possible undercard addition is WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria (30-3, 17KOs).
Obviously the venue would be scaled down accordingly. And, all of these ideas could change ten times over in the next couple of weeks.
Tags: Juan Manuel Marquez 
, Nonito Donaire , Victor Terrazas , Mercito Gesta , Brian Viloria , Donaire-Terrazas , Donaire vs Terrazas
source: http://www.boxingscene.com/marquez-donaire-on-potential-big-show-on-july-14th--49795
Pacquiao vs MarquezManny Pacquiao declined £25.5m offer to fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr
Posted on | February 22, 2012 | No Comments
By
Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 10:56 AM on 22nd February 2012
Manny Pacquiao has revealed he turned down a £25.5million offer to fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr as he would have been denied any of the pay-per–view cash.
The PacMan declined the mammoth purse but the hugely anticipated fight between the world’s No 1 and No 2 pound-for-pound ranked boxers would net £95.5m from the PPV rights alone.
The Filipino congressman cannot agree to terms that will see his opponent take such a huge chunk from the richest fight in history and wants all money to be split down the middle.
Straight talking: Pacquiao declined a big pay day to fight Mayweather
Pacquiao said: ‘I was in the Philippines, and I told him, “We need to make this fight happen”.
‘I said I would agree to a 50-50 (split), and he said, “Oh, I’ll give you a £25.5m guarantee, and no pay-per-view. I’ll take all the pay-per-view.
‘I don’t accept that offer. It’s kind of embarrassing to me. It’s trying to take advantage of me. He doesn’t want to fight.’
Pacquiao is preparing for his welterweight bout with Timothy Bradley Jr on June 6 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, but talk of the Mayweather clash is never far from boxing fan’s minds.
But the defending champ says he is happy to confront Bradley who faces losing his unbeaten record (28-0, 12 KOs) later this summer.
Cheese! Pacquiao takes snaps of Bradley before they view the results (below)
‘I’m willing to fight Mayweather,’ Pacquiao said. ‘But I have to fight the guys who are hungry to fight me. Timothy Bradley is strong, and he can punch. He’s a good boxer, so it’s a challenge to fight a guy like that.’
Bradley and Pacquiao exchanged jokes during the press conference in Beverley Hills but the challenger is hoping to cause a major upset and end the champion’s reign at the top of the sport.
Bardley said: ‘Pacquiao is probably the best fighter in the history of boxing.
‘He’s a great role model, a great guy, but Manny Pacquiao has reigned for a long time, and I really feel like I’m the new face of boxing.’
Pacquiao’s longtime trainer Freddie Roach added: ‘It’s nice to be fighting a fighter who is undefeated and not worried about losing that zero on his record.’
Belt up: Mayweather wanted to take the money from TV rights
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Didn’t get the memo? Hillary Clinton dons lime green shirt…
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‘Fighting Words’ – Reports of Demises Greatly Exaggerated
Posted on | February 21, 2012 | No Comments
by David P. Greisman
There are the boxers whose careers go on far too long, who take unnecessary punishment, whose risk to their health gets even greater even while the numbers in their paychecks get ever smaller.
And then there are the boxers whose careers need not be done yet — yet we proclaim them to be.
Miguel Cotto is not shot. Paul Williams does not need to retire. The reports of their demises were greatly exaggerated. Cotto is earning millions of dollars in what will be one of the year’s biggest events, a May 5 pay-per-view main event against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Paul Williams, meanwhile, just put on a good performance this past Saturday, winning a unanimous decision over Nobuhiro Ishida, shutting his challenger out across the board, 120-108 on all three scorecards.
Williams’ previous fight — a majority decision victory over Erislandy Lara — wasn’t even over before the HBO commentators calling the bout were also calling for him to retire.
Those commentators watched as Lara socked Williams with clean, hard left hand after clean, hard left hand, the same shot that Sergio Martinez had caught Williams with again and again in December 2009, and the same shot that Martinez knocked Williams out with in November 2010.
To continue to fight on was to continue to be in danger, some people said. Williams should quit now, they said, before it is too late.
People weren’t necessarily worrying about Cotto because of susceptibility to a single shot — he was being worried about because of the accumulation after all his action.
He had always been an action-friendly fighter, even if being action-friendly in the ring isn’t necessarily friendly to the fighter’s health later. There had been the punches taken in tough fights he won, but most worrisome were the shots suffered in his two losses, extended beatings at the hands of Antonio Margarito in July 2008 and Manny Pacquiao in November 2009.
This is what we do in boxing. We are fans of the sport yet choose to dedicate most of our attention only to those we feel are most deserving. And those we feel are the most deserving are those we feel still matter.
So we look at prospects and contenders and decide whether they have potential or whether they are over-hyped frauds. We use hindsight on world titleholders and label them as never being that good. We wait for anyone in the spotlight to be exposed and shoved off the stage.
Nearly every fighter will reach his limit. Nearly every fighter will be defeated, decline and then disappear.
Every fighter has his time. That time isn’t here yet for Cotto and Williams.
Williams return came seven months after the Lara fight, a win that most observers saw as an unjust verdict, a robbery in a bout that clearly seemed like it should’ve been found in Lara’s favor. In Ishida he was facing a foe of nearly the same dimensions, someone who
source: http://www.boxingscene.com/fighting-words-reports-demises-greatly-exaggerated--49773
Pacquiao vs MarquezNonito Donaire News: Juan Manuel Marquez Co-Feature At Cowboys Stadium In The Mix
Posted on | February 21, 2012 | No Comments
After clearing up issues surrounding a potential hand fracture, super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire is closing in on his next fight. Initial plans had him planning a June 16 fight against an undetermined opponent. That could now be changing to a July 14 co-feature with Juan Manuel Marquez at Cowboys Stadium. Top Rank Boxing is reportedly looking at a possible “Mexico vs. Philippines” theme show.
Jorge Arce was originally planned as Donaire’s next opponent, but Arce is apparently out of the picture until at least the fall. In the name of the “Mexico vs. Philippines” theme, Donaire would potentially defend his WBO super bantamweight title against Victor Terrazas. While Terrazas is not a top contender, he has won seven straight fights, most recently a unanimous decision over Fernando Montiel in a bit of an upset.
If this type of show does not pan out, Donaire could end up fighting top super bantamweight Toshiaki Nishioka. There is an agreement in principle for such a fight, but the timing on it remains to be seen. Bad Left Hook also pointed to Guillermo Rigondeaux as a potential opponent if Nishioka and Arce fall through.
Pacquiao vs MarquezPacquiao: Religion could lead to retirement after next fight
Posted on | February 21, 2012 | No Comments
Will it be the final fight of his brilliant career?
Pacquiao isn’t sure.
“Maybe, but I’m not saying (Bradley) is the last fight,” the 33-year-old Filipino fighter and congressman said by phone Monday. “Maybe I can fight one more. I don’t know.”
One thing seems to be sure, though. Pacquiao, who has always had strong religious convictions, is moving away from the sport and closer to the Catholic Church, which recently named him as an ambassador.
Asked about it, Pacquiao said, “That’s what they say … and I’m happy for that. I will give inspiration and encourage people to read the Bible.”
The Bible has become a much bigger part of Pacquiao’s life recently, and he and his wife, Jinkee, are making it a daily habit. “We need to read the Bible because it’s a manual for your life,” Pacquiao said. “It’s how we enter the kingdom of God.”
Pacquiao has divested himself of his vices, including his vast cockfighting operation — which once had more than 1,000 birds — shut down his restaurant and bar, dropped his ownership in a Manila casino and pledged to the Catholic Church to give up his other vices.
“I have a casino and sold it, and all my roosters, stopped drinking alcohol and everything that’s not good for following the commandments of God,” he said.
Pacquiao said in an interview in the Philippines recently that he realized he was weak before, “and if I had died, I believe my soul would have ended in hell.”
Pacquiao believes boxing does not fit in with his religious lifestyle. “Boxing, for me, hitting each other is not good,” he said Monday. “So I was thinking I’m not going to stay long in boxing.”
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said Monday that he had heard stories about Pacquiao’s lifestyle changes and had concerns about the champion’s boxing future.
“I haven’t seen Manny yet, but I know he’s got a very strong faith in God,” said Roach, who has trained Pacquiao for more than a decade. “But I haven’t seen him, so I haven’t seen any changes or anything like that.
“We’ll get ready for the fight. If it’s not there, it’s not there, and I’ll probably tell him to retire.”
Roach, however, says some of the changes in Pacquiao’s life might be a good thing.
“Getting rid of some of those things in his life could be a blessing,” Roach said. “Too many distractions is not good, so the fewer distractions, the better off he will be.
“Hopefully he’ll pick some better friends there, too.”
There were a number of critics following Pacquiao’s majority decision victory against Juan Manuel Marquez in November who believed Pacman might be slowing down and was not the force he had been in previous fights.
Pacquiao said there were reasons for his less-than-scintillating showing.
“Not all fights you can win easily,” he said. “Marquez is a good
source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/story/2012-02-20/manny-pacquiao-timothy-bradley-retirement/53181044/1
Pacquiao vs MarquezFive Reasons Why Manny Pacquiao & Floyd Mayweather May Never Fight
Posted on | February 20, 2012 | No Comments
It’s the only mass appeal mainstream fight out there in boxing, yet Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather may never get in the ring with one another. As time passes, as their careers wind down, and the skill level of the two future Hall of Fame fighters gradually erodes, it’s becoming more and more apparent that Pacquiao and Mayweather may never meet in the ring.
Here are five reasons why fight fans and sports fans alike may never see Pac-Man and Money May meet.
5. Mayweather’s fear of jeopardizing his undefeated record
Money nuthugs that ‘0’ on his record so dearly you would think he sleeps with it. At one time in his career, Mayweather was willing to take on anyone. In 2001, Mayweather destroyed the late Diego Corrales, pounded Carlos Hernandez and ran over Jesus Chavez. The trio had a combined record of 101-3-1, and were very live opponents, especially Corrales.
In 1998, Mayweather, just 17 fights into his pro career, beat the late, great Genaro Hernandez and followed that up by defeating Angel Manfredy. Again, two exceptional fighters at the time who were capable of beating Mayweather. He now seems to be carrying the Roy Jones career playbook, which states: Tease the public with name fighters at or near the end of their careers and cash in.
The last time Floyd Mayweather faced any risk was against Jose Luis Castillo.
Donald Miralle/Getty Images
Though still quite able to beat anyone in the world, Mayweather hasn’t fought anyone remotely close to their prime—and capable of beating him—since 2002 when he took on WBC lightweight world champion Jose Luis Castillo. During the last few years, his lineup card has been filled with fighters like De La Hoya, who was 3-4 in his last seven fights, and the shot Shane Mosley, who is 2-3-1 in his last six fights. Ricky Hatton was terribly exposed by Mayweather, Juan Manuel Marquez was severely outsized, and Victor Ortiz not mature enough to endure Mayweather’s heat.
Mayweather’s lost his thirst for the kill. He’s stopped just two of last seven opponents—one with his hands down trying to buddy up to him.
Mayweather has looked for every excuse conceivable in jeopardizing any real challenge like Pacquiao, though Money would probably easily beat Pac-Man. It’s too bad Money doesn’t believe it.
4. Pacquiao’s imminent retirement into politics
Freddy Roach, Pacquiao’s esteemed Hall of Fame trainer, once said, “Manny wants to be President of the Philippines. To him, that would be bigger, and better than anything he’s done in the ring. And he still has a lot to do.”
Manny Pacquiao sees his future in politics coming more into focus.
Jeoffrey Maitem/Getty Images
That was in 2008, after Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Marquez the second time.
The seed of Pacquiao’s political aspirations have certainly taken root. He’s a member of the Philippines House of Congress, and you could argue that his political commitments hurt his training for the last Marquez fight, where Pac-Man’s timing and endurance seemed off.
One thing is certain. Pacquiao
Pacquiao vs MarquezJuan Manuel Marquez’s Next Fight: April 21 in Mexico, Cesar Cuenca Likely Opponent
Posted on | February 20, 2012 | No Comments
With David Diaz deciding he’s not up for an April fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, and may be ready to retire, Argentina’s Cesar Cuenca has emerged as the likely opponent, according to Sal Rodriguez.
Cuenca, 31, is a homebody who has never fought tough opposition while running up a record of 42-0…with one knockout win. Yes: 42-0 (1 KO). One. One knockout. It came in June 2005, over Andres Villafane.
Marquez is doing his best here, but, well:
“Going by his record, I believe that he’ll be difficult, a good boxer and fast. If he’s ranked in the first position [by the WBO], he must have done something.”
Marquez, 38, says that he doesn’t know anything about Cuenca and will be relying on YouTube to study him. To put it lightly, Marquez is not going to have any trouble with this guy at all. Even if you believe Cuenca is a legitimately good boxer, Marquez is a legitimately great boxer. Now take out any remote possibility that Cuenca can hurt Marquez, and what do you have?
Obviously this is just a tune-up fight meant to lead to something bigger, and Marquez is still hoping to face Manny Pacquiao again later this year, which could very well happen. He doesn’t want to risk something big, but he also doesn’t want to fall out of shape at his age. He’s saying this will be his final year in the sport, and he wants to go out with his head up.
Rodriguez says the fight is headed to Morelia, Chiapas or Cancun, rather than the originally rumored Mexico City, where Abner Mares will be facing Eric Morel on the same date, live on Showtime.
Pacquiao vs MarquezManny Pacquiao step aside please.
Posted on | February 20, 2012 | No Comments
(ThyBlackMan.com) Floyd Mayweather Sr. doesn’t see any problem with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao choosing to retire – if he does – after his June 9th fight against WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.
Mayweather Sr. thinks it might be the best thing for Manny Pacquiao to do this rather than sticking around and getting beat by his son Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather Sr. told examiner.com writer Chris Robinson “It ain’t have nothing to do with his heart…Don’t blame Manny Pacquiao if he doesn’t take it [the fight against Floyd Jr.]…If he doesn’t really want the cover pulled off of him, leave that fight alone.”
I agree with Floyd Sr. I think the best thing for Manny Pacquiao to do is hang up the gloves without fighting Mayweather Jr. because if he fights him, he’s going to get badly schooled by Mayweather. I have a feeling that Manny Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum suspects the same thing, because he sure didn’t seem excited about the prospects of putting Manny Pacquiao in with Mayweather after he learned that Mayweather Jr. wasn’t going to be starting his 90 day jail terms until June 1st.
It almost seemed like Arum wasn’t pleased by the news, because he didn’t get excited and continued to talk about putting Manny Pacquiao in with one of his four candidates that he had picked out for the Filipino star.
Manny Pacquiao recently hinted that he may be soon retiring in order to focus his energy in being a bible ambassador, and he said hurting people didn’t go with that. He hasn’t said anything since then but a lot of people think Manny Pacquiao has lost his interest in boxing and is just going through the motions on autopilot. He probably should hang it up if he’s not committed to the sport. I don’t know he could retire and leave the $40 million on the table that Mayweather offered him. That just doesn’t make sense at all to me. What a waste. Manny Pacquiao’s been fighting guys like Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley and now Bradley for a lot less than he’d get to fight Mayweather. He might as well fight him and then start his bible job.
With that it shall be an interesting year for Manny Pacquiao. The champ Manny Pacquiao still is in a class of his own.
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source: http://thyblackman.com/2012/02/19/manny-pacquiao-step-aside-please/
Pacquiao vs MarquezPacquiao leads 4 world champs in Elorde Awards
Posted on | February 19, 2012 | No Comments
MANILA, Philippines – Five Filipino fighters who won nine of 13 title bouts in 2011 will be honored as most outstanding boxers of the year in the 12th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Awards/Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the grand ballroom of the Dusit Thani Hotel.
The boxers are WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, WBC/WBO bantamweight ruler Nonito Donaire, WBO flyweight king Brian Viloria and WBO female superbantamweight queen Ana Julaton, who accounted for two title wins each, and WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes who had one win.
Pacquiao, Donaire, Viloria, Nietes and Julaton are the country’s reigning world champions.
Pacquiao, 33, twice successfully defended the WBO 147-lb title against Sugar Shane Mosley in May and against Juan Manuel Marquez in November. The two wins alone netted Pacquiao $42M, making him sports’ highest money earner during the year.
The Elorde Boxing Awards which is also being presented by Cobra Energy Drink will also honor Pacquiao with a special citation which the Elorde family will announce during the Awards Night held in memory of the boxing legend and International Hall of Famer, Flash Elorde, who held the world junior lightweight crown for seven consecutive years from 1960.
Previous honors already conferred by the Elorde Boxing Awards on Pacquiao are Pound-for Pound King, Boxer of the Year, induction into the Elorde Hall of Fame, Boxer of the Decade and Quintessential Athlete awards.
“The award the Elorde family will be honoring him with through the Elorde Boxing Awards/Banquet of Champions is for his achievements as a man off the ring,” said Da Flash’s wife Laura. “Manny Pacquiao is a legend who has given honor to his countrymen and, in many ways, made an impact on the lives of millions of ordinary Filipinos.”
“It is the character that marked Filipino champions before him, including the great Pancho Villa (1920s) and Da Flash, who became true champions of the poor outside the ring,” she added.
Also to be awarded are other international and Philippine champions, most promising boxer, the best fight of the year, best promoter and manager and individuals and entities that have contributed to the promotion of professional boxing.
For inquiries, call up the Elorde office at 8264463 or 09162423657.
source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=779048&publicationSubCategoryId=69
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