The hotly anticipated fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao was teetering on the brink of collapse on Wednesday over a dispute regarding drug testing procedures, a debate that has some experts standing on Mayweather’s side.
On Wednesday, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank proposed a drug testing schedule that would include three blood draws and an unlimited number of urine tests in an attempt to salvage the bout that hit a negotiating snag on Tuesday, when Mayweather’s side insisted on random Olympic-style drug testing administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. The world’s top two boxers had agreed to meet on March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas for what is expected to become the largest-grossing bout in the sport’s history.
Arum said frequent urine testing is sufficient in the final 30 days to prevent either fighter from using performance-enhancing drugs. He said Pacquiao is willing to submit blood samples in early January, in mid-February around 30 days prior to the fight and then again in the locker room immediately upon conclusion of the fight.
In the interim, Arum insisted urine testing would be sufficient.
“Everything can be picked up by urinalysis,” Arum said. “Everything.”
Travis Tygart, the CEO of USADA, disputed Arum’s contention and said a combination of blood and urine testing is required to be effective. He also said that to be most effective, athletes would have to be subject to random testing while out of competition.
If any testing is conducted in the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight outside of what is mandated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, it would be during competition since the fighters are scheduled to start training in early January.
“To have an effective program, you have to collect blood and urine,” Tygart said. “The reason for that is that there are some things that are only detected in urine and there are some prohibited drugs that are both very lethal and potent from a performance-enhancing standpoint that are only detected in blood. One of those, for example, is human-growth hormone (HGH). There is no urine-based tested for human-growth hormone. It doesn’t show up in the urine. It’s only a blood-based test. That’s true of a number of prohibited substances, particularly those that would enhance and aid a boxer.”
Experts told Yahoo! Sports that the amount of blood the fighters would be required to give is minimal and would have no impact upon their performance.
Pacquiao is reticent to give blood within days of a fight because he believes it weakens him, his adviser, Michael Koncz, told Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday by telephone from Manila, The Philippines, where he has been meeting with Pacquiao.
An extraordinarily angry Arum, who had harsh words for Mayweather’s camp, which includes the boxer’s father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, said a deal would have to be reached Thursday in order to salvage the show.
Mayweather Jr. released a statement on Tuesday in which he demanded the testing be conducted and that it be administered by USADA. That didn’t sit well with Arum, who said he wanted whatever testing was done to be conducted by the Kansas City, Mo.,-based National Center for Drug Free Sports.
“The fight is definitely off,” Arum said. “I read their statement and we’re not acceding to it. Unless they pull that statement and call me, they can go screw themselves.”
Victor Conte, the founder and president of the Bay-Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO), said that while Pacquiao might be affected mentally by having his blood drawn, the draws would have no impact upon his performance in the fight.
Pacquiao, though, isn’t the only high-profile athlete who has expressed reservations about giving blood near or at the time of competition. Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell complained he was tested excessively during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, in which he won a gold medal as a member of his nation’s 4 x 100 meter relay team.
“I got pretty upset two days ago because since I have been here, they have tested me four times,” Powell said during the 2008 Games. “They’ve taken so much blood from us we’re going to be very weak before the final.”
Conte said to do comprehensive testing, drawing three tubes of blood with three milliliters in each would be sufficient.
“That amount would be less than one-half of one percent [of the total blood in the body],” Conte said. “It’s not going to have any effect, the drawing of blood. Could it have some mental effect? It possibly could and that’s what Asafa Powell did complain about in Beijing. And now we have this complaint from the Pacquiao side.
“That’s the only down side of that. It’s certainly not going to have any physical effect, giving blood before a fight.”
Mayweather’s statement indicated that several elite athletes, like basketball players LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, swimmer Michael Phelps and cyclist Lance Armstrong, have submitted to the testing that he is requesting.
Arum said Wednesday that none of those athletes provided blood and that each gave only urine samples. However, Schaefer, who is representing Mayweather in negotiations, said each of them competed under USADA requirements in Beijing, which includes random blood and urine sampling.
“We asked and we were told that Kobe, LeBron and Michael Phelps all submitted themselves to the same policies, which includes the right of USADA to test for blood,” Schaefer said.
Schaefer, though, said he didn’t know independently whether any of them had given blood.
Arum vehemently insisted none of them gave blood and said Pacquiao would not do so any closer than 30 days out from the fight until it is over, even if that meant the fight did not occur.
He said he consulted experts who “were unanimous in their opinion” that urine testing would be sufficient.
However, Dr. Gary Wadler, an internal medicine physician and chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List and Methods sub-committee, said an athlete should not be able to dictate the terms of testing.
Wadler called Top Rank’s offer to have Pacquiao give a sample in early January, 30 days before the fight and then immediately at the conclusion of the fight “a non-starter.”
“The fundamental principle is that the time and place of testing is in the domain of the governing body, not of the athlete,” Wadler said. “It would lose all its validity if the athlete could pick and choose when he is going to be tested and for what he’s going to be tested for and how he’s going to be tested. They’re sophisticated enough now that if someone wanted to, you could play the calendar to your advantage.
“There are pretty savvy guys out there who are quite conversant with that very issue. That, to me, would be a non-starter.”
Arum said he objects to USADA doing whatever testing is agreed to because of its many requirements.
He said the National Center for Drug Free Sports is used to working with professional athletes and administers testing for the NFL and Major League Baseball.
“USADA is an Olympic body and it is not for professional sports,” Arum said. “They’ve got all this crazy paperwork. It’s nonsense. [The National Center for Drug Free Sports] deals with pro athletes in a professional kind of way. They don’t do [blood] tests during the season. They do urine tests. Urine tests will detect everything. Blood tests are archaic.”
Schaefer hoped that Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach could intervene and talk to Pacquiao and convince him that submitting to the USADA testing would not hurt him or impact his performance.
He said a deal would have to be reached by sometime early next week in order for the fight to go off as planned in March.
“Freddie could explain to Manny that there is a very small amount of blood taken, only about a tablespoon, and that it wouldn’t have any impact on him at all,” Schaefer said. “Kobe is Manny’s hero and Kobe has done it. If Freddie talks to him, this could get resolved very easily.”
Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, reiterated Wednesday that the testing is the only outstanding issue. Though there has been talk that there is an issue over whether or not the fight will be for Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title, Ellerbe said the drug testing is the only unresolved issue.
“That’s it,” he said. “Otherwise, we’re done.”
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=Ao.Pa9RHKfw8Ix73aXO9.uqUxLYF?slug=ki-testing122309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Blood Test issue
Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. Event Venue
According to a source close to the negotiations, the March 13 super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be finalized as early as this week or in Thursday.
According to the source. "I really believe that it will be done by late Thursday. It will definitely be finalized this week. I'm just not sure if it's going to be Dallas or the MGM."
Michael Koncz stated "I believe that it will end up at the MGM because both fighters want to fight in Las Vegas," said Koncz. "I think that both fighters have expressed their desire to fight in Las vegas."
Pacquiao vs Mayweather - Drug test Controversy
Controversy is already beginning as Mayweather is asking for stiffer drug tests for fight with Pacquiao
Pacquiao Stated “I don’t want to respond on their comments. They just wanted me to get mad and react on what they say," said Pacquiao in Filipino. “You can see who the better boxer inside the ring is. You just don’t talk about it but rather show it."
Pacquiao said he is confident on his boxing skills and believes that prayer and trust in God also help him win matches. “I won’t promise anything but I will do my best when I fight Hatton."
BJ Penn credits Manny Pacquiao for his sensational win in UFC 107
In case ya'll forgot, BJ Penn is one bad motherlover. And he reminded everyone why you should never bet against him ever again. Penn punished Diego Sanchez all night long en-route to a 5th round doctor's stoppage victory to retain the UFC Lightweight Championship with a swift head kicked that busted Sanchez's forehead open.
When asked by the media in the post-fight press conference of UFC 107 about his sensational performance, "The Prodigy" BJ Penn was quick to point out another heavy-hitting small man from the Philippines who knows a thing or two about knocking people out. Penn said,
"Just like watching Pacquiao how he throws punches in bunches fast. You might get away with from the first 2 or 3 but the next 2 or 3 coming behind that are gonna hit you.. kinda figured that out," and so did Sanchez as Penn steamrolled him with aggression, running him over as if he was Pacquiao himself pummeling Ricky Hatton last May.
Perhaps that is why Penn now faces a similar problem Pacquiao goes through. Who else can beat him in his division? Penn might have to move back up and take another shot at GSP or somebody in the welterweight division because he has absolutely cleaned-out the lightweight stable.
Incidentally, Frank Mir, who defeated Cheick Kongo in the under card also admitted that he had been studying Pacquiao's lethal left punch coming into the bout. Mir knocked down Kongle with a hard left that set up his gillutine choke. In an article by Gareth A. Davies of the Telegraph, Frank Mir had this to say about his overhand left he threw, “It’s something we’ve been saying the whole training camp. We call it “The Pacquiao,” because Manny Pacquiao will step off as a southpaw and throw the overhand left. As soon as I hit Kongo I went to catch him with the uppercut and I didn’t see him, he was on the ground,”
Source: Examiner.com
Oh, God: Manny Pacquiao tells Him, Mayweather doesn't have prayer
Don’t ask because I can’t tell you.
I had to work, well work like the Devil to get a hold of this transcript.
I mean, come on, talk about your heavenly exclusives!
Manny Pacquiao has said he’s had a one on one conversation with God, I mean God Himself.
Mere mortals like you or I might get to rap out with gateminder St. Peter or some lesser angel but Pacman spoke personally to and with God.
Megamanny and the Supreme Being, just chatting about life and love and like that.
Manny will tell you all about Him in an upcoming book.
Here’s how it all went down:
Manny: Your name is what, dude? Where you from, who you with?
God: I walk on water. Then I turn that water into wine, my Pinoy pal. Hint, hint. You know that Quiapo church in Manila that you go before and after your fights?
Manny: Sure, I pray not for victory but to fight well and that my opponent and I don’t get hurt. What is Quiapo to you, buddy boy?
God: It’s what you might call one of my branch offices, I’ve got more locations that Starbucks, McDonalds and Balut Express put together. My chief annex is in Rome, that’s where my chief marketing officer works.
Source: Examiner.com
"Money" Mayweather or "Manny" more dollars for Pacquiao?
They call him "Money" Mayweather, but who's got the real stacks of paper here? Perhaps it should be Manny "Money man" Pacquiao instead? Yes, Floyd Mayweather has made a large amount of cash over his career, but from what this writer hears he spends an awful lot of it too. Floyd Mayweather lives a lavish lifestyle. Hopefully Mayweather has the right people around him, and he's making the right investments. Manny Pacquiao is becoming a large cash cow himself. Pacquiao can easily earn over 20 million for this fight with Floyd, and perhaps up to 30 million. When you combine that money with his endorsements, movies, and his music, it adds up quickly.
This writer is not entirely sure what Floyd Mayweather Jr does with his money as far as giving back to his community, but what Pacquiao has done with his goes without saying. Manny has an entire nation on his shoulders that he tries to look after. Mayweather has in fact fed hungry people that need food in Las Vegas, this much I know, so he does some good. He has been seen feeding hungry people off the streets in the Vegas area. He is due respect for that.
The financial kingdom that Manny Pacquiao is rapidly building will subside some once he retires, however if he invests correctly he can build on his earnings. He still wants to do movies, and music after retirement so money will still be in his future even after he hangs up the gloves. Manny is a young man, and his future sure looks bright. Hopefully he will have the right people around him and he will make the right investments with his money.
Far too many times we have seen people gain financial freedom only to lose it all due to bad investments, bad people, not paying taxes, and or just poor personal judgments. Pacquiao seems pretty level headed and in tune with his fortune so hopefully he will be fine. Manny has earned a lot of money over the past few years, and stands to earn a lot more this year. Calling the "Pacman" Manny "Money" Pacman suits him just fine as well.
Source: Examiner.com
Mayweather wants the MGM Pacquiao could care less
Mississippi Fight Sports Examiner | Brad Cooney
Floyd Mayweather Jr wants the fight to take place in Las Vegas. Of course it's in his back yard, and he wouldn't get creamed in taxes. Both reasonable enough reasons I suppose. Pacquaio could care less where they fight. This writer spoke with Freddie Roach this afternoon, and was informed that Manny is completely on board with the fight, and will fight anywhere. Roach explained, " We are completely on board, we'll fight anywhere. Floyd wants to fight in Las Vegas, but Dallas is making an offer tough to refuse."
NFL football franchise owner, Jerry Jones is pushing hard to land this fight at the new Texas Stadium, in Dallas. The bottom line is this, if both fighters are being guaranteed 25 million dollars, the promoter of the show must find a venue that is willing to absorb that cost. Jones is offering 25 million dollars to bring the fight to Dallas, Texas. Unless someone tops that, that is where Arum will want to bring the fight. Now, Mayweather of course will have to agree, and that's the tricky part.
This is all boiling down to the venue? Depending on how stubborn Mayweather is, it could take some time for this thing to get done. The purse is settled, the glove size is settled, the weight is settled, it seems as if it's all coming down to location, location, location.
Source: examiner.com
Manny Pacquiao and steroid use allegations.
By Tony Montgomery
I do not believe Manny Pacquiao does steroids.
I start my article making this statement because so many people only read the headline of an article, and maybe the first line, before clicking off and moving on. All they walk away with is, "Manny Pacquiao and steroids."
There have been accusations of Manny Pacquiao and steroid use lately. And I want to emphasize that I do not believe Manny Pacquiao is a user of any performance enhancing drugs. I'm sure many of you know I’m not a “super fanatic” of Manny Pacquiao but I’m not a hater either. I am very conscious of his accomplishments in the sport of boxing and believe he is one of the best, if not the best fighter today.
When I read or hear that Manny Pacquiao is using steroids, I can't help but ask, where is the proof? And I always get the same answer, that it’s impossible for a fighter to go up in weight the way Manny Pacquiao has and retain power and speed as he has. And again I ask, where is the proof that accomplishing such a feat is impossible?
All things bring me to major league baseball. The great sport of baseball has been and always will be America's favorite past time. Baseball is one of the few things in this country that remains pure and wholesome to many. As the world continuous to evolve, baseball has remained the same, until the reported use, and in some cases proof of steroids abuse stuck its ugly head in America's favorite game. Fans have gone from cheering homerun hitters to raising an eyebrow every time a homer has been hit. Hell, an inside the park homerun isn’t even considered safe anymore. If a player runs the bases too quickly, the very speed that got him to home base may have been acquired from steroids, or so it is being implied. We saw our heroes become bigger, faster, and stronger in the later stages in their careers; when most would have been slowing down, they were only getting better, and thus the accusations of steroids abuse.
A few bad apples have spoiled it for everyone. Every time an athlete improves his stats or plays better than the previous season many assume he may be using steroids. The days of thinking someone worked hard during the off season are almost a thing of the past. It is becoming unacceptable to believe an athlete has done everything he or she could in the off season to improve his or her game, more often than not it’s just assumed the person picked up a needle rather than weights.
If Manny Pacquaio would have done this 10-15 years ago no one would have thought twice about it. It would have been thought of exactly how it should be, a great fighter doing great things. And while fingers are being pointed, and accusatory allegations continue to be made, the fans shouldn't just point the finger at the media for the allegations. A finger most definitely should be pointed at the athletes who have brought about this shameful time in sports.
Source: braggingrightscorner.com
Manny wants to retire after Mayweather bout
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated December 13, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Could this be the last fight for Manny Pacquiao?
Well, the boxer now being considered as the greatest of his era thinks so.
“Baka last fight ko na (It could be my last fight),” he said on TV yesterday of his highly-anticipated showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr., the undefeated American ex-pound-for-pound king.
Pacquiao, who turns 31 on Wednesday, now holds the distinction of being the best fighter in the planet, not long after scoring historic wins over Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.
Pacquiao is the first and only boxer in history to win seven world titles in seven different weight classes – flyweight, super-bantam, featherweight, super-feather, lightweight, junior-welter and welter.
His victory over Cotto, who’s supposed to be much bigger and much stronger, cemented his place in boxing history, and after starting out at 105 lb he’s now the reigning world champion at 147 lb.
Following his sensational win over the Puerto Rican last Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, said it’s about time to call it a day and that she can’t stand watching him fight again.
“Ayoko na makita siya lumaban at masaktan (I don’t want to see him fight and get hurt),” said Dionisia.
Pacquiao said retirement had crossed his mind a couple of times.
“Ayaw na talaga ng mama ko (My mother doesn’t want it anymore). Umiiyak na nga siya (And she cries),” said Pacquiao, now getting ready for another big birthday bash in his hometown in Sarangani.
Then he gets to enjoy more time with his family on Christmas and as they celebrate his wife Jinkee’s birthday on the first week of January. By that time, however, they could be in the United States.
Pacquiao and Mayweather, unless fate dictates otherwise, should be holding a press conference in New York on Jan. 6 or Jan 11 to announce the fight being billed as the fight of the new century.
Then it’s off to training, another seven to eight weeks, starting off in Baguio City and capping it at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. Pacquiao said he will train like never before because it could be his last.
The boxer is also seeking a congressional seat in Sarangani in the May 10 national elections.
That’s why his promoter, Bob Arum, is making sure Pacquiao gets the best of both ends in his fight with Mayweather. And as it is, despite a recent hitch, negotiations could be done and over with in a week.
While both camps are ironing out minor kinks in the contract, promoters are busy trimming down the choices as venue of the fight. As of presstime, the choices are down to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
Even before negotiations for this fight started, Pacquiao said if it’s Mayweather then he deserves a guaranteed purse of at least $25 million or almost P1.2 billion which is enough to fund a presidential campaign.
But his Canadian adviser, Mike Koncz, said because of the magnitude of the fight, the pride of the Philippines could end up with $50 million in his already fat bank account.
Source: philstar.com
Why Pacquiao Vs Mayweather Will Happen in 2010
Manny Pacquiao demolished Miguel Cotto on November 14th, 2009. It was a big win for him. It was Manny Pacquiao's seventh world title in a seventh weight class. Floyd Mayweather Jr . on September 19th came out of retirement to defeat Juan Manuel Marquez. These wins will lead to a mega
fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. Why are Pacquiao and Mayweather going to fight?
Money is a substantial reason why a Mayweather vs Pacquiao boxing match will be made. The Floyd Mayweather vs Oscar De La Hoya boxing match made an estimated $120 million dollars.This boxing match has a chance to make more money than that mega fight. Both boxers already generate big pay view numbers. Mayweather's last two boxing matches generated millions in pay per view sales. Likewise, Pacquiao has a huge fan base too. He is a huge star in his home country the Philippines. The location of the fight is already suggested because Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has planned for Pacquiao's next fight to be in Dallas Cowboy's new stadium.
There is a huge demand for this fight. This is the type of boxing match that hardcore boxing fan and casual boxing fans both want to see. It will be important because whoever wins this fight will be considered the best boxer in the world. Manny Pacquiao is currently the #1 pound for pound boxer and Mayweather is the #2 pound for pound boxer. It will be interesting to see how Pacquiao's offensive style meshes with Mayweather's defensive style. It will be two contrasting styles. It is somewhat like a lower weight division version of Frazier vs Ali.
This is an opportunity for Floyd Mayweather to prove his critics wrong. Mayweather does hear these critics and he does want to quiet them. His critics say he is a cherry picker. They say that Mayweather has avoided fighting the best welterweights such as Shane Mosley. Additionally, they mention he prefers to fight smaller men like Juan Manuel Marquez.
Source: AssociatedContent.com
Pacquiao-Mayweather mania running wild
Your weekly random thoughts …
• You know just how big the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight is when just the discussion of where the March 13 super fight will take place generates daily headlines.
Las Vegas, Dallas, New Orleans and Los Angeles are all places that are interested in the fight. Promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy also received inquiries from places such as Atlanta, Miami and such non-starters as the Congo and Dubai.
I've always believed the fight would wind up in Las Vegas, although it would be fun to go with some place like Dallas, where the stadium with a retractable roof could seat 100,000 people. But the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, from what I understand, has exerted big-time pressure to have the fight there. The MGM, perhaps the best place on Earth to see a fight, has always been the leader in the sweepstakes for obvious reasons. It's hosted numerous Pacquiao and Mayweather fights and supports Top Rank and Golden Boy fights regularly, even some that don't bring big crowds. The MGM hosts lesser fights knowing it also will get the big ones. Golden Boy, in particular, is very tight with the MGM, particularly executive Richard Sturm, who plays a key role in keeping boxing a major aspect of the casino's entertainment offerings. The only problem is that Pacquiao-Mayweather is so big, the arena, which holds maybe 18,000 max, just isn't big enough.
Los Angeles, despite a supposed $20 million offer from AEG, which owns the Staples Center and a minority stake in Golden Boy, seems unlikely because of the state income taxes that will be assessed to each fighter. Besides, Pacquiao says he doesn't want to fight there.
Dallas is interesting, given the serious interest from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in bringing the fight to his stadium. I think that would be cool, not to mention I could make a pilgrimage to nearby Southfork Ranch, home of my all-time favorite TV show, Dallas.
Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer inexplicably dissed Jones by canceling a planned trip there on Wednesday with Top Rank's Bob Arum and HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg to tour the facility and meet with Jones. Even if Schaefer was under orders from Mayweather and manager Al Haymon not to do the fight anywhere other than Las Vegas, Schaefer was wrong to cancel the trip. What harm could have come from it? You at least listen to what Jones has to say.
Schaefer bailing so angered Arum that he threw up his hands, pulled himself out of the talks to finalize the fight (which will get done despite the bumpy road) and turned over the Top Rank end of talks to company president (and stepson) Todd duBoef. He is trying to clean up the mess and do his impersonation of Winston Wolfe -- the legendary Harvey Keitel character from "Pulp Fiction" who could fix any problem.
Now that Schaefer and duBoef are working together, I'm told Dallas is back in the mix. Unless some other place pops up, this is a two-town race: Vegas or Dallas, neither of which levy state income taxes.
We should know in a few days. And just think -- all this craziness is just about where the fight will be. Imagine how much fun it's going to be when the fight is signed, sealed and delivered.
• I tuned into HBO's "Joe Buck Live" on Tuesday night to see Mayweather's appearance. What a complete waste of time. Only Buck could make Mayweather boring in an interview. I have also watched a previous episode of the show, and it's just awful. It's a train wreck. It's the "KO Nation" of talk shows.
• If Kelly Pavlik beats Miguel Espino next week, I still want to see Pavlik against Paul Williams before I see a Williams rematch with Sergio Martinez.
• Now that heavyweight Cristobal Arreola has bounced back from his loss to Vitali Klitschko by stopping game Brian Minto in four exciting rounds, I want to see Arreola against David Tua. Somebody please make this happen.
• Say what you want about promoterLou DiBella, but I have deep respect for him. He's a man of conviction. He left a lot of money on the table by severing ties with Jermain Taylor because he believes the diminished Taylor, who has been severely knocked out in three of his last five fights, should drop out of the Super Six and retire. DiBella won't stand by and be a part of something he believes is wrong. Before Taylor fights Andre Ward in April, likely in Oakland, in the next round of Showtime's tournament, I encourage the California commission to demand to see Taylor's medical records and test results from when he was hospitalized in Germany following the crushing knockout he suffered against Arthur Abraham on Oct. 17.
• I have decided to get disgraced judges Gale Van Hoy, Alan Davis, Benoit Roussel and Pierre Benoist eyeglasses as gifts for this holiday season. On second thought, what they all really deserve for their horrific scorecards in recent fights is a giant lump of coal. If you're a prizefighter and you find out one of these guys has been assigned to your fight, run.
• It hasn't been a good month for Square Ring, the promotional company owned by Roy Jones. In the span of three days, neither of the company's key fighters could make it out of the first round. Jones was knocked out in 122 seconds by Danny Green and Dmitriy Salita was knocked out by Amir Khan in 76 seconds. Ouch, babe.
• For the record: I absolutely love the idea of junior welterweights Devon Alexander and Khan defending their titles against good opponents on the same HBO telecast March 6. I think it could lead to an eventual Alexander-Khan showdown, something I've been interested in and first wrote about in August.
• Top Rank hopes that Miguel Cotto will return from his knockout loss to Pacquiao in June in New York on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. Don't be shocked if Cotto moves up to junior middleweight to challenge New Yorker Yuri Foreman for his title. It would be a throwback sort of fight with the Big Apple's large Puerto Rican population supporting Cotto and the Jewish community supporting Foreman. I think it could actually be a pretty big fight. If it happens, I just hope Arum doesn't give me the finger again, like he did after Foreman's fight last month when he won his title against Daniel Santos on the Pacquiao-Cotto undercard.
• A hearty congratulations to a trio of non-participants who were elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame this week: manager Shelly Finkel, Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler and former Associated Press writer Ed Schuyler. I've known all three since I started covering boxing and all three are most deserving of the honor. You can say what you want about Finkel, who has made his share of enemies, but he's managed a who's who of boxing superstars and champions (Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor, Michael Moorer, Fernando Vargas, Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko and Manny Pacquiao, to barely scratch the surface) over the past 25 years. His résumé speaks for itself. With Trampler, Top Rank wouldn't be the formidable company it is today. He's the glue and one of the most revered matchmakers ever. No Top Rank fight is made without his stamp of approval. Schuyler, AP's national boxing writer for 32 years, is one of my journalism idols. He retired in 2002, but in the first couple of years of my career covering boxing, I got to cover fights with him. I sat next to him for many big fights and, to be honest, it was just as much of a thrill to learn from him at ringside as it was to cover the actual fights. He's a legend.
• Happy birthday to Top Rank's one and only Arum, who turned 78 on Tuesday.
• DVD pick of the week: When I was writing a blog earlier this week about how I cast my ballot for the International Hall of Fame this year, and explaining my vote for "Prince" Naseem Hamed, it obviously got me thinking about one of my all-time favorite fights. It's been the DVD pick of the week before, but it never gets old. So back to Dec. 19, 1997, at New York's famed Madison Square Garden, where Hamed made his American debut in sensational style as he defended his featherweight title against former champ Kevin Kelley. It was Hamed's first fight under a monster HBO contract and it was a slugfest. After one of Hamed's lengthy, showy entrances they went to battle, and both men hit the deck three times. Ultimately, Hamed scored the fourth-round knockout in a fight HBO's Larry Merchant called the "Hagler-Hearns of featherweight fighting." And, by the way, the undercard bout that opened HBO's telecast -- a pitched battle between Kennedy McKinney and Junior Jones, in which McKinney rallied for a fourth-round knockout to claim a junior featherweight title -- was also sensational.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Pacquiao to struggle vs Mayweather: analysts
MANILA – It is being dubbed as the “Fight of the Century.”
With the possible clash between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. brewing around the corner, fight fans and critics alike are certain that it would be a blockbuster match.
For the country’s boxing analysts, however, a fight against the former pound-for-pound king Mayweather will be a struggle for Pacquiao, the current No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
“Mayweather has the advantage because he is natural in that weight and mas malaki siya, but as we know, Pacquiao has the speed,” Bill Velasco told ABS-CBN’s Gretchen Malalad.
He added that even if Mayweather is heavier, he is confident that Pacquiao can fight in a higher weight class.
“He did it before and I think with Freddie Roach and his team, he can be ready,” noted Velasco.
Recah Trinidad, for his part, believes that Pacquiao can still rule over Mayweather even if the American fighter outclassed Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
Mayweather beat Marquez via unanimous decision last Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The judges scored 118-109, 120-107 and 119-108 in favor of Mayweather.
Pacquiao and Marquez, meantime, fought their first bout in 2004 which ended in a draw. Their rematch in 2008 was won by Pacquiao by split decision.
“Wala akong nakitang special sa galaw niya kanina... Panay depensa walang opensa,” said Trinidad. “You can’t win by just defense eh si Pacquiao maganda opensa at depensa.”
Still good and fast
Pacquiao, meantime, has to get past Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in their Nov. 14 bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The Filipino boxing superstar is currently training in Baguio City for his clash against the WBO welterweight champion.
He shared his thoughts on the Mayweather-Marquez fight with The Philippine Star over the phone, noting that “Pretty Boy Floyd” was still good and fast.
“Naghihintay lang (He just waits),” he added.
When asked if he can do better than Mayweather’s fallen opponents, Pacquiao replied: “Kaya abutin.”
Mayweather has remained unbeaten at 40-0 with 25 knockouts. Pacquiao, on the other hand, has a record of 49-3-2 with 37 KOs.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao mentioned that Marquez had no chance against Mayweather because he lacked reach.
Clever fighter
Mayweather, for his part, declared to the media after his victory that he is indeed back.
He mentioned that he will fight the “best fighters out there.” In the meantime, Mayweather said “may the best man win” in the Pacquiao-Cotto match.
He also commented on the pound-for-pound rankings which he lorded before he retired in 2008.
“They say Manny Pacquiao is No. 1 and I’m not here to rate myself. I know who I am as a fighter. Pound-for-pound rankings are opinionated,” he said as quoted by FightFan.com.
The American went on to say that he won a title in his first year in professional boxing. He has won six titles in five weight classes and has been a champion for 11 straight years.
“I was just off for two years and I came back and beat the No. 2 pound-for-pound guy. I didn’t rate Marquez as No. 2, they did. People can make up their own opinions,” he noted.
Marquez, meantime, was asked by the media about the possible Pacquiao-Mayweather clash.
“Mayweather and Pacquiao have different styles,” remarked the Mexican.
“Floyd is very clever. He is 100 percent a defensive fighter. He is a good counter-puncher. And Pacquiao is a guy that likes to fight,” he noted.Sources: ABS-CBN News
Manny Pacquiao Vs. Floyd Mayweather
ESPN is reporting that the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight is almost finalized. This comes just days after Floyd Mayweather agreed to the terms that promoters Bob Arum of Top Rank and Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy had agreed upon.
Following that breakthrough, Arum flew straight to the Philippines so he could meet with his star fighter, currently the number 1 pound for pound boxer in the world. Over a breakfast meeting, Pacquiao apparently was satisfied with the terms of
Could it be, a mega-fight in boxing that both stars have made extremely easy to navigate and negotiate? Anything can happen, and until the names are signed on those contracts, nothing is official. Still, this is extremely great news for boxing fans, considering the magnitude of the potential Floyd Mayweather vs.Manny Pacquiao bout.
If Pacquiao vs. Mayweather is to be finalized, it seems that a few more details have been worked out since the last news from earlier in the week. It now seems that March 13 is a near lock to be the date of the event.
Another issue that could have been a potential snag in negotiations seems cleared up as well. Apparently Pacquiao and his team are fine at fighting at the full welterweight limit of 147 lbs. This is a change in stance from Pacquiao's recent bout with Miguel Cotto.
The change in opinion could either be due to 1) the increased importance of this bout, 2) Mayweather's superior bargaining position as opposed to Cotto or 3) the fact that Mayweather is not a large welterweight, and so any weight or strength advantage would not truly be present in the bout.
One thing that remains unclear as to this point is where the fight will be held. As previously reported, Dallas, New Orleans and Las Vegas are all still in the running. If the fight lands in Vegas, a 30,000 outdoor stadium will likely be constructed to accommodate the masses.
Source: Associate Content
