It normally would be chalked up to typical pre-fight hype — a trainer talking big about his boxer and the damage he’s going to inflict against an upcoming opponent. But Freddie Roach has a knack for having his predictions come true.
Earlier this year, Roach said Manny Pacquiao would stop Ricky Hatton in three rounds. The Englishman was knocked cold in the second. Now Roach is saying Pacquiao will knock out Miguel Cotto when the two face each other Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I feel that Manny — with the way he’s punching right now, with the power he has at this weight — he’s going to knock Cotto out I feel,” Roach said this week. “I’m very confident, and I look forward to the win.”
It’s a different forecast than Roach predicted when the pay-per-view bout was announced this summer at Yankee Stadium. He said then he was preparing for the fight to go the distance, because Cotto is a dangerous power puncher. Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) is perceived as the bigger fighter, a
natural welterweight, who has agreed to a 145-pound catch-weight to face Pacquiao, who has to eat five meals a day just to stay above 140.
But after watching tape of the Puerto Rican star, Roach is growing more confident Cotto will not be able to hold up against the Filipino’s speed and power.
“He’s punching so much harder than he ever has,” Roach said of Pacquiao, who is looking to win Cotto’s WBO welterweight title. “He’s really getting used to the weight. He’s punching faster and harder. I just think Miguel Cotto’s defense isn’t good enough. He’s hittable, and people that Manny can hit, he knocks out.”
Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) began training in Los Angeles this week after spending more than a month in the Philippines, where two typhoons ravaged the country. The first typhoon forced Pacquiao to train strictly indoors, replacing his roadwork with indoor swimming exercises.
A humanitarian with political aspirations, Pacquiao spent an off-day during his training camp in Baguio City to distribute aid to his countrymen. He also made a substantial financial donation to relief efforts.
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The 13th annual Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation Dinner will be held Nov. 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island. A long list of celebrities from the athletic and entertainment industries are expected to attend.
Tickets are priced at $200 with tables available from $5,000 to $2,800. Call (201) 293-2606 or visit www.dratlasfoundation.com for more information. Proceeds from the “Teddy Dinner” go to the foundation, which offers financial and emotional support to individuals and organizations in need.
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Showtime will televise a boxing doubleheader at 9 tonight from Las Vegas with IBF bantamweight champ Joseph Agbeko defending against Yonnhy Perez and Antonio DeMarco fighting Jose Alfaro for the WBC interim lightweight championship.
On November 14th two of the biggest stars in boxing will face-off for a PPV super-fight. These fights are something special for boxing; they are the types of fights that get the general public to pay attention to our wonderful sport of boxing. I go through a few different phases for a super-fight, here's a look at what life is like for The Bryguy:
PHASE 1: Going into a big fight like this I always envision an epic battle between two gladiators, blood and guts warriors, grit, sweat, anger, and other adjectives that sound tough and manly! I blog about what an amazing ballsy, kick-butt fight it will be. I talk to whoever will listen to my expectations, scientific analysis, and true gut feelings. This is a great phase to be in..
PHASE 2: Honey roasted Peanuts are set out, Bud Lights are cold, my scorecards are ready, and my girlfriend is patiently waiting until fight night is over(because she's been listening to me for a month, she knows THIS one is important). I then proceed to suffer through two or three horrid under-card fights, that if I'm lucky are complete mismatches and will at the very least end quickly. If I'm not lucky it's a Zab Judah mismatch that should have ended early, but he once again doesn't live up to expectation and drags me through the miserable fight for ten or twelve rounds. This is phase filled with anxiousness and a little aggravation.
PHASE 2.1: The under-cards were terrible, but that's OK, the main event will be so amazing it will make up for everything! I refill my peanut jar, double check the fridge to make sure I have enough BL’s (because the main event will have me on the edge of my seat for at least ten rounds). I answer a few text messages driving home my prediction, letting everyone on the planet know what an amazing boxing mind I have. THE FIGHT: The main event ends as soon as it starts or is a patty cake match for twelve rounds, where on top of everything the decision is a debacle!(obviously there is the diamond in the rough, but so many do end in disappointment).
PHASE 3: Then comes the moping, tears, sadness, and complaining about forking over $50 bucks, "FOR THAT!” After that I swear off the sport forever because it's corrupt, doesn't treat its loyal fans with respect, and bleeds me dry every time I am forced to spend my hard earned cash! My girlfriend cues up Dancing with the Stars on DVR, and just yeses me to death until I finally stop my babbling and go to sleep in a Bud Light induced coma (She's very patient with me).
PHASE 4: The following day I read on Eastsideboxing.com how the winner will square off against another huge name in the sport for what will inevitably be the fight of the year! Now THAT fight is going to be the best fight ever! I can't wait to blog about it, talk about, and pay money for it! I guess that means it's back to phase one.
Well folks, I am here to tell you that I am knee deep in Phase one right now! Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are two guys who haven't ducked anyone, fight with true heart, and put on fights for the fans. There is no way this one can let us down. I am so deep into phase one that one blog won't cover this showdown. If I am going to do it justice I must break it into three parts:
PART 1: Why I Love Miguel Cotto
Miguel Cotto has been one of the most consistent fighters in the world of boxing over the past few years. There hasn't been another guy in boxing who has constantly stepped up competition, fought entertaining fights, and tested his own abilities quite like Miguel Cotto, except maybe Manny Pacquiao.
The reason Miguel Cotto is so fun to watch is that he IS beatable. I suppose that shouldn't be a reason why you love a fighter so much, but I think that was why Arturo Gatti was so popular. That's why every Diego Corrales fight was a must see, and it's probably why Floyd Mayweather Jr. hasn't been able to find the fan-base he thinks he deserves. It's not that you root against a fighter; it's that you never really know how he will pull off the victory.
There is a crazy nervous feeling I get when Cotto steps into the ring with his opponent, because a lot of the times I've thought the other guy has the tools to beat him. Somehow Cotto has figured out a way to overcome that adversity, and that is what fans want in their fighters. That ability to dig deep and muster some energy, or skill that maybe even the fighter didn't know he had, it is what makes elite athletes so special.
Miguel Cotto for the most part looks like a machine when he enters the ring, chin down, gloves high, and his eyes glaring between his fists like a sniper peering through his scope. He is also very militaristic in the way he can systematically break an opponent down, as he did with Carlos Quintana, Paulie Malignaggi, Randall Bailey, Kelson Pinto, Lovemore N'dou, and many others. He'll chop you down whatever way he can, not shying away from bodywork, or with Branco, just banging away at the arms!
There have been many fights though where he wins using other tools in his arsenal, in 2005 Cotto faced off against Ricardo Torres and won that fight with his heart. The two traded bombs in the center off the ring for several rounds; until Cotto was the last man standing (The picture of Cotto at the end of that fight will always be a lasting memory for me).
In 2007 Miguel proved to the world that he was an upper echelon fighter when he disposed of two fast capable fighters in Zab Judah, and Shane Mosley. Against Judah he was taking on a fast, heavy handed fighter, who when his mind is in the game can beat just about anyone (of course his mind is never really in the game). Cotto overcame a vicious uppercut early in the fight, and fought through a severely damaged lip to impose his will, stopping Zab in the eleventh. Fighting Mosley later that year Cotto was beating the faster guy to punch and showed off some magnificent boxing skill that many didn't believe he possessed. He out boxed Mosley in an extremely entertaining fight, in which I think Miguel showed the ability to not only break opponents down, but also game plan and execute against another elite fighter.
In the lead up to the showdown against Manny Pacquiao all the talk has been about what the Pac-man is going to bring to the table, and rightfully so, he has had a run unlike anything I have seen in a long time. I feel however it's because of Cotto's only loss (Antonio Margarito) and his last fight (Joshua Clottey) that people are forgetting what a solid fighter Miguel Cotto is. In 2008 he took on the self-proclaimed "most avoided man in boxing" Antonio Margarito. The first half of the fight Cotto fought like he did against Shane Mosley, dancing around the ring, and putting on splendid display of his boxing skills (I still wish he had focused on the body instead of the head though). Then as the sixth round came and went, Cotto began to slow down and Margarito's punches started to take their toll, forcing Cotto to take a knee in the eleventh. Margarito was found with loaded hand-wraps in his next fight against Cotto victim Shane Mosley, begging the question of whether he had loaded wraps against Cotto as well.
In his last fight Cotto took on the very tough, and I feel much underrated Joshua Clottey. Cotto suffered a cut in the third round, and Clottey put on heavy pressure making it a close fight. Cotto had to dig deep in the championship rounds to pull off the split decision. The fight could have gone either way, but it seemed like Clottey just stopped fighting in those last rounds, and Cotto was able to walk away with the razor thin decision.
Is Cotto still haunted by the loss, and beating to Margarito? Maybe, I know I would not be able to overcome something like that. Did that affect him in the Clottey fight? I don't think so; I think Clottey is an underrated fighter, who will only be beat by the best fighters in the world. Let's not forget that Clottey’s only other loss is to Antonio Margarito, in which Clottey was making Margarito look very human for the first half of the fight, before he stopped boxing in the second half. Which brings up a few questions; were Clottey’s hands hurt as he claims? If so, he is quite a tough rugged fighter, were Margarito's hands loaded then as well? Where Clottey's hands fine, and he just has a habit of slowing down and not fighting towards the end of fights, as he did with Cotto? Either way Clottey is no pushover and can beat any fighter on any given night.
I love Cotto for many reasons, but one above all the others, he comes to fight (I also like some of his new tattoos, but mostly because he come to fight). Whether he's the wrecking ball that ran through Quintana, Branco, and Malignaggi, the Rocky Balboa who survived Ricardo Torres, or the finesse boxer who outpointed Shane Mosley; Cotto shows up and entertains on fight night. I have yet to watch Miguel Cotto step in the ring and not be entertained, and I don't see him letting me down on November 14th.
Stay tuned for PART 2: Why I Love Manny Pacquiao
Bryan blogs regularly at www.bryguyboxing.blogspot.com Feel free to e-mail him at thebryguy21@gmail.com
Ghana's Joseph Agbeko will make the third defence of his International Boxing Federation bantamweight title when he faces Colombian challenger Yonnhy Perez Saturday.
Agbeko (27-1, 22 KOs) captured the title two years ago when he stopped Luis Alberto Perez in the seventh round.
The 29-year-old's first defence came in a thrilling win over William Gonzalez and he followed that up with another impressive upset victory over three-time world champion Vic Darchinyan in July.
"I don't care how many more fights it will take, but my goal is to be the number one fighter pound-for-pound in the world," the Ghana southpaw Agbeko said. "There are a lot of great fighters but I feel I'm the best. I am not looking past Perez, but I am willing to fight anybody to prove I am the best."
The No. 1 ranked Perez is putting his undefeated record on the line having won 19 straight, including 14 by knockout.
"There is no pressure but the opportunity is so enormous that it will feel great once we get into the ring and the fight starts," Perez said.
"The time for talking is over. I have never been as focused or determined for a fight in my life. I have never worked harder, and I train all the time."
IBF bantamweight champion Joseph Agbeko (2nd L) of Ghana and Yonnhy Perez of Colombia pose with boxing promoters Don King (L) and Gary Shaw (R) during an official weigh-in at the Treasure Island hotel-casino in Las Vegas, Nevada October 30, 2009. Agbeko will defend his title against Perez at the casino October 31. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES SPORT BOXING)
Manny Pacquiao returned from a Wednesday-long nap Thursday and gave his trainer Freddie Roach a vigorous workout at Hollywood's Wild Card Gym.
Pacquiao spent 11 rounds sparring against two opponents, flashing his brilliant ability to charge an opening and deliver either a powerful left or right uppercut.
Roach was so giddy about the performance he dressed up two days before Halloween as Batman, complete with the rock-hard abs.
Not to be outdone, Pacquiao took off his shirt and showed his abs.
Two weeks and two days away from Pacquiao's welterweight title fight against champion Miguel Cotto, Roach announced, "Miguel, the superheroes are coming to get you!"
Pacquiao's intensity is picking up after Wednesday"s lengthy nap. The gym will be closed to any public and media access until media day, Wednesday. --Lance Pugmire
Photo: Freddie Roach shows off his abs ... well, the abs in his Batman costume. Manny Pacquiao's abs are his own. Credit: Ana Garcia / Top Rank.
In a recent interview, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum - a source who would know - spoke on the fact that he finds Filipino Manny Pacquiao to be more adored and admired than the sports once lone icon, Muhammad Ali. In the same interview, trainer Freddie Roach also chimed in on his thoughts about Pacquiao, whom in his estimation has "more drawing power" than Mike Tyson.
For such a little warrior, one would think those shoes would be quite large to fill, but just as we've seen Pacquiao's weight increase in size, so has his name based on his latest heroics.
Despite the fact that there seems to be a few brewing within Team Pacquiao, no one can deny that the brave warrior has never failed to step up and seize the moment when opportunity comes knocking.
Regardless of what happens in the ring, Pacquiao's star continues to rise for various reasons, many which go well beyond the squared circle.
Muhammad Ali had core issues like politics and racism in his era to help propel him to an iconic status that remains larger than the sport. Mike Tyson had the ferocity and explosive mystique that only comes once in a lifetime, and Oscar was, and remains perhaps the biggest draw the sport has ever seen among women worldwide with those golden looks.
For Manny Pacquiao, there seems to be a union of all three elements, yet on a smaller scale.
His explosive nature in the ring (ala Mike Tyson) is surely a claim to fame, as evidenced every time he squares off. With regards to his political impression, many in his country are not truly sold on his aspirations, but in another sense, those same people support him, because he's in the fact an ambassador, and technically the face of his entire country.
That point alone sheds light on why he is who he is. Michael Jordan was a global icon and so is Tiger Woods, but neither man serve as the face of their country.
In the case of Manny Pacquiao, not only is he that global icon, but when you think Philippines, you think Manny Pacquiao, earning him a status that no other athlete on the planet today has.
So, in the end, we can question his worldwide status, but every time you see the Filipino flag wave, the fact that you think of him without his face being on it can only serve as perhaps the best and only answer.
My parting thoughts to both his critics and supporters.....Enjoy him while you can....This type of phenomenon only comes around once a generation, or perhaps even once in a lifetime.
There is no doubt Floyd "Money" Mayweather has a tremendous amount of talent and charisma. Although he is one of the most popular fighters in this sport.It seems as if his huge ego has pushed many of his boxing fans away. His persona of being "Money" Mayweather has overshadowed his skills as a talented fighter.
Not only is he losing fans with his arrogance. He continues to lose respect as a fighter. We all know that he has an unblemished 40-0 record. The opponents he has defeated Judah, De La Hoya, Hatton, and Marquez, to name a few are all good fighters in their own right.
The reality is Mayweather cherry picking opponents especially the smaller, older, slower ones he can handle with ease, gains him zero respect from the boxing community. Is he more concerned with maintaining his perfect record and making money than challenging top tier fighters?
Mayweather will continue to lose the respect of true boxing fans as long as he continues to evade real threats. The fight everyone has been waiting for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather this would be a true battle of kingship. In order to gain the fans respect you must face the elite. Right now Pacquiao is the elite.
I know that Mayweather's fans may disagree but its not about records its about respect in this sport. Does Mayweather really want to go down in history as an undefeated fighter that feared challenging the best of his era?
When Mayweather retired many boxing fans felt he was the pound for pound king. Many things have changed since he retired including the sergeancy of the boxing warrior Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather should have chosen a caliber fighter, like Pacquiao or Williams, as a come back fight. Choosing a fighter like Marquez for a comeback fight didn't help him reprise his role as the pound for pound king.
Hopefully Marquez was a warm up fight and he is awaiting the outcome of Pacquaio vs.Cotto. Maybe then he will make a decision and challenge Pacquiao. Especially if Pacquiao's fight against Cotto looks better than his fight with Marquez. It doesnt look immediately realistic that we will see Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has the respect of fans because he is fearless taking on dangerous opponents. No one is disputing Mayweather's skills as a boxer. Mayweather has so many weapons iron clad defense,incredible speed, and is an excellent counter puncher. He is one of the best in this sport, but he will continue to lose the dignity and respect of boxing fans if he refuses to put his skills to the test against the best.
Freddie Roach has somewhat succeeded in getting under Miguel Cotto’s skin.
Less than a week after Roach told the Filipino press that he is placing a $1,000 bet on a first-round knockout win by Manny Pacquiao, Cotto lashed back at the famed American trainer, boasting that “Roach is going to eat his words” on November 14 in Las Vegas.
“It’s going to be a tough battle, but I can assure you that in the end I am going to leave (the ring) victorious,” Cotto told Primera Hora as he was wrapping up his training camp in Tampa, Florida, en route to Sin City.
“I don’t care what Freddie says. The best that he can do is help Manny Pacquiao reach his best form. I will not mind Roach. He talks a lot,” said the obviously slighted Puerto Rican puncher.
Team Cotto, made up of head trainer Joe Santiago, conditioning coach Phil Landman, cutman Joe Chavez, aide-de-camp Bryan Perez, lawyer Gabriel Penagaricano and key members of the Cotto clan, are flying to Las Vegas on Sunday.
Perez said Cotto will stay in a rented house at first but will transfer to the MGM Grand on fight week and train at the Top Rank Gym.
Cotto spent six weeks in Tampa and Perez described the entire training period as “excellent” and “great camp.”
Cotto, who turned 29 on Thursday, said he can’t wait for the scheduled 12-round catch weight title bout to take place, stressing that he is in tip-top shape and ready to rumble.
“We are prepared for whatever he (Pacquiao) will bring to the ring,” added Cotto.
Meanwhile, Cotto will hold an open media workout at the Pound-4-Pound Gym at La Brea in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to Top Rank publicist Lee Samuels.
WBA heavyweight champ Nikolay Valuev says he’s going to dominate in the ring during his bout against Britain’s David Haye on November 7.
The 2.13-meters tall giant has finished a series of sparring matches ahead of the fight to take place in Bern, Switzerland.
In an interview with Sportbox.ru, he said he’s well prepared for any surprises his rival – whom he called “an experienced and dangerous fighter” – may have in store for him.
"We worked through various options. The aim of every boxer is to dictate his terms in the ring. This is what I am going to do against Haye,” the 36-year-old said.
David Haye (22-1, 22 KOs) is a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, who gave up all his titles to pursue his ambitions in the heavyweight division. The Brit is famous not only for his boxing skills, but also his loud mouth.
He called Valuev a “circus freak” and he suspects that he will smell bad. The Russian Giant has ignored all the insults, saying the scores will be settled in the ring and he “doesn’t care” that it will be Haye’s first fight as a heavyweight.
Valuev’s bout with Ruslan Chagaev was cancelled last May, due to a preliminary blood test discovering that the Uzbek boxer had hepatitis, which means the Beast from the East last appeared in the ring on December 20, 2008.
“I do not regret that I had such a long break. It certainly didn’t affect me in worst sense. In fact, I became even better,” he said.
Valuev (50-1, 34 KOs) defended his WBA title against four-time heavyweight champion of the world Evander Holyfield, beating the 46-year-old on points.
“The bout with Holyfield was very interesting. Perhaps one of the best fights of my career. I'll remember it for life,” he remembered.
by Anson Wainwright, 29 October 2009, 15rounds.com
On Saturday in Las Vegas Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko 27-1(22) will make the third defence of his IBF Bantamweight title against mandatory challenger Yonnhy Perez in the main event on Showtime. He won the crown back in 2007 when he beat Luis Alberto Perez for the title with an eye opening seventh round win. He didn’t fight then until the end of 2008 when as co feature to Adamek-Cunningham he retained his title in a barn burner against William Gonzalez. The big opportunity for Agbeko 29, came when he was matched with Vic Darchinyan back in July and though he was the underdog he showed tremendous grit and won a fan friendly decision. Here’s what Agbeko had to say from his suite in Treasure Island.
Hello Joseph, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright - Firstly you’ll be headlining a show in Las Vegas at Treasure Island against Yonnhy Perez. That looks a very interesting fight. How do you see it?
Joseph Agbeko - I feel very good, I feel happy. I feel happy to be in Vegas.
Anson Wainwright - How are you enjoying Las Vegas?
Joseph Agbeko - Yeah was good. The Boxing gym is very good here.
Anson Wainwright - How close to weigh are you now?
Joseph Agbeko - I’m already on my weight, maybe even below.
Anson Wainwright - There has been a lot of bad blood between you in the past week or so. What can you tell us about this?
Joseph Agbeko - Yonnhy is a good fighter, he’s a nice person. Nothing personal.
Anson Wainwright - How much has beating Vic Darchinyan helped improve your confidence?
Joseph Agbeko - Ohhh I was confident before Vic Darchinyan. I was confident I would beat him.
Anson Wainwright - The neighbourhood in Accra Ghana that has the reputation for Boxing is Bukum. Is that where you are from?
Joseph Agbeko - I grew up in a neighbourhood in the Volta region and i was part of the Ewe tribe it’s close to Bukom.
What can you tell us about it there and how it was growing up and how that path took you into Boxing?
Joseph Agbeko - Yeah was cool it was cool over there. That’s where we have all the boxing gyms. It was very good there.
Anson Wainwright - Since turning pro in 1998 you’ve not had an easy ride to the top and had to work very hard for what you have today. Fighting all over the world including Benin, South Africa, Germany, Britain & now America. What can you tell us about this journey?
Joseph Agbeko - Yeah, I’m always in condition with myself . I can say fighting the likes of Johannes Maisa, Cedric Conway, Wladimir Sidorenko, Luis Alberto Perez, , William Gonzalez & Vic Darchinyan. I have fought a couple of guys who are very very good fighters and been able to beat them. I believe I’m the best Bantamweight so far.
Anson Wainwright - Can you tell us abit about your team. Your manager, trainer, promoter and other people who help out?
Joseph Agbeko - Yeah I have Don King as my promoter he’s the main man pushing me high. I’m very very happy to be with Don King production company. I’m so happy. My trainer is Adama Addy and my manager is Vinny Scolpino. It’ a good team & everything is working good for us.
Anson Wainwright - You now live in The Bronx in New York how does that compare to Accra?
Joseph Agbeko - Ahhh living in the Bronx is like living in Ghana. I always feel at home because we have a laugh. I always feel comfortable. It’s like a home away from home.
Anson Wainwright - Finally do you have a message for your fans ahead of next weeks fight with Yonnhy Perez?
Joseph Agbeko - I want to thank everyone for there support and being there for me. I’ve trained very hard for this fight. I’m going to go in the ring on Saturday and win for them. So they can always be proud of me and I wont let them down.
Thanks for your time Joseph and good luck in your upcoming fight.
Muhammad Ali had it. Ken Norton did not. Sugar Ray Leonard had it. Thomas Hearns did not. Mike Tyson had it. Lennox Lewis did not. Oscar De La Hoya had it. Pernell Whitaker did not. Manny Pacquiao?
The question spikes Pacquiao’s date with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand with a potent shot of intrigue that turns an already-interesting fight into a potential game-changer for the boxing business.
Can Pacquiao cross over and capture the public imagination in a way that makes the casual fan stop, talk and pay to watch?
Crossover stardom is hard to measure. Like former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart when asked about another business in the red-light district, however, I know it when I see it. I’ve seen it in Pacquiao for years, or at least since he climbed through the ropes in 2005 smiling like a kid on a playground swing and then talked referee Joe Cortez out of a mid-round stoppage for a nasty cut in a fight he lost by decision to Erik Morales.
Pacquiao is genuine, vulnerable and dangerous all at once. The mix is as compelling as it is unlikely. The way in which it is expressed can also be as different as Tyson, the looming train wreck, and De La Hoya, the well-appointed luxury suite.
What I’m not sure of, however, is whether Americans care. A wise friend bet me that Home Box Office won’t generate as much pay-per-view income for Pacquiao-Cotto, Filipino-versus-Puerto Rican, as it did on Sept. 19 for Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez, American-versus-Mexican. It was a lousy fight, but the pay-per-view milestone, one million customers, is a big victory for Mayweather, much bigger than his one-sided win over Marquez. My friend’s contention is that Americans want to see American fighters.
Maybe.
Maybe, Mayweather’s pay-per-view triumph says exactly that. If so, then Pacquiao will be more like Pele than a De La Hoya. There is plenty of international kick in that. But Pele, a Brazilian, is as popular in America as soccer is or never has been.
In an internet-connected world turning into a global village, however, I’m betting that Americans have begun to notice Pacquiao. His promoter, Bob Arum, introduced a conference call Wednesday by saying that Pacquiao-Cotto is generating interest he hasn’t detected since Leonard, Hearns, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran put some buzz in to the 1980s. The reason, Arum says, is the emergence of Pacquiao’s crossover appeal to people who measure everything they know of boxing by what they remember about Ali.
“I’m just noticing it now,’’ Arum said a few weeks ago during a visit to Cotto’s training camp in Tampa.
Arum said he was in a fashionable Manhattan restaurant, the Monkey Bar, when a couple of celebrity diners, broadcast journalist Charlie Rose and editor Norman Pearlstine, talked about Pacquiao as though he were an emerging market.
During the conference call, there was talk that Pacquiao is poised to become one of history’s five best. Argue over three or four, but Ali would have to be one of them, in large part because of his larger-than-life role in the culture wars of the 1960s and ‘70s.
“Ali was a proponent of a political position and also became a spokesman for the civil rights movement at the time when it was really emerging,’’ said Arum, a former promoter for the iconic ex-heavyweight champ who Friday at his home in Phoenix celebrates the 35th anniversary Friday of his 1974 victory over George Foreman in Zaire. “Ali had a tremendous political impact, particularly his stance on the Viet Nam War. When he came back to fight, people just idolized him.
“Manny does not have that major political statement because he is not controversial. But he is engaged in politics in the Philippines. Everything that he does is pro-humanity, so he is rather loved in the Philippines, the United States and all over the world. …I have never seen anything like the adulation that he is treated by Filipinos all over the world. That is something that even Ali never even really had.’’
For Arum’s generation and my own, Ali’s politics echo down through the decades. In the ring and out of it, Ali’s timing was perfect, although I will forever blame him for Floyd Mayweather Sr.’s poetry. A bygone era wanted a rebel and it got one in Ali.
In a current era plagued by uncertainty heightened by a troubled economy, Pacquiao, surrounded by worshipping fans when he arrived in Los Angeles from Manila a few days ago, is also a man for his times. He is a lousy interview. He doesn’t say much. But these are noisy days. Everybody seems to have a web site or talk show. It would be easy, if not redundant, to just be another noise maker. While the rest of us talk and write about what we should do, shouldn’t do, won’t do and might do, Pacquiao reassures with action. He looks like somebody who knows what to do. Imagine that.
In the final accounting, however, I’m not sure it will matter. I’ve watched Ali interact with the public at various times and places in Phoenix. Parkinson’s has silenced him. The rhyme, the original rap, is gone. But it doesn’t matter. He never fails to attract a crowd, including kids who think Viet Nam is a neighborhood restaurant that specializes in Asian fusion. They don’t care or don’t know if Ali stood against a controversial war.
They just see somebody who, at 67, is as genuine as he was when he was 27. He can’t hide that.
Neither can Pacquiao.
NOTES, QUOTES
· Kudos to light-heavyweight Chad Dawson for dedicating his Nov. 7 rematch against Glen Johnson in Hartford, Conn., to slain UConn football player Jasper Howard. “One of the things that Chad is behind, as well as all of my fighters, is keeping violence inside the ropes,’’ promoter Gary Saw said Thursday. “We have T-shirts that say that. It’s on the web site. If they want fight or feel violent or whatever, then let them to lace up the gloves. Real men wear gloves.’’
· More Dawson: The 27-year-old might be a star in waiting. Eventually, the plan is for him to be a heavyweight. “He will absolutely be the heavyweight champion,’’ predicted Shaw, who first might have him drop back down to super-middleweight for a shot at the Super Six tournament title if – as expected – retires Taylor withdraws. Dawson’s eligibility for Taylor’s spot hinges on negotiations with HBO, Shaw said.
· And Pacquiao’s regimen includes getting hit with a stick while doing sit-ups. The idea and the stick comes from Thailand, where trainers use it to toughen up their fighters. “It deadens the nerves so you can absorb a punch better,’’ Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said. Although Pacquiao has employed and apparently enjoyed the training method for years, Roach concedes he is not altogether comfortable with the tactic. “If somebody is going to hit me with a stick, they better bring a big one,’’ Roach said.
MANNY PACQUIAO, FREDDIE ROACH and BOB ARUM Conference Call Transcript, (Tuesday, October 29, 2009)
BOB ARUM: As we come down the home stretch here I know everybody is excited. This fight has received more attention and more interest I think than any fight in the last five or ten years. I think people are really interested in this fight because there is so much to talk about – their styles and their training in the different parts of the world. Interest in boxing is due to Manny Pacquiao’s rise in the sport. Manny Pacquiao has passion and is a unique fighter. He just won the very prestigious Gusi Peace Prize given out in Asia and of the 17 people that have received this award he is the only athlete. That is great for the sport and congratulations. Freddie Roach is now the model for all trainers and people now realize he is the best trainer in the world and it is a great privilege for me to introduce to both of you Manny Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach.
FREDDIE ROACH: Training camp is going very well. We had four really good weeks in Baguio. There were a couple of typhoons that came our way but we didn’t miss a beat. We had really good sparring then we went back to Manila and it was intense because we had quite a few distractions so we had to break camp early. Now we are back at the Wild Card and Manny boxed great yesterday and had ten good rounds and he’s about 95% there right now and we are ready to go.
MANNY PACQUIAO: Thanks to all the fans. We are getting ready for a great fight on November 14th. I am very excited for this fight. It is going to be a great, great fight.
This would be your 7th division title – can you tell us about that?
MANNY PACQUIAO: First it is a very big honor for me and for the people in my country and I am honored to be fighting for another world championship. That is why I am very hungry for doing this fight because it is the first time in the history of boxing to win a title in seven different weight divisions.
FREDDIE ROACH: Fighting Miguel Cotto for a seventh world title is going to be unbelievable because Manny is a throwback. He is like a Henry Armstrong type. You don’t have fighters like that today that move up in weight like this to win championships in all of these different weight divisions. He is carrying his punch and his power with him along with his speed. He is just getting better and better in the ring. This is just one of the greatest achievements ever. He is passing people like Sugar Ray Leonard who was a six-time world champion, Tommy Hearns. He is in the level of the top 5 fighters of all time of any era.
Can he go any higher?
FREDDIE ROACH: I don’t think so. For him to fight at 147 we have to feed him 5 times a day to keep the weight on him. I think this will be our final stop but you never know. If something comes at 154, maybe we’ll go there.
Talk about the popularity of Manny?
FREDDIE ROACH: Even Mike Tyson didn’t have the drawing power that Manny Pacquiao has right now. Mike was always the biggest guy training and the attention was always there at the airports but the way Manny Pacquiao arrived the other day I never saw a crowd like that. People were swarming to try to get a touch or a look at Manny Pacquiao. His countrymen love him and he is a great inspiration for his country. That’s why we trained there for the first four weeks of this training camp and we had a great time there. It worked out very well. The people appreciated it and we appreciate them.
What do you attribute that to?
FREDDIE ROACH: He brightens up a room. He’s got class and a great smile. Manny Pacquiao is an endearing person and he is a great fighter. He is all action and he gives 100% every time.
Was 24/7 accurate in the depiction of disagreements in camp?
FREDDIE ROACH: There were no disagreements in camp. I just felt it was urgent that we do get out of there before the typhoon hit. I was worried about the safety of the sparring partners and Manny and the team and myself. I was just very concerned that the typhoon was going to come quicker than it did. Manny was more relaxed about it and I told him that I would be waiting in Manila for him just trying to get him motivated to go. That night at midnight he got motivated for me to go and he called me and said “let’s go.” So we left at midnight and went right to Manila.
Sparring with Porter, Antillon and Castillo…
FREDDIE ROACH: Well, Shawn Porter has a great left hook and puncher and we used him quite a bit with Manny and we worked on getting away from that shot and he worked out really well for us. And of course Jose Luis Castillo, he has experience and he knows how to box. We are just getting ready for Miguel Cotto and whatever he brings. If he wants to box us or he wants to fight us, we’re ready for both and we had really good sparring. We still have good sparring and the guys are getting ready to go again tomorrow.
Is it safe to say Miguel Cotto will be the biggest challenge of his career?
FREDDIE ROACH: I don’t know if it is his biggest challenge. We have fought some great fighters like Morales, Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya. He’s a very good fighter and he is champion of the world. Manny is moving up a weight class but we fought Oscar at this weight. I am very confident in my guy and we are 100% ready for the fight. I feel like Manny, with the power he is punching with right now at this weight I feel that he is going to knock Cotto out. I look forward to the win.
How does Manny compare to those such as Ali and De La Hoya?
BOB ARUM: Ali was a proponent of a political position and also became a spokesman for the civil rights movement at the time when it was really emerging into everybody’s vision, so Ali had a tremendous political impact, particularly his stance on the Viet Nam war and when he came back to fight, people just idolized him. Manny Pacquiao does not have that major political statement because he is not controversial but he is engaged in politics in the Philippines and everything that he does is very pro-humanity, so he is rather loved by people in the Philippines, the United States and all over the world. To that extent he has really crossed over to the American public. People know who Manny Pacquiao is and he is genuinely admired. But I have never seen anything like the adulation that he is treated by Filipinos in the Philippines and all over the world. That is something that even Ali never even really had – that type of frenzy, with 90 million people in the Philippines and 11 million Filipino people around the world.
As far as Oscar is concerned, Oscar was popular in the United States. He was good looking, he was charismatic and he was a good fighter. But his popularity was pretty much limited to the United States. Now that made him a lot of money but around the world he didn’t have the recognition of either of Ali or Manny.
How tough was it to train Manny in Baguio with all of the distractions?
FREDDIE ROACH: We asked people to stay away. We closed the gym down. There were no problems at all. There were no politicians bothering him trying to get his support. Those first four weeks were the best that we ever had. Manny was on fire from day 1. I thought he was trying to impress me because he knew that Baguio was far away and I wanted to stay closer to Wild Card but when he chose Baguio I thought he was just trying to show me how great it was but he never stopped. He was on fire the whole month there and we had a great camp. The weather messed with us a little bit but we ran in the rain. We went in the pool. We did what we had to do. We ran inside sometimes and we had no distractions. We had a great first month. The last week in Manila was a little tougher with the politicians trying to make meetings with Manny and pulling him in every direction they could. Those five days in Manila were not that great but the first four weeks were great.
You said Manny was ready physically but not mentally…
FREDDIE ROACH: The last day of boxing in Manila I was disappointed that he didn’t do that well because his mind was somewhere else. But he assured me everything would be great when we got to LA and we boxed yesterday and we started playing. We still had a little bit of jet lag and I didn’t expect a lot from Manny because he looked a little tired in his eyes but he gave me ten great rounds yesterday and he’s back on track and he’s very close to being ready for the fight. We’ll have two more big sparring days then we’ll start tapering off.
Manny, do you feel ready both mentally and physically for this fight?
MANNY PACQUIAO: I feel I am 100% conditioned for the fight and I can’t wait for November 14th.
How much will the fighters that Cotto has fought play into how you attack him?
FREDDIE ROACH: I have seen all the tapes on him and he makes certain adjustments when he fights a southpaw which is something that we can expect, but he never fought a guy like Manny Pacquiao -- with the speed. I think that’s where he is going to have trouble – with the speed. I don’t really think he can handle it, but we’ll see.
Do you expect him to come at you?
FREDDIE ROACH: No I don’t. I think he is going to try and be a counter-puncher and not come at us.
Is knocking out Cotto a feeling you have, like the Hatton fight?
FREDDIE ROACH: It is kind of growing on me. Working the mitts with Manny at this weight he is punching so much harder than he ever has. He is very used to it now. He is punching fast and hard now and I don’t think Cotto has enough. He is hittable and people that Manny can hit, he knocks out.
Is Cotto being hit something you have seen from the film?
FREDDIE ROACH: Definitely. The fight with Margarito of course he did take a beating in that. His first comeback fight was against an average guy and he didn’t look that great but getting knocked out for the first time takes your confidence away. He’s gaining confidence and he looked better in the Clottey fight of course, but he did try to quit in the 9th round when he was holding his eye with a real bad cut. But he sucked it up and came on and won the fight. It was a good one for him and it gave him a little more confidence back but that is our job to take that away from him right away. We are not going to let him get any confidence in this fight – we are going to start quick.
Do you feel Manny is a symbol of hope for the Filipinos?
FREDDIE ROACH: Yes. When the typhoon hit Manila pretty hard, Manny went down there on Sunday to help the people out and I asked him not to go because I thought it was dangerous. But it was his day off and he went to Manila and helped as much as he could. When the second typhoon hit, we kind of took charge a little bit and we went and spoke to the people and try to put a smile on their faces and we gave them a message from Manny of course but I made Manny stay in the hotel so he was safe so there were no problems because his fight was getting closer of course. He is so well-loved in his country and he wants to help the people and the people love him for that. It is amazing the crowds we draw. I am so popular there right now because of Manny. The people are nice to me and they treat me great. The only time they leave me alone is when Manny comes so sometimes I am happy when he is there.
Manny, how do you feel about the people being affected by these natural disasters?
MANNY PACQUIAO: I felt so bad. I do have to focus on my training because I have to prepare. But I try to help the people in my country as much as I can.
How do you feel that this will be the first true welterweight that Manny is fighting? We all know Oscar wasn’t throwing that hard that day…
FREDDIE ROACH: Before the fight everybody said Oscar was going to kill Manny. Why do you say that Oscar had a bad night? Why can’t you say that it was Manny having a good night?
Yes, but Miguel will probably be the hardest puncher Manny will have faced and how do you think he will deal with that if he gets hit?
FREDDIE ROACH: Miguel has a good left hook but I don’t think he is the strongest that we have faced though. Hatton was supposed to be stronger than us also. I have no worries about that because that doesn’t win fights. Boxing ability wins fights and Manny is a better boxer than him, so we’ll show it on the 14th.
How hard is it to train when your countrymen are suffering?
MANNY PACQUIAO: It is very difficult for me but I have to focus on my fight because nobody can help me in the ring. I am not only fighting for me but I am also fighting for my country.
How do you like the attention and how difficult is it to switch back to boxing?
MANNY PACQUIAO: It is my responsibility to focus on training. Of course I understand people want to take a picture and shake my hand because they are idolizing me and supporting me.
How much of a better boxer now is Manny?
FREDDIE ROACH: He is improving all the time and the thing is we are just taking the style of our opponents and making adjustments and he is improving all the time and we are making those adjustments for Cotto’s style and his big left hook and he is doing great. He is getting better and better all the time. He is going to be seven-time world champion and he is still learning, still evolving. He is very hungry to improve.
Manny, what do you have to say about Cotto?
MANNY PACQUIAO: Cotto is a bigger guy and a hard puncher and strong. He is a good fighter and a champion. For this fight it is a challenge.
How do you feel when your coach says you are going to knock him out in one round?
MANNY PACQUIAO: That is my coach’s prediction, but for me I have to focus on the fight and don’t think anything about that but if it comes it is a bonus. I always believe in my power but if I am lucky to hit a good punch against my opponent and knock him out that will mame me happy too.
If Manny knocks him out, will people say it was because Cotto was shot?
FREDDIE ROACH: Of course you will say that. That is everyone’s nature. No one likes to give credit where credit is due but I think Manny looked great in his last four fights and we are going to look great in this one too. Just put him in front of us and we’ll beat him. I think I have the greatest fighter in the world today and I think we’ll prove that again with Miguel Cotto.
MANNY PACQUIAO: It is their right for the people to think what they want. I am confident in my ability and the results of the fights.
What did Manny do when he went to help the people and what kind of effect did it have on him?
FREDDIE ROACH: It was very sad, but they brought money and they brought food and shelter and clothes. He was kind of tired when he got back. It was more mentally draining than anything for him to see the devastation. I think that 2800 people passed away in the storms so it was a very sad moment but once we got in the gym everything was fine. Manny has always been able to separate the drama of life from training in the gym.
Do you still have the $1000 in your pocket?
FREDDIE ROACH: Yes I do. If anyone can knock Manny down in sparring I will pay him $1,000. Manny was beating up on the sparring partners pretty good yesterday so it is not going anywhere.
Sparring is USA?
FREDDIE ROACH: We have some good sparring right now, Rashad Holloway, Shawn Porter and Ray Beltran. So we are getting good use out of them. Castillo and Antillon, they went home so we got some fresh guys in there to keep Manny more focused.
I read where you have told Manny to stay away from the ropes…
FREDDIE ROACH: Cotto has a very good left hook and his strength is on the ropes where he throws very good combinations and if he stays off the ropes it is going to be to our benefit. We are not reinventing the wheel; we are just adjusting to the styles of our opponents. We study them very well and we find their habits and adjust to them and Manny is very capable of doing that. He has a game plan and he sticks with it.
I understand there is a cane or stick in camp that Manny gets whacked with…
FREDDIE ROACH: It is a stick and it is from Thailand. He is not getting whacked with it. It is just a small motion. The Thai fighters use it to deaden the pain and we use it for sit-ups, but he is not getting whacked. It deadens the nerves so you can absorb a punch better. I don’t know if I agree with it 100% but Manny loves it. We have been doing it for 5 years now and it works for Manny and he loves it but if somebody is going to hit me with a stick they better bring a big one.
March 13 – is there a prospect for that fight?
BOB ARUM: We are not going to address that issue until November 15th, because this is a tough, tough fight and he is concentrating on this fight and this is where everybody should be concentrating and there is plenty of time after that date to pick out an opponent, to see who is available and to see what the lay of the land is. To do that now is absolutely counter-productive.
Manny has been knocked out twice and come back from that – what is the difference?
FREDDIE ROACH: After you get knocked out for the first time in your life you need time to get your confidence back and a couple of fights to get your confidence back and Cotto is at a good time because he is definitely getting better. When you are undefeated and you get knocked out in a hard fight it is going to take something out of you. His first fight back he didn’t look that good and the second fight he looked better – he’s getting more confidence. If we give him confidence in this fight he is going to get stronger and stronger and that’s why I feel we have to take it away from him right away.
BOB ARUM: You can see from the interest in this fight and you can see by the questions just how everybody believes, quite correctly, it will be a great night. I can’t wait for November 14th. There will be a lot of stuff between now and then. Miguel is going to do a workout in LA next Tuesday at the Pound-For-Pound Gym, Manny on Wednesday at the Wild Card Gym and then the week of the fight, on Monday, the principal fighter on the undercard, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and his opponent Troy Rowland will also work out at the Pound-For-Pound Gym so press will get an opportunity to see all these great fighters as they train for the fights and interview them. This fight is great for boxing. I don’t know if you realize now the upswing that boxing is on, the fact that boxing is really on a roll. You can tell by the sponsors that are coming out to support this fight. We are really thrilled and I can say unequivocally that boxing is really back and thanks to Manny Pacquiao and thanks to the other great fighters out there, people are talking about boxing again and it is coming back to the mainstream. This all feels to me like the 80’s. We had Sugar Ray and Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran and Tommy Hearns. We are in that era again. It is great and it’s going to help everybody who’s associated with the sport. I’m really enthusiastic, not only because I think it’s going to be a great fight, but I am enthusiastic because I can see the rebirth of boxing and that’s something that’s thrilling for me having been around boxing for so long to see that once again the great sport back and happy.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions, MGM Grand and Tecate, Firepower: Pacquiao vs. Cotto will take place Saturday, November 14 at the sold out MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed Live on HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
HBO's® fast-moving reality series "24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto" returns with an all new episode This Saturday! October 31 at 11 p.m. ET/PT. The four-episode series chronicles the preparations and back stories of both fighters as they train for their November 14 pay-per-view showdown. Episode one is available on HBO ON DEMAND and HBO.com.
Soon after participating in a conference call from Los Angeles with boxing writers Wednesday at noon, Manny Pacquiao went back to his condo and fell asleep.
The six-division world champion — who will be shooting for a title in a record seventh weight class (welterweight) when he fights Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas — slept the entire afternoon and into the evening, missing a workout at Wild Card gym.
Jet lag, his publicist Fred Sternburg cited, from his flight from his native Philippines, where Pacquiao battled deadly typhoons, torrential rains and needy politicians and did humanitarian work in five weeks of training for the Cotto fight.
Jet lag can affect anyone, but there's little doubt that Pacquiao's four weeks in Baguio and five days in Manila took its toll on the fighter. His longtime trainer, Freddie Roach, says it was one of Pacquiao's best camps despite the distractions.
"We had four really good weeks in Baguio," Roach said. "We had a couple typhoons that came, but we didn't miss a beat, we had great sparring. Last week in Manila was a little tense because of lots of distractions, so we had to break camp a little early."
Roach said the biggest task in the Philippines was keeping people away from a man they idolize.
"We asked people to stay away; we closed the gym; there was no problem at all (in Baguio), no politicians bothering him," Roach said. "The weather messed with us a little, but we ran in the rain, went in the pool, ran inside sometimes ... no distractions. The last week in Manila was tough, because a lot of politicians were trying to make meetings with Manny and everyone was trying to pull him in a different direction."
Pacquiao was back sparring Thursday afternoon as Los Angeles Lakers star Ron Artest looked on. "He's back on track; he's very close to being ready for the fight," Roach said.
LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao believes the biggest potential fight in boxing will never happen because Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants no part of him.
Pacquiao is training in Hollywood for his meeting with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, but the pound-for-pound champion spared a moment Thursday to evaluate his chances of fighting Mayweather, the unbeaten pay-per-view king. Although the matchup almost certainly would be a financial bonanza for both fighters, Pacquiao thinks fans shouldn't hold their breath.
"I don't think it's going to happen," Pacquiao said. "I'm sure he doesn't want to fight."
Mayweather has been circumspect about his plans for his next bout, saying only that he has never ducked anybody and would consider any opponent. In his comeback bout from a 21-month layoff, Mayweather demolished Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19 in a fight that generated more than one million pay-per-view buys.
Mayweather's advisers claim they haven't ruled out a bout with Pacquiao, likely among the world's few fighters who could match Money's speed. But the Filipino champion has surprisingly strong opinions about why it won't happen.
"Boxing for him is like a business," Pacquiao said. "He doesn't care about the people around him watching. He doesn't care if the fight is boring, as long as the fight is finished and he gets (plenty of) money. ... I want people to be happy. You have a big responsibility as a boxer."
If Mayweather and Pacquiao don't make a deal, Sugar Shane Mosley has been outspoken in his desire to fight Mayweather, even calling him out in the ring moments after his victory over Marquez. Mosley is slated to meet welterweight champion Andre Berto in Las Vegas in January.
After arriving in California last Saturday, Pacquiao has been ramping up his training regimen this week while also battling jet lag that forced him to sleep for about 20 hours on Wednesday, wiping out a day of training. Because of tax issues, Pacquiao's camp began in Manila and moved to Hollywood later than trainer Freddie Roach usually prefers.
"I'm not worried about it, because he's always known how to block everything out," Roach said. "If anybody can do it, he can."
Pacquiao looked fairly sharp while sparring 11 rounds Thursday at Roach's Wild Card Gym in front of a small group of spectators including Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest and his father, Ron Sr., both avid boxing fans and Pacquiao admirers.
Pacquiao will spar 12 rounds on Saturday before gradually scaling back in preparation for his trip to Las Vegas to meet Cotto, the once-beaten welterweight champion whose combination of size and strength will be unlike anything the former flyweight champion has faced. Cotto is in camp in Tampa. Fla., before travelling to the West Coast next week.
"I consider this one of the hardest fights in my boxing career," Pacquiao said.
While the 78-year-old still has the same electric hairstyle, he's making a return to Las Vegas after a four-year absence with bantamweights when Joseph Agbeko faces Yonnhy Perez on Saturday in an IBF title match (Showtime, 9 ET/PT).
The world's most recognized and bombastic boxing promoter — who made his name by controlling what used to be the sport's most recognizable division since the 1970s by promoting all-time great heavyweights Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield and a litany of others in between — is focused on the lower weights.
"The public has the smarts to know that this isn't a Tyson or Holyfield, but it's electric here," says King of the atmosphere at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. "That is what makes me so phenomenal. I have taken a 118-pound bantamweight fight and it's bigger than anything in this town. I aint got to pay them that $20 million or 30 million I would for a Tyson or Holyfield, but I'm using the same magic."
In between King's elaborate sales pitch, quoting the likes of British author Rudyard Kipling and French literary giant Victor Hugo and longing for the days of handshake deals and the wise guy charm of a Bugsy Siegel, he vows a different approach to testing the global market through Donkingtv.com, where non-televised undercard bouts such as DaVarryl Williamson vs. Ray Austin and Venezuelan Nelson Linares vs. Carlos Santana of Cuba can be seen for $5.99.
King contends his absence as a major player — working in the shadows while Top Rank and Golden Boy secure a bulk of the HBO dates and stage pay-per-view superfights such as Antonio-Margarito-Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather, De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao, Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton and Pacquiao-Cotto on Nov. 14 — is self-imposed. He also professes admiration of mixed martial arts, including UFC president Dana White, and would like to explore that market.
"It's not because I'm tired or hiding out. We have no stars," King says. "We don't have ABC Wild World of Sports anymore, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, where you can be introduce to the fighter, his family, his community.
"UFC is a great contribution. It's a return to glory for people who like sophisticated barbarism. Dana White and (co-founder) Lorenzo Fertitta have done a phenomenal job."
The final press conference for Perez (19-0, 14 KOs) and Agbeko (27-1, 22 KOs) took place on a pirate ship at Treasure Island.
This weekend marks the 35th anniversary of the Ali-Foreman Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire. A native of Ghana based in New York, Agbeko is coming off an upset of Vic Darchinyan three months ago. Agbeko, nicknamed "King Kong," stands a shade under 5-6.
"Ain't nothing going to stop us. We're on the high seas. There's no moratorium on inclement weather," King says, his voice now booming. "No cage can hold him. The lights are up on the Vegas strip. King Kong is on his way."
How serious is your desire to be involved with MMA?
I'm the people's promoter. Whatever the people want, I'm going to promote. Whatever the public wants, that's what I want to give them. I want to give it to them with candor so they can quantify, qualify and identify with whoever the athlete is.
Why this fight for your return to Vegas, and why Treasure Island, which has never hosted a boxing match?
CEO of Treasure Island Phil Ruffin and I shook hands on the idea after discussing what it would take to make this happen. We work without a contract. This is a throwback. I started shaking hands with Muhammad Ali for the Rumble in the Jungle. George Foreman pre-signed on several blank sheets of player (for the contract).
This is the good old days when the boys were here, when the unions were here. That's the glory of Las Vegas. I'm thrilled beyond description. You put your honor at stake, your code. Or do you want an agreement where you can come back and sue?
So you yearn for the old days in Las Vegas. What was so good about then vs. now?
Las Vegas of today is more corporate. You've lost the common touch. The Las Vegas of then was illustrated by Rudyard Kipling: "Or walk with kings nor lose the common touch." It's so cold and isolated. Yes, people come but you don't feel it. Everybody's aloof. You don't have the Bugsy Siegels. You don't have the colorful characters of the underworld where they could shine and be there without being intimidated or fearful of the law locking them up.
That touch of class that Rudyard Kipling talked about needs revitalization. People are not numbers. I understand numbers. I understand business. Those are not Las Vegas. Las Vegas is where you come to solve the problem. Las Vegas has lost the ability to become a catharsis. There's no love. Give me some love. Tender loving care. That's the spirit.
You made your name with the heavyweights. That division is in steep decline. Did that have any impact on your lower profile? And since you've been on the outside looking in for a while, what do you see?
I just don't want to be a participant in the schemes. My enemies, even those who despise me and criticize me, they will say I put on the best shows — which I do. You give the people what they want. They (rival promoters) are putting out mismatches. They're using the name recognition. I've given the people a decent return for their money. Then they would only put on that one match (the main event), and the rest of the card would be utterly ridiculous. When you see a card like my card, you've got championship matches, undefeated fighters … any one of them could be a main event. Would-be-champion vs. former champion.
This is the difference. It's not about me returning. It's about me not participating in something that I feel (is wrong). I talk the talk. I walk the walk. My word is my bond.
Your rival Bob Arum has made condescending remarks about MMA, referring to their fan base as too unrefined. Your thoughts?
They are Americans. They are people. Who am I to say that something is wrong with them when I'm always crying about, "Why you're treating me this way?" They bring competition. They bring people. Let's enrich it and monetize it. Let's bring the people something.
When you bring a new store to town, you can choose between the prices and the fabrics. When I bring my guys in we'll be getting prepared to take on Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta in their league vs. our league. The same thing I want to do with the sport of boxing I want to do with MMA. Make it competitive, man. Make it a comparison. Even though they've put on good fights, let's see what they do with someone totally independent.
So does this mean you're adding an MMA arm to Don King Productions?
Well, I can't do this all by myself. I'm 78 but I'm not slowing down. I've got all the time in the world to rest when I get to heaven.
LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao believes the biggest potential fight in boxing will never happen because Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants no part of him.
Pacquiao is training in Hollywood for his bout with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14, but the pound-for-pound champion spared a moment on Thursday to consider his chances of fighting pay-per-view king Mayweather in what would be an extremely lucrative bout for both fighters.
"I don't think it's going to happen," Pacquiao says. "I'm sure he doesn't want to fight."
Pacquiao says Mayweather treats boxing too much like a business and doesn't care about entertainment value for his fans. Pacquiao is known for his crowd-pleasing style, while Mayweather is boxing's most accomplished tactician.
(This article is originally posted at USAtoday.com)
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" airs every weeknight (12:05-1:05 a.m., ET), following "Nightline" and features a diverse lineup of guests that include celebrities, athletes, musical acts, comedians and human interest subjects, along with comedy bits and a house band.
Following are the episodes scheduled to air the week of November 2-6 (subject to change):
November 2 (OAD 10/13)
1. Actor Jack Black (EA Game "Brutal Legend")
2. "Dancing with the Stars" castoff Chuck Liddell
3. Musical guest Cobra Starship
November 3
1. Actress Pamela Anderson ("Malibu")
2. Boxing champion Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao
3. Latest "Dancing with the Stars" castoffs
4. Musical guest White Rabbits
November 4
1. Actor Joshua Jackson ("Fringe")
2. Big Bird ("Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary")
3. Musical guest Slayer
November 5
1. Actor Jesse Williams ("Grey's Anatomy")
2. Musical guest Florence and The Machine
November 6
1. Actor Ted Danson ("Bored to Death")
2. Newlyweds Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom ("Keeping Up with the Kardashians: The Wedding")
3. Musical guest Chickenfoot
(This article is originally posted at RealityTVWebsite.com. Reposted with minor editing.)
