David Haye 'will flatten' Nikolai Valuev, says Freddie Roach

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

Haye, the former three-belt world cruiserweight champion, meets the 7ft Russian in Nuremberg on Saturday, with the prize the World Boxing Association heavyweight title at stake.

Roach, who spoke exclusively to Telegraph Sport at the Wild Card Gym, Hollywood, where he is training both Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan ahead of their respective world title fights, said: "Haye will flatten Valuev, he'll crush him.

"He's too fast, too strong, too aggressive.

"Haye will become the first man to knock Valuev out. Sure, the big guy has shown he is resilient, and I'm surprised he can go 12 rounds without getting tired because he is so heavy [at 23 stone], but with Haye's power and speed he's going to get KO'd."

Roach, credited with developing Pacquiao into the world's No 1 pound-for-pound boxer, believes Haye's style and demeanour is compelling, and exactly what the world's heavyweight division needs.

"I like guys who like to fight," Roach said. "Haye believes in himself, he talks a bit of bull, but he's just trying to ignite interest in the fight. He's young, exciting, and charismatic.

"Haye's the best thing for the heavyweight division right now, because he comes to fight, he comes to win, and he's a puncher.

"That's what heavyweight boxing should be all about. The Klitschko brothers are great boxers but they are boring. They don't take risks. You've got to go for it in this sport, and give 100 per cent.

"Manny Pacquiao is popular because he comes to exchange with you, he wants to fight. Once in a while he gets hit, but that is part of the game. Haye is the spark the heavyweight division needs right now.

"I'm sure Haye is going to win this fight. [Evander] Holyfield got a bad decision last year against Valuev, but Holyfield won that fight.

"If a shot 46-year-old Holyfield can beat Valuev, a young David Haye with speed and power mean he will be the first guy to KO Valuev."

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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Bernard Fernandez: Yorgey facing biggest fight

By Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News

THE NOV. 14 MEGAFIGHT between WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) and Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) is November's must-see event, but there is a wide variety of options for discerning fight fans to choose from this Saturday.

Let's start with the HBO Championship Boxing doubleheader from Hartford, Conn., the main event of which pits Chad Dawson (28-0, 17 KOs) against veteran Glen Johnson (49-12-2, 33 KOs) for the WBC interim light-heavyweight championship.

As appealing as that matchup is, devoted supporters of Bridgeport, Pa., junior middleweight Harry Joe Yorgey (22-0-1, 10 KOs) will focus more on his lead-in bout with Mexico's Alfredo Angulo (16-1, 13 KOs), probably the sternest test the former Upper Merion High running back has faced.

Yorgey for years was a strictly-local attraction, filling small rooms in and around his hometown for small purses against lower-echelon opponents. But the married father of four dared to believe he was a big fish in a small pond who, if given the chance, could swim with bigger fish with sharper teeth.

Thanks to his ShoBox-televised ninth-round knockout of Ronald Hearns, son of the legendary Thomas Hearns, on March 28 in Miami, Okla., Yorgey gets a crack at Angulo, whose meteoric rise to the top of the rankings was slowed on May 30 when he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Kermit Cintron. Angulo has since taken out Gabriel Rosado in two rounds.

Yorgey is ranked No. 4 by the WBC and No. 5 by the WBO; Angulo's highest ratings are from the same organizations, only reversed. Much more is on the line for each fighter than the vacant WBO Inter-Continental junior middleweight title belt.

"This is a potentially life-changing fight for me and my family," said Yorgey, 31, a former construction worker who quit his day job a couple of years ago to concentrate on boxing. "I'm going to grab this opportunity by the throat and take care of business."

Another local favorite on his way to wider recognition is North Philadelphia welterweight Mike Jones (18-0, 15 KOs), who is rated seventh by the WBA. Jones puts his NABA 147-pound title on the line Saturday against Colombia's Raul Pinzon (16-3-0, 15 KOs) at Bally's Atlantic City.

Jones-Pinzon won't be televised, but you can catch the action via the Internet on gofightlive.tv.

If you're looking for something more exotic than homeboys Yorgey and Jones, some pay-per-view outlets are making available Saturday's heavyweight title bout in Nuremberg, Germany, between Russian giant Nicolay Valuev (50-1, 34 KOs), the WBA champion, and London's David Haye (22-1, 21 KOs).

At 6-3 and 215 or so pounds, Haye is the David who is giving away nearly a foot in height and 110 pounds to Valuev's hulking Goliath.

But the combat-sport attraction guaranteed to draw Saturday's biggest audience is the return of mixed martial arts to over-the-air free television (CBS), in which heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (32-1), considered by many to be the world's best MMA fighter, throws down against Brett Rogers (10-0) in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

This is the first fight for Emelianenko since his promotional company, M-1 Global, signed an agreement with Strikeforce, much to the chagrin of UFC president Dana White. Emelianenko is the biggest of the big fish not under UFC control.

Hines checked out Hilton

Tomorrow marks the 21th anniversary of Robert "Bam Bam" Hines' upset of IBF junior middleweight champion Matthew Hilton at the Las Vegas Hilton.

OK, so the North Philadelphia southpaw's title reign was regrettably brief. He was a unanimous-decision loser to Darrin Van Horn in his first defense, on Feb. 5, 1989, a fight for which Hines had to lose 27 pounds to make the 154-pound limit and was unable to spar during training because of a chronically sore right shoulder.

But Hines, 48, who was inducted into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame earlier this year, scaled Himalayan heights in dispatching Hilton, one of the more feared body punchers of his or any era.

Hilton floored Hines in both the second and third rounds, but the challenger was not easily dissuaded and outworked the Canadian the rest of the way, landing 305 of 932 punches, according to CompuBox statistics, to only 162 of 424 for Hilton.

"Matthew Hilton didn't show me nothing new," Hines, who finished with a record of 25-3-1 with 17 KOs, crowed after his defining victory. "I get this in sparring all the time. Hey, I'm from Philadelphia."

This Price was right

Congratulations to 11-year-old Philadelphian Dylan Price, who won the 65-pound title in the junior division at the recently concluded National Police Athletic League Championships in San Antonio. Price is trained by Philly's Mitchell Allen Sr., but his corner team at the PAL tournament included Floyd Mayweather Sr., whose son you may have heard of. Also doing Philly proud in San Antonio was 201-plus-pounder Bryant Jennings, who made it to the final in the open division before losing to Lenroy Thompson. *

Send e-mail to fernanb@phillynews.com

Source: philly.com

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Pepper Roach Interview on Pacquiao vs Cotto, Mayweather Jr, Toney, De La Hoya, Hopkins, Prediction and More!

By David Tyler, Doghouse Boxing

Let’s welcome the brother of Freddie Roach into the doghouse. Pepper has spent his life in the boxing business, first as a professional fighter and now as a trainer working for his brother at the WildCard gym in Hollywood. I hope you enjoy!

David Tyler – Pepper, this place is a madhouse with thousands of Manny Pacquiao fans in the parking lot. Is it this way every day?

Pepper Roach – Yes Sir! Every day since Freddie and Manny got back from the Philippines. The crowds seem to grow bigger each day. Manny Pacquiao is the most popular fighter in the world so we are used to these kinds of crowds.

DT – Pep, please quit kidding around and stop calling me sir.

PR – OK but only if you refer to me as the good looking Roach brother in your article.

Also I’m a better trainer than Freddie.

Please read the rest of this Interview at DoghouseBoxing.

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Celebrity Fans and Publicists Want a Piece of Manny Pacquiao

By Leo Reyes, Digital Journal

Hollywood celebrities and publicists are trooping to Wild Card Gym to either shake hands with the Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao or to invite him for guesting in their TV programs and other live sporting events.
World-famous Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao may have to turn down requests from fellow celebrities and publicists for an audience or appearance by the Filipino boxing icon.

Fellow sportsmen and boxing aficionados are trying to find a way to shake hands and be photographed with the famous celebrity boxer. Shaquille O'Neal was reported to have offered his services to lead Pacquiao into the ring at the MGM Grand on November 14. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said 'he sounded he really wanted to do it'.

Just a few days ago, another NBA superstar Ron Artest visited Manny Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym while the popular boxer was doing his workout with Freddie Roach.

mb.com reports
Fred Sternburg, hired by Top Rank to lead Pacquiao’s publicity machine swears he’s never seen anything like the past few days as demand for the Filipino boxing icon continues to grow.

Another celebrity who wanted a piece of Pacquiao is film star Jeremy Piven who watched Pacquiao train last Friday at the Wild Card Gym.

Jeremy Piven

The mb.com report added: 'In the coming days, Pacquiao will either have to politely turn down or honor the request and invitation of men such as television host Jimmy Kimmel and Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, who has invited Pacquiao to sit with him in his private box when the ball club plays Memphis this Friday at the Staples Center'.

Manny Pacquiao is winding up his training and physical conditioning at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood in preparation for his date with Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico on November 14.The pound-for-pound king has spent half of his training schedule in his homeland, the Philippines before moving to Los Angles last weekend for the final leg of his training.

Pacquiao's opponent Miguel Cotto has just planed in from Tampa Florida to resume his training before facing the pound for pound king at the MGM Grand garden arena.

At stake in the Pacquiao-Cotto match dubbed 'Firepower' is the welterweight belt of the Puerto Rican boxer Pacquiao is aiming for his seventh win in seven different weight classes.

Source: digitaljournal.com

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HBO's 24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto: Is PacMan reeling in Floyd?

By April MacIntyre, Monsters and Critics

HBO's 24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto lead up is in episode three, where odds favorite, Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) focuses on his training regime amidst personality clashes in the camp, while Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) and his team prepare to move training camp to Las Vegas a week early to further prepare him for the Nov. 14 match.

Pacquiao is currently in LA preparing to step up his training and conditioning as the days lead up to the Nov. 14 welterweight showdown against Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, PacMan was quoted last week saying Floyd Mayweather doesn't want to fight him, and he doesn't expect the fight to happen.



Mike Koncz, Pacquiao's adviser (49-3-2), was asked about a possible Mayweather fight after Pacquiao's bout with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas.

“Do we wanna do Mayweather? Of course we wanna do Mayweather,” Koncz told ABS-CBN News. “But we won’t be railroaded and pushed around, bullied around.

"We don’t need Mayweather. If Manny gets past Cotto in great fashion, I don’t believe it makes a difference who he fights next. ... We’re not gonna chase Mayweather, absolutely not."

Episode #3 debuts prior to the live presentation “World Championship Boxing: Chad Dawson vs. Glen Johnson II and Alfredo Angulo vs. Harry Joe Yorgey” at 9:30 p.m (ET)/6:30 p.m. (PT).

Actor Liev Schreiber narrates the series and the finale of 24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto which debuts Friday, Nov. 13 (9:30-10:00 p.m.), just one night before the fight.

All four episodes have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series is also available on HBO On Demand.

On Saturday, Nov. 14 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Pacquiao vs. Cotto,” live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Elaborating on the impending matchup, "Mayweather seems to handpick his opponents while Cotto will fight anybody and everybody,” Koncz added. “So to me I feel Cotto is the much stronger fighter than Mayweather."

NOV. 7 EPISODE Episode #3 on Saturday, NOV. 7 (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET/6:00-6:30 p.m. PT)


Other HBO playdates: Nov. 7 (11:45 p.m. ET/8:45 p.m. PT), 8 (11:15 a.m., 8:15 p.m.), 9 (7:30 p.m.), 10 (2:00 p.m., 11:30 p.m.), 12 (11:30 a.m., 10:30 p.m.), 13 (9:00 p.m.) and 14 (10:30 a.m.)


HBO2 playdates: Nov. 8 (11:10 p.m.), 11 (12:50 a.m.), 13 (1:40 a.m.) and 14 (5:00 p.m.)


HBO On Demand availability begins: Nov. 9

Source: monstersandcritics.com

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Video: Miguel Cotto has the greatest weapon for a southpaw - the left hook, says Angelo Dundee

BoxingNewsWorld.blogspot.com

Watch legendary trainer Angelo Dundee breaks down Manny Pacquiao – Miguel Cotto fight in an interview with BoxeoMundial.com's Rafael Trinidad.


Source: YouTube

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Litzau vs. Edwards on Wednesday

by Ramon Aranda, 411mania.com

A special Friday Night Fights this week.

This Wednesday, there will be a special edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights which will air from the Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, N.C.

The card will be televised at 8 p.m. ET and will feature members of the USMC boxing team. Brian Kenny and Teddy Atlas will call the action for ESPN2 ringside.

The night will culminate with a battle between Johnnie Edwards (15-4-1, 8 KOs) of Jacksonville and Jason Litzau (25-2, 21 KOs).

Source: 411mania.com

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*****


(Source: YouTube)

Freddie Roach Interview on Pacquiao vs Cotto, Mayweather Jr, Super Six, Zab, Mosley, Wager for Teddy Atlas and More!

By David Tyler, Doghouse Boxing

Freddie Roach has already trained more champions and won more awards as trainer of the year than any other trainer in the storied history of boxing. To this day, he has not been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Once again, let’s welcome Freddie into the doghouse.

David Tyler - Freddie how about another quick interview?

Freddie Roach – David, you are the only media person I let in for Manny’s training. I’ve let you interview my brother, Manny, Buboy, Amir Khan, and Mickey Rourke, all today. Isn’t that enough?

DT – Are you serious.

FR – Of course not! You’re a good friend, let’s talk, I was only kidding.

DT – Thanks. I am glad we are friends. We have known each other over ten years and how many years since you have trained Manny?

FR – Almost nine years now. I am getting better looking and Manny is getting better in the ring, I don’t know about you.

Please read the rest of the interview at DoghouseBoxing.com:

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Miguel Cotto Could Be Next Spoiler As Puerto Rican “Game Changers” Not Unusual In Sport’s History

East Side Boxing

Although boxing and betting experts are bestowing their beliefs and bank accounts on a Manny Pacquiao victory over Miguel Cotto on Saturday November 14, Miguel Cotto believes differently and boxing history books tell a different story as there have been many a Puerto Rican fighter—from an island rich in producing infamous boxing champions—who have come in the underdog and walked away with the upset victory. Cotto looks to keep the tradition of these former Puerto Rican fighters alive by doing the same to Pacquiao when they meet in one of the most exciting boxing battles of the year..

March 30, 1965: Jose Torres KO 9 Willie Pastrano, MSG, NYC (Wins world light heavyweight title): Pastrano, a veteran of 82 fights, is dropped by Cus D'Amato protege and 1956 Olympic silver medalist Torres, 34-1-1, in the sixth round, and the fight is stopped between the ninth and 10th. Torres, 28, becomes an instant hero in NYC. Pastrano, 29, never fights again.

November 13, 1965: Carlos Ortiz W 15 Ismael Laguna, San Juan (Regains WBC lightweight title): Seven months earlier, Panamanian speed demon Laguna, 40-2-1, had taken the title from the 28-year-old Ortiz in Panama City. In the rematch, Ortiz, 45-5, stuns the world by negating Laguna's speed and reclaiming the title by unanimous decision. They would fight a rubber match in 1967, with Ortiz winning by unanimous decision in New York City.

March 6, 1976: Wilfred Benitez W 15 (split) Antonio Cervantes, San Juan (Wins WBA junior welterweight title): Puerto Rico's Benitez, 17, becomes the youngest world titlist in history (record still stands) by brilliantly outpointing consummate pro Cervantes, 30, who was making his 11th defense and engaging in his 86th fight. It can be argued that defensive genius Benitez, 26-0, never matched this performance despite going on to win world titles at two additional weights.

November 17, 1972: Esteban DeJesus W 10 Roberto Duran, MSG, NYC (non-title bout): In the first of what would be three epic battles, the 21-year-old DeJesus, 33-1, floors lightweight champion Duran, 31-0, with a left hook in round one and goes on to win a unanimous decision to the delight of the predominantly Puerto Rican crowd at the Garden. Duran would win the second and third bouts, both title fights, by kayo, and DeJesus would go on to win the WBC 135-pound title.

October 28, 1978: Wilfredo Gomez KO 5 Carlos Zarate, Hato Rey, PR (Retains WBC super bantamweight title): The 21-year-old super bantamweight champion Gomez, 21-0-1, shocks the boxing world by crushing Mexico's Zarate, the reigning bantamweight champion who is ranked in the top three on virtually all pound-for-pound lists. It is Gomez's sixth title defense. Zarate was favored because he entered the ring with a barely believable record of 52-0 with 51 kayos. Both fighters struggle to make weight, but Zarate needs four trips to the scale to reduce to 122, and is clearly weakened by the effort

September 26, 1986: Edwin Rosario KO 2 Livingstone Bramble, Miami Beach (Wins WBA lightweight title): After losing to Hector Camacho in June, Rosario, 28-2, is a significant underdog against the 26-year-old Bramble, 24-1-1, and in his prime after scoring wins over Ray Mancini (twice) and Tyrone Crawley. Rosario, 23, flaunts his crushing kayo power against a fighter with a defense that had been thought to be impenetrable. It is the start of Rosario's second reign as a 135-pound titlist.

September 18, 1999: Felix Trinidad W 12 Oscar De La Hoya, Las Vegas (Retains IBF welterweight title; Wins WBC welterweight title): In a hotly anticipated battle of unbeaten champions and icons, Trinidad and De La Hoya add a significant chapter to the history of Puerto Rico-Mexico (or Mexican-American) battles. The 26-year-old Trinidad, 35-0, rallies in the late rounds, forces De la Hoya to retreat and wins a controversial majority decision.

ABOUT PACQUIAO vs. COTTO

Promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions, MGM Grand and Tecate, FIRE POWER: PACQUIAO vs. COTTO will take place Saturday, November 14 at the sold out MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, has won six world titles in as many different weight divisions ranging from 112 to 140 pounds. His performance in 2008 was described as “Henry Armstrongesque,” winning world titles at 130 and 135 pounds with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez and David Diaz, respectively, and knocking out and retiring Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds to complete the trifecta. This year, he picked up where he left off last year – winning another world title in a new weight division – by dealing defending junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton a one-punch second-round knockout on May 2.

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico has sold more tickets to Madison Square Garden in this millennium than any other fighter. He has held a world title every year since 2004. Puerto Rico’s most exciting fighter, Cotto held the WBO junior welterweight crown from 2004-2006, successfully defending it six times before vacating it to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title at the end of 2006, a title he held for nearly as long. He won his second welterweight title in February, knocking out Michael Jennings in the fifth round at Madison Square Garden to become the WBO welterweight champion. Notable scalps on Cotto’s belt include Sugar Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey, Paulie Malignaggi and Demarcus Corley.

The Pacquiao vs. Cotto pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $54.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com or www.toprank.com.

HBO's® fast-moving reality series "24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto" returns with an all new episode on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. 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. Episodes one and two are available on HBO ON DEMAND®.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

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Boxing Odds - Pac-Man Massive Favorite In Cotto Clash

Offshore Insider

Like New York’s World Series odds, Manny Pacquiao is an overwhelming favorite in his November 14th fight with Miguel Cotto, slated to take place in Las Vegas at a 145-pound catchweight, but for Cotto’s WBO welterweight crown. Can “Pac-Man” become the first man to hold title in an amazing SEVEN different weight classes?

Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs)

“Pac-Man” is the world’s No.1 pound-for-pound boxer, and he’s looking to join Thomas Hearns, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather as the only boxers to hold belts in five different weight classes. He’d also like to join De La Hoya, who is the only man to hold six different titles, and he dropped his idol in the eighth round of their 2008 fight. Pacquiao’s last fight didn’t even go that long as he knocked out Ricky Hatton in the second round of their fight back in May. Pacquiao may have the quickest hands of anyone in boxing, and he’s surprisingly strong for such a small man.

Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs)

Cotto knows he’s a huge online betting underdog, but that probably won’t make him change his style. Cotto will stand in there and slug it out with anyone, which usually makes it interesting for the fans and PPV customers. Cotto is coming off an entertaining split-decision win over Josh Clottey back in June to retain the WBO welterweight title that he won over Michael Jennings in February.

Sportsbook odds have Pacquiao as a -270 favorite in this contest, and this is his third straight fight at the MGM Grand. Cotto would like some redemption as the MGM Grand is the site of his lone loss, a controversial 11th-round knockout at the hands of Antonio Margarito, who is suspected to have put plaster on his hands for more power back in July 2008. This should be the Fight of the Year as neither fighter will back down from a toe-to-toe brawl, but they’re going to have to show some technique at some point, and Pacquiao has the edge in that, as well as elusiveness. In a fight that should go the distance, take the favored Manny Pacquiao in your sports picks.

Source: offshoreinsider.com

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