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Wednesday 9 December 2009
Roach sees easy win by Pacquiao -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
Freddie Roach doesn’t mind going to the Philippines to begin training camp with Manny Pacquiao, who faces Floyd Mayweather in what could turn out to be boxing’s most expensive fight set in March next year.
“I can’t wait for the fight,” said Roach on Wednesday morning (Tuesday afternoon in the US).
The confident Roach he doesn’t see his boy losing.
“We’ll kick Mayweather’s ass,” said the tough-talking Roach, who has guided Pacquiao to an incredible 16-1 record on US soil, including memorable victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
Roach remains in seventh heaven as he had just steered another major fighter under his wing - British star Amir Khan - to a 76-second knockout win over Dimitri Salita over the weekend in Newcastle, England.
Roach said he doesn’t have any concerns about setting up the first half of training camp in Baguio, where Pacquiao had worked out for a month in preparation for the Miguel Cotto fight that the Filipino won in stunning fashion last November 14.
Roach is so thrilled about Pacquiao clashing with Mayweather that he has named Khan and welterweight hotshot Andre Berto as sparring partners of Pacquiao although Roach stressed that Berto will only be tapped in the second half of training, when they’ve already returned to the familiar confines of the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Berto, who has a 25-0 record with 19 knockouts, is scheduled to face Shane Mosley on Jan. 30 in Las Vegas and if Berto emerges unscathed, he will be asked to give a helping hand to Pacquiao.
Roach said he has a few more fighters lined up in the remaining weeks but is looking forward to starting Day One of training camp.
Source: mb.com.ph
Freddie Roach doesn’t mind going to the Philippines to begin training camp with Manny Pacquiao, who faces Floyd Mayweather in what could turn out to be boxing’s most expensive fight set in March next year.
“I can’t wait for the fight,” said Roach on Wednesday morning (Tuesday afternoon in the US).
The confident Roach he doesn’t see his boy losing.
“We’ll kick Mayweather’s ass,” said the tough-talking Roach, who has guided Pacquiao to an incredible 16-1 record on US soil, including memorable victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
Roach remains in seventh heaven as he had just steered another major fighter under his wing - British star Amir Khan - to a 76-second knockout win over Dimitri Salita over the weekend in Newcastle, England.
Roach said he doesn’t have any concerns about setting up the first half of training camp in Baguio, where Pacquiao had worked out for a month in preparation for the Miguel Cotto fight that the Filipino won in stunning fashion last November 14.
Roach is so thrilled about Pacquiao clashing with Mayweather that he has named Khan and welterweight hotshot Andre Berto as sparring partners of Pacquiao although Roach stressed that Berto will only be tapped in the second half of training, when they’ve already returned to the familiar confines of the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Berto, who has a 25-0 record with 19 knockouts, is scheduled to face Shane Mosley on Jan. 30 in Las Vegas and if Berto emerges unscathed, he will be asked to give a helping hand to Pacquiao.
Roach said he has a few more fighters lined up in the remaining weeks but is looking forward to starting Day One of training camp.
Source: mb.com.ph
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Floyd Mayweather Jr confident of beating Manny Pacquiao -- BBC Sport
BBC Sport
Floyd Mayweather Jr believes he will knock out Manny Pacquiao when boxing's two biggest stars meet in 2010.
The American and the Philippines star, regarded as the world's two best pound-for-pound boxers, are finalising plans for a welterweight meeting on 13 March.
And unbeaten Mayweather, 32, said: "He's been knocked out before and he's taken losses. I'll be victorious."
Mayweather's bold prediction comes as two NFL stadiums are reported to be bidding to host the 'superfight'.
Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is competing with the Superdome in New Orleans, as well as traditional boxing venue, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The two stadiums could accommodate up to 100,000 spectators, while the MGM Grand seats about 16,000.
The latter venue staged both boxers' last fights - Filipino Pacquaio became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Las Vegas-based Mayweather beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September.
Pacquiao's victory over Cotto completed an amazing 12 months in which he defeated ring legend Oscar de la Hoya as well as Britain's Ricky Hatton.
With the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao expecting to surpass the previous record of $18.4m (£11,36m) for gate receipts, which was for Mayweather's bout with Oscar De La Hoya in 2007, promoters Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer are looking to maximise all possible revenues.
And Mayweather remains confident of blotting Pacquaio's record of 50 victories from 55 fights.
"Pacquiao's a good fighter but I've been around the sport a long time and I've dominated boxing for around 15 years now," the American said on HBO Television's Joe Buck Live chat show.
"No-one has defeated me yet so we'll have to see.
"The thing is, I don't want the fans to be really shocked by what will happen when we do happen to meet up because it's not going to be anything new."
Mayweather also admitted he has won and lost huge sums gambling on NFL matches in Las Vegas.
"Two weeks ago I won like a million [dollars], that was across a week of games, Monday night, Sunday and Thursday," he added.
"I didn't lose a million but I lost a couple of hundred thousand. Then I tried to get some 'get back' and lost some more money on Brett Favre [Minnesota Vikings quarter-back]."
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
Floyd Mayweather Jr believes he will knock out Manny Pacquiao when boxing's two biggest stars meet in 2010.
The American and the Philippines star, regarded as the world's two best pound-for-pound boxers, are finalising plans for a welterweight meeting on 13 March.
And unbeaten Mayweather, 32, said: "He's been knocked out before and he's taken losses. I'll be victorious."
Mayweather's bold prediction comes as two NFL stadiums are reported to be bidding to host the 'superfight'.
Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is competing with the Superdome in New Orleans, as well as traditional boxing venue, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The two stadiums could accommodate up to 100,000 spectators, while the MGM Grand seats about 16,000.
The latter venue staged both boxers' last fights - Filipino Pacquaio became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Las Vegas-based Mayweather beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September.
Pacquiao's victory over Cotto completed an amazing 12 months in which he defeated ring legend Oscar de la Hoya as well as Britain's Ricky Hatton.
With the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao expecting to surpass the previous record of $18.4m (£11,36m) for gate receipts, which was for Mayweather's bout with Oscar De La Hoya in 2007, promoters Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer are looking to maximise all possible revenues.
And Mayweather remains confident of blotting Pacquaio's record of 50 victories from 55 fights.
"Pacquiao's a good fighter but I've been around the sport a long time and I've dominated boxing for around 15 years now," the American said on HBO Television's Joe Buck Live chat show.
"No-one has defeated me yet so we'll have to see.
"The thing is, I don't want the fans to be really shocked by what will happen when we do happen to meet up because it's not going to be anything new."
Mayweather also admitted he has won and lost huge sums gambling on NFL matches in Las Vegas.
"Two weeks ago I won like a million [dollars], that was across a week of games, Monday night, Sunday and Thursday," he added.
"I didn't lose a million but I lost a couple of hundred thousand. Then I tried to get some 'get back' and lost some more money on Brett Favre [Minnesota Vikings quarter-back]."
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
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Mayweather on Joe Buck Live: 'Pacquiao's Been KO'd Before' -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Five-time world champion, Floyd Mayweather, was a guest on HBO's Joe Buck Live on Tuesday night, closing the show with retired former New York Giants defensive star, Michael Strahan, and, actor and former rapper, Mark Wahlberg.
It was one of the rare appearances Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts) has made during the past month, during which intense negotiations have ensued involving Manny Pacquiao, adviser, Michael Koncz, promoter of Top Rank, Bob Arum, and Golden Boy Promotions,' Richard Schaefer, on behalf of Mayweather.
Mayweather had not spoken much if at all, publicly, other than a statement released by his publicists following the Nov. 14, 12th-round knockout of then-WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champion, Miguel Cotto, by Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs),. during which he asked the sport's first, seven-time titlist to "Step up to the plate,"
On Tuesday night, however, the man who has changed his nickname to "Money," as opposed to, "Pretty Boy," stole the show.
"I know that's going to happen. Sometimes, it's hard to predict what's going to happen because, of course, your job in boxing is like a cop's: One shot could end your whole career. It's different from a team sport, in that's it's one-on-one combat," Mayweather said during his final comments on the show.
"I think that I'm a very, very smart and intelligent fighter, and that's why I've been able to be in the sport of boxing so long, and dominate for so long. Just being smart," said Mayweather. "I always tell people all of the time, 'There's nothing cool about taking punishment and getting paid.'"
Mayweather and Strahan were introduced as "two guys who do not shy away from the spotlight, even though they come from two different parts of the sports world," by Buck, who added, "Michael Strahan and Floyd Mayweather are certainly kindred spirits when it comes to providing something exciting, and certainly, something appealing."
Buck began with a short film clip showed Mayweather hitting the speed bag, wearing a crown on his head during a promotional gig, and during a ringwalk with adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, beside him.
There were also highlights from Mayweather's dominant victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, as well as the moment during which he stopped Ricky Hatton in the 10th round with a left, check-hook.
Mayweather was also shown imitating Ray Charles during a break in training when he wore a dark pair of sunglasses, as well as clowning as he tossed dollar bills at the camera.
"No matter what they do, they can not beat me, man," said Mayweather, pounding his fist in his hand for emphasis. "There's other fighters in boxing, but there's only one entertainer.
Floyd Mayweather can go on Dancing With The Stars, Floyd Mayweather can go on all of the talk shows because he's versatile."
Below is a recap of what transpired primarily with Mayweather during the broadcast:
Mayweather entered the studio wearing a brown, leather jacket, brown shirt, and jeans, along with Strahan.
Buck to Strahan: The Giants miss you. They miss your leadership. They miss your presence. They miss you playing the run, playing the run as a guy who can also rush the quarterback.
Strahan: I miss them too. No matter when you quit, and when you think that you're ready, you still miss it. So don't let anybody tell you that 'I've retired and I don't miss it,' they're lying. You miss it because it's in you. I'm a football player, I'm an athlete. That's what I do.
Buck to Mayweather: Meanwhile, you've got Floyd who retired like Barbara Steisand and came back six minutes later. Now you're back, and, it's not official yet.
A man from the crowd screams in support of Pacquiao. Mayweather shrugs his shoulders and grins.
Buck to Mayweather: Incedentally, I saw the guy who yelled Pacquiao, and I'll point him out to you later. It's not official yet, but there's been a lot of talk about a March 13 fight with you and Pacquiao. Can you comment in any way on that?
Mayweather: I think Pacquiao is going to give me a good fight, but I've been around the sport for a long time, and I've been dominating the sport for 15 years. So, no one has defeated me yet. So we'll have to see.
Strahan: Translation -- To hell with Pacquiao, I'll whip his a**
Crowd applauds.
Strahan: That's why I'm here, man. I'm here to say what he can't say. Because I know where you're going with it, so I'm here to say what he can't say.
Mayweather smiles.
Mayweather: The thing is, I don't want the fans to be really shocked by what happens when we do happen to meet up, because it's not going to be nothing new, because he's been knocked out before, and he took a loss before.
Crowd reaction includes favorable applause mixed with boos, etc.
Buck: No translation needed there?
Strahan: No translation -- he said it all.
Buck: You're going to knock Pacquiao out is what I just heard?
Mayweather: I'll be victorious, you can believe that. You can believe it.
Buck to Mayweather: Do you care about the Tiger Woods thing?
Mayweather on the Tiger Woods controversy: I love Tiger Woods. He's only human. Everybody makes mistakes. That's his personal life. I'm going to support him and I'm going to stand behind him 100 percent. No one is perfect.
Just one month ago, they were screaming about how he was the best golfer ever, and, now he's the worst man on earth. I mean, I still love Tiger Woods. I think he's an extraordinary athlete and a great person.
Buck on a funny, HBO clip of Mayweather's eighth-round knockout of Henry Bruseles in January of 2005:
I saw this for the first time the other day. Do you know what I'm going to show? This is the brilliance of Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd Mayweather in a fight. He's in the ring. He's fighting somebody who is trying to take his head off. And Jim Lampley, who works for HBO, is at ringside, talking to Roy Jones.
The two are commentating in the fight, which [Floyd] is participating in. It happens to be right before the AFC-NFC championship games, and Floyd is listening to their conversations on the air.
And so, here is what transpires, this is great.
Lampley: So Roy, do you like the Steelers or the Patriots?
Mayweather, looking down and answering from the ring: 'The Patriots,' just before deftly pounding home a jab to the Bruseles' face to escape a neutral corner.
Buck: How great is that?
Strahan: That's amazing
Mayweather: I've worked out at Mark's house before. He held the mits for me.
Buck to Wahlberg: Well then you're playing both sides, because I understand that you're a Manny Pacquiao guy?
Wahlberg: I am very good friends with Manny, and I've been friends with Floyd. And as much as I wanted to see this fight happen, I'm actually very nervous, because this is the most important fight for boxing period.
Mayweather: Well, I'm an American citizen, and I want the American fans to stand behind me like they do our American soldiers.
I've been a champion for 10 of my 11 years in the sport. My record shows I am the best at what I do. I've been champion my whole career basically.
You've got to realize, the fans can't get in there and fight for [Pacquiao.] Once we get into that squared circle, it's just me and him. One on one. One on one.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Five-time world champion, Floyd Mayweather, was a guest on HBO's Joe Buck Live on Tuesday night, closing the show with retired former New York Giants defensive star, Michael Strahan, and, actor and former rapper, Mark Wahlberg.
It was one of the rare appearances Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts) has made during the past month, during which intense negotiations have ensued involving Manny Pacquiao, adviser, Michael Koncz, promoter of Top Rank, Bob Arum, and Golden Boy Promotions,' Richard Schaefer, on behalf of Mayweather.
Mayweather had not spoken much if at all, publicly, other than a statement released by his publicists following the Nov. 14, 12th-round knockout of then-WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champion, Miguel Cotto, by Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs),. during which he asked the sport's first, seven-time titlist to "Step up to the plate,"
On Tuesday night, however, the man who has changed his nickname to "Money," as opposed to, "Pretty Boy," stole the show.
"I know that's going to happen. Sometimes, it's hard to predict what's going to happen because, of course, your job in boxing is like a cop's: One shot could end your whole career. It's different from a team sport, in that's it's one-on-one combat," Mayweather said during his final comments on the show.
"I think that I'm a very, very smart and intelligent fighter, and that's why I've been able to be in the sport of boxing so long, and dominate for so long. Just being smart," said Mayweather. "I always tell people all of the time, 'There's nothing cool about taking punishment and getting paid.'"
Mayweather and Strahan were introduced as "two guys who do not shy away from the spotlight, even though they come from two different parts of the sports world," by Buck, who added, "Michael Strahan and Floyd Mayweather are certainly kindred spirits when it comes to providing something exciting, and certainly, something appealing."
Buck began with a short film clip showed Mayweather hitting the speed bag, wearing a crown on his head during a promotional gig, and during a ringwalk with adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, beside him.
There were also highlights from Mayweather's dominant victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, as well as the moment during which he stopped Ricky Hatton in the 10th round with a left, check-hook.
Mayweather was also shown imitating Ray Charles during a break in training when he wore a dark pair of sunglasses, as well as clowning as he tossed dollar bills at the camera.
"No matter what they do, they can not beat me, man," said Mayweather, pounding his fist in his hand for emphasis. "There's other fighters in boxing, but there's only one entertainer.
Floyd Mayweather can go on Dancing With The Stars, Floyd Mayweather can go on all of the talk shows because he's versatile."
Below is a recap of what transpired primarily with Mayweather during the broadcast:
Mayweather entered the studio wearing a brown, leather jacket, brown shirt, and jeans, along with Strahan.
Buck to Strahan: The Giants miss you. They miss your leadership. They miss your presence. They miss you playing the run, playing the run as a guy who can also rush the quarterback.
Strahan: I miss them too. No matter when you quit, and when you think that you're ready, you still miss it. So don't let anybody tell you that 'I've retired and I don't miss it,' they're lying. You miss it because it's in you. I'm a football player, I'm an athlete. That's what I do.
Buck to Mayweather: Meanwhile, you've got Floyd who retired like Barbara Steisand and came back six minutes later. Now you're back, and, it's not official yet.
A man from the crowd screams in support of Pacquiao. Mayweather shrugs his shoulders and grins.
Buck to Mayweather: Incedentally, I saw the guy who yelled Pacquiao, and I'll point him out to you later. It's not official yet, but there's been a lot of talk about a March 13 fight with you and Pacquiao. Can you comment in any way on that?
Mayweather: I think Pacquiao is going to give me a good fight, but I've been around the sport for a long time, and I've been dominating the sport for 15 years. So, no one has defeated me yet. So we'll have to see.
Strahan: Translation -- To hell with Pacquiao, I'll whip his a**
Crowd applauds.
Strahan: That's why I'm here, man. I'm here to say what he can't say. Because I know where you're going with it, so I'm here to say what he can't say.
Mayweather smiles.
Mayweather: The thing is, I don't want the fans to be really shocked by what happens when we do happen to meet up, because it's not going to be nothing new, because he's been knocked out before, and he took a loss before.
Crowd reaction includes favorable applause mixed with boos, etc.
Buck: No translation needed there?
Strahan: No translation -- he said it all.
Buck: You're going to knock Pacquiao out is what I just heard?
Mayweather: I'll be victorious, you can believe that. You can believe it.
Buck to Mayweather: Do you care about the Tiger Woods thing?
Mayweather on the Tiger Woods controversy: I love Tiger Woods. He's only human. Everybody makes mistakes. That's his personal life. I'm going to support him and I'm going to stand behind him 100 percent. No one is perfect.
Just one month ago, they were screaming about how he was the best golfer ever, and, now he's the worst man on earth. I mean, I still love Tiger Woods. I think he's an extraordinary athlete and a great person.
Buck on a funny, HBO clip of Mayweather's eighth-round knockout of Henry Bruseles in January of 2005:
I saw this for the first time the other day. Do you know what I'm going to show? This is the brilliance of Floyd Mayweather.
Floyd Mayweather in a fight. He's in the ring. He's fighting somebody who is trying to take his head off. And Jim Lampley, who works for HBO, is at ringside, talking to Roy Jones.
The two are commentating in the fight, which [Floyd] is participating in. It happens to be right before the AFC-NFC championship games, and Floyd is listening to their conversations on the air.
And so, here is what transpires, this is great.
Lampley: So Roy, do you like the Steelers or the Patriots?
Mayweather, looking down and answering from the ring: 'The Patriots,' just before deftly pounding home a jab to the Bruseles' face to escape a neutral corner.
Buck: How great is that?
Strahan: That's amazing
Mayweather: I've worked out at Mark's house before. He held the mits for me.
Buck to Wahlberg: Well then you're playing both sides, because I understand that you're a Manny Pacquiao guy?
Wahlberg: I am very good friends with Manny, and I've been friends with Floyd. And as much as I wanted to see this fight happen, I'm actually very nervous, because this is the most important fight for boxing period.
Mayweather: Well, I'm an American citizen, and I want the American fans to stand behind me like they do our American soldiers.
I've been a champion for 10 of my 11 years in the sport. My record shows I am the best at what I do. I've been champion my whole career basically.
You've got to realize, the fans can't get in there and fight for [Pacquiao.] Once we get into that squared circle, it's just me and him. One on one. One on one.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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Mayweather-Pacquiao needs to be in Las Vegas; Cowboys Stadium the wrong place for megafight -- The Grand Rapids Press
By David Mayo, The Grand Rapids Press
The vision of scalpers encamped along the banks of the Mississippi River, sweatily and unsuccessfully hawking unsaleable premium tickets for the premium fight, is still vivid enough to frighten.
It was only seven years ago, the night of the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson beatdown in Memphis, and those people who speculate in ticket values, in lieu of gainful employment, found themselves in the unenviable but somewhat laughable position of trying to dump big-ticket tickets along Beale Street, as if they were just another plate of barbecued ribs or fake Elvis sideburns.
The venue, The Pyramid, was cozy enough -- a real arena, hosting a real, long-anticipated fight.
And those couple thousand empty seats at opening bell were just as real.
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, fighters on a demolition-derby track for an unsigned but near-certain showdown March 13, most likely will fight one of two places: MGM Grand Garden Arena, a 16,000-seat venue in Las Vegas which hosts fights on a regular basis; or Cowboys Stadium, which might seat 115,000-or-so fight fans with floor seating, and hadn't even hosted a football game until this autumn.
Mayweather-Pacquiao is a fight for the ages, like some of the other big-dome fights of bygone eras in America's heartland, most recently including 1970s and 1980s fights such as Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks and Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran, both of which packed the Louisiana Superdome, a venue also briefly considered for Mayweather-Pacquiao.
The Pyramid wasn't a even big dome, though it hosted a fight of similar appeal.
And when promoters demanded $2,400 for a ringside seat, lack of demand meant the ones stuck with a huge pile of unused tickets were speculators who gambled and lost.
There's plenty of gambling and losing in Las Vegas, too, and the promise of fast money and high living long ago became the fabric holding together the biggest fights in boxing and creating an atmosphere where low-eight-figure live gates and high-eight-figure pay-per-views became possible.
The lead promoter for Mayweather-Pacquiao wants to charge $2,500, a record ticket price, for ringside seats.
In the twisted decade of escalating sports tickets and declining economic conditions, it is not an unreasonable demand for a megaevent.
But there's only one place it's certain to work.
Las Vegas needs Mayweather-Pacquiao, and the biggest fight since Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler -- and biggest welterweight fight since Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns I -- needs Las Vegas.
Promoters and HBO Sports officials are scheduled to meet with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones Thursday about the feasibility of placing the fight in his massive stadium.
Jones is bidding against the wishes of the masses.
Cowboys Stadium will allow many more people the opportunity to say they attended the biggest fight in a generation. But it will be sort of an inflated, my-ancestors-were-on-the-Mayflower claim. Yes, the possibility exists of a six-figure crowd in Dallas. It's also just as likely that 70,000 or so would spend live-ticket prices for a glorified pay-per-view, because their only real chance to see the fight would be on the massive television screen.
Several proposals for Mayweather-Pacquiao have proven unworkable already. Yankee Stadium didn't work because of taxation in New York state. The Superdome didn't work because it makes no sense to gamble an economic windfall on a devastated region. A temporary stadium on the Las Vegas Strip was a pipe dream, because you can’t sell tickets for a fight three months away without seat locations.
Placing Mayweather-Pacquiao in Las Vegas is a rare guaranteed winner in the Nevada desert, where sports business is predicated on kind of lively, two-way action that the virtual pick-'em fight offers.
Las Vegas is built for convention business. Fans want the fight there.
And the city, which has been economically ravaged itself, needs it. Casino stock prices have suffered and rooms remain unfilled. At the Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight last month, my seven hotel nights cost less than $200. One night was free.
Dallas is a nice place but, for Mayweather-Pacquiao, the wrong place.
Las Vegas, boxing’s bedrock, is the only choice.
E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
The vision of scalpers encamped along the banks of the Mississippi River, sweatily and unsuccessfully hawking unsaleable premium tickets for the premium fight, is still vivid enough to frighten.
It was only seven years ago, the night of the Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson beatdown in Memphis, and those people who speculate in ticket values, in lieu of gainful employment, found themselves in the unenviable but somewhat laughable position of trying to dump big-ticket tickets along Beale Street, as if they were just another plate of barbecued ribs or fake Elvis sideburns.
The venue, The Pyramid, was cozy enough -- a real arena, hosting a real, long-anticipated fight.
And those couple thousand empty seats at opening bell were just as real.
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, fighters on a demolition-derby track for an unsigned but near-certain showdown March 13, most likely will fight one of two places: MGM Grand Garden Arena, a 16,000-seat venue in Las Vegas which hosts fights on a regular basis; or Cowboys Stadium, which might seat 115,000-or-so fight fans with floor seating, and hadn't even hosted a football game until this autumn.
Mayweather-Pacquiao is a fight for the ages, like some of the other big-dome fights of bygone eras in America's heartland, most recently including 1970s and 1980s fights such as Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks and Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran, both of which packed the Louisiana Superdome, a venue also briefly considered for Mayweather-Pacquiao.
The Pyramid wasn't a even big dome, though it hosted a fight of similar appeal.
And when promoters demanded $2,400 for a ringside seat, lack of demand meant the ones stuck with a huge pile of unused tickets were speculators who gambled and lost.
There's plenty of gambling and losing in Las Vegas, too, and the promise of fast money and high living long ago became the fabric holding together the biggest fights in boxing and creating an atmosphere where low-eight-figure live gates and high-eight-figure pay-per-views became possible.
The lead promoter for Mayweather-Pacquiao wants to charge $2,500, a record ticket price, for ringside seats.
In the twisted decade of escalating sports tickets and declining economic conditions, it is not an unreasonable demand for a megaevent.
But there's only one place it's certain to work.
Las Vegas needs Mayweather-Pacquiao, and the biggest fight since Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler -- and biggest welterweight fight since Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns I -- needs Las Vegas.
Promoters and HBO Sports officials are scheduled to meet with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones Thursday about the feasibility of placing the fight in his massive stadium.
Jones is bidding against the wishes of the masses.
Cowboys Stadium will allow many more people the opportunity to say they attended the biggest fight in a generation. But it will be sort of an inflated, my-ancestors-were-on-the-Mayflower claim. Yes, the possibility exists of a six-figure crowd in Dallas. It's also just as likely that 70,000 or so would spend live-ticket prices for a glorified pay-per-view, because their only real chance to see the fight would be on the massive television screen.
Several proposals for Mayweather-Pacquiao have proven unworkable already. Yankee Stadium didn't work because of taxation in New York state. The Superdome didn't work because it makes no sense to gamble an economic windfall on a devastated region. A temporary stadium on the Las Vegas Strip was a pipe dream, because you can’t sell tickets for a fight three months away without seat locations.
Placing Mayweather-Pacquiao in Las Vegas is a rare guaranteed winner in the Nevada desert, where sports business is predicated on kind of lively, two-way action that the virtual pick-'em fight offers.
Las Vegas is built for convention business. Fans want the fight there.
And the city, which has been economically ravaged itself, needs it. Casino stock prices have suffered and rooms remain unfilled. At the Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight last month, my seven hotel nights cost less than $200. One night was free.
Dallas is a nice place but, for Mayweather-Pacquiao, the wrong place.
Las Vegas, boxing’s bedrock, is the only choice.
E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
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Mayweather makes appearance on Joe Buck Live, claims Pacquiao has lost before and will lose again -- Examiner.com
By Chris Robinson, Examiner.com
Earlier tonight on Joe Buck Live former pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. made an appearance alongside Super Bowl XLII champion Michael Strahan. Both men walked out to an uproarious cheer from the crowd and right from the get go Buck asked both men who exactly the crowd was cheering for.
Showing a touch of modesty, Mayweather pointed to the All-Pro defensive end, stating ‘He’s the Super Bowl champ’.
Before the conversation could even get rolling, someone from the crowd echoed what everyone had been thinking by screaming ‘Pacquiao!’ loudly. Mayweather is rumored to have a March 13th showdown on tap with the dynamic Filipino superstar and it is the fight that is on everyone’s mind. Upon hearing the chant from the crowd, Mayweather simply grinned and seemed to shrug his shoulders.
Buck began to talk about the highly discussed Pacquiao-Mayweather contest further and asked Floyd his thoughts on his possible future opponent.
“I think he’s a good fighter,” Mayweather said respectfully of Pacquiao. “I’ve been around the sport a long time. I’ve been dominating the sport for 15 years now. Nobody has defeated me yet so we’ll have to see.”
While obviously trying to remain respectful and away from controversy, Mayweather was continually prodded by Buck for some kind of prediction if on what would happen if he were to ever step in the ring with his Filipino rival.
“The thing I think is that I don’t want the fans to be really shocked by what happens,” Mayweather remarked. “It’s nothing new because he’s been knocked out before and he’s lost before. I’ll be victorious, you can believe that.”
As the show rolled forward world renowned actor Mark Whalberg stopped by to keep things interesting. A well known New England Patriots and Manny Pacquiao fan, Whalberg was obviously brought in to bring some kind of tension to the air. Buck asked Whalberg his thoughts on a potential Mayweather-Pacquiao fight and the actor’s response was candid.
“I am very good friends with Manny and I have been friends with Floyd for years,” Whalberg admitted. “I’m nervous kind of but I think it’s the most important fight to be made’
Mayweather jokingly went on to state that he was an American citizen and that he wanted the American public to stand behind him. But his tone was much more serious when dropping his final thoughts on a potential encounter with Pacquiao.
“I already know what’s going to happen. Once we get in that square circle it’s just me and him, one on one. My record shows I am the best at what I do. I’ve been champion my whole career basically”
Source: examiner.com
Earlier tonight on Joe Buck Live former pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. made an appearance alongside Super Bowl XLII champion Michael Strahan. Both men walked out to an uproarious cheer from the crowd and right from the get go Buck asked both men who exactly the crowd was cheering for.
Showing a touch of modesty, Mayweather pointed to the All-Pro defensive end, stating ‘He’s the Super Bowl champ’.
Before the conversation could even get rolling, someone from the crowd echoed what everyone had been thinking by screaming ‘Pacquiao!’ loudly. Mayweather is rumored to have a March 13th showdown on tap with the dynamic Filipino superstar and it is the fight that is on everyone’s mind. Upon hearing the chant from the crowd, Mayweather simply grinned and seemed to shrug his shoulders.
Buck began to talk about the highly discussed Pacquiao-Mayweather contest further and asked Floyd his thoughts on his possible future opponent.
“I think he’s a good fighter,” Mayweather said respectfully of Pacquiao. “I’ve been around the sport a long time. I’ve been dominating the sport for 15 years now. Nobody has defeated me yet so we’ll have to see.”
While obviously trying to remain respectful and away from controversy, Mayweather was continually prodded by Buck for some kind of prediction if on what would happen if he were to ever step in the ring with his Filipino rival.
“The thing I think is that I don’t want the fans to be really shocked by what happens,” Mayweather remarked. “It’s nothing new because he’s been knocked out before and he’s lost before. I’ll be victorious, you can believe that.”
As the show rolled forward world renowned actor Mark Whalberg stopped by to keep things interesting. A well known New England Patriots and Manny Pacquiao fan, Whalberg was obviously brought in to bring some kind of tension to the air. Buck asked Whalberg his thoughts on a potential Mayweather-Pacquiao fight and the actor’s response was candid.
“I am very good friends with Manny and I have been friends with Floyd for years,” Whalberg admitted. “I’m nervous kind of but I think it’s the most important fight to be made’
Mayweather jokingly went on to state that he was an American citizen and that he wanted the American public to stand behind him. But his tone was much more serious when dropping his final thoughts on a potential encounter with Pacquiao.
“I already know what’s going to happen. Once we get in that square circle it’s just me and him, one on one. My record shows I am the best at what I do. I’ve been champion my whole career basically”
Source: examiner.com
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Man refuses to surrender to diabetes -- The Browsville Herald
By ILDEFONSO ORTIZ, The Brownsville Herald
After a lifetime of hard work, Eliseo Bernal sighs deeply as he looks at the cost of his medications and tries to figure out which ones to purchase and which to skip for now.
For more than 25 years, Bernal, now 54, has fought a losing battle with diabetes. It has cost him both of his legs, and is close to claiming his eyesight.
"I got this years ago, when I was still a younger man," Bernal said. "In the morning, I take my insulin, and then at night I take a smaller dose."
Born in the small village of Santa Mónica, in the Mexican state of Coahuila, he was a young boy when he moved to Brownsville, where he eventually worked in construction and labored in the fields.
"I remember we would wait outside a cafe and the truckers would come pick us up to take us to the fields," he said.
He was in his late 20s when he found out he was diabetic. Even as he fought the disease, he continued to work under the hot sun, earning what he considers good wages for an honest day’s work.
But in early 2000, Bernal was forced to stop working after complications from the diabetes forced the amputation of his right leg. Four years later, he lost his left leg.
Today Bernal is fighting to preserve his eyesight, also an effect of the diabetes.
"I take all these drops about four times a day," Bernal said, pointing to a bag with a variety of medicines inside. "As soon as I buy them they run out and I have to buy them again."
In addition to eyesight meds and insulin, Bernal takes nearly a dozen other medicines to control blood pressure and other health complications.
"These medicines are so expensive," Bernal said. "Each time I go to the doctor, he prescribes more. I have Medicaid, but it’s limited so it only covers a few. I have to pay for the rest. Some of these are $80, $90 and some more than $100."
To try to keep down the cost, Bernal takes advantage of his weekend visits to Matamoros, when his brothers take him to visit their 80-year-old mother, Albina Mijares. While there, he fills the most expensive prescriptions because they cost less than in the United States.
But even at that, Bernal still has to pick the most urgent medications and forego others in order to make do.
In addition to financial problems, Bernal faces difficulties created by the loss of both legs. Doctors provided him with a prosthetic for the right leg, but he has yet to find a replacement for the left. About five years ago, he was fitted with a prosthetic for the left, but it didn’t fit and has been collecting dust in his closet until he can get fitted for a new one.
Because of his lack of mobility, bathing has become an athletic endeavor.
"I have a bathtub, so I have to place the wheelchair at the edge and try to hold on to the handrails and pull myself over to that little seat," he said, pointing to a small seat placed across the tub.
Once on the tub seat, Bernal uses a bucket to bathe because the showerhead doesn’t reach where the seat is placed.
One of his most pressing needs is a larger wheelchair, one that would allow him to shower and to get in and out of the chair with less difficulty and risk. The one he has is five years old already and worn out.
Despite his many difficulties, Bernal keeps a smile on his face and manages to enjoy life by watching boxing and soccer matches on television.
"I don’t have cable, but here I’ll watch boxing and futbol (soccer) games when they are on," Bernal said. "I recently saw the Manny Pacquiao fight. Man, they threw some good punches."
HOW TO HELP
To donate funds, services or items, please contact:
United Way of Southern Cameron County
634 E. Levee St.
Brownsville, Texas 78520
Tel: 956.548-6880
Fax: 956.548.6906
Web site: www.liveunitedrgv.org
Email: information@unitedwayrgv.org
Source: brownsvilleherald.com
After a lifetime of hard work, Eliseo Bernal sighs deeply as he looks at the cost of his medications and tries to figure out which ones to purchase and which to skip for now.
For more than 25 years, Bernal, now 54, has fought a losing battle with diabetes. It has cost him both of his legs, and is close to claiming his eyesight.
"I got this years ago, when I was still a younger man," Bernal said. "In the morning, I take my insulin, and then at night I take a smaller dose."
Born in the small village of Santa Mónica, in the Mexican state of Coahuila, he was a young boy when he moved to Brownsville, where he eventually worked in construction and labored in the fields.
"I remember we would wait outside a cafe and the truckers would come pick us up to take us to the fields," he said.
He was in his late 20s when he found out he was diabetic. Even as he fought the disease, he continued to work under the hot sun, earning what he considers good wages for an honest day’s work.
But in early 2000, Bernal was forced to stop working after complications from the diabetes forced the amputation of his right leg. Four years later, he lost his left leg.
Today Bernal is fighting to preserve his eyesight, also an effect of the diabetes.
"I take all these drops about four times a day," Bernal said, pointing to a bag with a variety of medicines inside. "As soon as I buy them they run out and I have to buy them again."
In addition to eyesight meds and insulin, Bernal takes nearly a dozen other medicines to control blood pressure and other health complications.
"These medicines are so expensive," Bernal said. "Each time I go to the doctor, he prescribes more. I have Medicaid, but it’s limited so it only covers a few. I have to pay for the rest. Some of these are $80, $90 and some more than $100."
To try to keep down the cost, Bernal takes advantage of his weekend visits to Matamoros, when his brothers take him to visit their 80-year-old mother, Albina Mijares. While there, he fills the most expensive prescriptions because they cost less than in the United States.
But even at that, Bernal still has to pick the most urgent medications and forego others in order to make do.
In addition to financial problems, Bernal faces difficulties created by the loss of both legs. Doctors provided him with a prosthetic for the right leg, but he has yet to find a replacement for the left. About five years ago, he was fitted with a prosthetic for the left, but it didn’t fit and has been collecting dust in his closet until he can get fitted for a new one.
Because of his lack of mobility, bathing has become an athletic endeavor.
"I have a bathtub, so I have to place the wheelchair at the edge and try to hold on to the handrails and pull myself over to that little seat," he said, pointing to a small seat placed across the tub.
Once on the tub seat, Bernal uses a bucket to bathe because the showerhead doesn’t reach where the seat is placed.
One of his most pressing needs is a larger wheelchair, one that would allow him to shower and to get in and out of the chair with less difficulty and risk. The one he has is five years old already and worn out.
Despite his many difficulties, Bernal keeps a smile on his face and manages to enjoy life by watching boxing and soccer matches on television.
"I don’t have cable, but here I’ll watch boxing and futbol (soccer) games when they are on," Bernal said. "I recently saw the Manny Pacquiao fight. Man, they threw some good punches."
HOW TO HELP
To donate funds, services or items, please contact:
United Way of Southern Cameron County
634 E. Levee St.
Brownsville, Texas 78520
Tel: 956.548-6880
Fax: 956.548.6906
Web site: www.liveunitedrgv.org
Email: information@unitedwayrgv.org
Source: brownsvilleherald.com
Custom Search
Julaton Dismantles Biggers; Perez Halts Santiago in San Jose -- 15rounds.com
By Mario Ortega Jr., 15rounds.com
In front of 3,943 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California on Friday night, locally-based Ana Julaton and Eloy Perez each picked up title belts and took steps towards greater stardom in the process. Julaton claimed the WBO Super Bantamweight title, her second world title, with a decision over Donna Biggers. Perez claimed the WBO NABO Super Featherweight title, his second regional strap, with a technical knockout of Juan Santiago.
The action started quickly in the first round of the main event, as Julaton (6-1-1, 1 KO) of Daly City, California met Biggers (19-8-1, 16 KOs) of Boiling Springs, South Carolina at center ring. Julaton, 122, got off to a great start, popping Biggers, 120, with some crisp shots in the first minute. Despite Biggers’ inflated knockout numbers, it was apparent from the outset that Julaton possessed the strength advantage, aided by her sharper punching technique.
By the end of round two, blood began to run down Biggers’ face from near her right eye, although the cut would eventually be contained by her cutman. By the middle rounds, much of the steam had left Biggers’ punches. On full display were all the facets of the game that Julaton had worked tirelessly to improve, including elusiveness, hand speed and power-punching in combination.
Despite the best efforts of the incredibly durable Biggers, the bout was soon a one-sided affair, as Julaton routinely landed her punches at will. Biggers, perhaps to her greater detriment, proved to have a chin made of granite, as several clean shots violently snapped her head back, but never dropped her. Still, Biggers pressed on to take more punishment.
Late in the fight, Julaton switched up her tactics and turned boxer to cruise to the unanimous decision win. In the end, all three judges scored the bout for Julaton by the scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice.
With the victory, Julaton claimed the inaugural WBO 122-pound title, her second world title in as many fights. Last time out, Julaton took home the vacant IBA Super Bantamweight title with her decision win over Kelsey Jeffries. The WBO had previously sanctioned just three female world championships.
While there are some attractive, and potentially lucrative, unification possibilities at 122-pounds, Julaton was not ready to call out any names just yet. “I unified two belts. I hope I can unify another belt,” said Julaton just after the bout. “It would be nice to unify all of the titles, but we will see what is best to set up big, exciting fights to get a lot more fans involved with female fighting. I just want to sit back, soak everything in for right now and see what’s next.”
Julaton’s chief goal in boxing goes beyond claiming title belts. Dating back to her amateur days, Julaton has beaten the drum for women’s athletics and boxing in particular. “There is a big movement and momentum with the women’s fight game,” says Julaton. “I feel we are close to bringing it to the mainstream here in America.”
In the co-main event, Eloy Perez (15-0-2, 4 KOs) of Salinas, California officially graduated from prospect to contender, completely outclassing Juan Santiago (11-3-1, 7 KOs) of Denver, Colorado en route to a stoppage victory. After boxing cautiously to start the bout, Perez, 130, completely took over the fight from the second round on.
Despite holding substantial numerical advantages in both height and reach, Santiago, 129 ½, did nothing to capitalize on those benefits. Instead, Santiago followed Perez around the ring, allowing himself to be picked apart, piece by piece. In other instances, Santiago gave up his height and reach completely, languishing on the inside to take some serious punishment at close quarters.
Known to be a classy boxer, Perez stood his ground for much of the fight, landing hard shots in combination with both hands. By the end of the third, the marks and abrasions on Santiago’s face told the story of the fight. Perez turned up the dial another notch in the fourth, pressing the action even further, eventually landing a right to the body that nearly doubled Santiago over to highlight the round.
Ironically, the bout was stopped by referee Dan Stell on the advice of the ringside doctor after the conclusion of the fifth round in which Santiago took the least amount of punishment since the first, and a case could be made that he in fact won the round. However, it did appear to be only a matter of time before Perez scored the stoppage anyway. Santiago, a game warrior, was disgusted by the decision to stop the contest.
Perez had originally been pegged to fight former San Jose prospect Arturo Quintero, but that fight was nixed by the California State Athletic Commission. Perez was obviously unbothered by the late switch. “I was ready either way, it did not matter who it was,” said Perez. “I had a great training camp. He was pretty taller than me, but it did not matter. I felt like I had control the whole time.” Perez’ trainer Max Garcia explained how they train for height. “We always train with taller guys, and we beat them to the jab. Our goal is to beat the taller guy to the jab. Like Coach [Don] Familton always said, ‘You beat them to the jab, you win the fight,’” said Garcia in reference to his mentor and co-trainer who passed away earlier this year.
With the win, Perez claimed the vacant WBO NABO Super Featherweight title, which could elevate him into a top fifteen world ranking with the WBO. Perez had previously claimed the WBC USNBC 130-pound title with a win over Dannie Williams in September and now has two credentials to use as bargaining chips for future bouts. “We recognize his ability and we match him tough, because we know he can do it,” explained the usually reserved Garcia. “Like I told Al Bernstein, he wants us to be on Shobox, we just put notice that we are ready for anybody. Anybody at 130-pounds; Golden Boy, you have somebody for us, bring it. Top Rank, you’ve got somebody for us, bring it. Give us a chance to make a little money. You will see what we got.” Next up for Perez may be a slot on the undercard of the Shane Mosley-Andre Berto fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 30th.
It looked as though Melissa McMorrow (3-1-2) of San Carlos, California had scored her second decision victory over skilled, but underpowered Gloria Salas (1-3-1, 1 KO of Cathedral City, California, but the crowd favorite had to settle for a majority draw. In Salas, 104 ½, McMorrow, 106, may have found the one naturally smaller female boxer in the state of California and it appeared her edge in power carried the day again. However, there was little other separation to go on in scoring each highly competitive round. In the end, Judge Kermit Bayless scored the bout a shutout, 40-36, for McMorrow. That score was overruled by the even tallies of 38-38 by judges Marty Sammon and Jack Campbell. McMorrow had previously scored a four-round unanimous decision over Salas last November.
In a well paired battle between two flat-footed cruiserweight sluggers, local favorite Tony Johnson (4-0, 1 KO) of San Jose scored a four-round unanimous decision over Ron Simmons (3-4, 2 KOs) of Lewiston, Idaho. Simmons, 187, provided Johnson, 186 ½, with his stiffest test to date, trading on even ground for much of the bout. Johnson had a decided edge in punching power, which reversed the momentum of the contest several times throughout the four rounds. Judges Kermit Bayless and Marty Sammon scored the bout 39-37, while Judge Jack Campbell gave Johnson every round, ending at a 40-36 tally.
In a competitively matched, back-and-forth bout, Jonathan Alcantara (2-1-1) of Novato, California scored a mild upset over former amateur star Aaron Alafa (3-2, 1 KO) of Visalia, California via four-round split decision. Most rounds were difficult to score, but the busier Alcantara, 120, earned the benefit of the doubt from the judges. Alafa, 119 ½, played the role of counter-puncher well, catching Alcantara coming forward, but may not have pressed enough to appease the official scorers. Judges Kermit Bayless and Marty Sammon both scored the bout 39-37 for Alcantara. The lone dissenting judge, Jack Campbell, scored the fight 39-37 for Alafa.
Although no dates are set, the long-running “Fight Night at the Tank” series is expected to return for its ninth season in 2010.
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
Source: 15rounds.com
***
In front of 3,943 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California on Friday night, locally-based Ana Julaton and Eloy Perez each picked up title belts and took steps towards greater stardom in the process. Julaton claimed the WBO Super Bantamweight title, her second world title, with a decision over Donna Biggers. Perez claimed the WBO NABO Super Featherweight title, his second regional strap, with a technical knockout of Juan Santiago.
The action started quickly in the first round of the main event, as Julaton (6-1-1, 1 KO) of Daly City, California met Biggers (19-8-1, 16 KOs) of Boiling Springs, South Carolina at center ring. Julaton, 122, got off to a great start, popping Biggers, 120, with some crisp shots in the first minute. Despite Biggers’ inflated knockout numbers, it was apparent from the outset that Julaton possessed the strength advantage, aided by her sharper punching technique.
By the end of round two, blood began to run down Biggers’ face from near her right eye, although the cut would eventually be contained by her cutman. By the middle rounds, much of the steam had left Biggers’ punches. On full display were all the facets of the game that Julaton had worked tirelessly to improve, including elusiveness, hand speed and power-punching in combination.
Despite the best efforts of the incredibly durable Biggers, the bout was soon a one-sided affair, as Julaton routinely landed her punches at will. Biggers, perhaps to her greater detriment, proved to have a chin made of granite, as several clean shots violently snapped her head back, but never dropped her. Still, Biggers pressed on to take more punishment.
Late in the fight, Julaton switched up her tactics and turned boxer to cruise to the unanimous decision win. In the end, all three judges scored the bout for Julaton by the scores of 100-90 and 99-91 twice.
With the victory, Julaton claimed the inaugural WBO 122-pound title, her second world title in as many fights. Last time out, Julaton took home the vacant IBA Super Bantamweight title with her decision win over Kelsey Jeffries. The WBO had previously sanctioned just three female world championships.
While there are some attractive, and potentially lucrative, unification possibilities at 122-pounds, Julaton was not ready to call out any names just yet. “I unified two belts. I hope I can unify another belt,” said Julaton just after the bout. “It would be nice to unify all of the titles, but we will see what is best to set up big, exciting fights to get a lot more fans involved with female fighting. I just want to sit back, soak everything in for right now and see what’s next.”
Julaton’s chief goal in boxing goes beyond claiming title belts. Dating back to her amateur days, Julaton has beaten the drum for women’s athletics and boxing in particular. “There is a big movement and momentum with the women’s fight game,” says Julaton. “I feel we are close to bringing it to the mainstream here in America.”
In the co-main event, Eloy Perez (15-0-2, 4 KOs) of Salinas, California officially graduated from prospect to contender, completely outclassing Juan Santiago (11-3-1, 7 KOs) of Denver, Colorado en route to a stoppage victory. After boxing cautiously to start the bout, Perez, 130, completely took over the fight from the second round on.
Despite holding substantial numerical advantages in both height and reach, Santiago, 129 ½, did nothing to capitalize on those benefits. Instead, Santiago followed Perez around the ring, allowing himself to be picked apart, piece by piece. In other instances, Santiago gave up his height and reach completely, languishing on the inside to take some serious punishment at close quarters.
Known to be a classy boxer, Perez stood his ground for much of the fight, landing hard shots in combination with both hands. By the end of the third, the marks and abrasions on Santiago’s face told the story of the fight. Perez turned up the dial another notch in the fourth, pressing the action even further, eventually landing a right to the body that nearly doubled Santiago over to highlight the round.
Ironically, the bout was stopped by referee Dan Stell on the advice of the ringside doctor after the conclusion of the fifth round in which Santiago took the least amount of punishment since the first, and a case could be made that he in fact won the round. However, it did appear to be only a matter of time before Perez scored the stoppage anyway. Santiago, a game warrior, was disgusted by the decision to stop the contest.
Perez had originally been pegged to fight former San Jose prospect Arturo Quintero, but that fight was nixed by the California State Athletic Commission. Perez was obviously unbothered by the late switch. “I was ready either way, it did not matter who it was,” said Perez. “I had a great training camp. He was pretty taller than me, but it did not matter. I felt like I had control the whole time.” Perez’ trainer Max Garcia explained how they train for height. “We always train with taller guys, and we beat them to the jab. Our goal is to beat the taller guy to the jab. Like Coach [Don] Familton always said, ‘You beat them to the jab, you win the fight,’” said Garcia in reference to his mentor and co-trainer who passed away earlier this year.
With the win, Perez claimed the vacant WBO NABO Super Featherweight title, which could elevate him into a top fifteen world ranking with the WBO. Perez had previously claimed the WBC USNBC 130-pound title with a win over Dannie Williams in September and now has two credentials to use as bargaining chips for future bouts. “We recognize his ability and we match him tough, because we know he can do it,” explained the usually reserved Garcia. “Like I told Al Bernstein, he wants us to be on Shobox, we just put notice that we are ready for anybody. Anybody at 130-pounds; Golden Boy, you have somebody for us, bring it. Top Rank, you’ve got somebody for us, bring it. Give us a chance to make a little money. You will see what we got.” Next up for Perez may be a slot on the undercard of the Shane Mosley-Andre Berto fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 30th.
It looked as though Melissa McMorrow (3-1-2) of San Carlos, California had scored her second decision victory over skilled, but underpowered Gloria Salas (1-3-1, 1 KO of Cathedral City, California, but the crowd favorite had to settle for a majority draw. In Salas, 104 ½, McMorrow, 106, may have found the one naturally smaller female boxer in the state of California and it appeared her edge in power carried the day again. However, there was little other separation to go on in scoring each highly competitive round. In the end, Judge Kermit Bayless scored the bout a shutout, 40-36, for McMorrow. That score was overruled by the even tallies of 38-38 by judges Marty Sammon and Jack Campbell. McMorrow had previously scored a four-round unanimous decision over Salas last November.
In a well paired battle between two flat-footed cruiserweight sluggers, local favorite Tony Johnson (4-0, 1 KO) of San Jose scored a four-round unanimous decision over Ron Simmons (3-4, 2 KOs) of Lewiston, Idaho. Simmons, 187, provided Johnson, 186 ½, with his stiffest test to date, trading on even ground for much of the bout. Johnson had a decided edge in punching power, which reversed the momentum of the contest several times throughout the four rounds. Judges Kermit Bayless and Marty Sammon scored the bout 39-37, while Judge Jack Campbell gave Johnson every round, ending at a 40-36 tally.
In a competitively matched, back-and-forth bout, Jonathan Alcantara (2-1-1) of Novato, California scored a mild upset over former amateur star Aaron Alafa (3-2, 1 KO) of Visalia, California via four-round split decision. Most rounds were difficult to score, but the busier Alcantara, 120, earned the benefit of the doubt from the judges. Alafa, 119 ½, played the role of counter-puncher well, catching Alcantara coming forward, but may not have pressed enough to appease the official scorers. Judges Kermit Bayless and Marty Sammon both scored the bout 39-37 for Alcantara. The lone dissenting judge, Jack Campbell, scored the fight 39-37 for Alafa.
Although no dates are set, the long-running “Fight Night at the Tank” series is expected to return for its ninth season in 2010.
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
Source: 15rounds.com
***
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Pacquiao-Mayweather fight almost set -- The Globe and Mail
Globe Sports
An official announcement of a Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight is expected to come on Monday after a venue for the world welterweight title fight is decided, according to Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum.
“I'm very optimistic that everything will come together and we'll have an announcement by next Monday,” Arum told Reuters in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
“I think it's going to be the biggest fight of all time, certainly from a revenue standpoint. It could gross a couple of hundred million (U.S. dollars).”
The pair are considered the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
American Mayweather, who has won titles at five different weight classes, has a 40-0 record. Filipino Pacquiao improved to 50-3-2 when he became the first to win titles in seven classes when he stopped Miguel Cotto last month to win the WBO welterweight crown.
Arum said both fighters were on board for a March 13 clash that could generate hundreds of millions of dollars and become the biggest ever boxing promotion.
“We don't want to do an official announcement until we know where the fight's going to be held,” said Arum. “That's what we're exploring this week.
“Tomorrow we'll be in Dallas visiting with (Dallas Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones at Cowboys Stadium and hopefully by Monday of next week we'll have a venue and a deal in place.
“I know that Jerry Jones has really worked on the possibility and that's why we're meeting with him tomorrow.”
The new $1.3-billion Cowboys Stadium seats about 73,000.
Arum said there were other contenders to host the bout.
“There's the MGM in Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, that is the only possibility because the outdoor stadium will not work in March.
“We have heard but haven't really explored the (Louisiana) Superdome in New Orleans and the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. - REUTERS
Source: theglobeandmail.com
An official announcement of a Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight is expected to come on Monday after a venue for the world welterweight title fight is decided, according to Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum.
“I'm very optimistic that everything will come together and we'll have an announcement by next Monday,” Arum told Reuters in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
“I think it's going to be the biggest fight of all time, certainly from a revenue standpoint. It could gross a couple of hundred million (U.S. dollars).”
The pair are considered the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
American Mayweather, who has won titles at five different weight classes, has a 40-0 record. Filipino Pacquiao improved to 50-3-2 when he became the first to win titles in seven classes when he stopped Miguel Cotto last month to win the WBO welterweight crown.
Arum said both fighters were on board for a March 13 clash that could generate hundreds of millions of dollars and become the biggest ever boxing promotion.
“We don't want to do an official announcement until we know where the fight's going to be held,” said Arum. “That's what we're exploring this week.
“Tomorrow we'll be in Dallas visiting with (Dallas Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones at Cowboys Stadium and hopefully by Monday of next week we'll have a venue and a deal in place.
“I know that Jerry Jones has really worked on the possibility and that's why we're meeting with him tomorrow.”
The new $1.3-billion Cowboys Stadium seats about 73,000.
Arum said there were other contenders to host the bout.
“There's the MGM in Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, that is the only possibility because the outdoor stadium will not work in March.
“We have heard but haven't really explored the (Louisiana) Superdome in New Orleans and the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. - REUTERS
Source: theglobeandmail.com
Custom Search
Miguel Cotto being sued for sexual harassment -- Bad Left Hook
Bad Left Hook
Miguel Cotto is set to appear in U.S. district court in Puerto Rico this January, as he, his father, Cotto's wife Melissa Guzman, brother Jose Cotto and cousin Carlos Cotto are all being sued for sexual harassment by Martha L. Chacon Acevedo, who worked for the fighter on a residential property he owned.
The case against Cotto can be read here.
Chacon is seeking about $500,000 total. $250,000 for pain and mental anguish, $250,000 for punitive damages, and $11,000 for services rendered to the corporate partners also being sued.
The AP was able to contact Cotto, who gave the following statement:
"We are going to leave everything in our lawyers' hands and everything will be resolved in court," Miguel Cotto Carrasquillo, the fighter's father, said in a written statement late Monday.
The lawsuit was actually filed on August 24, but just became known this week. The Cotto family issued a statement calling the suit, "frivolous, empty and a total fabrication."
Part of the suit I found, uh, "interesting" was a bit that TMZ picked up on:
[A]ccording to the lawsuit, he used the show "Nip/Tuck" in an attempt to score below the belt.
The woman behind the suit claims she worked for Cotto at a residential complex he owned in Puerto Rico -- but soon after Cotto hired her, he offered "money and other benefits in exchange for sustaining a sexual relationship with him."
As for the "other benefits" -- according to the lawsuit, Cotto offered the woman lingerie, body creams, lotions, champagne, and DVDs of "Sex and the City" and "Nip/Tuck" ... which the accuser calls "pornographic material."
Chacon also admits she eventually did sleep with Cotto after so many "unwanted" advances. After she decided she "could not cope" with the situation any longer, she ended the relationship, at which point she alleges she was fired.
Source: badlefthook.com
Miguel Cotto is set to appear in U.S. district court in Puerto Rico this January, as he, his father, Cotto's wife Melissa Guzman, brother Jose Cotto and cousin Carlos Cotto are all being sued for sexual harassment by Martha L. Chacon Acevedo, who worked for the fighter on a residential property he owned.
The case against Cotto can be read here.
Chacon is seeking about $500,000 total. $250,000 for pain and mental anguish, $250,000 for punitive damages, and $11,000 for services rendered to the corporate partners also being sued.
The AP was able to contact Cotto, who gave the following statement:
"We are going to leave everything in our lawyers' hands and everything will be resolved in court," Miguel Cotto Carrasquillo, the fighter's father, said in a written statement late Monday.
The lawsuit was actually filed on August 24, but just became known this week. The Cotto family issued a statement calling the suit, "frivolous, empty and a total fabrication."
Part of the suit I found, uh, "interesting" was a bit that TMZ picked up on:
[A]ccording to the lawsuit, he used the show "Nip/Tuck" in an attempt to score below the belt.
The woman behind the suit claims she worked for Cotto at a residential complex he owned in Puerto Rico -- but soon after Cotto hired her, he offered "money and other benefits in exchange for sustaining a sexual relationship with him."
As for the "other benefits" -- according to the lawsuit, Cotto offered the woman lingerie, body creams, lotions, champagne, and DVDs of "Sex and the City" and "Nip/Tuck" ... which the accuser calls "pornographic material."
Chacon also admits she eventually did sleep with Cotto after so many "unwanted" advances. After she decided she "could not cope" with the situation any longer, she ended the relationship, at which point she alleges she was fired.
Source: badlefthook.com
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The Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight is not being treated with the significance it deserves -- Grand Rapids Press
By Mike Samuels, Grand Rapids Press
As reported by Grand Rapids Press columnist David Mayo it looks as though the potential blockbuster welterweight title fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is all but finalized and will happen on March 13, 2010, instead of sometime in the spring, as previously reported.
With all parties apparently in agreement, the boxing world should be buzzing with excitement. After all, Pacquiao and Mayweather are the consensus Nos. 1 and 2 pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, the first time two such talented fighters will be facing off since 1999, when most boxing experts had Oscar De la Hoya and Felix Trinidad similarly rated prior to their bout.
This event is the Super Bowl of the sport and boxing is continuing its fine tradition of marring great fights with controversy by reporting Mayweather is requesting the fight take place above the welterweight limit of 147lbs – at junior middleweight, to be exact – with 10oz gloves, not the welterweight mandated 8oz gloves that would favor a power puncher like Pacquiao.
Look, I’m disappointed that such a report has gained so much attention, but I can’t honestly say I’m surprised. I understand controversy sells and sports are more about dollars and cents than actual competition in this day and age. Believe me, I do. But boxing doesn’t need any question marks or bogus water-cooler conversation leading up to this fight. The sport's two best fighters meeting face-to-face in the center of the ring to decide who the better man is provides enough incentive for the public to tune in and destroy – from a financial standpoint, of course – anything the UFC has ever put on PPV (are you listening, Dana?)
Boxing doesn’t have a clue, which is why it is continuously maligned in the major sports industry. Negative issues of the sport – ring deaths, high PPV prices and controversial decisions – are always shoved down the public’s throat via the mainstream media, with no mention of any of the great things the sport has accomplished.
Frankly, that approach is too vanilla. Mayweather-Pacquiao deserves so much more. Fights like this do not happen every day, let alone every decade. So I’ve decided to help pique the interest of this fight by highlighting some facts (and fictions) on the fighters, hopefully putting all the negativity and doubt to rest once and for all.
Manny Pacquiao
- Weighty Issue: The bout will take place at 147 lbs, the welterweight limit. I’m sure Freddie Roach would rather it take place at manny-weight, like Pacquiao’s fights with De la Hoya and most recently Miguel Cotto. Not going to happen, folks.
- Wear and Tear: Pacquiao looked sensational in knocking out Miguel Cotto on November 14. A March 13 fight date will only give him just over three months to rest and prepare for Mayweather. Fear not. For all this flaws, Freddie Roach is not a moron. He would not have agreed to such a quick turnaround if he wasn’t 100 percent certain his guy could win.
- Politics, As Usual: Originally the fight looked to be set up on May 1, 2010. But due to Pacquiao’s political aspirations in his native Philippines on May 10, a spring date was not feasible. That doesn’t mean, however, that Pacquiao will not be focused. This is a guy who seems to be distracted before every major fight, but his history of work speaks volumes on what you should expect come March.
Floyd Mayweather
- Ring Rust: Despite only having fought once since December 2007 – his last bout, a 12 round unanimous decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in September – Mayweather is a gym rat who never comes under-conditioned or ill-prepared. Pacquiao will have the edge in activity, having gone 7-0, 5 KO’s since 2007, but Mayweather should not be counted out.
- Uncle Roger: Roger Mayweather is currently under investigation for allegedly assaulting a female boxer back in October. The Nevada commission has not suspended him pending the charges. A March fight date should not prevent Roger from training his nephew, assuring you will see the very best Floyd Mayweather on the 13.
- Run Floyd, Run: Mayweather doesn’t thrill fans with the exciting knockout, but don’t believe for a second that Mayweather-Pacquiao will turn into Mayweather-Baldomir. Mayweather’s ego is often a turnoff for the casual fan, but that same ego also drives him to perform at his best in his biggest fights. And while Baldomir was a legit welterweight titleholder, his slow, methodical fighting style will never be mistaken for the greatness that resembles Manny Pacquiao.
QUICK HITS:
- Floyd Mayweather’s knockout percentage isn’t the stunning 76 percent that Manny Pacquiao boasts, but Money has still knocked out over 60 percent of his opponents (25/40). That’s not half bad for a guy who is constantly thought of as a runner.
- I’ve never been a big fan of the ESPN creation known as Sports Nation with Colin Cowherd. That being said, about a week before the much anticipated welterweight title bout between Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao I decided to tune in to see if it would draw any coverage from the – and I use this word loosely – World Wide Leader in Sports.
To my surprise (sarcasm, please) Cowherd went on a rant diagnosing the ‘problem with boxing’ as a lack of interest in the smaller weight classes. Granted the heavyweight division isn’t the golden age of boxing anymore, but to dismiss such a great fight as Pacquiao-Cotto as unwatchable because the athletes don’t weigh over 200lbs is a statement even too uneducated to get a nod on the IJS Ink Stained!
I’ve long wished that ESPN would do a better job covering boxers not named Mike Tyson or Oscar De la Hoya, but after listening to Cowherd’s ignorance in full tilt, I’m more convinced than ever that a person’s level of education doesn’t need to be too great to be considered a “radio talent” or “journalist” over at The World Wide Leader in Sports.
- Sports Illustrated recently named Derek Jeter the 2009 Sportsman of the Year. Call me biased, but how Manny Pacquiao didn’t get the award is beyond me. What does he have to do, find Osama Bin Laden? New York is New York. What can you say?
Source: blog.mlive.com
As reported by Grand Rapids Press columnist David Mayo it looks as though the potential blockbuster welterweight title fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is all but finalized and will happen on March 13, 2010, instead of sometime in the spring, as previously reported.
With all parties apparently in agreement, the boxing world should be buzzing with excitement. After all, Pacquiao and Mayweather are the consensus Nos. 1 and 2 pound-for-pound fighters in the sport, the first time two such talented fighters will be facing off since 1999, when most boxing experts had Oscar De la Hoya and Felix Trinidad similarly rated prior to their bout.
This event is the Super Bowl of the sport and boxing is continuing its fine tradition of marring great fights with controversy by reporting Mayweather is requesting the fight take place above the welterweight limit of 147lbs – at junior middleweight, to be exact – with 10oz gloves, not the welterweight mandated 8oz gloves that would favor a power puncher like Pacquiao.
Look, I’m disappointed that such a report has gained so much attention, but I can’t honestly say I’m surprised. I understand controversy sells and sports are more about dollars and cents than actual competition in this day and age. Believe me, I do. But boxing doesn’t need any question marks or bogus water-cooler conversation leading up to this fight. The sport's two best fighters meeting face-to-face in the center of the ring to decide who the better man is provides enough incentive for the public to tune in and destroy – from a financial standpoint, of course – anything the UFC has ever put on PPV (are you listening, Dana?)
Boxing doesn’t have a clue, which is why it is continuously maligned in the major sports industry. Negative issues of the sport – ring deaths, high PPV prices and controversial decisions – are always shoved down the public’s throat via the mainstream media, with no mention of any of the great things the sport has accomplished.
Frankly, that approach is too vanilla. Mayweather-Pacquiao deserves so much more. Fights like this do not happen every day, let alone every decade. So I’ve decided to help pique the interest of this fight by highlighting some facts (and fictions) on the fighters, hopefully putting all the negativity and doubt to rest once and for all.
Manny Pacquiao
- Weighty Issue: The bout will take place at 147 lbs, the welterweight limit. I’m sure Freddie Roach would rather it take place at manny-weight, like Pacquiao’s fights with De la Hoya and most recently Miguel Cotto. Not going to happen, folks.
- Wear and Tear: Pacquiao looked sensational in knocking out Miguel Cotto on November 14. A March 13 fight date will only give him just over three months to rest and prepare for Mayweather. Fear not. For all this flaws, Freddie Roach is not a moron. He would not have agreed to such a quick turnaround if he wasn’t 100 percent certain his guy could win.
- Politics, As Usual: Originally the fight looked to be set up on May 1, 2010. But due to Pacquiao’s political aspirations in his native Philippines on May 10, a spring date was not feasible. That doesn’t mean, however, that Pacquiao will not be focused. This is a guy who seems to be distracted before every major fight, but his history of work speaks volumes on what you should expect come March.
Floyd Mayweather
- Ring Rust: Despite only having fought once since December 2007 – his last bout, a 12 round unanimous decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in September – Mayweather is a gym rat who never comes under-conditioned or ill-prepared. Pacquiao will have the edge in activity, having gone 7-0, 5 KO’s since 2007, but Mayweather should not be counted out.
- Uncle Roger: Roger Mayweather is currently under investigation for allegedly assaulting a female boxer back in October. The Nevada commission has not suspended him pending the charges. A March fight date should not prevent Roger from training his nephew, assuring you will see the very best Floyd Mayweather on the 13.
- Run Floyd, Run: Mayweather doesn’t thrill fans with the exciting knockout, but don’t believe for a second that Mayweather-Pacquiao will turn into Mayweather-Baldomir. Mayweather’s ego is often a turnoff for the casual fan, but that same ego also drives him to perform at his best in his biggest fights. And while Baldomir was a legit welterweight titleholder, his slow, methodical fighting style will never be mistaken for the greatness that resembles Manny Pacquiao.
QUICK HITS:
- Floyd Mayweather’s knockout percentage isn’t the stunning 76 percent that Manny Pacquiao boasts, but Money has still knocked out over 60 percent of his opponents (25/40). That’s not half bad for a guy who is constantly thought of as a runner.
- I’ve never been a big fan of the ESPN creation known as Sports Nation with Colin Cowherd. That being said, about a week before the much anticipated welterweight title bout between Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao I decided to tune in to see if it would draw any coverage from the – and I use this word loosely – World Wide Leader in Sports.
To my surprise (sarcasm, please) Cowherd went on a rant diagnosing the ‘problem with boxing’ as a lack of interest in the smaller weight classes. Granted the heavyweight division isn’t the golden age of boxing anymore, but to dismiss such a great fight as Pacquiao-Cotto as unwatchable because the athletes don’t weigh over 200lbs is a statement even too uneducated to get a nod on the IJS Ink Stained!
I’ve long wished that ESPN would do a better job covering boxers not named Mike Tyson or Oscar De la Hoya, but after listening to Cowherd’s ignorance in full tilt, I’m more convinced than ever that a person’s level of education doesn’t need to be too great to be considered a “radio talent” or “journalist” over at The World Wide Leader in Sports.
- Sports Illustrated recently named Derek Jeter the 2009 Sportsman of the Year. Call me biased, but how Manny Pacquiao didn’t get the award is beyond me. What does he have to do, find Osama Bin Laden? New York is New York. What can you say?
Source: blog.mlive.com
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Momentum for Pacquiao-Mayweather megafight grows -- USA Today
By Tim Dahlberg, USA Today
LAS VEGAS — Promoters plan to go to Dallas to meet with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on Wednesday as the momentum continues to grow for a March 13 megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Promoters Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer were to tour the new Cowboys Stadium along with HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg and listen to a proposal from Jones to host the fight, a person close to the promotion said.
Other leading contenders for the fight are the MGM Grand hotel arena in Las Vegas and the Superdome in New Orleans, said the person, who requested anonymity because both sides agreed not to speak publicly during negotiations.
Neither fighter has formally signed for the fight, though both have agreed in principle to terms. Promoters are so confident it will happen that they are also scouting sites in New York City for a Jan. 6 press conference to formally announce the bout.
Most major fights in recent decades have been in Las Vegas, and Pacquiao and Mayweather have fought their biggest fights at the MGM Grand, which seats about 16,000 for boxing. Many in boxing still consider the MGM to have the inside track on landing the fight, but the trip by promoters to Dallas indicates that they believe Jones will make a competitive bid.
The anticipated demand for the fight brings both the Cowboys Stadium and Superdome into the equation because they can seat far more people. The Dallas stadium could hold 100,000 or more for a fight, including seats on the gridiron.
The biggest gate in boxing history was the $18.4 million in tickets sold for Mayweather's 2007 fight with Oscar De La Hoya, and promoters believe they can get a bid of $20 million and more from one of the three contending sites.
Jones said last week he was "still desirous of looking at what we can do here with the fight" at the new $1.2 billion stadium, which landed a Super Bowl before it even opened. The stadium's massive high definition television screens would allow even those far from the ring to see the action close up.
Working against any bid by Jones is the lure of Las Vegas, where the biggest fights are usually held. Mayweather lives and trains there, while Pacquiao celebrated his win over Miguel Cotto last month by doing a concert on the city's famed Strip.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: usatoday.com
LAS VEGAS — Promoters plan to go to Dallas to meet with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on Wednesday as the momentum continues to grow for a March 13 megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Promoters Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer were to tour the new Cowboys Stadium along with HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg and listen to a proposal from Jones to host the fight, a person close to the promotion said.
Other leading contenders for the fight are the MGM Grand hotel arena in Las Vegas and the Superdome in New Orleans, said the person, who requested anonymity because both sides agreed not to speak publicly during negotiations.
Neither fighter has formally signed for the fight, though both have agreed in principle to terms. Promoters are so confident it will happen that they are also scouting sites in New York City for a Jan. 6 press conference to formally announce the bout.
Most major fights in recent decades have been in Las Vegas, and Pacquiao and Mayweather have fought their biggest fights at the MGM Grand, which seats about 16,000 for boxing. Many in boxing still consider the MGM to have the inside track on landing the fight, but the trip by promoters to Dallas indicates that they believe Jones will make a competitive bid.
The anticipated demand for the fight brings both the Cowboys Stadium and Superdome into the equation because they can seat far more people. The Dallas stadium could hold 100,000 or more for a fight, including seats on the gridiron.
The biggest gate in boxing history was the $18.4 million in tickets sold for Mayweather's 2007 fight with Oscar De La Hoya, and promoters believe they can get a bid of $20 million and more from one of the three contending sites.
Jones said last week he was "still desirous of looking at what we can do here with the fight" at the new $1.2 billion stadium, which landed a Super Bowl before it even opened. The stadium's massive high definition television screens would allow even those far from the ring to see the action close up.
Working against any bid by Jones is the lure of Las Vegas, where the biggest fights are usually held. Mayweather lives and trains there, while Pacquiao celebrated his win over Miguel Cotto last month by doing a concert on the city's famed Strip.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: usatoday.com
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