Boxing News World
Credit to ddsutu
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Stakes high as 'Raging Bull' aims to answer critics - The Sydney Morning Herald
By DANIEL LANE, The Sydney Morning Herald
AMERICAN boxing fans will watch today to see whether Australia's world champion, Vic Darchinyan, can bounce back from his last-start loss to reclaim his mantle as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters.
Darchinyan's manager, Elias Nasser, said from California that there was widespread interest to see if Darchinyan still had ''it'' after his failed July bid to move up a weight division to take the International Boxing Federation's bantamweight title from Ghana's Joseph Agbeko.
Their interest has also been piqued by the suggestion the Mexican challenger Tomas Rojas is determined to send Darchinyan tumbling into retirement.
''Vic is a true champion,'' Nasser said. ''The worst thing you can ever do to Vic Darchinyan is to doubt him - it always brings out his very best. And this is a huge fight.
''He knows everyone wants to see if he'll rebound and he's also aware there is a lot at stake, including the possibility of a rematch with Nonito Donaire. The belief here is that would rival the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao bout as the biggest of 2010.''
Donaire, a Filipino, knocked Darchinyan out in the fifth round of their IBO world title fight in 2007. It was the first time Darchinyan had tasted defeat as a professional.
Darchinyan's trainer, Angelo Hyder, said Australia's ''Raging Bull'' was showing the signs of a winner. His preparation included sparring against former Kostya Tszyu opponent Zab Judah, who weighs 15 kilograms more than the Aussie.
''It's also the first time Vic has made weight the night before the weigh-in, so all is good,'' Hyder said. ''He knows not to get obsessed by the KO and to work for the win.''
Source: smh.com.au
AMERICAN boxing fans will watch today to see whether Australia's world champion, Vic Darchinyan, can bounce back from his last-start loss to reclaim his mantle as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters.
Darchinyan's manager, Elias Nasser, said from California that there was widespread interest to see if Darchinyan still had ''it'' after his failed July bid to move up a weight division to take the International Boxing Federation's bantamweight title from Ghana's Joseph Agbeko.
Their interest has also been piqued by the suggestion the Mexican challenger Tomas Rojas is determined to send Darchinyan tumbling into retirement.
''Vic is a true champion,'' Nasser said. ''The worst thing you can ever do to Vic Darchinyan is to doubt him - it always brings out his very best. And this is a huge fight.
''He knows everyone wants to see if he'll rebound and he's also aware there is a lot at stake, including the possibility of a rematch with Nonito Donaire. The belief here is that would rival the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao bout as the biggest of 2010.''
Donaire, a Filipino, knocked Darchinyan out in the fifth round of their IBO world title fight in 2007. It was the first time Darchinyan had tasted defeat as a professional.
Darchinyan's trainer, Angelo Hyder, said Australia's ''Raging Bull'' was showing the signs of a winner. His preparation included sparring against former Kostya Tszyu opponent Zab Judah, who weighs 15 kilograms more than the Aussie.
''It's also the first time Vic has made weight the night before the weigh-in, so all is good,'' Hyder said. ''He knows not to get obsessed by the KO and to work for the win.''
Source: smh.com.au
Pacquiao-Mayweather an even match -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
According to oddsmakers, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are evenly matched.
Sportsbook.com, one of the leading on-line betting stations, has installed Mayweather a – 130 favorite, meaning a bettor has to come up with a wager of $130 to win $100.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, is listed as even money.
Pacquiao and Mayweather’s promoters are working hard the last few days so a venue can be named so it could host the March 13, 2010 super showdown at welterweight.
Leading the growing list of candidates is the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, while attempting to secure the right to the fight are the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas as well as venues in Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum is set to announce this coming week which city will stage the World Boxing Organization 147-pound title fight.
Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, which Mayweather tapped to represent him in the negotiations, are co-promoting the fight although it is Top Rank that is the lead organizer.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the celebration of Pacquiao’s 31st birthday on December 17.
Bren Evangelio, Pacquiao’s administrative assistant, said personalities from the world of politics, showbiz and sports are expected to fly to General Santos City.
“Presidentiables, senators, and congressman are among those who have confirmed their attendance,” said Evangelio.
The KCC Mall, which also hosted Pacquiao’s 30th birthday, will be spruced up once again for the deluge of big shots.
Miguel Cotto, the Puerto Rican fighter Pacquiao beat last November 14, has also been invited to come.
Source: mb.com.ph
According to oddsmakers, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are evenly matched.
Sportsbook.com, one of the leading on-line betting stations, has installed Mayweather a – 130 favorite, meaning a bettor has to come up with a wager of $130 to win $100.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, is listed as even money.
Pacquiao and Mayweather’s promoters are working hard the last few days so a venue can be named so it could host the March 13, 2010 super showdown at welterweight.
Leading the growing list of candidates is the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, while attempting to secure the right to the fight are the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas as well as venues in Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum is set to announce this coming week which city will stage the World Boxing Organization 147-pound title fight.
Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, which Mayweather tapped to represent him in the negotiations, are co-promoting the fight although it is Top Rank that is the lead organizer.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the celebration of Pacquiao’s 31st birthday on December 17.
Bren Evangelio, Pacquiao’s administrative assistant, said personalities from the world of politics, showbiz and sports are expected to fly to General Santos City.
“Presidentiables, senators, and congressman are among those who have confirmed their attendance,” said Evangelio.
The KCC Mall, which also hosted Pacquiao’s 30th birthday, will be spruced up once again for the deluge of big shots.
Miguel Cotto, the Puerto Rican fighter Pacquiao beat last November 14, has also been invited to come.
Source: mb.com.ph
Mayweather Projects The Utmost Confidence For Pacquiao On "Joe Buck Live" -- The Sweet Science
By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
This past Tuesday night Floyd Mayweather Jr. was a guest on the HBO talk show "Joe Buck Live." Floyd wasn't on the set long before the topic of discussion turned to his upcoming fight with WBO welterweight title holder Manny Pacquiao. During the show Mayweather was very much at ease and and sure of himself. He didn't dismiss Pacquiao as an opponent unless you consider him stating the fact that Pacquiao has already been knocked out and outboxed during his career by opponents who aren't in his league as fighter; I don't.
Mayweather, who is usually boring as the humble and nice guy and is unlikable as a bad guy, was extremely measured as he conversed with Buck and retired New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan and actor Mark Wahlberg, who both happen to be pretty big boxing fans who have followed Floyd's career with interest.
It's been said here that Mayweather is a little overrated and his resume doesn't measure up to past greats like Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns, especially his welterweight tenure. But saying he doesn't measure up to them is not the same as dismissing his ability as a fighter. Mayweather is a great fighter and is one of the smartest and most in- control-of-himself fighters you'll ever see in the ring. Nobody understands their opponents' strengths and makes them have to fight to their weakness as good as Floyd, at least nobody who's currently active.
During his career Mayweather has smartly picked his spots in regards to the opponents he's fought. His legacy will be that he's undefeated more than anything else if in fact he does manage to retire without a single defeat. And that'll help him when he's compared to other past greats when he's matched up with them historically. The mindset of some will be since he never lost he probably would've figured out a way to win versus whoever the past great is he's being matched up with hypothetically.
Since the emergence of Manny Pacquiao some have implied that Mayweather literally fears Pacquiao, a thought that's not endorsed here. Floyd fears losing because he knows it would really be a devastating blow to his career and legacy. But he doesn't actually fear Manny Pacquiao or Shane Mosley for that matter, at least not in the sense that he's actually concerned about getting beat up or knocked out.
If you saw Mayweather's appearance on "Joe Buck Live" you couldn't help but come away thinking that Floyd is already in fight mode and that he is supremely confident that he'll beat Pacquiao when they meet. Instead of him sitting there and trying to justify why he should be the favorite and that him winning is a forgone conclusion, his demeanor was that of someone who knew something that no one else knows.
Floyd has never appeared in public more confident talking about an upcoming fight than he did a few nights back on "Joe Buck Live." The version of Mayweather who will show up to fight Manny Pacquiao hopefully on March 13, 2010, will be better prepared for the fight than any other bout of his career. After observing Mayweather's deportment this week in front of a live audience, it's clear that he knows exactly what he has to do to come out on top against Pacquiao when they meet next year.
I came away from watching Mayweather thinking that as good as Pacquiao looked against Miguel Cotto last month, it would be a huge mistake to sell Floyd short and write off his chances of outboxing Pacquiao for the better part of the 12-rounds the bout is scheduled for.
To anyone who thinks Floyd Mayweather will enter the ring against Manny Pacquiao with the slightest bit of trepidation as to whether he believes he's the greater fighter and will be victorious, you're mistaken.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
This past Tuesday night Floyd Mayweather Jr. was a guest on the HBO talk show "Joe Buck Live." Floyd wasn't on the set long before the topic of discussion turned to his upcoming fight with WBO welterweight title holder Manny Pacquiao. During the show Mayweather was very much at ease and and sure of himself. He didn't dismiss Pacquiao as an opponent unless you consider him stating the fact that Pacquiao has already been knocked out and outboxed during his career by opponents who aren't in his league as fighter; I don't.
Mayweather, who is usually boring as the humble and nice guy and is unlikable as a bad guy, was extremely measured as he conversed with Buck and retired New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan and actor Mark Wahlberg, who both happen to be pretty big boxing fans who have followed Floyd's career with interest.
It's been said here that Mayweather is a little overrated and his resume doesn't measure up to past greats like Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns, especially his welterweight tenure. But saying he doesn't measure up to them is not the same as dismissing his ability as a fighter. Mayweather is a great fighter and is one of the smartest and most in- control-of-himself fighters you'll ever see in the ring. Nobody understands their opponents' strengths and makes them have to fight to their weakness as good as Floyd, at least nobody who's currently active.
During his career Mayweather has smartly picked his spots in regards to the opponents he's fought. His legacy will be that he's undefeated more than anything else if in fact he does manage to retire without a single defeat. And that'll help him when he's compared to other past greats when he's matched up with them historically. The mindset of some will be since he never lost he probably would've figured out a way to win versus whoever the past great is he's being matched up with hypothetically.
Since the emergence of Manny Pacquiao some have implied that Mayweather literally fears Pacquiao, a thought that's not endorsed here. Floyd fears losing because he knows it would really be a devastating blow to his career and legacy. But he doesn't actually fear Manny Pacquiao or Shane Mosley for that matter, at least not in the sense that he's actually concerned about getting beat up or knocked out.
If you saw Mayweather's appearance on "Joe Buck Live" you couldn't help but come away thinking that Floyd is already in fight mode and that he is supremely confident that he'll beat Pacquiao when they meet. Instead of him sitting there and trying to justify why he should be the favorite and that him winning is a forgone conclusion, his demeanor was that of someone who knew something that no one else knows.
Floyd has never appeared in public more confident talking about an upcoming fight than he did a few nights back on "Joe Buck Live." The version of Mayweather who will show up to fight Manny Pacquiao hopefully on March 13, 2010, will be better prepared for the fight than any other bout of his career. After observing Mayweather's deportment this week in front of a live audience, it's clear that he knows exactly what he has to do to come out on top against Pacquiao when they meet next year.
I came away from watching Mayweather thinking that as good as Pacquiao looked against Miguel Cotto last month, it would be a huge mistake to sell Floyd short and write off his chances of outboxing Pacquiao for the better part of the 12-rounds the bout is scheduled for.
To anyone who thinks Floyd Mayweather will enter the ring against Manny Pacquiao with the slightest bit of trepidation as to whether he believes he's the greater fighter and will be victorious, you're mistaken.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Texas will satisfy both camps on outside officials for "The Fight" -- Examiner.com
By Matt Stolow, Examiner.com
DALLAS - The state of Texas today (Friday) at approximately 3:00 PM Central sent an email to the promoters of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao saying that it would attempt to satisfy both camps as to the selection of ring officials if their March 13, 2010 fight were to come to Texas.
The email was from Bill Kuntz, Executive Director of the Department of License and Regulation, which oversees the Combative Sports Division.
So just that simply, Texas is a player. I take it to mean as long as it's legal, Texas will be a good soldier and go along.
In recent years, there have been high-level or nationally - televised fights in Texas whereas the officiating (judging and refereeing) has appeared erratic.
But in all fairness, often times two of the three judges that saw a fight a particular way were from outside the state. An example of this was the August fight between Houston's Juan Diaz and New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi. They have a rematch in fact Saturday night.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has made a formal bid to promoters to bring the mega fight to his new $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium which has an approximate capacity of over 100,000.
Considered the most anticipated boxing match since possibly Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Tommy Hearns in 1981, Mayweather, Jr. vs. Pacquiao could become the highest grossing fight in history based on the record pay-per-view buys the two fighters have generated in their recent pasts.
The two have been on a collision course for years. They are in their prime years, they are in the same weight division and considered the two best pound for pound fighters in the world today. It is very rare that you get a match up meeting this criteria.
But what is going to make this fight sell are the personalities of the fighters and their rabid fan bases.
Pacquiao is a living legend to 90 million Filipinos back home and many more in America and around the world.
Mayweather wears the black hat and he relishes the role. You either love him or hate him but few have no opinion.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is 32. His record is 40-0 (25 KO's) and he is right-handed. He's from Michigan but lives in Las Vegas. Mayweather was a bronze medalist for the USA in the 1996 Olympics and has amassed world championships in five different weight divisions.
Manny Pacquiao is 30. His record is 50-3 (38 KO's). He lives in General Santos City, Philippines. He is left-handed. Pacquiao has won won a record seven world championships in seven different weight divisions.
At stake, along with millions of dollars and prestige, is the World Boxing Organization Welterweight (147 lbs.) Championship held by Pacquiao that he won back on November 14 via 11Th round knockout over Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, NV.
Source: examiner.com
DALLAS - The state of Texas today (Friday) at approximately 3:00 PM Central sent an email to the promoters of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao saying that it would attempt to satisfy both camps as to the selection of ring officials if their March 13, 2010 fight were to come to Texas.
The email was from Bill Kuntz, Executive Director of the Department of License and Regulation, which oversees the Combative Sports Division.
So just that simply, Texas is a player. I take it to mean as long as it's legal, Texas will be a good soldier and go along.
In recent years, there have been high-level or nationally - televised fights in Texas whereas the officiating (judging and refereeing) has appeared erratic.
But in all fairness, often times two of the three judges that saw a fight a particular way were from outside the state. An example of this was the August fight between Houston's Juan Diaz and New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi. They have a rematch in fact Saturday night.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has made a formal bid to promoters to bring the mega fight to his new $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium which has an approximate capacity of over 100,000.
Considered the most anticipated boxing match since possibly Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Tommy Hearns in 1981, Mayweather, Jr. vs. Pacquiao could become the highest grossing fight in history based on the record pay-per-view buys the two fighters have generated in their recent pasts.
The two have been on a collision course for years. They are in their prime years, they are in the same weight division and considered the two best pound for pound fighters in the world today. It is very rare that you get a match up meeting this criteria.
But what is going to make this fight sell are the personalities of the fighters and their rabid fan bases.
Pacquiao is a living legend to 90 million Filipinos back home and many more in America and around the world.
Mayweather wears the black hat and he relishes the role. You either love him or hate him but few have no opinion.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is 32. His record is 40-0 (25 KO's) and he is right-handed. He's from Michigan but lives in Las Vegas. Mayweather was a bronze medalist for the USA in the 1996 Olympics and has amassed world championships in five different weight divisions.
Manny Pacquiao is 30. His record is 50-3 (38 KO's). He lives in General Santos City, Philippines. He is left-handed. Pacquiao has won won a record seven world championships in seven different weight divisions.
At stake, along with millions of dollars and prestige, is the World Boxing Organization Welterweight (147 lbs.) Championship held by Pacquiao that he won back on November 14 via 11Th round knockout over Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, NV.
Source: examiner.com
Arum: Wynn out of site talks but Dallas stadium owner Jerry Jones has made offer -- Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum told The Times today that Las Vegas hotel magnate Steve Wynn will not be able to stage the Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super-fight that has been verbally negotiated to occur March 13.
"I just got off the phone with Steve," Arum said. "He has no place to put the fight. [Sponsoring it at] Thomas and Mack isn't possible, it's not available that day, and he wants to move the fight from March 13 -- which we can't do -- because you can't build an outdoor arena with a canopy over the ring in time."
Arum, however, said he and Mayweather promoter Richard Schaefer have received "a firm offer" from Dallas Cowboys Stadium owner Jerry Jones in an effort to stage the fight at his new 100,000-seat venue.
That offer comes two days after Staples Center offered a record $20-million guarantee to host the bout. Pacquiao's advisor has said his client isn't interested in being responsible for a state tax payment of $3.5 million to $5 million for fighting in California when there's no state tax liability in Nevada and Texas.
Arum declined to reveal specifics of the Dallas offer. He said he grew so irritated by Schaefer's cancellation of a planned visit to tour the Texas stadium Wednesday that he's "washed my hands" of the negotiation, leaving his son-in-law, Top Rank President Todd duBoef, to hammer out the site deal.
The bout could still very well land at the venue where Mayweather and Pacquiao have fought so often in recent years: the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. An MGM Grand spokesman declined to comment, and Arum said he has yet to see a formal offer by the site.
--Lance Pugmire
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum told The Times today that Las Vegas hotel magnate Steve Wynn will not be able to stage the Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super-fight that has been verbally negotiated to occur March 13.
"I just got off the phone with Steve," Arum said. "He has no place to put the fight. [Sponsoring it at] Thomas and Mack isn't possible, it's not available that day, and he wants to move the fight from March 13 -- which we can't do -- because you can't build an outdoor arena with a canopy over the ring in time."
Arum, however, said he and Mayweather promoter Richard Schaefer have received "a firm offer" from Dallas Cowboys Stadium owner Jerry Jones in an effort to stage the fight at his new 100,000-seat venue.
That offer comes two days after Staples Center offered a record $20-million guarantee to host the bout. Pacquiao's advisor has said his client isn't interested in being responsible for a state tax payment of $3.5 million to $5 million for fighting in California when there's no state tax liability in Nevada and Texas.
Arum declined to reveal specifics of the Dallas offer. He said he grew so irritated by Schaefer's cancellation of a planned visit to tour the Texas stadium Wednesday that he's "washed my hands" of the negotiation, leaving his son-in-law, Top Rank President Todd duBoef, to hammer out the site deal.
The bout could still very well land at the venue where Mayweather and Pacquiao have fought so often in recent years: the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. An MGM Grand spokesman declined to comment, and Arum said he has yet to see a formal offer by the site.
--Lance Pugmire
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
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