Bob Arum: Shane Mosley Can Hurt Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

For Shane Mosley, there is nothing quite as motivating as being underestimated.

Take, for example, the conditions the five-time titlist faced during what had to be among the worst periods of his life heading into his January, 2009, bout with then-WBA welterweight (147 pounds) king Antonio Margarito.

Mosley's marriage to the mother of three of his four children, was in disarray, and, ultimately, would end in a nasty and costly divorce.

The three-division champion was under scrutiny after having admitted during leaked grand jury testimony that he had unknowingly used designer steroids that he received from BALCO Founder, Victor Conte, before defeating Oscar De La Hoya in September 2003.

In addition, Mosley was entering his first fight under a new trainer, Naazim Richardson, after having fired his father, Jack Mosley.

But Mosley wound up blasting and battering down the hard-punching Margarito over the course of a ninth-round knockout victory, stopping the Mexican-born fighter for the first time in his career before the largest crowd ever to witness an athletic event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Mosley was in a similarly dubious situation as an underdog heading into a September, 2008, junior middleweight (154 pounds) bout against former titlist Ricardo Mayorga, this, after having lost a bid for the WBA welterweight crown in a November, 2007 loss to Miguel Cotto.

A Managua, Nicaragua, resident, Mayorga's past had included dethroning previously unbeaten WBA welterweight king, Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis, by fifth-round knockout, in March of 2002, unifying the belts with a January, 2003, third-round stoppage of previously unbeaten WBC king Vernon Forrest, and winning his return bout with Forrest by majority decision in July of 2003.

At 35-0 with 26 knockouts entering his first bout with Mayorga, Forrest had scored consecutive decisions over the previously unbeaten Mosley after Mosley had twice defeated De La Hoya.

The result? Mosley stopped Mayorga in the 12th round.

"I mean, when I fought Mayorga, I think that they thought that I was past my prime and that Mayorga was just going to come in there and get in the ring and destroy me, but it didn't happen," said Mosley.

"That's the same thing that happened with Margarito," said Mosley. "I mean, when I fought Margarito, and when I've fought some other fighters, it's like they think that they have the upper hand."

Three fights later, the 39-year-old Mosley (46-6-1, 39 knockouts) is being counted out of a May 7, WBO welterweight clash opposite 32-year-old Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), whose WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt will not be on the line when they enter the ring for their HBO pay per view televised match up at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao is coming off of a Nov. 13 unanimous decision over Margarito that earned him the WBC belt, his eighth crown in as many different weight classes, and his 13th straight win.

Pacquiao's last loss was by a unanimous decision to Erik Morales in March of 2005, but the Filipino super star has since stopped eight opponents, including four consecutively -- a spree comprised knockouts over David Diaz, De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Cotto, respectively, in nine, eight, two, and, 12 rounds.

Pacquaio's winning streak also includes having twice avenged the loss to Morales, whom he stopped in 10, and, three rounds, in January and November 2006. The run also boasts 12-round triumphs over Mexican legends Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera, as well as an eighth-round knockout of previously unbeaten Jorge Solis.

Meanwhile, Mosley has not looked good in his past two fights.

In May, Mosley dropped a lopsided, unanimous decision loss to six-time champion Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), whom he staggered with a second-round right hand but was unable to finish. In September, Mosley struggled through a disputed, split-decision, junior middleweight draw against light-hitting, ex-champion Sergio Mora (21-1-1, six KOs).

"This is boxing. This is about two people getting into the ring and finding out who is the better fighter that night. I mean, that's what the fight game is all about. A lot can happen, and nobody really knows what is going to happen," said Mosley.

"But for this fight against Manny Pacquiao, it's up to me to make sure that that he doesn't have the upper hand and that that isn't the case," said Mosley. "I'm coming into this fight knowing that that is not the case."

Mosley told FanHouse that his purse, up front, will be a guarateed $5 million against Pacquiao with escalators that will make it surpass the career-best of $7 million that he pocketed against Mayweather, who received a non-heavyweight record guarantee of $22.5 million.

Pacquiao, Top Rank Promotions CEO, Bob Arum, and, Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, chose Mosley over 37-year-old WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king Marquez (51-5-1, 38 KOs) and 27-year-old WBC welterweight belt-holder Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs).

Berto had scored two straight knockouts, respectively, over southpaw former world champion Carlos Quintana (27-3, 22 KOs) in April and hard-punching Freddy Hernandez (29-1, 20 KOs) last month in the eighth and first rounds.

Pacquiao's four-time Trainer of the Year, Freddie Roach, called Berto a dangerous opponent, adding, "he's the young guy coming up, and his last, one-punch knockout win was impressive."

Marquez battled Pacquiao to a disputed draw, and lost a controversial, split-decision, respectively, in May of 2004, and, March, 2008, being knocked down a combined four times over the course of the two bouts.

Last month, Marquez rose from a third-round knockdown to win by an HBO televised, ninth-round knockout over former WBO interim champ Michael Katsidis (27-3, 22 KOs).

"The old fights at the lower weights, where Manny knocked Marquez down four times are not relevant because that was before he really learned how to fight, and before his body developed into that of a welterweight," said Arum.

"Can you imagine what he would do to Marquez now if he knocked him down the same way?" said Arum. "Manny would wipe the floor with him in one or two rounds. And then what the f**k do I do? How would I sell Manny's next fight?"

Arum also said that Golden Boy Promotions, on behalf of Marquez "overpriced" the Mexican, three-division champion Marquez, who reportedly asked for a $5 million guarantee, while making $5 per pay-per-view buy above 500,000, for $8.5 million total if the fight generated 1.2 million buys.

"People are like, 'Well, what about Mosley's last two fights?' Well, what about his last two fights? Mosley fought Mayweather, and he's the only guy in Mayweather's whole career to really hurt Mayweather and to really have him in trouble. So Mosley is capable of hurting Manny," said Arum.

"But, then, you take the Mora fight. Anybody who made that match should be shot. To put Mosley, an older fighter, in with a guy who is completely defensive and just stinks you out is not doing Mosley any favors," said Arum. "So, as far as I'm concerned, the most competitive guy of the three for Manny is Mosley. And I mean, that's after looking at Mosley's whole track record."

A former IBF lightweight champion, Mosley has fought at welterweight or higher exclusively since relinquishing his lightweight belt in 1999, including seven bouts at junior middleweight and one other at 148 pounds -- an April, 2005 decision over David Estrada.

At junior middleweight, Mosley has twice stopped former world champion, Fernando Vargas, knocked out Mayorga, and earned his second win over former world champ, De La Hoya -- the latter for the WBC and WBA crowns in September of 2003.

Mosley also dispatched of De La Hoya by split-decision in June of 2000 for the WBC welterweight crown, but twice lost to former world titlist Winky Wright at 154 pounds.

"Mosley is vulnerable to defensive fighters," said Arum, referring to Mosley's loss to Mayweather the two each to Forrest and Wright. "The only fighter he lost to that wasn't defensive was Cotto, and that was life and death."

"So maybe if you put Mosley in there with a defensive fighter at his age, you know, Mosley runs out of gas because he can no longer handle it if you run from him," said Arum. "But if he's in there with someone who comes forward like Pacquiao does, then Mosley still has the bullets and the counter-punching ability and he's a strong guy who can give anybody like that trouble."

Mosley agreed.

"Pacquiao's defense is not as good as Floyd Mayweather's defense. I think I can probably win a decision, but I'm pretty much looking to try and go in there knock Pacquiao out," said Mosley.

"I'm pretty sure that Manny's going to get in there and try to knock me out, and I'm going to get in there and try to knock him out," said Mosley. "That's why it's going to be a great fight. These are two guys who are willing to fight."

Mosley watched last Saturday's Showtime televised, WBC light heavyweight (175 pounds) bout with interest, as 45-year-old Bernard Hopkins (51-5-2, 32 KOs) appeared to have successfully negated knockdowns in the first and third rounds to defeat 28-year-old Jean Pascal (261-1, 16 KOs) before Pascal's partisan fans at the Pepsi Colesium in Quebec City, Canada.

"They thought that Bernard Hopkins was over the hill, but I knew that he would work hard to win the fight. Pascal had called him out, thinking that it was the right time to get Bernard Hopkins," said Mosley.

"But it turned out that that was not true," said Mosley "I figured that Bernard would win, and, I figured that he would win by knockout because of his experience and because I know the type of person that he is. I'm definitely encouraged by that."

Asked if he believes that Pacquiao feels similarly about him as Pascal did Hopkins, Mosley answered affirmatively.

"I'm sure that that's how Manny Pacquiao feels about me. People do what they think that they need to do to have the advantage," said Mosley.

"They think that they have the upper hand with me, so, why not take it?" said Mosley. "But I know that I'm tricking them, you know? Because I have something up my sleeve too."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Mosley fight will earn Pacquiao record sum -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Promoter Bob Arum said on Wednesday that Manny Pacquiao will earn the biggest paycheck of his career when he battles Shane Mosley on May 7, 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"Manny's going to get his biggest payday," said Arum in a high-pitched tone from Las Vegas shortly after Pacquiao and Mosley formally agreed to slug it out in a welterweight 12-rounder.

Arum politely declined to provide even a ballpark figure but made the assurance the Filipino pound-for-pound king will be a very happy man after taking on Mosley before an expected capacity crowd at the 17,157-seat Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao has grossed at least $20 million each in his last few fights and the showdown with Mosley is another of those big-money bouts that has made the 32-year-old southpaw one of the richest sportsmen today.

Arum's optimism over the revenue that his promotional company and Pacquiao would receive from the Mosley fight stems from an incident that happened at the Top Rank offices minutes after Mosley reached out to boxing writers to say that the Pacquiao fight is indeed on.

"The phones just kept on ringing," Arum said excitedly, pointing to his stepdaughter Dena DuBoef's experience in the office.

"Dena received a lot of inquiries and I think once tickets are made available to the public, it will sell out quickly."

Arum said the priciest seat will be retailed at $1,000, while the cheapest will be at $150. Other prices include $700, $500 and $350.

Arum, who finalized the details of the Mosley fight when he spent almost a week in the Philippines, said a press conference in the US will be held in January followed by a four-city press tour sometime in February.

"Mosley is very excited and I am very excited as well. This will be a great fight," added Arum, who revealed that tickets would become available next month.

Pacquiao last fought on Nov. 13 in Texas where he beat up Antonio Margarito to a bloody pulp.

Mosley was held to a draw by Sergio Mora in his last outing last September.

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacquiao vs. Mosley is on, but who really cares? -- Examiner

By Earney White, Examiner.com

HOUSTON, Texas -- It’s official, Manny Pacquiao will face Shane Mosley on May 7th 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This is obviously a fight geared toward the casual or mainstream boxing fan. The hardcore followers of the sweet science are demanding a rubber match with Marquez to settle the score once and for all.

Bob Arum is a businessman, and the decision to fight Mosley was quite easy for both he and Pacquiao to make.

Mosley will be nearly 40 when the fight happens, and he is also coming off two straight disappointing performances against Mayweather and Sergio Mora.

However, Mosley is still a formidable name, and will probably bring more money to the table than Juan Manuel Marquez, Andre Berto, or anyone else not named Floyd Mayweather.

Although fighting Mosley is a cash grab for Pacquiao, you really can’t blame him for going for the money. Sadly, everyone knows that he will destroy Shane Mosley fairly easily when they meet.

You can now add Mosley to the laundry list of fighters who were either on the decline or were damaged goods by the time Pacquiao faced them. (De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto, Morales, Barerra, Margarito)

Looking on the bright side, this fight will undoubtedly pump new life into the struggling Las Vegas economy.

MARQUEZ PURSE DEMANDS

In the press release announcing the fight, it was stated that Mosley would earn a minimum of $5 million with a potential to make $7 million due to incentives.

Coming off a two marquee wins, Marquez asked for five million for a third Pacquiao fight, but was told that his asking price was too high.

Mosley, after two horrible fights will get Marquez’s asking price plus more on the back end.

Sounds fishy.

POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER LOOMS

If Mosley somehow pulls off the upset, the sport of boxing will be dealt a huge blow. It doesn’t feel good to know that we are one punch away from being robbed of witnessing the richest fight in history.

With every fight that Pacquiao and Mayweather without one another, they’re at risk of losing out on a guaranteed $50 million payday.

Mosley, who trains frequently here in the city of Houston, will definitely have his hands full on the night of May 7th.

Will he shock the world?

Highly unlikely.

Contact Earney: pvamuboxing@gmail.com

Source: examiner.com

Shane Mosley: Advisor scheduled to meet with Pacquiao promoter Tuesday -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Former three-division world champion Shane Mosley said Monday his adviser has a Tuesday meeting scheduled with Manny Pacquiao's promoter to "go over the particulars and maybe sign" a contract for a May 7 Pacquiao-Mosley fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"We've already discussed the fight about three-four weeks ago, so now we'll go over it again," Mosley said in a telephone interview. "Both sides just need to commit to what we've talked about and then I think we're done."

Mosley said he's fine with the proposed site and date, and is waiting to hear what weight Pacquiao wants to fight -- be it a welterweight bout at 147 pounds or a catch-weight (perhaps 148) for Pacquiao's World Boxing Council junior-middleweight belt.

There was a report in the Philippines Monday that Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach wanted Mosley to submit to drug testing, given the Pomona fighter's 2003 involvement with the steroid-distributing Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative.

Mosley said he'd submit to any testing, even the stringent U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's methods he was subjected to before his May 1 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr., as long as Pacquiao did the same.

Roach, however, said Monday he's never asked for Mosley to undergo any testing stronger than what's required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission -- pre- and post-fight urine tests.

"I'm a clean guy," said Mosley, 39.

Mosley called discussions about dollars "little things."

Another aspiring Pacquiao opponent, Juan Manuel Marquez, proposed receiving a $5-million guarantee, while making $5 per pay-per-view buy above 500,000, for $8.5 million total if the fight generated 1.2 million buys.

Mosley wouldn't discuss specifics of his offer that adviser James Prince is expected to make to Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, but added he's confident it will be well-received because "they don't want to deal with Marquez."

Arum's company, Top Rank, and Marquez's promoter, Golden Boy Promotions in Los Angeles, are currently involved in a lawsuit over Pacquiao profits and they haven't made a fight together in more than a year.

Marquez's promoter, Richard Schaefer, said he hasn't received any similar overture from Top Rank to more intimately discuss the world lightweight champion's proposal to fight Pacquiao for a third time.

Mosley is a stake-holder in Golden Boy, but he left the company to express interest in a Pacquiao deal and says he's prepared to finalize that departure by signing to fight Pacquiao.

"I'm not sure I want to be involved with that company any more, and receive the treatment they've given me over the last few weeks," Mosley said. "Golden Boy showed me a lot what they think of me."

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

The 2010 Hauser Awards -- The Sweet Science

By Thomas Hauser, The Sweet Science

The holidays are a time for reflection. They’re also the time of year when awards are handed out. Thus, the 2010 Hauser Awards:

MOST EMBARRASSING HIGH-PROFILE MISMATCH OF THE YEAR: Vitali Klitschko vs. Albert Sosnowski for the WBC heavyweight “championship.” Sosnowski had never fought, let alone beaten, a world-class fighter. Last year, he fought to a draw against Francesco Pianeta. Eight months before that, he lost an 80-72, 80-72, 80-72 decision to journeyman Zuri Lawrence. Lawrence has fifteen losses on his record and has been knocked out eight times.

WORST STOPPAGE OF THE YEAR: Referee Gelasio Perez Huerta's fourth round stoppage of Lucas Matthysse vs. Vivian Harris in Mexico City. One punch, not very hard, and the referee stepped in. How bad was the call? So bad that there wasn’t any controversy over it Everyone with a brain agreed that it was just plain wrong.

SILLIEST CLAIM BY A FIGHTER'S REPRESENTATIVE: The assertion by Leonard Ellerbe (Floyd Mayweather’s business representative) that there had been no negotiations for a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.

THE “THIS WILL MAKE THE ANTITRUST LAWYERS HAPPY” QUOTE OF THE YEAR: To Oscar De La Hoya, who told Ben Grossman of Broadcasting and Cable magazine, “I commend UFC for what they have done in such a short period of time. They are the only real player in their category, the mixed martial arts world. We [Golden Boy] need to sign all the talent and get all the TV dates. Then you can have your own agenda. You can do a monthly PPV, a bi-weekly HBO fight. When you have five or six promoters, it's very difficult.”

BRAVEST CORNERMAN OF THE YEAR: Herman Caicedo, chief second for Shannon Briggs, when Briggs fought Vitali Klitschko. Honorable mention to Robert Garcia for his work with Antonio Margarito in Pacquiao-Margarito.

HEADLINE OF THE YEAR: “Sulaiman Urges Calzaghe to Confront Cocaine Problem” (Headline we wanted to see in response: “Calzaghe Urges Sulaiman to Confront Obesity Problem”).

THE NATO AWARD (No Action, Talk Only): To David Haye, for talking big and offering nothing but gobbledy-gook as an explanation for why he was ducking the Klitschko brothers.

MOST ILL-CONSIDERED DECISION BY A REFEREE: Arthur Mercante’s handling of Cotto-Foreman.

IRONIC STATEMENT OF THE YEAR: Jose Sulaiman (at the March 11th press conference in Dallas for the Pacquiao-Clottey undercard): “Whoever knows me knows that I speak the truth or I don’t speak at all.” – It was duly noted by those in attendance that Sulaiman’s remarks were brief.

AWARDS OF THE YEAR: To the NABF, which bestowed the following honors for the reasons quoted herein: (1) Promoter of the Year – “Square Ring kept the career of the legendary Roy Jones Jr. alive. Promoting fights between Jones and Omar Sheika and Jeff Lacy led to much bigger bouts for Jones against local hero Danny Green in Australia and a long-awaited grudge match against Bernard Hopkins.” (2) President’s Award: “Gale Van Hoy’s long and meritorious contributions to the organization are tremendous. Each year he runs a memorabilia auction that raises funds for the NABF treasury. Van Hoy is quick to assist in any endeavor that will enhance the reputation of boxing in general and the NABF in particular.”

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD AWARD: To Bernard Hopkins, for suggesting that Manny Pacquiao is reluctant to fight “a top-notch black fighter" because the styles that African-American fighters bring “from the streets” would be successful against boxing’s reigning pound-for-pound king. Hopkins is already fondly remembered for declaring “I would never let a white boy beat me” before losing to Joe Calzaghe.

THE "DO YOU REALLY EXPECT US TO BELIEVE THAT" STATEMENT OF THE YEAR: To Wladimir Klitschko. When every network in the United States passed on Wladimir’s title defense against American Eddie Chambers, Team Klitschko arranged for a pay-per-view webcast on Klitschko.com, and Wladimir issued a press release that read, "I enjoy working on the computer and I am very interested in new technologies. I like the idea that we are pioneers with this new technology.”

THE IL PAPA DOC AWARD: To Jose Sulaiman, who was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as “the longest-serving president of a world sports organization.” Sulaiman’s reign as WBC president (thirty-five years and counting) is well behind the benchmark for monarchs set by Ngwenyama Sobhuza II of Swaziland, whose reign dated from 1899 to 1982. King Sobhuza had seventy wives and 210 children. However, none of the children is believed to be as charming as Jose’s son, Mauricio.

ADVICE OF THE YEAR AWARD: To whoever tells Emma Bowe that, if she wants to “help” Ricky Hatton, she should shut her big fat mouth.

Thomas Hauser can be reached by email at thauser@rcn.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . His most recent book (“Waiting For Carver Boyd”) was published by JR Books and can be purchased at http://www.amazon.co.uk/ or http://www.abebooks.com.
Hauser says that Waiting for Carver Boyd is “the best pure boxing writing I’ve ever done.”

Source: thesweetscience.com

Pacquiao named for 'Boxer of Decade' award -- Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao heads a cast of champions nominated by the World Boxing Council (WBC) for the coveted Boxer of the Decade (2001-2010) award.

Also vying for the award are Americans Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko, Mexican Erik Morales and Thai Pongsaklek Wonjongkam.

Pacquiao was also nominated for the Boxer of the Year award, alongside Argentinian Sergio Martinez and Canadian Jean Pascal.

The WBC, headed by Jose Sulaiman, said the winners of the awards will be announced by the end of the year.

The past ten years have been amazing and memorable for Pacquiao, who fought a total of 19 times on US soil, winning 16 (12 by KOs), drawing twice and losing only once.

Since his electrifying American debut in June 2001, Pacquiao has been in the ring with the crème dela crème of prizefighting, racking up victories over the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

This year alone, Pacquiao chalked up two impressive wins over much bigger men: Joshua Clottey of Ghana and Antonio Margarito of Mexico.

In 2011, Pacquiao is booked to surface possibly against Shane Mosley in a welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas after a year-long absence.

Through the years, Pacquiao has received award from almost every award-giving body.

The 32-year-old Pacquiao, regarded as the current pound-for-pound king, has won the Fighter of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) three times, the same number of times The Ring magazine also named him for the same award.

The BWAA also named Pacquiao The Fighter of the Decade aside from being recognized by sports publications as the world’s premier puncher.

Source: mb.com.ph

INSIDE SPORTS: REFLECTIONS ON PACQUIAO'S 32nd BIRTHDAY -- PhilBoxing

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com

Manny Pacquiao whose incredible achievements in the ring and his humility and remarkable sense of compassion for his vanquished foes plus his concern for the poorest of the poor has made him a crossover star and a quintessential Filipino sports hero, celebrated his 32nd birthday on Friday.

Such a milestone is often a time for reflection when an individual looks back at the year gone by and discovers what he did and what he had failed to do and vows to do things in a better and more organized fashion in the year ahead. Manny Pacquiao can do no less because he has been placed on a pedestal by millions of his countrymen and needs to live up to their faith in him.

With indications that Shane Mosley is next on Manny’s hit list the eminent lawyer and World Boxing Council founding secretary general Rudy Salud has said there is no way Manny can claim he is fighting Mosley for his country and people because there is nothing to be gained from such a fight except monetary rewards unlike if he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. But the fact that he is not fighting Mayweather is clearly not the fault of Pacquiao or Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. There is nobody else to blame but Mayweather himself.

While Salud and many others including ourselves question a fight against Mosley, we have to admit that given the present roster of possible opponents there is nobody outstanding or competitive enough to face off with Pacquiao at 147 pounds which is his chosen weight.

Andre Berto is young and has a reasonably strong right hand but not much else. He would be a comparatively easy fight for Pacquiao. Besides, he is not a draw and no promoter in his right mind – and despite his 79 summers Bob Arum is certainly in his right mind and astute as hell – would put up the guaranteed purse that Manny would want for such a fight because it won’t get the pay-per-view numbers needed to make it a worthwhile business proposition.

We ourselves had wanted Juan Manuel Marquez who battled Pacquiao twice with distinction even though he was dropped four times in the two fights. The reason being we wanted Pacquiao to shut him up once and for all over his claims that he beat Manny twice. This was echoed by Oscar De La Hoya who despite his skill and charisma as a fighter regrettably hasn’t translated his skill in the ring into a meaningful business sense and sadly lacks a proper appreciation of what this sport is all about today.

Marquez who was ripped apart by Mayweather in a welterweight bout where Mayweather came in at 149 and was tolerated by Golden Boy to the huge disadvantage of Marquez, wants twice as much as he received in the Mayweather fight. Here is the spectacle of a badly beaten fighter and someone who drew less than 5,000 fans in his last fight against Michael Katsidis asking for a ridiculously high purse.

In fairness to Arum, he openly admitted that Mosley was the biggest money fight available for Pacquiao at this point and that this is prizefighting which means men fight for a prize which essentially is the business of boxing as it has evolved in this day and age.

While we all enjoy the right to disagree, it is obvious that its Pacquiao’s call and if Arum wishes to give him an advance birthday gift in the form of Shane Mosley and a chance to earn $15-$20 million who are we to begrudge him that right especially if Manny needs the money for his many projects.

Boxing apart, our fervent wish on this auspicious day is for Pacquiao to look around him and to realize that an individual is often judged, sometimes unfairly we might add, by the company he keeps. It is high time that he isolates himself from leeches and miscellaneous characters who are there not because they truly care but only because they can get something out of a generous and kind human being as well as public mileage for themselves.

Manny also needs to look after his finances and invest his earnings wisely because whether he likes it or not his boxing career is winding down and he has far more important challenges to meet in his desire to serve his people. He must learn not to trust just about everybody who pushes a contract in front of him and tells him to sign promising he could earn well by recording songs or engaging in meet and greet gatherings. These often result in troublesome lawsuits that diminish his image and which cost money to defend and get out of.

We have known Manny from the time he was a 16 year old kid carving a name for himself on the weekly boxing show “Blow by Blow” which we produced and often anchored. He impressed us with his indomitable courage, his aggressive fighting style and his charisma. But most of all he touched us deeply when he told his late manager and father-figure Rod Nazario and myself some ten years ago that he wanted to enter public service to help the poor. That was not just the heart of a champion but the soul of a genuinely caring Filipino. God Bless you Manny.

Source: philboxing.com

Golden Boy: Pacquiao-Marquez logical -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Since Manny Pacquiao hammered Antonio Margarito over 12 lopsided rounds on Nov. 13, there has been anticipation regarding who the pound-for-pound king would face in the spring.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer has been pushing hard for lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez to get a shot at Pacquiao's welterweight title. Marquez, after all, is highly ranked on the pound-for-pound list -- just a few spots away from top-ranked Pacquiao. Marquez is also Mexico's most significant active fighter and has had two sensational and controversial battles against Pacquiao, who got a draw in their 2004 featherweight championship fight and a split decision win in their 2008 junior lightweight title fight.

Fans have clamored for a third fight since, but Shane Mosley -- who is 0-1-1 in a pair of poor performances against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Sergio Mora in his last two fights -- has emerged as the favorite. Mosley is in the midst of a nasty breakup with Golden Boy, leaving the company to negotiate the Pacquiao fight on his own with Top Rank's Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter.

Arum has said that Marquez and welterweight titlist Andre Berto are also on the short list and he has gotten term sheets from both. Arum is in the Philippines this week meeting with Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), who is expected to announce his next opponent on Friday -- his 32nd birthday.

Giving Schaefer more ammunition to push for Marquez was the disclosure Tuesday by Arum that Pacquiao's next fight will take place on May 7 -- the weekend of the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, which traditionally includes a major fight involving a Mexican star.

Golden Boy is already holding that date for a fight card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a likely location of Pacquiao's next fight. But Schaefer said he has no interest in going to battle with Arum over the date.

"We are holding May 7 at the MGM but, of course, if Pacquiao is going to fight, I would step aside and give the date to Pacquiao and switch to April 16 [the original Pacquiao date] for what we were planning on doing," Schaefer said. "I really think if Pacquiao is going to fight May 7, on Cinco de Mayo weekend, you have to do Marquez on the Mexican holiday. Do you know how big that would be? It's a big fight no matter when it would be, but it would be even bigger on the Mexican holiday in Las Vegas."

Schaefer said he has kept an open dialogue with Top Rank president Todd duBoef through e-mails and said he sent him a note Wednesday morning in the hopes that they could come to an agreement for Pacquiao-Marquez, especially because of the date of the fight.

"I told Todd that I thought it was the right thing to do and that Marquez makes more sense on the Mexican holiday," Schaefer said. "I asked Todd to please get back to me with a deal which would be acceptable for Pacquiao and I will get it done. Just tell me what Pacquiao is willing to do and let me go to Marquez with the deal. If Marquez doesn't want it, or doesn't like the deal and turns it down, so be it. But that's the fight the public wants to see and now more so being on Cinco de Mayo weekend. Marquez is the logical choice."

Schaefer has already agreed to let Top Rank buy out Golden Boy on the fight rather than have it be a co-promotion where both sides share in the revenue.

Arum said Tuesday that Marquez's term sheet was being considered but that "the problem with Marquez is the number he wants is so damn high and he hasn't moved off it, and that's preventing the Marquez fight."

Arum, who has a clear preference to make the Mosley fight, claimed that Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KOs) had asked for double what he made to fight Mayweather, which was a guarantee of $3.2 million. Schaefer disputed that.

"That's not correct," he said. "But this deal would be a buyout, so whatever Marquez's side gets has to include Golden Boy. So you can't compare it with what Marquez got paid against Mayweather because we have to get paid too. For the Mayweather fight, we were the promoter. This fight would be Top Rank, so they asked us for a number to buy us out. Hey, if they want to do a percentage deal I'm willing to do that and the guarantee would be much lower.

"So you want to buy me out, there's a number for Marquez and a number for Golden Boy. Or let's do a percentage deal and we'll also take the risk. But either way, I had a nice e-mail exchange with Todd. I told Todd get me what you're willing to do. Just tell me what it takes to get the fight done."

Schaefer said if Marquez does not get the fight -- and he is prepared for that likelihood -- then Marquez would headline the April 16 pay-per-view card. Schaefer said Marquez would defend the lightweight championship against Erik Morales, the former three-division champ (and former Top Rank star) who wants to become the first Mexican fighter to win titles in four weight divisions. A win over Marquez would do the job.

But Morales, who is past his prime, would have to win his fight on Saturday in Tijuana, Mexico, against late replacement Francisco Lorenzo, who took the fight Tuesday when former junior lightweight titlist Jorge Barrios dropped out because he was unable to secure the proper paperwork to travel from Argentina to Mexico for the fight.

"If Marquez doesn't get the fight with Pacquiao, we would consider doing the fight with Morales on April 16 in Las Vegas, although Mexico is interested as well," Schaefer said. "[Mexican network] Televisa talked to us about doing it at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City as part of a big, daylong event."

The Mexican trio of Marquez, Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, along with Pacquiao, dominated the featherweight and junior lightweight divisions for years and they all fought each other with the lone exception being that Marquez and Morales have yet to fight.

Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Kizer: Inspectors prevented mayhem after Maidana-Khan scrap -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

From what they're saying about each other, nasty words and invective, I just don't see Manny Pacquiao/Amir Khan strength, conditioning, nutrition guru Alex Ariza inviting cutman/trainer Miguel Diaz over to the Casa Ariza for any holiday protein shakes.

And neither will Diaz beckon Ariza to his home for some good red wine and a Gaucho style steak.

They might not even swap Christmas cards this year.

I'm still laughing after reading that Ariza, who once clocked Pacman agent Michael Koncz with his hands, took this verbal shot at my longtime pal, ther Argentina native and Las Vegas resident Diaz:

"Table for four!"

That reference was to Diaz's past as a waiter or maitre'd in one of the big hotel-casino showroom on the Strip.

I go so far back with Miguel, an amateur singer with an operatic voice, that I remember when he was slinging sandwiches at a small bodega near the long gone Main Street in Las Vegas.

This feud seems striclty a sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me incident and I hope the two honorable and respected principals will now squash the beef.

Ariza is accomplished in what he does and so is Diaz as a trainer, a cutman and, while it's often overlooked, as one of best handwrappers extant.

Good news from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which licenses Diaz and Ariza to work fighters' corners, is that no disciplinary action is contemplated, mainly because no punches were landed after Khan and Marcos Maidana concluded their hard-fought 12 round scrap.

"Credit should go to three of our NSAC inspectors--Alex Aragonez, Alex Ybarra and Andy Montoya--for how they interceded between the two camps and prevented any postfight violence," Keith Kizer, attorney and executive director told me Wednesday.

"This thing could have gotten out of hand but it didn't and the inspectors did their jobs. I'm just sorry if this took anything away from what a great fight Marcos and Amir staged. From what I heard, Ariza went over to congratulate Maidana on his effort and then the words went back and forth," Kizer said.

"I think the fault here lies with the Maidana camp. They were quite emotional. They had six guys in their corner and we disallowed that (the limit on cornermen is four). We don't plan to take any disciplinary action, I don't want to do that but I thought it was heating up so I almost got into the ring which normally I would never do."

One of the more infamous NSAC disciplinary cases involving a second came when Johnny Tapia's brother in law, a fellow named Rob Gutierrez, punched out Top Rank's Todd duBoef after Tapia lost a close decision in a rematch agsinst Paulie Ayala (their first was 199's Fight of the Year) on Oct. 7, 2000.

Tapia had left Top Rank in a bitter breakup.

"This is all your fault," Tapia supposedly said (according to Steve Springer, writing in the LA Times). Tapia then shoved duboef.

Then Gutierrez uncorked a right hand to the promoter's jaw which split his lip

DuBoef hit the deck and Gutierrez left the arena wearing a new bracelet. Stepfather Bob Arum rushed over to see if duBoef was allright and the "Toddster" shook it off.

"Best chin of of any promoter," Top Rank's veteran matchmaker Bruce Trampler said of former prep hockey star duBoef.

Oh, the bracelet?

Over at Central Booking, they're known as handcuffs.

Judges favored Top Rank boxer Paulie Ayala on scores of 115-113 and 116-111 with a dissenting 115-113 vote for the colorful and controversial Tapia.

"We wound up taking away Gutierrez's license and then, about five years ago, he died in a car crash. There was a lot of emotion and bad blood because Tapia had left Top Rank. Todd made a remark to Tapia, the brother in law took offense and Todd got decked."

More accurately, Gutierrez, 36, and Tapia nephew Ben Garcia, only 23, died March 13, 2007,when their car flipped over while going at an excessive speed near Albuquerque. Gutierrez and Garcia were rushing to hospital to see the boxer after he was found unconscious in a motel after what police called a cocaine overdose.

At that time of the seconds license suspension, Kizer was the legal guru for the boxing board and Marc Ratner, now a big wheel over at the UFC, was the executive director.

As Coach Freddie Roach told me Wednesday morning by phone from Manila, "both guys acted like two little kids" in this incident.

The message for Diaz and Ariza, both of whom have real tempers, is clear, time to cool your jets, gents.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Golden Boy locked in May 7 date before Pacquiao, 'Stinko de Mayo' -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

Richard Schaefer has publicly vowed not to badmouth the Sugar Shane Mosley-Manny Pacquiao bout even though Mosley abandoned his Golden Boy VP post and is off Oscar's Reservation.

For his part, contentious Bob Arum told me Wednesday morning (Manila time) that he is of a mind to start "playing nice" (my words, not his) with his GBP rivals.

I suggested extending an olive branch, of Peace in the Valley and maybe even a group hug between the Top Rank and GBP camps.

"That suits me just fine," Arum said, adding that most of his blasts against Richie Rich and Oskie have been reactionary.

But now there seems to be another bone of contention between boxing's two biggest promotional outfits.

Arum informed me that the Pacman fight will be shifted at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas from April 16 to May 7 due to the Congressmanny's politcal schedule.

But there's a slight problem in going to 5/7, which is the traditional Cinco de Mayo Vegas boxing date which was often filled by first Julio Cesar Chavez and then by De La Hoya.

While Arum was talking about the day after income taxes are due, the Goldens applied for and got the May 7 date from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to run a show at the same venue featuring rising Mexican star, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, in a junior middleweight main event against the popular TBA.

Is this a bombshell? No. Is this an issue where both sides will retreat to the mattresses again? I don't think so.

Obviously, the money strained MGM Grand knows a Pacquiao main event brings in more cash than does an Alvarez topped (Carrot Topped?) one.

The Mosley-Pacman PPV will be handled by HBO and I'm sure the prime cable network and the hotel-casino can speak to GBP about releasing the date in favor of Pacquiao and Top Rank.

Not to mention the nice financial percentage GBP continues to rank in when anyone fights Pacman. Blocking a Megamanny bout is not in GBP's best interest, either.

That would be the easy solution.

The other way would be for the NSAC to hear a TR application and then award the date to Arum's posse.

I can't see any malice aforethought here. GBP wanted the holiday weekend for "Canelo" and Arum was steadily harping on April 16 for Pacman.

There's a thaw in the TR-GBP relationship and this date conflict should not be a peace-wrecking situation.
Not if they really want to play nice.

Pat Lundvall is the chairperson of the NSAC and works with commissioners "Cisco" Aguilar, "Skip" Avansino Jr., TJ Day and Bill D. Brady

Keith Kizer is the executive director.

TJ Day is not believed to be related to LA Times sports scribe TJ Simers.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Pacquiao could damage reputation by fighting Mosley -- Reuters

By Cheryl Ravelo , Reuters

Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be first pick, Juan Manuel Marquez wouldn’t be a bad choice either but Shane Mosley is certainly not the man the world wants Manny Pacquiao, the undisputed pound-for-pound best boxer on the planet, to fight next.

However, it appears very likely that Pacquiao will announce a May 7 bout with the 39-year-old former welterweight title holder during his birthday celebrations in the Philippines on Friday.

Mosley was booed during his woeful September draw with reality television celebrity Sergio Mora following a unanimous points loss to Mayweather in May.

However, he appears to be first choice for Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, who is in the Philippines and has said the choice of opponent will be down to Pacquiao.

Mexican Marquez looked back to his best in defeating Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis this year following a defeat by Mayweather. Marquez’s two previous fights with Pacquiao, a draw and a split decision victory for the Filipino, were nothing short of thrilling and a third fight would be attractive.

Pacquiao’s reputation has gone through the roof following his jolly up the weight divisions. His ability to bring with him the power he had at featherweight to leave opponents at light-middleweight in trouble is phenomenal but he could possibly damage that reputation by taking a fight with Mosley.

What is there to be gained in bashing another inferior opponent for 12 rounds other than a shed load more money to throw in the bank?

Pacquiao outclassed Antonio Margarito to win the vacant WBC light-middleweight title last month, the eighth division in which he has claimed a world title but the Mexican wasn’t worthy of a title shot in his second fight back following a one-year ban for wearing illegal hand wraps.

Before that Pacquiao humiliated Joshua Clottey for 12 rounds, the Ghanaian offering minimal offence and content to survive the contest with both hands covering his face. Was he a worthy opponent having suffered losses to Miguel Cotto, who Pacquiao stopped in the final round, and Margarito?

To be fair to Pacquiao, his first choice has always been Mayweather but the pair have not been able to negotiate terms and the Filipino has been forced to take other fights and while he has been able to showcase his talents in beating the lower class of fighter, it seems the boxing public have had enough.

ESPN’s respected boxing correspondent Dan Rafael posted on Twitter: “Not only don’t my Tweeples (Twitter followers) support a Pacquiao-Mosley fight, they’re venomous in their hatred for it. Does ANYONE want to see it? If so speak”

PHOTO: Supporters of Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao pose for a picture during the unveiling of Pacquiao’s statue at the Manila Bay seafront November 26, 2010. The bronze statue was erected in honour of his achievements in boxing.

Source: blogs.reuters.com

Manny Pacquiao delays next bout to May 7 -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Manny Pacquiao met with his promoter and his business manager Tuesday in what was described as "full, exploratory meeting," and the Filipino superstar boxer is prepared to decide his next opponent by Friday, promoter Bob Arum said.

But that fight will be delayed by nearly a month, it was learned, because of Pacquiao's congressional obligations. The announced April 16 bout will now be held May 7, the weekend of Cinco de Mayo. The site will remain the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The man considered the best pound-for-pound boxer told Arum that his duties as a congressman in the Philippines makes the April date too difficult to fulfill. Pacquiao typically trains for eight weeks before a fight.

As for who he will fight, the talks are ongoing.

Holding a world junior-middleweight belt that is his record eighth weight-class title, Pacquiao is considering bids by Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Andre Berto, Arum said.

"I know where he's headed, but it's not right for me to divulge yet," Arum said. "Until it's conclusively decided, I'm not going to say anything."

Arum also warned not to read anything into the new date that Marquez would be the choice.

Arum and Pacquiao's business manager, Michael Koncz, have made it no secret that they prefer Pacquiao fight Mosley in the absence of the legally troubled Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The 39-year-old Mosley, currently a world welterweight champion, has generated rich pay-per-views as the B side to bouts featuring Oscar De La Hoya and Mayweather. Mosley has looked awful in his two most recent fights, however, a one-sided loss to Mayweather and a sluggish draw against Sergio Mora in September.

World lightweight champion Marquez, meanwhile, has fought Pacquiao to a 2004 draw and 2008 split-decision loss, and he's shined in bouts this year against Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis.

Pacquiao's handlers want to avoid such a tough battle against Marquez with the mega-pay day against Mayweather Jr. still possible pending his legal trouble in Nevada for allegedly striking the mother of his children and threatening his children.

Following dinner at a Chinese restaurant in the Philippines, Arum said he presented information to Pacquiao at the promoter's hotel suite. Pacquiao often says his promoter determines whom he fights.

"I do have a lot of influence based on logic, but Manny has to determine what's logical," Arum said. "He relies heavily on me, but I'm not going to tell him to fight 'X' when he wants to fight 'Y.' "

Arum wouldn't say that's the scenario at play.

What about Mayweather? Is that officially dead?

Arum said he's heard "zero" from the Mayweather camp.

"If Floyd was promotional minded, he'd come here for Manny's birthday party [Friday] and come out of the cake saying he's ready for the fight," Arum said. "That would make a huge statement."

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Disgusted Coach Freddie Roach: Ariza, Diaz acting like two little kids -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

Our telephone connection from Manhattan to Manila was not the strongest. On my end, Coach Freddie Roach sounded as though he was speaking into a Dixie cup with string attached to it.

But I did understand one thing that Manny Pacquiao's celebrated trainer said clearly.

Do not look for Roach, age 50, to jump into the heated fray, the war of words between Pacman strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza and longtime cutman-trainer Miguel Diaz.

Diaz, originally from Argentina but a Las Vegan for about 40 years or so, and the much younger Ariza, who is originally from Colombia, got into verbal sparring right after the final bell sounded Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay.

Roach and Ariza were in the corner of main event winner Amir Khan while Diaz was chief second for his countryman, Marcos Maidana, who was rugged and gallant but who was outpointed by the Bolton, UK, resident.

Ariza said that Diaz made a derogatory remark about Maidana, calling him a piece of s--t.

[Diaz] starts coming over and calling me a fraud and a cheat and stuff like that. I don't know where it came from. So I just said, 'Hey, whatever, my fighter won, yours didn't.' Sometimes, you just don't know, you know?" said Ariza.


"It's kind of disappointing because you think, 'This is a sport, and it has nothing really to do with that,'" said Ariza. "But, you know, Miguel is ... sometimes when they get older, and you can see that you're on your way out. This is his last chance to make something. But to call me a fraud, you know, I don't cheat. Everybody knows that."

Diaz's story, as told to LV Examiner Chris Robinson and to both AOL Fan House's Elie Seckbach and Lem "Baltimore Gem" Satterfield, was that it was Ariza who started the verbal venom.

"Alex Ariza is the one who started the whole thing. I went to congratulate Freddie Roach, and from the back of everybody else, and, in front of Freddie, there were a lot of people. And Alex sticks his head out from out of everyone else and says, 'Your fighter is a piece of s**t,'" said Diaz.


"That's exactly what Alex Ariza told me," said Diaz. "And I said, 'You are a f**king fraud that's what you are.' But Alex is the one who started everything with me."


Roach is not keen on playing schoolyard monitor or referee between the two.

"I do not know what done and what was said between them," Roach said from his hotel in Makati.

"I do not know what was said or what was done. All I know is I told them they were both acting like like two little kids. And then I walked away."


Roach and Pacman promoter Bob Arum leave Manila Friday morning to go to General Santos City for Pacquiao's lavish 32nd birthday bash at the Convention center Friday.

Roach is known to have accepted if not recommended shopworn Sugar Shane Mosley as Manny's April 16 or May 7 opponent.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Called 'A Fraud' By Migue Diaz, Alex Ariza Responds, 'I Don't Cheat' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Sometime during the aftermath of Saturday night's HBO televised, unanimous decision by WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) champ Amir Khan over WBA interim titlist Marcos Rene Maidana, Khan's strength coach, Alex Ariza, and Maidana's trainer, Miguel Diaz, engaged in a heated, verbal brawl in the ring.

In victory, Khan rose to 24-1, with 17 knockouts, dropping Maidana (29-2, 27 KOs) with a pair of first-round body shots, and, later, surviving a near-knockout in the 10th round of their Top Rank Promotions-sponsored clash at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas.

But after their literal fisticuffs, Khan's assistant trainer to Freddie Roach, Ariza told Elie Seckbach of FanHouse that Diaz, came across the ring and launched into a verbal assault.

"[Diaz] starts coming over and calling me a Fraud and a cheat and stuff like that. I don't know where it came from. So I just said, 'Hey, whatever, my fighter won, yours didn't.' Sometimes, you just don't know, you know?" said Ariza.

"It's kind of disappointing because you think, 'This is a sport, and it has nothing really to do with that,'" said Ariza. "But, you know, Miguel is ... sometimes when they get older, and you can see that you're on your way out. This is his last chance to make something. But to call me a fraud, you know, I don't cheat. Everybody knows that."

But the 72-year-old Diaz claims that Ariza was the first to initiate the negative exchange, this, after Diaz had approached the Khan corner with honorable intentions.

"Alex Ariza is the one who started the whole thing. I went to congratulate Freddie Roach, and from the back of everybody else, and, in front of Freddie, there were a lot of people. And Alex sticks his head out from out of everyone else and says, 'Your fighter is a piece of s**t,'" said Diaz.

"That's exactly what Alex Ariza told me," said Diaz. "And I said, 'You are a f**king fraud that's what you are.' But Alex is the one who started everything with me."

Besides Khan, Ariza and Roach also work with eight-time titlist Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts), owner of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) and WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belts as well as a winning streak of 13 consecutive fights that includes eight knockouts.

A four-time Trainer of the Year, the 50-year-old Roach also handles junior middleweight contender Vanes Martirosyan (28-0, 17 KOs) and junior middleweight and middleweight (160 pounds) prospect Julio Cesar Chavez (40-0-1, 30 KOs) out of his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif.

In December of last year, Pacquiao filed a lawsuit seeking compensatory and punitive damages for defamation of character against Floyd Mayweather Jr. that also names Floyd Mayweather Sr., his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, as well as Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya, CEO and president, respectively, of Golden Boy Promotions, which handled Mayweather's part of the negotiations for a potential March 13 fight between the two.

"[The lawsuit is] based on their [defendant's] false and defamatory statements about Manny Pacquiao," said Pacquiao's attorney, Dan Petrocelli, at the time. "Specifically their publicly stating that Pacquiao was taking steroids or other illegal drugs to enhance his performance -- knowing that there is absolutely no basis for any such assertions."

Not long after Pacquiao's filing, the negotiations for a bout with Mayweather collapsed over an impasse involving drug testing protocol for both fighters.

The sting and resulting stigma of the accusations apparently still resonates with Ariza, who believes that Diaz was unfairly targeting him.

"I train my fighters, and I'm legitimate. I don't give them anything. Anything illegal," said Ariza, who was still fuming long after the fight's conclusion. "If that makes him [Diaz] feel better, and that's his way, I just didn't think that it was an appropriate place to do it after a fight, but, it is what it is."

But Diaz said that he was not accusing Ariza of doing anything illegal.

"Maybe it's in his subconcious or something like that. But at no time did I ever say that he cheats," said Diaz. "I didn't say that he cheats, I said that he's a fraud if he thinks that Manny Pacquiao is what he is because he had anything to do with why Pacquiao is what he is. Pacquiao and Freddie Roach are of everything, with or without Ariza."

During the 10th round, where Maidana's blistering attack nearly had Khan out on his feet, Diaz felt that referee Joe Cortez unfairly favored and protected the champion.

Ariza, however, said that Diaz simply mishandled the situation, failing to direct Maidan through an effective strategy.

"Unfortunatley, sometimes, when a trainer hasn't had the trainer's cap on before, they get a little excited," said Ariza. "Miguel Diaz, just because you throw a towel over your shoulder, it doesn't make you a trainer."

But Diaz has trained former titlists Luis Ramon "Yori Boy" Campas, Stevie Johnston, Cesar Soto, and, Johnny Tapia, briefly, Diego Corrales, among others.

Diaz also has served as a cut man for fighters such as Pacquiao, Mayweather., Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Kelly Pavlik, Israel Vazquez, Hasim Rahman, James Toney, Mike McCallum, Jose Luis Castillo, Iran Barkley, Eric Morel, Williams Joppy, Joshua Clottey, Tony Tubbs, and, Christy Martin.

"Unfortunately, Alex Ariza is not a boxing guy. He is one of those guys who talks more about who he is than they really are. Like, I don't go around calling writers and seeking publicity," said Diaz. "I don't need this sort of publicity. Alex Ariza needs publicity. I mean, he talks about himself like he's the greatest thing in the world, and he simply is not."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Boxing experts weigh in on Pacquiao’s ‘retirement’ -- PDI

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Two boxing experts are divided on whether pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao should retire or not if Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is unable to negotiate for a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

World Boxing Council founding secretary general Rudy Salud said on Monday that if Pacquiao “cannot get Mayweather, he should retire permanently or be semi-retired in the same manner as Mayweather and come back if Mayweather beckons.”

Salud regarded the planned April 19 fight against Shane Mosley as “meaningless because it’s just a money fight,” adding that with an eighth title in eight divisions, Pacquiao had already “achieved everything.”

But American Rick Stehely, who trained Pacquiao for his first world title fight when he won the WBC flyweight title with an eighth-round knockout of champion Chatchai Sasakul of Thailand, disagreed with Salud.

“If you are waiting for one guy and it may never happen, I think Manny should continue to fight whether he fights Mosley or Juan Manuel Marquez or one of these other guys,” he said.

“I believe that if you are in your prime, don’t back away from a multimillion payday,” Stehely added.

The conflicting stands came on the eve of Arum’s arrival from Las Vegas with his wife, stepdaughter and WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez to attend Pacquiao’s 32nd birthday bash on December 17 in General Santos City.

Salud added that “neither Manny or Arum can claim that he is fighting for our country if he fights Mosley. He might as well concentrate on his task in Congress because there is so much to do.”

Source: sports.inquirer.net

Amir Khan heading towards showdown with Floyd Mayweather -- Guardian

By Kevin Mitchell, guardian.co.uk

There is a groundswell of opinion moving Amir Khan into the tricky arms of Floyd Mayweather, possibly in Las Vegas in July, the second slot reserved for the Bolton fighter next year by his American agents, Golden Boy Promotions.

It is a giant "if", of course, seeing Mayweather is not even certain to be at large after a court appearance next month to answer domestic violence charges.

But, after his extraordinary win over the Argentinian Marcos Maidana at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday night to hang on to his WBA light-welterweight title, Khan is the hottest property in boxing outside his friend Manny Pacquiao and the slumbering heavyweights, among them David Haye and the Klitschko brothers.

His trainer, Freddie Roach, says he wants Mayweather after Khan's next fight, which is scheduled for London on 16 April, possibly as a curtain raiser for Haye against Wladimir Klitschko in a heavyweight title unification fight in Las Vegas later that evening. There is much horse-trading to do before the rival promoters get to that stage, though. Khan, meanwhile, is oblivious to the fuss.

The scars of battle do not seem to run deep in his young psyche. Although he was roughed up around his face from the sledgehammer blows the Argentinian rained down on him, the champion later declared no lasting pain from what to the voyeurs present was a fight from hell.

His good friend Naseem Hamed, who had a couple of good wars himself, said he felt guilty about celebrating Khan's win, as he did not want him to suffer like that again. His trainer Freddie Roach admitted he momentarily considered throwing in the towel when Khan reeled like a Saturday night drunk in the 10th round. David Haye, the world heavyweight champion, could hardly believe his little pal came through it.

Alone among everyone who witnessed it, though, the fighter reckoned the day after that he was never in deep trouble, not even in that horrendous 10th session, which is destined to live in the archives as further proof of man's ability to both inflict and suffer extraordinary pain in the name of entertainment and sport.

While visual evidence suggested he was as close to disaster as it is possible to get without being rendered unconscious Khan said the following day over orange juice and fruit salad: "I thought I won the fight convincingly. I was hitting him with the cleaner shots. He was hitting a lot of his own shots on my defence.

"I think the best round he had was the 10th. But, you know what? He hit me with his best shots and he didn't hurt me. Even when he caught me with that first shot in the 10th round, I knew exactly where I was.

"We all know he's got devastating power. Look what he's done to 27 opponents. But I just kept cool. I remember in the early days when I got clipped I used to panic. Not now. I compose myself. I went back to the ropes, with my hands up and I saw what he was doing. He caught me two or three times after that, but he didn't hurt me.

"I knew he was going to slow down, that he only had another few little bursts in him. I knew after that he was going to be tired out, and I would control the round again. The last 20 or 30 seconds of the round my legs were fine and I was fine.

"I spoke to the referee in the changing room beforehand and he said, 'You can stand there taking shots until I think you've taken too many unanswered shots.' But in the 10th round, I felt okay. I didn't once feel I was gone. I think the whole fight will make my reputation in the States, and the 10th round especially. I took shots and I came back."

He's right on the last point. Punters will flock to see more of the same. Whether it is good for his longevity is doubtful - and Roach, surely, will not let it happen again. The warrior surfaced in Khan on Saturday night; he needs to be reintroduced to the cool, clinical boxer if he is to have any hope against the likes of Mayweather.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Mosley vs Pacquiao firming up — insider -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Unless Juan Manuel Marquez suddenly decides to lower his demand or Andre Berto becomes an internet sensation overnight, expect Manny Pacquiao to make his ring return in 2011 against Shane Mosley.

“Looks like it’s Mosley,” said Pacquiao lawyer Jeng Gacal on Monday when asked about the chances of Marquez or Berto being picked over Mosley.

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is actually arriving this morning from the US to present to Pacquiao the proposals of the three fighters being eyed as the Filipino’s opponent in a fight penciled for April 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Arum has actually been batting for Mosley over the two since Mosley has outstanding name recall, something that is important in generating pay-per-view sales.

Marquez’s association with Top Rank’s rival Golden Boy Promotions – and the Mexican’s outrageous asking price – have made it almost impossible for Pacquiao and Arum to deal with the Oscar De La Hoya-owned outfit.

Berto is an attractive foe because of his youth and skills but his lack of appeal among casual fans also works against him being picked over the tried and tested Mosley, who remains a livewire foe even at the advanced age of 39.

Still, Pacquiao will try to go over the offer sheets of the three fighters since “he’d be the one fighting,” said Arum, who will joined by wife Lovee and his stepdaughter Dena DuBoef as they join Pacquiao in his 32nd birthday celebration this Friday in General Santos City.

Also planing in this Tuesday with Arum is trainer Freddie Roach and another Top Rank property, bantamweight Nonito Donaire.

Mosley has the inside track since he has given the most reasonable proposal to Arum with the assistance of his new adviser, rap mogul James Prince.

Source: mb.com.ph

Amir Khan wants Floyd Mayweather Jr after proving the chin can take it -- Guardian

By Kevin Mitchell, guardian.co.uk

In surviving three of the most awful minutes of his career en route to retaining the World Boxing Association light-welterweight title, Amir Khan ensured that he will be remembered no longer just for Breidis Prescott but for another South American of frightening power, Marcos Maidana.

Hours after their fight at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday night, seasoned and callow observers alike were talking of little else but the 10th of 12 rounds, one that reduced the disappointingly small crowd to a volley of gasps and ensured that Khan can now be sold in the US not just as an amiable stylist with a nice smile and a quaint, rasping accent, but as a crowd‑pleasing cash cow.

He wants no less than Floyd Mayweather Jr – if the American can avoid a prison sentence for domestic violence. But if Mayweather is still at large later in the year, Khan has one great thing going for him: he is not Manny Pacquiao, whom Mayweather has been at pains to handcuff in demands that have so far made a fight between them as hard to arrange as David Haye v Wladimir Klitschko.

This fight and this single round deserved a grander stage than a half-empty cavern that can hold 9,000 fans; those present and those watching at home on HBO and Sky will count themselves fortunate to have witnessed a career‑changing performance by Khan.

It will not take much to sell Khan‑Mayweather on the back of this.

Paradoxically, it was one of Khan's most naive displays. Yet, in that naivety – where the foot-on-pedal rushes of the Argentinian challenger drove him to the ropes, stripping the Briton of his great asset, mobility – Khan found something he knew was there, even if others doubted it: a heart the size of Bolton.

That heart was beating just as strongly the night Colombia's Prescott knocked him out in 54 seconds in Manchester two years ago – his life seems destined to be defined in dramatic cameos – but here, on his Las Vegas debut and after 12 weeks getting ready, he reached a level of fitness that some elite athletes could only dream about. It is what kept him on his shaking legs three rounds short of the finish line as Maidana battered him without reply and with every ounce of his considerable strength.

Remarkably, Khan got through it. Even more remarkably, he found some dregs of strength to trade with Maidana and nearly steal the 11th. Ultimately, though, he had to hang on as his little foe came at him again in the last round; had there been no bell, they'd still be going at it.

There were some ugly exchanges between a couple of members of both camps in the ring afterwards and Maidana almost fled the scene as soon as the scores were announced. Although he still thought he had won, he was decent enough to admit later that it probably was not the most appropriate response to a close fight.

The final judgment was 114-111 twice and 113-112, a fair assessment. I had Khan 115-112 ahead at the end of a contest that swung wildly, mostly Khan's way from rounds one to nine, and in favour of Maidana in a gripping conclusion.

It was almost over in the first round, when Khan cut his man in half with a left to the liver that him doubled up in agony on the canvas. Not many get up from such a shot, but Maidana must be made of a concrete-rubber mix, because he bounced up and got back into it. "I can still feel it now," the Argentinian said an hour after the fight.

He gave up a point in the fifth, when his flying elbow coming out of a clinch caught the referee Joe Cortez, an unfortunate misdemeanour. When Khan controlled the middle of the ring with his jab and free-flowing combinations, Maidana looked pedestrian. But he was not there to impress stylistically and took to charging with no pretence at defence, swinging from either hip.

Khan rippled pleasingly on the eye at the light-welter limit of 10 stones, a pound heavier than his opponent who, with his skinny Mohawk and sharp, dark eyes, resembled a bantam cock. He certainly scraps like one, having stopped 27 of 30 opponents before colliding with the iron will and surprisingly strong chin of the champion. But he had given up enough of the early rounds to be trailing throughout on all cards.

It is easy in these sorts of big fights for the winner to ignore the bad bits. Khan, with the ever-honest Freddie Roach in his corner, did not indulge himself in delusion. He admitted his mistakes: leaving himself exposed on the ropes and walking on to a couple of haymakers a novice could have avoided.

Roach reckoned he "almost lost the fight" by failing to stick to a game plan that had him circling to the right to avoid Maidana's trademark finisher. Less involved parties were less critical.

"I always knew he had the heart," the WBA heayweight champion, David Haye, said. "And, with all the training he's done with Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao, the best fighter on the planet, you could clearly see he's learned how to weather a storm. He knows how to kill the clock. The tricks he didn't know in the Prescott fight, he definitely knows now – and that's why he's still the champion of the world."

Haye also thinks Khan can beat Mayweather. "Mayweather's a boxer. He doesn't really close the range the way Maidana does. The shots Amir was getting hit with tonight are shots that Mayweather doesn't really throw. He is a box-puncher, keeps it long, looks for angles. I believe Amir is as quick as him – and could Mayweather take the onslaught that Amir was taking tonight? I've never seen Mayweather in that position. If that fight does happen, I'm backing Amir all the way."

Before he was led away for a brain scan at a local hospital, Khan managed one final smile though bruised lips to remind us: "What a great fight it was, man."

It was. And, now that he has shaken off his monkey, Khan is perfectly placed to provide plenty more great fights.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Khan wins close decision over Maidana -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

LAS VEGAS -- When junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan elected to face the light-hitting Paulie Malignaggi in May rather than interim titlist Marcos Maidana, his mandatory challenger, there were those who screamed that Khan must somehow be scared to fight the rock-thrower from Argentina.

Well, how do you like Khan now?

Not only did Khan stand in with Maidana in a ferocious and exciting battle, he survived some brutal shots and a near-knockout in the 10th round to retain his 140-pound title on a unanimous decision Saturday night before a small, but boisterous crowd of 4,632 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

The kid from England earned his stripes for sure.

"You can tell by his record he's a strong puncher and I took everything he gave me," Khan said proudly.

There have been plenty of questions about Khan's chin. The 2004 Olympic silver medalist at age 17 had been knocked down a few times early in his professional career and then was pounded out in 54 seconds in a stunning upset by Breidis Prescott in 2008.

But Khan made changes in his training habits and hired trainer Freddie Roach. He matured. He focused more.

Now, after surviving hell with Maidana (29-2, 27 KOs), he showed he is a true professional and a helluva fighter in winning his sixth bout in a row since the devastating loss.

He was also proud of how his chin held up despite taking some massive shots in defending his belt for the third time.

"I'm sure everyone watching my fights knows I've made mistakes," Khan said in clear reference to the Prescott fight. "But I've worked hard and came back stronger than ever. I'm a different fighter working with Freddie Roach and [strength and conditioning coach] Alex Ariza. I took his best shots and I was still there."

While Khan certainly had the edge in speed and overall skill, Maidana never stopped throwing his bombs. He didn't land all that many of them, but when he did, he made 'em count.

Maidana practically sprinted to Khan at the opening bell. His best way to win was going to make it a war. We all knew that. Clearly, Maidana did too. But Khan was ready.

He stymied Maidana's aggression early and dropped him in that opening round, sinking a left hook to the liver near the end of the round and then unloading a few more shots just before the bell for good measure.

He landed 31 punches to Maidana's five in the opening round. It was 32-5 in the second round.

Khan was in control on the cards as he continued to build his lead. But Maidana's pressure was relentless.

Maidana got a bit overzealous in the fifth round when he threw an elbow at Khan and was docked a point.

But he had made his point and continued to do so -- this was going to be a street fight whether England's Khan liked it or not.

By the sixth, Maidana's shots were beginning to take their toll. He was landing and Khan was retreating with Maidana chasing after him. When Khan -- who turned 24 on Wednesday -- would lay on the ropes, Maidana would attack with punch after punch, even though he couldn't get Khan off his feet.

The extreme pressure from Maidana continued and in the 10th round came Khan's moment of truth. Maidana brutalized him. A right hand badly hurt him and several more shots did even more damage. Khan looked like he was practically out on his feet.

To the shock of most at ringside, Khan managed to stay on his feet despite being in terrible trouble throughout the round.

Khan (24-1, 17 KOs) survived the round and made it through the final two, tough rounds while Maidana let everything he had hang out.

"He's a strong fighter and he hit hard, but my chin was tested," said Khan, who earned $975,000 and will ultimately bank much more based on the revenue generated by the pay-per-view telecast in England. "I'm not taking anything away from him. He's a great champion. But I proved today I've got a chin. I fight with my heart. I'm a boxer. If I go into the ring, I know I'm going to get hit."

In the end, the judges rewarded Khan with a deserved 114-111, 114-111, 113-112 decision. ESPN.com had it a bit wider for Khan, 116-109, but it was a fantastic and competitive fight.

Maidana gave a tremendous effort and thought he deserved the decision.

"I thought I won," said Maidana, who earned a career-high $550,000. "I thought I did enough in the final rounds to win the fight, but they gave it to him."

Khan landed 273 of 603 punches (45 percent), according to CompuBox statistics while Maidana was credited with landing 156 of 767 (20 percent).

Maidana hadn't earned it though. He had given up too many early rounds to the flashy Khan, who advanced to what many view as the semifinals of an unofficial tournament at 140 pounds.

Khan and Maidana, 27, were considered two of the top four fighters in the division heading into the fight. The other two, titleholders Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley Jr., meet to unify belts on Jan. 29 in Pontiac, Mich.

A fight between Khan and the winner of that fight is what many fans -- and HBO, which is bankrolling the unofficial tournament -- want to see.

Khan, however, likely will return to England for his next defense in the spring, but could move on to face the Alexander-Bradley winner later next year.

If he does, Khan certainly gained valuable experience and confidence surviving the hell that Maidana had just put him through.

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter @danrafaelespn.

Source: sports.espn.go.com