Doomsday 2012 Prophecy: Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson & Floyd Mayweather, JR -- Ringside Report

By Geno McGahee, Ringside Report

We are now a year and a half away from what some believe to be the end of the world. The Mayans supposedly have predicted an end to the world on December 21, 2012, which doesn’t give us much time. Thankfully, we have 18 months until 2012 to clean up boxing and settle some scores. Now, I contend that my predictions are just as dependable as the Mayans’ call that the world will end, although there is some debate concerning what they meant. But for argument’s sake, we will go with the majority that lean toward the end of the world stuff.

Manny Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather, JR.

November 2010

Las Vegas, Nevada

Bob Arum announced the fight had officially been signed and that the two best fighters in the game would return to the ring in November and face off for all of the marbles. The boxing message boards become so flooded with conversation and debate that they begin to crash, and the media frenzy begin. Every boxing and MMA website begins running stories, reporting rumors, and claiming friendship and the inside track to both fighters. “Steroids or not, I’m going to send him to the floor,” Floyd Mayweather, JR., notes to a reporter during training camp, as Roger comments, “the boy’s in trouble.”

Freddie Roach is very happy with Manny’s performance in camp and predicts an 8th round stoppage for his fighter. The Pacquiao fans scream “destiny,” which becomes the tagline for the fight: DESTINY: Floyd Mayweather, JR., vs. Manny Pacquiao.

HBO’s 24/7 Series brings in its highest ratings and the PPV numbers do not disappoint as on fight night they report that they have indications that they have beaten the highest grossing PPV by 50%.

A sold out crowd stands on their feet as Pacquiao walks down to the ring. He is stone faced as he walks in and as he steps into the ring, he seems focused and ready. He begins throwing some shadow punches and looks out to the capacity crowd. Jim Lampley notes that “Pacquiao looks like a caged lion.”

Mayweather wastes no time as he makes his way to the ring. He too seems more serious than ever. “This is the most electricity I have ever felt,” notes Lampley as the crowd roars with anticipation. He makes his way into the ring and stares at Pacquiao. Manny glares back and they begin to walk to each other when their corner men step in, preventing a pre-fight fight.

With the prefight festivities out of the way, the two stare at each other from across the ring, eagerly awaiting the opening bell. Pacquiao storms out of his corner and throws a straight left that immediately lands, but Floyd takes it and begins dodging and deflecting the incoming. The first round belongs to the more active Pacquiao.

In the second round, Floyd begins landing and although they are not seeming to hurt Pacquiao, they are turning his face red. “You are standing in front of him…use angles,” Roach calmly states to a frustrated Pacquiao in the corner.

In the fifth round, Pacquiao strikes and drops Mayweather with a straight left hand. Mayweather arises and smiles, winking at the referee when he counts. It was a good shot that stunned Mayweather but didn’t necessarily hurt him. Pacquiao swarms but most of the shots miss and Floyd goes back to his corner with a smile on his face.

From the sixth round on, Floyd controls and amazingly begins to hunt down Pacquiao. Manny moves and attempts to counter Floyd, an interesting tactic for sure, but an ineffective one. In the 10th round, Floyd lands with two uppercuts and Pacquiao collapses to the floor. He sits down and looks at the referee as he counts. He arises at six, nods at Floyd and the bout continues. Pacquiao survives the round.

A late rally in the final round by Pacquiao impresses, but it is obvious to the commentary team that Floyd did enough to win. The judges come in and score it, 116-110, 114-111, and 113-112, all for the winner Floyd Mayweather, JR. Because of the success of the first outing, the two agree to a rematch, which takes place in May of 2011, Floyd once again winning a decision in similar fashion.

The Return of Mike Tyson
March, 2011
Foxwoods Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut

The former 2-Time Heavyweight Champion, Mike Tyson, returns to the ring in March of 2011, featured on a special broadcast on FOX, in their attempt to bring back boxing to network TV. Their prior cards in late 2010 brought in good ratings and now they were able to strike a deal with Don King, the promoter of Tyson for the upcoming telecast. Tyson signed to fight Mike Mollo, an aggressive heavyweight with a big punch that had gone the distance with Andrew Golota.

Tyson came in weighing a fit 225 pounds, and had reportedly looked sharp in training. The fight, itself turned out to be sloppy for the first few rounds with an obviously rusty Tyson missing many of his punches and Mollo progressing forward and doing some damage. In the fourth round, Tyson would jar Mollo with an uppercut, wobbling him. Tyson would pounce and land two more uppercuts, sending Mollo crashing to the floor. The referee would reach nine and wave it off. Tyson returns with a stoppage win in the fourth round. With the amazing ratings, ABC and NBC announce a planned fight schedule for the near future, and Tyson states interest in a title shot.

Tyson gets his title shot in August of 2011 against WBF Champion, Evander Holyfield. A PPV titled: “The Reunion” pits the two all time greats against each other with both men stating that there will be no excuses. Holyfield seems to dictate the action, but Tyson is actually fighting well. At the end of 12 rounds, the decision is in doubt. Holyfield was ahead, it seemed, but lost two points for intentional head butts. The judges would score it 113-113 across the board, ending in a draw and talk of a fourth encounter.

The Klitschkos

In November of 2010, Wladimir Klitschko finally defends his title against the eager Alexander Povetkin, winning a hotly disputed split decision in Germany. Teddy Atlas screams home cooking with the judges, and with David Haye fresh off his TKO 1st round stoppage of Audley Harrison, a Klitschko – Haye fight looms and Povetkin will be denied the rematch.

Vitali Klitschko signs to fight former WBA Champion, Nikolay Valuev, in Germany in December of 2010, and jabs his way to a wide decision, making the comment that there aren’t “many more worlds to conquer.” With Odlanier Solis knocking out Ray Austin in two rounds, he demands his crack, but there are other options like David Tua, a fight that Vitali has been entertaining.

In April of 2011, Haye-Klitschko becomes a reality, fought in neutral territory in Las Vegas, Nevada. Haye shocks the world by stopping Wlad in six rounds. Wlad could not keep off the swarming Haye once he hurt him and crumpled to the canvas, unable to beat the count. Vitali expresses his interest in the now unified champion (WBO/WBA/IBF/IBO) but Haye states that he has other plans.

Vitali would take on David Tua in June 2011 and survive some rocky moments to take the decision.

Super Six Results

With only one defeat in the Super Six, Arthur Abraham takes the title home with a stoppage of Andre Ward. He now looks forward to a showdown with Lucian Bute, a man that has been eagerly awaiting the winner since the inception of the tournament.

The End of Bernard Hopkins

Hopkins sees the potential of winning another title at light heavyweight and signs to fight IBF Champion, Tavoris Cloud. Cloud impressed the boxing world with an 9th round TKO battering of Glen Johnson in August of 2010, and a January 2011 showdown was signed with ring veteran Hopkins to be featured on HBO.

Hopkins wins the early rounds with his ring generalship and movement but a left hook would rattle the old warrior and he wouldn’t be able to fend off the aggression, succumbing to the punishment, rescued by the referee in the seventh round.

Cloud would sign to fight fellow champion, Chad Dawson, in a May 2011 showdown. Cloud once again surprises critics with a stoppage of Dawson in the later rounds, becoming one of the stars in boxing.

Paul Williams & Sergio Martinez

Without anyone eager to face either man, they turn to each other in September of 2010, an eagerly awaited rematch in a fight that saw Williams winning a majority decision. In the rematch for middleweight gold, Martinez turns the tables and wins a close majority decision of his own, leading to a third and final encounter in May of 2011, which disappointingly ends in a draw. The two decide to explore other options before agreeing to a fourth showdown.

This is only a possible look at the future and there are two things that will happen in 2012…either the world will end with explosions and natural disasters and all that stuff, or it will continue to go on, which is the favorite right now if you’re betting. Just like Y2K, this is another interesting thing that we create as humans to keep life fun and to keep Hollywood making bad movies with enormous budgets and ridiculous special effects. I believe the boxing world will keep on spinning and life will go on and be fun when 2012 comes along and passes.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Miguel Cotto's Trainer Talks Pacquiao, Margarito Rematches -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Trainer Emanuel "Manny" Steward works with WBO and IBF heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko, as well as newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) titlist Miguel Cotto (pictured above, at left), whose ninth-round knockout victory dethroned Yuri Foreman (pictured above, at right) on June 5 during their first bout together at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Steward has been credited with helping the 29-year-old Cotto (35-2, 28 knockouts) resurrect a career that had been damaged during knockout losses to Antonio Margarito and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao.

In this Q&A, Steward talks about Cotto's resurgence as well as potential rematches with Pacquiao and Margarito.

FanHouse: What do you think about potentially being in Miguel Cotto's corner for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao?

Manny Steward: Well, any time that anybody in the world fights Manny Pacquiao, they've got a hard fight, OK? That's just a fact. It would be a different fight, I'm quite sure. One reason is that they'd be fighting at 154 instead of 145 for Cotto the last fight that they had.

Do you believe that being forced to fight at a catch weight of 145 pounds against Pacquiao in some way hurt or hampered Miguel Cotto?

Well, when I talked to Miguel and I was asking him, 'What happened in the fight?,' he didn't say anything about having to lose weight or anything about that being a factor. All that he said was, basically, 'I couldn't handle his speed.'

And I said, 'You're kidding?' And he said, 'Nope. I couldn't handle his speed.' So he just couldn't handle Manny's speed.

So neither you nor Miguel Cotto believes that extreme weight loss had anything to do with the loss to Pacquiao?

You know, Miguel has never mentioned that. I don't think that he would ever say that. I just asked him what the difference in the fight was because he was doing so good earlier on in the fight in the early rounds with his jab.

Miguel just said, 'later on I couldn't keep up with his speed.' But with me in there, it would be totally different because Miguel is a different fighter right now than he was then.

How would you, as a trainer, neutralize Manny Pacquiao's speed against Miguel?

Well, that would not be a problem with me this time because I specialize in fast sparring partners. That's something that I insist on. I've never had a fighter come back at the end of a round and tell me that 'I've got a problem because I can't handle his speed,' you know?

But any time anybody's fighting Manny Pacquiao, you have your work cut out for you any way that you cut it.

Would you look forward to testing yourself as a trainer against his trainer, Freddie Roach, and Manny Pacquiao with yourself in Miguel Cotto's corner?

You know, I don't go into any fight really looking at it that way. I go into a fight trying to get my man in the best shape for the fight that I can. I've never gone into a fight anxious to face any other trainer or this guy or that guy.

If we did fight Pacquiao, though, that, I guess, would be good for boxing. But to be honest, I've never thought too much about it.

But you do have a history, by extension, having gone against the late Eddie Futch, who was Freddie Roach's mentor. Can you tell me about that?

Well, I went up against Eddie Futch with Evander Holyfield against Riddick Bowe in the second of their three fights, and I went against Eddie Futch with Tommy Hearns against James Shuler in a fight.

So that was twice that he had undefeated fighters. And that was twice where we won both of those fights [Holyfield by decision; Hearns by first-round knockout.]

How about a rematch for Miguel Cotto against Antonio Margarito?

These are questions that [HBO's] Jim Lampley brought up to him during the fighter meetings before we fought Yuri Foreman. He asked Miguel if, clearly, 'would he be interested in trying to settle the score with Margarito and Pacquiao?'

But Miguel doesn't show a lot of emotions, you know. He was like, 'they were just fights.' And he said that with very little emotion. It wasn't like 'Margarito just beat me.'

Do you have a preference for whom Miguel Cotto fights, whether it's Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito or Julio Cesar Chavez?

No, not really. Whatever fight they make, I would just start training Miguel for the fight. I have no personal feelings about it at all. I think Margarito, even if you take away the badly taped hands, he's still one tough sonofab****, you know?

How so?

I'm down in Los Angeles while he was training once, and he just trains really, really hard. Regardless of what may have been in his hands, he was always in great shape.

When he lost to Shane Mosley, you may say that part of his confidence may have been effected. You may say that his confidence before that came from the fact that he may have felt that his illegal hands gave him an advantage.

But, emotionally, the night that he fought Shane, he may have been all confused and mixed up because of what went on with the commission that night. By the time that the fight came up, I mean.

But I have a lot more respect for him as a fighter than most people do, I think. It seems like everyone is saying that he got as far as he did because of the hand wraps. But as far as I'm concerned, he's always in unbelievable condition.

You and Miguel seemed to have really bonded during training and the night of the Yuri Foreman fight. How much fun was that?

Well, I learn from each one of my fighters. And I learned the art of being relaxed from Miguel Cotto. I've never had a fighter who was going into such a high intensity fight go into it as relaxed as he seemed to be.

During the promotion, everything was about Yuri Foreman and this and that, and I have to tell you that I was a nervous wreck at times. But Miguel Cotto, this guy, he was the definition of the word 'cool.'

Before the fight, he was out there watching the undercard fights. After the fifth round of the fight with Foreman, he came back to the corner and he gave me a little wink. He's just not one to get emotional about a lot of things.

He was not all wired up, you know? And he's not all wired up about getting revenge. With Miguel Cotto, it just seems like nothing bothers him.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Freddie Roach: Manny Pacquiao set to call Floyd Mayweather's 'bluff' on megafight -- Grand Rapids Press

By Josh Slagter, The Grand Rapids Press

With Top Rank CEO Bob Arum saying Sunday a resolution is coming "soon" on a potential fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach believes the newly sworn in Congressman is ready to make a deal.

“At this point I feel that Manny is going to agree to everything,” Roach told The Toronto Star. “That’s our bluff. We’re going to call his bluff. We’ll see ... I can’t speak for Manny, I can’t speak for (Bob) Arum but I feel the fight will happen because Manny is going to call his bluff and say ‘let’s do it.’”

Negotiations originally broke down in December over Mayweather's insistence on random urine and blood testing. Pacquiao didn't want to be tested as close as 14 days before the fight.

Pacquiao went on to fight Joshua Clottey instead in March and Mayweather dismantled Shane Mosley in May. Arum has reserved Nov. 13 in for Pacquiao's next fight, in either Las Vegas or Dallas.

Before beating Mosley, though, Mayweather said his 14-day cutoff window isn't in play anymore, and that blood testing must be allowed right up until the fight.

And after his fight with Mosley did 1.4 million pay-per-view buys, Mayweather also may not be willing to accept a 50-50 purse split, something the two camps previously had agreed upon.

Roach is in Toronto this week with Ana Julaton, who challenges for the WBO women’s 122-pound title Wednesday.

“Manny’s now a congressman. He’s going to agree with everything Mayweather wants,” Roach said. “That’s why I think the fight will happen.”

Source: mlive.com

Bob Arum Talks Marco Antonio Barrera, Mayweather-Pacquiao -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Promoter Bob Arum considers last Saturday night's Latin Fury 15 pay per view event at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Tex., a success partly because of the comeback of Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera.

The 36-year-old, five-time former world champion rose to 66-7, with 43 knockouts when he ended a 15-month ring absence by vanquishing lightweight (135 pounds) rival Adailton De Jesus (26-5, 21 KOs) of Brazil by unanimous decision.

In this, the second of a two-part Q&A series, the 78-year-old Arum discusses the future of Barrera and his effort to guide the future Hall of Famer to a fourth crown in as many different weight classes. If successful, Barrera would be the first Mexican to do so.

Also in this Q&A, Arum will discuss his relationship with three-time Trainer of the Year, Freddie Roach and will address the potential for a bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao coming to fruition.

FanHouse: Can you discuss briefly the performance of Marco Antonio Barrera?

Bob Arum: It was a great performance. It was a mixture of everything. It shows that he's back on track.

For a guy who is accustomed to being cut in his past two fights, didn't he escape with no marks on his face and relatively unscathed?

No marks on his face, right. One of the reasons I attribute that to is that he didn't come rushing back from the Amir Khan fight. He took off some time and allowed the cuts to heal.

What's next for Marco Antonio Barrera?

We'll be putting our heads together and seeing if his next fight will be against WBC champion Humberto Soto for the Lightweight championship of the world. Or whether he needs yet one more 135-pound fight.

We'll have to see. But my inclination is that he'll probably move into a fight with Humberto Soto. For the Mexicans, that would be a huge, huge fight to say the least.

As opposed to a fight with WBA champion Miguel Acosta?

Yes, the Humberto Soto fight would be as opposed to Acosta. Acosta's a possibility, but Soto is a bigger fight for the Mexican fans.

Can you talk about how the union between you and Marco Antonio Barrera came to fruition considering his past with rival promotional company, Gold Boy Promotions?

Well, yeah. Juan Carlos, a guy who works with and is the cousin of Fernando Beltran, he's a bright, young guy. And he is friendly with all of the fighters.

Marco Antonio was apparently in conversation with Juan Carlos hinting that he would like to have Top Rank and Fernando's company promote his remaining fights. The fact that we had been on the other side for so many years was sort of irrelevant.

How so?

Well, it's a business. And there was never anything personal. He was fighting fighters that I was promoting is all. What's wrong with that? Everybody made money. He was with Golden Boy. And Golden Boy is not very imaginative.

Their idea of promoting is to take money from HBO and to put on a fight. HBO had no need for or any use for Barrera. So, Barrera was somebody who was expendable for Golden Boy.

Don King was with him for a while, but Don King had no use for him. Don King tried to bilk him for one fight against Amir Khan. So we were the obvious choice for him.

Because, we'll find a way doing our own thing to get him some big fights. And the fight between Barrera and Soto in Mexico City will do 30-to-40,000 people.

What is it that makes you and Freddie Roach go so successfully, with his Parkinson's syndrome and your ageless passion?

It's the fact that we love all that we do. We both want to create the best that we can do and to do the best that we can and to get the best out of life. I try to be creative in my own field, and Freddie is creative as a trainer, training all of these guys into super stars.

What can you say about the negotiations between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao?

I think that one way or another, we're approaching the time of resolution. One way or another. I'm still very optimistic, and, you know, Manny and I want this fight to happen.

But as I've said before, it takes two to tango. And, though this is not going to go out to much longer, this is going to be resolved in the near term. Whether it's a week or two weeks, but it will be resolved one way or the other.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Pacquiao in Forbes’ most ‘powerful’ list -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

Manny Pacquiao made it to the 100 World’s Most Powerful Celebrities for the second straight year on a list made byForbes magazine.

Pacquiao was listed at No. 55 with an earning totaling $42 million (roughly P1.9-billion) from fights with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto and Ghanaian Joshua Clottey that covered the period July 2009 to June 2010.

His ranking is a rung better than last year.

Interestingly, Floyd Mayweather was ranked higher – No. 31 – with earnings reaching $65 million from fights with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez and fellow US fighter Shane Mosley.

Topping the list is TV show host Oprah Winfrey with $315 million, while the highest-rated athlete is golfer Tiger Woods with $105 million.

The ratings were based on the celebrity’s standing in earnings, TV/Radio, press, web and social rank.

Pacquiao and Mayweather’s ranking would take another notch higher in the event a proposed November 13 fight between the two of them materializes.

Their handlers are still in talks for the fight that will likely be staged in Las Vegas.

Source: mb.com.ph

Filipino MMA's Rising Star -- ESPN-Star

By James Goyder, ESPNStar.com

Eduard Folayang is already being tipped to become the MMA equivalent of renowned Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao and he will be looking to make it two wins out of two for Martial Combat against Chinese fighter Wang Guan.

Wang Guan is one of the most highly regarded MMA fighters in China and a Lightweight belt will be on the line in this five round contest. The event is taking place at Resorts World Sentosa on July 14th and a crowd of in excess of 1000 people is expected.

Folyang is a veteran of eight MMA fights and is the reigning welterweight champion of the URCC, the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in the Philippines. He made his Martial Combat debut only a couple of weeks ago, defeating Slovakian fighter Egon Racz via submission early in the first round, but is not concerned about taking two fights in such a short space of time,

"I concentrate on one fight at a time and I have plenty of time to recover before the fight with Wang Guan. Egon is a strong fighter and a good striker like me but I knew my endurance and power would serve me well. My strategy was to capitalize on any mistakes he made and he gave me his neck too much,' he said.

It proved to be a fatal error for Racz as Folayang was able to wrap his arm around the aforementioned neck and secure a guillotine choke, forcing the Sovakian to either tap out or risk losing consciousness. Folayang controlled the fight from start to finish, comfortably blocking a few kicks from Racz, who is a Muay Thai champion, before taking him to the ground and sinking in the choke.

It was the latest in a long line of impressive performances from the 26 year old who is already being tipped to follow in the footsteps of Mark Munoz, the most renowned Filipino MMA practitioner at present. Munoz fights for the UFC, the biggest MMA promotion on the planet which is watched by millions in the Philippines and all over the world.

Unlike Munoz, who was raised in the US, Folayang is a Filipino native from Baguio who trains with the Lakay Wushu team there. He is hoping to become the first fighter to emerge from the burgeoning Filipino MMA scene to make an impression on the world stage.

"MMA is a growing sport in the Philippines, and it spreading very fast. I hope by winning fights I can inspire other fighters back in my home country. My fights have been shown on TV in the Philippines before but never internationally and I am very grateful to ESPN Star Sports for giving me this opportunity. I always wanted to fight for the best MMA networks and to showcase my talent as a mixed martial artist," he said.

Folayang was already a hugely experienced martial artist before making the transition into MMA four years ago. He first tasted success in 1999, winning gold at the Wushu amateur championships in Manila. His Wushu career took him to tournaments all across Asia and Folayang went on to win more medals in Wushu competitions in Vietnam, China, Myanmar and Qatar as well as the Philippines.

Folayang currently has an MMA record of 7-1 with the sole loss of his MMA career coming against Jon Tuck in Saipan last year. Folayang blames a lack of preparation for his disappointing performance in this fight,

"It was a long story, we were stuck in Japan before coming to Saipan and I had only one day to rest and cut weight and then the next day I had to fight and I didn't have enough time to recover. I learned a lot of things when I lost that fight and I will train even harder to win fights in the future," he said.

Since that disappointing loss Folayang has got his career back on track with two wins in quick succession, both through emphatic first round stoppages. If he can make it three wins out of three by defeating Wang Guan next month his solitary loss will seem like even more of an aberration.

The UFC recently made its first foray into Asian territory in almost a decade with a show in Abu Dhabi earlier this year and it seems a matter of when, not if, a UFC show takes place in the Philippines.

There are a number of aspiring Filipino fighters looking to establish themselves on the international stage and there should be plenty of opportunities for them to do so. Folayang is at the forefront of the Filipino MMA explosion and another win at Martial Combat next month could well and truly propel him into the international spotlight.

Source: espnstar.com

Manny Pacquiao turns politician until Floyd Mayweather fight in Vegas in November -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

Bob Arum, the legendary American boxing promoter, has seen it all from Muhammad Ali to Manny Pacquiao, through thin and thinner, through changing times in society and between the ropes. Arum was in San Antonio last weekend, watching Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr, the son of the great Mexican fighter outbox Irishman John Duddy. B-list at best.

Cesar Chavez Jnr, 24, has 42 unbeaten professional fights to his gilded name, without the ringcraft and spite, nor the vicious, precise rapiers his father possessed in winning a world title six times in three weight divisions. He was beaten only 6 times in 107 fights, and his relentless style drew the Mexican nation to its feet.

Chavez Snr was to Mexico what Manny Pacquiao means to the Filipino heartlands. There are parallels, too. Chavez grew up beside the railroad tracks in an abandoned railway carriage with his five sisters and four brothers. He began boxing aged 16.

Pacquiao lived in a cardboard box for a time, and had to eke out a living buying and selling donuts to make pennies. He grew up with dignity in a shanty town, boarding a boat to Manila from Kibawe, in the province of Bukidnon, to seek his fortune. He found boxing was his way forward in life. Chavez and Pacquiao grew through the sport to become national treasures in their homelands. But so often, sport is simply a vehicle to a wider perspective.

Yet Pacquiao has an extra dimension.

Arum could be on the point of another seismic sporting event. Across the Pacific, in the South China Seas, one of his charges was starting a career in politics. Manny Pacquiao, sworn in as a new Congressman there in the early hours of Monday morning.

He will be the lone Congressman for Sarangani province, winning a landslide vote in the May 10 elections, ousting a political dynasty, the Chiongbian family. It is the stuff of legend. He is a popular leader in all senses.

On the boxing front, I’m hearing that Pacquiao versus Mayweather talks are progressing nicely, thank you. A gagging order has been placed on all protagonists involved, and although there are rumours that Mayweather is seeing a 60-40 split in his favour from the contest, it is moving forward.

Reading between the lines, it seems almost inevitable that the contest will take place at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, in November, most likely on Saturday 13. The Mojave Desert wins out against the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

There are also whispers of a Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito re-match on the first Saturday in December.

Pacquiao’s life will have changed forever on June 28. Perhaps this is where his real life’s work begins.

He says he will be “more effective in politics than in boxing”. If so, he will provide for many lives. He will have three years in office to do so, and for that reason, it looks as if ‘The National Fist’ of the Philippines will box on for that long, most likely six more fights, including Mayweather.

Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Philippine boxer Pacquiao sworn in as congressman -- AFP

AFP

ALABEL, Philippines — World champion boxer Manny Pacquiao was sworn in as congressman of his impoverished Philippine province on Monday, vowing to be even more effective in government than he is in the ring.

Trading his gloves for a traditional formal shirt, Pacquiao was among local officials who took their oaths of office in the capital of Sarangani province where he knocked out an entrenched political clan in the May 10 elections.

"I will be more effective in politics than in boxing," he told the crowd of 3,000 after the ceremonies.

The 31-year-old fighter said he would work on improving infrastructure, medical services and security during his three-year term in parliament.

Pacquiao, who is regarded as a national hero in the boxing crazy Philippines, has said he can continue to fight even while serving as a legislator.

Boxing promoters are working to arrange a bout between Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather in November, to settle once and for all the fighters' claim to be the best fighter, pound-for-pound, of their generation.

Negotiations for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight fell through earlier this year when the American insisted on Olympic-style random drug testing, which the Filipino rejected as too intrusive before a bout.

His winnings from boxing as well as his commercial endorsements last year made Pacquiao the world's sixth-highest paid athlete, with earnings of 40 million US dollars, according to Forbes magazine.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

Bob Arum: Julio Cesar Chavez 'Will Get Better And Better' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Promoter Bob Arum considers last Saturday night's Latin Fury 15 pay per view event at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, a success.

In the main event, 24-year-old Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (41-0-1, 30 knockouts) ended a seven-month ring absence with his middleweight (160 pounds) unanimous decision victory over John Duddy (29-2, 18 KOs) -- this, under the watchful eyes of three-time Trainer of the Year, Freddie Roach, assistant trainer, Alex Ariza, and, his father, former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

On the undercard, 36-year-old, five-time former world champion and Mexican great, Marco Antonio Barrera (66-7, 43 KOs), ended a 15-month layoff with his lightweight (135 pounds) unanimous decision over Brazil's Adailton De Jesus (26-5, 21 KOs).

In this, the first of a two-part Q&A series, Arum discusses the future of Chavez after having spent his first, full training camp with Roach.

In the other forthcoming Q&A, Arum will discuss Barrera's future, Arum's relationship with Roach, and the potential for a bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao coming to fruition.

FanHouse: Well, there was another great showing for Top Rank Promotions, huh?

Bob Arum: Yeah, it was great. Terrific.

And Julio Cesar Chavez looked terrific?

Yeah, he was. He was. That was quite an improvement.

That one point in the fight where he was hurt in the sixth round, but yet, settled in and got back into a groove -- what do you attribute that to?

I know what it was. It was the conditioning of Freddie Roach. You know, if you're well conditioned, and you're really well conditioned, you can take a shot and come back much better than if you're not conditioned. Your recovery time is better.

No problems like that with him this time, huh?

You know, every fight that we've had with Julio Cesar Chavez up until now, I mean, every fight, there has been a problem. If it's not about making weight, and all, then it's about all of this other stuff. But with the assistant trainer, Alex Ariza, he showed the kid how to do it right this time.

How do you mean?

He got the kid's weight down and then he even got to drink water and so forth the day of the weigh in. He's never had it so easy making weight. He could probably go down to 154 they say. You know, these old time trainers don't know what they're doing.

Here, with Freddie and Alex, they work them so hard, that instead of cutting down on their food, they can eat. They have to eat. It's like Manny Pacquiao. He was eating more -- like 6,000 calories a day.

In order, what are the fights that you would seek next for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.?

Well, I want to make fights that are big fights for him. I don't know if [WBA junior middleweight champ] Miguel Cotto will be his next fight or not.

They say that Chavez may be ready to come all the way down to 154. That's what he would have to do to fight Cotto. So, we'll just have to see, you know?

Isn't Chavez also a mandatory now for WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, and is that a consideration?

With a little more experience, I think that he would be a candidate for a fighter like Martinez, who has a lot of skills. But I don't think that Chavez is quite ready for him now. He's not been with Freddie Roach long enough. He would have to spend a lot more time with Freddie Roach.

But right now, he's only been with Freddie Roach for the past four weeks.

Will he continue training with Freddie Roach then?

Yep. That's what he's going to do. He's going to rent an apartment in Los Angeles and then you'll see that he can be close to Freddie and the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif.

And you'll see that because of that, he'll get better and better and better and better.

What are some of the other options for Julio Cesar Chavez?

Well, if he wants to at 160, Chavez could consider maybe going after this guy who is there as the interim WBC middleweight champion Sebastian Zbik [29-0, 10 KOs] of Germany, who might be willing to fight him. He's the interim WBC champion from Europe.

That wold be a very, very good fight for him maybe in Mexico City in September.

So if you were to say what your next move would be, would it be to fight another tune up against say, a 16-7 fighter or so at middleweight, or junior middleweight to get him ready for another big name opponent?

No, no. Chavez would only fight top fighters. No 16-7 fighters if that's what you said. No. He would fight a guy like Sebastian Zbik, who is the interim middleweight champion, or other guys. He would certainly be fighting somebody like that.

So that would be maybe the next fight or would it be a Miguel Cotto?

Or maybe right to Cotto.

Wow, really?

In other words, I had dinner with Freddie Roach last night, after the fight, and you know, I didn't want to press Freddie too hard, because we were relaxing and being social. But the subject came up. But I will certainly talk to Freddie more about it this week.

His two uncles having been his trainers prior to Freddie Roach and Alex Ariza, has translation been an issue in the corner?

The Chavez kid understands English as well as you or me. When his mother broke up with his father, Julio Sr., she moved the family to California, so he's spent a lot of time there and in the United States. So he understands English perfectly.

If you remember the conference call, they were asking him questions in English and he was answering in Spanish. But no one was having to translate the questions from English. And he can speak some English. He's very reluctant to speak English because he doesn't feel sure of himself.

But that will come, and he can certainly speak enough English to communicate with Freddie. And Alex Ariza is from Colombia, and he knows how to communicate in any language. The kid is going to be a star with the two of them working with him. That, I have no doubt about.

Another feather in the cap of trainer Freddie Roach?

Freddie Roach is the greatest trainer in the world. Julio Cesar Chavez is a work in progress. That being said, he's only had four weeks with Freddie Roach. If he hadn't been with Freddie Roach, Duddy would have destroyed him.

So, I see a huge, huge upside in Chavez. He's exhuberant about Freddie and about the work ethic. He became not only a different fighter but also a different man. He wants to work all the time and wants to learn.

All of the essentials that you want to see in the kid that has talent. We saw it in Manny Pacquiao the same way. There are a lot of parallels there.

How so?

Manny just had an interview with a Philippines newspaper and he talked about how this all started. Bruce Trampler, our matchmaker, said that Julio Cesar would not follow directions.

So we all knew that we had to get him a really good, top notch trainer, and, if possible, Freddie Roach. So Bruce brought Chavez to a Manny Pacquiao training session.

And the kid's eyes bugged out because he had never seen anything like it. And after the training session, Pacquiao sat down with him and they talked for about 15 minutes or so.

And Manny told him that the way that his career could really blossom is that if he signed on to have Freddie Roach train him and for Alex Ariza to condition him.

And then Chavez told Fernando and me that that's what he wanted to do. And we didn't know how long that it would last. But he had seen what it took, and, boy, what a willing eager pupil he was.

He's done everything that he's been asked.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Pacquiao a legendary gentleman -- Examiner

By Brad Cooney, Examiner.com

It's one thing to become a legendary status in any category. With Manny Pacquiao, he's become a legend in boxing. That's a wonderful accomplishment, but do you know what's even more impressive? Manny Pacquiao is also a legendary gentleman. The pound for pound boxing king has given back to a lot of people throught his illustrious boxing career.

Pacquiao has done everything from building schools and clinics, to giving money and feeding the hungry. Now he's an elected official in the Philippines, so we will see what he can do for the people that he will be representing. If it's anything remotely close to how he has treated people thus far, his constituents will be very lucky.

When I was with Pacquiao during his training camp for Joshua Clottey, he did something that touched my heart as well as all of those who witnessed it. There was a day when Manny was exiting the restaurant by the Wild Card gym. He was heading toward his car navigating through the crowd, and he saw a Filipino fan in a wheelchair. The fan had what appeared to me as either Cerebral Palsy, or perhaps MS. Manny immediately stopped, walked up to the fan and gave him a hug. The champ then took his fist and gently put it to the chin of the fan, and told him, "I will get a knockout for you."

Pacquiao has remained humble throughout his incredible journey. His fans are very important to him, and staying grounded is as well. Earlier in the year while at the dinner table with Pacquiao I was watching him sign hundreds of autographs, all the while he was trying to eat his supper. Manny looked up at me and said, "Brad Cooney, this is my life" and he smiled and kept on signing.

Every single Mississippian that I have ever spoken to, fan or no fan of Manny all respect him. With each of Manny's fights, I travel the Jackson, Mississippi sports bar scene and get the fans thoughts. Both fans and fighters all respect Manny Pacquiao for both his inside of the ring accomplishments, and his outside of the ring accomplishments. I covered Shawn Porter's last fight up in Tunica, Mississippi. Porter, a former sparring partner of Pacquiao's, said that he would "never forget the experience training with Manny. It was an amazing experience."

What we have here in Manny Pacquiao is a guy that has risen from nothing to the top. He's a legend in boxing, and a legendary gentleman. He will go down in history as both a sports icon, and as a man who kept his feet on the ground, and gave back to his people.

Check out more on Pacquiao here - http://www.8countnews.com


Check out my boxing scoops and updates here - http://www.bradcooney.com

Source: examiner.com

Chavez Jr. outpoints Duddy at Alamodome -- Associated Press

The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO — Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. unanimously outpointed Ireland's John Duddy on Saturday night in a 12-round middleweight fight at the Alamodome.

Chavez (42-0-1) dominated the early part of the fight with a steady dose of hooks and jabs, but Duddy (29-2) kept the pressure on and pushed Chavez to 12 rounds for the first time in his eight-year career.

"John is the toughest fighter I've faced so far," Chavez said. "He kept the pressure on and really pushed me farther than I've been to this point in my career. But I knew coming in that he was going to be challenging, and I was happy to walk away with the victory."

Former boxing star Julio Cesar Chavez led his son into the ring to an eruption of applause. The elder Chavez then did color commentary for the pay-per-view broadcast.

The fight was Chavez's first since 10-round unanimous decision over Troy Rowlands in November that was changed to a no-contest after he tested positive for a banned substance a diuretic and was suspended for seven months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The fight also was Chavez's first with trainer Freddie Roach, who guides WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

Chavez returned to the place where he watched his father fight to a controversial 12-round draw against Pernell Whitaker in 1993.

"To fight in the same building that my father did is almost surreal for me," Chavez said. "I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd be headlining at the Alamodome."

On the undercard, Marco Antonio Barrera (66-7) unanimously outpointed Adailton DeJesus (26-5) in a 10-round lightweight fight.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

Random thoughts on 'Pacnuts', 'Floydiots' and 'The Fight the World Wants to See' -- 8CountNews

By Lorne Scoggins, 8CountNews.com

As the world of boxing turns, those who follow the sport closely await the announcement of the fight that has repeatedly been referred to as “the fight the world wants to see”. If all the speculation accompanied by the occasional hint from those who are perceived to be “in the loop” is correct, the two pugilists who are regarded the very best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport will square off on November 13.

Who will come out on top if the fight does indeed push through?

Sensible Pacquiao fans hope that their guy's extreme aggressiveness, quickness and punch volume will press Mayweather hard enough to eventually penetrate his superior defense. Pacquiao worshipers, or “Pacnuts”, assert that there is no possible way that “Chicken Fraud Gayweather”, can beat their self-proclaimed god. No way, no how, never.

Some Pacquiao fans insist that the fight will never happen because Mayweather will duck Pacquiao. One must wonder if that's wishful thinking on their part, at least in some cases. If he does indeed duck Pacquiao, that will be another article for another day. It's evident from Pacquiao's public statements that he definitely wants the fight.

Sensible Mayweather fans hope that their guy's defensive shell, footwork and agility will protect him from Pacquiao's famous flurries, and that his speed and timing will allow him to pick Pacquiao apart one punch at a time as he continually catches him coming in. “Floydiots” say that the “one-dimensional, Pacroid” has fought a bunch of over-the-hill punching bags and that Mayweather will undoubtedly expose the “overrated” and “undeserving” Fighter of the Decade. After all, (they say), he's been knocked out before, therefore... (I don't really understand the relevancy of that point since he was an underdeveloped kid when he was knocked out.)

Let's face it, everybody has a prediction, including yours truly, but none of us know for sure how this thing will turn out. That's exactly why it's such an intriguing fight.

41 times a fighter has stepped through the ropes thinking he had the recipe to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. Pressure is the key, some thought. As they applied the pressure, Mayweather figured them out and adjusted, often making them look as though they didn't belong in the same ring with him. Virtually every boxer and trainer I've spoken to on the subject picks Mayweather to win.

Manny Pacquiao has embarrassed his share of opponents too. He has been underestimated perhaps more than any fighter in recent history. He's beaten boxers, punchers and brawlers. He has an uncanny ability to rise to the occasion and take everyone by surprise. He has one of the most unorthodox styles in boxing and he's a master at landing out-of-nowhere punches from every conceivable angle.

No matter what happens, it is almost a sure thing that somebody will win and somebody will lose. Draws are relatively rare in boxing.

What will the “Pacnuts” say if Pacquiao loses? What excuses will they have. One thing is for certain; they'll have excuses. Ridiculous ones, no doubt.

What if Pacquiao pulls off the upset? What will the “Floydiot's” say? How will they react if their undefeated hero gets an 'L' on his record, and what if that 'L' comes by way of the despised “Pacroid”? How will Floyd himself react?

There's been way too much talk. It's time for some action. Both of these fighters are great, but one of them is greater than the other. On that night, the one who wins will be the greater of the two. That's the truth. The truth is not relative to my opinion, your opinion, or anybody else's opinion. The truth does not care if you happen to worship one fighter and despise the other. The truth is just the truth, that's all.

Send comments and questions to lscoggins@8countnews.com

Source: 8countnews.com

Former Pacquiao, Tyson Manager helps grow an empire -- 8CountNews

8CountNews

The Empire Sports and Entertainment is proud to announce that Shelly Finkel will become the CEO of boxing's hottest new promotional firm, effective July 1st.

"Shelly Finkel has signed on as our CEO and will bring his sharp eye for talent and razor-sharp business acumen to our daily operations," revealed an excited Greg Cohen, President and Founder of The Empire.

Over the past two decades, Finkel has served as manager or advisor to more world champions than anyone in the modern sport of boxing including Mark Breland, Mike McCallum, Juan Diaz, Evander Holyfield, Manny Pacquiao, Meldrick Taylor, Mike Tyson, Fernando Vargas, Pernell Whitaker, Michael Moorer, Vinny Paz, Jeff Lacy and current heavyweight champion brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko. And in the process, he has deftly positioned himself as one of boxing's elite power players.

"This is a game changer for The Empire," Cohen continued. "Shelly has the drive, the clout and the connections to bring this company to an unprecedented level in boxing. His history proves he's a step ahead of everyone and a true visionary in this industry and Barry Honig (The Empire, Chairman) and I are honored to have him come aboard our team."

Cohen says he will afford his CEO a chance to settle into his new role, but gives assurance that "huge announcements" are on their way. "Adding Shelly is a huge piece of the puzzle for us and he and I have already been speaking about all the innovative and, in many cases, blockbuster deals The Empire will be coming out with in the near future."

Finkel initially launched his career in entertainment by running a club called "The Action House," featuring legendary bands such as Cream, The Doors, Procol Harem and some of the most recognized groups of the 1960s. In 1973, he produced and promoted The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, a rock festival which once received the Guinness Book of World Records entry for "Largest audience at a pop festival." An estimated 600,000 fans attended to see the Allman Brothers Band, The Band and the Grateful Dead perform. During his career he promoted concerts for some of the biggest names in the industry such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Elton John, and numerous other household names.

As newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Empire, Mr. Finkel stated, "It is a great pleasure and honor to join the team at The Empire and to assist in building the ultimate sports and entertainment Event Company. The Empire has already begun establishing itself as a premier boxing promoter. Moving forward our goal is to immediately take the existing solid core business that was built by Mr. Gregory Cohen, our President, and strategically position ourselves as a world-class Entertainment Events Company. It is our intent to become a leading media and entertainment company known for promoting the best events in concerts, music festivals, pay-per-view specials, and sporting events around the world."

Source: 8countnews.com

Comedian pokes light fun of Floyd Mayweather, Jr (Video) -- Examiner

By Marv Dumon, Examiner.com

San Antonio, Texas - Boxing is a serious sport, but on occassion it is good to enjoy some good, lighthearted, harmless fun.

Comedian Kevin Hart poked some light fun at undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr (41-0) and his trainer Roger Mayweather in a recent YouTube video.

In the sketch, Hart and his associate infuse a dose of humor into the boxer's popular training regimen, including Mayweather's routine on the mitts.

Hart is currently on a North American tour doing stand-up comedy shows at various clubs.

The video prompted Floyd to comment on his Facebook page:

Everybody go check out Kevin trying to be me. This dude is funny!

Mayweather also posted a Break.com video of a kid "getting owned" by a speedbag. "This kid should watch a few of my training videos."




EMBED-Kid Loses Fight To Speed Bag - Watch more free videos

Source: examiner.com

Al Bernstein: “ I think Pacquiao-Mayweather is going to be made” -- Eastside Boxing

By Geoffrey Ciani, Eastside Boxing

This week’s edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured an exclusive interview with Showtime boxing commentator Al Bernstein. Following Andre Ward’s impressive victory over Allan Green in the final group stage two match-up of the Super Six Boxing Classic, Bernstein shared his views on the tournament and other aspects of the current boxing landscape. Here is some of what Al had to say:

On Andre Ward’s performance in his group stage two victory against Allan Green:

“Well he was outstanding and one of the things that made it even better was t hat he altered what he did against Mikkel Kessler in that brilliant performance. He decided that one of the things he could do against Allan Green was get in close and smother the big left hook of Green and land a lot of punches. He told us he was going to try and do that a little early in the fight but it worked so well for him that he kept it up during a lot of the fight. He’s a very smart fighter. He’s clever, he knows what he’s doing in the ring, he follows Virgil Hunter’s game plan perfectly, and he was too good and too disciplined for Allan Green.”

On whether he was surprised by how ineffective Allan Green was in his fight with Ward:
“Well yes and no. Yes, because this was the most important moment of his career and if ever he was going to show us what he had, and he kept telling everyone that would listen for weeks and weeks leading up to the fight that he was going to do it, and even as much as when we had the fighter meeting the day before so in that sense I’m surprised, but to be perfectly honest, Allan Green has been an underachiever so the burden of proof was on him to show that he’s not and he didn’t on that evening..”

On criticisms from fans who claim Ward’s performance was “boring”:
“What did he do that was boring? I’m amazed at that. I can’t even imagine how you could criticize that. He threw a lot of punches, he didn’t just pose, when he got in the inside he was working, throwing upper cuts, left hooks to the body, little short chopping right hands—what would anyone want Andre Ward to do that he didn’t do in that fight? He completely dominated it, he threw a lot of punches, the only thing he didn’t do was knock Allan Green out but beyond that he was just excellent. I didn’t find it boring. I mean, I found it boring because it was one-sided but I didn’t find Andre Ward’s performance boring.”

On who he considers to be the best super middleweight in the world right now:
“Obviously Bute is outside the tournament and so when we talk about him we’re not going to talk about in terms of this tournament. He’s clearly as good as the people in this tournament, there’s no question about that. Within the tournament, who’s going to win the tournament? That I don’t know. Even though Ward has the lead with four points, I could give you the rationale for several people still winning this tournament. For instance, I think Andre Dirrell has a very good chance to beat Andre Ward in the next fight. I really do, based on the way he fought against Abraham and based on the match-up of styles which is of course often what it boils down to. Andre Dirrell will probably need to win that fight in order to make it to the semi-finals. Arthur Abraham, I don’t think you could rule him out even though he gave a poor performance against Dirrell. You still have Froch, Kessler fought better against Froch then he had before. Lucian Bute would certainly be right in that mix. I don’t know that I could pick one that I would say right now I’m absolutely sure is the best, even with Ward’s two brilliant performances.”

On whether he believes Ward has the mental strength to continue forward and fulfill the potential he’s show in these first two rounds:
“Well he definitely has the mental strength. That’s the one part of Andre Ward that no human on the planet can question. He’s the most—I’m going to say the most, I’m not even going to qualify—he’s the most disciplined, organized, and focused fighter in the sport today, bar none. There isn’t anybody that touches him in those departments and no fighter, none in the sport of boxing right now, has a better or more organized corner. So all of that stuff he’s got going for him, that isn’t even in question. The only question with him, and the one that of course is with any fighter, is he going to see somebody whose style matches up much better than him (aka-maybe Andre Dirrell)? Is he going to face a big puncher who is going to land something that’s monstrous and be simply too much for him? He’s been down once in his career and he was hurt one other time, any fighter can be. Barring the answer to those questions, he reduces the chances that he’ll lose. He goes in there minimizing the chances of a loss as much as a fighter can and gives himself as good a chance to win as anyone and you can’t ask for too much more than that.”

On what he believes was the biggest surprise so far in the Super Six:
“Well, one of the first big surprised came when Kessler lost so dramatically to Ward. You know, certainly Ward could have won the fight but the way he lost was I thought kind of shocking, so that was a big surprise. The other surprise to me was how well Andre Dirrell did against Arthur Abraham. He did everything that you would want him to do in that fight. Of course, he won on a disqualification, but he performed so well during that fight so that kind of surprised me as well. The other surprising part I think is that other than Ward, nobody won two fights in a row so that’s pretty interesting.”

On who he thinks suffered the toughest break so far in the Super Six:
“Well, Kessler did a little bit in a way even though he fought poorly and was going to lose anyway, all those clashes of heads were difficult, so that added to his woes and he kind of got a tough break. I thought Andre Dirrell got a tough break, you could say, in not getting the decision against Froch in a close fight and then I would say Froch against Kessler—he could have easily been given that decision, very close fight. If fighters wanted to look at things that could have gone another way for them, those three certainly could look at it. I wouldn’t say Abraham got a tough break because I think he deserved to be disqualified.”

On which group stage three match-ups he believes are most intriguing and potentially most exciting:
“I think the most exciting could be Froch-Abraham because Froch is going to land a bunch of punches, try and get through that defense, will land something of note, and then I think Abraham when he comes out of that cocoon will land something of note and both men have really good chins. A close second, though, is Dirrell and Ward. I really think that’s going to be a great fight. They’re both boxers, but Ward’s not a runner and Dirrell can’t afford to be a runner in this fight because he needs this fight so badly so he’ll fight more like he did against Abraham, moving but still engaging and throwing punches, so I think that’s a really good fight. I would tell you that Green-Kessler is going to be good but I don’t know if Allan Green can summon up a good effort. Stylistically it’s a perfect fight for both fighters. They’re both in front of each other, they’re both power punchers, Kessler has the edge in hand speed and combination punching but if Allan Green comes to fight and is ready, it should be a really good fight between him and Kessler.”

On whether he believes having tournaments like the Super Six in other divisions would be good for boxing:
“I think the concept is good. One of the thing that makes this one good, and I think it’s a part of the equation, when we have single eliminations tournaments it’s good, it’s fun, but with single elimination tournaments you may have gotten the wrong style that day or whatever. When it’s not a single elimination like this it’s really interesting. These are not easily put together, though. Really, with all the promoters in boxing that have to get involved in this, all the different managers as evidenced by Shaw making that suggestion—which I also find interesting that he decided to go to HBO to suggest a tournament after he started one on Showtime, but that’s another story. It’s interesting. He was just suggesting what I think was a single elimination and he still couldn’t get four fighters involved so it shows how difficult it is. I know there’s been talk of a cruiserweight tournament, which by the way, is a division where—the places where these tournaments work the best, and a demonstration of that was how it didn’t work in the junior welterweight division. Those fighters have some cache already in terms of name recognition and notoriety and clout. Super middleweights didn’t have so much of that and they fight each other anyway. The cruiserweights are exactly the same. They clearly desperately need this kind of thing to get their names out there and they are already fighting each other on a regular basis so the cruiserweight division is probably the one where it would make the most sense.”

His views on the current health of the sport:
“Well for the most part boxing—and I think Pacquiao-Mayweather is going to be made, so in the grand scheme I think that will get there. Most of the big matches that people wanted to see were made in the last six or seven years, unlike the 90s, when boxing didn’t do it in the 1990s. That was an abyss for the sport. I think the sport has made a renaissance in the last five or six or seven years. It’s still something of a niche sport, at least in America, but then everything other than the NFL is a niche sport in America. Internationally boxing has really made great strides so I don’t see the sport in decline. I think it’s seeking its level and I think especially internationally, it’s in really healthy shape and in America the media is covering the sport a little bit more and that’s a plus.”

On how he views a potential fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr:
“Well I think it’s an interesting fight. I think we’re really going to find out in the first five rounds of that fight because Pacquiao is going to get hit with some kind of impressive right hand by Mayweather. He tends to get hit with a real quick fighter like Marquez who could hit him with the right hand. Mayweather is going to do that and Mayweather’s a good puncher, a sharp puncher, and might be physically a little bigger than Pacquiao or at least has been at higher weights more often. I think we’re going to know when Mayweather lands one of those right hands lands—did it hurt Pacquiao? Did it knock him down? Did it get him in trouble? Does it lead to more of an onslaught? If the answer is any of that, then obviously Pacquiao is in big trouble and he’s probably going to lose the fight. If, however, he gets hit with one of those right hands and he’s able to shake it off and continue with his onslaught of seventy or eighty or ninety punches a round and make Floyd Mayweather fight every second of every round, which he does not like to do, then I think this fight is going to get very interesting as we head into the second portion of it and I think that’s where Pacquiao certainly has a chance to win the fight.”

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Holyfield says Pacquiao bigger draw than Floyd -- ABS-CBN News

abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing great Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield agreed with the camp of “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao that Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s demand for a 60-40 cut in revenues “won’t work”.

Holyfield, a 5-time world boxing champion who figured in a controversial match with Mike Tyson, said Pacquiao is expected to draw more people into a fight than Mayweather, which is why the latter doesn’t deserve the “bigger cut of the pie”.

“Pacquiao has a big crowd of people that wants to see him win because of his good attitude,” Holyfield told Brad Cooney of 8Countnews.com.

The boxing legend said one reason for the boxing community's interest in a Pacquiao-Mayweather match is that it's shaping up as a battle between “good and bad”.

“When people see Pacquiao, they look at him as the good guy, they want to see him win morally. These are the people that don't like Mayweather, so what makes this fight big is the ultimate good and evil,” he said.

Holyfield is best remembered for his heavyweight clashes with Tyson, whom he stopped by technical knockout in their 1996 match to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight crown.

They had a rematch the year after, which ended in a controversial fashion after Tyson bit him in both ears in the 3rd round. A portion of Holyfield's right ear was bitten off.

"The Real Deal" remains a world champion at 47, currently holding the World Boxing Federation (WBF) heavyweight title.

Mayweather has skills; Pacquiao courage

Holyfield thinks that while Mayweather is better than Pacquiao in terms of boxing skills, the Filipino champ’s courageousness could make Floyd an “erstwhile undefeated fighter”.

“On paper you always give it to Mayweather, but on personal ability and in a guy that fights through and through, you would say Pacquiao. This is what makes this fight a toss up,” he said.

"Whoever he fights, he gives it his all. He's not gong to go in there and just put on a show that's not productive. I don't think that 60-40 is going to work," Holyfield added.

He also frowned on his fellow American’s indirect accusation claiming that Pacquiao’s boxing success has been fueled by drug use.

Mayweather's camp had demanded an Olympic-style drug testing which Pacquiao opposed. This led to the collapse of their earlier negotiations. The Filipino later gave in to the demand, agreeing to undergo blood testing 14 days before the fight.

“Why bring that steroid thing up? Either sit on the pot, or get off of the pot... If Manny is on something, they will catch him, but Mayweather don't make up the rules. Either fight the guy, or don't,” said Holyfield.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Chavez Jr. is fighting for a grown-up identity against Duddy -- 15Rounds

By Norm Frauenheim, 15Rounds.com

No telling who was first to say that fathers fight so their sons don’t have to. But I’m guessing it was a mom, who from a ringside seat sat like a horrified witness on that inevitable night when dad got bloodied, bruised and stitched up.

It is a powerful sentiment, as simple as it is sensible. But sorry, mom, it doesn’t always apply. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the most notable example. From his father and uncle, he inherited instinct and skill, perfected them and transformed them into a family business. Mayweather Jr. makes it work. Marvis Frazier didn’t. Former heavyweight great Joe Frazier’s son should have listened to mom before Mike Tyson sprinted out of a corner in 1986 and launched him into unconsciousness. Joe would have lasted longer.

On the scale between Mayweather and Marvis, it’s hard to say where Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. belongs. A better idea, perhaps, is forthcoming Saturday night when the son with his dad’s legendary name, athletic royalty in Mexico, faces Irish middleweight John Duddy at The Alamodome in San Antonio on a pay-per-view card.

Duddy’s credentials (29-1, 18 KOs) say that Chavez (40-0-1, 30 KOs) is finally being weaned off a sliver-spoon diet of soft opposition. It’s a step or two in an attempt to quell impatience with a young fighter whose name represents an impossible collection of expectations. Chavez’ dad is a scarred personification of Mexican pride in a stubborn willingness to endure punches and punishment in the battle to fight, always fight on.

But it’s only a name. I’m not sure whether Chavez’s 24-year-old son will ever become a good fighter. But I am sure that he will never be his father. He can’t change his name to World B Free, but he can begin to abdicate expectations that he become a chip off of Mexico’s indestructible myth. After only a four-week camp, the move to trainer Freddie Roach is still in the experimental stage. If it begins to work against Duddy, however, it might be another step in allowing him to forge an identity, a fighter in his own right instead of just Jr.

“It came to a point in my career that if I wanted to do better,’’ said Jr., whose doubters grew after he tested positive for a banned substance after his last fight seven months ago against unknown Troy Rowland. “If I wanted bigger and better things I had to make a change. I did it because I knew I needed it for my career, I still want to do great things in boxing and that’s what motivated me. I thought: Do I want to stay where I am or do I want to get better? This opportunity came and I took it and I’m very happy that I did.

“Any time you make a move to the unknown you get nervous. I wasn’t sure what to expect but once I made the decision I knew I would be capable of doing anything he asked of me. I knew I could a lot of things and wouldn’t be here now if I couldn’t.”

Unlike his compact father’s heavy-handed style of fighting on the inside in a battle of attrition, the son is longer and seemingly built for tactics dictated by a long jab and agile footwork. The knowledge, perhaps instinct, is there, Roach said in a conference call Wednesday from San Antonio.

“He has enjoyed the work, he really has,’’ Roach said, almost as though he was surprised.

Roach, like everybody else, had heard the stories about a questionable work ethic. Doubts about Jr.’s willingness to fight on were further fueled by a late arrival to Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. It was beginning to look as if Jr. had inherited only his father’s diva-like reputation for arriving for news conferences or workouts whenever it suited him. But, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said, Jr. was late only because of a paperwork delay in acquiring a visa.

“There were a lot of warning signs about how he is lazy and doesn’t want to work and would last a week with me,’’ said Roach, who agreed to work Jr.’s corner after Arum and Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler pointedly urged Jr. to watch the work ethic exercised by Manny Pacquiao in training for Joshua Clottey. “He is a great kid, great to work with, and is very disciplined. He gets up in the morning and does his roadwork every day, comes in the gym and sparred up to 12 rounds with three sparring partners. Overall, it was a real good experience and we enjoyed each other’s company and it was a pleasure.

“I was going to give him one more day to arrive in camp before deciding I wasn’t going to have enough time with him, but then he showed up. We had four weeks together and obviously it would have been better to have more but next time around we’ll get better and better. We know what we have in front of us and we’ll be ready for it.’’

For Jr., San Antonio represents a time and place, a career cross roads, for his father and maybe one for him. He was seven years old in 1993, when his father escaped from the Alamodome with a draw with Pernell Whitaker. Most of the ringside media scored it for Whitaker. The record crowd, about 60,000 Chavez partisans, didn’t boo. They left quietly, also knowing they had just witnessed a great escape. It was a moment when there were some sure signs of erosion in the Mexican icon. JC Superstar was neither super nor a star.

Seventeen years later, the son returns to the scene with a chance to show that he is his own man, a grown-up instead of a Jr.

Even mom couldn’t argue with that.

Source: 15rounds.com

Mayweather's talents can't be denied -- 8CountNews

By Brad Cooney, 8CountNews.com

Let there be no doubt, Floyd Mayweather Jr is one of the greatest fighters that has come along in a very long time. One must put personal feelings aside and look at just how good this guy is in the ring. You would be pretty hard pressed to find many people in the Philippines that are Floyd Mayweather Jr fans, but to not accept Floyd's boxing talents as anything less than great is crazy.

Floyd has defeated every single fighter that has ever been put in front of him. Sure there's always the argument that some of his opponents have been smaller, but at the end of the day he is undefeated and has beaten some future Hall of Fame boxers. His complete destruction over Shane Mosley has shut up some of his critics, even though his critics will never admit it. He made a sure fire Hall of Fame fighter in Mosley look like an amateur. There is no denying how good a fighter has to be in order to make a Shane Mosley look that terrible.

Everybody wants to say how hard Manny Pacquiao trains, and rightfully so, but the same can be said for Floyd Mayweather Jr. Little Floyd trains like an animal, he's non stop. I have been to the last 3 Pacquiao camps out at the Wild Card, in Hollywood, CA and have witnessed first hand how hard Pacquiao trains. I have not had the opportunity to see Floyd train first hand, but I have heard and have seen video of his training camps, and they are very intense. This hard training, and his natural ability, plus the training skills of both Roger and his father, transcends into the ring each time Floyd fights.

It's easy to bash Mayweather because of some of the things that he says, and because of some of the trouble that his uncle and father have been in. It's easy to, yet one should not confuse behavior with talent. Floyd Mayweather Jr love him or hate him is not just a good fighter, the dude is straight up awesome. Floyd is also a very smart fighter. Usually it takes him about three rounds to figure out his opponent, once that happens? It's gravy from there.

If, (and it appears as that IF is getting more relevant) , this fight between Floyd and Manny does happen, we will all get to see two of the best fighters in the world do their thing. Negotiations have hit a snag as it is being reported that Floyd wants a 60/40 split. Manny has already been quoted as saying, "I will never take less than a 50/50 split" and nor should he. We will have to see if they can get past the money issue, and make this fight happen. Hopefully for the sake of the sport it will get done.

Source: 8countnews.com