Arum narrows list of Pac-Man foes -- Yahoo! Sports

By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports

LAS VEGAS – Promoter Bob Arum said Monday he doesn’t believe Floyd Mayweather will be available to fight Manny Pacquiao in May, so he’s narrowed his choices for the pound-for-pound king’s next bout to Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Andre Berto.

Mayweather was in South Florida over the weekend to meet with promoter Don King, King acknowledged on Monday. Mayweather flew home to Las Vegas on Monday without coming to terms on a potential promotional contract with King. King, who said his wife, Henrietta, is gravely ill, said he would be able to make a deal for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight with Arum. However, he didn’t want to discuss it further because he doesn’t have a deal with Mayweather yet.

Following Pacquiao’s one-sided victory over Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 in Dallas, Arum said Mayweather was Pacquiao’s top target and that he would have Top Rank president Todd duBoef reach out to Mayweather in order to see if a deal could be struck. But Arum said Top Rank hasn’t been able to contact Mayweather, who has a Jan. 24 preliminary hearing in Las Vegas regarding domestic violence charges against him. He could face 34 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Richard Schaefer, the chief executive officer of Golden Boy Promotions, which has promoted Mayweather’s last several fights, said he didn’t want to move forward negotiating a deal for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight until there was some sort of indication from the court.

“Obviously, Floyd Mayweather has a situation with a court in Las Vegas, and I don’t want to disrespect the court and plan a fight when these kinds of things are pending,” Schaefer said. “I think we have to respect the court and the process, and when that is dealt with then we can move ahead.”

Arum is flying to the Philippines next month to celebrate Pacquiao’s 32nd birthday on Dec. 17. He said he will present the options to Pacquiao, including his revenue estimates, and allow Pacquiao to choose his opponent.

Arum said Monday that he is certain a fight with Mosley would sell the most pay-per-views, though it would have to be counterbalanced by Mosley’s financial demands.

“The bottom line, it’s all about the Benjamins,” Arum said. “I input what I think it will do on pay-per-view, and that’s largely based upon how I can sell it. Berto is a tough sell, because nobody knows him. I could pitch it as the unknown, the undefeated guy, but how much that moves the needle, I’m not sure. With Mosley, my gut feeling is that promoting that fight right, because of Mosley’s name recognition, will move the needle a lot. That will be a pretty high number.

“The casual sports fan just doesn’t know Marquez, as witnessed by the attendance [of 4,920 at this fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena against Michael Katsidis] on Saturday. He’s a wonderful fighter and a great young man, but the casual fan doesn’t know Juan Manuel Marquez from [World Boxing Organization featherweight champion] Juan Manuel Lopez.”

A Pacquiao-Mosley fight has been panned already by the majority of boxing media and bloggers because Mosley is 39 and his recent track record is dismal. He was routed by Mayweather in May and was ineffective in a draw with Sergio Mora in September.

Arum didn’t attempt to argue that Mosley would be able to compete with Pacquiao. But when a reporter prefaced a question to him with the phrase, “Most people think Mosley would get killed,” Arum took issue with the premise.

“Don’t say, ‘most people.’ Say, ‘most boxing people,’ ” Arum said. “You have to understand that for a fight of this magnitude, the boxing people are a small percentage of the entire audience. For the Margarito fight, [which sold 1.15 million on pay-per-view], boxing people accounted for 150,000, maybe 200,000 buys. The rest is the general public.

“The boxing people said they were going to boycott Margarito, but I wasn’t worried, because they’re boxing fans and I know they’re going to want to see the fight. These kinds of big fights are successful when you reach the casual, non-boxing fan. The casual sports fan knows Mosley. He’s fought (Oscar) De La Hoya twice and Mayweather. He’s a recognizable name. No matter how great a fighter he may be, those people have no idea who Juan Manuel Marquez is.”

Arum once again definitively ruled out middleweight champion Sergio Martinez as a potential Pacquiao opponent. He said that although Martinez, ranked No. 3 in the current Yahoo! Sports pound-for-pound ratings, has agreed to come down to 154 for a Pacquiao fight, the weight at the weigh-in doesn’t matter.

What Arum is concerned about is what the fighters will weigh when they rehydrate after the weigh-in. Pacquiao rehydrated to about 148 pounds for the Margarito fight after weighing in at 144.6. Martinez would probably come in at 170 or even 175 pounds.

“If Martinez comes in at 175 pounds, he’s about 30 pounds bigger than Manny is and that’s not a fair fight,” Arum said. “He could weigh whatever he wants on Friday [at the weigh-in], but that doesn’t matter. They all starve themselves and dehydrate in order to make the weight. It’s what they weigh the next day, when they walk into the ring, that matters.”

Marquez weighed 145 on Saturday after having weighed in on Friday at 134.5. Arum said that if a Pacquiao-Marquez fight is made, it would be at welterweight. Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach believes welterweight is Pacquiao’s best weight. So, Arum pointed out, the fighters could weigh 147 or under for Friday’s weigh-in, but would basically be the same by the time the fight would come around on Saturday night.

Source: sports.yahoo.com

If Floyd Mayweather stopped dodging Manny Pacquiao - perhaps he wouldn't face defending that unbeaten record behind bars -- Daily Mail

By Jeff Powell, Daily Mail

Man of the people: A statue of Pacquiao is unveiled at the Mall of Asia in suburban Manila

Manny Pacquiao has promised to box on for up to three more years but even if Floyd Mayweather Jnr ever braces himself to challenge the Filipino phenomenon for the mythical title of the greatest pound-for-pound boxer on earth it looks increasingly unlikely that he will be at liberty to do so.

While the PacMan has carried on beating bigger and bigger men inside the ring to establish a seemingly unsurpassable record of eight world titles in different weight divisions, the Money Man keeps collecting criminal indictments for alleged violence outside the ropes.

Increasingly, Mayweather seems hell-bent on following Mike Tyson down the troubled path which put the iron man behind iron bars.

Already facing a January court date on charges of assaulting the mother of his children, theft and witness harassment - which carry a notional maximum jail sentence of 34 years - Mayweather keeps running foul of the law.

He has been accused now of attacking a security guard at a gated residential estate and, most recently, of trying to drive off the road a former associate who says he has feared for his life since one of Mayweather's body guards was convicted of firing shots at him in Las Vegas.

Nevada State prosecutors were initially reported to be disinclined to press for a custodial sentence but Sin City is now said to be concerned about allowing one of its most famous citizens to run out of control.
Not only his freedom but his cherished pseudonym now appears to be at risk.

Most of the millions banked by Money Mayweather could well disappear in legal fees if he has to fight three high profile criminal cases. Also, resolution of a libel action for unsubstantiated insinuations that Pacquiao uses performance-enhancing drugs is still pending.

This is sad and the sycophants who surround Mayweather with assurances that he is invincible must bear much of the blame.

Mayweather's formidable talent is being corroded by ego to the point where he is defending the unbeaten recorded about which he is so obsessive only by not fighting.

If he had been in training for the super-fight against Pacquiao which the world wants to see - but for which it is becoming tired of waiting - he would not only be too occupied to get into trouble but also preparing to bank his share of boxing's first $200million promotion instead of losing money.

As Pacquiao works for the poor as a Philippines Congressman while pondering his next opponent, Mayweather is in meltdown.

As one American commentator wryly observes, the way the Money Man is going his next defences of his undefeated record may well take place in the exercise yard of a state penitentiary.

Juan Manuel Marquez has stepped up his campaign for a third fight against Pacquiao - their record stands at one draw and a controversial victory for the PacMan - with a ninth-round stoppage of Michael Katsidis, the Australian who knocked West Ham's Kevin Mitchell off the world lightweight title track.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Manny Pacquiao Cherry Picks His Opponents And Acts Like A King -- Now Boxing

By Heath Chavez, Now Boxing

It seems the consensus is that when it comes to the matchmaking process of who Manny Pacquiao fights it’s ultimately Bob Arum and Freddie Roach’s decision.

This is one of the biggest lies in boxing. Top Rank promotions Bob Arum and boxing trainer Freddie Roach don’t pick who they want Manny Pacquiao to fight next, it’s Manny who has the final say and chooses his opponents.

Whatever Manny wants Arum and Roach give him. Arum recently told AOL Fanhouse that he will be flying to the Philippines on Dec. 12 and will be there around the time of Pacquiao’s 32nd birthday on December 17. He also said that he will fly there with a list of opponents for Manny Pacquiao to pick from if Floyd Mayweather Jr. is unavailable to fight and the short list includes Shane Mosley, Andre Berto and Juan Manuel Marquez. We all know who Manny is going to pick, he fits all the previous criteria of Pacquiao foes, old, washed up, coming off loses….yes…you guessed right, “Sugar” Shane Mosley!!!

Arum doesn’t choose, it’s Manny himself who is the cherry picker, he already came out in the open and said a third fight with Marquez wouldn’t draw interest, which is a lie, that fight would do better numbers than the 700,000 ppv buys Pacquiao did with Joshua Clottey. Marquez vs. Pacquiao will sell easy because Pacquiao and Marquez have a long rivalry together, rivalry and history is easy to market, it’s like Lakers vs. Celtics, in boxing you have Philippines vs. Mexico, or Pacquiao vs. Mexico, and many fans including myself believe Marquez won both fights against Pacquiao.

I’m not a Pacquiao hater, I don’t want to see him in with guys that are too big for him like Sergio Martinez or Paul Williams because that is asking too much of a guy who fought at 112 pounds and already went above and beyond expectations in climbing up in weight. All I want from Pacquiao is what all the boxing fans want and that is to see him fight someone coming off a winning record, someone who is not slow but has speed and power, and someone that would make the fight competitive.

This is why I consider Juan Manuel Marquez a true throwback fighter, a real Mexican warrior, he doesn’t cherry pick his opponents he fights the best fighters to test his skills. Marquez has fought so many tough hungry young fighters and he beats them in some tough wars. Manny Pacquiao looked like he wanted to quit in both Marquez fights, his punch output was lower and he was scared to trade with Marquez.

Manny cherry picks easy fights to make him the most money and makes him look good by having them weight drained before a fight affecting their performance in the fight.

Manny knows about the business side of boxing now. He is now a politician and probably influenced by the greedy money men around him, he is no longer that poor Filipino kid stealing from the old people on the streets. Manny is to blame for the poor choice of opponents, there is no excuses anymore, don’t buy into the image that he is an uneducated third worlder who doesn’t know about signing contracts or business. Manny knows what he is doing and he acts like everyone is a servant to him, he has people who have to feed him food, and massage his feet while he watches television. A guy who really is humble and cares about people doesn’t make airplanes full of passengers delay flights for one hour. These are not the actions of a humble and considerate man.

Manny had everyone fooled. Politics is perfect for him, he likes to put on an innocent facade but deep down he knows how to manipulate, and he has a lot of people buying into his hype. If Manny fights Shane Mosley instead of Marquez or Andre Berto it proves my point and I hope those reading this will wake up and realize the truth.

Source: nowboxing.com

If Floyd Jr keeps 'ducking' then Pacquiao will face Marquez, Mosley, or Berto -- Examiner

By Rick Rockwell, Examiner.com

So, it all comes down to how much "intestinal fortitude" Floyd Mayweather Jr has. If we go by his recent history then it's clear that Floyd Jr wants no part of Manny Pacquiao. In fact, he rather retire or get arrested than sign a contract to fight boxing's pound for pound champion. It's clear that all it would take is for Floyd Jr to sign his name on a contract, an even purse, and a negotiated window for drug testing and everything is golden. It's funny how we haven't heard much from the Mayweathers about the drug accusations of Manny after he destroyed Margarito.

I'm going to predict that Floyd Jr will duck Manny again and force Top Rank Promotions to go to Plan B or Plan C. According to Bob Arum, there are 3 other potential fights that he will discuss with Manny for the next fight; which probably won't be until April or May.

In an interview with Fanhouse, Arum had the following to say about Manny's next opponent:

" Assuming that Mayweather doesn't surface, I will present to Manny, hopefully, three proposals. The Mosley deal is one. I have yet to talk to [Andre Berto's promoter] Lou DiBella for us to talk about the deal, but he knows the format. And I will also present to Manny the Marquez deal."

Let's examine these potential match ups further.

Shane Mosley

Back in March when Floyd Mayweather Jr defeated Shane Mosley, everyone was stating how old and tired Shane looked. Why would Manny Pacquiao want to fight a washed up fighter like Mosley? I can't even see how this fight is an option. Manny enjoys fighting for his fans but I haven't heard many fans shout that they want to see him fight Mosley. Manny has very few fights left in his career and facing Mosley is a now win situation. He would be heavily favored to win. And if somehow lightning struck Manny in the middle of the ring and Mosley gets credit for the KO, then it would do more damage to Manny's legacy than good. There's absolutely no upside to this.

Andre Berto

I am actually intrigued with this match up. I think Andre Berto has potential and can provide a better challenge to Pacquiao than Antonio Margarito or Joshua Clottey did. Berto is 27-0 and the current WBC welterweight champion. I believe this fight would draw more attention than the Margarito or Clottey fight within the boxing community but not within the general public. I say, give Berto one more fight against a known fighter and then line him up against Pacquiao. Perhaps, Berto vs. Mosley?

Juan Manuel Marquez

Here's what Arum had to say about Marquez in the same interview with Fanhouse:

"Well, there are two key things with Marquez that are important. One is their fight will be at 147 pound.So, again, I know exactly what Marquez got for the Mayweather fight, alright? And he lost that fight. So, at best, he's not entitled to any more than that.Why should he get more money to fight Manny than he got to fight Mayweather? Why? So, you know, I don't need a big negotiation. And we're not going to need to negotiate with [Golden Boy CEO] Richard Schaefer or anybody like that."

For my thoughts on the matchup between Pacquiao and Marquez,

I personally would like to see Manny fight Marquez one more time. I would love to see Manny put the final nail in Marquez's career. In fact, Freddie Roach shares the same sentiments. Roach has been very vocal in saying he would love to see Manny knockout Juan Manuel Marquez.

Of course, many of Pacquiao's fans take it a step further and say they would love to see Manny knockout Juan "the urinator" Marquez. This is in reference to Marquez's consumption of urine. We won't go any further into this topic because it makes me sick.

If Katsidis wins tonight, I think that the prospects of a fight with Marquez would be destroyed. However, I don't see any reason for Pacquiao to fight Katsidis no matter how much he publicly challenges Manny.

I would prefer Manny fight a rematch with Miguel Cotto or face Andre Berto. A fight with Katsidis does nothing for me and from most fans from the feedback that I have received over this potential matchup.

Clearly, the PacWatch is on as to whom he fights next. I predict Pacquiao has two or three more fights left in his career and that's only if he doesn't fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. If he fights Mayweather Jr and wins, then we will see Manny ride off into the sunset like a conquering hero.

Source: examiner.com

Arum's Plan for Pacquiao: Marquez, Mosley or Berto if no Mayweather -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum told FanHouse on Sunday that he hopes to have a deal in place by Dec. 19 for southpaw Manny Pacquiao to face WBA and WBO lightweight (135 pounds) king Juan Manuel Marquez, WBC welterweight (147 pounds) belt-holder Andre Berto, or five-time champ Shane Mosley, that is, if nothing materializes with unbeaten six-time titlist Floyd Mayweather.

The 37-year-old Marquez (52-5-1, 38 knockouts) battled Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) to a disputed draw, and lost a controversial, split-decision, respectively, in May of 2004, and, March, 2008, but is coming off of Saturday night's HBO televised, ninth-round knockout of former WBO interim champ Michael Katsidis (27-3, 22 KOs). The 27-year-old Berto (27-0, 21 KOs) has scored consecutive knockouts over former champ Carlos Quintana (27-3, 21 KOs), and, Freddy Hernandez (29-2, 20 KOs), in the eighth and first rounds.

Mayweather's last two bouts were lopsided, welterweight decisions over Marquez and the 39-year-old Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), the latter of whom is coming off of September's 12-round, junior middleweight (154 pounds) draw with ex-champion Sergio Mora (22-1-2, six KOs). Pacquiao, of course, earned his 13th straight win with a Nov. 13 unanimous decision over former titlist Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs), adding the WBC's vacant junior middleweight belt to his WBO welterweight crown for his eighth title over as many different weight classes.

Arum said that he is not considering a match up opposite 35-year-old WBC middleweight (160 pounds) king Sergio Martinez (46-2-2, 25 KOs), who is coming off of a Nov. 20, second-round knockout of Paul Williams (39-2, 27 KOs) that avenged a December, majority decision loss in a clash of southpaws during which both fighters were down in the first round.


FanHouse: What were your impressions of Saturday night's performances by Andre Berto and Juan Manuel Marquez?

Bob Arum: I saw Andre Berto's knockout, but I didn't see Juan Manuel Marquez's fight. Juan Manuel is a good fighter. He's still a very good fighter.


What are your plans for Manny Pacquiao as they pertain to Juan Manuel Marquez, Andre Berto and Shane Mosley?

Let me explain. I'm leaving for the Philippines to see Manny on Dec. 12, which means that I'll get there on Dec. 14. I will be meeting with Manny sometime that week before his birthday, which is Dec. 17.

Assuming that Mayweather doesn't surface, I will present to Manny, hopefully, three proposals. The Mosley deal is one. I have yet to talk to [Andre Berto's promoter] Lou DiBella for us to talk about the deal, but he knows the format. And I will also present to Manny the Marquez deal.


How likely is it that a deal can be made with Juan Manuel Marquez, who has been represented by Golden Boy Promotions?

Well, there are two key things with Marquez that are important. One is their fight will be at 147 pounds. In other words, they are not going to fight at a catch weight. If they want a stipulation that Manny doesn't come into the ring weighing more than 150, that's fine.

But it's stupidity to make this guy, who is the welterweight champion -- Manny -- go down to 142 or 143. Or to starve himself. The important thing is how much that they weigh the night of the fight.

Manny, when he fought Antonio Margarito, weighed in at 144.6 pounds and came in the night of the fight at 148 pounds. That's what we're going to do. We're not interested in any kind of starving to get lower and so forth.

The night of the fight, if Marquez fights Manny, Marquez will probably be the same weight as Manny. So the fact that Marquez will probably do that, we're not going to allow Marquez to make this kid [Pacquiao] think twice about what he's eating.

That's No. 1. The other guys, Mosley and Berto, they're no problem. They're okay with 147, obviously. But the second thing is, I'm interested in only two figures in the negotiations. That's all.

One is, the guaranteed amount that I have to pay the fighter, and, secondly, how we measure the upside. Is it above 800,000, or is it above a million homes, and how many dollars a home over and above that threshold?

Those are the only two points that I'm interested in. Period. Period. Period. So, again, I know exactly what Marquez got for the Mayweather fight, alright? And he lost that fight. So, at best, he's not entitled to any more than that.

Why should he get more money to fight Manny than he got to fight Mayweather? Why? So, you know, I don't need a big negotiation. And we're not going to need to negotiate with [Golden Boy CEO] Richard Schaefer or anybody like that.

All I need is for them to send us a letter saying, 'Okay, we'll accept X amount of dollars as a guarantee, and Y dollars for the upside,' which, we know what 'X' and 'Y' were for their fight against Mayweather.

So it's either a little less or the same, but not five cents more.


Since you mentioned Lou DiBella, who also promotes Sergio Martinez, are you not going to entertain a potential fight with Martinez?

We're not entertaining Martinez. There is no way that we're entertaining Martinez. Martinez goes into the ring...the weight, this whole weight issue the day before the fight at the weigh-in is meaningless.

It's the weight that they go into the ring at. Martinez will go into the ring weighing something like 175 pounds. He would be fighting a guy who would go into the ring -- Manny -- not even weighing 150 pounds.

Manny would be giving away 25 f**king pounds. I'm not going to let my guy do that. One guy would be way too big for the little guy. I've been around for a long time. I was involved in the promotion of Carlos Monzon and Jose Napoles.

That was with Monzon being the middleweight champion, and Napoles being the welterweight champion. Monzon was way too big for him and easily beat him [seventh-round knockout in February of 1974.] He was 25 pounds too much.

I've got the greatest fighter of all time, but I don't have Superman.


Do Andre Berto's most recent accomplishments, his consecutive knockouts, make him any more marketable in your estimation?

Of all of the three guys, Andre Berto is the toughest sell because to the general public, he is totally unknown. I mean, when you look at the general public, of those three guys, who would be the guy that would be most well-known?

Easily, it's Shane Mosley. Shane Mosley's been around forever, he's beaten Oscar De La Hoya twice. So, it's Mosley. The second-most well-known of the three would be Marquez. You know?

And, you know, with Marquez, there is a big drop off from Shane Mosley as far as the general public is concerned. I'm not talking about the boxing public. And then, third, you have Andre Berto. Nobody knows who Andre Berto is.

So, again, that has to be taken into consideration. I have to estimate with Manny how many buys that he thinks that he'll do with one of these guys.

I don't think that Andre Berto's recent victory means anything in particular, because he was fighting a real Class C fighter [in Hernandez].


How much marketability is there in the assertion made by Andre Berto that Manny Pacquiao needs to face someone who is younger, fast, hungry and strong, meaning, himself?

Well, again, needs to fight? How does that translate into buys? That's really all that matters -- the buys. Manny is confident that he beats any of these three guys. So now, the question is who generates the most money.

Now, obviously, if we're out trying to sell an Andre Berto, we emphasize his newness, the fact that he's a young guy and all of that sort of stuff. The question is, does that make up for his lack of recognition in relation to Mosley?

Those are questions that have to be answered. I'm not interested in what these boxing nuts are writing or not writing. Those people will watch anyway.

But he has a lot of selling points, does Andre Berto, and, hopefully I'll have a proposal from Lou DiBella, you know, by this Monday or Tuesday.

Well, you know sometimes controversy sells, so do you expect that in regard to Andre Berto, the notion broached by Bernard Hopkins with FanHouse that Manny has not faced an African American fighter would likely surface during a Pacquiao-Berto promotion?

I'm aware of that fact. And that's why that mitigates that argument which resonates with some people. I agree that it might come up. That indicates that an Andre Berto or a Shane Mosley, in some people's minds, should have a leg up on a Juan Manuel Marquez.


When do you hope to have Manny Pacquiao's next fight locked down and secured in an ideal scenario?

My [79th] birthday is Dec. 8, and Manny's birthday is Dec. 17. I hope to have something lined up by Sunday, Dec. 19 when I return from the Philippines.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Marquez calls out Pacquiao for rematch -- CNN

CNN

Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez wants a third clash with Manny Pacquiao following Saturday night's successful defense of his WBA and WBO lightweight titles.

The 37-year-old stopped Australia's Michael Katsidis on a technical knockout in the ninth round in Las Vegas to take his record to 52-5 with 38 KOs.

The only draw of his career came against Pacquiao in 2004 when he retained his WBA and IBF featherweight titles, but he lost his WBC super featherweight belt in a controversial split decision to the Filipino in 2008.

"We know that Pacquiao has been avoiding us. We will put a lot of work into it, and a third fight is what the public wants to see," Marquez told reporters after beating Katsidis, whose brother Stathi -- a horse-racing jockey -- died last month.

"Yes he beat bigger fellows but they are all past their prime, while I beat younger and stronger boxers like Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis."

However, one stumbling block to a rematch is that Marquez wants it at the weight limit of 140-142 pounds, while Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach says he wants to fight at 147.

"I know he can make that weight as when he fought Margarito [this month], he was just 144 pounds. So if they insist in fighting at 147, like Freddie Roach has mentioned, they are again giving excuses."

However, Pacquiao doubts that the public wants to see him fight Marquez again, The Philippine Star reported on Sunday.

"Will they still watch it?" Pacquiao said in Manila.

The newspaper said Pacquiao's business manager Eric Pineda would accept the fight if Marquez promoted it.

"Manny thinks Marquez has a small fan base, that's why he doesn't want any hand in the promotion. All he wants is a guaranteed purse, and that Top Rank and MP Promotions won't be involved in the promotions. Then he will take the fight," Pineda said.

Following his win over Antonio Margarito two weeks ago, Pacquiao has been linked with a bout against American veteran Shane Mosley, who he has yet to encounter.

Pacquiao has this year juggled his political career with two successful fights, beating Joshua Clottey before stopping Margarito to become the first man to win world titles in eight weight categories.

Source: edition.cnn.com

Juan Manuel Marquez: I beat Manny Pacquiao twice -- Las Vegas Sun

By Brett Okamoto, Las Vegas Sun

From the bottom of his heart, Juan Manuel Marquez believes he’s beaten Manny Pacquiao twice.

But that will never be enough to the future hall of famer until three judges sitting ringside agree with him.

Just moments after turning in another terrific performance, stopping Michael Katsidis in the ninth round of their lightweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KO) emerged at the post-fight press conference wearing a shirt that proudly declared, “Marquez beat Pacquiao twice.”

He then made his case for a chance to do it again.

“It’s very clear I want to fight Pacquiao,” Marquez said. “I’ll consider any fighter if it’s not Pacquiao, but I feel I deserve to fight in the big fights.

“I feel like a broken record, but Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao.”

Marquez and Pacquiao already have met in the boxing ring twice. Both times, Marquez left without his hand being raised.

The first meeting occurred at the MGM in 2004 and ended in a draw, despite Marquez being knocked down three times in the first round.

A rematch four years later at Mandalay Bay proved to be just as close, with Pacquiao slightly edging Marquez in a controversial split decision.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer remembers sitting ringside that night and complaining about the results to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who represents Pacquiao.

According to Schaefer, the prospect of a third meeting between the two fighters was brought up immediately, however, talks have since stalled.

“I remember I was upset about the results,” Schaefer said. “Arum was there and I was asking for the rematch and he said, ‘it will happen, but these things need time to mature.’

“Well, I think it’s matured and the time is now to get this fight done. I realize everyone wants to see (Floyd) Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. But if that fight is not going to happen now, then first things first. I think Juan Manuel Marquez should get the fight.”

Although there had been little interest expressed by Top Rank and Pacquiao for a third fight with Marquez, that appeared to change as of late.

The Filipino fighter went on record to say he would take the fight, but doesn’t believe it’s a matchup boxing fans truly want to see.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, went on to say in reports that if a fight were to take place, it would have to be at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds — a number much heavier than Marquez’s ideal weight.

The demand by Roach would seem to be a fair one, if it weren’t for the fact that 147 pounds is presumably above Pacquiao’s comfortable weight as well. In a 150-pound catchweight bout against Antonio Margarito earlier this month, Pacquiao weighed in at just 144.5 pounds.

At the post-fight press conference, Marquez addressed the issue and said if Roach and Pacquiao refused to come down, it would only be an excuse.

Let’s face it, (Pacquiao) has never made 147 pounds,” Marquez said. “He’s fought at welterweight but only weighed in at 145 or 144 pounds. It’s just an excuse to get away from the fight.”

The two previous meetings between the two boxers were held at featherweight and super featherweight.

The Pacquiao ordeal overshadowed a terrific performance by Marquez, who out-landed Katsidis, 327 punches to 194, according to ringside stats.

Despite the fact the end of the fight could have been controversial — referee Kenny Bayless was quick to stop the action even though Katsidis never hit the floor — the damage Marquez caused was so convincing that no one seemed to care.

It was only the second time in Katsidis’s nine-year career he’s been stopped.

“I think the referee did a good job,” Marquez said. “(Katsidis) wasn’t throwing back the entire round. I was landing all my punches.”

Marquez now will hope the verbal punches he’s thrown will hit their mark on Pacquiao.

Whether Pacquiao harbors a secret agreement that Marquez won their first two fights, the sight of a T-shirt proclaiming so is likely something that will get his attention.

“That’s why I want the third fight,” Marquez said. “I thought I won the first fight and the second one as well — clearly.”

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com. Follow him on Twitter at LVSunFighting

Source: lasvegassun.com

Marquez stops Katsidis in bruising fight -- Miami Herald

By Sports Network

Juan Manuel Marquez retained his WBA and WBO lightweight titles with a bruising ninth-round technical knockout of Michael Katsidis on Saturday night.

Marquez bided his time in the decisive round before hitting Katsidis with a flurry of punches -- a series of uppercuts and straight rights that had the challenger backing away.

Finally, referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight at 2 minutes and 14 seconds, giving Marquez (52-5-1, 37 KO) a TKO over the rugged Katsidis.

"We knew it was going to be a difficult bout. It was so difficult he even surprised me," Marquez said afterward through a translator.

The surprise? Katsidis (27-3) knocked Marquez to the mat with a left hook in the third round after the champ left himself wide-open.

Not surprising? This was one heck of a fight.

The boxers landed a ton of throws in the punch-a-second action, with neither one backing down. They fought inside through eight and a half rounds -- one count had them landing a combined 82 punches in the seventh. Slow rounds saw them land 50 or 60.

Marquez looked like he was beginning to back off in the ninth round, slowing the fight down as he gained clear control over Katsidis. But he picked it up, perhaps sensing weakness from an opponent that had begun to stagger, and landed the decisive series of punches in quick succession.

Marquez, a 37-year-old veteran from Mexico, is angling to remain in the race to meet Manny Pacquiao again after losing their last bout in 2008 (he earned a draw in 2004).

He offered a simple explanation on Saturday for why a third fight hasn't happened already.

"Pacquiao has been avoiding us," Marquez said.

The MGM Grand crowd saw a much shorter fight before the headliners.

Andre Berto retained his WBC welterweight title with a first-round TKO of Freddy Hernandez, landing a right cross that sent the challenger to the mat.

Berto (27-0, 21 KO) stepped into the punch and snuck it through Hernandez's hands, which were up. It was only the ninth punch he landed in the bout.

After dropping quickly, Hernandez (29-2) got off the mat, but referee Russell Mora stopped the fight after just 2 minutes and 7 seconds.

"I just jabbed to the stomach and came up top with that right," Berto said after barely breaking a sweat in his first fight since a TKO of Carlos Quintana in April.

Source: miamiherald.com

Andre Berto Scores First-Round KO, Wants Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBC welterweight (147 pounds) titlist Andre Berto of Winter Haven, Fla., nailed Freddy Hernandez , of Mexico City, with a head-swiveling, right cross that was set up by a left hook to the other side of his face, dropping his rival for a first-round knockout in Saturday's HBO televised triple-header from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The end came at two minutes, seven seconds of the first round as Berto, in victory, rose to 27-0, with his 21st knockout, dropping Hernandez to 29-2, with 20 KOs.

"I was just trying to throw the jab, because I got to him with the jab a couple of times. So I was trying to jab him to the stomach, and then I came right back up to the head with that right hand," said Berto. "I believe that it was a left hand, and then I just came right over the top with that right hand. It was a left hook, actually, and then, I just came right up over the top and he fell straight back."

Berto ended a 12-fight winning streak that included six knockouts for Hernandez, who had last suffered defeat by split-decision to Golden Johnson in February of 2005.

Berto also staked his claim as a candidate for potential bouts with eight-division champion and WBO welterweight and WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt-holder, Manny Pacquiao' (52-3-2, 38 KOs), WBA junior middleweight king Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) or five-time titlist Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs).

"Right now, it doesn't matter who I fight. I've already eaten all of my appetizers, so I'm ready for the main courses of the division. So Shane Mosley, we have some unfinished business if he wants it. Or Miguel Cotto, or definitely Manny Pacquiao," said Berto of Pacquiao, who, like Cotto, is promoted by Top Rank Promotions while Mosley has been promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.

"I think that I would be the best fighter out there for Pacquiao," said Berto. "I think that he definitely needs to fight someone who has speed who is strong and who is young, and so let's see what happens."
In another bout, WBA super bantamweight (122 pounds) king Celestino Caballero (34-3, 23 KOs) of Panama rose to super featherweight (130 pounds), where he suffered a mild, upset loss to Jason Litzau (28-2, 21 KOs), the NABF titlist from St. Paul, Minn.

Litzau earned a split-decision victory, winning, 97-93, and, 96-94, repsectively, on the cards of judges Glenn Trowbridge and Dave Moretti, with Al Lefkowitz calling it for Caballero, 96-94.

The two fights took place on the under card of a main event featuring WBO interim lightweight (135 pounds) king Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KOs) of Australia challenging WBO and WBA champion Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KOs) of Mexico despite the recent death of his 31-year-old brother, Stathi Katsidis, a top thoroughbred horse jockey in Australia who was found dead in mid-October in his Brisbane, Australia, home.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Marquez wary of emotional Katisidis -- Sydney Morning Herald

AAP

Juan Manuel Marquez has fought almost 60 professional bouts including wars against Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, but the Mexican boxing great admits he has never faced anyone like Australia's Michael Katsidis.

When the 37-year-old from Mexico City, rated the No.4 pound-for-pound boxer in the world by The Ring Magazine, will step into the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas just after midday on Sunday (AEDT) to defend his WBA and WBO belts against the Queenslander.

And the Mexican is expecting to face a dangerous and explosive Katsidis driven by emotion.

Advertisement: Story continues below The Toowoomba-born Katsidis has dedicated the biggest bout of his life to his brother, top Australian jockey Stathi Katsidis, who died suddenly last month aged 31.

Katsidis contemplated abandoning the fight, but instead picked up his heavy heart and plans to honour Stathi by defying bookmakers and upsetting Marquez.

"Michael Katsidis is a very dangerous fighter," Marquez told AAP.

"He's different from any other fight I've had.

"He's strong, is a true warrior and throws many, many punches so I had to prepare myself very well."

That preparation included two sets of sparring partners for Marquez - strong boxers and fast boxers - with the two styles blending what Katsidis, who has knocked out 22 of his 27 victims, will bring to the MGM.

Katsidis mourned the loss of his brother by engaging in a tortuous training regime with long-time trainer Brendon Smith in a primitive Muay Thai fight camp hidden away in a jungle area of Thailand.

The secluded camp has become Katsidis' pre-fight base, helping him to four straight victories since back-back losses in 2008 against elite fighters Juan Diaz and Joel Casamayor.

Katsidis, 30, has been tight-lipped about his brother's death and fronted a press conference at the MGM on Tuesday with a publicist from his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, by his side.

The publicist warned journalists not to quiz Katsidis about Stathi.

When a question came close, Katsidis was as intimidating as he is in the ring.

"I'm here to talk about the fight only," he told an American reporter.

"Anything to do with any of that, please respect me and my family."

Marquez, a world champion at three different weight divisions, showing the class that has made him one of Mexico's favourite sportsmen offered his sincere condolences to Katsidis instead of probing it for a weakness.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry for him and his family and that life continues," Marquez, who has a 51 win, 37 knockout, five loss, one draw professional record, said.

Marquez is tipped to be Pacquiao's next opponent, with the boxing stars engaging in two thrillers.

The first was a controversial split-decision win to the Filipino in 2008 and the second a draw in 2004 when Marquez rebounded from being knocked down three times in the first round to almost pulling off a victory.

When reporters peppered Marquez about a possible Marquez-Pacquiao III, the Mexican did not need a publicist by his side to fend off irritating questions.

"It's all about Katsidis, not Pacquiao" Marquez told reporters.

"Nobody else."

© 2010 AAP

Source: news.smh.com.au

Beyonce becomes a Pacman convert -- Manila Bulletin

By KAYE VILLAGOMEZ, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines – More and more mainstream Hollywood celebrities are being converted into Manny Pacquiao admirers. Beyonce Knowles found herself belonging to the Hollywood elite fan club alongside Mark Wahlberg, Daniel Radcliffe and Ron Perlman.

Mrs. Jay-Z---whose on-again, off-again pregnancy rumors have hogged the entertainment headlines of late---named Pacman one of her favorite athletes. Others that Beyonce admires are Kobe Bryant and Serena Williams.

“I love him (Manny) because I really relate to people who were born to do something and gets lost in the moment,” the “Single Ladies” hit-maker raved of Pacquiao in a Nov. 25 interview aired over sports channel ESPN.

“When he gets in the ring, he’s a beast! I love it! And he shows you can have humility and be a calm person and also be driven when it’s time and be a fighter,” Beyonce further said obviously referring to Pacman’s gallant efforts during his eight-division-title-clinching bout versus Mexican Antonio Margarito.

The LA Lakers fan also had grand words for the next Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant. She noted how much she relates with the NBA superstar. “I definitely identify with Kobe Bryant as far as his work ethic... I can always see that he's focused, he works harder than I could ever imagine. It is like he's in the zone. He's just undeniable as far as his talent and his gift.”

Regarding Serena Williams, Beyonce spoke of the gentle character behind the fierce tennis player. “Definitely, Serena. She just transforms because when you speak to her and she's not working, she's a most lovely, gentle, sweet, beautiful woman, and she is ferocious when she gets out there... I love it! You cannot talk to her. She’s in the zone!”

Recall that Wahlberg took time out to visit Pacquiao while he was training for his 2008 fight against Oscar dela Hoya. The “Departed” actor who is about to star in his own boxer flick soon told HBO’s “Dela Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7” that he (Walhberg) had to visit “the man” (Pacquiao).

Wahlberg confessed to being a big fan of Pacquiao when he said, “I’ve come to see the man. Freddie's (Roach) been a friend of mine for a long time, and I’m a big fan of Pacquiao. It’s nice to see him in person. I’ve seen him fight a couple times, but to see him this up close and personal is worth the trip. I’m going to bring my son down. I have a ring in my house because I've been training to do the Irish Micky Ward story for a couple of years. My son's always beating me up, and he calls himself Pacquiao.”

When Pacquiao was training for his fight against Joshua Clottey early this year, “Hellboy” lead star Ron Perlman also went for a glimpse of Pacman’s “greatness.” The actor said of the Filipino pride, “Anytime you can have a brush with greatness and see someone like Pacquiao, you should do it. He’s one of a kind.”

Ironically, Pacquiao credits the Filipino people as a big part of his recent victory. In an interview with Bulletin Entertainment last Sunday, Pacquiao humbly gushed that the victory is not only his alone but the entire nation's as well.

Source: mb.com.ph

Richard Schaefer: Floyd Mayweather will fight Manny Pacquiao 'when the time is right' -- Grand Rapids Press

By Josh Slagter, The Grand Rapids Press

Boxing fans hoping for a megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in May 2011 may have to wait while the Grand Rapids native sorts out his legal problems, according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

Schaefer, who has represented Mayweather in previous failed negotiations with Pacquiao, told The Ring's Michael Rosenthal that Mayweather's priority shouldn't be getting back in the ring.

“People should be smart enough to realize that he’s in the middle of legal proceedings. His focus and energy is on that, clearing his name, not on making a fight. That’s just common sense," Schaefer said.

“Anything else would be disrespectful to a judge or the legal system. … He could say, OK, let’s fight Pacquiao in May or whenever and make a deal. How would a judge feel about that? You just don’t do that.”

Mayweather is facing eight criminal charges, including four felonies, stemming from a September domestic incident with ex-girlfriend Josie Harris. He's next due in court Jan 24.

Schaefer said Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) isn't dodging Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), who's coming off a dominant victory over Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium.

“I believe that Floyd truly loves the sport, he loves to fight. He’s also a businessman, though. If you add these things up, why wouldn’t he want to fight Pacquiao? It just has to be the right deal at the right time," Schaefer said.

"I can assure you that when the time is right, he'll fight Pacquiao and beat Pacquiao."

Source: mlive.com

Meeting Manny Pacquiao -- BBC

BBC World Service

The BBC’s boxing correspondent Mike Costello describes his adventurous trip to the Philippines to secure a rare interview with national boxing and now political icon Manny Pacquiao.

Manny Pacquiao’s training camps are chaotic. He thrives on mayhem.

But, just as when he’s in the ring, he appears to see situations much more clearly than anyone else.

The promises made regarding how much time we could spend with him are getting lost in the bedlam. He is due to be best man at a friend’s wedding later that day, we are told, and he will have to dash off immediately after training.

We are in danger of missing out on the interview that would make or break our whole project.

Universal appeal

Our mission to interview Pacquiao began in the capital of the Philippines, Manila. Everywhere people were milling around, wanting to talk – and shout – about Manny Pacquiao.

At one point we were dragged into a police station close to a marketplace in the city. Were we causing a disturbance or perhaps not have permission to record here?

It turned out that even the officer on duty at the station front desk wanted to have his say on Pacquiao.

He endorses what all Filipinos have told us – that the country comes to a standstill when the man is fighting. And he confirms suggestion that, as Pacquiao trades punches, the crime rate in the Philippines drops. He appeals to everyone.

Multi-talented

In the history of sport, rarely has one man had such an effect on his country.

Now 31, “Pac-Man” has won world titles (or the equivalent) in eight weight divisions – a feat never before attempted, never mind achieved.

Earlier this year he became a Congressman, winning control of his local province of Sarangani.

There were fears among his closest aides – in boxing and politics – that he was spreading himself too thinly.

And yet, earlier this month, he produced one of the finest performances of his career to beat the much bigger Mexican boxer Antonio Margarito. The deification of Pacquiao multiplied.

Super typhoon

Pacquiao is a difficult man to pin down, especially in the build-up to a big fight. He could agree to conduct endless interviews throughout the day and still not meet the demand for his time and thoughts.

We arrived in Manila in late October, as his preparations for the fight against Margarito were reaching maximum intensity. And our arrival in Manila coincided with the onset of super typhoon Juan.

His training camp was set up in Baguio City, a five-hour drive high up in the mountains outside Manila – which was forecast to be in the typhoon’s path.

We began to worry whether we could get to him before, or even after, the storm.

Time pressure

As it happened, Pacquiao was trapped in Baguio City when Juan hit and, just as he couldn’t get out, we couldn’t get in.

Taking advice, the Red Cross told us not to travel, especially at night, while Billy, the Irish chef at our hotel maintained it was “only a few drops of rain”.

If we didn’t go, we didn’t get Pacquiao. The dilemma was, go too soon and we risked getting caught in the storm, delay too long and we ran out of time and budget.

Thankfully, fortune favoured us, we beat the weather and got to the training camp.

Personal journey

With the time pressure on and the training session coming to an end we decided, as Pacquiao left the ring, that it was time to pounce.

Expecting to be ushered away by his advisers, I stood at the foot of the stairs leading down from the ring and, as Pacquiao wiped streams of sweat from his brow, face and shoulders, I explained that we had travelled to interview him, based on promises from his team management.

At that point I thought he could have brushed me aside, his working day was done.

But instead he sat and spoke for 20 minutes about his personal journey, his faith and his country.

He told the others in the gym to be quiet. He was doing an interview and he would make sure it was done properly and respectfully.

Lives transformed

We had seen Pacquiao at work, throwing punches faster than the eye can see and the fingers can count, and now he was revealing what was under the shell.

He and his closest friend told us how, as kids, they slept in cardboard boxes. Now their beds stand on marble floors.

So much in their lives has changed and yet somehow Pacquiao hasn’t.

Memories of hardship still serve as the fuel that drives his boxing and his politics, and he wants to transform the lives of others too.

At times like this, I’ll admit it’s hard to separate the fan from the reporter.

You can hear Mike's interview with Manny Pacquiao in this week's Friday documentary on BBC World Service

Source: bbc.co.uk

Sergio Martinez Would Drop Weight For Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBC middleweight (160 pounds) titlist Sergio Martinez is willing to drop weight if it means a shot at six-time champ Floyd Mayweather or eight-division champion, Manny Pacquiao's, WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt in a clash of southpaws, the Argentinian-born fighter said on Wednesday.

"If Manny is willing to defend his WBC super welterweight title, I would come down to 154 pounds to challenge him for it as well as allow him to challenge me for my WBC middleweight title," said the 35-year-old Martinez, who is 46-2-2, with 25 knockouts. "

"It would be the opportunity of a lifetime," said Martinez in a prepared statement. "But I'm a realist, and if he feels that he is physically too small to fight me, I certainly understand that too."

On Nov. 13, the 31-year-old Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) scored a lopsided, unanimous decision victory over ex-titlist Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs) for the junior middleweight crown that was vacated by Martinez at Cowboys Stadium, earning his eighth crown over as many different weight classes, and his 13th straight win with eight knockouts during that run.
A week later in an HBO-televised clash of southpaws on Nov. 20, Martinez scored a shocking, second-round knockout over challenger Paul Williams (39-2, 27 knockouts), who was ranked No. 3 on most lists among the best fighters pound-for-pound in the sport behind Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) and Pacquiao, who is also the holder of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown.

Martinez had become the WBC middleweight champion by dethroning Kelly Pavlik with April's unanimous decision.

Martinez, his promoter, Lou DiBella, and his manager, Sampson Lewkowicz, believe that a Pacquiao-Martinez fight would be a mismatch, with Lewkowicz saying that Martinez would win by knockout.

Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum, disagreed, saying that he believed that Pacquaio would win.

DiBella said that he would like to see Martinez against either Pacquiao or Mayweather to decide which fighter is the sport's best, pound-for-pound.

"In my opinion, a valid argument can be made for all three, so let's just number them 1A, 1B and 1C. But I sure would like to see them prove who the best is inside the ring, and Sergio is ready to concede his weight advantage to do it," said DiBella. "Sergio is willing to fight next at 154 pounds -- defending his WBC middleweight title as well as fighting for the WBC super welterweight title."

As for Mayweather?

"Sergio is ready, willing and able. There is a lot of confidence behind his matinee looks. The fans deserve Martinez vs. Mayweather, and boxing needs it to continue its growth into the mainstream," said DiBella. "I can work with any promoter to make the best fight with Sergio. It's business – good business – and common sense."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Freddie Roach: 'It Has Nothing to do With [Skin] Color' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Four-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach took time from his busy schedule to speak with FanHouse concerning recent comments by Bernard Hopkins that Manny Pacquiao has not faced a top African American fighter, his busy schedule and other things.

From his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., Roach also discussed Pacquiao's prospects of facing WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 knockouts), WBC welterweight (147 pounds) belt-holder Andre Berto (26-0, 20 KOs), six-time titlist Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), five-time champion Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), or the winner of a Jan. 29 junior welterweight (140 pounds) clash between southpaw WBC champ Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs) and WBO counter part Tim Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs).

On Nov. 13, Roach was at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in the corner of WBO welterweight and WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) for his HBO pay per view televised, Top Rank Promotions unanimous decision victory over ex-titlist Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs). Pacquiao earned the vacant junior middleweight belt, his eighth title over as many different weight classes, and his 13th straight win with eight knockouts during that time.

On Dec. 3, Roach will work with NABF and NABO cruiserweight (200 pounds) titlist Lateef Kayode (14-0, 13 KOs) against Ed Perry (18-4-2, 11 KOs), in Santa Yunez, Calif. On Dec. 4, Roach will be in Anaheim, Calif., working the corner of junior middleweight and middleweight (160 pounds) prospect Julio Cesar Chavez (40-0-1, 30 KOs) opposite Alfonso Gomez (22-4-2, 11 KOs).

Roach had to pull out of the corner of Ukrainian WBA bantamweight champion Voldymyr Sydorenko (22-2-2, seven KOs), who is on the Chavez-Gomez under card against WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) titlist Nonito Donaire (24-1, 16 KOs). On Dec. 11, Roach will be in Las Vegas working with junior welterweight (140 pounds) king Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) against WBA interim belt-holder Marcos Rene Maidana (29-1, 27 KOs) that is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.


FanHouse: What are your thoughts concerning Bernard Hopkins' assertions?

Freddie Roach: We've fought everyone out there. We've ducked nobody. Shane Mosley [who is African American] is another guy out there right now. I know that he hasn't looked that good in his last couple of fights, but he's still a very good fighter.

He's a very good possibility to be Manny's next opponent. I don't think that Bernard Hopkins has beaten any Canadians lately [reference to Hopkins' upcoming bout with WBC light heavyweight (175 pounds) champ Jean Pascal on Dec. 18.] And Bernard's never beaten an English guy [lost to Joe Calzaghe] because he's only fought one.

But Bernard, you know, he's my friend, and so forth, because I've worked with him in the past. But I don't know why people make racist statements like that. We don't need that stuff in the world of boxing. I think Bernard knows that it's all about business and that it has nothing to do with color.

It's all about the best deals, the best fight that makes the most economic sense. It has nothing to do with [skin] color. We won the title from [Lehlohonolo] Ledwaba, a South African, and we beat Joshua Clottey, who, I'm not sure what Clottey is. He came from England by way of Ghana, I think.

So, with those two, we've beaten two black guys. But this is a sport, so lets get on with the sport.


Would you see a potential fight with an Andre Berto, Devon Alexander, Tim Bradley or even his stablemate, Amir Khan, for Manny Pacquiao?

Of course. All of those guys. Especially Andre Berto. Bob recently asked me who I wanted to fight next and I said [Juan Manuel] Marquez, Berto or Mosley. I said 'we would fight any of them, no problem.'


Why Andre Berto all of a sudden?

Because some of the other guys are 140-pounders who already have fights scheduled. After this weekend, I don't think that Andre Berto has anything scheduled right now. And he's not a 140-pounder, he's a 147-pounder.


Given that Manny Pacquiao has not faced a youthful fighter in quite a while, would Andre Berto's youth be more of a challenge?

Yes. He's youthful, he's fast, and he's strong. He's not a big puncher I don't think, but he's definitely a challenge. Bradley looked terrible when he fought at 147 [unanimous decision over Carlos Luis Abregu,] but he's a much better fighter at 140 of course.

There's Amir, and Amir and Manny have sparred quite a bit. There have been days where he's gotten the best of Manny, and days where Manny has gotten the best of Amir. There's Devon Alexander, who is another southpaw like Manny. Manny loves fighting southpaws.

So they're all credible opponents, of course. We just want to make the fight that makes the most business sense, and that's what Bob will find out. We have to make the fights that bring the most dollars to Manny's pocket, and so we're looking at the business side of this.


How big would a fight be between Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao?

I think that actually, Marquez brings more money to the table. Amir is a good draw. Bradley's coming on a little bit. He's had some good fights. Alexander's not that well-known yet. But we definitely could fight the winner of Alexander-Bradley, and, Amir's got a big fight coming up with Marcos Maidana.

We're in great shape for the fight with Maidana. I believe that we'll knock Maidana out somewhere along the line. But Maidana is a big puncher and a dangerous guy. The winners of those fights could definitely be Manny's next opponent.


Andre Berto, notwithstanding, would you fight any of the other guys that you mentioned at a catch weight?

Nope. We would have to fight at 147, or else, those fights won't happen. I'm not going to let Manny fight below welterweight. It's 147, we found that when Manny can eat, he's comfortable and doesn't have to worry about making weight. Manny weighed in at [144.6] for his fight with Margarito, and I know that.

But I'm not going to have him struggle to make any weight. So he's going to fight at 147, that's now his natural weight, and that's where we're going to campaign at.


So you wouldn't entertain a catch weight for any of the lower weight guys coming up to face Manny?

Nope.


Why do you believe that a third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez would be the most marketable?

Because they have history between them. You know, they've fought twice, and they were close fights. They were very good fights for boxing and very competitive. Manny beat him and fought him to a draw, and Marquez knows Manny and knows what gives Manny trouble.

Marquez has proven that in two fights. Both fights went the distance. Marquez has been down four times in the two fights, but he's gotten up and made the fight. Marquez is a very durable guy and he's got an audience and a fan base behind him. So he's marketable.


Are you still working the corners of both Voldymyr Sydorenko and Julio Cesar Chavez?

No, I'm no longer working the corner of Sydorenko, no. I had to turn that down because of the Chavez fight being on the same night. Sydorenko knew that this was going to happen two months ago. But Sydorenko still comes in three times a week for sparring.

Right now, I'm still training Chavez and Amir Khan. I train Khan at 1 in the afternoon and Chavez comes in at 3 p.m. That's back-to-back, yep, 100 percent.

I had also been doing Manny as well as those two. So I was doing all three of them until Manny's fight with Margarto. I'm in the gym 12 hours a day, so it's been no problem.


Dare I ask which corner you would be in if Manny Pacquiao fought Amir Khan?

Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao's my guy.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Katsidis inspired by late brother in Marquez fight -- AFP

AFP

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Barely a month after the death of his older brother, Australian Michael Katsidis faces the biggest fight of his life on Saturday in a double world title showdown against Juan Manuel Marquez.

Katsidis decided to continue his Thailand-based training last month after the unexpected death of Stathi Katsidis, a 31-year-old Australian champion jockey from Brisbane.

"I will do this for Stathi, my family and myself," Katsidis said. "Stathi is inside me. We will fight this fight together. I know this is what he wants."

Katsidis, 27-2 with 22 knockouts, will face World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, 51-5 with one draw and 37 knockouts, in a possible launching pad fight for the Mexican.

Marquez and his promoters have talked up the possibility of a third fight against Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, who won a 2008 split decision over Marquez after the two had fought to a draw in 2004.

The Asian star has talked down the idea of a third fight with a man who has not beaten him, but with unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather facing legal charges and nixing an earlier fight bid, Marquez might be an attractive foe if he wins.

"This is going to be a very difficult fight," Marquez said. "I'm not taking anything for granted. I'm going to have to be at my best. We will give the fans a great show."

Marquez rebounded from moving up in weight and losing to Mayweather last year by decisioning former lightweight champion Juan Diaz last July.

"He?s one of the best in the world pound-for-pound," Katsidis said. "I?m ready for the challenge though. I don?t think he?ll be able to hold me off for 12 rounds."

Marquez, seven years older than his rival at age 37, has only three losses in the past 11 years, falling to Pacquiao, Mayweather and Indonesian unbeaten Chris John in 2006.

Katsidis suffered both career losses in 2008, being stopped by Cuban southpaw Joel Casamayor and losing a split decision to US veteran Diaz.

"Katsidis is a very aggressive fighter and has respectable power, but we're ready," Marquez said.

The card also includes undefeated American Andre Berto, 26-0 with 20 knockouts, defending his World Boxing Council welterweight title against Mexico's Freddy Hernandez, 29-1 with 20 knockouts.

It will be the fifth defense of the crown for Berto since claiming the vacant title by stopping Mexico's Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the seventh round in 2008. Hernandez has won 12 fights in a row over five years to set up his first world title bout.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

Pacquiao asserts himself as pay-per-view star -- USA Today

By Dave Skretta, The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Manny Pacquiao is not simply the best boxer in the world. He's also the sport's biggest box office attraction.

Pacquiao's comprehensive destruction of Antonio Margarito for a vacant junior middleweight title on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium generated at least 1.15 million buys and $64 million domestic revenue, according to figures announced Tuesday by HBO Sports.

Those numbers are expected to increase slightly once all the figures are counted, but Pacquiao already is assured of his third straight year with at least one fight breaking the 1 million mark.

"It wasn't even on the right-hand side of the computer spreadsheet," said HBO vice president Mark Taffet, whose job includes handling pay-per-view broadcasts, when asked whether the numbers exceeded his expectations. "It's an outstanding number."

Pacquiao's victory over Oscar De La Hoya in 2008 generated 1.25 million buys, and his knockout of Miguel Cotto last year did 1.2 million. Taffet said his last five fights combined have generated at least 5.1 million buys, putting Pacquiao on par with De La Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the biggest earners in pay-per-view history.

Of that group, the Filipino icon is the only non-American.

"He's become a world figure, that's what differentiates it from the superstars that preceded him," Taffet said. "And his coverage is not just in sports media. He's transcended sport, to the point where he's the first non-American to generate these kinds of numbers."

Pacquiao also generated 700,000 buys for a lopsided decision earlier this year over Joshua Clottey, a fighter who has virtually no name recognition beyond the most ardent boxing fans.

Those same fans are hoping the next fight for Pacquiao is against someone virtually everybody recognizes: Mayweather. The two sides have failed twice to reach an agreement on what could be the richest fight in boxing history, and now with Mayweather's legal trouble in Las Vegas, the matchup is looking increasingly unlikely for next year.

"Mayweather, it can't be compared to any other fight that can conceivably be made," said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, comparing the fight to the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight in 1971.

"That fight would be like the Ali-Frazier of our time. And you know, Ali-Frazier in 1971 was the biggest fight really of all time, at that point. The same thing would be said for Manny and Floyd this time, but you know, it takes two to make the fight."

Arum said he's flying to the Philippines in December to celebrate Pacquiao's birthday, and at that point plans to discuss potential opponents. But he conceded in a phone interview with The Associated Press late Tuesday that he's not optimistic about Mayweather for the spring.

"Manny is there, he wants to do the fight, and Floyd for whatever reason is not prepared to fight him, so we have to go on to the next best thing if Floyd remains unavailable," Arum said. "We'll see who's available and what the terms are and then we'll select an opponent. Hopefully it's Mayweather, but as the day goes by, it's not looking good."

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: usatoday.com

Pacquiao willing to take on Martinez, Mayweather -- ABS-CBN News

abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines - People's Champ Manny Pacquiao is returning to a hero's welcome at the House of Representatives on Monday after winning a historic 8th boxing world title in as many divisions.

It will be the first time that Pacquiao will be feted by Congress as one of its own. The fighting congressman of Sarangani will receive the Congressional Medal of Distinction from his own peers later today.

In an interview, Pacquiao said he is excited to meet his fellow congressmen and share the joy of bringing honor to the country.

"Naghahanda na daw sila, naghanda daw ang Congress para sa akin, so excited ako," he said he said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda.

The Sarangani congressman said he also wants to resume his legislative duties and apply the same discipline he applies in training to his new role as congressman. He downplayed criticism that he is doing too much balancing his responsibilities as a boxer and a lawmaker.

"Kapag mahal mo ang trabaho mo, gusto mo...Some people work 3-4 hours and say, 'That's it. That's my whole day. I need to take a rest.' For me, I will train 3-4 hours and then I still have a lot of time. Ang isang araw para sa akin ay 12 hours," "

Pacquiao said paperwork has piled up in his office after he started training for his fight against the "Tijuana Tornado" Antonio Margarito. The People's Champ defeated Margarito via unanimous decision last November 13.

Pacquiao said he is backing the passage of an anti-human trafficking law as well as building a provincial hospital in Sarangani.

"We really need to wipe out human trafficking because it is so prevalent and victimizes a lot of people. I also want to put up a hospital in our province as well as livelihood programs for the people in my district. These are the projects closest to my heart," he said.

Mayweather, Mosley, Martinez

Pacquiao reiterated that he is not hanging up his boxing gloves and is good for another fight after 6 months.

Asked which boxer he would like to take on, he said he would take on anybody in the ring including World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. The Argentinean Martinez retained his WBC middleweight belt after knocking out American Paul Williams with an impressive second-round punch on Saturday.

Pacquiao said he would most likely fight Martinez below 150 pounds.

He said he is also willing to take on Shane Mosley "since he's a good fighter and a champion."

He also said he will not hesitate to fight the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. if the latter agrees to fight him. "No problem. That would be a good fight."

He thumbed down a rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez "because no one would watch it."

He said fighting Marquez would be easy but that he is unsure if there would be enough people who would watch it on pay-per-view. He also said he wanted a guaranteed price if his promoter decides that he should fight Marquez.

"OK naman ako kapag Marquez. Usually kasi involve ako sa promotion and also the Top Rank, kung gusto nila ng Marquez, mas madali. Madali lang sa akin yun, mas madaling laban kaya lang sila ang magpo-promote. Solohin nila ang promotion bigyan nila kami ng guaranteed price, walang problema, kung malugi man, walang problema," he said.

Pacquiao said he continues to improve in the ring and could easily do 1-2 fights before he retires.

Asked if he wants an "easy or hard fight" next time, he said: "It depends. Depends if it's going to be an easy fight. Sometimes it's a hard fight. Maybe there are no more easy fights."

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Underneath Pacman's crown lies a halo -- San Antonio Express

By John Whisler, San Antonio Express

The congressman delivered a beating so severe, it landed his opponent in the hospital. But in dominating Antonio Margarito last week at Cowboys Stadium, Manny Pacquiao also showed he has a compassionate side.

This is a well-known fact in the Philippines, where the beloved boxer and politician makes a habit of giving away much of his wealth in an effort to help the poor.

But until his taming of the Tijuana Tornado, many in America had not seen the kinder, gentler Pacquiao.

For most of their WBC super welterweight title fight, Pacquiao pounded the bigger but slower Margarito with astounding ease.

Then in the late rounds, the lion became a lamb.

After Margarito's eyes were nearly swollen shut and his face became a bloody mask, the champ began to fear for his opponent's safety.

“I try to get the referee to talk to the doctor,” Pacquiao said. “I didn't want to damage him permanently. That is not what boxing is about.”

That's not the end of it. Failing to get the fight stopped, Pacquiao took pity on the Mexican slugger, letting up in the final round so as to not inflict any more punishment.

“Manny's a very compassionate person,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer.

Filipinos worldwide have known this for years. Now the rest of the world knows, too. His treatment of Margarito at the end of their fight was a fascinating subplot in what otherwise was a lopsided — and vastly overhyped — bout.

More Manny: Pacquiao revealed another side in the fight. He's also a master showman. In the sixth round, already well ahead on points, Pacquiao lay on the ropes and let Margarito pound him with body shots.

It almost proved costly. Pacquiao was hurt and later had to be examined for possible rib injuries.

“I wanted to fight toe-to-toe and make the fight exciting for the fans,” Pacquiao said afterward.

Cole responds: Some have criticized referee Laurence Cole for not halting the fight after it became clear Margarito was taking a beating.

Cole says he looked for a way to do just that.

“I was trying to find a place to stop it,” the veteran referee said. “But he was still moving and punching strong.”

Cole held up two fingers and asked Margarito to count them. When he responded correctly, Cole let the fight continue.

He said ring doctors examined Margarito between the last several rounds and never asked him to stop the bout.

Margarito fine: Surgery to repair Margarito's fractured right orbital bone was deemed a success, and the fighter was released from Dallas' Methodist Hospital on Wednesday.

Paging Floyd: Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez appear to be the leading candidates as the next opponent for Pacquiao. However, the champ's camp wants Floyd Mayweather Jr., as does just about everyone else on the planet.

But given Mayweather's legal woes — he's facing charges of felony domestic battery — Money May might be tied up for a while.

jwhisler@express-news.net

Source: mysanantonio.com