By Oliver Suarez, Fight Hype
In an article by Manny Pacquiao at Philboxing.com, he expressed his sentiments regarding the accusations of steroids that were undeservingly put upon him.
Manny Pacquiao stated, in his native language, that he will not be held hostage by shallow talk and accusations regarding his supposed use of steroids and performance enhancing drugs. According to Pacquiao, he filed the lawsuit against the accused because they destroyed his good reputation and he is hoping that those who abused their ‘freedom of speech’ by spouting baseless accusations will pay a high price.
One of the hardest working boxers in the sport, Pacquiao has worked hard to get where he is and for someone to take that away without furnishing any evidence is irresponsible. What is more troubling is when some of his colleagues basically accused or implied that Pacquiao must be on something without holding any substantial proof, especially when they know how the steroid issue can tarnish an athlete’s reputation. I will not even mention their names since publicity is probably the only thing that they were after.
When Jose Canseco accused Mark McGwire and Alex Rodriguez of using steroids, he either had hard or circumstantial evidence. He had said that he injected McGwire with steroids when they were teammates and introduced Rodriguez to a known steroid supplier. In fact, in other sports, you don’t hear other athletes admonish or link their colleagues to steroids until hard evidence is found.
One can even argue that it’s the same way in boxing and Pacquiao is only being singled out. It’s laughable when some imply that Pacquiao’s legacy is now tarnished, yet at the same time, rave about the accomplishments of other boxers who have been linked to steroids, such as Shane Mosley.
Pacquiao also mentioned that he, along with his team, planned to be quiet since the lawsuit is already in court and that he believes that justice, similar to God, whom he credits for strength and courage, does not sleep.
But word of the ‘email’ scandal had reached him and he specifically mentioned the incident during ESPN’s Friday Night Fights when Teddy Atlas informed the viewing audience that a ‘reliable’ source informed him of an email, sent by a member of Team Pacquiao, that had been sent to the camp of Mayweather, which asked the latter camp if the results can be kept a secret if Pacquiao somehow tested positive for banned substances. Pacquiao further mentioned that he tried to ignore it, but he cannot stomach such malicious journalism.
Pacquiao assured everyone that no one on his team was behind this ‘email’ scandal that Teddy Atlas and Tim Smith had reported. According to him, it must have been created or invented by someone with a malicious mind and character. Also, he was bothered by the fact that no one thought of the fact that anyone can make a fake email address in order to impersonate someone and damage a person’s character.
He also mentioned that it must be a trend to judge someone even before talking to all the people involved so that each party that will be affected can give their opinion or position on the matter. Would it have been such a difficult task for Atlas to place a phone call to Freddie Roach or other members of Team Pacquiao to get their side of the story, considering the large number of viewers that a network of ESPN’s magnitude can attract? Teddy could have still told the viewers about the email, but also could have given Team Pacquiao’s side of the story.
Pacquiao also alluded that he is saddened that many have already crucified him as guilty until he proves himself innocent when it should be the other way around and as a result, Pacquiao in his article, stated, “Ngayon, hinahamon ko sila Smith at Atlas, kasama na rin ang ESPN, na ilabas nila ang mabaho nilang ebidensiya, para na rin sa hustisya, kung may respeto pa sila sa kanilang mga sarili at kung may tunay silang professional etiquette. Dahil kung hindi, habambuhay ko silang tatawaging sinungaling.”
Translation:
“Now, I challenge Smith, Atlas along with ESPN to show their evidence for the sake of justice if they have any respect left for themselves and real professional etiquette. If not, then I will call them liars as long as I live”
The steroid issue is obviously troubling Pacquiao more than previously thought, but it is also evident that he will not be bullied and content enough within himself that he’s achieved the pinnacle of his sport by doing it the right way. So, as Ed De La Vega of Philboxing.com said in one of his previous article, let the burden of proof be on the accusers.
Source: boxing.fighthype.com
Friday 15 January 2010
Idec: Floyd Mayweather Jr. avoids top contenders -- North Jersey
By KEITH IDEC, NorthJersey.com
They’re kidding, right?
Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s advisers aren’t lining up another non-welterweight for him to dismantle now that negotiations for what could’ve been the biggest fight in boxing history have inexplicably collapsed. They aren’t that audacious, are they?
Several Internet reports have indicated that Mayweather’s tight-lipped handlers are targeting Nate Campbell as his next opponent, probably for sometime in April. Yes, former lightweight champion Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs, one NC).
The same Nate Campbell who nearly lost his last scheduled 135-pound fight to South Africa’s Ali Funeka 11 months ago. The same Jacksonville, Fla., fighter who in his first fight at 140 pounds Aug. 1 appeared well on his way to losing to Timothy Bradley, before Campbell, 37, claimed a cut over his left eye prevented him from continuing in what later was ruled a no-contest.
If Mayweather wanted to battle Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs, one NC), he’d still be a heavy favorite, but at least he’d be challenged by an improving, undefeated fighter. Facing unbeaten boxers beneath his weight class apparently is too much to ask of Mayweather now, too.
Then again, many fight fans have helped create this Mayweather monster. His last lopsided welterweight fight against a talented yet overmatched lightweight, Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez, drew about 1.05 million pay-per-view buys.
With a fight against Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) at the very least on hold until the fall, that’ll only encourage Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) to continue avoiding legitimate welterweight threats.
You can forget fights against the Shane Mosley-Andre Berto winner, Paul Williams, or even Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, who’ve both been badly beaten over the past year. Mayweather knows he doesn’t need to take real risks to make eight figures, so he’ll keep carefully choosing his opponents.
If you think he can’t continue doing that, just think about where we were less than a month ago. We were on the cusp of Pacquiao-Mayweather becoming a reality.
Now we’re talking Mayweather-Campbell. They’re kidding, right?
WEIGHT-GAIN GAMES: Those who strongly suspect Pacquaio has benefited from performance-enhancing drugs during his ascent to superstardom point to the Filipino southpaw packing roughly 40 pounds on to to his 5-foot-6 1/2 frame, all while maintaining his skill, speed and power.
At 16, Pacquiao weighed 106 pounds for his professional debut Jan. 22, 1995, in the Philippines. By the time he was 30, he weighed a career-high 144 pounds prior to his welterweight championship victory over Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto last Nov. 14 in Las Vegas.
Mayweather weighed 106 pounds when he was 16, too. He won a championship in that weight class at the 1993 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in Little Rock, Ark.
By the time the 5-8 Mayweather was 30, he weighed a career-high 150 pounds before his junior middleweight championship victory over Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007 in Las Vegas. That means Mayweather actually added 6 more pounds than Pacquiao and jumped up one more weight class than him over the same 14-year period in their respective careers, all while maintaining his skill, speed and power.
Does his successful development mean Mayweather must have sampled performance enhancers? Or is Mayweather simply a gifted hard worker who deserves recognition as one of the top two pound-for-pound boxers in the world?
He never has tested positive for anything, either, so whether we’re right or wrong, shouldn’t we assume that until proven otherwise, Mayweather is clean? Do you see where we’re going with this?
HOLT-ING PATTERN: His promoters at Top Rank Inc. still are trying to secure his next opponent, but former World Boxing Organization junior welterweight champ Kendall Holt’s long layoff likely will end Feb. 27 in Atlantic City.
Holt (25-3, 13 KOs), a Paterson native and Woodland Park resident, is expected to participate in an International Boxing Federation elimination match that night. The winner will become the mandatory challenger for IBF 140-pound champ Juan Urango (22-2-1, 17 KOs).
The Colombian-born Urango probably will box World Boxing Council titleholder Devon Alexander (19-0, 12 KOs) in a unification fight March 6 in Las Vegas, but if Holt wins Feb. 27, he would face either the winner of the Urango-Alexander encounter or another IBF-ranked contender for the IBF title in his next fight.
Numerous opponents have turned down Top Rank’s offer to fight Holt, but his handlers expect Romania’s Ionut Dan Ion (25-0, 13 KOs), Las Vegas’ Steve Forbes (34-7, 10 KOs) or South Africa’s Kaizer Mabuza (22-6-3, 13 KOs) to fight Holt six weeks from Saturday at Bally’s Events Center.
Source: northjersey.com
They’re kidding, right?
Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s advisers aren’t lining up another non-welterweight for him to dismantle now that negotiations for what could’ve been the biggest fight in boxing history have inexplicably collapsed. They aren’t that audacious, are they?
Several Internet reports have indicated that Mayweather’s tight-lipped handlers are targeting Nate Campbell as his next opponent, probably for sometime in April. Yes, former lightweight champion Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs, one NC).
The same Nate Campbell who nearly lost his last scheduled 135-pound fight to South Africa’s Ali Funeka 11 months ago. The same Jacksonville, Fla., fighter who in his first fight at 140 pounds Aug. 1 appeared well on his way to losing to Timothy Bradley, before Campbell, 37, claimed a cut over his left eye prevented him from continuing in what later was ruled a no-contest.
If Mayweather wanted to battle Bradley (25-0, 11 KOs, one NC), he’d still be a heavy favorite, but at least he’d be challenged by an improving, undefeated fighter. Facing unbeaten boxers beneath his weight class apparently is too much to ask of Mayweather now, too.
Then again, many fight fans have helped create this Mayweather monster. His last lopsided welterweight fight against a talented yet overmatched lightweight, Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez, drew about 1.05 million pay-per-view buys.
With a fight against Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) at the very least on hold until the fall, that’ll only encourage Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) to continue avoiding legitimate welterweight threats.
You can forget fights against the Shane Mosley-Andre Berto winner, Paul Williams, or even Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, who’ve both been badly beaten over the past year. Mayweather knows he doesn’t need to take real risks to make eight figures, so he’ll keep carefully choosing his opponents.
If you think he can’t continue doing that, just think about where we were less than a month ago. We were on the cusp of Pacquiao-Mayweather becoming a reality.
Now we’re talking Mayweather-Campbell. They’re kidding, right?
WEIGHT-GAIN GAMES: Those who strongly suspect Pacquaio has benefited from performance-enhancing drugs during his ascent to superstardom point to the Filipino southpaw packing roughly 40 pounds on to to his 5-foot-6 1/2 frame, all while maintaining his skill, speed and power.
At 16, Pacquiao weighed 106 pounds for his professional debut Jan. 22, 1995, in the Philippines. By the time he was 30, he weighed a career-high 144 pounds prior to his welterweight championship victory over Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto last Nov. 14 in Las Vegas.
Mayweather weighed 106 pounds when he was 16, too. He won a championship in that weight class at the 1993 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions in Little Rock, Ark.
By the time the 5-8 Mayweather was 30, he weighed a career-high 150 pounds before his junior middleweight championship victory over Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007 in Las Vegas. That means Mayweather actually added 6 more pounds than Pacquiao and jumped up one more weight class than him over the same 14-year period in their respective careers, all while maintaining his skill, speed and power.
Does his successful development mean Mayweather must have sampled performance enhancers? Or is Mayweather simply a gifted hard worker who deserves recognition as one of the top two pound-for-pound boxers in the world?
He never has tested positive for anything, either, so whether we’re right or wrong, shouldn’t we assume that until proven otherwise, Mayweather is clean? Do you see where we’re going with this?
HOLT-ING PATTERN: His promoters at Top Rank Inc. still are trying to secure his next opponent, but former World Boxing Organization junior welterweight champ Kendall Holt’s long layoff likely will end Feb. 27 in Atlantic City.
Holt (25-3, 13 KOs), a Paterson native and Woodland Park resident, is expected to participate in an International Boxing Federation elimination match that night. The winner will become the mandatory challenger for IBF 140-pound champ Juan Urango (22-2-1, 17 KOs).
The Colombian-born Urango probably will box World Boxing Council titleholder Devon Alexander (19-0, 12 KOs) in a unification fight March 6 in Las Vegas, but if Holt wins Feb. 27, he would face either the winner of the Urango-Alexander encounter or another IBF-ranked contender for the IBF title in his next fight.
Numerous opponents have turned down Top Rank’s offer to fight Holt, but his handlers expect Romania’s Ionut Dan Ion (25-0, 13 KOs), Las Vegas’ Steve Forbes (34-7, 10 KOs) or South Africa’s Kaizer Mabuza (22-6-3, 13 KOs) to fight Holt six weeks from Saturday at Bally’s Events Center.
Source: northjersey.com
Please Ricky, give it a rest -- North West Evening Mail
By Robert Johnson, North West Evening Mail
WHY are you getting back in to the ring Ricky? Ricky Hatton announced this week he would have at least one fight this year – possibly in the summer.
The Hitman had not fought since last May, when he was sensationally stopped by the finest boxer on the planet – Manny Pacquiao.
But despite being a multi-weight former world champion, the Mancunian felt he had to get back into action.
Let’s get this right.
The comeback of Ricky Hatton is illogical.
He has already cemented his place as one of Britain’s finest boxers – he has nothing else to prove both in and out of the ring.
Okay, he has lost two fights – but he lost those fights against world class operators.
The other loss was against Floyd Mayweather.
Getting back into the ring to fight Juan Urango – whom Hatton fought and beat three years ago is a pointless contest.
If he wins, so what?
He may end his career with a win.
He’s also been tipped to fight Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
That would be a good fight, but again if he won where would that take Ricky’s career?
Does Ricky Hatton just want the buzz of the ring and set the record straight – because I don’t think the 31-year-old needs the money.
I’m sure Ricky Hatton is set financially from his wonderful career in boxing.
He has already started making preparations for life outside the ring as a promoter.
When you think of Ricky Hatton, you think of his titanic fights against some of boxing’s greats.
I don’t want Ricky Hatton to be remembered as the fighter who did not know when to retire.
Please abandon your comeback trail Ricky – and concentrate on nurturing the next generation of British boxers.
Source: nwemail.co.uk
WHY are you getting back in to the ring Ricky? Ricky Hatton announced this week he would have at least one fight this year – possibly in the summer.
The Hitman had not fought since last May, when he was sensationally stopped by the finest boxer on the planet – Manny Pacquiao.
But despite being a multi-weight former world champion, the Mancunian felt he had to get back into action.
Let’s get this right.
The comeback of Ricky Hatton is illogical.
He has already cemented his place as one of Britain’s finest boxers – he has nothing else to prove both in and out of the ring.
Okay, he has lost two fights – but he lost those fights against world class operators.
The other loss was against Floyd Mayweather.
Getting back into the ring to fight Juan Urango – whom Hatton fought and beat three years ago is a pointless contest.
If he wins, so what?
He may end his career with a win.
He’s also been tipped to fight Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.
That would be a good fight, but again if he won where would that take Ricky’s career?
Does Ricky Hatton just want the buzz of the ring and set the record straight – because I don’t think the 31-year-old needs the money.
I’m sure Ricky Hatton is set financially from his wonderful career in boxing.
He has already started making preparations for life outside the ring as a promoter.
When you think of Ricky Hatton, you think of his titanic fights against some of boxing’s greats.
I don’t want Ricky Hatton to be remembered as the fighter who did not know when to retire.
Please abandon your comeback trail Ricky – and concentrate on nurturing the next generation of British boxers.
Source: nwemail.co.uk
JOE CALZAGHE SAYS: Ricky should give it all up -- South Wales Argus
South Wales Argus
IT has been a few weeks since my last column for the South Wales Argus and as ever, there is plenty to talk about in boxing.
Be it Ricky Hatton’s comeback, the farcical situation that has developed between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao or the death of my former manager, there is loads to discuss.
Before I do so, may I be the first to wish the readers of the South Wales Argus a very happy and healthy 2010, I hope you’re not as sick of this snow as I am!
First off, we are almost in a position to announce details of the next Calzaghe Promotions show.
We are hoping to fix a date in March and possibly could be heading to Cardiff for the first time, the scene of some of my best nights in boxing.
Obviously 2009 ended with a real bang for us with Gavin Rees winning the strongest ever version of Prizefighter, reminding people just what a great fighter he is. We expect to have Gavin back in the world title picture this year and hopefully, his best mate Bradley Pryce is ready to get into that mix as well.
Bradley has been lined up for a light middleweight version in February and dad is really confident that Bradley’s ready to show his class by winning the event.
Dad has as much faith in Bradley and Gavin’s ability as he did in my own and we have huge hopes for both of them in 2010.
Obviously the Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao fight has fallen by the wayside and as a boxing fan and a former champion who craved unification fights throughout his career, I think it’s very sad for our sport.
It does nothing for boxing that the two best fighters in the world aren’t going to face one another simply because of politics and while I am not going to play the blame game, I am personally gutted.
I would absolutely have been on a plane to Las Vegas to watch that fight; it would’ve been a tremendous spectacle and one of the biggest fights of this era. It really does hurt boxing that it’s not on, particularly as Manny is now going to fight Joshua Clottey, who LOST his last fight to Miguel Cotto.
The whole situation is just really, really sad.
I’ve already been asked quite a lot for my thoughts on Ricky Hatton coming back into boxing, after he announced that he’d definitely be fighting in 2010.
To be honest, I have mixed feelings on the matter.
I do agree with Ricky that only a fighter knows when it is time to go – something I knew after the Roy Jones fight.
Ricky isn’t old, by any means, he’s only 32 I believe and as I retired considerably later than that, I can’t go preaching that he should give it up.
He lost his last fight by knockout and if that had been me, maybe I wouldn’t have wanted to go out like that either. But obviously I can’t say, because I’ve never been in that position.
If Ricky is lining up someone like Juan Manuel Marquez as reported, he could be fine. Marquez is a lightweight and though he’s a great fighter, he’s not really a big puncher.
However, on the other hand, speaking honestly, if I am going to give my opinion, I would have liked to see Ricky retire.
He’s been in some true wars over the years, everyone knows about his lifestyle and the last time he fought, he was knocked out for three minutes. That takes a toll on anyone and with money not being an issue, I think maybe the time has come to call it a day. But good luck to Ricky, he’s a lovely guy and I hope his comeback works out for him.
I just wanted to also say a brief word on Terry Lawless, my former manager, who passed away over Christmas.
Things didn’t end too well between Terry and myself when I left him early in my career, but I certainly remember him fondly. He was always in my corner and certainly did everything in his power to look after his fighters, which is an admirable quality. Boxing will miss him.
That’s all from me for now, but do check the South Wales Argus and my website joecalzaghe.com for details of the next Calzaghe Promotions show.
Source: southwalesargus.co.uk
IT has been a few weeks since my last column for the South Wales Argus and as ever, there is plenty to talk about in boxing.
Be it Ricky Hatton’s comeback, the farcical situation that has developed between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao or the death of my former manager, there is loads to discuss.
Before I do so, may I be the first to wish the readers of the South Wales Argus a very happy and healthy 2010, I hope you’re not as sick of this snow as I am!
First off, we are almost in a position to announce details of the next Calzaghe Promotions show.
We are hoping to fix a date in March and possibly could be heading to Cardiff for the first time, the scene of some of my best nights in boxing.
Obviously 2009 ended with a real bang for us with Gavin Rees winning the strongest ever version of Prizefighter, reminding people just what a great fighter he is. We expect to have Gavin back in the world title picture this year and hopefully, his best mate Bradley Pryce is ready to get into that mix as well.
Bradley has been lined up for a light middleweight version in February and dad is really confident that Bradley’s ready to show his class by winning the event.
Dad has as much faith in Bradley and Gavin’s ability as he did in my own and we have huge hopes for both of them in 2010.
Obviously the Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao fight has fallen by the wayside and as a boxing fan and a former champion who craved unification fights throughout his career, I think it’s very sad for our sport.
It does nothing for boxing that the two best fighters in the world aren’t going to face one another simply because of politics and while I am not going to play the blame game, I am personally gutted.
I would absolutely have been on a plane to Las Vegas to watch that fight; it would’ve been a tremendous spectacle and one of the biggest fights of this era. It really does hurt boxing that it’s not on, particularly as Manny is now going to fight Joshua Clottey, who LOST his last fight to Miguel Cotto.
The whole situation is just really, really sad.
I’ve already been asked quite a lot for my thoughts on Ricky Hatton coming back into boxing, after he announced that he’d definitely be fighting in 2010.
To be honest, I have mixed feelings on the matter.
I do agree with Ricky that only a fighter knows when it is time to go – something I knew after the Roy Jones fight.
Ricky isn’t old, by any means, he’s only 32 I believe and as I retired considerably later than that, I can’t go preaching that he should give it up.
He lost his last fight by knockout and if that had been me, maybe I wouldn’t have wanted to go out like that either. But obviously I can’t say, because I’ve never been in that position.
If Ricky is lining up someone like Juan Manuel Marquez as reported, he could be fine. Marquez is a lightweight and though he’s a great fighter, he’s not really a big puncher.
However, on the other hand, speaking honestly, if I am going to give my opinion, I would have liked to see Ricky retire.
He’s been in some true wars over the years, everyone knows about his lifestyle and the last time he fought, he was knocked out for three minutes. That takes a toll on anyone and with money not being an issue, I think maybe the time has come to call it a day. But good luck to Ricky, he’s a lovely guy and I hope his comeback works out for him.
I just wanted to also say a brief word on Terry Lawless, my former manager, who passed away over Christmas.
Things didn’t end too well between Terry and myself when I left him early in my career, but I certainly remember him fondly. He was always in my corner and certainly did everything in his power to look after his fighters, which is an admirable quality. Boxing will miss him.
That’s all from me for now, but do check the South Wales Argus and my website joecalzaghe.com for details of the next Calzaghe Promotions show.
Source: southwalesargus.co.uk
Boxing legends fear Ricky Hatton is risking permanent damage with comeback -- Mirror
Mirror.co.uk
Ring legends Lloyd Honeyghan and Ken Buchanan fear Ricky Hatton is risking permanent damage with his comeback.
The Manchester boxer has declared he will box again this summer after being knocked out in two rounds by Filipino Manny Pacquiao last May.
Hatton, 31, has since set himself up as a successful promoter, but is ignoring pleas from his family that he should quit.
Honeyghan, who was twice world welterweight champion in the 1980s, insists Hatton is "shot" and could get seriously hurt.
The Londoner said: "He's putting his health at great risk. But some boxers just can't give it up and they are their own worst enemies.
"A half decent shot will knock him. All he's going to do is damage himself more. I saw it in his eyes before he got knocked out by Floyd Mayweather in 2007 - he is a shot fighter at top level.
"Ricky is in danger of being seriously hurt. He doesn't live a good life outside the ring with all the beer he drinks and he is out of shape. He will have to lose about four stone."
Edinburgh's former world lightweight champion Buchanan, 64, also believes Hatton should retire.
Buchanan ended his career with four defeats in a row 10 years after his world title showdown with Roberto Duran in 1972.
He said: "Boxers carry on because they need money, but he doesn't. I made a comeback after four years retired and it was stupid. Ricky should call it a day before he gets damaged."
Source: mirror.co.uk
Ring legends Lloyd Honeyghan and Ken Buchanan fear Ricky Hatton is risking permanent damage with his comeback.
The Manchester boxer has declared he will box again this summer after being knocked out in two rounds by Filipino Manny Pacquiao last May.
Hatton, 31, has since set himself up as a successful promoter, but is ignoring pleas from his family that he should quit.
Honeyghan, who was twice world welterweight champion in the 1980s, insists Hatton is "shot" and could get seriously hurt.
The Londoner said: "He's putting his health at great risk. But some boxers just can't give it up and they are their own worst enemies.
"A half decent shot will knock him. All he's going to do is damage himself more. I saw it in his eyes before he got knocked out by Floyd Mayweather in 2007 - he is a shot fighter at top level.
"Ricky is in danger of being seriously hurt. He doesn't live a good life outside the ring with all the beer he drinks and he is out of shape. He will have to lose about four stone."
Edinburgh's former world lightweight champion Buchanan, 64, also believes Hatton should retire.
Buchanan ended his career with four defeats in a row 10 years after his world title showdown with Roberto Duran in 1972.
He said: "Boxers carry on because they need money, but he doesn't. I made a comeback after four years retired and it was stupid. Ricky should call it a day before he gets damaged."
Source: mirror.co.uk
Pacquiao always on Clottey’s mind -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
Like Manny Pacquiao, his Ghanaian foe Joshua Clottey is also a fitness freak.
Clottey, who faces Pacquiao on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, is already back in the gym in the Bronx in New York, with the image of the Filipino running through his mind just about every time he works out a sweat.
Vinny Scolpino, Clottey’s manager, told the Bulletin on Thursday afternoon that his fighter arrived from Ghana a couple of days ago and is back in training mode.
“(Clottey is) training right now in the Bronx,” said Scolpino, who says he is operating a call center business somewhere in Cavite, a province just outside Manila.
Clottey, 32, spent two months in his native Ghana, and remained “in a very good condition” despite fighting the last time in June 2009, losing a close decision to Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.
“Joshua doesn’t allow himself to go out of shape,” insists Scolpino, “(because) he plays soccer (when he is not training for a fight).”
Clottey will continue to train up until he heads to the two-city press tour in Dallas on Tuesday and in New York on Wednesday.
At the conclusion of the promotional tour, Clottey will either camp out “either in Florida or Nevada” for the most crucial phase of his preparation.
Meanwhile, tickets go on sale next Saturday with the premium ringside seat priced at $700.
Top Rank publicity chief Lee Samuels said tickets pegged at $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50 would also go on sale on that day.
The 80,000-capacity stadium, built to a staggering cost of $1.2 billion, will be reconfigured to 50,000 for the fight, the first time the sport is going to be held at the venue owned by Texas billionaire Jerry Jones.
Source: mb.com.ph
Like Manny Pacquiao, his Ghanaian foe Joshua Clottey is also a fitness freak.
Clottey, who faces Pacquiao on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, is already back in the gym in the Bronx in New York, with the image of the Filipino running through his mind just about every time he works out a sweat.
Vinny Scolpino, Clottey’s manager, told the Bulletin on Thursday afternoon that his fighter arrived from Ghana a couple of days ago and is back in training mode.
“(Clottey is) training right now in the Bronx,” said Scolpino, who says he is operating a call center business somewhere in Cavite, a province just outside Manila.
Clottey, 32, spent two months in his native Ghana, and remained “in a very good condition” despite fighting the last time in June 2009, losing a close decision to Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.
“Joshua doesn’t allow himself to go out of shape,” insists Scolpino, “(because) he plays soccer (when he is not training for a fight).”
Clottey will continue to train up until he heads to the two-city press tour in Dallas on Tuesday and in New York on Wednesday.
At the conclusion of the promotional tour, Clottey will either camp out “either in Florida or Nevada” for the most crucial phase of his preparation.
Meanwhile, tickets go on sale next Saturday with the premium ringside seat priced at $700.
Top Rank publicity chief Lee Samuels said tickets pegged at $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50 would also go on sale on that day.
The 80,000-capacity stadium, built to a staggering cost of $1.2 billion, will be reconfigured to 50,000 for the fight, the first time the sport is going to be held at the venue owned by Texas billionaire Jerry Jones.
Source: mb.com.ph
Consistency about blood testing looms as a mandatory for Mayweather -- 15Rounds.com
By Norm Frauenheim, 15Rounds.com
There’s been plenty of speculation about whom Floyd Mayweather Jr. could or should fight in the wake of abortive talks for a showdown with Manny Pacquiao, yet no talk about whether Mayweather will continue to demand Olympic-style blood-testing.
Let’s just say that the demand is a mandatory defense.
Without it, Pacquiao, Bob Arum, Freddie Roach and a gallery full of critics have a compelling reason to say that blood-testing was a just a ruse that allowed Mayweather to sidestep a threat to his unbeaten record from the Filipino, who now faces a dangerous date against Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Dallas. With it, Mayweather can claim a measure of consistency that says the demand was not just a convenient feint.
It’s fair to argue that Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer asked for comprehensive blood-testing at the wrong time and in the wrong venue. First, they should have introduced the idea to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the regulatory agency for a fight that had been planned for March 13 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.
Pacquiao, Arum and Roach still might have said no-no-no, but they would have had to scream their complaints to a body that is supposed to regulate and not negotiate.
At the very least, the demand was confrontational in talks ruled, first and foremost, by egos easily insulted, usually suspicious and always seeking an edge. If Mayweather doesn’t stand by the demand in possible negotiations for a fight with Timothy Bradley or Paulie Malignaggi or Paul Williams, then it looks as if he were singling out Pacquiao despite the Filipino’s clean record of tests in Nevada, California and Texas.
Drug tests for a boxing license in Nevada or any other state are as outdated as a pay-phone. Then again, so are other tests, which always seems to be a split-second late or a home run short of the latest in performance-enhancing technology.
Mark McGwire finally admitted the obvious a few days ago when he said he used steroids. Gee, ya think. The biggest headline in that news story should have been McGwire’s stated belief that he thinks the performance-enhancers didn’t help him hit those record-setting 70 homers in 1998. Maybe, he thinks that only the ball was juiced. Dick Pound, a former president of the World Anti- Doping Agency, ripped major-league baseball. Arum had suggested that baseball oversee testing for Pacquiao-Mayweather instead of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
“What has emerged in the whole baseball mess is that drug use is widespread and that even the best players are involved – and still MLB is whistling past the graveyard,’’ Pound said in an e-mail quoted by the Associated Press. “If you notice, McGwire talks about steroids and HGH (and many other doping substances). These MLB positions are not indicators of a real attempt to solve the drug use problem in baseball.’’
Pound didn’t mention boxing. Then again, he also didn’t mention Marion Jones, who went to jail for lying under oath about performance-enhancers, yet never tested positive for one after the sprinter won five medals at the Sydney Olympics.
There is no reliable test. But there is consistency and that’s the only way for Mayweather to defend himself, no matter who he fights. If he and Bradley or Malignaggi or Williams or whoever take the blood-tests, it will be that much harder for Pacquiao to just say no. Without that consistency, Mayweather will be left with only a hidden agenda.
A month for champs
Muhammad Ali turns 68 Sunday. Ali plans to celebrate in his hometown, Louisville, before returning next week to his residence in Phoenix.
Speaking of birthdays, there are many to celebrate in January. Ali’s old bitter rival, Joe Frazier, turned 66 on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Another Ali rival, George Foreman, turned 61 last Sunday, Jan. 10. Bernard Hopkins is 45 today, Friday, Jan. 15.
Notes, quotes, anecdotes
· A potential prospect, Jose Benavidez, a 17-year-old junior-welterweight from Phoenix, gets his first pro tests Saturday night in Las Vegas against Steve Cox (1-0) of Independence, Mo., on a Top Rank card featuring junior-middleweight Vanes Martiroysan versus Kassim Ouma at the Hard Rock. Benavidez, a national Golden Gloves champion, got some YouTube attention for the way he handled himself against Amir Kahn in sparring a couple of months ago at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
· News item: James Toney, a former quarterback, is trying to talk his way into a UFC bout and former NFL running back, Herschel Walker has been training for mixed-martial arts. Reaction: A Toney-Walker date in a cage can’t be too far away.
Source: 15rounds.com
There’s been plenty of speculation about whom Floyd Mayweather Jr. could or should fight in the wake of abortive talks for a showdown with Manny Pacquiao, yet no talk about whether Mayweather will continue to demand Olympic-style blood-testing.
Let’s just say that the demand is a mandatory defense.
Without it, Pacquiao, Bob Arum, Freddie Roach and a gallery full of critics have a compelling reason to say that blood-testing was a just a ruse that allowed Mayweather to sidestep a threat to his unbeaten record from the Filipino, who now faces a dangerous date against Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Dallas. With it, Mayweather can claim a measure of consistency that says the demand was not just a convenient feint.
It’s fair to argue that Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer asked for comprehensive blood-testing at the wrong time and in the wrong venue. First, they should have introduced the idea to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the regulatory agency for a fight that had been planned for March 13 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.
Pacquiao, Arum and Roach still might have said no-no-no, but they would have had to scream their complaints to a body that is supposed to regulate and not negotiate.
At the very least, the demand was confrontational in talks ruled, first and foremost, by egos easily insulted, usually suspicious and always seeking an edge. If Mayweather doesn’t stand by the demand in possible negotiations for a fight with Timothy Bradley or Paulie Malignaggi or Paul Williams, then it looks as if he were singling out Pacquiao despite the Filipino’s clean record of tests in Nevada, California and Texas.
Drug tests for a boxing license in Nevada or any other state are as outdated as a pay-phone. Then again, so are other tests, which always seems to be a split-second late or a home run short of the latest in performance-enhancing technology.
Mark McGwire finally admitted the obvious a few days ago when he said he used steroids. Gee, ya think. The biggest headline in that news story should have been McGwire’s stated belief that he thinks the performance-enhancers didn’t help him hit those record-setting 70 homers in 1998. Maybe, he thinks that only the ball was juiced. Dick Pound, a former president of the World Anti- Doping Agency, ripped major-league baseball. Arum had suggested that baseball oversee testing for Pacquiao-Mayweather instead of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
“What has emerged in the whole baseball mess is that drug use is widespread and that even the best players are involved – and still MLB is whistling past the graveyard,’’ Pound said in an e-mail quoted by the Associated Press. “If you notice, McGwire talks about steroids and HGH (and many other doping substances). These MLB positions are not indicators of a real attempt to solve the drug use problem in baseball.’’
Pound didn’t mention boxing. Then again, he also didn’t mention Marion Jones, who went to jail for lying under oath about performance-enhancers, yet never tested positive for one after the sprinter won five medals at the Sydney Olympics.
There is no reliable test. But there is consistency and that’s the only way for Mayweather to defend himself, no matter who he fights. If he and Bradley or Malignaggi or Williams or whoever take the blood-tests, it will be that much harder for Pacquiao to just say no. Without that consistency, Mayweather will be left with only a hidden agenda.
A month for champs
Muhammad Ali turns 68 Sunday. Ali plans to celebrate in his hometown, Louisville, before returning next week to his residence in Phoenix.
Speaking of birthdays, there are many to celebrate in January. Ali’s old bitter rival, Joe Frazier, turned 66 on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Another Ali rival, George Foreman, turned 61 last Sunday, Jan. 10. Bernard Hopkins is 45 today, Friday, Jan. 15.
Notes, quotes, anecdotes
· A potential prospect, Jose Benavidez, a 17-year-old junior-welterweight from Phoenix, gets his first pro tests Saturday night in Las Vegas against Steve Cox (1-0) of Independence, Mo., on a Top Rank card featuring junior-middleweight Vanes Martiroysan versus Kassim Ouma at the Hard Rock. Benavidez, a national Golden Gloves champion, got some YouTube attention for the way he handled himself against Amir Kahn in sparring a couple of months ago at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
· News item: James Toney, a former quarterback, is trying to talk his way into a UFC bout and former NFL running back, Herschel Walker has been training for mixed-martial arts. Reaction: A Toney-Walker date in a cage can’t be too far away.
Source: 15rounds.com
As Pacquiao-Mayweather fails, boxing proves its own worst enemy -- Los Angeles Times
By Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times
A picture is worth a thousand words. So let's make a visual out of the current state of boxing.
Close your eyes and remember. October 1993. Las Vegas. The land is needed more than the building, so they fill the venerable Dunes Hotel on the Strip with dynamite, push a button and it implodes.
January 2010. The good ol' USA. No dynamite, just stupidity and ego. Same thing happens. Boxing implodes.
Last Sunday, promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank announced that Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines will fight Joshua Clottey of Ghana. The fight will be March 13 in the Dallas Cowboys' new football stadium.
Later that same day, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions announced that Floyd Mayweather Jr. would fight an opponent to be determined. The fight will be March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
Yes, these are the two premier boxers in their sport.
Yes, they were supposed to fight each other.
And yes, that fight was supposed to be on March 13.
The world anticipated that one. Wallets and checkbooks were open. Sponsors were lining up. The estimated $60 pay-per-view tab even seemed reasonable. The bout would put boxing on the front pages next to the likes of Lakers and Dodgers, and in the same breath with them on the nightly newscasts.
This was a big deal, and then it wasn't. The fight was off. Mayweather's camp implied that Pacquiao must be enhancing his performances with drugs because he got so big and so good so fast. Pacquiao, with no credible hint whatsoever of any such activity, was offended, eventually said he wanted no part of the Mayweather camp and even sued for defamation.
Keep in mind that each fighter was to be guaranteed $25 million, and the likely final take for each, with projected pay-per-view revenue, was closer to $40 million.
In the end, this was an impasse the size of the Grand Canyon.
Then boxing made it worse.
By announcing separate fights on the same date, they split everything in two, especially their fan base. Television networks would have to choose. HBO is the sport's cash cow and it now must choose, alienating whomever it rejects.
Even if the two shows come off at different times with a two-hour difference from Central to Pacific zones, few are likely to plunk down money to buy both. Sports editors, website editors and TV program directors are likely to look at this mess, look at their ever-dwindling budgets and keep their reporters at home.
In essence, boxing canceled a Super Bowl and replaced it with two lesser events at the same time on competing channels. Nice work.
What ever happened to "United we stand, divided we fall"? In boxing, it appears to be "Every man for himself and take the other guy down with you."
If you are looking for a winner in this non-fight fight, it is probably the Pacquiao side. His fight with Clottey has the possibility of being competitive. It also has the attraction of a shiny new venue. Plus, whatever media attention is available, it will go more to the current star, Pacquiao. He has been backing up the Brinks truck after each fight for the last several years, while Mayweather, already retired and unretired once, has been less active.
Pacquiao, and promoter Arum, were in much better financial standing to walk away from a mega-fight. Mayweather has made millions, but has also fought recently, at least in part, for the benefit of the Internal Revenue Service.
Arum was Mayweather's promoter for many years, and is not shy about telling people he never made money with Mayweather and that Mayweather walked away from him just as his career became financially viable. Mayweather is now managed by Al Haymon, with whom Arum has dealt over the years for many fights. They like each other like cattlemen like sheepherders.
Walking away from these guys had to bring Arum at least a tinge of satisfaction.
The possibility of a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight later in the year will depend on several things, including Pacquiao's possible status as a congressman in the Philippines. If he is elected in May, he could conceivably do all his fighting henceforth in political chambers, not boxing rings.
Throughout this saga, Mayweather has acted badly, as is his wont. As recently as last week, with the fight and his likely $40-million payday falling apart around him, he issued a statement that used foul language and further insulted Pacquiao.
Ultimately, he trash-talked his way into the garbage bin.
The last word on this story will go to Golden Boy's Schaefer, who unwittingly summed it all up. Early on in the talks, he said, "If we can't make this fight, we are idiots."
bill.dwyre@latimes.com
Source: latimes.com
A picture is worth a thousand words. So let's make a visual out of the current state of boxing.
Close your eyes and remember. October 1993. Las Vegas. The land is needed more than the building, so they fill the venerable Dunes Hotel on the Strip with dynamite, push a button and it implodes.
January 2010. The good ol' USA. No dynamite, just stupidity and ego. Same thing happens. Boxing implodes.
Last Sunday, promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank announced that Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines will fight Joshua Clottey of Ghana. The fight will be March 13 in the Dallas Cowboys' new football stadium.
Later that same day, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions announced that Floyd Mayweather Jr. would fight an opponent to be determined. The fight will be March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
Yes, these are the two premier boxers in their sport.
Yes, they were supposed to fight each other.
And yes, that fight was supposed to be on March 13.
The world anticipated that one. Wallets and checkbooks were open. Sponsors were lining up. The estimated $60 pay-per-view tab even seemed reasonable. The bout would put boxing on the front pages next to the likes of Lakers and Dodgers, and in the same breath with them on the nightly newscasts.
This was a big deal, and then it wasn't. The fight was off. Mayweather's camp implied that Pacquiao must be enhancing his performances with drugs because he got so big and so good so fast. Pacquiao, with no credible hint whatsoever of any such activity, was offended, eventually said he wanted no part of the Mayweather camp and even sued for defamation.
Keep in mind that each fighter was to be guaranteed $25 million, and the likely final take for each, with projected pay-per-view revenue, was closer to $40 million.
In the end, this was an impasse the size of the Grand Canyon.
Then boxing made it worse.
By announcing separate fights on the same date, they split everything in two, especially their fan base. Television networks would have to choose. HBO is the sport's cash cow and it now must choose, alienating whomever it rejects.
Even if the two shows come off at different times with a two-hour difference from Central to Pacific zones, few are likely to plunk down money to buy both. Sports editors, website editors and TV program directors are likely to look at this mess, look at their ever-dwindling budgets and keep their reporters at home.
In essence, boxing canceled a Super Bowl and replaced it with two lesser events at the same time on competing channels. Nice work.
What ever happened to "United we stand, divided we fall"? In boxing, it appears to be "Every man for himself and take the other guy down with you."
If you are looking for a winner in this non-fight fight, it is probably the Pacquiao side. His fight with Clottey has the possibility of being competitive. It also has the attraction of a shiny new venue. Plus, whatever media attention is available, it will go more to the current star, Pacquiao. He has been backing up the Brinks truck after each fight for the last several years, while Mayweather, already retired and unretired once, has been less active.
Pacquiao, and promoter Arum, were in much better financial standing to walk away from a mega-fight. Mayweather has made millions, but has also fought recently, at least in part, for the benefit of the Internal Revenue Service.
Arum was Mayweather's promoter for many years, and is not shy about telling people he never made money with Mayweather and that Mayweather walked away from him just as his career became financially viable. Mayweather is now managed by Al Haymon, with whom Arum has dealt over the years for many fights. They like each other like cattlemen like sheepherders.
Walking away from these guys had to bring Arum at least a tinge of satisfaction.
The possibility of a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight later in the year will depend on several things, including Pacquiao's possible status as a congressman in the Philippines. If he is elected in May, he could conceivably do all his fighting henceforth in political chambers, not boxing rings.
Throughout this saga, Mayweather has acted badly, as is his wont. As recently as last week, with the fight and his likely $40-million payday falling apart around him, he issued a statement that used foul language and further insulted Pacquiao.
Ultimately, he trash-talked his way into the garbage bin.
The last word on this story will go to Golden Boy's Schaefer, who unwittingly summed it all up. Early on in the talks, he said, "If we can't make this fight, we are idiots."
bill.dwyre@latimes.com
Source: latimes.com
Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather JR: One of Many Boxing Tragedies and Controversies of 2009 -- Ringside Report
By Geno McGahee, RingsideReport.com
It’s very rare that you get a year in boxing like 2009. It was a year that saw the unexpected in a sport where you learn to expect just that. It came in like a lion and left like a lion and we are all still recovering from the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather, JR., fall out. Consider this a year in review, covering the negative things that have transpired in the sport, and let’s see if the sport moved forward or fell back.
Tragic July
On July 1st, the world was informed that former 3-Time World Champion Alexis Arguello had committed suicide, but a cloud of mystery surrounds it. The story at the time was that he had shot himself through the heart, but foul play is not ruled out and those that knew him personally, believe that it was a murder. Arguello was remembered for his wars with Aaron Pryor and his relentless style in the ring.
Ten days after the death of Arguello, the boxing world lost another champion. Fan favorite Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was found dead in a hotel in Brazil. His wife, Amanda Rodrigues, was immediately suspected and brought in, but then released and the death was ruled a suicide. Much like Arguello’s death, there is a lot of mystery that surrounds this and there has been a lot of demand from the Gatti family to be more thorough and open with the investigation. This may be one of those deaths that are forever shrouded in mystery.
They say that it “comes in threes” and on July 25th, Vernon “The Viper” Forrest would be murdered, shot to death at a gas station in Atlanta, Georgia. Forrest was robbed at gunpoint and then retrieved his own gun, partaking in a shoot out, unaware that the shooter had a partner waiting in the wings. Forrest was shot in the back several times and killed. He was the man that beat a prime Shane Mosley on two occasions and was back in the mix with the WBC Super Welterweight Title around his waist.
Hands of Plaster
Antonio Margarito was on top of the world. Considered the “most avoided fighter” on the planet, it seemed like justice when he stopped the undefeated Miguel Cotto in a high profile fight. He was seen as the every day man, the working man, and proved that hard work and persistence paid off, but there was more at play. On January 24th, Margarito took on Sugar Shane Mosley, but something about the hand wraps struck Team Mosley funny and when the wraps were later tested, Plaster of Paris was detected. Margarito was entering the ring with loaded gloves. Justice was served as Margarito was knocked out by Mosley and then banned from the sport. He claimed no knowledge and then Bob Arum showed just what a scumbag he is when he announced that a white kid would have never been banned. Margarito is set to return and Mexico has welcomed him with open arms. Maybe he will have to kill somebody to convince them that he shouldn’t be boxing.
Poor Loser
Roy Jones, JR., all set to take on Bernard Hopkins in a pay per screw to top all pay per screws had to get by the lightly regarded Danny Green, but the cruiserweight power-puncher caught the faded Jones and scored a first round stoppage. That threw a wrench in the works for the PPV rematch with Hopkins, but this is boxing, and never underestimate the greed of Hopkins or the ego of Jones. Jones cried foul and said that Green loaded his gloves, releasing letters to boxing publications and trying to erase the publics’ memory of him hitting the floor and being stopped in one. As word got around about the potential loaded gloves, Hopkins and Jones signed to fight and now it is set for an April Pay Per View. Jones, JR., created doubt about his loss…enough to finagle this upcoming rematch. It is exactly what is wrong with boxing.
Steroid Scandals
On January 21st, Shane Mosley was still fighting the charges that he used steroids prior to his 2003 rematch with Oscar De La Hoya. Mosley would admit using them and insiders claim that he used them for quite a while. Luckily for Sugar Shane, the Margarito hand wrap scandal took the focus off his misdeeds.
On November 9th, Kermit Cintron stated on e radio show thap he believed that Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao was on steroids because of his body structure and jump in weight.
On November 23rd, Floyd Mayweather, SR., made the claim as well that Pacquiao was on steroids.
On December 3rd, Shannon Briggs came back after a short hiatus from the sport to score a first round knockout over Marcus McGee. It was later turned to a no decision after Briggs tested positive for an illegal substance. Team Briggs claimed it to be asthma medication. Others point to performance enhancing drugs. The jury is still out.
On December 26th, Floyd Mayweather, JR., publicly expressed his concern that his future opponent, Pacquiao, was on steroids and demanded different testing, which was refused by Team Pacquiao.
On December 30th, Manny Pacquiao files a lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather, JR., and SR., for defamation of character, calling them “liars,” and stating that “liars go to hell.”
Note: On January 8th, 2010, Teddy Atlas would announce on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights that he received inside information that he trusted concerning emails from Team Pacquiao to Team Mayweather, asking what the penalty would be should Manny test positive for steroids.
The Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather super showdown was the talk of the boxing world and we watched as week by week and day by day, it fell apart. It was a black eye for the sport in the year 2009, especially if it should ever come out that the biggest star in boxing is using illegal drugs to get an edge on the competition.
Mike Tyson … Can’t Forget Him
Mike Tyson has become a new man…well, sort of. After a make up with Evander Holyfield, a new documentary exposing his personal life and inner feelings, and a possible return to the sport, he made the news again on November 11th, in an all too familiar way. Tyson had a physical altercation with a paparazzi in a LA airport. The charges were later dropped but it still made worldwide news and may give us an indication that he has a long way to go before he’s the new man he claims to be.
The year 2009 had more drama than most. We had the steroid scandals, murders, and loaded gloves, but we also had some great things like the Showtime Super Six Tournament, launched in 2009, cruiserweights invading the heavyweight division, and a lot of great fights. 2009 was a mixed bag for the boxing fan but delivered what we have come to love: the drama of the sport, both inside and outside of the ring.
Source: ringsidereport.com
***
It’s very rare that you get a year in boxing like 2009. It was a year that saw the unexpected in a sport where you learn to expect just that. It came in like a lion and left like a lion and we are all still recovering from the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather, JR., fall out. Consider this a year in review, covering the negative things that have transpired in the sport, and let’s see if the sport moved forward or fell back.
Tragic July
On July 1st, the world was informed that former 3-Time World Champion Alexis Arguello had committed suicide, but a cloud of mystery surrounds it. The story at the time was that he had shot himself through the heart, but foul play is not ruled out and those that knew him personally, believe that it was a murder. Arguello was remembered for his wars with Aaron Pryor and his relentless style in the ring.
Ten days after the death of Arguello, the boxing world lost another champion. Fan favorite Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was found dead in a hotel in Brazil. His wife, Amanda Rodrigues, was immediately suspected and brought in, but then released and the death was ruled a suicide. Much like Arguello’s death, there is a lot of mystery that surrounds this and there has been a lot of demand from the Gatti family to be more thorough and open with the investigation. This may be one of those deaths that are forever shrouded in mystery.
They say that it “comes in threes” and on July 25th, Vernon “The Viper” Forrest would be murdered, shot to death at a gas station in Atlanta, Georgia. Forrest was robbed at gunpoint and then retrieved his own gun, partaking in a shoot out, unaware that the shooter had a partner waiting in the wings. Forrest was shot in the back several times and killed. He was the man that beat a prime Shane Mosley on two occasions and was back in the mix with the WBC Super Welterweight Title around his waist.
Hands of Plaster
Antonio Margarito was on top of the world. Considered the “most avoided fighter” on the planet, it seemed like justice when he stopped the undefeated Miguel Cotto in a high profile fight. He was seen as the every day man, the working man, and proved that hard work and persistence paid off, but there was more at play. On January 24th, Margarito took on Sugar Shane Mosley, but something about the hand wraps struck Team Mosley funny and when the wraps were later tested, Plaster of Paris was detected. Margarito was entering the ring with loaded gloves. Justice was served as Margarito was knocked out by Mosley and then banned from the sport. He claimed no knowledge and then Bob Arum showed just what a scumbag he is when he announced that a white kid would have never been banned. Margarito is set to return and Mexico has welcomed him with open arms. Maybe he will have to kill somebody to convince them that he shouldn’t be boxing.
Poor Loser
Roy Jones, JR., all set to take on Bernard Hopkins in a pay per screw to top all pay per screws had to get by the lightly regarded Danny Green, but the cruiserweight power-puncher caught the faded Jones and scored a first round stoppage. That threw a wrench in the works for the PPV rematch with Hopkins, but this is boxing, and never underestimate the greed of Hopkins or the ego of Jones. Jones cried foul and said that Green loaded his gloves, releasing letters to boxing publications and trying to erase the publics’ memory of him hitting the floor and being stopped in one. As word got around about the potential loaded gloves, Hopkins and Jones signed to fight and now it is set for an April Pay Per View. Jones, JR., created doubt about his loss…enough to finagle this upcoming rematch. It is exactly what is wrong with boxing.
Steroid Scandals
On January 21st, Shane Mosley was still fighting the charges that he used steroids prior to his 2003 rematch with Oscar De La Hoya. Mosley would admit using them and insiders claim that he used them for quite a while. Luckily for Sugar Shane, the Margarito hand wrap scandal took the focus off his misdeeds.
On November 9th, Kermit Cintron stated on e radio show thap he believed that Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao was on steroids because of his body structure and jump in weight.
On November 23rd, Floyd Mayweather, SR., made the claim as well that Pacquiao was on steroids.
On December 3rd, Shannon Briggs came back after a short hiatus from the sport to score a first round knockout over Marcus McGee. It was later turned to a no decision after Briggs tested positive for an illegal substance. Team Briggs claimed it to be asthma medication. Others point to performance enhancing drugs. The jury is still out.
On December 26th, Floyd Mayweather, JR., publicly expressed his concern that his future opponent, Pacquiao, was on steroids and demanded different testing, which was refused by Team Pacquiao.
On December 30th, Manny Pacquiao files a lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather, JR., and SR., for defamation of character, calling them “liars,” and stating that “liars go to hell.”
Note: On January 8th, 2010, Teddy Atlas would announce on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights that he received inside information that he trusted concerning emails from Team Pacquiao to Team Mayweather, asking what the penalty would be should Manny test positive for steroids.
The Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather super showdown was the talk of the boxing world and we watched as week by week and day by day, it fell apart. It was a black eye for the sport in the year 2009, especially if it should ever come out that the biggest star in boxing is using illegal drugs to get an edge on the competition.
Mike Tyson … Can’t Forget Him
Mike Tyson has become a new man…well, sort of. After a make up with Evander Holyfield, a new documentary exposing his personal life and inner feelings, and a possible return to the sport, he made the news again on November 11th, in an all too familiar way. Tyson had a physical altercation with a paparazzi in a LA airport. The charges were later dropped but it still made worldwide news and may give us an indication that he has a long way to go before he’s the new man he claims to be.
The year 2009 had more drama than most. We had the steroid scandals, murders, and loaded gloves, but we also had some great things like the Showtime Super Six Tournament, launched in 2009, cruiserweights invading the heavyweight division, and a lot of great fights. 2009 was a mixed bag for the boxing fan but delivered what we have come to love: the drama of the sport, both inside and outside of the ring.
Source: ringsidereport.com
***
Boxing doesn't 'need' a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight to save the sport -- Grand Rapids Press
By Mike Samuels, The Grand Rapids Press
Sometimes, the less you say in life, the better.
It may be an old adage but perhaps someone over at 107.3 FM (WBBL, The Ball/Grand Rapids) could pass the memo over to Bill Simonson, host of the Huge Show weekdays from 3-6 p.m.
Simonson has been blogging for the Grand Rapids Press for over a year and while I acknowledge he’s only using the forum to create controversy and buzz for his three hour radio program, I rarely object to his extreme and highly predictable opinions.
After all, we as Americans have the right to freedom of speech, don’t we?
I could no longer bite my tongue, however, after reading Simonson’s latest piece in which the Sparta native uses all but 30 sentences to destroy the credibility of not only Manny Pacquiao and Grand Rapids’ own Floyd Mayweather, but also the entire sport of boxing and everyone involved in one of the oldest forms of combat in the world.
The sheer fact that Mayweather and Pacquiao were unable to come to terms for a proposed super fight on March 13 is very disappointing. It’s a tough loss for the casual boxing fan – enter Simonson – and an even harder pill for the legion of hardcore pugilist fans to swallow.
There’s plenty of reason for people to be bummed out or discouraged with boxing as an entire sport. For one, there are too many sanctioning bodies, seemingly a hundred belts that share no significance, too many undeserving champions who are crowned because a belt is vacated, too many weight classes, corrupt judging and stubborn promoters who are running the sport.
And yet the sport still survives. The fighters march forward the same way baseball survived a strike and steroids.
The same way the NBA survived The Jordan Rules, the lockout shortened 1999 season and Tim Donaghy.
Sports are filled with hype and drama and even more than that: let down. That doesn’t mean you destroy the hard work for the athletes who participate just because something doesn’t go as planned. Simonson made a weak attempt to label boxing “dead” because Mayweather and Pacquiao negotiations fell through. He screams at the top of his lungs in defiance for the sport, even going as far as the following:
“There is no one to save [boxing], and there is no big name on the horizon. Both fighters think they can make some mid-level money by jumping into the ring with a bunch of no-name opponents and show people they are the best.
“No sports fan is buying this or anything connected to Pacquiao or Mayweather again in the United States unless they make this fight happen.”
Statements like the above show a true lack of intelligence on Simonson’s part. It’s one thing to have an opinion, but for God's sake, it doesn’t serve you well to just make an uninformed statement without any background, ideas or original thought on the topic you’re speaking about. Its evident Simonson wanted to create shock-value and nothing more – and perhaps he’s gotten it by the fact I’ve devoted the time to fire back – but is it too much to ask for a little professionalism?
Seriously.
Pacquiao is set to face Joshua Clottey on March 13. Clottey is no Mayweather, but he’s far from Glass Joe. And I’m not sure what type of paper Simonson is bringing home for his on air talents, but last time I checked $5-10 million is hardly mid-level money. That’s exactly the kind of paycheck Pacquiao is sure to cash for signing to fight Clottey.
Simonson doesn’t realize that boxing doesn’t need to be saved.
Improved? Without a shadow of doubt.
But in order to assume the sport has no one on the horizon to save it, Simonson must first realize that boxing doesn’t revolve around Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson or Oscar De la Hoya.
2010 promises to be a great year for the sport with a ton of exciting fighters who are expected to take giant leaps from years past. Those fighters include but are not limited to:
•Paul Williams.
•Timothy Bradley.
•Edwin Valero.
•Shane Mosley.
•Andre Berto.
•Kelly Pavlik.
•James Kirkland.
•Andre Ward.
•Mikkel Kessler.
•Arthur Abraham.
•Andre Dirrell.
•Carl Froch.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, Huge.
Of course, you would know that if you actually gave two you-know-what’s about the sport in general. I understand radio is a business driven by ratings and you’re not going to devote three hours to talking about Joshua Clottey or Vitali Klitschko – and that’s fine. It’s your show. I don’t know the first thing about the business side of radio (is it really necessary to plug every damn advertisement that’s paying you at every chance possible?) so I’m not going to use this as a forum to rip the show to pieces. I’d look like a moron if I tore the show down and graded it low simply because that’s what I’ve been hearing from avid listeners. Either way, you’ll still be on the airways at 3 p.m each day just as boxing will continue to produce highly competitive fights with some of the world’s greatest athletes.
If I have to hear the phrase: “This is the fight to save boxing” one more time I think I’m going to puke. Every other year the media labels a fight as the fight to save the sport.
1999’s De la Hoya-Trinidad fight was supposed to levitate boxing back to the golden era. 2002’s Lewis-Tyson bout was next in line. Don’t forget about 2007’s De la Hoya-Mayweather. And, low and behold ... it was Pacquiao-Mayweather in 2010.
In a couple of years another mega fight will be hyped by ESPN (hell, Pacquiao-Mayweather could be finalized by the fall of 2010 for all we know) and the pundits and critics will start screaming at the top of their lungs about boxing needing to be saved. Newsflash: This isn’t church. The only thing that needs to be saved is sinners. Sports fans – boxing fans, in general – will come out just fine in the end.
Boxing doesn’t need to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated and it doesn’t need to be the lead story on ESPN’s Sports Center. All in all, boxing would serve better if it wasn’t covered at all by any main street media outlets. Because the only time they run a story on the sport is when something negative occurs like ear biting or death in the ring.
Sadly, your latest piece is nothing more than the same song and dance that has been regurgitated over and over by every Tom, Dick and Harry with a background in media. Instead of offering solutions to the problem, they jump on the bandwagon and offer no original thought.
You are entitled to your opinion, Huge. Just know that while you’re complaining about things you know very little about, the rest of us boxing fans (all six of us ... just kidding big guy) will be enjoying the fights that matter.
The ones fought inside the ring.
Source: blog.mlive.com
***
Sometimes, the less you say in life, the better.
It may be an old adage but perhaps someone over at 107.3 FM (WBBL, The Ball/Grand Rapids) could pass the memo over to Bill Simonson, host of the Huge Show weekdays from 3-6 p.m.
Simonson has been blogging for the Grand Rapids Press for over a year and while I acknowledge he’s only using the forum to create controversy and buzz for his three hour radio program, I rarely object to his extreme and highly predictable opinions.
After all, we as Americans have the right to freedom of speech, don’t we?
I could no longer bite my tongue, however, after reading Simonson’s latest piece in which the Sparta native uses all but 30 sentences to destroy the credibility of not only Manny Pacquiao and Grand Rapids’ own Floyd Mayweather, but also the entire sport of boxing and everyone involved in one of the oldest forms of combat in the world.
The sheer fact that Mayweather and Pacquiao were unable to come to terms for a proposed super fight on March 13 is very disappointing. It’s a tough loss for the casual boxing fan – enter Simonson – and an even harder pill for the legion of hardcore pugilist fans to swallow.
There’s plenty of reason for people to be bummed out or discouraged with boxing as an entire sport. For one, there are too many sanctioning bodies, seemingly a hundred belts that share no significance, too many undeserving champions who are crowned because a belt is vacated, too many weight classes, corrupt judging and stubborn promoters who are running the sport.
And yet the sport still survives. The fighters march forward the same way baseball survived a strike and steroids.
The same way the NBA survived The Jordan Rules, the lockout shortened 1999 season and Tim Donaghy.
Sports are filled with hype and drama and even more than that: let down. That doesn’t mean you destroy the hard work for the athletes who participate just because something doesn’t go as planned. Simonson made a weak attempt to label boxing “dead” because Mayweather and Pacquiao negotiations fell through. He screams at the top of his lungs in defiance for the sport, even going as far as the following:
“There is no one to save [boxing], and there is no big name on the horizon. Both fighters think they can make some mid-level money by jumping into the ring with a bunch of no-name opponents and show people they are the best.
“No sports fan is buying this or anything connected to Pacquiao or Mayweather again in the United States unless they make this fight happen.”
Statements like the above show a true lack of intelligence on Simonson’s part. It’s one thing to have an opinion, but for God's sake, it doesn’t serve you well to just make an uninformed statement without any background, ideas or original thought on the topic you’re speaking about. Its evident Simonson wanted to create shock-value and nothing more – and perhaps he’s gotten it by the fact I’ve devoted the time to fire back – but is it too much to ask for a little professionalism?
Seriously.
Pacquiao is set to face Joshua Clottey on March 13. Clottey is no Mayweather, but he’s far from Glass Joe. And I’m not sure what type of paper Simonson is bringing home for his on air talents, but last time I checked $5-10 million is hardly mid-level money. That’s exactly the kind of paycheck Pacquiao is sure to cash for signing to fight Clottey.
Simonson doesn’t realize that boxing doesn’t need to be saved.
Improved? Without a shadow of doubt.
But in order to assume the sport has no one on the horizon to save it, Simonson must first realize that boxing doesn’t revolve around Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson or Oscar De la Hoya.
2010 promises to be a great year for the sport with a ton of exciting fighters who are expected to take giant leaps from years past. Those fighters include but are not limited to:
•Paul Williams.
•Timothy Bradley.
•Edwin Valero.
•Shane Mosley.
•Andre Berto.
•Kelly Pavlik.
•James Kirkland.
•Andre Ward.
•Mikkel Kessler.
•Arthur Abraham.
•Andre Dirrell.
•Carl Froch.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, Huge.
Of course, you would know that if you actually gave two you-know-what’s about the sport in general. I understand radio is a business driven by ratings and you’re not going to devote three hours to talking about Joshua Clottey or Vitali Klitschko – and that’s fine. It’s your show. I don’t know the first thing about the business side of radio (is it really necessary to plug every damn advertisement that’s paying you at every chance possible?) so I’m not going to use this as a forum to rip the show to pieces. I’d look like a moron if I tore the show down and graded it low simply because that’s what I’ve been hearing from avid listeners. Either way, you’ll still be on the airways at 3 p.m each day just as boxing will continue to produce highly competitive fights with some of the world’s greatest athletes.
If I have to hear the phrase: “This is the fight to save boxing” one more time I think I’m going to puke. Every other year the media labels a fight as the fight to save the sport.
1999’s De la Hoya-Trinidad fight was supposed to levitate boxing back to the golden era. 2002’s Lewis-Tyson bout was next in line. Don’t forget about 2007’s De la Hoya-Mayweather. And, low and behold ... it was Pacquiao-Mayweather in 2010.
In a couple of years another mega fight will be hyped by ESPN (hell, Pacquiao-Mayweather could be finalized by the fall of 2010 for all we know) and the pundits and critics will start screaming at the top of their lungs about boxing needing to be saved. Newsflash: This isn’t church. The only thing that needs to be saved is sinners. Sports fans – boxing fans, in general – will come out just fine in the end.
Boxing doesn’t need to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated and it doesn’t need to be the lead story on ESPN’s Sports Center. All in all, boxing would serve better if it wasn’t covered at all by any main street media outlets. Because the only time they run a story on the sport is when something negative occurs like ear biting or death in the ring.
Sadly, your latest piece is nothing more than the same song and dance that has been regurgitated over and over by every Tom, Dick and Harry with a background in media. Instead of offering solutions to the problem, they jump on the bandwagon and offer no original thought.
You are entitled to your opinion, Huge. Just know that while you’re complaining about things you know very little about, the rest of us boxing fans (all six of us ... just kidding big guy) will be enjoying the fights that matter.
The ones fought inside the ring.
Source: blog.mlive.com
***
Malignaggi wants Khan clash -- Asian News
By James Robson, Asian News
PAULIE Malignaggi wants to be the man to bring Amir Khan crashing down to earth.
Malignaggi, who was the last man defeated by Ricky Hatton in 2008, is hoping to be WBA light-welterweight champion Khan's first opponent Stateside.
The Bolton star is hoping to break into America in 2010 after winning his first world title last year. It is likely that Khan's next fight will be against mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana - probably in the UK - following his stunning first round victory against Dmitry Salita in December.
But when he eventually makes the step over the other side of the Atlantic, Malignaggi is desperate to be the one to give him a red hot reception.
"My team told me Amir wanted one more fight in England to hype things up then we'd fight at the Garden later in the year," said the WBO light-welterweight king.
"Over here we talk about Amir like he will be England's next superstar, that once in a generation superstar like Ricky Hatton or Naseem Hamed.
Hooked
"The first live fight I saw was Hamed against Kevin Kelley and I was hooked after that.
"I know Ross Greenberg at HBO and Lou DiBella like the comparisons to Hamed-Kelley, the UK superstar making his US debut against a brash New Yorker at the Garden."
Malignaggi lost his IBO title to Hatton after an 11th round knockout by the Hitman in November 2008.
He then lost on points to Juan Diaz when challenging for the WBO crown, only to avenge that defeat in December.
The 29-year-old's star is now back on the rise and was even considered as a possible opponent for Manny Pacquiao before the pound-for-pound number one confirmed he would take on Joshua Clottey.
His outspoken ways could make him an ideal opponent to help Khan make an immediate impact in America.
Source: theasiannews.co.uk
PAULIE Malignaggi wants to be the man to bring Amir Khan crashing down to earth.
Malignaggi, who was the last man defeated by Ricky Hatton in 2008, is hoping to be WBA light-welterweight champion Khan's first opponent Stateside.
The Bolton star is hoping to break into America in 2010 after winning his first world title last year. It is likely that Khan's next fight will be against mandatory challenger Marcos Maidana - probably in the UK - following his stunning first round victory against Dmitry Salita in December.
But when he eventually makes the step over the other side of the Atlantic, Malignaggi is desperate to be the one to give him a red hot reception.
"My team told me Amir wanted one more fight in England to hype things up then we'd fight at the Garden later in the year," said the WBO light-welterweight king.
"Over here we talk about Amir like he will be England's next superstar, that once in a generation superstar like Ricky Hatton or Naseem Hamed.
Hooked
"The first live fight I saw was Hamed against Kevin Kelley and I was hooked after that.
"I know Ross Greenberg at HBO and Lou DiBella like the comparisons to Hamed-Kelley, the UK superstar making his US debut against a brash New Yorker at the Garden."
Malignaggi lost his IBO title to Hatton after an 11th round knockout by the Hitman in November 2008.
He then lost on points to Juan Diaz when challenging for the WBO crown, only to avenge that defeat in December.
The 29-year-old's star is now back on the rise and was even considered as a possible opponent for Manny Pacquiao before the pound-for-pound number one confirmed he would take on Joshua Clottey.
His outspoken ways could make him an ideal opponent to help Khan make an immediate impact in America.
Source: theasiannews.co.uk
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