By Bob Hanna, The Standard-Times
It's interesting to note who Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will fight now that their much anticipated showdown has imploded.
Pacquiao will face former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey, a very tough opponent, March 13, the date Pacquiao and Mayweather were supposed to meet, at Jerry Jones' Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. Clottey (35-3), remember, gave Miguel Cotto all — some would say more than — he could handle in dropping a narrow split decision.
Mayweather, on the other hand, is allegedly considering four opponents: Paul Williams, Kermit Cintron, Paulie Malignaggi, and Matthew Hatton, younger brother of Ricky Hatton. Forget Williams. Mayweather wants no part of the 6-2 southpaw. He would, after all, be a legitimate test for Mayweather, who doesn't like legitimate tests.
Malignaggi and Hatton are junior welterweights, the preferred size for Mayweather since he moved up to welterweight (Arturo Gatti, Ricky Hatton and Juan Manuel Marquez come to mind). Malignaggi is a clever boxer who can't break an egg, while the younger Hatton is not even ranked (in the top 15) by any of the four major boxing organizations.
Cintron, a former two-time champ, is a legitimate welterweight who can punch, but off his controversial draw with Sergio Martinez (who appeared to be an easy winner) does not present much of a threat to Mayweather, which makes him a good fit for the Mouth.
The point is that while Pacquiao, who would love to get Mayweather in the ring after the latter's suggestion that he uses performance enhancing drugs, continues to fight top shelf fighters, Mayweather continues to look for no-risk opponents.
And that, my friends, is what should tell you which fighter is holding up the mega-match everyone wants to see.
Personally, I think Mayweather is scared of the Pacman, not from a physical standpoint, but from what a loss might do to his place in boxing history. Mayweather has always claimed to be one of the best, if not the best of all time.
In the meantime, he has found a chink in Pacquiao's psychological armor. The Pacman has no problem with urine drug tests, but he distrusts blood drug tests close to a fight because of a fear it will weaken him. It is baseless, of course, but not to Pacquaio.
But that's what gave Mayweather an out while still maintaining he wants the fight.
I do believe they will eventually meet, but only when Mayweather thinks he has an edge, like if Pacquiao moves up another division or otherwise shows some indication that he's slowing down. Or when the ego-driven Mayweather realizes that he has more to lose stature-wise by not fighting Pacquiao than by fighting him and letting the cards fall where they may.
As it stands now, Mayweather will go down in history as a very talented fighter, but one who was afraid to take risks. Great fighters are not afraid to take risks.
BERTO'S HEAVY BURDEN
It was with a heavy heart that WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto, a one-man boxing team for Haiti in the 2004 Olympics, withdrew from his unification bout with WBA champion Sugar Shane Mosley Jan. 30 because of the Haiti disaster.
It was the biggest fight of his life, the one he hoped would establish himself as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters today. But the fight paled next to the carnage wreaked by the 7.0 earthquake that hit the island.
"I have seen the pain in my parents' eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home," said Berto in a written statement.
Berto reportedly lost several relatives in the earthquake, but was relieved to hear that his sister, Naomi, and her daughter survived, though they are now homeless.
SILVER GLOVES CHAMP
Jose Ferrer, 11, of New Bedford reached the finals of the Eastern Regional Silver Gloves finals in New York last weekend before losing a very competitive bout to Mark Garcia of Brooklyn.
Competing in the 11-12-year-old class and representing the Heart Performance, Strength and Conditioning gym in New Bedford, Ferrer earlier won the New England championship at Manfredo's Gym in Pawtucket, R.I.
POIRIER LENDS HAND
Helping work the corner for boxers from the Fairhaven Martial Arts club in the ongoing Southern New England Golden Gloves Tournament at the PAL Hall in Fall River has been former New Bedford middleweight prospect Paul Poirier, who won the New England heavyweight title in a comeback that saw him fight former heavyweight champions Larry Holmes and Tony Tucker.
You can find more on Poirier by going to his website at PaulRocky.com.
RING SHORTS
It looks like former two-time heavyweight champion John "The Quiet Man" Ruiz of Chelsa, who recently signed a six-fight contract with Golden Boy Promotions, will get another title shot at age 38 in April, when he is scheduled to take on WBA champion David Haye in the latter's first title defense. . . Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade of Providence improved to 9-0 (7 KOs) with a first round TKO over Bernardo Guereca (15-10-1) in Laredo, Texas. . . In an interesting doubleheader on HBO Saturday night, WBO junior featherweight champion Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs) takes on WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KOs), while WBA interim featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa (15-0, 13 KOs) faces Rogers Mtagwa of Tanzania.
Bob Hanna covers boxing for The Standard-Times. Contact him at sports@s-t.com
Source: southcoasttoday.com
Thursday, 21 January 2010
USADA's Travis Tygart: Current drug testing done by state boxing commissions 'a joke' -- Grand Rapids Press
Grand Rapids Press
As chief executive of the United States Anti-Doping Association, Travis Tygart oversees operations for drug testing for all U.S.-based Olympic athletes. His organization's advocacy and practice of comprehensive, random blood and urine testing also came into play when Floyd Mayweather unsuccessfully sought such testing as a contractual tenet in the failed negotiation for a fight against Manny Pacquiao.
Grand Rapids Press columnist David Mayo interviewed Tygart this week, after breaking news that a Mayweather-Shane Mosley fight tentatively is ticketed for May 1 in Las Vegas. Mosley, in a leaked 2007 grand-jury testimony related to the federal BALCO investigation, acknowledged he had used EPO, "the cream," and "the clear," purchased from the infamous California laboratory.
The following is a complete transcript of the interview Tygart granted to Mayo:
Q: Have you ever spoken with anyone from the Mayweather side about this topic?
A: "Through the Mayweather-Pacquiao discussion, we talked with both camps on a number of occasions about the basics of an effective anti-doping program."
Q: How did the feedback you got from them differ, because, obviously, they had different perspectives on it?
A: "Out of respect for that process I don't want to go into a ton of detail. But it's safe to say that the Mayweather camp wanted the carte blanche, gold-standard program that we run, and the other side didn't want to do that."
Q: For so many years, it was perceived that, except for heavyweights, performance-enhancing drugs didn't make a lot of sense for most boxers, in a sport where you're trying to cut weight and make a minimal weight to perform, relative to punching power, at the highest level. Was that misguided?
A: "Absolutely. It amazes me. I'm not even sure how to respond to such a misperception. Where has the sport been for the past 10 years, seriously? Candidly, it's impossible for me to believe that that perception exists about the sport. I think it's easier to stick your head in the sand and just say 'We're not going to do anything about it.'
"When you've got 14-year-old in-line roller skaters doping, and you've got drugs like insulin, and human growth hormone, and designer steroids, and EPO, and transfusions, that would be extremely potent and effective for a boxer -- even one attempting to cut weight -- then you throw in the whole diuretics and masking agents, the things that you would use along with those drugs to assist you in cutting weight, it's a ripe area for a doper. Unchecked and unregulated, it's going to be no different than any other sport, and arguably even worse, given the combat nature of it, and the prizes that are at stake at the elite professional level."
Q: In fact, some performance-enhancers lean you out, don't they?
A: "The HGH, the ability to put on lean muscle mass, whether you're increasing your weight or decreasing your weight, these categories of drugs that are prohibited in sport in the Olympic world, on a relatively simple program, are extremely potent in order to do that -- to become the strongest, fittest, pound-for-pound best boxer, with the most punch, with very little expense or knowledge behind it."
Q: Shane Mosley obviously slipped through some cracks on urine testing alone in Nevada. ...
A: "Let me correct that premise for you. The current state of drug testing done by these state commissions is a joke. They don't test for EPO. They don't test for designer steroids. They test for a basic, simple menu that anybody with a heartbeat will escape. I just hate to hear that Shane Mosley did something really sophisticated to get around their testing. No, he didn't. He would've been caught dead to rights in our program. But it doesn't take a whole lot to sidestep the simple kind of drug testing that these state commissions are doing.
"Again, I hope it's familiarity, I hope it's knowledge, because part of the growth is for entities, but also athletes, to become knowledgable about these issues. If you're a clean athlete, or you're a sport organizer, promoter, state commission, whatever, if you want to protect clean athletes' rights, you're going to put in a clean program."
Q: And that includes both blood and urine testing?
A: "Blood and urine but it's got to be an effective urine program. Again, just a couple tests here and there that everyone knows about, or 72-hour notice that you're going to be tested, or 48-hour notice -- it has to be true, no-notice testing. And it has to be a broad menu of tests. And they don't test for EPO. What was reported on Mosley is that he was using EPO. And he could use it without regard for being caught because they weren't testing it -- and there is a urine-based test for most EPO. So you've got to start with an effective urine program and an effective blood program. And the reason, to answer your specific question, that you need to do blood is because there are certain, and several, potent performance-enhancers that are not detected in the urine. Of those, human growth hormone being one; HBOC, which is synthetic hemoglobin; certain forms of EPO, like Micera; and then, the transfusions."
Q: If you blood test, is urine testing necessary at all?
A: "Yes, because there are certain things that you're not going to find in the blood, that you can only find in urine, like most forms of EPO, steroids, designer steroids, insulin. You have to have a combination of the two. Look, I'd love to have one strand of hair. From a cost and logistical standpoint, the simpler whatever we collect, the better. Not that collecting blood and urine are difficult, but you have to have the proper procedures in place, and account for the shipping, and the state that you need the samples, once collected, to remain in a preserved state where they can be accurately analyzed. You can build those programs. It doesn't take much. We obviously would prefer the simplest mechanism possible. But just pulling a strand of hair is not effective to protect a clean athlete's rights because there is so much that can't be detected in hair, or saliva, or other things."
Q: What is the difference in cost -- because obviously, with most state commissions, you're dealing with tax-based, governmental agencies -- what's the difference in cost between a urine test and a blood test?
A: "There's not much. Incremental cost. It's certainly not cost-prohibitive and if you want to protect clean athletes, you'll put it in place. Take half of one percent of what these two boxers were going to generate, or make for themselves, and you've paid for a couple years of your program. I always hear that is a defense to not wanting it to be done, but it's really not. It's frankly a weak excuse not to protect clean athletes' rights."
Q: I'm sure you've become aware that Mayweather and Mosley are now targeting each other and now the Mayweather camp is saying that regardless who he fights in the future, they will be subject to blood testing as part of the contractual agreement. If Mosley had been tested in 2002, 2003, when he was using EPO, "the clear," "the cream," would an effective system have been in place, would the technology have been in place, to detect it back then?
A: "Yes. Assuming what's out there is accurate, he would've fit right in the same lines. While BALCO was on the cutting edge, the EPO was not. The minor steroids were, but those were eventually detected, and all those athletes -- what, 20-plus now, coaches and athletes in the Olympic movement -- have been brought to justice for their cheating through BALCO. And a number of the other professional athletes, baseball players, football players, while their sports didn't sanction them, they've been exposed. So the sport has to have rules to sanction for those cutting-edge-type of products. But when they do, like we demonstrated in the Olympic movement, they would have been held accountable."
Q: Obviously, this is a bit of an unusual situation where the athlete steps up and demands, on behalf of himself, that the sport -- maybe it's not unusual in your experience; maybe you can recall other instances of -- but certainly the first time some of Mayweather's stature, in his sport, demands enhanced testing; are you hopeful that this has some sort of a chain-reaction effect throughout boxing?
A: "Absolutely. The core of anti-doping is clean athletes' rights -- their right to participate in their sport, by the rules. We think there is no bigger injustice than when a clean athlete is robbed of all their hard work, and their dedication, and is cheated by an athlete using drugs against the rules. What's been behind not only our creation, in late 2000, but also our success, is that clean athletes say 'We want blood testing, we want you to spend money on research, we want you to save our samples, we want the inconveniences that come along with us being tested out of competition, without notice, because that is the only thing that will protect our right to compete on a level playing field."
Q: One other thing I wanted to touch base with you on -- when the Mayweather-Pacquiao discussions finally fell apart at the beginning of the month, it came down to a 10-day differential; Mayweather bent to 'I'll agree to 14 days prior to the event when there will be no blood testing,' and Pacquiao wouldn't go later than 24 days. Even if Mayweather had yielded to 24 days, what can an athlete do in 24 days? I mean, if you're clean 24 days before the fight, what can you do in the next 24 days that would have any impact on the fight whatsoever?
A: "The human growth hormone for sure, levels of testosterone, and other designer steroids. Sounds like you've got some information -- I'm not agreeing factually that was the difference, and I'm not disagreeing. But if that's the case, the other piece is that, prior to that 14-day or 24-day blackout period, what system was in place? Were you just using the Nevada, or the state of California, system? If that's the case, I'm not worried about the 14-day or the 24-day blackout period, I'm worried about the rest of it. If someone's telling you that's where it fell apart, I think you've got to add the follow-up, 'Well, what kind of testing was going to happen before the 14-day or the 24-day blackout period?' The 14-day period, I'm a lot less concerned about that than what you're doing in the two months before that 14-day period."
Q: If I had 72 hours, could I mask EPO?
A: "Yeah."
Q: If I knew it was coming, I could mask it?
A: "Yeah. Same with steroids."
Q: How quickly could I mask it? What's the shortest time frame, if I knew it was coming, that I could mask it?
A: "I mean, we do no notice. We literally show up, and knock on a door, and we find them."
Q: My question is, if I knew 20 hours before the test, would I have time to mask it? Six hours? One hour? What would it be?
A: "Yep, all that."
Q: If I knew 10 minutes before test, could I mask it?
A: "Yep. If you had some urine and a Whizzinator, 10 minutes before, you could mask it. If you had a catheter, which is not that tough to do, you could do it."
Q: What about blood testing? Could I mask it then?
A: "For transfusions, the 14 days is not going to give you much concern. The evidence of the transfusion will stay in your system longer than the 14 days. But the human growth hormone, for sure not."
Q: What do you read into the fact that Mayweather has decided to do this not just with Pacquiao, but with all future opponents?
A: "At the end of the day, our interest is the interests of clean athletes. So anyone, Mayweather or otherwise, who stands up and says 'I want the best program to protect my right to compete,' we're going to support him. Hopefully, it's a familiarity issue. It did come over the holidays, and relatively fast, but the commissions need to learn more about it. Hopefully, that will happen, and they'll be willing to keep an open mind, and hear from the experts, and do it day in and day out, as to what's going to be best to protect clean athletes. I hope a good legacy for boxing comes out of this because it shouldn't be as easy as it is, currently, to cheat and get away with it in the sport of boxing in the United States.
"For everyone, whether you wager, whether you're a fan, you ought to be disappointed if you're not getting what you pay for. So, hopefully, clean athletes, and those who value playing by the rules, will stand behind a Mayweather, and others, who hopefully will come forward and demand it."
Source: mlive.com
***
As chief executive of the United States Anti-Doping Association, Travis Tygart oversees operations for drug testing for all U.S.-based Olympic athletes. His organization's advocacy and practice of comprehensive, random blood and urine testing also came into play when Floyd Mayweather unsuccessfully sought such testing as a contractual tenet in the failed negotiation for a fight against Manny Pacquiao.
Grand Rapids Press columnist David Mayo interviewed Tygart this week, after breaking news that a Mayweather-Shane Mosley fight tentatively is ticketed for May 1 in Las Vegas. Mosley, in a leaked 2007 grand-jury testimony related to the federal BALCO investigation, acknowledged he had used EPO, "the cream," and "the clear," purchased from the infamous California laboratory.
The following is a complete transcript of the interview Tygart granted to Mayo:
Q: Have you ever spoken with anyone from the Mayweather side about this topic?
A: "Through the Mayweather-Pacquiao discussion, we talked with both camps on a number of occasions about the basics of an effective anti-doping program."
Q: How did the feedback you got from them differ, because, obviously, they had different perspectives on it?
A: "Out of respect for that process I don't want to go into a ton of detail. But it's safe to say that the Mayweather camp wanted the carte blanche, gold-standard program that we run, and the other side didn't want to do that."
Q: For so many years, it was perceived that, except for heavyweights, performance-enhancing drugs didn't make a lot of sense for most boxers, in a sport where you're trying to cut weight and make a minimal weight to perform, relative to punching power, at the highest level. Was that misguided?
A: "Absolutely. It amazes me. I'm not even sure how to respond to such a misperception. Where has the sport been for the past 10 years, seriously? Candidly, it's impossible for me to believe that that perception exists about the sport. I think it's easier to stick your head in the sand and just say 'We're not going to do anything about it.'
"When you've got 14-year-old in-line roller skaters doping, and you've got drugs like insulin, and human growth hormone, and designer steroids, and EPO, and transfusions, that would be extremely potent and effective for a boxer -- even one attempting to cut weight -- then you throw in the whole diuretics and masking agents, the things that you would use along with those drugs to assist you in cutting weight, it's a ripe area for a doper. Unchecked and unregulated, it's going to be no different than any other sport, and arguably even worse, given the combat nature of it, and the prizes that are at stake at the elite professional level."
Q: In fact, some performance-enhancers lean you out, don't they?
A: "The HGH, the ability to put on lean muscle mass, whether you're increasing your weight or decreasing your weight, these categories of drugs that are prohibited in sport in the Olympic world, on a relatively simple program, are extremely potent in order to do that -- to become the strongest, fittest, pound-for-pound best boxer, with the most punch, with very little expense or knowledge behind it."
Q: Shane Mosley obviously slipped through some cracks on urine testing alone in Nevada. ...
A: "Let me correct that premise for you. The current state of drug testing done by these state commissions is a joke. They don't test for EPO. They don't test for designer steroids. They test for a basic, simple menu that anybody with a heartbeat will escape. I just hate to hear that Shane Mosley did something really sophisticated to get around their testing. No, he didn't. He would've been caught dead to rights in our program. But it doesn't take a whole lot to sidestep the simple kind of drug testing that these state commissions are doing.
"Again, I hope it's familiarity, I hope it's knowledge, because part of the growth is for entities, but also athletes, to become knowledgable about these issues. If you're a clean athlete, or you're a sport organizer, promoter, state commission, whatever, if you want to protect clean athletes' rights, you're going to put in a clean program."
Q: And that includes both blood and urine testing?
A: "Blood and urine but it's got to be an effective urine program. Again, just a couple tests here and there that everyone knows about, or 72-hour notice that you're going to be tested, or 48-hour notice -- it has to be true, no-notice testing. And it has to be a broad menu of tests. And they don't test for EPO. What was reported on Mosley is that he was using EPO. And he could use it without regard for being caught because they weren't testing it -- and there is a urine-based test for most EPO. So you've got to start with an effective urine program and an effective blood program. And the reason, to answer your specific question, that you need to do blood is because there are certain, and several, potent performance-enhancers that are not detected in the urine. Of those, human growth hormone being one; HBOC, which is synthetic hemoglobin; certain forms of EPO, like Micera; and then, the transfusions."
Q: If you blood test, is urine testing necessary at all?
A: "Yes, because there are certain things that you're not going to find in the blood, that you can only find in urine, like most forms of EPO, steroids, designer steroids, insulin. You have to have a combination of the two. Look, I'd love to have one strand of hair. From a cost and logistical standpoint, the simpler whatever we collect, the better. Not that collecting blood and urine are difficult, but you have to have the proper procedures in place, and account for the shipping, and the state that you need the samples, once collected, to remain in a preserved state where they can be accurately analyzed. You can build those programs. It doesn't take much. We obviously would prefer the simplest mechanism possible. But just pulling a strand of hair is not effective to protect a clean athlete's rights because there is so much that can't be detected in hair, or saliva, or other things."
Q: What is the difference in cost -- because obviously, with most state commissions, you're dealing with tax-based, governmental agencies -- what's the difference in cost between a urine test and a blood test?
A: "There's not much. Incremental cost. It's certainly not cost-prohibitive and if you want to protect clean athletes, you'll put it in place. Take half of one percent of what these two boxers were going to generate, or make for themselves, and you've paid for a couple years of your program. I always hear that is a defense to not wanting it to be done, but it's really not. It's frankly a weak excuse not to protect clean athletes' rights."
Q: I'm sure you've become aware that Mayweather and Mosley are now targeting each other and now the Mayweather camp is saying that regardless who he fights in the future, they will be subject to blood testing as part of the contractual agreement. If Mosley had been tested in 2002, 2003, when he was using EPO, "the clear," "the cream," would an effective system have been in place, would the technology have been in place, to detect it back then?
A: "Yes. Assuming what's out there is accurate, he would've fit right in the same lines. While BALCO was on the cutting edge, the EPO was not. The minor steroids were, but those were eventually detected, and all those athletes -- what, 20-plus now, coaches and athletes in the Olympic movement -- have been brought to justice for their cheating through BALCO. And a number of the other professional athletes, baseball players, football players, while their sports didn't sanction them, they've been exposed. So the sport has to have rules to sanction for those cutting-edge-type of products. But when they do, like we demonstrated in the Olympic movement, they would have been held accountable."
Q: Obviously, this is a bit of an unusual situation where the athlete steps up and demands, on behalf of himself, that the sport -- maybe it's not unusual in your experience; maybe you can recall other instances of -- but certainly the first time some of Mayweather's stature, in his sport, demands enhanced testing; are you hopeful that this has some sort of a chain-reaction effect throughout boxing?
A: "Absolutely. The core of anti-doping is clean athletes' rights -- their right to participate in their sport, by the rules. We think there is no bigger injustice than when a clean athlete is robbed of all their hard work, and their dedication, and is cheated by an athlete using drugs against the rules. What's been behind not only our creation, in late 2000, but also our success, is that clean athletes say 'We want blood testing, we want you to spend money on research, we want you to save our samples, we want the inconveniences that come along with us being tested out of competition, without notice, because that is the only thing that will protect our right to compete on a level playing field."
Q: One other thing I wanted to touch base with you on -- when the Mayweather-Pacquiao discussions finally fell apart at the beginning of the month, it came down to a 10-day differential; Mayweather bent to 'I'll agree to 14 days prior to the event when there will be no blood testing,' and Pacquiao wouldn't go later than 24 days. Even if Mayweather had yielded to 24 days, what can an athlete do in 24 days? I mean, if you're clean 24 days before the fight, what can you do in the next 24 days that would have any impact on the fight whatsoever?
A: "The human growth hormone for sure, levels of testosterone, and other designer steroids. Sounds like you've got some information -- I'm not agreeing factually that was the difference, and I'm not disagreeing. But if that's the case, the other piece is that, prior to that 14-day or 24-day blackout period, what system was in place? Were you just using the Nevada, or the state of California, system? If that's the case, I'm not worried about the 14-day or the 24-day blackout period, I'm worried about the rest of it. If someone's telling you that's where it fell apart, I think you've got to add the follow-up, 'Well, what kind of testing was going to happen before the 14-day or the 24-day blackout period?' The 14-day period, I'm a lot less concerned about that than what you're doing in the two months before that 14-day period."
Q: If I had 72 hours, could I mask EPO?
A: "Yeah."
Q: If I knew it was coming, I could mask it?
A: "Yeah. Same with steroids."
Q: How quickly could I mask it? What's the shortest time frame, if I knew it was coming, that I could mask it?
A: "I mean, we do no notice. We literally show up, and knock on a door, and we find them."
Q: My question is, if I knew 20 hours before the test, would I have time to mask it? Six hours? One hour? What would it be?
A: "Yep, all that."
Q: If I knew 10 minutes before test, could I mask it?
A: "Yep. If you had some urine and a Whizzinator, 10 minutes before, you could mask it. If you had a catheter, which is not that tough to do, you could do it."
Q: What about blood testing? Could I mask it then?
A: "For transfusions, the 14 days is not going to give you much concern. The evidence of the transfusion will stay in your system longer than the 14 days. But the human growth hormone, for sure not."
Q: What do you read into the fact that Mayweather has decided to do this not just with Pacquiao, but with all future opponents?
A: "At the end of the day, our interest is the interests of clean athletes. So anyone, Mayweather or otherwise, who stands up and says 'I want the best program to protect my right to compete,' we're going to support him. Hopefully, it's a familiarity issue. It did come over the holidays, and relatively fast, but the commissions need to learn more about it. Hopefully, that will happen, and they'll be willing to keep an open mind, and hear from the experts, and do it day in and day out, as to what's going to be best to protect clean athletes. I hope a good legacy for boxing comes out of this because it shouldn't be as easy as it is, currently, to cheat and get away with it in the sport of boxing in the United States.
"For everyone, whether you wager, whether you're a fan, you ought to be disappointed if you're not getting what you pay for. So, hopefully, clean athletes, and those who value playing by the rules, will stand behind a Mayweather, and others, who hopefully will come forward and demand it."
Source: mlive.com
***
Feeble replacement for Pacquiao-Mayweather -- New York Post
By Jay Greenberg, New York Post
The quality of the opponent defines the quality of the reputation.
Muhammad Ali was soooo good and so fortunate to have fought not only three epics with Joe Frazier, but also a legendary match with the guy who stunningly took Smokin' Joe down, George Foreman. We suspect Larry Holmes was much better than is his legend, just don't know how all-time he was because the accident of birth put him in front of a shell of an Ali and not much else.
How much better did Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran make Ray Leonard, and how much did we pay to find out? So what is Floyd Mayweather Jr. thinking in demanding unscheduled, Olympic-level, blood testing of himself and Manny Pacquiao? And why is Pacquiao filing a defamation suit instead of jumping at an opportunity of more than most lifetimes?
"I filed suit because it's not true, what he's accusing me," Pacquiao said yesterday at a Madison Square Garden press conference hyping a March 13 fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, against Joshua Clottey that no one even previously thought of, never mind wants. "I want to clean my name."
Then take however many tests, pass them and be hailed the best-pound-for-pound fighter since perhaps Leonard by handing the seemingly untouchable Mayweather his first defeat.
Whatever Mayweather's motivation -- his stated distrust of how easily Pacquiao has won titles in seven different weight classes, fear of defeat, building hype toward a matchup that remains inevitable, or just plain, old arrogance -- the fact remains he is asking for the most foolproof drug testing in existence.
"I did [blood testing] the day of my fight against Erik Morales and I lost because my body felt so weak," Pacquiao said.
Said his trainer, Freddie Roach: "If we give blood 14 days before a fight, Days 13 and 12 would be missed sparring days close to the fight.
"Some people pass out when they give blood. They give cookies [to donors] because they feel they need something in their systems. I always feel fine, but when Manny gives blood, he feels weak for about two days."
Pacquiao could not possibly have become as weak as these excuses.
"It is such a small amount of blood it would have zero impact," said Dr. Gary Wadler, Chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Prohibited List and Methods Sub-Committee. "It's like one test tube of blood, which is a needle in the haystack.
"The whole world has signed on for this except the major U.S. sports. If you know when [testers] are coming, people have used a variety of devices and means to beat the tests."
Among those devices have been the outraged denials of Marion Jones and Rafael Palmeiro. Shane Mosley has passed every urine test, like Pacquiao, yet has confessed to using the same BALCO specialties -- The Cream and The Clear -- that helped send Jones, Tim Montgomery and their lies to prison.
"The Mayweather camp wants everything their way," huffed Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter. "We're willing to make the fight but we're not going to put up with the nonsense.
"And I certainly am not going to put up with ignorant writers and others saying, 'He asked for the test, take the test.' And if they asked you to jump down Broadway on one foot . . .?
"Who the hell is he?"
But who was compelled to speak such nonsense because the fight that fell through was exponentially more interesting than the one Arum was trying to promote yesterday? That's nonsensical for a sport that can't put together its most compelling matchup in decades.
jay.greenberg@nypost.com
Source: nypost.com
The quality of the opponent defines the quality of the reputation.
Muhammad Ali was soooo good and so fortunate to have fought not only three epics with Joe Frazier, but also a legendary match with the guy who stunningly took Smokin' Joe down, George Foreman. We suspect Larry Holmes was much better than is his legend, just don't know how all-time he was because the accident of birth put him in front of a shell of an Ali and not much else.
How much better did Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran make Ray Leonard, and how much did we pay to find out? So what is Floyd Mayweather Jr. thinking in demanding unscheduled, Olympic-level, blood testing of himself and Manny Pacquiao? And why is Pacquiao filing a defamation suit instead of jumping at an opportunity of more than most lifetimes?
"I filed suit because it's not true, what he's accusing me," Pacquiao said yesterday at a Madison Square Garden press conference hyping a March 13 fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, against Joshua Clottey that no one even previously thought of, never mind wants. "I want to clean my name."
Then take however many tests, pass them and be hailed the best-pound-for-pound fighter since perhaps Leonard by handing the seemingly untouchable Mayweather his first defeat.
Whatever Mayweather's motivation -- his stated distrust of how easily Pacquiao has won titles in seven different weight classes, fear of defeat, building hype toward a matchup that remains inevitable, or just plain, old arrogance -- the fact remains he is asking for the most foolproof drug testing in existence.
"I did [blood testing] the day of my fight against Erik Morales and I lost because my body felt so weak," Pacquiao said.
Said his trainer, Freddie Roach: "If we give blood 14 days before a fight, Days 13 and 12 would be missed sparring days close to the fight.
"Some people pass out when they give blood. They give cookies [to donors] because they feel they need something in their systems. I always feel fine, but when Manny gives blood, he feels weak for about two days."
Pacquiao could not possibly have become as weak as these excuses.
"It is such a small amount of blood it would have zero impact," said Dr. Gary Wadler, Chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Prohibited List and Methods Sub-Committee. "It's like one test tube of blood, which is a needle in the haystack.
"The whole world has signed on for this except the major U.S. sports. If you know when [testers] are coming, people have used a variety of devices and means to beat the tests."
Among those devices have been the outraged denials of Marion Jones and Rafael Palmeiro. Shane Mosley has passed every urine test, like Pacquiao, yet has confessed to using the same BALCO specialties -- The Cream and The Clear -- that helped send Jones, Tim Montgomery and their lies to prison.
"The Mayweather camp wants everything their way," huffed Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter. "We're willing to make the fight but we're not going to put up with the nonsense.
"And I certainly am not going to put up with ignorant writers and others saying, 'He asked for the test, take the test.' And if they asked you to jump down Broadway on one foot . . .?
"Who the hell is he?"
But who was compelled to speak such nonsense because the fight that fell through was exponentially more interesting than the one Arum was trying to promote yesterday? That's nonsensical for a sport that can't put together its most compelling matchup in decades.
jay.greenberg@nypost.com
Source: nypost.com
Manny invincible, says ex-cutman -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
NEW YORK — A former member of Team Pacquiao who now works for Joshua Clottey conceded Wednesday that Manny Pacquiao is invincible and “that the only guy who can beat Pacquiao is Pacquiao himself.”
Lenny De Jesus, who worked in Pacquiao’s corner as cutman for five fights from 2003 until 2005, however, said the Ghana banger can take a (good) shot.”
“If he (Pacquiao) does not catch us early, then we can make it a tough fight (for Pacquiao),” said De Jesus, who was on hand when Pacquiao and Clottey were presented by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum during a press conference at Madison Square Garden to promote the fight set March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
De Jesus was in Pacquiao’s corner against Emmanuel Lucero, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Fahsan 3K Battery and in the first fight with Erik Morales.
“I have always felt that Pacquiao is a special fighter and that he is a throwback from the old days when fighters were true fighters,” added De Jesus, who was brought into Pacquiao’s camp when Murad Muhammad was still calling the shots for the boxer regarded today as the best in the world pound-for-pound.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao was as busy as a bee all day after the press conference as he did a photo shoot for GQ magazine, granted an interview with CNN, signed 200 gloves and pictures before being whisked to a studio for another round of video and audio shoots this time to film promotional materials for HBO.
By the time he left New York for Los Angeles on a private plane with trainer Freddie Roach, adviser Mike Koncz, lawyer Franklin Gacal and training assistant Roger Fernandez, it was already 8:30 p.m.
Roach wants Pacquiao to start training camp Friday afternoon at the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Source: mb.com.ph
NEW YORK — A former member of Team Pacquiao who now works for Joshua Clottey conceded Wednesday that Manny Pacquiao is invincible and “that the only guy who can beat Pacquiao is Pacquiao himself.”
Lenny De Jesus, who worked in Pacquiao’s corner as cutman for five fights from 2003 until 2005, however, said the Ghana banger can take a (good) shot.”
“If he (Pacquiao) does not catch us early, then we can make it a tough fight (for Pacquiao),” said De Jesus, who was on hand when Pacquiao and Clottey were presented by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum during a press conference at Madison Square Garden to promote the fight set March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
De Jesus was in Pacquiao’s corner against Emmanuel Lucero, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Fahsan 3K Battery and in the first fight with Erik Morales.
“I have always felt that Pacquiao is a special fighter and that he is a throwback from the old days when fighters were true fighters,” added De Jesus, who was brought into Pacquiao’s camp when Murad Muhammad was still calling the shots for the boxer regarded today as the best in the world pound-for-pound.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao was as busy as a bee all day after the press conference as he did a photo shoot for GQ magazine, granted an interview with CNN, signed 200 gloves and pictures before being whisked to a studio for another round of video and audio shoots this time to film promotional materials for HBO.
By the time he left New York for Los Angeles on a private plane with trainer Freddie Roach, adviser Mike Koncz, lawyer Franklin Gacal and training assistant Roger Fernandez, it was already 8:30 p.m.
Roach wants Pacquiao to start training camp Friday afternoon at the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Source: mb.com.ph
KEITH KIZER CLEARS DE LA HOYA -- PhilBoxing
By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com
The Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission has effectively cleared “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya of insinuations that he may have been on performance enhancing drugs before fights against Bernard Hopkins and Felix “Tito” Trinidad.
Kizer was responding to questions we posed following an article by award-winning boxing writer and lawyer Thomas Hauser.
In the lengthy article spurred by the random blood testing controversy which scuttled the mega fight between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr and unsubstantiated allegations by Golden Boy Promotions and the Mayweather camp that Pacquiao was on performance enhancing drugs, Hauser challenged De La Hoya on the drug issue.
Hauser asked De La Hoya himself to set an example and “show the world how a righteous PED-free fighter acts.”
Hauser said that in order to duly inform the public on the issues involved “and remove any hint of suspicion that he himself might not have clean hands” he said De La Hoya “should waive his right to confidentiality and authorize the Nevada State Athletic Commission to release the results of any tests for performance enhancing drugs that he has taken in the past. The same waiver should authorize all present and past NSAC personnel and any other person with knowledge of the situation to discuss the test results with any media representative who inquires about them.”
In response to our question on whether the results of tests taken are confidential or were confidential at the time De La Hoya was a fighter, Kizer said “all these tests are public and every test was negative for PED’s (performance enhancing drugs.)”
Asked whether the NSAC needs a waiver from De La Hoya or any fighter for that matter to reveal the results, Kizer responded “No – I have no idea what Mr. Hauser is referring to or why he would make such an implication.”
Source: philboxing.com
The Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission has effectively cleared “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya of insinuations that he may have been on performance enhancing drugs before fights against Bernard Hopkins and Felix “Tito” Trinidad.
Kizer was responding to questions we posed following an article by award-winning boxing writer and lawyer Thomas Hauser.
In the lengthy article spurred by the random blood testing controversy which scuttled the mega fight between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr and unsubstantiated allegations by Golden Boy Promotions and the Mayweather camp that Pacquiao was on performance enhancing drugs, Hauser challenged De La Hoya on the drug issue.
Hauser asked De La Hoya himself to set an example and “show the world how a righteous PED-free fighter acts.”
Hauser said that in order to duly inform the public on the issues involved “and remove any hint of suspicion that he himself might not have clean hands” he said De La Hoya “should waive his right to confidentiality and authorize the Nevada State Athletic Commission to release the results of any tests for performance enhancing drugs that he has taken in the past. The same waiver should authorize all present and past NSAC personnel and any other person with knowledge of the situation to discuss the test results with any media representative who inquires about them.”
In response to our question on whether the results of tests taken are confidential or were confidential at the time De La Hoya was a fighter, Kizer said “all these tests are public and every test was negative for PED’s (performance enhancing drugs.)”
Asked whether the NSAC needs a waiver from De La Hoya or any fighter for that matter to reveal the results, Kizer responded “No – I have no idea what Mr. Hauser is referring to or why he would make such an implication.”
Source: philboxing.com
Manny Pacquiao to battle Joshua Clottey amid cloud of performance-enhancing drugs -- New York Daily News
By Mitch Abramson, New York Daily News
In the ring, Manny Pacquiao is nearly indestructible. The Filipino fighter has stockpiled seven titles in as many weight classes. But Pacquiao is less durable outside the ropes, and he admits to being hurt by Floyd Mayweather Sr.'s claims that he took performance-enhancing drugs.
"I don't want people thinking that I cheated," he said. "I'm an honest fighter."
Pacquiao refused Olympic-style drug testing as a condition to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., a stipulation that ultimately torpedoed the fight.
"People now think that we're trying to hide something," said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer. "It hurt him a little bit."
Pacquiao spent part of Wednesday's press conference at the Garden to promote his March 13 welterweight clash with Joshua Clottey of the Bronx denying that he is a drug user.
Pacquiao has never failed a drug test.
"I'm disappointed that (the Mayweathers) had to say those things, but all that stuff isn't true," Pacquiao told the Daily News. "I never took anything like he's saying. I just want to show all my fans that I'm clean and I'm not cheating."
In December, Pacquiao filed a defamation suit in federal court in Las Vegas against the Mayweathers. He is said to be seeking damages in excess of $75,000, plus punitive damages.
Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, said it was the randomness of the drug testing that made his fighter uneasy.
Pacquiao gave two vials of blood the day before he fought Erik Morales in 2005 and lost a decision. He has won 11 fights since.
"He said he felt weak going into that fight because of the blood test," Roach said. "And they couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't be tested a day before the (Mayweather) fight."
Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, does not believe Pacquiao's standing has been damaged. The cable giant decided to broadcast the Clottey bout, which will take place at new Cowboys Stadium, on Pay-Per-View after an 11th-hour negotiation with Arum on Tuesday.
"In a weird way, all the attention that this has gotten will help Mayweather and Pac Man when they eventually fight," Greenburg said. "Other than Tiger Woods, nobody has knocked them out in terms of media attention."
Source: nydailynews.com
***
In the ring, Manny Pacquiao is nearly indestructible. The Filipino fighter has stockpiled seven titles in as many weight classes. But Pacquiao is less durable outside the ropes, and he admits to being hurt by Floyd Mayweather Sr.'s claims that he took performance-enhancing drugs.
"I don't want people thinking that I cheated," he said. "I'm an honest fighter."
Pacquiao refused Olympic-style drug testing as a condition to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., a stipulation that ultimately torpedoed the fight.
"People now think that we're trying to hide something," said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer. "It hurt him a little bit."
Pacquiao spent part of Wednesday's press conference at the Garden to promote his March 13 welterweight clash with Joshua Clottey of the Bronx denying that he is a drug user.
Pacquiao has never failed a drug test.
"I'm disappointed that (the Mayweathers) had to say those things, but all that stuff isn't true," Pacquiao told the Daily News. "I never took anything like he's saying. I just want to show all my fans that I'm clean and I'm not cheating."
In December, Pacquiao filed a defamation suit in federal court in Las Vegas against the Mayweathers. He is said to be seeking damages in excess of $75,000, plus punitive damages.
Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, said it was the randomness of the drug testing that made his fighter uneasy.
Pacquiao gave two vials of blood the day before he fought Erik Morales in 2005 and lost a decision. He has won 11 fights since.
"He said he felt weak going into that fight because of the blood test," Roach said. "And they couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't be tested a day before the (Mayweather) fight."
Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, does not believe Pacquiao's standing has been damaged. The cable giant decided to broadcast the Clottey bout, which will take place at new Cowboys Stadium, on Pay-Per-View after an 11th-hour negotiation with Arum on Tuesday.
"In a weird way, all the attention that this has gotten will help Mayweather and Pac Man when they eventually fight," Greenburg said. "Other than Tiger Woods, nobody has knocked them out in terms of media attention."
Source: nydailynews.com
***
Sub-text to Pacquiao-Clottey is Khan-Hatton -- Telegraph
By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
After the bathos of a collapsing house of cards surrounding drug-testing disagreements between the respective camps of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, the gloom lifts slightly.
Although the main pugilistic press event across the pond in the last 24 hours was to promote Manny Pacquiao’s next grievous assault on Ghanaian Joshua Clottey, the sub-text from coach Freddie Roach yesterday was ramping up Amir Khan’s prospects of a contest with weather-worn Mancunian Ricky Hatton.
Boxing lurches from the blue to the red corner in imponderables at times, the rags to riches tales of exponents simply a colour pallet to the complexities that go on above many of the fighters’ heads. Mayweather-Pacquiao had the world expectant, and then punched us square in the jaw. Then the cards collapsed. Bob Arum’s early pronouncement that the super-fight had been made was too good to be true. Now, as ever, the long wait…
But after the smokescreens, Pacquiao – in spite of facing an African opponent on March 13 – insisted yesterday that he believes the contest with Mayweather, expected to gross $200 million and outsell all pay per view buys in history, will happen later this year. Let’s hope so.
But Pacquiao must remain mindful that Clottey will not concur with such a script. Mayweather will toy with Pacquiao’s mind if he should end up as damaged goods against Clottey. Beware the Ides of March, O Filipino idol. Plus, in May, there is the distracting force, of the Philippine elections, in which the boxing whirlwind continues to insist he will meet his next extra-mural challenge.
Yet the undercurrents are now beginning to take shape. Khan’s move under the banner of Golden Boy Promotions can only hasten, according to Freddie Roach, the prospect of a showdown with Hatton, currently in Australia, drinking deep in sunshine.
I spoke with Khan’s father, Shah, yesterday, who told Telegraph Sport that the contest with Marcos Maidana, the mandatory challenger to the Boltonian’s WBA 140lb crown, is not yet decided, in spite of profligate reports to the contrary on internet forums this week. The news was viral, simply based on a WBA statement. Read between the lines. All that statement said was that purse bids were off.
Khan, based in Los Angeles at Roach’s Wild Card Gym, may put his title on the line against Maidana in April, possibly on the 10th, maybe on the 17th, undercarding on the second date beneath Bernard Hopkins. But watch this space.
On that note, it could mean a congested April boxing schedule for Britain’s world champions. David Haye is slated to defend the WBA heavyweight title against John Ruiz on April 3, in the UK, with Carl Froch putting his WBC supermiddleweight title on the table against Mikkel Kessler in Denmark on April 17.
Back on the Golden Boy-Khan axis, I understand there are reservations about Maidana on two fronts. Golden Boy Promotions want Khan’s US debut against “a name” the American public recognises, and against whom Home Box Office can raise the curtain with the launch of a new star.
Maidana may not, for them, have the necessary stripes to his name. Moreover, Roach, in brazen honesty, has concerns about Maidana’s style (26 knockouts in 27 outings), having told Telegraph Sport over the New Year that the Argentinian may be a poor match for Khan at this stage in his career. Brazen. Yes. For Khan might be a world champion, but he is far from the finished article. Roach says Khan is only halfway there.
It is boxing’s raw protectionism, which generates debate, and yet which has been a part of the sport since men licensed to duke it out raised both hands to their chins.
With Khan having left British promoter Frank Warren’s stable to sign with Oscar de la Hoya’s promotional firm, Roach expects an all-British fight with Hatton to be assembled with alacrity.
“Yes, 100 per cent and it’s going to be a good fight. Ricky asked me if I would train him when I was in the UK the last time and Ricky’s a good guy but I can’t say I think he should retire one moment and then train him in the next, so I won’t be training Ricky. But if he is going to fight again I would like Amir to fight him, yes.”
As for Khan’s move to Golden Boy, Roach said: “I think it’s a very good move. They’re good operators and he’s happy with so as long as he’s happy with it I think it’s a good move. Golden Boy has options on Maidana,” Roach said. “We want to build that fight up and make it bigger. Maidana’s a good fighter.”
A good fighter. And right now, possibly a step too far for Khan. But in Roach’s view, Khan’s perfect warm-up would be to dazzle in the lights against Hatton. Khan, even now, may have far too much speed and youthful zest for his fellow Lancastrian.
Golden Boy will announce Khan’s next move soon, at a press conference in the UK – before the 23-year-old sets off for his next 8-week training camp in California, under the watchful shadow of Roach. Intriguing times…
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
After the bathos of a collapsing house of cards surrounding drug-testing disagreements between the respective camps of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, the gloom lifts slightly.
Although the main pugilistic press event across the pond in the last 24 hours was to promote Manny Pacquiao’s next grievous assault on Ghanaian Joshua Clottey, the sub-text from coach Freddie Roach yesterday was ramping up Amir Khan’s prospects of a contest with weather-worn Mancunian Ricky Hatton.
Boxing lurches from the blue to the red corner in imponderables at times, the rags to riches tales of exponents simply a colour pallet to the complexities that go on above many of the fighters’ heads. Mayweather-Pacquiao had the world expectant, and then punched us square in the jaw. Then the cards collapsed. Bob Arum’s early pronouncement that the super-fight had been made was too good to be true. Now, as ever, the long wait…
But after the smokescreens, Pacquiao – in spite of facing an African opponent on March 13 – insisted yesterday that he believes the contest with Mayweather, expected to gross $200 million and outsell all pay per view buys in history, will happen later this year. Let’s hope so.
But Pacquiao must remain mindful that Clottey will not concur with such a script. Mayweather will toy with Pacquiao’s mind if he should end up as damaged goods against Clottey. Beware the Ides of March, O Filipino idol. Plus, in May, there is the distracting force, of the Philippine elections, in which the boxing whirlwind continues to insist he will meet his next extra-mural challenge.
Yet the undercurrents are now beginning to take shape. Khan’s move under the banner of Golden Boy Promotions can only hasten, according to Freddie Roach, the prospect of a showdown with Hatton, currently in Australia, drinking deep in sunshine.
I spoke with Khan’s father, Shah, yesterday, who told Telegraph Sport that the contest with Marcos Maidana, the mandatory challenger to the Boltonian’s WBA 140lb crown, is not yet decided, in spite of profligate reports to the contrary on internet forums this week. The news was viral, simply based on a WBA statement. Read between the lines. All that statement said was that purse bids were off.
Khan, based in Los Angeles at Roach’s Wild Card Gym, may put his title on the line against Maidana in April, possibly on the 10th, maybe on the 17th, undercarding on the second date beneath Bernard Hopkins. But watch this space.
On that note, it could mean a congested April boxing schedule for Britain’s world champions. David Haye is slated to defend the WBA heavyweight title against John Ruiz on April 3, in the UK, with Carl Froch putting his WBC supermiddleweight title on the table against Mikkel Kessler in Denmark on April 17.
Back on the Golden Boy-Khan axis, I understand there are reservations about Maidana on two fronts. Golden Boy Promotions want Khan’s US debut against “a name” the American public recognises, and against whom Home Box Office can raise the curtain with the launch of a new star.
Maidana may not, for them, have the necessary stripes to his name. Moreover, Roach, in brazen honesty, has concerns about Maidana’s style (26 knockouts in 27 outings), having told Telegraph Sport over the New Year that the Argentinian may be a poor match for Khan at this stage in his career. Brazen. Yes. For Khan might be a world champion, but he is far from the finished article. Roach says Khan is only halfway there.
It is boxing’s raw protectionism, which generates debate, and yet which has been a part of the sport since men licensed to duke it out raised both hands to their chins.
With Khan having left British promoter Frank Warren’s stable to sign with Oscar de la Hoya’s promotional firm, Roach expects an all-British fight with Hatton to be assembled with alacrity.
“Yes, 100 per cent and it’s going to be a good fight. Ricky asked me if I would train him when I was in the UK the last time and Ricky’s a good guy but I can’t say I think he should retire one moment and then train him in the next, so I won’t be training Ricky. But if he is going to fight again I would like Amir to fight him, yes.”
As for Khan’s move to Golden Boy, Roach said: “I think it’s a very good move. They’re good operators and he’s happy with so as long as he’s happy with it I think it’s a good move. Golden Boy has options on Maidana,” Roach said. “We want to build that fight up and make it bigger. Maidana’s a good fighter.”
A good fighter. And right now, possibly a step too far for Khan. But in Roach’s view, Khan’s perfect warm-up would be to dazzle in the lights against Hatton. Khan, even now, may have far too much speed and youthful zest for his fellow Lancastrian.
Golden Boy will announce Khan’s next move soon, at a press conference in the UK – before the 23-year-old sets off for his next 8-week training camp in California, under the watchful shadow of Roach. Intriguing times…
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Manny Pacquiao: Mayweather's 'scared to lose' -- Grand Rapids Press
By Josh Slagter, The Grand Rapids Press
Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey spent the past two days in Dallas and New York at news conferences promoting their March 13 fight at Cowboys Stadium. But it's no surprise reporters peppered Pacquiao about the failed negotiations with Floyd Mayweather.
"He didn't want to fight me," Pacquiao told reporters. "I think maybe Mayweather is scared to lose."
Mayweather and Pacquiao couldn't agree to terms on random drug testing. Mayweather wanted Olympic-style random drug and urine testing and eventually proposed a 14-day cutoff before the fight, which Pacquiao rejected.
Mayweather has turned his attention to Shane Mosley for a potential May fight in Las Vegas. His adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, told The Press that random drug testing will be part of all of Mayweather's future fights.
Despite the war of words between the Mayweather and Pacquiao camps, the Filipino star didn't dismiss the chance of talks being revived later this year.
"I'm still hoping the fight will be pushed through, maybe by summer time," he said. "It would be a good fight if it happened."
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, still thinks the megafight is a possibility.
"I think it's going to happen," Roach told reporters. "I think it's likely. Maybe Mayweather is up to doing this to get more press, I don't know.
"Life goes on without Mayweather," Roach added. "I want to beat this guy's ass, believe me, but he won't give us the opportunity. We will fight him any day of the week. But he doesn't make the rules."
Top Rank's Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, still maintains he'll only listen to the Nevada Athletic Commission when it comes to testing stipulations.
"If Mayweather wants to fight Manny, it will have to be under the rules of the commission that governs the fight," Arum said flatly. "You cannot have fighters in this sport imposing regulatory restrictions on other fighters because they damn well please.
"That is chaotic. Nobody in their right mind should allow that to happen, whether it's Mayweather or God knows who else."
E-mail Josh Slagter at jslagter@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JoshSlagter
Source: mlive.com
***
Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey spent the past two days in Dallas and New York at news conferences promoting their March 13 fight at Cowboys Stadium. But it's no surprise reporters peppered Pacquiao about the failed negotiations with Floyd Mayweather.
"He didn't want to fight me," Pacquiao told reporters. "I think maybe Mayweather is scared to lose."
Mayweather and Pacquiao couldn't agree to terms on random drug testing. Mayweather wanted Olympic-style random drug and urine testing and eventually proposed a 14-day cutoff before the fight, which Pacquiao rejected.
Mayweather has turned his attention to Shane Mosley for a potential May fight in Las Vegas. His adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, told The Press that random drug testing will be part of all of Mayweather's future fights.
Despite the war of words between the Mayweather and Pacquiao camps, the Filipino star didn't dismiss the chance of talks being revived later this year.
"I'm still hoping the fight will be pushed through, maybe by summer time," he said. "It would be a good fight if it happened."
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, still thinks the megafight is a possibility.
"I think it's going to happen," Roach told reporters. "I think it's likely. Maybe Mayweather is up to doing this to get more press, I don't know.
"Life goes on without Mayweather," Roach added. "I want to beat this guy's ass, believe me, but he won't give us the opportunity. We will fight him any day of the week. But he doesn't make the rules."
Top Rank's Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, still maintains he'll only listen to the Nevada Athletic Commission when it comes to testing stipulations.
"If Mayweather wants to fight Manny, it will have to be under the rules of the commission that governs the fight," Arum said flatly. "You cannot have fighters in this sport imposing regulatory restrictions on other fighters because they damn well please.
"That is chaotic. Nobody in their right mind should allow that to happen, whether it's Mayweather or God knows who else."
E-mail Josh Slagter at jslagter@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JoshSlagter
Source: mlive.com
***
Photos: Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey News Conference at Dallas Cowboys Stadium (Part 2)
Boxing News World
Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, poses for photographs after accepting the WBO welterweight championship belt during a press conference to promote an upcoming fight against Joshua Clottey on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, in New York. Pacquiao will fight Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arltington, Texas, on Saturday March 13. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Joshua Clottey, right, of Ghanna, right, and champion Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, attend a press conference to promote their upcoming fight onWednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, in New York. Pacquiao will fight Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arltington, Texas, on Saturday March 13. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, looks on during a press conference to promote an upcoming fight against Joshua Clottey on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010 in New York. Pacquiao will fight Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arltington, Texas, on Saturday March 13. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Joshua Clottey, of Ghanna, responds to questions uring a news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, in New York, to promote an upcoming fight against champion Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao will fight Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arltington, Texas, on Saturday March 13. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach responds to questions during a news interview before a news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, in New York, to promote Pacquiao's upcoming fight against Joshua Clottey. Pacquiao will fight Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arltington, Texas, on Saturday March 13. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
World welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (L) of the Philippines and former world welterweight champion Joshua Clottey of Ghana pose for photographers at the conclusion of a news conference in New York City January 20, 2010. The conference was held to announce their fight which will take place at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
Champion Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, poses for a photograph during a news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, in New York, to promote an upcoming fight against Joshua Clottey . Pacquiao will fight Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arltington, Texas, on Saturday March 13. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Champion Manny Pacquiao, right, of the Philippines, talks with his trainer Freddie Roach, left, during a news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, in New York, to promote an upcoming fight against Joshua Clottey . Pacquiao will fight Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arltington, Texas, on Saturday March 13. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
World welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines poses with members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders after a news conference in New York City January 20, 2010. The conference was held to announce the Pacquiao's fight against Joshua Clottey of Ghana which will take place at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
World welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (2nd L) of the Philippines receives the WBO belt from World Boxing Organization (WBO) President Francisco Valcarcel (2nd R) at a news conference in New York City, January 20, 2010, held to announce Pacquiao's fight against Joshua Clottey of Ghana, which will take place at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
World welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippines hands his World Boxing Organization belt to his trainer Freddie Roach during a news conference in New York City, January 20, 2010, held to announce Pacquiao's fight against Joshua Clottey of Ghana, which will take place at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
World welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines receives the World Boxing Organization (WBO) belt from WBO President Francisco Valcarcel (R) at a news conference in New York City, January 20, 2010, held to announce Pacquiao's fight against Joshua Clottey of Ghana, which will take place at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
Champion Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, poses for photographs with Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders during a news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, in New York, to promote an upcoming fight against Joshua Clottey . Pacquiao will fight Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday March 13. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Khan-Maidana Negotiations Granted Extension -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion Amir Khan is in negotiations for a mandatory defense against hard-hitting Argentinian Marcos Rene Maidana, but their bout is not set, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Richard Schaefer, told FanHouse on Monday.
"Today, there was a scheduled purse bid between Khan and Maidana. But we asked the WBA and our co-promoters of Maidana to please postpone the purse bid by two weeks, because we've just been appointed as Amir's new promoter, so I wanted to get two weeks so that I can sit down with each party to see what can be worked out or what situation makes the most sense," said Schaefer.
"That extension was granted this morning. It was supposed to go to purse bids, because, obviously, we couldn't agree on terms," said Schaefer. "But now, with us being involved with Khan, we want to see what's best for Maidana and what is best for Khan."
On Tuesday, the Associated Press cited the WBA's website as reporting that Khan (22-1, 16 knockouts) and Maidana (27-1, 26 KOs) had reached a tentative agreement to meet at the end of March or in early April, and that Khan could make his U.S. debut in Las Vegas or fight again in Manchester, England.
Schaefer also denied a report on Boxrec.com that the fight already is scheduled for April 17 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, citing a likely WBA heavyweight defense by England's David Haye (22-1, 21 KOs) against American John Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KOs) on April 3.
"Amir Khan is not going to fight in April, the reason, by the way, is that Amir Khan is obviously a pay-per-view attraction. And Sky Sports, which is the only platform in the United Kingdom that does pay-per-view, they only do one pay-per-view per month," said Schaefer, whose Golden Boy Promotions recently signed Ruiz and also works on behalf of Haye in
America.
"In April, on April 3, it looks like David Haye and John Ruiz are going to fight in England on pay-per-view," said Schaefer. "So, obviously, there couldn't be another pay-per-view date for Amir Khan in April. That's not 100 percent confirmed, but it appears to be the case. They're still trying to finalize the site and so on, so I don't have final conformation for that, but it looks like it."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion Amir Khan is in negotiations for a mandatory defense against hard-hitting Argentinian Marcos Rene Maidana, but their bout is not set, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Richard Schaefer, told FanHouse on Monday.
"Today, there was a scheduled purse bid between Khan and Maidana. But we asked the WBA and our co-promoters of Maidana to please postpone the purse bid by two weeks, because we've just been appointed as Amir's new promoter, so I wanted to get two weeks so that I can sit down with each party to see what can be worked out or what situation makes the most sense," said Schaefer.
"That extension was granted this morning. It was supposed to go to purse bids, because, obviously, we couldn't agree on terms," said Schaefer. "But now, with us being involved with Khan, we want to see what's best for Maidana and what is best for Khan."
On Tuesday, the Associated Press cited the WBA's website as reporting that Khan (22-1, 16 knockouts) and Maidana (27-1, 26 KOs) had reached a tentative agreement to meet at the end of March or in early April, and that Khan could make his U.S. debut in Las Vegas or fight again in Manchester, England.
Schaefer also denied a report on Boxrec.com that the fight already is scheduled for April 17 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, citing a likely WBA heavyweight defense by England's David Haye (22-1, 21 KOs) against American John Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KOs) on April 3.
"Amir Khan is not going to fight in April, the reason, by the way, is that Amir Khan is obviously a pay-per-view attraction. And Sky Sports, which is the only platform in the United Kingdom that does pay-per-view, they only do one pay-per-view per month," said Schaefer, whose Golden Boy Promotions recently signed Ruiz and also works on behalf of Haye in
America.
"In April, on April 3, it looks like David Haye and John Ruiz are going to fight in England on pay-per-view," said Schaefer. "So, obviously, there couldn't be another pay-per-view date for Amir Khan in April. That's not 100 percent confirmed, but it appears to be the case. They're still trying to finalize the site and so on, so I don't have final conformation for that, but it looks like it."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Manny Pacquiao is confident he will fight Floyd Mayweather Jr -- The Guardian
The Associated Press
Manny Pacquiao, who will fight Joshua Clottey on 13 March, said today that Floyd Mayweather Jr had been looking for a way out of fighting him and that "maybe Mayweather is scared to lose."
The biggest fight in boxing fell apart because of the drug testing protocol, with Pacquiao refusing to have blood drawn more than 24 days before the fight. Mayweather wanted testing done two weeks before the fight.
Pacquiao will defend his version of the welterweight title against Clottey at the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, where promoters are hoping to attract 40,000 fans. The fight will be televised on pay-per-view.
Pacquiao says he will eventually fight Mayweather Jr.
"I believe the fight will happen some other time," he said. " I'm still hoping the fight will be pushed through, maybe by summer time. It would be a good fight if it happened."
Source: guardian.co.uk
Manny Pacquiao, who will fight Joshua Clottey on 13 March, said today that Floyd Mayweather Jr had been looking for a way out of fighting him and that "maybe Mayweather is scared to lose."
The biggest fight in boxing fell apart because of the drug testing protocol, with Pacquiao refusing to have blood drawn more than 24 days before the fight. Mayweather wanted testing done two weeks before the fight.
Pacquiao will defend his version of the welterweight title against Clottey at the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, where promoters are hoping to attract 40,000 fans. The fight will be televised on pay-per-view.
Pacquiao says he will eventually fight Mayweather Jr.
"I believe the fight will happen some other time," he said. " I'm still hoping the fight will be pushed through, maybe by summer time. It would be a good fight if it happened."
Source: guardian.co.uk
Pacquiao trainer already pondering Mayweather gameplan -- Yahoo! Xtra
Reuters
NEW YORK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has welcomed the challenge of devising a gameplan for fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. if a showdown between the greatest pound-for-pound boxers can be arranged.
The much-anticipated clash collapsed in negotiations over Mayweather's demands for random Olympic-style blood testing.
Roach was at Madison Square Garden to promote Pacquiao's March 13 WBO welterweight title defense against former champion Joshua Clottey of Ghana, but the bespectacled trainer was happy to talk about tactics for a possible Mayweather fight.
"We watched some tapes," Roach told reporters. "His style gives us difficulties. He doesn't like to engage that much."
Pacquiao, 50-3-2 and the only man to hold world titles in seven different weight classes, is a brawler in the ring, while Mayweather (40-0) is a supremely skilled boxer.
"It would be a very scientific fight. The smartest guy wins that fight, not the strongest guy," Roach said.
"I don't like him that much, but he's a great fighter and is good at what he does. It was a big challenge. And we wanted that big challenge. Hopefully, it will happen some day."
Roach said getting at the slick Mayweather was the trick.
"You have to really set traps for him. When you catch him in the corner or on the ropes, you've got to really take advantage of it. Break the body down.
"Really press him and see if he really is that gym rat that trains so hard. Can he fight a fast-paced fight for 12 rounds? He fights at his own pace. You can't let him be comfortable.
"You've got to force him. But you can't go straight in, because he's a great counter-puncher.
"The game plan has to be perfect."
(Editing by Ed Osmond; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Source: nz.sports.yahoo.com
NEW YORK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has welcomed the challenge of devising a gameplan for fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. if a showdown between the greatest pound-for-pound boxers can be arranged.
The much-anticipated clash collapsed in negotiations over Mayweather's demands for random Olympic-style blood testing.
Roach was at Madison Square Garden to promote Pacquiao's March 13 WBO welterweight title defense against former champion Joshua Clottey of Ghana, but the bespectacled trainer was happy to talk about tactics for a possible Mayweather fight.
"We watched some tapes," Roach told reporters. "His style gives us difficulties. He doesn't like to engage that much."
Pacquiao, 50-3-2 and the only man to hold world titles in seven different weight classes, is a brawler in the ring, while Mayweather (40-0) is a supremely skilled boxer.
"It would be a very scientific fight. The smartest guy wins that fight, not the strongest guy," Roach said.
"I don't like him that much, but he's a great fighter and is good at what he does. It was a big challenge. And we wanted that big challenge. Hopefully, it will happen some day."
Roach said getting at the slick Mayweather was the trick.
"You have to really set traps for him. When you catch him in the corner or on the ropes, you've got to really take advantage of it. Break the body down.
"Really press him and see if he really is that gym rat that trains so hard. Can he fight a fast-paced fight for 12 rounds? He fights at his own pace. You can't let him be comfortable.
"You've got to force him. But you can't go straight in, because he's a great counter-puncher.
"The game plan has to be perfect."
(Editing by Ed Osmond; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Source: nz.sports.yahoo.com
Roach: Bring on Hatton -- Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Trainer Freddie Roach has confirmed he is preparing Amir Khan for a title defence against Marcos Maidana.
And the Canadian believes Khan's split from promoter Frank Warren will speed up the chances of the Bolton boxer taking on Ricky Hatton later this year.
The match-up with Maidana has still to be confirmed by Golden Boy Promotions but Roach has been keen to talk up the fight, and the quality of the mandatory challenger.
"Golden Boy has options on Maidana," Roach said, "and we want to build that fight up and make it bigger. Maidana's a good fighter."
As for Khan's move to Golden Boy, he added: "I think it's a very good move. They're good operators and he's happy, so as long as he's happy with it I think it's a good move."
Roach masterminded Hatton's downfall at the hands of Manny Pacquiao last year and subsequently urged the former two-time champion to retire.
Unsurprisingly, it seems he would be quite happy for Khan to fight Hatton, too.
"Ricky asked me if I would train him when I was in the UK the last time and Ricky's a good guy, but I can't say I think he should retire one moment and then train him in the next, so I won't be training Ricky.
"But if he is going to fight again I would like Amir to fight him, yes."
Source: skysports.com
Trainer Freddie Roach has confirmed he is preparing Amir Khan for a title defence against Marcos Maidana.
And the Canadian believes Khan's split from promoter Frank Warren will speed up the chances of the Bolton boxer taking on Ricky Hatton later this year.
The match-up with Maidana has still to be confirmed by Golden Boy Promotions but Roach has been keen to talk up the fight, and the quality of the mandatory challenger.
"Golden Boy has options on Maidana," Roach said, "and we want to build that fight up and make it bigger. Maidana's a good fighter."
As for Khan's move to Golden Boy, he added: "I think it's a very good move. They're good operators and he's happy, so as long as he's happy with it I think it's a good move."
Roach masterminded Hatton's downfall at the hands of Manny Pacquiao last year and subsequently urged the former two-time champion to retire.
Unsurprisingly, it seems he would be quite happy for Khan to fight Hatton, too.
"Ricky asked me if I would train him when I was in the UK the last time and Ricky's a good guy, but I can't say I think he should retire one moment and then train him in the next, so I won't be training Ricky.
"But if he is going to fight again I would like Amir to fight him, yes."
Source: skysports.com
Cotto appears ready to return to ring -- The Washington Post
By DAVE SKRETTA, The Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Former welterweight champion Miguel Cotto is expected back in the ring in June, likely challenging junior middleweight titleholder Yuri Foreman at Madison Square Garden.
Cotto plans to watch countryman Juan Manuel Lopez fight Steven Luevano for a featherweight title on Saturday night in the theater at MSG. That fight is part of a double-header that sees Yuriorkis Gamboa and Rogers Mtagwa fighting for another featherweight belt.
"Cotto is coming in for the fight, and we'll start discussing it," Top Rank president Todd duBoef said Wednesday. "They're the ones who called us and said, 'We want to fight Yuri Foreman,' so we'll see what we can do."
DuBoef said he has Madison Square Garden on hold for June 12, the day before the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. Cotto has regularly headlined that Saturday night, when a substantial segment of the city's roughly 800,000 residents with Puerto Rican roots come out in support.
The significance of the date wasn't lost on Foreman, either.
"Friends say, 'Yuri, you're fighting in New York, Madison Square Garden, everybody is going to be rooting for you!' I say, 'Um, well, it's the day before the Puerto Rican Day Parade,'" he said with a broad grin.
"It's the opportunity of a lifetime," said Foreman, a New York-based native of Belarus who also is studying to become a rabbi. "You have to understand, where I come from, the Soviet Union, then Israel, to fight in Madison Square Garden is huge."
Foreman won his title with a comprehensive victory over Daniel Santos on the undercard of Cotto's brutal fight against Manny Pacquiao in November.
Foreman was considered a possible opponent for Pacquiao before the pound-for-pound king decided the height difference was too much. Pacquiao instead decided to fight Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
"He's a great champion, pound-for-pound one of the best fighters out there," Foreman said of Cotto, who would be moving up to 154 pounds. "I'm very hopeful it gets made, but I don't know where I'm standing. Hopefully we're very close to closing the door."
Cotto has had perhaps the most difficult year of his professional life, splitting with his uncle and longtime trainer Evangelista Cotto before losing that bloody fight to Pacquiao.
Outside the ring, the Puerto Rican star lost his father, Miguel Sr., to an apparent heart attack earlier this month. He also had a breach of contract lawsuit filed against him by his uncle and a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by an administrator of a residential property he owns in the U.S. territory.
DuBoef said he doesn't believe the distractions will prevent Cotto from fighting.
"I think he's going to come in here (Saturday) not really that concerned, because June is a while from now," duBoef said.
Source: washingtonpost.com
NEW YORK -- Former welterweight champion Miguel Cotto is expected back in the ring in June, likely challenging junior middleweight titleholder Yuri Foreman at Madison Square Garden.
Cotto plans to watch countryman Juan Manuel Lopez fight Steven Luevano for a featherweight title on Saturday night in the theater at MSG. That fight is part of a double-header that sees Yuriorkis Gamboa and Rogers Mtagwa fighting for another featherweight belt.
"Cotto is coming in for the fight, and we'll start discussing it," Top Rank president Todd duBoef said Wednesday. "They're the ones who called us and said, 'We want to fight Yuri Foreman,' so we'll see what we can do."
DuBoef said he has Madison Square Garden on hold for June 12, the day before the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. Cotto has regularly headlined that Saturday night, when a substantial segment of the city's roughly 800,000 residents with Puerto Rican roots come out in support.
The significance of the date wasn't lost on Foreman, either.
"Friends say, 'Yuri, you're fighting in New York, Madison Square Garden, everybody is going to be rooting for you!' I say, 'Um, well, it's the day before the Puerto Rican Day Parade,'" he said with a broad grin.
"It's the opportunity of a lifetime," said Foreman, a New York-based native of Belarus who also is studying to become a rabbi. "You have to understand, where I come from, the Soviet Union, then Israel, to fight in Madison Square Garden is huge."
Foreman won his title with a comprehensive victory over Daniel Santos on the undercard of Cotto's brutal fight against Manny Pacquiao in November.
Foreman was considered a possible opponent for Pacquiao before the pound-for-pound king decided the height difference was too much. Pacquiao instead decided to fight Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
"He's a great champion, pound-for-pound one of the best fighters out there," Foreman said of Cotto, who would be moving up to 154 pounds. "I'm very hopeful it gets made, but I don't know where I'm standing. Hopefully we're very close to closing the door."
Cotto has had perhaps the most difficult year of his professional life, splitting with his uncle and longtime trainer Evangelista Cotto before losing that bloody fight to Pacquiao.
Outside the ring, the Puerto Rican star lost his father, Miguel Sr., to an apparent heart attack earlier this month. He also had a breach of contract lawsuit filed against him by his uncle and a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by an administrator of a residential property he owns in the U.S. territory.
DuBoef said he doesn't believe the distractions will prevent Cotto from fighting.
"I think he's going to come in here (Saturday) not really that concerned, because June is a while from now," duBoef said.
Source: washingtonpost.com
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