By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
NEW YORK --FanHouse caught up to WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion, Yuri Foreman, on Saturday night while the soon-to-be rabbi was sitting ringside for his promoter, Top Rank's, HBO-televised featherweight (126-pound) championship double-header in Madison Square Garden's 5,000 capacity WaMu Theater.
As he sat there, the 29-year-old Foreman (28-0, eight knockouts) was among the overflow crowd of 5,142 -- many of whom were Puerto Ricans -- and got a taste for the greeting that may yet await him when he defends his crown against 29-year-old, former, two-time welterweight (147 pounds) champion, Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs), in the MSG's main arena on June 12.
In Saturday night's main event, Puerto Rico's Juan Manuel Lopez (28-0, 25 KOs) dethroned Steven Luevano (37-2-1, 15 KOs) of La Puente, Calif., with a seventh-round knockout to earn the WBO's featherweight crown.
Lopez-Luevano was preceded by a second-round knockout by WBA king Yuriorkis Gamboa (17-0, 15 KOs) over Tanzanian, Rogers Mtagwa (26-14-2, 18 KOs).
But even before the action began in the last two fights, Foreman, Cotto and former welterweight, junior middleweight, and middleweight champion, Felix Trinidad of Puerto Rico were introduced in the ring.
The two Puerto Ricans were loudly cheered, while Foreman, a Brooklyn resident, was roundly booed.
"Yeah, I'm ready, man. Today, they introduced me, and there were some boos here. You know, I guess there are going to be even more boos on June 12, you know?" said Foreman, who dethroned Puerto Rico's hard-hitting, southpaw, Daniel Santos (32-4-1, 23 KOs), on Nov. 14 by a one-sided, unanimous decision, twice flooring the ex-champion.
"But I'm looking forward to it, you know?," said Foreman, who was born in Gomel, Belarus, became the first Israeli citizen to win a professional boxing title, and is a rabbinical student.
"No one gave me a chance against Santos, but I was ready," said Foreman, all the while, shouting above the deafening noise of the screaming crowd. "And I'm looking forward to showcasing my skills in a big fight like that against Cotto."
Foreman and Cotto, who sat about eight seats apart throughout the night, had been invited to New York by Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum, to finalize the negotiations for their matchup.
Foreman had been considered an opponent for seven-division champion Manny Pacquiao after the WBO titlist's welterweight defense against Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) was disolved amid a negotiations impasse.
But Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) has since elected to face Ghana's 32-year-old Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs) on March 13 at The Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in Arlington, Tex.
"Manny felt that Yuri was a bridge too far, and he was reluctant to fight him. I can understand that," said Arum, referring to the fact that the 5-foot-6 Pacquiao saw the 5-11 Foreman as perhaps too tall and rangy an opponent, even as there was a chance that Pacquiao could have earned an unprecedented eighth crown in as many different divisions.
A Bronx resident, Clottey is coming off of June's 12-round, split-decision loss to Cotto, whom Pacquiao dethroned via 12th-round knockout for the WBO crown on Nov. 14. Foreman defeated Santos on the undercard of Pacquiao-Cotto.
"I take it as a compliment that he didn't want to fight me. I'm as tall as Oscar De La Hoya," said Foreman, referring to the former world champion whom Pacquiao stopped in the eighth round in December of 2008.
"You know, they didn't want to fight me because of my height, my reach, and, basically my skills. I'm going to take it as a compliment," said Foreman. "[Pacquiao's trainer] Freddie Roach is a great trainer, and if he didn't want to fight me, I'll just take it as a compliment."
As far as facing Cotto, Foreman acknowledged that he may well be facing his greatest opponent -- even as Santos owns a victory over former world champion, Antonio Margarito, the other man to have beaten Cotto.
"Miguel Cotto is a great, great fighter and he was a great champion. I've always been watching his fights," said Foreman. "But you know, the opportunity to fight a great fighter like him, and to be in the same ring, and to have a chance at beating him would be a great, great thing for me."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Sunday 24 January 2010
No Man City stadium gig for Ricky Hatton -- Sunday People
People.co.uk
Ricky Hatton's hopes of a City of Manchester Stadium swansong have been dashed.
The Hitman, who lost in devastating fashion to Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas last May, hoped to stage his comeback fight at the home of his beloved Manchester City in June.
But the football club want their pitch in pristine condition for the start of the 2010-11 season and have decided against hosting other events during the summer.
Hatton beat Juan Lazcano at Eastlands in front of a 55,000 crowd in May 2008, following the first defeat of his career at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Source: people.co.uk
Ricky Hatton's hopes of a City of Manchester Stadium swansong have been dashed.
The Hitman, who lost in devastating fashion to Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas last May, hoped to stage his comeback fight at the home of his beloved Manchester City in June.
But the football club want their pitch in pristine condition for the start of the 2010-11 season and have decided against hosting other events during the summer.
Hatton beat Juan Lazcano at Eastlands in front of a 55,000 crowd in May 2008, following the first defeat of his career at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Source: people.co.uk
Mini Pac-Man packs punch -- Winnipeg Sun
By KIRK PENTON, WINNIPEG SUN
Jon Quinit laughed when asked if he's ever been forced to use his martial arts or boxing skills outside of the gym.
"Maybe," Quinit said with a sly grin before a training session on Saturday at the United Boxing Club in Winnipeg's Osborne Village.
Even though he's 5-foot-4 and 120 pounds soaking wet, it's safe to say he wasn't messed with much during his high school days.
"I guess you could say that," Quinit said, chuckling once more.
Message received.
One of Quinit's coaches, Kent Brown, refers to his pupil as a mini-Manny Pacquiao, the world welterweight champ from the Philippines who is regarded as the top pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.
Quinit, a second-year University of Manitoba student who hopes to get into the Asper School of Business, is also of Filipino descent, but unlike Pacquiao, who is on top of the boxing world, he's just getting started.
The 19-year-old, who has been in the sport for only two years, will defend his Canadian 106-pound crown this week at the Canadian senior boxing championships in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.
Quinit lost in the semifinal round at last year's nationals, but he earned a spot on the national squad -- and became the official 106-pound Canadian champ -- at the Final Team Selection tournament in Edmonton.
If he can win this week, he will automatically go back on the national team. If he doesn't, he'll have to attend the FTS tournament again next month.
"So this is the big one," Quinit said.
Normally the defending champ has the target on his back, but Quinit isn't a big believer in that theory.
"It's a huge advantage, for sure," he said. "I won't have as much pressure. They're going against the champ. They have to come chase me. They're trying to get to my spot."
The St. Paul's High School grad didn't have to throw a punch at last year's FTS tournament when one fighter failed to make weight and the other didn't show up, but he proved he was national team material in September when he won bronze at the Francophone Games in Lebanon. His most impressive victory at the event was a quarter-final win over Redouane Bouchtouk, a two-time Olympian from Morocco.
Brown believes Quinit is a much better fighter now than he was a year ago.
"Night and day," Brown said. "He's more refined, more explosive and understands the computer system."
Quinit started out in combat arts when he was five years old, taking the Filipino martial art called Sikaran and sticking with it until he was 13 or 14. He started boxing at 16 after his older brother Brad, who will also compete in Quebec this week, started taking lessons at the Orioles club.
"He'd come home and teach me some stuff," Quinit said. "I wasn't really interested until just recently, two years ago, but now it's just my love. It's my passion."
'AMAZING FOOTWORK'
Brown said Quinit's martial arts background is a reason why he was able to beat a two-time Olympian only two years into his amateur boxing career.
"He had that base, understanding footwork," Brown said. "He has amazing footwork. This kid can move."
Quinit has put together a dream book to map out his goals in the sport. The pinnacle is the Summer Olympics in London in 2012, although he'll likely have to move up a weight class since the 106-pound group isn't part of the Olympic competition.
The next stop on that journey is winning a Canadian title this week in a field that includes three other fighters, including last year's national championship gold medallist Benoit Fleury of Quebec.
"Hopefully I make the team again so I get experience for the Olympics," Quinit said. "I want to go to the 2012 Olympics for sure. That's the main goal right now.
"But being on the team will give me the experience that I need to perform well or at least go to the Olympics."
Brown was adamant that Quinit's Olympic dreams are realistic.
"It's there, and it's a true shot," Brown said. "He beat a two-time Olympian in a major games. So absolutely. The shot's there."
Jon and Brad Quinit are two of 11 Manitobans who will vie for national titles in Quebec this week. The others are United's Brandt Butt, the defending 140-pound champ, Kelly Page and Crystal Brown, Crescentwood's Andy Gardiner, Ryan Walkoski, Katie Saull and Rawleigh Clements-Willis, Alliance's Roberto Mendoza and Kyle Gross of Whitemouth.
Brown is the team's head coach and will be assisted by Gareth Sutherland, while Cheryl Conklin will serve as manager.
"We have a large team, and it's a strong, strong team," Brown said. "Everybody's in great shape, and we're going to bring back some hardware."
kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca
JON QUINIT
- Sport: boxing
- Club: United Boxing Club
- Weight class: 106 lbs.
- Age: 19
- Height: 5-foot-4
- Weight: 120 lbs.
- Sports idols: Gabriel (Flash) Elorde and Francisco Guilledo
- Fun Fact: Quinit says world champ Manny Pacquiao is an inspiration for Filipino fighters everywhere. While he wants to see Pac-Man take on Floyd Mayweather Jr., he had to talk himself into thinking Pac-Man would win. "I don't know. That'd be a tough one ... no, I think Pacquiao's too fast, and him being a southpaw would give Mayweather trouble."
Source: winnipegsun.com
Jon Quinit laughed when asked if he's ever been forced to use his martial arts or boxing skills outside of the gym.
"Maybe," Quinit said with a sly grin before a training session on Saturday at the United Boxing Club in Winnipeg's Osborne Village.
Even though he's 5-foot-4 and 120 pounds soaking wet, it's safe to say he wasn't messed with much during his high school days.
"I guess you could say that," Quinit said, chuckling once more.
Message received.
One of Quinit's coaches, Kent Brown, refers to his pupil as a mini-Manny Pacquiao, the world welterweight champ from the Philippines who is regarded as the top pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.
Quinit, a second-year University of Manitoba student who hopes to get into the Asper School of Business, is also of Filipino descent, but unlike Pacquiao, who is on top of the boxing world, he's just getting started.
The 19-year-old, who has been in the sport for only two years, will defend his Canadian 106-pound crown this week at the Canadian senior boxing championships in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.
Quinit lost in the semifinal round at last year's nationals, but he earned a spot on the national squad -- and became the official 106-pound Canadian champ -- at the Final Team Selection tournament in Edmonton.
If he can win this week, he will automatically go back on the national team. If he doesn't, he'll have to attend the FTS tournament again next month.
"So this is the big one," Quinit said.
Normally the defending champ has the target on his back, but Quinit isn't a big believer in that theory.
"It's a huge advantage, for sure," he said. "I won't have as much pressure. They're going against the champ. They have to come chase me. They're trying to get to my spot."
The St. Paul's High School grad didn't have to throw a punch at last year's FTS tournament when one fighter failed to make weight and the other didn't show up, but he proved he was national team material in September when he won bronze at the Francophone Games in Lebanon. His most impressive victory at the event was a quarter-final win over Redouane Bouchtouk, a two-time Olympian from Morocco.
Brown believes Quinit is a much better fighter now than he was a year ago.
"Night and day," Brown said. "He's more refined, more explosive and understands the computer system."
Quinit started out in combat arts when he was five years old, taking the Filipino martial art called Sikaran and sticking with it until he was 13 or 14. He started boxing at 16 after his older brother Brad, who will also compete in Quebec this week, started taking lessons at the Orioles club.
"He'd come home and teach me some stuff," Quinit said. "I wasn't really interested until just recently, two years ago, but now it's just my love. It's my passion."
'AMAZING FOOTWORK'
Brown said Quinit's martial arts background is a reason why he was able to beat a two-time Olympian only two years into his amateur boxing career.
"He had that base, understanding footwork," Brown said. "He has amazing footwork. This kid can move."
Quinit has put together a dream book to map out his goals in the sport. The pinnacle is the Summer Olympics in London in 2012, although he'll likely have to move up a weight class since the 106-pound group isn't part of the Olympic competition.
The next stop on that journey is winning a Canadian title this week in a field that includes three other fighters, including last year's national championship gold medallist Benoit Fleury of Quebec.
"Hopefully I make the team again so I get experience for the Olympics," Quinit said. "I want to go to the 2012 Olympics for sure. That's the main goal right now.
"But being on the team will give me the experience that I need to perform well or at least go to the Olympics."
Brown was adamant that Quinit's Olympic dreams are realistic.
"It's there, and it's a true shot," Brown said. "He beat a two-time Olympian in a major games. So absolutely. The shot's there."
Jon and Brad Quinit are two of 11 Manitobans who will vie for national titles in Quebec this week. The others are United's Brandt Butt, the defending 140-pound champ, Kelly Page and Crystal Brown, Crescentwood's Andy Gardiner, Ryan Walkoski, Katie Saull and Rawleigh Clements-Willis, Alliance's Roberto Mendoza and Kyle Gross of Whitemouth.
Brown is the team's head coach and will be assisted by Gareth Sutherland, while Cheryl Conklin will serve as manager.
"We have a large team, and it's a strong, strong team," Brown said. "Everybody's in great shape, and we're going to bring back some hardware."
kirk.penton@sunmedia.ca
JON QUINIT
- Sport: boxing
- Club: United Boxing Club
- Weight class: 106 lbs.
- Age: 19
- Height: 5-foot-4
- Weight: 120 lbs.
- Sports idols: Gabriel (Flash) Elorde and Francisco Guilledo
- Fun Fact: Quinit says world champ Manny Pacquiao is an inspiration for Filipino fighters everywhere. While he wants to see Pac-Man take on Floyd Mayweather Jr., he had to talk himself into thinking Pac-Man would win. "I don't know. That'd be a tough one ... no, I think Pacquiao's too fast, and him being a southpaw would give Mayweather trouble."
Source: winnipegsun.com
Roach predicts a 12-rd win for Pacman this time -- GMA News
GMA News TV
Trainer Freddie Roach is practically accurate when he predicts the brutal fate of Manny Pacquiao’s opponents. He was virtually prophetic in Pacquiao’s annihilation of Oscar De La Hoya, stoppage of Ricky Hatton, and bloody disposal of Miguel Cotto.
For Pacquiao’s defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against Joshua Clottey of Ghana on March 13, though, the outspoken trainer is not projecting a KO win – at least not yet in this early part of their training camp.
In a TV interview with GMA News, Roach said Team Pacquiao is preparing for a 12-round war with the tough challenger.
“This guy (Clottey) has never been knocked out before. He’s a tough guy. If the knockout comes, that will be a bonus but I’m planning to win in a 12-round fight," he said at the Wild Card Gym in LA, where Pacquiao has started his seven-week training.
Though never knocked out, Clottey is not new to absorbing a knockdown. In his failed bid last year against then champion Cotto, the 32-year-old Clottey hit the deck from the Puerto Rican’s left hook before the end of the first round. Clottey survived and eventually fought Cotto to a tough fight the rest of the way, with the fight ending in a close split decision win for the Boricuan bomber.
Clottey’s two other losses were a unanimous decision to Antonio Margarito in 2006 and a DQ in his duel with Argentine Carlos Baldomir back in 1999.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
Meanwhile, Pacquiao spent his first day of training minus the roadwork due to the rainy conditions in LA.
“Wala namang kaso yun kasi di naman masyadong mahirap yung fight na nakaraan," he said, referring to his showdown with Cotto last November.
Clottey has been tapped as Pacquiao’s next foe after talks for a megabout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. bogged down due to spat over dope-testing procedures.
Fight fans, though, seem to readily accept Clottey as replacement, based on the brisk sales of tickets for the Ghanaian’s duel with Pacquiao at the Cowboys Stadium.
ESPN.Com reported that in the first three hours of public ticket sales Saturday, more than 20,000 of the approximately 40,000 available were sold. The tickets ranged in price from $50 to $700. - GMANews.TV
Source: gmanews.tv
***
Trainer Freddie Roach is practically accurate when he predicts the brutal fate of Manny Pacquiao’s opponents. He was virtually prophetic in Pacquiao’s annihilation of Oscar De La Hoya, stoppage of Ricky Hatton, and bloody disposal of Miguel Cotto.
For Pacquiao’s defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against Joshua Clottey of Ghana on March 13, though, the outspoken trainer is not projecting a KO win – at least not yet in this early part of their training camp.
In a TV interview with GMA News, Roach said Team Pacquiao is preparing for a 12-round war with the tough challenger.
“This guy (Clottey) has never been knocked out before. He’s a tough guy. If the knockout comes, that will be a bonus but I’m planning to win in a 12-round fight," he said at the Wild Card Gym in LA, where Pacquiao has started his seven-week training.
Though never knocked out, Clottey is not new to absorbing a knockdown. In his failed bid last year against then champion Cotto, the 32-year-old Clottey hit the deck from the Puerto Rican’s left hook before the end of the first round. Clottey survived and eventually fought Cotto to a tough fight the rest of the way, with the fight ending in a close split decision win for the Boricuan bomber.
Clottey’s two other losses were a unanimous decision to Antonio Margarito in 2006 and a DQ in his duel with Argentine Carlos Baldomir back in 1999.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
Meanwhile, Pacquiao spent his first day of training minus the roadwork due to the rainy conditions in LA.
“Wala namang kaso yun kasi di naman masyadong mahirap yung fight na nakaraan," he said, referring to his showdown with Cotto last November.
Clottey has been tapped as Pacquiao’s next foe after talks for a megabout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. bogged down due to spat over dope-testing procedures.
Fight fans, though, seem to readily accept Clottey as replacement, based on the brisk sales of tickets for the Ghanaian’s duel with Pacquiao at the Cowboys Stadium.
ESPN.Com reported that in the first three hours of public ticket sales Saturday, more than 20,000 of the approximately 40,000 available were sold. The tickets ranged in price from $50 to $700. - GMANews.TV
Source: gmanews.tv
***
‘Asia for me is a better port’-says world ranked Leon `Hurry Up’ Moore -- Stabroek News
By Rawle Toney, Stabroek News
World ranked bantamweight boxer Guyana’s Leon `Hurry Up’ Moore feels that campaigning in Asia is the right career move for him and that being based in Thailand will give him a faster shot at a world title.
Moore returned to Guyana last Friday evening after winning the World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan Asian Boxing Association super bantamweight title by defeating Singapore’s Marangin Marbun in Sin-gapore.
“Asia for me is an easier way up the ladder in terms of world rankings, who you have to fight, when you have to fight,” he told Stabroek Sport in his first interview upon his return.
Moore also holds the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) CABOFE and Continental Americas titles, along with the World Boxing Association (WBA) Inter-continental and NABA titles.
He is undefeated in his last eight fights and speaking with Stabroek Sport from his Agricola home yesterday, he declared that he was at a stage in his career where he has never been.
More champions! Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore poses with three his most prized possessions, Isaiah (left) Thierry (centre) and Leon Moore Jr along with his belts.
“I think right now I’m in the best shape of my life,” he opined.
The victory over Marbun was the 31 year-old Moore’s 26th professional win in his 28 pro fight career.
“I am in top quality shape; I train in a top quality gym.
Prior to that, for the longest while I’m very active so probably now I would say this is one of my best times in my career. I was on a winning spree then I got blemished by people who know that I did not lose to them,” said Moore referring to his only two losses.
In 2006, Columbian Irene Pacheco, handed Moore his first defeat winning by a split decision for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Inter-continental bantamweight title.
Two judges, Milton Mercado and Manuel Arroyo both scored the fight 115-113 for Pacheco while Lionel Mercado scored it 116-113 for Moore.
Moore remains adamant that he had won the fight and later, the two judges were banned for life for tampering with the match.
The Agricola resident in 2007 then suffered a similar fate fighting against Timur Shailezov in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for the North American Boxing Association (NABA) bantamweight title.
Nevertheless, Moore said he has already put the two defeats behind him and is focusing on becoming Guyana’s next world champion.
“Those two losses don’t mean anything in my career because when people watch at me they normally say ‘well Leon Moore has two losses, but how he lose and who he lose to’ and that brings a lot of questions,” Moore said.
He added: “Ok fine they say I lost to Irene Pacheco and he got the opportunity to fight Johnny Gonzales for the WBO title and seriously, I think if that opportunity was mine Leon Moore would have been a world champion since 2007.”
Some of the world’s best fighters in the smaller divisions are from the Asian continent including the devastating Philippines world champion Manny Pacquiao.
“This is where you see you can make it fighting out of Asia. In terms of fighting in your weight division and your ratings, for me, Asia is a better port. Look, they have some fighters when I look at them, they don’t have the ability to be there but they are there because is Asia.”
Moore was overawed by the facilities in Singapore.
“It was the first time that I was in such training facilities. I got myself in a new training programme doing some weights, something that I wasn’t doing for some amount of years in my boxing career and a lot of other small things that I was falling short of, it now start to come back.”
Over the years, Moore, who is the highest rated fighter in the English speaking Caribbean, has been fighting in both the bantamweight (118 lbs) and super bantamweight (122 lbs) divisions with a great amount of success and he told Stabroek Sport that to date he is yet to chose which one he will seek to dominate.
“I never really question it because for me, fighting in both divisions feels the same. But I will tell you this, you see, bantamweight is commitment. You have to commit and submit your body to the pressure while fighting at super bantamweight. To me is the same, but at any given time I can put on some more size to go up to feather weight because I already have the height so its no big deal for me which division I fight,” he said.
Looking back at his last fight, Moore said that winning was the only thing on his mind.
“The guy was a tough fella. He told himself that he is fighting very close to his hometown, in his backyard, he stand up real strong until I knock him down. He got up back and continued fighting and he fought me down to the last but I was just too outstanding where in every round I gave a good account of myself,” he said.
“The pressure really came on after all the other fighters won their fights from my training camp and it was because I was the most outstanding fighter in the gym. Sometimes people would look at me and say they wish if the other fighters could be as good as me and since they won, I had to go out there and do my thing,” Moore said.
Soon, he says, he will be heading back to the Far East.
“We had made a proposal to a fighter from Thailand, Sod Looknongyangtoy who said he would fight me. At the last moment he said his arm was broken but then I saw him fighting on TV while in Thailand,” Moore noted.
For now, though, Moore says he intends to spend some quality time with his family and then it would be back to the gym to keep himself in shape.
Source: stabroeknews.com
World ranked bantamweight boxer Guyana’s Leon `Hurry Up’ Moore feels that campaigning in Asia is the right career move for him and that being based in Thailand will give him a faster shot at a world title.
Moore returned to Guyana last Friday evening after winning the World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan Asian Boxing Association super bantamweight title by defeating Singapore’s Marangin Marbun in Sin-gapore.
“Asia for me is an easier way up the ladder in terms of world rankings, who you have to fight, when you have to fight,” he told Stabroek Sport in his first interview upon his return.
Moore also holds the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) CABOFE and Continental Americas titles, along with the World Boxing Association (WBA) Inter-continental and NABA titles.
He is undefeated in his last eight fights and speaking with Stabroek Sport from his Agricola home yesterday, he declared that he was at a stage in his career where he has never been.
More champions! Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore poses with three his most prized possessions, Isaiah (left) Thierry (centre) and Leon Moore Jr along with his belts.
“I think right now I’m in the best shape of my life,” he opined.
The victory over Marbun was the 31 year-old Moore’s 26th professional win in his 28 pro fight career.
“I am in top quality shape; I train in a top quality gym.
Prior to that, for the longest while I’m very active so probably now I would say this is one of my best times in my career. I was on a winning spree then I got blemished by people who know that I did not lose to them,” said Moore referring to his only two losses.
In 2006, Columbian Irene Pacheco, handed Moore his first defeat winning by a split decision for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Inter-continental bantamweight title.
Two judges, Milton Mercado and Manuel Arroyo both scored the fight 115-113 for Pacheco while Lionel Mercado scored it 116-113 for Moore.
Moore remains adamant that he had won the fight and later, the two judges were banned for life for tampering with the match.
The Agricola resident in 2007 then suffered a similar fate fighting against Timur Shailezov in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for the North American Boxing Association (NABA) bantamweight title.
Nevertheless, Moore said he has already put the two defeats behind him and is focusing on becoming Guyana’s next world champion.
“Those two losses don’t mean anything in my career because when people watch at me they normally say ‘well Leon Moore has two losses, but how he lose and who he lose to’ and that brings a lot of questions,” Moore said.
He added: “Ok fine they say I lost to Irene Pacheco and he got the opportunity to fight Johnny Gonzales for the WBO title and seriously, I think if that opportunity was mine Leon Moore would have been a world champion since 2007.”
Some of the world’s best fighters in the smaller divisions are from the Asian continent including the devastating Philippines world champion Manny Pacquiao.
“This is where you see you can make it fighting out of Asia. In terms of fighting in your weight division and your ratings, for me, Asia is a better port. Look, they have some fighters when I look at them, they don’t have the ability to be there but they are there because is Asia.”
Moore was overawed by the facilities in Singapore.
“It was the first time that I was in such training facilities. I got myself in a new training programme doing some weights, something that I wasn’t doing for some amount of years in my boxing career and a lot of other small things that I was falling short of, it now start to come back.”
Over the years, Moore, who is the highest rated fighter in the English speaking Caribbean, has been fighting in both the bantamweight (118 lbs) and super bantamweight (122 lbs) divisions with a great amount of success and he told Stabroek Sport that to date he is yet to chose which one he will seek to dominate.
“I never really question it because for me, fighting in both divisions feels the same. But I will tell you this, you see, bantamweight is commitment. You have to commit and submit your body to the pressure while fighting at super bantamweight. To me is the same, but at any given time I can put on some more size to go up to feather weight because I already have the height so its no big deal for me which division I fight,” he said.
Looking back at his last fight, Moore said that winning was the only thing on his mind.
“The guy was a tough fella. He told himself that he is fighting very close to his hometown, in his backyard, he stand up real strong until I knock him down. He got up back and continued fighting and he fought me down to the last but I was just too outstanding where in every round I gave a good account of myself,” he said.
“The pressure really came on after all the other fighters won their fights from my training camp and it was because I was the most outstanding fighter in the gym. Sometimes people would look at me and say they wish if the other fighters could be as good as me and since they won, I had to go out there and do my thing,” Moore said.
Soon, he says, he will be heading back to the Far East.
“We had made a proposal to a fighter from Thailand, Sod Looknongyangtoy who said he would fight me. At the last moment he said his arm was broken but then I saw him fighting on TV while in Thailand,” Moore noted.
For now, though, Moore says he intends to spend some quality time with his family and then it would be back to the gym to keep himself in shape.
Source: stabroeknews.com
PACQUIAO LOOKS LIKE HE DIDN’T TAKE TIME OFF AFTER COTTO FIGHT -- PhilBoxing
By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com
Manny Pacquiao, the reigning world pound-for-pound king looks like “he didn’t take time out” after his 12th round TKO victory over WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last November.
That’s the assessment of conditioning expert Alex Ariza after Pacquiao had two days of workouts at trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym.
Ariza said Pacquiao did several rounds on the punch-mitts and his usual routine but would start his strength and conditioning exercises on Monday. Ariza said Pacquiao planned to begin sparring on Thursday. Ariza added, “he is looking sharp already” in preparation for his title defense against tough Joshua Clottey at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys stadium on March 13.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told us that Pacquiao’s training “went very well. Training is going good and Manny is feeling good.”
Broadcaster Hermie Rivera who lives in California and is well known for having steered Luisito Espinosa to the world bantamweight title and Morris East to the light welterweight crown informed us that he had spoken to Roach about Pacquiao’s training and quoted Roach as telling him, “Pretty good on the first day. No problem at all. He was punching hard. He’s weighing 149 pounds right now. Perfect for the agreed upon welterweight limit.
Asked about what they could expect from Clottey, Roach said “He’ll be aggressive. He’ll try to kill us. He comes forward, he’s strong and he fights. That’s what he does. Its not a problem. I’m reviewing tapes on how Clottey handles lefties.”
Roach added that “If a knockout comes that would be our bonus but I’ll be getting ready for twelve hard rounds.”
The promotional kickoff rites at the venue owned by Jerry Jones followed by a stop at Madison Square Garden spiced up with the attractive Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders has had an early impact on ticket sales.
Top Rank promoter who was at Madison Square Garden for the championship doubleheader featuring undefeated fighters Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa against Steven Luevano and Rogers Mtgawa was obviously happy over the sale of tickets for the Pacquiao-Clottey fight.
ESPN’s Dan Rafael said Arum told him that 20,000 tickets of a planned 40,000 had already been sold in the first three hours of public ticket sales which was preceded by three days of limited pre-sales. The ticket prices ranged from $50 to $700.
Meantime, Clottey was reportedly set to fly home to Accra, the capital of his native Ghana to speak to US Embassy officials and try to facilitate the renewal of the visas of his trainer, Godwin Nii Dzanie Koet and assistant Daniel Clottey which expired in November last year.
While the US Embassy reportedly wanted to further investigate the application of Koet Clottey was said to have been flatly refused a visa.
Source: philboxing.com
Manny Pacquiao, the reigning world pound-for-pound king looks like “he didn’t take time out” after his 12th round TKO victory over WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last November.
That’s the assessment of conditioning expert Alex Ariza after Pacquiao had two days of workouts at trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym.
Ariza said Pacquiao did several rounds on the punch-mitts and his usual routine but would start his strength and conditioning exercises on Monday. Ariza said Pacquiao planned to begin sparring on Thursday. Ariza added, “he is looking sharp already” in preparation for his title defense against tough Joshua Clottey at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys stadium on March 13.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told us that Pacquiao’s training “went very well. Training is going good and Manny is feeling good.”
Broadcaster Hermie Rivera who lives in California and is well known for having steered Luisito Espinosa to the world bantamweight title and Morris East to the light welterweight crown informed us that he had spoken to Roach about Pacquiao’s training and quoted Roach as telling him, “Pretty good on the first day. No problem at all. He was punching hard. He’s weighing 149 pounds right now. Perfect for the agreed upon welterweight limit.
Asked about what they could expect from Clottey, Roach said “He’ll be aggressive. He’ll try to kill us. He comes forward, he’s strong and he fights. That’s what he does. Its not a problem. I’m reviewing tapes on how Clottey handles lefties.”
Roach added that “If a knockout comes that would be our bonus but I’ll be getting ready for twelve hard rounds.”
The promotional kickoff rites at the venue owned by Jerry Jones followed by a stop at Madison Square Garden spiced up with the attractive Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders has had an early impact on ticket sales.
Top Rank promoter who was at Madison Square Garden for the championship doubleheader featuring undefeated fighters Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa against Steven Luevano and Rogers Mtgawa was obviously happy over the sale of tickets for the Pacquiao-Clottey fight.
ESPN’s Dan Rafael said Arum told him that 20,000 tickets of a planned 40,000 had already been sold in the first three hours of public ticket sales which was preceded by three days of limited pre-sales. The ticket prices ranged from $50 to $700.
Meantime, Clottey was reportedly set to fly home to Accra, the capital of his native Ghana to speak to US Embassy officials and try to facilitate the renewal of the visas of his trainer, Godwin Nii Dzanie Koet and assistant Daniel Clottey which expired in November last year.
While the US Embassy reportedly wanted to further investigate the application of Koet Clottey was said to have been flatly refused a visa.
Source: philboxing.com
Mayweather exposed -- Inquirer
By Ted Laguatan, Esq., INQUIRER.net
CALIFORNIA, United States—If Floyd Mayweather were not a boxer, he might have been a magician or politician or con man. Well, he tried a con on Pacquiao—so he’s both boxer and con man. Many ask: “Why doesn’t Pacquiao just accede to Mayweather’s demands for blood tests?” “Is he hiding something?” “ Why did he refuse these demands?”
Without any proof whatsoever, Mayweather and his co-conspirators have accused Manny of using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). He also insists on specific blood tests which no boxer has ever imposed on another boxer. State boxing commissions are there to regulate testing protocols.
In previous fights after stringent tests, Manny emerged squeaky clean. Mayweather knows that Pacquiao’s skills, speed, power, and stamina stem from continuous improvement, discipline, rigorous training, and excellent physical and intelligence genetics—not PEDs.
So what’s Mayweather’s gimmick?
Here’s my take on this:
Mayweather remains undefeated not only because of his boxing skills but also because of his ability to psyche out opponents. His hero is Muhammad Ali who taunted opponents before and during a fight—a strategy meant to screw up their minds and foul up their training regimen and mindset in the ring. Among other tactics, Ali riled opponents with insulting monickers: Sonny Liston (“Big Black Bear”), Joe Frazier (“Gorilla”), Leon Spinks (“Blacula”), and Floyd Patterson (“Rabbit”). Notably, after his fights, Ali maintained good relations with opponents.
Following Ali’s lead, the cunning Mayweather brewed a devious covert stratagem to beat Pacquiao: Beat this dude by messing up his mind. Accuse him of using roids and other PEDs and insist on blood tests. He’ll absolutely be resentful because he knows he’s clean. Questions will be raised about his character. These will unbalance him mentally and emotionally, constantly agitating him and keeping him mad as hell. He can’t sleep, eat, or make love. Repeatedly insult and call him a “punk ass.” His training regimen will crumble. When he climbs into the ring weakened, angry, rushing, and raging to tear my head off, he’ll be ripe for the taking. I’ll run circles around him, make him look like a fool, frustrate him into making disastrous errors. I’ll own him.
Misdirection. Magicians and smart lawyers well understand this principle. To illustrate, a magician directs the audience’s attention to his right hand while his unnoticed left hand surreptitiously reaches for the hidden card or rabbit. Discretion prevents me from revealing how super lawyers use the same principle in winning cases.
Mayweather’s sneaky misdirection involves directing the attention of the boxing public to accusations of PED use and to blood testing demands with staged pronouncements of concerns for the boxers’ safety—smoke-screening his true intention which is to mess up Pacquiao’s mind and emotions.
If detecting PEDs was really his honest intention, this objective can easily be accomplished: Just do the blood test right after the fight. Pacquiao had readily agreed to this fool-proof protocol. The fighter found PED positive will immediately be disqualified. If victorious, his victory is instantly nullified and the innocent fighter declared winner. Mayweather did not limit his demands to this reasonable reliable protocol because he has a different agenda. When he fought Arturo Gatti, he repeatedly called him: “a C+ fighter,” “a fake,” “a blown-up club fighter.” See?
The defamation lawsuit against Mayweather and co-conspirators is perfectly justified. Playing mind games, they have crossed ethical lines by resorting to baseless malicious defamatory accusations, ruining Manny’s good name and reputation. With good lawyering this case can be won. I would certainly throw in a demand for punitive damages which should kick in the big bucks. Punitive damages are proper and justifiable because malice is involved. I’ll even volunteer to prepare the pleadings and arguments pro bono re punitive damages. Hey, you can’t play dirty tricks with a national treasure—a good genuinely humble man…takes Filipinos’ minds off government corruption.
Team Pacquiao’s did right slamming the door on Mayweather’s face. That’s smart. Had they accepted Mayweather’s terms, the bogus PED accusations and the forced acceptance of unreasonable unjustifiable blood testing demands would have left a bad taste in Pacquiao’s mouth, affecting his emotions and mindset. The team did well in following WBC President Jose Sulaiman’s admonition: “He (Pacquiao) has always been clean…Let him (Mayweather) go to hell.”
I am positive that Mayweather’s camp will soon initiate new discussions to actualize the dream rumble. The enticement of boxing’s biggest purse ever is too irresistible for the tax-challenged Mayweather. Besides, his sneaky machinations which caused Manny to walk will forever haunt him if this fight goes nada. “Coward!” Bob Arum alleges. Maybe not. Scheming? Definitely. When the fight is on, expect Mayweather to continue trying to mess Pacquiao’s mind. Hopefully, Pacquiao gets to read this article. Some good science here.
Now that Pretty Boy’s insidious tactics are bared, he won’t come out looking so pretty when the dust settles and the smoke clears. Expose the crime they look like slime.
Ted Laguatan is officially certified as an expert/specialist lawyer by the California State Bar. He does immigration law, personal injury, complex litigation, medical malpractice, and other cases. He is rated as being among the top 5 percent best lawyers in America by a magazine for lawyers. For communications: 455 Hickey Blvd., Ste.516,Daly City, CA 94015, Tel. (650) 991-1154, Fax (650)991-1186, E-mail: laguatanlaw@gmail.com
Source: globalnation.inquirer.net
***
CALIFORNIA, United States—If Floyd Mayweather were not a boxer, he might have been a magician or politician or con man. Well, he tried a con on Pacquiao—so he’s both boxer and con man. Many ask: “Why doesn’t Pacquiao just accede to Mayweather’s demands for blood tests?” “Is he hiding something?” “ Why did he refuse these demands?”
Without any proof whatsoever, Mayweather and his co-conspirators have accused Manny of using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). He also insists on specific blood tests which no boxer has ever imposed on another boxer. State boxing commissions are there to regulate testing protocols.
In previous fights after stringent tests, Manny emerged squeaky clean. Mayweather knows that Pacquiao’s skills, speed, power, and stamina stem from continuous improvement, discipline, rigorous training, and excellent physical and intelligence genetics—not PEDs.
So what’s Mayweather’s gimmick?
Here’s my take on this:
Mayweather remains undefeated not only because of his boxing skills but also because of his ability to psyche out opponents. His hero is Muhammad Ali who taunted opponents before and during a fight—a strategy meant to screw up their minds and foul up their training regimen and mindset in the ring. Among other tactics, Ali riled opponents with insulting monickers: Sonny Liston (“Big Black Bear”), Joe Frazier (“Gorilla”), Leon Spinks (“Blacula”), and Floyd Patterson (“Rabbit”). Notably, after his fights, Ali maintained good relations with opponents.
Following Ali’s lead, the cunning Mayweather brewed a devious covert stratagem to beat Pacquiao: Beat this dude by messing up his mind. Accuse him of using roids and other PEDs and insist on blood tests. He’ll absolutely be resentful because he knows he’s clean. Questions will be raised about his character. These will unbalance him mentally and emotionally, constantly agitating him and keeping him mad as hell. He can’t sleep, eat, or make love. Repeatedly insult and call him a “punk ass.” His training regimen will crumble. When he climbs into the ring weakened, angry, rushing, and raging to tear my head off, he’ll be ripe for the taking. I’ll run circles around him, make him look like a fool, frustrate him into making disastrous errors. I’ll own him.
Misdirection. Magicians and smart lawyers well understand this principle. To illustrate, a magician directs the audience’s attention to his right hand while his unnoticed left hand surreptitiously reaches for the hidden card or rabbit. Discretion prevents me from revealing how super lawyers use the same principle in winning cases.
Mayweather’s sneaky misdirection involves directing the attention of the boxing public to accusations of PED use and to blood testing demands with staged pronouncements of concerns for the boxers’ safety—smoke-screening his true intention which is to mess up Pacquiao’s mind and emotions.
If detecting PEDs was really his honest intention, this objective can easily be accomplished: Just do the blood test right after the fight. Pacquiao had readily agreed to this fool-proof protocol. The fighter found PED positive will immediately be disqualified. If victorious, his victory is instantly nullified and the innocent fighter declared winner. Mayweather did not limit his demands to this reasonable reliable protocol because he has a different agenda. When he fought Arturo Gatti, he repeatedly called him: “a C+ fighter,” “a fake,” “a blown-up club fighter.” See?
The defamation lawsuit against Mayweather and co-conspirators is perfectly justified. Playing mind games, they have crossed ethical lines by resorting to baseless malicious defamatory accusations, ruining Manny’s good name and reputation. With good lawyering this case can be won. I would certainly throw in a demand for punitive damages which should kick in the big bucks. Punitive damages are proper and justifiable because malice is involved. I’ll even volunteer to prepare the pleadings and arguments pro bono re punitive damages. Hey, you can’t play dirty tricks with a national treasure—a good genuinely humble man…takes Filipinos’ minds off government corruption.
Team Pacquiao’s did right slamming the door on Mayweather’s face. That’s smart. Had they accepted Mayweather’s terms, the bogus PED accusations and the forced acceptance of unreasonable unjustifiable blood testing demands would have left a bad taste in Pacquiao’s mouth, affecting his emotions and mindset. The team did well in following WBC President Jose Sulaiman’s admonition: “He (Pacquiao) has always been clean…Let him (Mayweather) go to hell.”
I am positive that Mayweather’s camp will soon initiate new discussions to actualize the dream rumble. The enticement of boxing’s biggest purse ever is too irresistible for the tax-challenged Mayweather. Besides, his sneaky machinations which caused Manny to walk will forever haunt him if this fight goes nada. “Coward!” Bob Arum alleges. Maybe not. Scheming? Definitely. When the fight is on, expect Mayweather to continue trying to mess Pacquiao’s mind. Hopefully, Pacquiao gets to read this article. Some good science here.
Now that Pretty Boy’s insidious tactics are bared, he won’t come out looking so pretty when the dust settles and the smoke clears. Expose the crime they look like slime.
Ted Laguatan is officially certified as an expert/specialist lawyer by the California State Bar. He does immigration law, personal injury, complex litigation, medical malpractice, and other cases. He is rated as being among the top 5 percent best lawyers in America by a magazine for lawyers. For communications: 455 Hickey Blvd., Ste.516,Daly City, CA 94015, Tel. (650) 991-1154, Fax (650)991-1186, E-mail: laguatanlaw@gmail.com
Source: globalnation.inquirer.net
***
Photos: Juan Manuel Lopez-Steven Luevano fight
Boxing News World
Source: images.search.yahoo.com
Juan Manuel Lopez, left, in action against Steven Luevano during a WBO Featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Juan Manuel Lopez, left, connects against Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Juan Manuel Lopez, left, boxes Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Steven Luevano is seen on the canvas after getting knocked down against Juan Manuel Lopez during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Juan Manuel Lopez, right, connects against Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Juan Manuel Lopez, left, in action against Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Juan Manuel Lopez, right, in action against Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Juan Manuel Lopez celebrates in the ring after his victory against Steven Luevano during a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Juan Manuel Lopez has his hand raised by the referee after defeating Steven Luevano in a WBO featherweight title fight on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 in New York. Lopez won via TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Source: images.search.yahoo.com
Juan Manuel Lopez takes Steven Luevano’s belt -- Boston Herald
By Associated Press
Juan Manuel Lopez knocked out Steven Luevano in the seventh round last night, using a brutal left hook to claim the WBO title in the main event of a featherweight doubleheader at Madison Square Garden’s Wamu Theater in New York.
Earlier in the night, rising star Yuriorkis Gamboa defended his WBA belt with a sensational second-round knockout of rugged challenger Rogers Mtagwa.
Lopez had been taken the distance by Mtagwa in his last fight in October, one he was on the cusp of losing several times. The junior featherweight champion moved up to challenge Luevano and was simply overwhelming at 126 pounds.
JuanMa staggered the champion early in the seventh before finally trapping Luevano against the ropes, unleashing a combination capped by a flush left near the corner. Luevano staggered to his feet by the count of 10, but referee Benji Esteves wisely waved it off.
Luevano (37-2-1), who defended his title five times, struggled to keep his distance against the hard-charging Lopez. He’s a counter-puncher by nature and never had a chance to throw a counter, wilting under JuanMa’s intense pressure.
Gamboa (17-0, 15 KOs) ran roughshod through Mtagwa in an electrifying display.
The 2004 Olympic gold medalist from Cuba did damage with his first blow, a counter-punching left that stunned Mtagwa in the middle of the ring. Gamboa then knocked the granite-chinned Mtagwa down with 15 seconds left in the round, and the Tanzanian-born challenger never looked the same.
Gamboa dumped him again midway through the second round with devastating combinations, finishing the fight moments later when Mtagwa (26-14-2) was unable to get himself into a clinch to buy time.
“We knew he was fast but we felt we could handle his speed,” Mtagwa’s trainer Joe Parella said. “The game plan was to go three rounds, battle through it, but Mtagwa got caught early.”
It’s no secret that Top Rank has been trying to build toward a fight between Lopez and Gamboa, putting them on the same card for the second straight time. It would be an exciting matchup between two of the sport’s rising stars, and one Gamboa said he’s ready to take.
Viloria collapses
American Brian Viloria collapsed in his dressing room and was hospitalized for apparent exhaustion soon after he was knocked out by challenger Carlos Tamara in a title fight in Manila, Philippines. Viloria won’t be cleared by doctors to fly home for at least 10 days, and he will need to return to the hospital to ensure there is no latent brain swelling, his manager Gary Gittelsohn told The Associated Press.
All tests came back negative on Viloria. Referee Bruce McTavish stopped the fight 1:45 into the 12th round.
. . .
Spanish boxer Pablo Navascues has lost his chance of fighting Sebastian Sylvester for the IBF middleweight title after failing a doping test during training.
Berlin-based promoter Sauerland Event said on its Web site that Navascues tested positive for banned substances during a random test earlier this month.
© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Source: news.bostonherald.com
Juan Manuel Lopez knocked out Steven Luevano in the seventh round last night, using a brutal left hook to claim the WBO title in the main event of a featherweight doubleheader at Madison Square Garden’s Wamu Theater in New York.
Earlier in the night, rising star Yuriorkis Gamboa defended his WBA belt with a sensational second-round knockout of rugged challenger Rogers Mtagwa.
Lopez had been taken the distance by Mtagwa in his last fight in October, one he was on the cusp of losing several times. The junior featherweight champion moved up to challenge Luevano and was simply overwhelming at 126 pounds.
JuanMa staggered the champion early in the seventh before finally trapping Luevano against the ropes, unleashing a combination capped by a flush left near the corner. Luevano staggered to his feet by the count of 10, but referee Benji Esteves wisely waved it off.
Luevano (37-2-1), who defended his title five times, struggled to keep his distance against the hard-charging Lopez. He’s a counter-puncher by nature and never had a chance to throw a counter, wilting under JuanMa’s intense pressure.
Gamboa (17-0, 15 KOs) ran roughshod through Mtagwa in an electrifying display.
The 2004 Olympic gold medalist from Cuba did damage with his first blow, a counter-punching left that stunned Mtagwa in the middle of the ring. Gamboa then knocked the granite-chinned Mtagwa down with 15 seconds left in the round, and the Tanzanian-born challenger never looked the same.
Gamboa dumped him again midway through the second round with devastating combinations, finishing the fight moments later when Mtagwa (26-14-2) was unable to get himself into a clinch to buy time.
“We knew he was fast but we felt we could handle his speed,” Mtagwa’s trainer Joe Parella said. “The game plan was to go three rounds, battle through it, but Mtagwa got caught early.”
It’s no secret that Top Rank has been trying to build toward a fight between Lopez and Gamboa, putting them on the same card for the second straight time. It would be an exciting matchup between two of the sport’s rising stars, and one Gamboa said he’s ready to take.
Viloria collapses
American Brian Viloria collapsed in his dressing room and was hospitalized for apparent exhaustion soon after he was knocked out by challenger Carlos Tamara in a title fight in Manila, Philippines. Viloria won’t be cleared by doctors to fly home for at least 10 days, and he will need to return to the hospital to ensure there is no latent brain swelling, his manager Gary Gittelsohn told The Associated Press.
All tests came back negative on Viloria. Referee Bruce McTavish stopped the fight 1:45 into the 12th round.
. . .
Spanish boxer Pablo Navascues has lost his chance of fighting Sebastian Sylvester for the IBF middleweight title after failing a doping test during training.
Berlin-based promoter Sauerland Event said on its Web site that Navascues tested positive for banned substances during a random test earlier this month.
© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Source: news.bostonherald.com
Lopez claims featherweight belt with knockout win; Gamboa also wins in doubleheader -- Google News
By Dave Skretta, Canadian Press
NEW YORK — Juan Manuel Lopez wants to follow his idol Felix Trinidad as the next great Puerto Rican fighter, winning a handful of titles as he climbs through the weight divisions.
JuanMa captured No. 2 in style on Saturday night. He used a thudding right hand and a flush left hook to knock out Steven Luevano in the seventh round, taking his WBO belt in the main event of a featherweight doubleheader. Earlier in the night, fellow rising star Yuriorkis Gamboa defended his WBA belt with a second-round stoppage of Rogers Mtagwa.
"We saw the video and we knew the right was there for me all night," said Lopez, who fought a more disciplined fight than his last time out, when he was taken to the brink by Mtagwa. "I could feel I was landing it, and I was very surprised he took so many punches. He took a lot of punishment."
Luevano (37-2-1), who defended his title five times, struggled to keep his distance. He's a counter-puncher by nature and never had a chance to throw a counter, wilting under JuanMa's intense pressure.
The charismatic Puerto Rican staggered the champion early in the seventh before finally trapping Luevano against the ropes, unleashing a combination capped by a clean left near the corner. Luevano staggered to his feet by the count of 10, but referee Benji Esteves wisely waved it off.
"He's a great fighter and a great hitter," said Luevano, his left eye swelling shut. "I was blocking that right punch during the entire fight, and he got one in."
Lopez (28-0, 25 KOs) had looked dominant at junior featherweight, and he was simply overwhelming at 126 pounds. He didn't have to drain himself nearly as much to make weight and showed that he can be a force in a crowded division that includes Chris John.
"He fought a really intelligent fight," said promoter Bob Arum, who would eventually like to put Lopez and Gamboa against each other. "Let's see if there's any featherweights left standing, I want to wipe them all out, so there's nobody left but those two guys."
The outcome certainly delighted a reunion of great Puerto Rican fighters.
Trinidad, the former five-time champion, drew the first big roar from a crowd of more than 5,000 that packed the smaller theatre at Madison Square Garden. He was followed by another roar for former welterweight titleholder Miguel Cotto, whose late father was honoured before the main event with a 10-bell salute and moment of silence.
Cotto, who is coming off a loss to Manny Pacquiao, was in town to work on an agreement to challenge 154-pound titleholder Yuri Foreman on June 12. Cotto would be reclaiming his annual date on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York.
Despite all the star power in the house, including former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis, Gamboa (17-0, 15 KOs) may have stolen the show with his electrifying display.
The 2004 Olympic gold medallist from Cuba did damage with his first blow, a counter-punching left that stunned Mtagwa in the middle of the ring. Gamboa then knocked the granite-chinned Mtagwa down with 15 seconds left in the round, and the Tanzanian-born challenger never looked the same.
Gamboa dumped him again midway through the second round with devastating combinations, finishing the fight moments later when Mtagwa (26-14-2) was unable to get himself into a clinch to buy time.
"We knew he was fast but we felt we could handle his speed," Mtagwa's trainer Joe Parella said. "The game plan was to go three rounds, battle through it, but Mtagwa got caught early."
Top Rank put Lopez and Gamboa on the same card for the second straight time. It would be an exciting matchup between two of the sport's rising stars, and one Gamboa said he's ready to take.
"I hope that with this performance nobody compares me to JuanMa. We're different fighters," Gamboa said through a translator. "I'd love for whoever the public or maybe the press considers the No. 1 featherweight, to have him in the ring for my next fight. That way I can show who is the best."
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Source: google.com
NEW YORK — Juan Manuel Lopez wants to follow his idol Felix Trinidad as the next great Puerto Rican fighter, winning a handful of titles as he climbs through the weight divisions.
JuanMa captured No. 2 in style on Saturday night. He used a thudding right hand and a flush left hook to knock out Steven Luevano in the seventh round, taking his WBO belt in the main event of a featherweight doubleheader. Earlier in the night, fellow rising star Yuriorkis Gamboa defended his WBA belt with a second-round stoppage of Rogers Mtagwa.
"We saw the video and we knew the right was there for me all night," said Lopez, who fought a more disciplined fight than his last time out, when he was taken to the brink by Mtagwa. "I could feel I was landing it, and I was very surprised he took so many punches. He took a lot of punishment."
Luevano (37-2-1), who defended his title five times, struggled to keep his distance. He's a counter-puncher by nature and never had a chance to throw a counter, wilting under JuanMa's intense pressure.
The charismatic Puerto Rican staggered the champion early in the seventh before finally trapping Luevano against the ropes, unleashing a combination capped by a clean left near the corner. Luevano staggered to his feet by the count of 10, but referee Benji Esteves wisely waved it off.
"He's a great fighter and a great hitter," said Luevano, his left eye swelling shut. "I was blocking that right punch during the entire fight, and he got one in."
Lopez (28-0, 25 KOs) had looked dominant at junior featherweight, and he was simply overwhelming at 126 pounds. He didn't have to drain himself nearly as much to make weight and showed that he can be a force in a crowded division that includes Chris John.
"He fought a really intelligent fight," said promoter Bob Arum, who would eventually like to put Lopez and Gamboa against each other. "Let's see if there's any featherweights left standing, I want to wipe them all out, so there's nobody left but those two guys."
The outcome certainly delighted a reunion of great Puerto Rican fighters.
Trinidad, the former five-time champion, drew the first big roar from a crowd of more than 5,000 that packed the smaller theatre at Madison Square Garden. He was followed by another roar for former welterweight titleholder Miguel Cotto, whose late father was honoured before the main event with a 10-bell salute and moment of silence.
Cotto, who is coming off a loss to Manny Pacquiao, was in town to work on an agreement to challenge 154-pound titleholder Yuri Foreman on June 12. Cotto would be reclaiming his annual date on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York.
Despite all the star power in the house, including former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis, Gamboa (17-0, 15 KOs) may have stolen the show with his electrifying display.
The 2004 Olympic gold medallist from Cuba did damage with his first blow, a counter-punching left that stunned Mtagwa in the middle of the ring. Gamboa then knocked the granite-chinned Mtagwa down with 15 seconds left in the round, and the Tanzanian-born challenger never looked the same.
Gamboa dumped him again midway through the second round with devastating combinations, finishing the fight moments later when Mtagwa (26-14-2) was unable to get himself into a clinch to buy time.
"We knew he was fast but we felt we could handle his speed," Mtagwa's trainer Joe Parella said. "The game plan was to go three rounds, battle through it, but Mtagwa got caught early."
Top Rank put Lopez and Gamboa on the same card for the second straight time. It would be an exciting matchup between two of the sport's rising stars, and one Gamboa said he's ready to take.
"I hope that with this performance nobody compares me to JuanMa. We're different fighters," Gamboa said through a translator. "I'd love for whoever the public or maybe the press considers the No. 1 featherweight, to have him in the ring for my next fight. That way I can show who is the best."
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Source: google.com
John Duddy knocks Juan Astorga out at Madison Square Garden, fights next in Texas on March 13 -- Irish Central
By DECLAN O'KELLY, IrishCentral.com
Middleweight John Duddy (28-1, 18 KOs) knocked Juan Astorga (14-4-1, 9 KOs) out after 1:55 of the first round of their fight in the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Straight after the quick fire win, the ring announcer told the crowd that Duddy would be fighting next on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao/Joshua Clottey fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13.
Duddy is sure to have a longer night’s work then, as he totally outclassed Astorga during their brief encounter.
Roared on by plenty of Irish fans, Duddy, in light green shorts, looked sharp and focused in the early exchanges.
The fight had barely started when Duddy threw a nice left hook that landed on Astorga, who looked nervous.
He had good reason to be, as shortly after Duddy landed a straight right hand to his head. After a delayed reaction, the Mexican took a knee and referee Wayne Kelly gave him a count.
Once he got up, Astorga’s body language suggested that his fight was done.
And it was a couple of seconds later, when a perfect left hook to the body from Duddy put the Missouri-based Mexican down again.
Referee Wayne Kelly started his count but immediately waved off the fight, giving "The Derry Destroyer" his 28th and arguably easiest win of his professional career.
"I got him right on the temple you know, and with temple shots there is a delayed reaction. I was surprised to see him do down, but I did hit him flush and it was a nice short right hand,” said Duddy after the fight.
Of the knockout punch, Duddy said that body shots were something that he had not been concentrating on in recent fights, but trainer Harry Keitt had encouraged him to go back to working on the body more.
“I hit him a couple of times to the body, and with that last left hook to the body I could hear the wind coming out of his lungs.
"It landed on the button, and once I saw him land on the canvas I knew he wasn't getting up again.
“I wish it has gone on longer but I was throwing my shots with a lot of determination.”
Duddy said that he did not know who he would face at Cowboys Stadium on March 13, but the 30-year-old is determined to make the most of his chance on the Pacquiao undercard.
"I don't know who I am fighting (on March 13), but I will be straight back into the gym on Monday with Harry (Keitt). I ain't stopping this train now. I am looking forward to it.
"Craig (Hamilton, Duddy's manager) will be working on my next opponent and whoever it is, bring him on."
Trainer Harry Keitt was delighted with his fighter's quick shift.
"He didn't show much because the fight was over so quick , but I am happy with how the fight went," said Keitt.
"The most important thing is that he was more relaxed than any time I have ever seem him. We had trained a long time for this fight; we have been in the gym since our last fight in October and all the hard work has paid off."
Source: irishcentral.com
Middleweight John Duddy (28-1, 18 KOs) knocked Juan Astorga (14-4-1, 9 KOs) out after 1:55 of the first round of their fight in the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Straight after the quick fire win, the ring announcer told the crowd that Duddy would be fighting next on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao/Joshua Clottey fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13.
Duddy is sure to have a longer night’s work then, as he totally outclassed Astorga during their brief encounter.
Roared on by plenty of Irish fans, Duddy, in light green shorts, looked sharp and focused in the early exchanges.
The fight had barely started when Duddy threw a nice left hook that landed on Astorga, who looked nervous.
He had good reason to be, as shortly after Duddy landed a straight right hand to his head. After a delayed reaction, the Mexican took a knee and referee Wayne Kelly gave him a count.
Once he got up, Astorga’s body language suggested that his fight was done.
And it was a couple of seconds later, when a perfect left hook to the body from Duddy put the Missouri-based Mexican down again.
Referee Wayne Kelly started his count but immediately waved off the fight, giving "The Derry Destroyer" his 28th and arguably easiest win of his professional career.
"I got him right on the temple you know, and with temple shots there is a delayed reaction. I was surprised to see him do down, but I did hit him flush and it was a nice short right hand,” said Duddy after the fight.
Of the knockout punch, Duddy said that body shots were something that he had not been concentrating on in recent fights, but trainer Harry Keitt had encouraged him to go back to working on the body more.
“I hit him a couple of times to the body, and with that last left hook to the body I could hear the wind coming out of his lungs.
"It landed on the button, and once I saw him land on the canvas I knew he wasn't getting up again.
“I wish it has gone on longer but I was throwing my shots with a lot of determination.”
Duddy said that he did not know who he would face at Cowboys Stadium on March 13, but the 30-year-old is determined to make the most of his chance on the Pacquiao undercard.
"I don't know who I am fighting (on March 13), but I will be straight back into the gym on Monday with Harry (Keitt). I ain't stopping this train now. I am looking forward to it.
"Craig (Hamilton, Duddy's manager) will be working on my next opponent and whoever it is, bring him on."
Trainer Harry Keitt was delighted with his fighter's quick shift.
"He didn't show much because the fight was over so quick , but I am happy with how the fight went," said Keitt.
"The most important thing is that he was more relaxed than any time I have ever seem him. We had trained a long time for this fight; we have been in the gym since our last fight in October and all the hard work has paid off."
Source: irishcentral.com
Pacquiao-Clottey tickets on fire on first day of sales -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
NEW YORK -- Sure, most boxing fans really, really wanted to see pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao fight Floyd Mayweather on March 13. While that fight isn't happening now because of their inability to agree on how to handle drug testing for the bout, the public seems to have accepted with open arms Pacquiao's replacement fight.
He's going to meet former welterweight titleholder Joshua Clottey on HBO PPV on March 13 in the first boxing event to be held at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, outside of Dallas.
In just the first three hours of public tickets sales (preceded by three days of limited pre-sales) on Saturday, more than 20,000 of the approximately 40,000 available were gobbled up. They ranged in price from $50 to $700.
"Ross Greenburg and I are very gratified that the public has responded like they have, and we are happy for our partner (Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told me on Saturday night at the Madison Square Garden Theater.
Arum and Greenburg, the president of HBO Sports, were sitting together shortly before the telecast of Top Rank's doubleheader, featuring featherweight title bouts pitting Steven Luevano and Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa and Rogers Mtagwa.
Arum said if the demand for the fight continues the capacity of the stadium, which is 100,000 or so for Cowboys games, can easily be increased.
"It's going to be quite a night," Arum said. "And Jerry isn't just a one-event guy. If he sees this as a success you can be sure he'll do more boxing in that great stadium."
Also Saturday night, junior middleweight titlist Yuri Foreman and former welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto were in the house. Arum, who promotes both, was talking with both sides trying to finalize a June 12 fight between them, which he is planning for in the Madison Square Garden main arena.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
***
NEW YORK -- Sure, most boxing fans really, really wanted to see pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao fight Floyd Mayweather on March 13. While that fight isn't happening now because of their inability to agree on how to handle drug testing for the bout, the public seems to have accepted with open arms Pacquiao's replacement fight.
He's going to meet former welterweight titleholder Joshua Clottey on HBO PPV on March 13 in the first boxing event to be held at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, outside of Dallas.
In just the first three hours of public tickets sales (preceded by three days of limited pre-sales) on Saturday, more than 20,000 of the approximately 40,000 available were gobbled up. They ranged in price from $50 to $700.
"Ross Greenburg and I are very gratified that the public has responded like they have, and we are happy for our partner (Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told me on Saturday night at the Madison Square Garden Theater.
Arum and Greenburg, the president of HBO Sports, were sitting together shortly before the telecast of Top Rank's doubleheader, featuring featherweight title bouts pitting Steven Luevano and Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa and Rogers Mtagwa.
Arum said if the demand for the fight continues the capacity of the stadium, which is 100,000 or so for Cowboys games, can easily be increased.
"It's going to be quite a night," Arum said. "And Jerry isn't just a one-event guy. If he sees this as a success you can be sure he'll do more boxing in that great stadium."
Also Saturday night, junior middleweight titlist Yuri Foreman and former welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto were in the house. Arum, who promotes both, was talking with both sides trying to finalize a June 12 fight between them, which he is planning for in the Madison Square Garden main arena.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
***
TAMARA'S LATE RALLY STUNS PINOY FANS -- PhilBoxing
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr., PhilBoxing.com
“I told him, “Remember your two little daughters in Colombia. Dig down inside. Do you want to go home and hear your kids call you champion?” “ – this was the reply of trainer Butch Sanchez when I asked him during the post fight press conference as to how he motivated and pushed his boxer, Carlos “El Olimpico” Tamara, to continue fighting despite being way behind on points.
Sanchez, who also acted as interpreter, said that Tamara’s daughters were his motivation to succeed in winning the IBF jr.flyweight world title from Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria before thousands of partisan Filipino fans at the Cuneta Astrodome.
“We never had a doubt of winning from day one.” Sanchez said.
But prior to the fight, most if not all, Filipino sportswriters never gave them a chance, publicly or privately. Viloria was riding the crest of a Hawaiian wave after winning the IBF title by 11th round knockout over Mexico’s Ulises Solis last April and defending it successfully in Honolulu against Jesus Iribe.
Tamara was a stranger to Filipino boxing aficionados. He even had trouble making the 108 lb weight limit. In the opening round, Viloria used jabs to redden the challenger’s nose. Tamara’s jab and two combinations seemed ineffective as Viloria repeatedly landed powerful hooks and right straights. This was the trend in the first three rounds.
In the fourth, they traded wicked uppercuts and hooks in a scintillating display of infighting. Viloria’s body shots pushed Tamara back then transferred his attack to the head.
Victory seemed to be a matter of time for Viloria.
How did the Tamara corner adjust?
“We used lateral movement to make Viloria tired. We made him miss.” Sanchez said.
But in the sixth round, Tamara’s face was already swollen. But he was still standing. In the seventh, more power shots came from Viloria.
In the eighth, Tamara kept punching but Viloria pinned him to the red corner and landed a series of shots. Tamara survived the onslaught and continued to fight.
The tide turned in the 9th round as Tamara got surprisingly stronger and pinned Viloria on the ropes. Viloria was visibly faded in the 10th and Tamara landed at will.
The crowd tried to push Viloria on by chanting his name. Viloria started the 11th swinging a left hook but Tamara continued to inflict hair raising punishment. Viloria was standing on wobbly legs and gasping for air.
In the 12th and final round, Viloria was bleeding from the corner of his left eyebrow and was pinned helpless on the ropes unable to defend himself from Tamara’s punches prompting referee Bruce McTavish to stop the fight at the 1:45 second mark.
“I’m a hungry fighter. I attribute this victory to being hungry.” Tamara said during the press conference. “During the late rounds, I noticed he was tired. When he missed, I jumped on top of him. Viloria is strong, I felt his power but I’m hungry and I want to win.”
Viloria did not attend the presscon as he was brought to a hospital for observation. Team Tamara plans to check on him to see if he is okay.
Sanchez said there was no rematch clause in their contract. Tamara also thanked the Filipinos for their hospitality and said he wants to fight WBO champ Ivan Calderon.
Post fight reports state that Viloria is stable.
Source: philboxing.com
“I told him, “Remember your two little daughters in Colombia. Dig down inside. Do you want to go home and hear your kids call you champion?” “ – this was the reply of trainer Butch Sanchez when I asked him during the post fight press conference as to how he motivated and pushed his boxer, Carlos “El Olimpico” Tamara, to continue fighting despite being way behind on points.
Sanchez, who also acted as interpreter, said that Tamara’s daughters were his motivation to succeed in winning the IBF jr.flyweight world title from Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria before thousands of partisan Filipino fans at the Cuneta Astrodome.
“We never had a doubt of winning from day one.” Sanchez said.
But prior to the fight, most if not all, Filipino sportswriters never gave them a chance, publicly or privately. Viloria was riding the crest of a Hawaiian wave after winning the IBF title by 11th round knockout over Mexico’s Ulises Solis last April and defending it successfully in Honolulu against Jesus Iribe.
Tamara was a stranger to Filipino boxing aficionados. He even had trouble making the 108 lb weight limit. In the opening round, Viloria used jabs to redden the challenger’s nose. Tamara’s jab and two combinations seemed ineffective as Viloria repeatedly landed powerful hooks and right straights. This was the trend in the first three rounds.
In the fourth, they traded wicked uppercuts and hooks in a scintillating display of infighting. Viloria’s body shots pushed Tamara back then transferred his attack to the head.
Victory seemed to be a matter of time for Viloria.
How did the Tamara corner adjust?
“We used lateral movement to make Viloria tired. We made him miss.” Sanchez said.
But in the sixth round, Tamara’s face was already swollen. But he was still standing. In the seventh, more power shots came from Viloria.
In the eighth, Tamara kept punching but Viloria pinned him to the red corner and landed a series of shots. Tamara survived the onslaught and continued to fight.
The tide turned in the 9th round as Tamara got surprisingly stronger and pinned Viloria on the ropes. Viloria was visibly faded in the 10th and Tamara landed at will.
The crowd tried to push Viloria on by chanting his name. Viloria started the 11th swinging a left hook but Tamara continued to inflict hair raising punishment. Viloria was standing on wobbly legs and gasping for air.
In the 12th and final round, Viloria was bleeding from the corner of his left eyebrow and was pinned helpless on the ropes unable to defend himself from Tamara’s punches prompting referee Bruce McTavish to stop the fight at the 1:45 second mark.
“I’m a hungry fighter. I attribute this victory to being hungry.” Tamara said during the press conference. “During the late rounds, I noticed he was tired. When he missed, I jumped on top of him. Viloria is strong, I felt his power but I’m hungry and I want to win.”
Viloria did not attend the presscon as he was brought to a hospital for observation. Team Tamara plans to check on him to see if he is okay.
Sanchez said there was no rematch clause in their contract. Tamara also thanked the Filipinos for their hospitality and said he wants to fight WBO champ Ivan Calderon.
Post fight reports state that Viloria is stable.
Source: philboxing.com
Pacquiao-Clottey bout will help Haiti quake victims -- ABS-CBN
Agence France-Presse
WASHINGTON - Aid from US sports continued to flow for earthquake-ravaged Haiti on Friday, with boxing promoter Top Rank pledging a share of ticket sales to relief efforts.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum said the company would donate one dollar from every ticket it sells through the end of the year to aid for Haiti.
The plan will start with a featherweight card at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, where a turnout of about 5,000 is expected.
"For a fight like this, it might be a few thousand, but for March 13 it could be 40 or 50,000," Arum said.
On March 13, Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao takes on US-based Ghanian Joshua Clottey at the billion-dollar Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
The facility, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, is being configured for 40,000 fans, but can seat more depending on demand.
Arum said he wasn't sure how many tickets will be sold the rest of the year because there is no accurate way to predict how many shows will be put together, who will headline the shows and where they will take place.
"Hopefully, other promoters will join us," he said.
Boxing has been affected by the quake that rocked Haiti on January 12. The official death toll as of Friday was put at more than 110,000.
'One Team 4 Haiti'
Welterweight world titlist Andre Berto, who was born in Miami to Haitian parents and represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympics, has pulled out of a fight against Shane Mosley next week as his family deals with the crisis.
"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," he said.
Players unions for four US pro leagues launched a campaign to support the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund.
The "One Team 4 Haiti" project will urge fans to text the word "team" to 20222, donating 10 dollars for US fans and five dollars for Canadian ones.
All the funds will go to relief efforts, the campaign said Friday.
"Since the earthquake hit their country, the Haitian people, including friends and family of mine, have been through so much devastation," said Georges Laraque, an NHL Players Association member who recently played for Montreal. "NHLPA members, together with the members of the NFLPA, MLBPA and the NBPA, hope that we can make a meaningful contribution and encourage sports fans across North America to join us in helping Haiti."
Major league baseball player Magglio Ordonez donated 100,000 dollars to the American Red Cross on Friday and his Detroit Tigers teammate Miguel Cabrera gave 90,000 dollars to Project Medishare for Haiti. The Tigers added 10,000 dollars. The NFL's San Diego Padres and their foundation gave 25,000 dollars to UNICEF.
Lakers donate to quake victims
Spanish basketball star Pau Gasol was one of 10 players that donated 1,000 dollars to the quake victims for every point they scored in their NBA games on Friday night.
Gasol finished with 20 points in the Lakers' 115-105 win which means he will donate 20,000 dollars to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
"I think it is important to be able to contribute," Gasol said. "There are so many tragedies going on in the world and we have got to acknowledge how lucky we are. So we decided to do that with the Clinton foundation."
The other players taking part in the aid effort comprise rookie of the year Derrick Rose, Atlanta all-star Joe Johnson, rookie Tyreke Evans and Spencer Hawes of Sacramento, Wizards players Antawn Jamison and Mike Miller, Pacers guard Mike Dunleavy Jr, Celtics centre Kendrick Perkins and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. All the players are clients of the Wasserman Media Group.
Speaking at halftime of the Lakers game, former president Bill Clinton said the need is great.
"[The situation in Haiti] is awful," said Clinton in announcing the programme. "There is no way to put a nice spin on it. But I have confidence the people of Haiti that they can get through this.
"I think their spirit is great."
The 10 players in action Friday will combine with 37 other Wasserman NBA clients to donate a minimum of 500,000 dollars to the fund.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
***
WASHINGTON - Aid from US sports continued to flow for earthquake-ravaged Haiti on Friday, with boxing promoter Top Rank pledging a share of ticket sales to relief efforts.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum said the company would donate one dollar from every ticket it sells through the end of the year to aid for Haiti.
The plan will start with a featherweight card at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, where a turnout of about 5,000 is expected.
"For a fight like this, it might be a few thousand, but for March 13 it could be 40 or 50,000," Arum said.
On March 13, Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao takes on US-based Ghanian Joshua Clottey at the billion-dollar Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
The facility, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, is being configured for 40,000 fans, but can seat more depending on demand.
Arum said he wasn't sure how many tickets will be sold the rest of the year because there is no accurate way to predict how many shows will be put together, who will headline the shows and where they will take place.
"Hopefully, other promoters will join us," he said.
Boxing has been affected by the quake that rocked Haiti on January 12. The official death toll as of Friday was put at more than 110,000.
'One Team 4 Haiti'
Welterweight world titlist Andre Berto, who was born in Miami to Haitian parents and represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympics, has pulled out of a fight against Shane Mosley next week as his family deals with the crisis.
"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," he said.
Players unions for four US pro leagues launched a campaign to support the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund.
The "One Team 4 Haiti" project will urge fans to text the word "team" to 20222, donating 10 dollars for US fans and five dollars for Canadian ones.
All the funds will go to relief efforts, the campaign said Friday.
"Since the earthquake hit their country, the Haitian people, including friends and family of mine, have been through so much devastation," said Georges Laraque, an NHL Players Association member who recently played for Montreal. "NHLPA members, together with the members of the NFLPA, MLBPA and the NBPA, hope that we can make a meaningful contribution and encourage sports fans across North America to join us in helping Haiti."
Major league baseball player Magglio Ordonez donated 100,000 dollars to the American Red Cross on Friday and his Detroit Tigers teammate Miguel Cabrera gave 90,000 dollars to Project Medishare for Haiti. The Tigers added 10,000 dollars. The NFL's San Diego Padres and their foundation gave 25,000 dollars to UNICEF.
Lakers donate to quake victims
Spanish basketball star Pau Gasol was one of 10 players that donated 1,000 dollars to the quake victims for every point they scored in their NBA games on Friday night.
Gasol finished with 20 points in the Lakers' 115-105 win which means he will donate 20,000 dollars to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
"I think it is important to be able to contribute," Gasol said. "There are so many tragedies going on in the world and we have got to acknowledge how lucky we are. So we decided to do that with the Clinton foundation."
The other players taking part in the aid effort comprise rookie of the year Derrick Rose, Atlanta all-star Joe Johnson, rookie Tyreke Evans and Spencer Hawes of Sacramento, Wizards players Antawn Jamison and Mike Miller, Pacers guard Mike Dunleavy Jr, Celtics centre Kendrick Perkins and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. All the players are clients of the Wasserman Media Group.
Speaking at halftime of the Lakers game, former president Bill Clinton said the need is great.
"[The situation in Haiti] is awful," said Clinton in announcing the programme. "There is no way to put a nice spin on it. But I have confidence the people of Haiti that they can get through this.
"I think their spirit is great."
The 10 players in action Friday will combine with 37 other Wasserman NBA clients to donate a minimum of 500,000 dollars to the fund.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
***
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