By Bart Barry, 15Rounds.com
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – And you thought it was flat and dark on a nighttime drive from Phoenix to Tucson? The current view from I-10 East: Indian reservations, 18-wheelers, dust and an unobstructed view of where the sky touches the road. It is not picturesque. Still, you can understand the metaphorical appeal; a boundless expanse that enchants wandering souls.
There’s lots of time to think out here. Lots to think about, too. For boxing fans, Saturday brought a pleasant surprise worth treating. So let us.
All indications are that Floyd “Money” Mayweather will make a welterweight title match with “Sugar” Shane Mosley on May 1 at MGM Grand. Your reaction to this announcement passes for a litmus test. If you smile, shake your head and say “I never thought Mayweather’d do it, but I’m glad he did!” you’re capable of an objective view, despite Mayweather’s shenanigans. If you can’t pass even a smidgeon of begrudging admiration Mayweather’s way, though, you might be everything “Money’s” obnoxious fans say you are.
Chemist, reveal thy composition.
I will by way of a confession and a pledge. The confession? Back in December when 15rounds.com’s intrepid editor Marc Abrams sent a questionnaire that included “Fight you’d most like to see in 2010,” I didn’t choose Pacquiao-Mayweather. That fight won our survey, of course. But I chose Mosley-Mayweather and meant it.
Shane Mosley presents a more complicated challenge to Floyd Mayweather. There’s a good chance that if 2010’s most-demanded fight had happened – if it does yet happen – Mayweather would retreat to the ropes, take away much of the leap in Pacquiao’s left cross, solve Pacquiao’s timing, pop him with short rights, threaten him with a high left elbow, and then hold him till half the television sets in Manila were switched off in disgust. None of that plays with Mosley.
Mosley’s style is not complex as his speed makes it look. But it’s plenty complex. It’s also a style employed by a fighter that has seen every defense there is and knows that, often as not, physicality wins the day. Or as “Mad Men’s” Don Draper thought to put it: “At a certain point seduction is over, and force is actually being requested.”
Mosley understands force. And he will not be surprised by Mayweather’s reflexes. Mayweather, though, might be surprised by Mosley’s fearlessness. However underestimated Mayweather’s strength might be, there’s no chance it’s greater than Antonio Margarito’s. You saw how Mosley manhandled him.
Whatever the fighters’ history over the last decade, today Mosley offers Mayweather his best chance at redemption. But how in the world did a former multi-divisional champ with a 40-0 record come to require redemption? Steadily.
Whenever things first kicked-off and the name Floyd got switched to “Fraud” by a writer or two, doubts really got rolling round the time of the Carlos Baldomir fight. Mayweather bought his way out of a contract with promoter Top Rank and forwent a lucrative offer to fight Margarito – then the WBO welterweight champion – to face Baldomir instead. The fight was dreadful.
Then came the fight to save boxing with Oscar De La Hoya – a made-for-TV event that launched HBO’s “24/7” franchise and revealed Mayweather as thoroughly unlikable. Not unlikable in the professional-wrestling-heel sense so much as in the kid-who-shoplifts-a-candy-bar sense. Mayweather delighted in his own cleverness and originality while stringing together hip-hop clichés. Afterwards he retired. Then he came back. Then he retired.
Boxing fans realized they didn’t miss him. But he came back again anyway. He chose the lightweight champion for his welterweight return. He made no effort to weigh 144 pounds – as Golden Boy Promotions had promised he would – and looked three weight classes larger than Juan Manuel Marquez by the time the opening bell rang. But then Mayweather ran into R.A. the Rugged Man, a Long Island emcee, and got thoroughly outclassed on the radio; Rugged Man ran a check on Money’s credit and found him wanting.
The end of negotiations for a fight with Manny Pacquiao, combined with rumored invitations issued to junior welterweights, were the last confirmation Mayweather’s myriad of critics needed. Mayweather stood on the precipice of irrelevance, three years or so from a VH1 reality series like “Where’s my ‘Money’?”
But an earthquake struck Haiti, and the WBC’s Haitian-American titlist Andre Berto suddenly had to withdraw from his welterweight unification bout with Shane Mosley. And with Mosley and Mayweather sharing the same promoter and both available in the spring, well, redemption presented itself – cornering Mayweather. To his credit, Mayweather has met the challenge.
That brings us to the pledge. If he makes this fight with Mosley at the welterweight limit and beats him, however he does it, I’ll give Mayweather nothing but praise. I praise him today just for agreeing to the fight.
Mosley will turn 39 this year and might well be an old man by the time May 1 arrives. So be it. The assumption we must make is that Mosley is the same beast that went directly through Margarito a year ago. That also must be the assumption under which Mayweather signed, and now prepares, for this fight. Mosley is the sort of relentless body-puncher against whom making a “boring fight” would be a mark of excellence. If Mayweather makes May 1 dull, in other words, he’ll deserve our admiration.
If something happens to preclude this fight, though, scorn will be the order of the day. There likely won’t be press conferences or future “24/7” episodes enough to restore Mayweather’s standing.
The kids’ll forgive you, Money. A smug sound bite, a tour of the Big Boy Mansion, another roll of Benjamins unfurled at an HBO camera, Uncle Roger explaining why you’re better than Sugar Ray Robinson – they’ll get the job done. But remember, kids don’t write history. Adults do. And the adults are now gathered and watching closely. Your ultimate legacy is in the offing.
Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com/bartbarry
Source: 15rounds.com
Monday 1 February 2010
Mayweather Jr. attacks Pacquiao anew -- Manila Bulletin
By Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin
Floyd Mayweather is back on the offensive.
After weeks of silence, Mayweather said in a radio interview over the weekend that he doesn’t believe somebody like Manny Pacquiao could accomplish things in sensational fashion without the aid of illegal drugs.
“In a fighter’s career, a fighter starts off good and he’s good until the end of his career or a fighter starts off good and then goes downhill towards the end of his career,” Mayweather told radio-planet.tv as quoted by boxingscene.com.
“A fighter doesn’t start like Manny Pacquiao, just ordinary, and then once he gets over 25 (years old) he becomes an extraordinary fighter. It doesn’t work like that in this sport of boxing,” said Mayweather, whose megabuck match with Pacquiao fell by the wayside after the two fighters failed to agree on a drug-testing procedure.
With Pacquiao all set to face Joshua Clottey of Ghana on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Mayweather has also found a willing dance partner in Shane Mosley with the two agreeing to square off on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao was so piqued by Mayweather’s nasty allegation that he even filed a defamation suit against Mayweather as well as his father Floyd Sr. and uncle Roger and Golden Boy Promotions last month.
Source: mb.com.ph
Floyd Mayweather is back on the offensive.
After weeks of silence, Mayweather said in a radio interview over the weekend that he doesn’t believe somebody like Manny Pacquiao could accomplish things in sensational fashion without the aid of illegal drugs.
“In a fighter’s career, a fighter starts off good and he’s good until the end of his career or a fighter starts off good and then goes downhill towards the end of his career,” Mayweather told radio-planet.tv as quoted by boxingscene.com.
“A fighter doesn’t start like Manny Pacquiao, just ordinary, and then once he gets over 25 (years old) he becomes an extraordinary fighter. It doesn’t work like that in this sport of boxing,” said Mayweather, whose megabuck match with Pacquiao fell by the wayside after the two fighters failed to agree on a drug-testing procedure.
With Pacquiao all set to face Joshua Clottey of Ghana on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Mayweather has also found a willing dance partner in Shane Mosley with the two agreeing to square off on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao was so piqued by Mayweather’s nasty allegation that he even filed a defamation suit against Mayweather as well as his father Floyd Sr. and uncle Roger and Golden Boy Promotions last month.
Source: mb.com.ph
Ricky Hatton: The Return of the Hitman -- Ringside Report
By Geoff “The Professor” Poundes, Ringside Report
Finally, it’s official.
After keeping the watching masses on tenterhooks for some 6 months or more Ricky Hatton has delivered the news that surprised no-one – he’ll fight again this summer.
Those of us who were witnessing his ballooning corpulence had begun to doubt. We doubted not because it appeared that the fires within this admirable warrior had diminished, nor because his last fight indicated a separation from his formerly formidable powers, but because he was beginning to look for all the world like a man comfortable in his own stretched skin, ready for the pipe and slippers.
Apparently not.
As much as Ricky disclaims his knockout at the flashing fists of Manny Pacquiao last May as a training mishap, even he must know that at 31 years of age his best fighting years are behind him, and what remains up ahead is a hard, desperate struggle to recapture the vim and vigor of youth.
Hatton is not the first, nor will he be the last, to embark on that journey. Of course the Hitman gives himself a far greater mountain to climb than most, with his stubborn refusal to exercise any kind of moderation between fights, a refusal that has surely exacerbated a quick and painful fall from grace.
At his presser to announce his return to the ring, Hatton claimed to have weighed in at around 180 pounds, but looked closer to 190, and he refused to remove his t-shirt as he lumbered around a heavy bag for the photographers like a pregnant rhino.
There will still be fires that burn within. Not least the desire to clear his name in the wake of that debilitating Pacquiao loss. Ricky claims that Floyd Mayweather, SR., over trained him (when all the indications pre- and post-fight were that Floyd was, if anything, an absentee coach), and that he approached the ring that night knowing that he was in no shape to fight. His loss to Mayweather, whilst emphasizing a gulf in class between the two fighters, at least allowed Hatton the kudos of having competed on something like level terms with the Pretty Boy for much of the fight.
Hatton has tried to persuade himself and others that he out-fought Pacquiao in the second round of their encounter, before the Philippine put his lights out. A cursory glimpse of the fight film proves otherwise, and suggests that Ricky is separating himself from reality if he’s going into a comeback on that basis.
He’ll have no shortage of willing opponents. It’s almost certain he’ll fight in Manchester, where 50,000 fans would turn up to watch him break wind. He’s box office, damaged goods or not, and offers a mega-payday to any fighter who’s prepared to share a ring with him. Champions will happily place their titles on the line against him, particularly now that he’s been beaten twice, and spectacularly knocked out in his last fight. One suspects also that they’ll take a look at the pudgy ex-champ and fancy their chances of keeping their belts and picking up some big bucks.
Juan Manuel Marquez remains the most likely candidate, and would make for an intriguing fight. Despite his current size, Hatton insists that he wants to box at 140, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be looking at welterweights, although he himself hinted at a challenge for the WBA Welterweight Title, currently held by Vyacheslav Senchenko, a 32 year old Ukrainian with a 30-0 record.
Senchenko is one of those mysterious fighters who’s come up on the blind side, fought no-one of note, but might turn out to be the real deal when he does. At 5 feet 10 he’s a big welter, and one suspects that Hatton may want a better known quantity first time out, particularly given that Ricky has struggled up at 147 previously.
A prospective tussle with WBA light-welter champ, and fellow countryman Amir Khan, has moved closer as a possibility now that Khan has ditched his long-time promoter Frank Warren in favor of Oscar’s Golden Boy. Khan has a mandatory challenge to see off first (assuming he accepts the overtures of Marcos Maidana, 27-1, 26 KO’s, who’s record as a puncher may yet deter the fragile-chinned Brit), and the fight would be a money-spinner in the UK, but the two fighters are friends, and the fight probably won’t happen until the payday becomes essential to one of other of them.
Of course, if there were any justice in the world it would be Tim Bradley on the other side of the ring come the summer, but the WBO champion, still unbeaten after 25 fights, is being ignored by everyone that matters because, frankly, he’s too good and doesn’t excite the fans. The likes of Hatton, Khan, Mayweather and even Pacquiao will not take a fight with Bradley anytime soon.
So Marquez fits the bill precisely.
Coming off a lop-sided loss to Mayweather (no disgrace in hindsight) Marquez still retains the respect he deserves having been the one man to give Pacquiao a couple of his sternest tests, and there would be considerable interest in the match-up. He’s 36 now, with 56 contests under his belt (50 wins, 5 losses), and he’s the right size and style of fighter to make Hatton look good if the Hitman can recapture anything of his former glory.
Source: ringsidereport.com
Finally, it’s official.
After keeping the watching masses on tenterhooks for some 6 months or more Ricky Hatton has delivered the news that surprised no-one – he’ll fight again this summer.
Those of us who were witnessing his ballooning corpulence had begun to doubt. We doubted not because it appeared that the fires within this admirable warrior had diminished, nor because his last fight indicated a separation from his formerly formidable powers, but because he was beginning to look for all the world like a man comfortable in his own stretched skin, ready for the pipe and slippers.
Apparently not.
As much as Ricky disclaims his knockout at the flashing fists of Manny Pacquiao last May as a training mishap, even he must know that at 31 years of age his best fighting years are behind him, and what remains up ahead is a hard, desperate struggle to recapture the vim and vigor of youth.
Hatton is not the first, nor will he be the last, to embark on that journey. Of course the Hitman gives himself a far greater mountain to climb than most, with his stubborn refusal to exercise any kind of moderation between fights, a refusal that has surely exacerbated a quick and painful fall from grace.
At his presser to announce his return to the ring, Hatton claimed to have weighed in at around 180 pounds, but looked closer to 190, and he refused to remove his t-shirt as he lumbered around a heavy bag for the photographers like a pregnant rhino.
There will still be fires that burn within. Not least the desire to clear his name in the wake of that debilitating Pacquiao loss. Ricky claims that Floyd Mayweather, SR., over trained him (when all the indications pre- and post-fight were that Floyd was, if anything, an absentee coach), and that he approached the ring that night knowing that he was in no shape to fight. His loss to Mayweather, whilst emphasizing a gulf in class between the two fighters, at least allowed Hatton the kudos of having competed on something like level terms with the Pretty Boy for much of the fight.
Hatton has tried to persuade himself and others that he out-fought Pacquiao in the second round of their encounter, before the Philippine put his lights out. A cursory glimpse of the fight film proves otherwise, and suggests that Ricky is separating himself from reality if he’s going into a comeback on that basis.
He’ll have no shortage of willing opponents. It’s almost certain he’ll fight in Manchester, where 50,000 fans would turn up to watch him break wind. He’s box office, damaged goods or not, and offers a mega-payday to any fighter who’s prepared to share a ring with him. Champions will happily place their titles on the line against him, particularly now that he’s been beaten twice, and spectacularly knocked out in his last fight. One suspects also that they’ll take a look at the pudgy ex-champ and fancy their chances of keeping their belts and picking up some big bucks.
Juan Manuel Marquez remains the most likely candidate, and would make for an intriguing fight. Despite his current size, Hatton insists that he wants to box at 140, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be looking at welterweights, although he himself hinted at a challenge for the WBA Welterweight Title, currently held by Vyacheslav Senchenko, a 32 year old Ukrainian with a 30-0 record.
Senchenko is one of those mysterious fighters who’s come up on the blind side, fought no-one of note, but might turn out to be the real deal when he does. At 5 feet 10 he’s a big welter, and one suspects that Hatton may want a better known quantity first time out, particularly given that Ricky has struggled up at 147 previously.
A prospective tussle with WBA light-welter champ, and fellow countryman Amir Khan, has moved closer as a possibility now that Khan has ditched his long-time promoter Frank Warren in favor of Oscar’s Golden Boy. Khan has a mandatory challenge to see off first (assuming he accepts the overtures of Marcos Maidana, 27-1, 26 KO’s, who’s record as a puncher may yet deter the fragile-chinned Brit), and the fight would be a money-spinner in the UK, but the two fighters are friends, and the fight probably won’t happen until the payday becomes essential to one of other of them.
Of course, if there were any justice in the world it would be Tim Bradley on the other side of the ring come the summer, but the WBO champion, still unbeaten after 25 fights, is being ignored by everyone that matters because, frankly, he’s too good and doesn’t excite the fans. The likes of Hatton, Khan, Mayweather and even Pacquiao will not take a fight with Bradley anytime soon.
So Marquez fits the bill precisely.
Coming off a lop-sided loss to Mayweather (no disgrace in hindsight) Marquez still retains the respect he deserves having been the one man to give Pacquiao a couple of his sternest tests, and there would be considerable interest in the match-up. He’s 36 now, with 56 contests under his belt (50 wins, 5 losses), and he’s the right size and style of fighter to make Hatton look good if the Hitman can recapture anything of his former glory.
Source: ringsidereport.com
Q&A With WBC Champ Edwin Valero -- 26-0, With 26 KOs -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
He is nicknamed "Dinamita," or Dynamite, and Edwin Valero has indeed displayed two-fisted power throughout his professional boxing career.
On Saturday, Feb. 6, in Monterrey, Mexico, the Venezuelan-born, WBC lightweight champion will pursue his 26th, consecutive knockout in as many victories without a loss when he makes the second defense of his crown against WBC interim titlist, Antonio DeMarco, in a Showtime-televised, 135-pound clash of talented southpaws.
The 28-year-old Valero (pictured above, at left) scored his most recent KO on Dec. 19, when a badly beaten, 34-year-old Hector Velazquez failed to come out for the seventh round of their bout before Valero's hometown fans at the Polideportivo José María Vargas, in La Guaira, Venezuela.
The 23-year-old DeMarco (23-1, 17 KOs), of Tijuana, is a boxer-puncher who is coming off of an Oct. 31, 10th-round knockout of Jose Alfaro.
So as he looks to earn a place among boxing's premiere performers, this could well be the most difficult challenge for Valero, for DeMarco won every round of what was his 12th consecutive victory, improving his unbeaten streak to 15-0-1 with 10 knockouts since losing a six-round, majority decision to Anthony Vasquez in February 2006.
Alfaro was the third straight knockout for DeMarco, who earned the NABO with a February, 2007, ninth-round stoppage of Almazbek Raiymkulov, a fighter who came in with a record of 27-1-1, and 15 KOs.
A sensational and relentless puncher, Valero won his first 18 career bouts by first-round knockout, capped by a first-round stoppage of Whyber Garcia in the WBA super featherweight (130 pounds) title eliminator in February of 2006.
Two fights later, Valero got up from a third-round knockdown to earn the WBA super featherweight crown with a 10th-round knockout of Vicente Mosquera, whom he dropped twice in the first round of their August, 2006 matchup.
Valero defended that title four times before rising to lightweight, where he dropped Antonio Pitalua three times on the way to an April, 2009, second-round knockout that earned him his current championship.
Two problems have hindered Valero from getting much-needed exposure during his career: Unresolved issues stemming from a DUI last May, which caused Venezuela to subsequently deny him a U.S. Visa., and another stigma stemming from brain surgery he received as the result of a motorcycle accident in 2001 that caused a blood clot later revealed during an MRI.
Although cleared to fight after successful surgery removed the clot, Valero was still placed on indefinite medical suspension by the NYAC, and, thus, banned by most athletic associations which supported the NYAC's decision.
Valero knocked out his next 14 opponents over the ensuing six years in Venezuela, Argentina, Panama, Japan, France and Mexico before being sanctioned in Austin, Texas, for his knockout of Pitalua.
FanHouse caught up to Valero recently for this Q&A, during which he discussed the importance of making a big impression against DeMarco.
Note: This interview was translated by Marylyn Aceves
FanHouse: What do you believe that beating Antonio Demarco will do for your career?
Edwin Valero: This fight means a lot. Depending on what happens -- and it should go my way -- a win in this fight would open a lot more doors for bigger fights.
FH: Did you see Antonio Demarco's last fight, and if so, what did he think of him?
Valero: Out of all of his fights, I've only seen two rounds of his fights. And I didn't see his last fight.
FH: Do you believe that you have had ample time to study Antonio Demarco, or are you simply more concerned about what you will do to your opponent than what your opponent will bring to the table?
Valero: My main focus is what I'm going to do against Demarco, or with Demarco in the ring, the moment I step into the ring with him.
My focus has been physically on me and my training. But the moment I step into the ring, that's when I'll focus on Demarco.
FH: So haven't studied any film on Antonio Demarco, but have relied on your trainer to do that?
Valero: My trainer, Mario Morales, he studies the films of the past fights of Demarco. But I tell him not to tell me a thing about them, but to just train me accordingly.
Don't tell me a thing about him because when I come in there, that's when I do my job. I use my instincts.
FH: Where are you training, and, by fight time, how many months or weeks will you have trained for Antonio Demarco?
Valero: I've never really stopped training since my last fight against Hector Velazquez. So, really, it would be since back in September until now.
And I've already been here in Monterrey training for two weeks. So I'm in supreme physical condition.
FH: Where do you believe that you rank among the sport's pound-for-pound best?
Valero: It's been over a year, or at least almost a year now that I should have been included in that list with the top 10 best boxers.
And that's my goal -- it's to get my name among them, now.
FH: What do you believe it will take in this particular fight for that to happen -- a knockout or simply dominance?
Valero: I need to win this fight by knockout to be included in this list, and yes, of course, that's what I'm trying to do in this fight.
FH: With the past problems with your head injury slowing your career, and not being able to fight in America, do you believe that those situations and issues have hurt your exposure?
Valero: I don't feel pressure to get my name out there and to have myself as a well-known fighter because I was not in the U.S. I just think that with my performance, if I perform well, then that will do the job.
That will get me included with the best of the best fighters in the sport and in the world.
FH: Do you need to show well-rounded boxing skills in this fight or simply be a pure knockout puncher to reach that next level of appreciation?
Valero: To start, I'm a fighter with skills, and I know how to box. To date, all of the fighters that I have been in the ring with have not pressed or challenge my ability to have to box.
They have all backed up basically, and so I've been able to do what I've needed to do, which is to knock them out. But when put to the test, everyone will see that I can surely box.
FH: What is your dream fight?
Valero: Manny Pacquiao is my dream fight. But I'm tired of asking for it. All of the true boxing fans would want to see that fight.
They can be sure to know that that fight would be explosive and there would surely be a lot of bloodshed.
FH: What do you want the boxing world -- promoters, trainers, fans, fighters -- to know about you?
Valero: To my boxing fans, I want to say don't forget to watch me on Feb. 6, because you're going to be very pleased and very happy.
I know that the true boxing fans will really enjoy the aggressive style that I have. I really don't have anything to say to the promoters, except that I want them to be watching me on Feb. 6.
I want the promoters to be watching what I do because they're going to see my style of fighting and what a quality fighter that I am.
And, I'm willing and ready to accept any matchup that they have. Just talk to my promoter and we can get it done.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
He is nicknamed "Dinamita," or Dynamite, and Edwin Valero has indeed displayed two-fisted power throughout his professional boxing career.
On Saturday, Feb. 6, in Monterrey, Mexico, the Venezuelan-born, WBC lightweight champion will pursue his 26th, consecutive knockout in as many victories without a loss when he makes the second defense of his crown against WBC interim titlist, Antonio DeMarco, in a Showtime-televised, 135-pound clash of talented southpaws.
The 28-year-old Valero (pictured above, at left) scored his most recent KO on Dec. 19, when a badly beaten, 34-year-old Hector Velazquez failed to come out for the seventh round of their bout before Valero's hometown fans at the Polideportivo José María Vargas, in La Guaira, Venezuela.
The 23-year-old DeMarco (23-1, 17 KOs), of Tijuana, is a boxer-puncher who is coming off of an Oct. 31, 10th-round knockout of Jose Alfaro.
So as he looks to earn a place among boxing's premiere performers, this could well be the most difficult challenge for Valero, for DeMarco won every round of what was his 12th consecutive victory, improving his unbeaten streak to 15-0-1 with 10 knockouts since losing a six-round, majority decision to Anthony Vasquez in February 2006.
Alfaro was the third straight knockout for DeMarco, who earned the NABO with a February, 2007, ninth-round stoppage of Almazbek Raiymkulov, a fighter who came in with a record of 27-1-1, and 15 KOs.
A sensational and relentless puncher, Valero won his first 18 career bouts by first-round knockout, capped by a first-round stoppage of Whyber Garcia in the WBA super featherweight (130 pounds) title eliminator in February of 2006.
Two fights later, Valero got up from a third-round knockdown to earn the WBA super featherweight crown with a 10th-round knockout of Vicente Mosquera, whom he dropped twice in the first round of their August, 2006 matchup.
Valero defended that title four times before rising to lightweight, where he dropped Antonio Pitalua three times on the way to an April, 2009, second-round knockout that earned him his current championship.
Two problems have hindered Valero from getting much-needed exposure during his career: Unresolved issues stemming from a DUI last May, which caused Venezuela to subsequently deny him a U.S. Visa., and another stigma stemming from brain surgery he received as the result of a motorcycle accident in 2001 that caused a blood clot later revealed during an MRI.
Although cleared to fight after successful surgery removed the clot, Valero was still placed on indefinite medical suspension by the NYAC, and, thus, banned by most athletic associations which supported the NYAC's decision.
Valero knocked out his next 14 opponents over the ensuing six years in Venezuela, Argentina, Panama, Japan, France and Mexico before being sanctioned in Austin, Texas, for his knockout of Pitalua.
FanHouse caught up to Valero recently for this Q&A, during which he discussed the importance of making a big impression against DeMarco.
Note: This interview was translated by Marylyn Aceves
FanHouse: What do you believe that beating Antonio Demarco will do for your career?
Edwin Valero: This fight means a lot. Depending on what happens -- and it should go my way -- a win in this fight would open a lot more doors for bigger fights.
FH: Did you see Antonio Demarco's last fight, and if so, what did he think of him?
Valero: Out of all of his fights, I've only seen two rounds of his fights. And I didn't see his last fight.
FH: Do you believe that you have had ample time to study Antonio Demarco, or are you simply more concerned about what you will do to your opponent than what your opponent will bring to the table?
Valero: My main focus is what I'm going to do against Demarco, or with Demarco in the ring, the moment I step into the ring with him.
My focus has been physically on me and my training. But the moment I step into the ring, that's when I'll focus on Demarco.
FH: So haven't studied any film on Antonio Demarco, but have relied on your trainer to do that?
Valero: My trainer, Mario Morales, he studies the films of the past fights of Demarco. But I tell him not to tell me a thing about them, but to just train me accordingly.
Don't tell me a thing about him because when I come in there, that's when I do my job. I use my instincts.
FH: Where are you training, and, by fight time, how many months or weeks will you have trained for Antonio Demarco?
Valero: I've never really stopped training since my last fight against Hector Velazquez. So, really, it would be since back in September until now.
And I've already been here in Monterrey training for two weeks. So I'm in supreme physical condition.
FH: Where do you believe that you rank among the sport's pound-for-pound best?
Valero: It's been over a year, or at least almost a year now that I should have been included in that list with the top 10 best boxers.
And that's my goal -- it's to get my name among them, now.
FH: What do you believe it will take in this particular fight for that to happen -- a knockout or simply dominance?
Valero: I need to win this fight by knockout to be included in this list, and yes, of course, that's what I'm trying to do in this fight.
FH: With the past problems with your head injury slowing your career, and not being able to fight in America, do you believe that those situations and issues have hurt your exposure?
Valero: I don't feel pressure to get my name out there and to have myself as a well-known fighter because I was not in the U.S. I just think that with my performance, if I perform well, then that will do the job.
That will get me included with the best of the best fighters in the sport and in the world.
FH: Do you need to show well-rounded boxing skills in this fight or simply be a pure knockout puncher to reach that next level of appreciation?
Valero: To start, I'm a fighter with skills, and I know how to box. To date, all of the fighters that I have been in the ring with have not pressed or challenge my ability to have to box.
They have all backed up basically, and so I've been able to do what I've needed to do, which is to knock them out. But when put to the test, everyone will see that I can surely box.
FH: What is your dream fight?
Valero: Manny Pacquiao is my dream fight. But I'm tired of asking for it. All of the true boxing fans would want to see that fight.
They can be sure to know that that fight would be explosive and there would surely be a lot of bloodshed.
FH: What do you want the boxing world -- promoters, trainers, fans, fighters -- to know about you?
Valero: To my boxing fans, I want to say don't forget to watch me on Feb. 6, because you're going to be very pleased and very happy.
I know that the true boxing fans will really enjoy the aggressive style that I have. I really don't have anything to say to the promoters, except that I want them to be watching me on Feb. 6.
I want the promoters to be watching what I do because they're going to see my style of fighting and what a quality fighter that I am.
And, I'm willing and ready to accept any matchup that they have. Just talk to my promoter and we can get it done.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Pacquiao also wins fighter of decade -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, who stormed to a pair of decisive knockout victories to win world titles in a record-tying sixth weight class and a record-breaking seventh one, has been named the 2009 fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Pacquiao, who will be presented with his third Sugar Ray Robinson trophy in the past four years, heads the list of honorees who will be invited to receive their awards on June 11 in New York at the BWAA's 85th annual banquet.
Pacquiao, who was also named 2009 fighter of the year by ESPN.com and Ring magazine, won the award in balloting by the organization's membership over nominees Vitali Klitschko, Andre Ward, Paul Williams and Arthur Abraham.
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), whose first world title came at flyweight, scored a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton on May 2 to win the world junior welterweight championship and stopped Miguel Cotto in the 12th round on Nov. 14 to win a welterweight world title.
In addition, Pacquiao was also voted fighter of the decade (2000-09), beating out a star-studded group of nominees that also included Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pacquiao, of the Philippines, went 24-1-2 during the decade and won six of his seven world titles while emerging as the pound-for-pound king and a box office sensation.
Freddie Roach, who has trained Pacquiao since 2001 and been an integral part of his success, will receive the Futch award for trainer of the year for the fourth time. He also won it in 2003, 2006 and 2008.
"Manny and I are a great team and to win this award you need a great fighter," Roach told ESPN.com Sunday. "Hopefully, [junior welterweight titlist] Amir Khan will be my next guy. It's my favorite award because its named after my trainer [the late Eddie Futch]."
Futch trained Roach during his fighting career before taking him under his wing as an assistant trainer.
"I give Eddie all the credit for where I am today," Roach said. "He gave me great guidance during my apprenticeship with him."
Lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and former titlist Juan Diaz will share the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier award for fight of the year. Their Feb. 28 all-action slugfest was an instant classic as Marquez went to Diaz's hometown of Houston and stopped him in the ninth round to retain the title.
Also to be honored by the BWAA:
• ESPN's Joe Tessitore, the longtime blow-by-blow voice of ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights," was selected as the Sam Taub award winner for excellence in broadcast journalism.
• Jerry Izenberg, one of America's foremost sports columnists for the Newark (N.J). Star-Ledger for almost 60 years, will receive the John F.X. Condon award for long and meritorious service to boxing.
• Alexis Arguello, the Hall of Famer who won world championships in three weight classes, will receive the Marvin Kohn good guy award posthumously. Arguello died in July at age 57.
• Showtime broadcaster Nick Charles, who is fighting a battle with bladder cancer, and former heavyweight contender George Chuvalo, will share the Bill Crawford award for courage in overcoming adversity. Two of Chuvalo's sons died from drug overdoses and a third son, as well as his first wife, committed suicide, and now he speaks to high school students about drug use.
The Nat Fleischer award for excellence in boxing journalism, the highest award the BWAA presents to one of its members, has not been announced yet. Balloting for the lifetime achievement award is ongoing. It is voted on only by past winners.
The membership voted against selecting a manager of the year.
Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, who stormed to a pair of decisive knockout victories to win world titles in a record-tying sixth weight class and a record-breaking seventh one, has been named the 2009 fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Pacquiao, who will be presented with his third Sugar Ray Robinson trophy in the past four years, heads the list of honorees who will be invited to receive their awards on June 11 in New York at the BWAA's 85th annual banquet.
Pacquiao, who was also named 2009 fighter of the year by ESPN.com and Ring magazine, won the award in balloting by the organization's membership over nominees Vitali Klitschko, Andre Ward, Paul Williams and Arthur Abraham.
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), whose first world title came at flyweight, scored a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton on May 2 to win the world junior welterweight championship and stopped Miguel Cotto in the 12th round on Nov. 14 to win a welterweight world title.
In addition, Pacquiao was also voted fighter of the decade (2000-09), beating out a star-studded group of nominees that also included Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pacquiao, of the Philippines, went 24-1-2 during the decade and won six of his seven world titles while emerging as the pound-for-pound king and a box office sensation.
Freddie Roach, who has trained Pacquiao since 2001 and been an integral part of his success, will receive the Futch award for trainer of the year for the fourth time. He also won it in 2003, 2006 and 2008.
"Manny and I are a great team and to win this award you need a great fighter," Roach told ESPN.com Sunday. "Hopefully, [junior welterweight titlist] Amir Khan will be my next guy. It's my favorite award because its named after my trainer [the late Eddie Futch]."
Futch trained Roach during his fighting career before taking him under his wing as an assistant trainer.
"I give Eddie all the credit for where I am today," Roach said. "He gave me great guidance during my apprenticeship with him."
Lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and former titlist Juan Diaz will share the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier award for fight of the year. Their Feb. 28 all-action slugfest was an instant classic as Marquez went to Diaz's hometown of Houston and stopped him in the ninth round to retain the title.
Also to be honored by the BWAA:
• ESPN's Joe Tessitore, the longtime blow-by-blow voice of ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights," was selected as the Sam Taub award winner for excellence in broadcast journalism.
• Jerry Izenberg, one of America's foremost sports columnists for the Newark (N.J). Star-Ledger for almost 60 years, will receive the John F.X. Condon award for long and meritorious service to boxing.
• Alexis Arguello, the Hall of Famer who won world championships in three weight classes, will receive the Marvin Kohn good guy award posthumously. Arguello died in July at age 57.
• Showtime broadcaster Nick Charles, who is fighting a battle with bladder cancer, and former heavyweight contender George Chuvalo, will share the Bill Crawford award for courage in overcoming adversity. Two of Chuvalo's sons died from drug overdoses and a third son, as well as his first wife, committed suicide, and now he speaks to high school students about drug use.
The Nat Fleischer award for excellence in boxing journalism, the highest award the BWAA presents to one of its members, has not been announced yet. Balloting for the lifetime achievement award is ongoing. It is voted on only by past winners.
The membership voted against selecting a manager of the year.
Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
AMIR KHAN TO DEBUT IN LAS VEGAS -- Daily Star
By Steve Lillis, Daily Star
AMIR Khan will make his American debut in Las Vegas on May 15.
The WBA light-welterweight champion dumped promoter Frank Warren last month to join American outfit Golden Boy.
As exclusively revealed in Starsport last week, Khan’s new promoters confirmed that the Bolton star is lining up three-weight world champion Juan Manuel Marquez as his opponent.
Richard Schaefer, head of Khan’s new paymasters, said: “For Amir to give us the mandate to see if we can put the May fight against Marquez together shows what he is all about. We have made an offer to Marquez, who is thinking about it, and hopefully we will find out in the coming days."
“Amir wants to be involved in huge events in America and a fight against Marquez is a breakthrough because he is one of the best and Mexico’s No.1 active fighter.” Schaefer had been trying to tempt Paulie Malignaggi into facing Khan, but the New Yorker dragged his heels and the former banker moved to lure Marquez.
He added: “Amir really wants a big fight in the US, so I think the Marquez fight will most probably be in Las Vegas. He is a promoter’s dream and isn’t afraid to fight anyone.”
Source: dailystar.co.uk
AMIR Khan will make his American debut in Las Vegas on May 15.
The WBA light-welterweight champion dumped promoter Frank Warren last month to join American outfit Golden Boy.
As exclusively revealed in Starsport last week, Khan’s new promoters confirmed that the Bolton star is lining up three-weight world champion Juan Manuel Marquez as his opponent.
Richard Schaefer, head of Khan’s new paymasters, said: “For Amir to give us the mandate to see if we can put the May fight against Marquez together shows what he is all about. We have made an offer to Marquez, who is thinking about it, and hopefully we will find out in the coming days."
“Amir wants to be involved in huge events in America and a fight against Marquez is a breakthrough because he is one of the best and Mexico’s No.1 active fighter.” Schaefer had been trying to tempt Paulie Malignaggi into facing Khan, but the New Yorker dragged his heels and the former banker moved to lure Marquez.
He added: “Amir really wants a big fight in the US, so I think the Marquez fight will most probably be in Las Vegas. He is a promoter’s dream and isn’t afraid to fight anyone.”
Source: dailystar.co.uk
SUNDAY SPECIAL: Manny's Ex Trainer Provides Recipe For Win Over Clottey -- The Sweet Science
By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
Manny Pacquiao's former American trainer, Rick Stehely, recently spoke about his former fighters' upcoming bout with the tough and durable Joshua Clottey. Stehely was in the corner the night Pacquiao scored an 8th round knockout over Thailand's Chatchai Sasakul to win the first of his seven world titles - the WBC flyweight crown.
Stehely said he can't see how Pacquiao can lose.
“I think this is a kind of an easy fight for Manny. Clottey is bigger and is physically stronger but Manny’s got everything else. He’s got the speed, he’s got the skills plus Clottey is a blocker. It's almost like if Manny goes out there and throws punches in bunches, he doesn’t have to hit him hard.”
No doubt Stehely sees the same scenario most do unfolding when Pacquiao and Clottey meet on March 13th. Pacquiao does have all the advantages when it comes to natural skills. And there is a scenario in which the fight could turn out to be easier than his previous fight with Miguel Cotto was if he follows the fight plan Stehely outlines below. Of course all pre-fight plans look great on paper and work terrifically in the gym.
“Every now and then crack him hard but just touch him, move a little bit and I can see Clottey sitting up there with his hands over his face most of the fight and when he does open up Manny nails him with a good shot because of his speed.”
That's pretty much the fight plan I'd detail for Pacquiao to carry out when he meets Clottey. Boxing Clottey and picking his spots will keep Pacquiao a step ahead of him the whole way without leaving himself vulnerable to a fierce counter attack. Manny is on top of the boxing world right now. A win over Clottey and he's still the biggest draw in boxing and in line for some monumental pay days against either Floyd Mayweather or Shane Mosley and perhaps one of the junior middleweight title holders.
Pacquiao is now at the point where he just has to win against the upper-tier welterweights he faces. Granted, a spectacular showing enhances his drawing power - but it's not necessary for him to score Hatton-esque type knockouts at this time.
Since the fight with Clottey has been announced, it's been implied by many that this is a fight where all Pacquiao has to do is show up on fight night with gloves on and let his hands go. With the subtle undertone being Clottey always underwhelms in a big spot under the bright lights when fighting marquee opponents like Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. Although in Clottey's defense he did injure his left hand against the iron-jawed Margarito during the fight. So it's really just his fight against Cotto where Clottey let what looked to be a decision victory in his favor slip away and go in Cotto's favor when he stopped fighting with a sense of urgency during the 11th and 12th rounds.
The loss to Cotto pushed him to the back of the line and propelled Cotto into the mega payday and super-fight with Pacquiao last year. However, things have a way of coming full circle in boxing and now it's Clottey who has the opportunity of a lifetime in front of him. If he were to upset Pacquiao, Clottey would become bigger than even his countryman hometown hero of Ghana, Azumah Nelson, overnight. Not to mention he'd make a fortune fighting Pacquiao in a rematch or defending his newly won WBO welterweight title against Floyd Mayweather or Shane Mosley.
Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach are too smart to be sucked into thinking Clottey will be the same fighter he was against Cotto the last time we saw him. It's reasonable to assume Roach will have Pacquiao adopt the mindset that he's going to face the best Clottey we've ever seen. The Clottey faction must know that their fighter doesn't posses the speed or boxing aptitude to beat Pacquiao by trying to outbox or out-think him. Clottey is physically stronger and has a cast-iron chin. For him to score the upset he must make the fight a war and hope that his strength and chin carry the day against the quicker and more explosive Pacquiao.
Since he let the Cotto fight slip away Clottey has heard about it every day. Knowing that beating Pacquiao is his only chance for redemption and to erase the memory of the way he under performed down the stretch against Margarito and Cotto, Clottey will be a very dangerous opponent. All he has to do is beat Pacquiao and his critics will be silenced and he'll have scored the signature win of his career.
When Margarito and Cotto fought Clottey, they smartly left him alone. By that I mean they didn't push for the knockout once they discovered how tough and durable he was and also that he'll leave you alone if you don't force him to fight to protect himself. Therefore they were safe and content to just go about boxing him and not fighting him, especially during the last third of the fight when Clottey didn't cut loose.
Manny Pacquiao is an attacker at heart. He likes to fight and thrives on going to war. When he steps into the ring with Joshua Clottey, if he can fight his natural urge to seek and destroy, he'll have a less taxing fight on his hands. However, if he goes at Clottey and looks to be the first fighter to stop him, he'll not only have a tougher fight, it's not a reach to believe he'll be more susceptible to getting beat.
Pacquiao's former trainer, Rick Stehely, has outlined the ideal fight plan for Manny to implement when he fights Clottey on March 13th. The intrigue of the fight will be to see if he follows it. If no one in Clottey's corner can light a fire under the guy, and if Roach drills into Manny not to go crazy, speed and skills might be enough to win the fight. But it's crucial that Pacquiao not wake this guy up.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Manny Pacquiao's former American trainer, Rick Stehely, recently spoke about his former fighters' upcoming bout with the tough and durable Joshua Clottey. Stehely was in the corner the night Pacquiao scored an 8th round knockout over Thailand's Chatchai Sasakul to win the first of his seven world titles - the WBC flyweight crown.
Stehely said he can't see how Pacquiao can lose.
“I think this is a kind of an easy fight for Manny. Clottey is bigger and is physically stronger but Manny’s got everything else. He’s got the speed, he’s got the skills plus Clottey is a blocker. It's almost like if Manny goes out there and throws punches in bunches, he doesn’t have to hit him hard.”
No doubt Stehely sees the same scenario most do unfolding when Pacquiao and Clottey meet on March 13th. Pacquiao does have all the advantages when it comes to natural skills. And there is a scenario in which the fight could turn out to be easier than his previous fight with Miguel Cotto was if he follows the fight plan Stehely outlines below. Of course all pre-fight plans look great on paper and work terrifically in the gym.
“Every now and then crack him hard but just touch him, move a little bit and I can see Clottey sitting up there with his hands over his face most of the fight and when he does open up Manny nails him with a good shot because of his speed.”
That's pretty much the fight plan I'd detail for Pacquiao to carry out when he meets Clottey. Boxing Clottey and picking his spots will keep Pacquiao a step ahead of him the whole way without leaving himself vulnerable to a fierce counter attack. Manny is on top of the boxing world right now. A win over Clottey and he's still the biggest draw in boxing and in line for some monumental pay days against either Floyd Mayweather or Shane Mosley and perhaps one of the junior middleweight title holders.
Pacquiao is now at the point where he just has to win against the upper-tier welterweights he faces. Granted, a spectacular showing enhances his drawing power - but it's not necessary for him to score Hatton-esque type knockouts at this time.
Since the fight with Clottey has been announced, it's been implied by many that this is a fight where all Pacquiao has to do is show up on fight night with gloves on and let his hands go. With the subtle undertone being Clottey always underwhelms in a big spot under the bright lights when fighting marquee opponents like Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. Although in Clottey's defense he did injure his left hand against the iron-jawed Margarito during the fight. So it's really just his fight against Cotto where Clottey let what looked to be a decision victory in his favor slip away and go in Cotto's favor when he stopped fighting with a sense of urgency during the 11th and 12th rounds.
The loss to Cotto pushed him to the back of the line and propelled Cotto into the mega payday and super-fight with Pacquiao last year. However, things have a way of coming full circle in boxing and now it's Clottey who has the opportunity of a lifetime in front of him. If he were to upset Pacquiao, Clottey would become bigger than even his countryman hometown hero of Ghana, Azumah Nelson, overnight. Not to mention he'd make a fortune fighting Pacquiao in a rematch or defending his newly won WBO welterweight title against Floyd Mayweather or Shane Mosley.
Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach are too smart to be sucked into thinking Clottey will be the same fighter he was against Cotto the last time we saw him. It's reasonable to assume Roach will have Pacquiao adopt the mindset that he's going to face the best Clottey we've ever seen. The Clottey faction must know that their fighter doesn't posses the speed or boxing aptitude to beat Pacquiao by trying to outbox or out-think him. Clottey is physically stronger and has a cast-iron chin. For him to score the upset he must make the fight a war and hope that his strength and chin carry the day against the quicker and more explosive Pacquiao.
Since he let the Cotto fight slip away Clottey has heard about it every day. Knowing that beating Pacquiao is his only chance for redemption and to erase the memory of the way he under performed down the stretch against Margarito and Cotto, Clottey will be a very dangerous opponent. All he has to do is beat Pacquiao and his critics will be silenced and he'll have scored the signature win of his career.
When Margarito and Cotto fought Clottey, they smartly left him alone. By that I mean they didn't push for the knockout once they discovered how tough and durable he was and also that he'll leave you alone if you don't force him to fight to protect himself. Therefore they were safe and content to just go about boxing him and not fighting him, especially during the last third of the fight when Clottey didn't cut loose.
Manny Pacquiao is an attacker at heart. He likes to fight and thrives on going to war. When he steps into the ring with Joshua Clottey, if he can fight his natural urge to seek and destroy, he'll have a less taxing fight on his hands. However, if he goes at Clottey and looks to be the first fighter to stop him, he'll not only have a tougher fight, it's not a reach to believe he'll be more susceptible to getting beat.
Pacquiao's former trainer, Rick Stehely, has outlined the ideal fight plan for Manny to implement when he fights Clottey on March 13th. The intrigue of the fight will be to see if he follows it. If no one in Clottey's corner can light a fire under the guy, and if Roach drills into Manny not to go crazy, speed and skills might be enough to win the fight. But it's crucial that Pacquiao not wake this guy up.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Delayed Signings and a Rematch Clause proves Floyd Mayweather Jr is scared of Shane Mosley -- Examiner
By Rick Rockwell, Examiner.com
With all the delays in signing and a reported rematch clause put into the fight contract, it makes me think that Mayweather Jr doesn’t really want to fight Shane Mosley. And, in my opinion, the biggest reason he doesn’t really want to fight Mosley is because he’s scared of him. Let’s examine this further.
"I believe this fight he got pushed into because the Pacquiao fight fell out, so he got pushed into this fight. He really didn't want it." Shane Mosley from interview with Fanhouse
Shane is correct in this assessment. Mayweather really didn’t want to fight Mosley. However, I’m beginning to think that Mayweather doesn’t really want to fight anyone. I think he would rather create the illusion that he’ll fight all the best fighters in his weight class, but in the end, he won’t. If Mayweather truly wanted to fight Mosley then why all the hesitations, delays in contract signing, and a rematch clause?
Delayed Signing
Jeff Lamonick of West Sacramento, CA “Mayweather has been ducking Mosley for 10 years now. Of course he will be hesitant and delay the signing.“ It’s been officially reported by ESPN that Mosley has signed the fight contract. It’s also been reported by ESPN that Mayweather Jr should be signing the contract in the next 2 days. However, with Mayweather’s history of ducking Mosley, there’s really no guarantee that he will sign the contract in 2 days, 2 weeks, or 2 months.
Rematch Clause
My fellow Examiner Michael Marley has reported that Mayweather Jr demanded and received an immediate rematch clause in the contract. Ryan Inzko Roseville, CA “If someone demands a rematch clause then they obviously have doubts.” Ryan you are absolutely correct. For a man who claims to be the best in the world, demanding a rematch clause doesn’t bolster any confidence. In fact, it says the opposite. It says that you think you might get beat.
This rematch clause also proves that the Mayweather critics, including Shane Mosley himself, were right in their assessment that Floyd has been ducking Shane for the last 10 years. Bottom line is this, Shane signed the contract and Shane jumped into the ring after Mayweather’s fight with Marquez to challenge Money Mayweather.
These delays and rematch clauses prove to me that Floyd Mayweather Jr is and has always been scared of Shane Mosley.
Source: examiner.com
With all the delays in signing and a reported rematch clause put into the fight contract, it makes me think that Mayweather Jr doesn’t really want to fight Shane Mosley. And, in my opinion, the biggest reason he doesn’t really want to fight Mosley is because he’s scared of him. Let’s examine this further.
"I believe this fight he got pushed into because the Pacquiao fight fell out, so he got pushed into this fight. He really didn't want it." Shane Mosley from interview with Fanhouse
Shane is correct in this assessment. Mayweather really didn’t want to fight Mosley. However, I’m beginning to think that Mayweather doesn’t really want to fight anyone. I think he would rather create the illusion that he’ll fight all the best fighters in his weight class, but in the end, he won’t. If Mayweather truly wanted to fight Mosley then why all the hesitations, delays in contract signing, and a rematch clause?
Delayed Signing
Jeff Lamonick of West Sacramento, CA “Mayweather has been ducking Mosley for 10 years now. Of course he will be hesitant and delay the signing.“ It’s been officially reported by ESPN that Mosley has signed the fight contract. It’s also been reported by ESPN that Mayweather Jr should be signing the contract in the next 2 days. However, with Mayweather’s history of ducking Mosley, there’s really no guarantee that he will sign the contract in 2 days, 2 weeks, or 2 months.
Rematch Clause
My fellow Examiner Michael Marley has reported that Mayweather Jr demanded and received an immediate rematch clause in the contract. Ryan Inzko Roseville, CA “If someone demands a rematch clause then they obviously have doubts.” Ryan you are absolutely correct. For a man who claims to be the best in the world, demanding a rematch clause doesn’t bolster any confidence. In fact, it says the opposite. It says that you think you might get beat.
This rematch clause also proves that the Mayweather critics, including Shane Mosley himself, were right in their assessment that Floyd has been ducking Shane for the last 10 years. Bottom line is this, Shane signed the contract and Shane jumped into the ring after Mayweather’s fight with Marquez to challenge Money Mayweather.
These delays and rematch clauses prove to me that Floyd Mayweather Jr is and has always been scared of Shane Mosley.
Source: examiner.com
Mayweather-Mosley adds punch to 2010 -- Las Vegas Review-Journal
By STEVE CARP, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
When word came Friday that welterweight superstars Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley would fight May 1 at the MGM Grand, it was the kind of news that boxing in Las Vegas needed after a disappointing start to 2010.
Things weren't looking good after Mayweather was unable to come to terms with Manny Pacquiao for a proposed March 13 megafight at the Grand Garden, and then Mosley's fight against Andre Berto, which was to have been Saturday at Mandalay Bay, was canceled when Berto pulled out two weeks ago.
Perhaps it's small consolation, but Mayweather-Mosley will make up some of the lost revenue for the state and MGM Mirage. Richard Sturm, president of entertainment and sports for MGM Mirage, was happy to see something positive happen.
"We never wavered in the least," Sturm said. "Boxing is fantastic for the company, and even though losing a couple of fights was disappointing, we're excited about the coming months. I still think 2010 will be a big year for boxing in Las Vegas."
Mosley signed the contract Friday, and Mayweather's signature is imminent. Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's co-manager, said there are no issues that need to be worked out for the fight, which will be televised by HBO Pay Per View.
"Floyd's excited," Ellerbe said. "He's waited 10 years for this opportunity to fight Mosley."
Mayweather is also getting his wish for Olympic-style drug testing, including blood testing, which was the deal-breaker for Pacquiao. Mosley, who has tested positive for steroids and testified in the BALCO investigation, agreed to all testing, including a blood test on fight night. His only stipulation was that Mayweather submit to the same protocol; Mayweather agreed.
"Shane is fine with Olympic-style drug testing," said Richard Schaefer, Mosley's promoter and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "He welcomes more stringent testing. He has nothing to hide."
Mayweather-Mosley will be worth several hundred thousand dollars in tax revenue for the state. Mosley-Berto fight would've netted Nevada about $200,000, according to Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission.
"This definitely helps," Kizer said. "We had a tough start, but fights like this can get us back on track for a big year."
• MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO BETS -- The megafight is off for now, but if you're holding a betting ticket for Mayweather-Pacquio, your action is still alive, according to Art Manteris, Station Casinos vice president of race and sports.
"The date of the event for this wager is clearly anytime in 2010," he said. "This kind of wager has been done for boxing for many years. And the only way you can do it is by having it open-ended within a certain time frame."
Manteris said the Mayweather-Pacquiao bet remains available at Station books. Mayweather is a minus-120 favorite, with Pacquiao at even money. Pacquiao opened as a minus-160 favorite.
• MAGDALENO'S NEXT FIGHT -- Unbeaten Las Vegas super featherweight Diego Magdaleno was so impressive against Gerardo Robles on Jan. 16 that Top Rank has added him to its Feb. 13 Pinoy Power-Latin Fury card at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Magdaleno (13-0, three knockouts) will fight Floriano Pagiara (10-3, six KOs) of Italy in an eight-round bout.
Magdaleno had been under medical suspension through March 18 -- with no contact permitted until March 2 -- because of an eye irregularity after his eight-round unanimous decision over Robles. But a subsequent CT scan came back normal, Magdaleno's suspension was cut to 14 days and he can return to the ring next month.
Unbeaten middleweight Matt Korobov also has been added to the card. Korobov (9-0, seven KOs) will face Lamar Harris (6-4-3, four KOs) in a six-round bout.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.
Source: lvrj.com
When word came Friday that welterweight superstars Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley would fight May 1 at the MGM Grand, it was the kind of news that boxing in Las Vegas needed after a disappointing start to 2010.
Things weren't looking good after Mayweather was unable to come to terms with Manny Pacquiao for a proposed March 13 megafight at the Grand Garden, and then Mosley's fight against Andre Berto, which was to have been Saturday at Mandalay Bay, was canceled when Berto pulled out two weeks ago.
Perhaps it's small consolation, but Mayweather-Mosley will make up some of the lost revenue for the state and MGM Mirage. Richard Sturm, president of entertainment and sports for MGM Mirage, was happy to see something positive happen.
"We never wavered in the least," Sturm said. "Boxing is fantastic for the company, and even though losing a couple of fights was disappointing, we're excited about the coming months. I still think 2010 will be a big year for boxing in Las Vegas."
Mosley signed the contract Friday, and Mayweather's signature is imminent. Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's co-manager, said there are no issues that need to be worked out for the fight, which will be televised by HBO Pay Per View.
"Floyd's excited," Ellerbe said. "He's waited 10 years for this opportunity to fight Mosley."
Mayweather is also getting his wish for Olympic-style drug testing, including blood testing, which was the deal-breaker for Pacquiao. Mosley, who has tested positive for steroids and testified in the BALCO investigation, agreed to all testing, including a blood test on fight night. His only stipulation was that Mayweather submit to the same protocol; Mayweather agreed.
"Shane is fine with Olympic-style drug testing," said Richard Schaefer, Mosley's promoter and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "He welcomes more stringent testing. He has nothing to hide."
Mayweather-Mosley will be worth several hundred thousand dollars in tax revenue for the state. Mosley-Berto fight would've netted Nevada about $200,000, according to Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission.
"This definitely helps," Kizer said. "We had a tough start, but fights like this can get us back on track for a big year."
• MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO BETS -- The megafight is off for now, but if you're holding a betting ticket for Mayweather-Pacquio, your action is still alive, according to Art Manteris, Station Casinos vice president of race and sports.
"The date of the event for this wager is clearly anytime in 2010," he said. "This kind of wager has been done for boxing for many years. And the only way you can do it is by having it open-ended within a certain time frame."
Manteris said the Mayweather-Pacquiao bet remains available at Station books. Mayweather is a minus-120 favorite, with Pacquiao at even money. Pacquiao opened as a minus-160 favorite.
• MAGDALENO'S NEXT FIGHT -- Unbeaten Las Vegas super featherweight Diego Magdaleno was so impressive against Gerardo Robles on Jan. 16 that Top Rank has added him to its Feb. 13 Pinoy Power-Latin Fury card at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Magdaleno (13-0, three knockouts) will fight Floriano Pagiara (10-3, six KOs) of Italy in an eight-round bout.
Magdaleno had been under medical suspension through March 18 -- with no contact permitted until March 2 -- because of an eye irregularity after his eight-round unanimous decision over Robles. But a subsequent CT scan came back normal, Magdaleno's suspension was cut to 14 days and he can return to the ring next month.
Unbeaten middleweight Matt Korobov also has been added to the card. Korobov (9-0, seven KOs) will face Lamar Harris (6-4-3, four KOs) in a six-round bout.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.
Source: lvrj.com
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