By Nima Zarrabi, Slam Online
A member of Team Mayweather has found a basketball and has Floyd’s attention. A smile widens on Floyd’s face as he rushes over to the nearby court with members of his team in tow. Trash talk begins and a few wagers will likely be placed as Floyd starts dribbling the ball in excitement. We’re standing near the NBA TV studio setup at the Dallas Convention Center, right smack in the middle of Jam Session. It’s loud as hell in here, with obstacle courses, shops and various booths throughout the massive room set up for various All-Star weekend activities. Before Floyd can get his makeshift game going, a few Jam session officials cruise over and stop the party. Apparently, the court is set up for some type of fan event and Floyd and his crew will not be allowed to do their thing. He’s a little disappointed and shocked, but the smile will creep back soon. No matter how angry or upset he gets, the smile can’t be denied. He’s ferocious, on edge and determined to prove to the entire world that no fighter on the planet can touch him. Through it all, that smile will flash because the thing to know about Floyd is this: everything will be done on his terms, and his terms only. He’s earned that right thanks to a magnificent career that is still headed for new heights.
Back over on the NBA TV set, Floyd patiently waits for his call time. Fans and employees of the convention center approach him for photos and autographs. He happily fulfills every request. When Floyd begins his NBA TV interview, his manager Leonard Ellerbe asks me about my plan for the interview. I tell him that we can get the interview done anywhere and it should be no problem. He’s hardly impressed and I suddenly realize why. The convention center is extremely loud as all types of activities continue to begin around us. Basketball games, shooting contests, free tacos from Taco Bell—soon enough this place is a madhouse and finding a private spot where I can shoot Floyd on a Flip camera and conduct our interview becomes harder than I thought.
When I first got this assignment from Editor-n-Chief Ben Osborne a few days ago, I was stoked. I’ve always been impressed with Floyd both as a fighter and entertainer, especially after watching HBO 24/7. Boxing doesn’t have the same vehicles as the NBA to showcase its talent. There aren’t 82 games plus to promote their product or a popular platform like SLAM where one can get an in-depth view of the boxing life on a consistent basis. But 24/7 changed the game. It gave us an inside look into the life of a champion boxer, both in the ring and off. When I watched the 24/7 leading up to the Mayweather— Oscar De La Hoya bout, it was a wrap. I was captivated by Mayweather or the “villain” as he was beautifully portrayed in the show. While Oscar showcased time with his family and a carefully crafted image, Floyd gave us a stream of consciousness flow that was absent of a filter. He spoke candidly about his relationship with his father, flashed scrilla and jewelry while talking all kinds of shit during training sessions. I was drawn to that. In a world filled with athletes full of shit (see Tiger Woods press conference today), it’s always refreshing to see a guy who doesn’t give a fuck what critics or media think about him—he’s going to say whatever’s on his mind and do as he pleases.
My plan for the sit down with Floyd was simple. I was going to fly in from SoCal to Austin, TX, on Thursday of All-Star weekend, spend the day visiting one of my best friends from college—Andy Cannon—over some incredible BBQ from Rudy’s and then make the three-hour drive north to Dallas early Friday morning. Mother Nature pulled a jack move on me and forced some changes. Dallas was hit with some record snow fall and traveling there had all of the sudden become dangerous according to the news. Rather than waiting until the next morning to drive to the D, I decided to knuckle up and drive that night, through the storm. I didn’t want to risk missing my call time with Floyd and since most of the storm had already passed through, my biggest obstacle became slick roads. Against the wishes of Andy, I jumped in my rented Pontiac G6 and began one of the most difficult drives I have ever attempted. Once I hit Waco, the roads changed as snow was present, forcing everyone to drive about 30 mph. abandoned cars lined various parts of the roadway and the snow was still coming and sticking in certain pockets. I decided to draft behind a huge big rig, hoping it could clear the path ahead. Although there were a few scary moments, I ended up making it to Dallas in a little over four hours, getting in about 1:30 am. I made a quick stop to Lakers scout and LA Defenders GM Bonnie-Jill Laflin’s party at Hotel ZaZa to give her the word, then headed back to the hotel to continue my prep for Floyd.
I do a decent amount of research before each interview I conduct, but I rarely if ever bring written questions to a sit down. I’ve always felt that if I kept my eyes on the subject and not the pad, I could engage in a much better discussion, essentially moving from interview into a conversation. Floyd was a different beast. As much as I love boxing, I don’t know the sport like I do the NBA or NFL. Furthermore, I had seen the interview Floyd did with Brian Kenny on SporsCenter early last year. It was an incredible back in forth that got heated on many occasions. This is not where I wanted our interview to go, so I decided to write down some questions. I don’t know what I was thinking.
While Floyd did his interview with NBA TV and a radio station, I went to work trying to find a private spot for our interview. I convinced a few security guards to set up my Flip cam behind a stage in a far corner of the massive room we were in. I pulled two chairs from the empty stage and hoped it would be quiet and decent enough for Floyd. It was an area that fans had no access to and the security guards nearby went out of their way to help me. After Floyd wrapped his radio spot, he was escorted over to my makeshift area, flanked by many members of Team Mayweather. Floyd was also wearing a wireless mic and being followed by a cameraman shooting for 24/7. He walks up and asks where he needs to sit. I point at my pitiful setup and he immediately sits down and is ready to go.
It becomes apparent that Floyd is a huge NBA fan. Gambling is our first topic and Floyd loves to bet on NBA games. I ask him if the Tim Donaghy scandal deterred him from betting and he’s unfazed, citing a $43,000 loss in the infamous game in 2007 where referee Joey Crawford ejected Tim Duncan during the 3rd quarter of a game against the Mavs for simply laughing/staring at him from the bench. Floyd had money on the Spurs that night, who went on to lose a close game. Tim Donaghy was old news in his book. Our chat quickly shifts to more pressing NBA topics. “I can tell you about any player, all you got to do is ask me about him,” Floyd proclaims. I try. But Floyd doesn’t have patience for my slow flow, so he takes over. “I’m going to tell you what’s good with the NBA and what’s wrong with the NBA,” he says proudly. “What the Atlanta Hawks need is this: we need to let Bibby come off the bench and let Jamal Crawford start. Anytime a guy can come off the bench and score 50 points in a game—he needs to be starting! He might be putting up 30 a night if he’s starting! The Hawks need to pick up Stoudamire. Phoenix is talking about getting rid of him. Steve Nash’s main go-to-guy is Stoudamire. That’s going to mess his chemistry up. His assists will drop a lot. We’re talking about—and I still like Steve Nash—but we’re talking about six assists.”
After more player breakdowns, our discussion moves towards the ring. Floyd assures me that the Manny Pacquiao fight will eventually happen. It’s the fight we’re all waiting for and is likely to become the most lucrative boxing match ever. But there is more money to be made before this epic showdown. Floyd is hoping to gross over $100 million over his next two fights. Next up, a May 1st showdown at the MGM grand in Las Vegas against Sugar Shane Mosley in a Welterweight showdown that should prove to be a great fight. Mosley has angled for his chance to fight Floyd for quite some time. He will now get his wish. Floyd will put his perfect 40-0 record on the line to face Mosley, who has won seven of his last eight fights dating back to 2005, including an impressive win over Antonio Margarito in January of 2009.
The Mayweather-Mosley tilt will likely be the best boxing event of 2010. Floyd’s critics—who are endless—will never be satisfied until he meets Manny. While I can’t wait for that day to come, I must admit that I’m also interested in seeing Floyd battle Sugar Shane. The only boxing match I ever attended was De La Hoya-Mosley at Staples Center in 2000. It was an incredible win for Mosley, who later admitted taking a banned substance in preparation for the fight (EP0)—both Mayweather and Mosley have agreed to Olympic style testing for their upcoming bout. Floyd describes the bout as speed and power versus timing, comparing Mosley’s power and speed to Zab Judah, who he deposed of several years back. “We’re two Hall of Famers meeting at a legendary weight class, which is Welterweight,” Floyd says. “Sugar Ray Leonard. Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns—the list goes on and on.”
Floyd will tell you that timing beats speed and that nobody can hit what they can’t see. Mayweather’s speed, technical skills and footwork are second to none. He is the Kobe of the fight game: a champion with supreme knowledge that has mastered the skills and movements needed to dominate his sport for many years, while doing so on his terms. Detractors call him a money whore and accuse him of dodging and ducking fighters. He will respond by reminding you that he fought his first 90 fights for free as an amateur and that he’s been dominating the sport for too long to be concerned with the newest flavor in your ear.
When our time together ends, I thank Floyd for the conversation. He pulls me aside and says, “I be knowing my basketball, huh?” We share a laugh and say our goodbyes after a quick photo op. You can check out some our discussion in the attached video and in a future edition of Dime Drop. Our discussion would have never occurred without the help of a few people behind the scenes. Many thanks to Floyd’s manager and CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe, Jeremy Silkowitz of Swanson Communications and Tzvi Twersky at the SLAM dome for all of their efforts. Cheers.
(Watch Floyd Mayweather Jr talks about basketball and Manny Pacquiao)
Source: slamonline.com
Friday 19 February 2010
Manny Pacquiao longshot foe: Winky Wright may go to Top Rank -- Examiner
By Michael Marley, Examiner.com
It's amazing how quickly a boxing “rumor” turns into fact.
We had another example of this phenomenom Thursday night when word began circulating that Showtime was scratching a Friday media conference call for the March 6 super middleweight tournament bout between King Arthur Abraham and Andre Dirrell.
Suspcious minds jumped, no make that leaped to the conclusion that there was a problem with the fight. You don't put the kibosh on a media conference call two weeks before the fight unless there is big trouble in River City.
It seems that Dirrell has an injury, broke a hangnail or hurt his back or something else. Any second now dueling press releases alleging this, that and all that will come flying out of the propaganda section of German promoter Sauerland (King Artie) and Big Gary Shaw's multinational operation (Dirrell). And Showtime will have to chime in also.
So, I've no compunction about passing on this juicy rumor.
Whispers out of Lost Wages, Nevada, have it that Hall Of Fame bound Ronald “Winky” Wright may be hitching his aging wagon to Uncle Bob Arum's Top Rank outfit.
Further gossip has Wright being added to the June 5 Miguel Cotto challenge against WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, which may take place at Yankee Stadium and co-exist with some lucky kid's boxing-baseball-mit gelt bah mitzvah.
Coming off back to back losses to Paul Williams, Wright still has a glittering 51-5-1, 25 KOs record.
I guess bringing the Winkster, age 38, into the fold makes sense for Arum on a couple of fronts.
He would be a decent test for Foreman. If Cotto beats Foreman, they you can invoke the spirit of Tito Trinidad and have I'm No Angel fight the smooth lefthander. Personally, I think Foreman, who is no Bore Man, could stop the fading clouter from Caguas.
But, here's a sleeper thought. It's like sleeper cell, only different.
I admit it sounds farfetched but, again this is boxing.
Arum may also have Winky in his well-stocked bullpen as possible Manny Pacquiao fodder.
Wright would join Foreman, Cotto, and Antonio Margarito on the "BFM" list, meaning But For Mayweather.
Certainly it would make Arum gleefeul to bring Wright on board simply for the fact that Golden Boy has ostensibly been repping the southpaw from St. Pete.
Maybe the Floridian is upset he never was given VP stripes by the Golden Boys, I don't know. They even made him dine with their other enlisted men, far from the GOM, Golden Officers Mess.
Remember, all rumors are not guaranteed.
You click on to the column, you takes your chances.
This just in: Dirrell may fight onward but has been told he must give up his piano and ukelele lessons immediately.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
***
It's amazing how quickly a boxing “rumor” turns into fact.
We had another example of this phenomenom Thursday night when word began circulating that Showtime was scratching a Friday media conference call for the March 6 super middleweight tournament bout between King Arthur Abraham and Andre Dirrell.
Suspcious minds jumped, no make that leaped to the conclusion that there was a problem with the fight. You don't put the kibosh on a media conference call two weeks before the fight unless there is big trouble in River City.
It seems that Dirrell has an injury, broke a hangnail or hurt his back or something else. Any second now dueling press releases alleging this, that and all that will come flying out of the propaganda section of German promoter Sauerland (King Artie) and Big Gary Shaw's multinational operation (Dirrell). And Showtime will have to chime in also.
So, I've no compunction about passing on this juicy rumor.
Whispers out of Lost Wages, Nevada, have it that Hall Of Fame bound Ronald “Winky” Wright may be hitching his aging wagon to Uncle Bob Arum's Top Rank outfit.
Further gossip has Wright being added to the June 5 Miguel Cotto challenge against WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, which may take place at Yankee Stadium and co-exist with some lucky kid's boxing-baseball-mit gelt bah mitzvah.
Coming off back to back losses to Paul Williams, Wright still has a glittering 51-5-1, 25 KOs record.
I guess bringing the Winkster, age 38, into the fold makes sense for Arum on a couple of fronts.
He would be a decent test for Foreman. If Cotto beats Foreman, they you can invoke the spirit of Tito Trinidad and have I'm No Angel fight the smooth lefthander. Personally, I think Foreman, who is no Bore Man, could stop the fading clouter from Caguas.
But, here's a sleeper thought. It's like sleeper cell, only different.
I admit it sounds farfetched but, again this is boxing.
Arum may also have Winky in his well-stocked bullpen as possible Manny Pacquiao fodder.
Wright would join Foreman, Cotto, and Antonio Margarito on the "BFM" list, meaning But For Mayweather.
Certainly it would make Arum gleefeul to bring Wright on board simply for the fact that Golden Boy has ostensibly been repping the southpaw from St. Pete.
Maybe the Floridian is upset he never was given VP stripes by the Golden Boys, I don't know. They even made him dine with their other enlisted men, far from the GOM, Golden Officers Mess.
Remember, all rumors are not guaranteed.
You click on to the column, you takes your chances.
This just in: Dirrell may fight onward but has been told he must give up his piano and ukelele lessons immediately.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
***
Shane Mosley Finally Gets His Super Fight -- SecondsOut
By Matthew Hurley, SecondsOut.com
It took nearly 16 months but Sugar Shane Mosley finally got the big fight he had been pining for since destroying Antonio Margarito way back in January of 2009. The fact that his bout against Floyd Mayweather on May 1st comes as something of a consolation prize for jaded fight fans in the aftermath of the disintegration of the proposed Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao fight should really be a non-issue. Mayweather – Mosley has all the ingredients to be an utterly compelling fight between two of the biggest names in the sport.
On top of that the winner will probably get Pacquiao later in the year should Manny defeat Joshua Clottey on March 13th. Heavy emphasis on the word ‘probably’ considering the mess all parties involved made of the Mayweather – Pacquiao negotiations.
For Shane it’s been a long, inexplicable wait to get someone, anyone, in the ring with him since the Margarito fight. He called out nearly anyone he could think of, even climbing into the ring after Mayweather’s comeback victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in September of 2009. He tried to get nose to nose with Floyd and goad him into a showdown but at the time Mayweather was having none of it.
But shit happens in the world of boxing. The fallout from the Mayweather – Pacquiao debacle was intense, particularly with fans who came to view both fighters with a mixture of incredulity and contempt. Message boards were filled with irate fans threatening to boycott both Pacquiao’s and Mayweather’s next fight.
However, now that Mosley is in the mix everything feels right again.
Shane is practically beside himself with delight now that the fight with Mayweather is a done deal. The wizened old veteran is a throwback fighter. Such is his passion for combat and competition that the interminable layoff he was forced to sit through drove him a bit nuts. His inability to ride the crest of the wave he had conjured up after blitzing Margarito has been as frustrating an experience he has ever had to deal with in his lengthy career. At thirty-nine he knows he doesn’t have any more time to waste.
“He’s been waiting for this opportunity for so long and he finally got it,” said Golden Boy Promotions’ Richard Shaeffer.
Mosley is so confident that he will beat Mayweather that he consented to the Olympic-style pre-fight blood testing Floyd and his team had tried to force on Pacquiao during contract negotiations. Pacquiao, refusing to be dictated to, balked and ultimately walked away from an astronomical payday.
Instead the Pac Man signed to fight the rugged Joshua Clottey in Texas Stadium on March 13th. With that fight set, the eyes of the boxing world zeroed in on Mayweather. What would he do? Take on another undersized opponent? Or would he try to one-up Pacquiao?
Sadly, the repercussions of the devastating earthquake in Haiti would bring Mayweather and Mosley together.
Mosley, the WBA welterweight champion was signed to fight his WBC counterpart Andre Berto in a unification match in early February. Berto lost several members of his extended family in the quake and understandably pulled out of the bout.
Once again Shane was without a dance partner.
Mayweather, with no other big time money making opponent available, and the intense glare of a very critical media contingent blinding him, had no choice but to take on Mosley.
Still, Mayweather insisted on the same random drug testing procedure he had forced upon Pacquiao. Mosley has admitted in court testimony during the BALCO hearings in 2003 to “unknowingly” using the doping agent EPO during preparations for his rematch with Oscar De La Hoya. EPO increases the number of oxygen-rich blood cells, which subsequently boosts physical endurance. Mosley also admitted to using the steroids known as ‘the cream’, testosterone and epitestosterone and ‘the clear’, THG. His past indiscretions haven’t hurt his image in the public eye to the degree it has so many other athletes, but by agreeing to these terms it seems Mosley is intent on further removing himself from what he calls “a stupid mistake.”
Paul Upham of Secondsout.com recently wrote that, “In signing off on the deal, Mosley has given Mayweather complete control over the drug testing to be implemented, apart from any testing that is required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.”
Both fighters will be subjected to the random tests leading up to the fight.
Mosley’s immediate acquiescence indicates just how desperate he was for this fight. As far as he’s concerned Mayweather can have all the concessions he wants as long as he’s there, in the ring, when the opening bell clangs. In Shane’s mind, once Floyd climbs through the ropes he’s got him. Everything that comes before that opening round is nothing more than Floyd Mayweather nonsense. Give him whatever he wants, just as long as he shows up to the dance.
Although Shane seems to have been partaking from the same fountain of youth that Bernard Hopkins apparently bathes in, age and years of wear and tear catch up to us all – even remarkable physical specimens like Mosley. His wasted year cannot have helped him in any way. Rest was not what he needed after such an easy victor over Margarito. He needed to get back in the ring immediately, but it didn’t play out that way. Ring rust might be a concern in the early going, but Shane waves that off.
“This is the fight I’ve wanted,” he says, that toothy grin always creasing his face. “I’m going to take it to him. He’s not fighting a guy coming up in weight. I know I’m the best fighter out there. I’m fresh. The layoff? No big deal.”
Shane knows that should he lose that could be it for him on the grand stage. He is so itching to fight and so consumed with beating Floyd Mayweather that he literally rubs his hands together in anticipation whenever Floyd’s name comes up. Look for him to explode out of the corner at the opening bell on May 1st. Floyd, for all his speed and athleticism, does not have the power to keep Shane at bay. However, you can’t hit what you can’t find and Shane, at least this aging version, is not great at cutting off the ring. (Witness the last three rounds of his bout with Miguel Cotto.) He likes his opponents to come to him. He will have to concentrate on the body attack early to slow Floyd down.
It should be a race to the finish. Can Shane break Floyd down early and dominate him late? Or will Floyd be able to stay away and turn the bout into a typical Mayweather affair? Whatever happens Shane Mosley will be there to fight, and to give the fans what they want. Whether he has enough left in the tank to get to Floyd Mayweather is the great intrigue in this fight. If he does, ‘Money’ Mayweather will have to earn every penny of his paycheck because ‘Sugar’ Shane will be in his face all night long.
Source: secondsout.com
***
It took nearly 16 months but Sugar Shane Mosley finally got the big fight he had been pining for since destroying Antonio Margarito way back in January of 2009. The fact that his bout against Floyd Mayweather on May 1st comes as something of a consolation prize for jaded fight fans in the aftermath of the disintegration of the proposed Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao fight should really be a non-issue. Mayweather – Mosley has all the ingredients to be an utterly compelling fight between two of the biggest names in the sport.
On top of that the winner will probably get Pacquiao later in the year should Manny defeat Joshua Clottey on March 13th. Heavy emphasis on the word ‘probably’ considering the mess all parties involved made of the Mayweather – Pacquiao negotiations.
For Shane it’s been a long, inexplicable wait to get someone, anyone, in the ring with him since the Margarito fight. He called out nearly anyone he could think of, even climbing into the ring after Mayweather’s comeback victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in September of 2009. He tried to get nose to nose with Floyd and goad him into a showdown but at the time Mayweather was having none of it.
But shit happens in the world of boxing. The fallout from the Mayweather – Pacquiao debacle was intense, particularly with fans who came to view both fighters with a mixture of incredulity and contempt. Message boards were filled with irate fans threatening to boycott both Pacquiao’s and Mayweather’s next fight.
However, now that Mosley is in the mix everything feels right again.
Shane is practically beside himself with delight now that the fight with Mayweather is a done deal. The wizened old veteran is a throwback fighter. Such is his passion for combat and competition that the interminable layoff he was forced to sit through drove him a bit nuts. His inability to ride the crest of the wave he had conjured up after blitzing Margarito has been as frustrating an experience he has ever had to deal with in his lengthy career. At thirty-nine he knows he doesn’t have any more time to waste.
“He’s been waiting for this opportunity for so long and he finally got it,” said Golden Boy Promotions’ Richard Shaeffer.
Mosley is so confident that he will beat Mayweather that he consented to the Olympic-style pre-fight blood testing Floyd and his team had tried to force on Pacquiao during contract negotiations. Pacquiao, refusing to be dictated to, balked and ultimately walked away from an astronomical payday.
Instead the Pac Man signed to fight the rugged Joshua Clottey in Texas Stadium on March 13th. With that fight set, the eyes of the boxing world zeroed in on Mayweather. What would he do? Take on another undersized opponent? Or would he try to one-up Pacquiao?
Sadly, the repercussions of the devastating earthquake in Haiti would bring Mayweather and Mosley together.
Mosley, the WBA welterweight champion was signed to fight his WBC counterpart Andre Berto in a unification match in early February. Berto lost several members of his extended family in the quake and understandably pulled out of the bout.
Once again Shane was without a dance partner.
Mayweather, with no other big time money making opponent available, and the intense glare of a very critical media contingent blinding him, had no choice but to take on Mosley.
Still, Mayweather insisted on the same random drug testing procedure he had forced upon Pacquiao. Mosley has admitted in court testimony during the BALCO hearings in 2003 to “unknowingly” using the doping agent EPO during preparations for his rematch with Oscar De La Hoya. EPO increases the number of oxygen-rich blood cells, which subsequently boosts physical endurance. Mosley also admitted to using the steroids known as ‘the cream’, testosterone and epitestosterone and ‘the clear’, THG. His past indiscretions haven’t hurt his image in the public eye to the degree it has so many other athletes, but by agreeing to these terms it seems Mosley is intent on further removing himself from what he calls “a stupid mistake.”
Paul Upham of Secondsout.com recently wrote that, “In signing off on the deal, Mosley has given Mayweather complete control over the drug testing to be implemented, apart from any testing that is required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.”
Both fighters will be subjected to the random tests leading up to the fight.
Mosley’s immediate acquiescence indicates just how desperate he was for this fight. As far as he’s concerned Mayweather can have all the concessions he wants as long as he’s there, in the ring, when the opening bell clangs. In Shane’s mind, once Floyd climbs through the ropes he’s got him. Everything that comes before that opening round is nothing more than Floyd Mayweather nonsense. Give him whatever he wants, just as long as he shows up to the dance.
Although Shane seems to have been partaking from the same fountain of youth that Bernard Hopkins apparently bathes in, age and years of wear and tear catch up to us all – even remarkable physical specimens like Mosley. His wasted year cannot have helped him in any way. Rest was not what he needed after such an easy victor over Margarito. He needed to get back in the ring immediately, but it didn’t play out that way. Ring rust might be a concern in the early going, but Shane waves that off.
“This is the fight I’ve wanted,” he says, that toothy grin always creasing his face. “I’m going to take it to him. He’s not fighting a guy coming up in weight. I know I’m the best fighter out there. I’m fresh. The layoff? No big deal.”
Shane knows that should he lose that could be it for him on the grand stage. He is so itching to fight and so consumed with beating Floyd Mayweather that he literally rubs his hands together in anticipation whenever Floyd’s name comes up. Look for him to explode out of the corner at the opening bell on May 1st. Floyd, for all his speed and athleticism, does not have the power to keep Shane at bay. However, you can’t hit what you can’t find and Shane, at least this aging version, is not great at cutting off the ring. (Witness the last three rounds of his bout with Miguel Cotto.) He likes his opponents to come to him. He will have to concentrate on the body attack early to slow Floyd down.
It should be a race to the finish. Can Shane break Floyd down early and dominate him late? Or will Floyd be able to stay away and turn the bout into a typical Mayweather affair? Whatever happens Shane Mosley will be there to fight, and to give the fans what they want. Whether he has enough left in the tank to get to Floyd Mayweather is the great intrigue in this fight. If he does, ‘Money’ Mayweather will have to earn every penny of his paycheck because ‘Sugar’ Shane will be in his face all night long.
Source: secondsout.com
***
Now Is When Juan Manuel Marquez Really Needs To Follow Nacho's Plan -- The Sweet Science
By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
There's an insightful article in the "Manila Standard Today" (2/12/10) by Ronnie Nathanielsz in which he reveals some thoughts of Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, the trainer of Juan Manuel Marquez. In the article Nacho discusses how he believes Golden Boy Promotions owner Oscar De La Hoya and company CEO Richard Schaefer are attempting to exploit Marquez by trying to make a fight between him and WBA junior welterweight titled holder Amir Khan.
The article by Nathanielsz states that it won't be the first time that Marquez is being used for fodder. Most remember that Marquez signed to fight undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a welterweight bout in which Floyd weighed-in two pounds above the 144 pound contract limit. Mayweather chose to pay a $600,000 fine instead of losing the two pounds in order to make the contract weight.
Marquez was dominated by Mayweather for 12-rounds and lost a lopsided unanimous decision. Some have tried to make the case that Mayweather is such a great boxer and technician, that's why he dominated to the extent he did. And while it's true Mayweather is a terrific technician and fundamentally sound boxer, his weight and size played a huge part in how the fight unfolded. No, not the result, but more in the way Mayweather was able to control Marquez.
Marquez fought as a featherweight (126) from 1993 through 2008. Then three times as a junior lightweight and only twice as a lightweight, picking up the WBA lightweight title in his previous fight before facing Mayweather as a welterweight. Mayweather, being significantly bigger than Marquez, muscled Juan Manuel all over the ring. His strength advantage made it impossible for Marquez to hurt him or position him to where he needed him to be, let alone having the strength to attempt boxing Mayweather. Luckily Mayweather isn't a big puncher as a welterweight because if he were I bet Beristain would've tried to persuade Marquez out of taking the fight. And that's because he cares about his fighter more than the money he could potentially make by sacrificing him to the younger and bigger lions GBP wants to feed him to.
Nathanielsz reported that "Pat Sheehan of the British newspaper The Sun reported that Marquez’ veteran trainer and one of the most respected men in boxing – Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, has pleaded with Marquez to put his health before money. Beristain fears the 36-year-old Marquez is being used as no more than a “name” on Khan’s record and has accused Golden Boy of exploiting his fighter."
And Beristain is exactly right. Promoters don't care about fighters and only want to make fights that'll set up their new and young troops. When Oscar De La Hoya got into the promotions end of the business, many had high hopes and anticipated that he'd be different. Only he's not and may even be worse. You'd think a fighter who got every break and benefit by promoters throughout his entire career wouldn't exploit fighters like others have, but his track record indicates he is no different and can't acquire enough wealth.
I know that fighters are by no means angels, because they're certainly not. And when they've worked hard like Marquez to build up a marquee name as his is, they want to mail it in sometimes and cash in off of it. And even when they have people around them who are looking out for their best interest, they seldom listen and make their own decisions. Add to that fighters the caliber of Marquez never think they are in over their head against the new prospect like they once were. And in some ways that's bad because it's doubtful that Marquez harbors the slightest bit of reservation in facing a young puncher the likes of Amir Khan.
“I told Juan Manual that Khan is not a fighter to be taken lightly. Khan is very strong and it’s not a good fight right now because Marquez has not fully recovered from the Mayweather fight which was just brutal, I think it’s better to get another opponent. He (Marquez) should not be exploited again. He deserves to retire like a true champion and not as someone’s stepping stone,” Sheehan quoted Beristain as saying.
Nacho is right. There's nothing better in boxing than watching a great fighter retire with their health, wealth, dignity and respect. Juan Manuel Marquez has a chance to do that which would add his name to a short list of fighters who currently make up that list. However, I wouldn't bet on that happening and somewhere in the near future someone like De La Hoya or someone in his position will sweeten the pot a little bit and lure him into taking a fight that he can't win and hopefully won't get hurt in.
Nacho's not a spineless guy when it comes to Marquez. He is, after all, the guy with the good sense not to pull the plug on the fight when Pacquiao had Marquez down three times in the first round of their fight. So it's not like he's an alarmist. He knows when something isn't right with his fighter.
Perhaps someone close to Marquez should answer the following trivia question.
Who's the only undefeated champion in recent years to retire without a loss, and not make a comeback? Ricardo Lopez. Beristain's masterpiece. Never lost a fight, kept his money and his dignity, and didn't get hurt in the ring.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
***
There's an insightful article in the "Manila Standard Today" (2/12/10) by Ronnie Nathanielsz in which he reveals some thoughts of Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, the trainer of Juan Manuel Marquez. In the article Nacho discusses how he believes Golden Boy Promotions owner Oscar De La Hoya and company CEO Richard Schaefer are attempting to exploit Marquez by trying to make a fight between him and WBA junior welterweight titled holder Amir Khan.
The article by Nathanielsz states that it won't be the first time that Marquez is being used for fodder. Most remember that Marquez signed to fight undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a welterweight bout in which Floyd weighed-in two pounds above the 144 pound contract limit. Mayweather chose to pay a $600,000 fine instead of losing the two pounds in order to make the contract weight.
Marquez was dominated by Mayweather for 12-rounds and lost a lopsided unanimous decision. Some have tried to make the case that Mayweather is such a great boxer and technician, that's why he dominated to the extent he did. And while it's true Mayweather is a terrific technician and fundamentally sound boxer, his weight and size played a huge part in how the fight unfolded. No, not the result, but more in the way Mayweather was able to control Marquez.
Marquez fought as a featherweight (126) from 1993 through 2008. Then three times as a junior lightweight and only twice as a lightweight, picking up the WBA lightweight title in his previous fight before facing Mayweather as a welterweight. Mayweather, being significantly bigger than Marquez, muscled Juan Manuel all over the ring. His strength advantage made it impossible for Marquez to hurt him or position him to where he needed him to be, let alone having the strength to attempt boxing Mayweather. Luckily Mayweather isn't a big puncher as a welterweight because if he were I bet Beristain would've tried to persuade Marquez out of taking the fight. And that's because he cares about his fighter more than the money he could potentially make by sacrificing him to the younger and bigger lions GBP wants to feed him to.
Nathanielsz reported that "Pat Sheehan of the British newspaper The Sun reported that Marquez’ veteran trainer and one of the most respected men in boxing – Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, has pleaded with Marquez to put his health before money. Beristain fears the 36-year-old Marquez is being used as no more than a “name” on Khan’s record and has accused Golden Boy of exploiting his fighter."
And Beristain is exactly right. Promoters don't care about fighters and only want to make fights that'll set up their new and young troops. When Oscar De La Hoya got into the promotions end of the business, many had high hopes and anticipated that he'd be different. Only he's not and may even be worse. You'd think a fighter who got every break and benefit by promoters throughout his entire career wouldn't exploit fighters like others have, but his track record indicates he is no different and can't acquire enough wealth.
I know that fighters are by no means angels, because they're certainly not. And when they've worked hard like Marquez to build up a marquee name as his is, they want to mail it in sometimes and cash in off of it. And even when they have people around them who are looking out for their best interest, they seldom listen and make their own decisions. Add to that fighters the caliber of Marquez never think they are in over their head against the new prospect like they once were. And in some ways that's bad because it's doubtful that Marquez harbors the slightest bit of reservation in facing a young puncher the likes of Amir Khan.
“I told Juan Manual that Khan is not a fighter to be taken lightly. Khan is very strong and it’s not a good fight right now because Marquez has not fully recovered from the Mayweather fight which was just brutal, I think it’s better to get another opponent. He (Marquez) should not be exploited again. He deserves to retire like a true champion and not as someone’s stepping stone,” Sheehan quoted Beristain as saying.
Nacho is right. There's nothing better in boxing than watching a great fighter retire with their health, wealth, dignity and respect. Juan Manuel Marquez has a chance to do that which would add his name to a short list of fighters who currently make up that list. However, I wouldn't bet on that happening and somewhere in the near future someone like De La Hoya or someone in his position will sweeten the pot a little bit and lure him into taking a fight that he can't win and hopefully won't get hurt in.
Nacho's not a spineless guy when it comes to Marquez. He is, after all, the guy with the good sense not to pull the plug on the fight when Pacquiao had Marquez down three times in the first round of their fight. So it's not like he's an alarmist. He knows when something isn't right with his fighter.
Perhaps someone close to Marquez should answer the following trivia question.
Who's the only undefeated champion in recent years to retire without a loss, and not make a comeback? Ricardo Lopez. Beristain's masterpiece. Never lost a fight, kept his money and his dignity, and didn't get hurt in the ring.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
***
Pacquiao to retire? Momma votes yes -- The Ring
By Michael Rosenthal, The Ring
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Manny Pacquiao has incentive to retire from boxing before the end of year, as trainer Freddie Roach has suggested he might do. He has put together a hall of fame legacy and wants to go into politics.
Now comes an even more-compelling reason to call it quits -– mom wants him to.
“My mother, she doesn’t want me to fight anymore,” Pacquiao said as he taped his hands before a workout Thursday at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif. “I told her, ‘I can still fight, I’m still strong.’
“She worries. That’s a mother.”
Still, Pacquiao hemmed and hawed when he was pressed about his intentions. When he was asked again whether retirement this year is a possibility, he said: “I don’t know. … I have to think.”
Roach reiterated that this could be his star pupil’s final year of boxing. If he beats Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao would like to take on the winner of the May 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Shane Mosley fight.
If Mosley wins, Roach said, that probably would be Pacquiao’s final fight. If Mayweather wins and the two are able to overcome their impasse over drug testing, that would be his finale. And if Mayweather wins and they can’t come to terms, then the Clottey fight would be Pacquiao’s last.
Roach suggested the “retirement” might not be permanent, though.
“Well, he’ll get into politics,” he said. “If he likes it, he’ll stay there for a while. Once he learns that in politics not everyone loves him anymore, that it’s a 50-50 thing, he might come back to boxing a little quicker. Everyone loves him in boxing.”
So we won’t see the last of him this year?
“I don’t think so,” Roach said.
Pacquiao's mother, Dionisia, reportedly became upset when she saw her son's face in bandages after he KO'd Miguel Cotto in November.
KO coming? Pacquiao won’t predict that he’ll be the first to knock out Clottey. Roach will, though.
The top trainer in the world was asked exactly how dangerous the former titleholder from Ghana is. His response? Not very. That might not be good for the promotion but Roach has always been a straight shooter.
“He’s a strong guy, he’s dangerous,” he said with no conviction. “To be honest, the more tape I watch of him the more holes I find, the more mistakes he makes. I’m very confident for this fight. … Size doesn’t win fights, talent wins fights. We can do a lot more than he can.
“I expect him to retreat, to lay on the ropes and rest a little bit. I have the perfect way to crack that defense, though. I believe he’ll be stopped for the first time in his life.”
Pacquiao, ever the diplomat, wouldn’t go there.
“It’s hard to say right now,” he said. “… I just want people to be happy.”
Roach said that Clottey is comparable to Miguel Cotto in terms of ability, although Cotto is more versatile. In other words, putting together a game plan for Clottey isn’t as complicated as it is for some other fighters.
“Clottey is very predictable,” Roach said. “He fights southpaws the same as he fights righties. I’ll still watch more tapes to get more information on him but I knew he doesn’t adapt well. He fights one way and one way only. We know what to expect.
“The only advantage he might have is he’s a little stronger. He doesn’t punch as hard as my guy, though.”
Pacquiao-Mayweather: Neither Pacquiao nor Roach is focused on the super fight that failed to materialize. That doesn’t mean they’re writing it off, though.
Pacquiao expressed no anger at Mayweather for demanding Olympic-style testing, which caused negotiations to unravel, and was open to the possibility that they could still meet in the ring if Mayweather beats Mosley.
“I think he wasn’t ready for the fight. Maybe some other time,” Pacquiao said.
Roach was more optimistic.
“I’m not so sure that crazy bastard isn’t trying to build the fight and make it ever bigger,” he said. "Maybe it’s all by design. He’s out there a little bit. … I think it has to happen, Manny fighting the winner of that fight. It’s a must for boxing. Boxing needs a megafight like that now to keep the MMA off its back and other sports from taking us over. Boxing needs that fight.”
At the same time, he implied that Mayweather would have to compromise.
“He’ll never get Olympic-style drug testing because he doesn’t make the f—king rules,” Roach said. “We don’t work for him. We’ll never bow down to him, never let that happen. It’s like giving two rounds away. If we give him that, he’ll only want more.”
And if it never happens? Pacquiao said he’ll be just fine.
“I’m never disappointed,” he said. “… I’ve already proved to the world what I can give in boxing. Everybody knows what I’ve achieved.”
Mosley’s chances: A Mosley victory presumably would make negotiations a breeze, particularly in comparison to Mayweather. However, Roach doesn’t like his chances.
“I hope Mosley wins,” Roach said. “I’d much rather fight Mosley. You know what? It’s a better fight than Mayweather-Pacquiao. Mayweather will run all night and Pacquiao will chase him all night. If he catches him, he catches him. If you want a real action fight, (Mosley-Pacquiao) is the best fight in the world today. Shane and Manny; that’ll be a fight.
“I don’t think Shane will beat Mayweather, though. Shane is comfortable with guys who attack him. He grew up in L.A. He's had Mexicans coming after him his whole life. That’s his bread and butter, what he does best. He has trouble with speed and movement.
“The foot speed of Mayweather is much faster than Shane can deal with, I feel. I hate to say I like Mayweather in the fight. I like Shane. He’s my friend. I’m not picking him, though. I do hope he wins. Then we don’t have to deal with Mayweather any more. He’s a pain in the ass.”
Pacquiao’s second passion: Pacquiao is always polite but sometimes seems to grow weary of answering the same boxing questions over and over again. Ask him about politics, though, and he speaks passionately.
Pacquiao is set to run for a congressional seat in the Philippines in May. And he seems to be doing it for the right reasons.
The fighter grew up in poverty, watching many of those close to him suffer. He genuinely wants to do all he can to prevent any of his countrymen from suffering the same fate.
“I have to make an action to help them,” he said. “A lot of people don’t have jobs. They need help from the government. Sometimes the leaders, government officials, don’t care about the people’s needs. They just care about their (own) life, their self interest. In the Philippines, we need a leader who truly has a heart to help them.
“… The government has a budget, financial support … for your constituents. Why not give it to them? Why put it in your own pocket? Corruption is not good in the Philippines right now.”
Less sparring: Roach said that Pacquiao came into camp in particularly good shape because of the relatively short turn around after the Cotto fight. He’s already around the 147-pound weight limit.
“He didn’t have a lot of down time for this fight,” Roach said, “so I cut sparring down a little bit. We usually average 150 rounds in training camp. We’ll probably do 110 rounds for this fight. I think 150 rounds would burn him out a little bit. I’m being a little conservative.”
Roach said Pacquiao walks around at about 145 pounds.
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com
Source: ringtv.com
***
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Manny Pacquiao has incentive to retire from boxing before the end of year, as trainer Freddie Roach has suggested he might do. He has put together a hall of fame legacy and wants to go into politics.
Now comes an even more-compelling reason to call it quits -– mom wants him to.
“My mother, she doesn’t want me to fight anymore,” Pacquiao said as he taped his hands before a workout Thursday at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif. “I told her, ‘I can still fight, I’m still strong.’
“She worries. That’s a mother.”
Still, Pacquiao hemmed and hawed when he was pressed about his intentions. When he was asked again whether retirement this year is a possibility, he said: “I don’t know. … I have to think.”
Roach reiterated that this could be his star pupil’s final year of boxing. If he beats Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao would like to take on the winner of the May 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Shane Mosley fight.
If Mosley wins, Roach said, that probably would be Pacquiao’s final fight. If Mayweather wins and the two are able to overcome their impasse over drug testing, that would be his finale. And if Mayweather wins and they can’t come to terms, then the Clottey fight would be Pacquiao’s last.
Roach suggested the “retirement” might not be permanent, though.
“Well, he’ll get into politics,” he said. “If he likes it, he’ll stay there for a while. Once he learns that in politics not everyone loves him anymore, that it’s a 50-50 thing, he might come back to boxing a little quicker. Everyone loves him in boxing.”
So we won’t see the last of him this year?
“I don’t think so,” Roach said.
Pacquiao's mother, Dionisia, reportedly became upset when she saw her son's face in bandages after he KO'd Miguel Cotto in November.
KO coming? Pacquiao won’t predict that he’ll be the first to knock out Clottey. Roach will, though.
The top trainer in the world was asked exactly how dangerous the former titleholder from Ghana is. His response? Not very. That might not be good for the promotion but Roach has always been a straight shooter.
“He’s a strong guy, he’s dangerous,” he said with no conviction. “To be honest, the more tape I watch of him the more holes I find, the more mistakes he makes. I’m very confident for this fight. … Size doesn’t win fights, talent wins fights. We can do a lot more than he can.
“I expect him to retreat, to lay on the ropes and rest a little bit. I have the perfect way to crack that defense, though. I believe he’ll be stopped for the first time in his life.”
Pacquiao, ever the diplomat, wouldn’t go there.
“It’s hard to say right now,” he said. “… I just want people to be happy.”
Roach said that Clottey is comparable to Miguel Cotto in terms of ability, although Cotto is more versatile. In other words, putting together a game plan for Clottey isn’t as complicated as it is for some other fighters.
“Clottey is very predictable,” Roach said. “He fights southpaws the same as he fights righties. I’ll still watch more tapes to get more information on him but I knew he doesn’t adapt well. He fights one way and one way only. We know what to expect.
“The only advantage he might have is he’s a little stronger. He doesn’t punch as hard as my guy, though.”
Pacquiao-Mayweather: Neither Pacquiao nor Roach is focused on the super fight that failed to materialize. That doesn’t mean they’re writing it off, though.
Pacquiao expressed no anger at Mayweather for demanding Olympic-style testing, which caused negotiations to unravel, and was open to the possibility that they could still meet in the ring if Mayweather beats Mosley.
“I think he wasn’t ready for the fight. Maybe some other time,” Pacquiao said.
Roach was more optimistic.
“I’m not so sure that crazy bastard isn’t trying to build the fight and make it ever bigger,” he said. "Maybe it’s all by design. He’s out there a little bit. … I think it has to happen, Manny fighting the winner of that fight. It’s a must for boxing. Boxing needs a megafight like that now to keep the MMA off its back and other sports from taking us over. Boxing needs that fight.”
At the same time, he implied that Mayweather would have to compromise.
“He’ll never get Olympic-style drug testing because he doesn’t make the f—king rules,” Roach said. “We don’t work for him. We’ll never bow down to him, never let that happen. It’s like giving two rounds away. If we give him that, he’ll only want more.”
And if it never happens? Pacquiao said he’ll be just fine.
“I’m never disappointed,” he said. “… I’ve already proved to the world what I can give in boxing. Everybody knows what I’ve achieved.”
Mosley’s chances: A Mosley victory presumably would make negotiations a breeze, particularly in comparison to Mayweather. However, Roach doesn’t like his chances.
“I hope Mosley wins,” Roach said. “I’d much rather fight Mosley. You know what? It’s a better fight than Mayweather-Pacquiao. Mayweather will run all night and Pacquiao will chase him all night. If he catches him, he catches him. If you want a real action fight, (Mosley-Pacquiao) is the best fight in the world today. Shane and Manny; that’ll be a fight.
“I don’t think Shane will beat Mayweather, though. Shane is comfortable with guys who attack him. He grew up in L.A. He's had Mexicans coming after him his whole life. That’s his bread and butter, what he does best. He has trouble with speed and movement.
“The foot speed of Mayweather is much faster than Shane can deal with, I feel. I hate to say I like Mayweather in the fight. I like Shane. He’s my friend. I’m not picking him, though. I do hope he wins. Then we don’t have to deal with Mayweather any more. He’s a pain in the ass.”
Pacquiao’s second passion: Pacquiao is always polite but sometimes seems to grow weary of answering the same boxing questions over and over again. Ask him about politics, though, and he speaks passionately.
Pacquiao is set to run for a congressional seat in the Philippines in May. And he seems to be doing it for the right reasons.
The fighter grew up in poverty, watching many of those close to him suffer. He genuinely wants to do all he can to prevent any of his countrymen from suffering the same fate.
“I have to make an action to help them,” he said. “A lot of people don’t have jobs. They need help from the government. Sometimes the leaders, government officials, don’t care about the people’s needs. They just care about their (own) life, their self interest. In the Philippines, we need a leader who truly has a heart to help them.
“… The government has a budget, financial support … for your constituents. Why not give it to them? Why put it in your own pocket? Corruption is not good in the Philippines right now.”
Less sparring: Roach said that Pacquiao came into camp in particularly good shape because of the relatively short turn around after the Cotto fight. He’s already around the 147-pound weight limit.
“He didn’t have a lot of down time for this fight,” Roach said, “so I cut sparring down a little bit. We usually average 150 rounds in training camp. We’ll probably do 110 rounds for this fight. I think 150 rounds would burn him out a little bit. I’m being a little conservative.”
Roach said Pacquiao walks around at about 145 pounds.
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com
Source: ringtv.com
***
Pacquiao has evolved but he's still a fighter at heart -- The Ring
By Doug Fischer, The Ring
Manny Pacquiao has changed a lot since he first burst into casual fan consciousness with his 11th-round stoppage of Marco Antonio Barrera back in 2003.
The Filipino icon is no longer an impetuous one-dimensional banger who loads up with his straight left. He’s a complete boxer now, a savvy veteran with defensive moves and patience to compliment his explosive athletic ability.
The change is evident in the manner in which Pacquiao analyzed his next opponent, welterweight contender Joshua Clottey, when a small group of boxing writers asked him about his March 13 fight before a workout Thursday at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif.
“He is strong,” Pacquiao said of Clottey. “He’s bigger and maybe stronger than (Miguel) Cotto. He’s never been knocked out and I think his defense is better than Cotto’s. I have to watch out for his jab and his uppercut.
“My advantage is my speed but I have to use it properly. You can have better speed than your opponent but it won’t be an advantage if you don’t use it wisely.”
Ray Beltran, a longtime sparring partner of Pacquiao’s, knows how much the pound-for-pound king has evolved from first-hand experience.
“I remember when he fought (Marco Antonio) Barrera the first time,” Beltran, who began sparring with Pacquiao when the Filipino was still a featherweight, told RingTV.com. “He was aggressive, aggressive, aggressive. Now, he's become a better boxer, he has better technique. And he thinks better now, he uses his brain."
Manny is still Manny, though. He’s added wrinkles to his game, slowed things down a bit, but to borrow a classic line from Paul Simon’s legendary folk ballad “The Boxer,” the fighter still remains.
Witnesses to Pacquiao’s spirited sparring session on Thursday, which included Academy award-winning actor Robert Duvall, were reminded of this.
Beltran (23-4, 15 KOs), a tough but crafty lightwieght who is coming off a recent seventh-round TKO of Washington-area prospect David Torres, was the first leg of Pacquiao’s three-man nine-round session.
The 28-year-old boxer knows Pacquiao better than the other sparing partners, but despite their familiarity they exchanged heavy-handed combinations after a warm-up first round.
Pacquiao alternately maneuvered around and pressured Beltran in the second round, periodically standing and allowing the sparring partner to tee off on him with head and body shots while he covered up against the ropes.
The sparring session heated up even more in the third round when Mike Dallas Jr. (11-0-1, 2 KOs) replaced Beltran. The junior welterweight prospect from Bakersfield, Calif., had the hand speed and busy offense (which included a few accidental low blows) to force Pacquiao to step up his intensity.
Dallas worked behind a constant jab that kept Pacquiao at bay for much of the third round. The 23-year-old boxer looked to counter Pacquiao whenever the dynamic southpaw tried to jump inside his longer reach. Dallas did well with this strategy, which was aided by his high guard and head movement.
Onlookers were impressed with Dallas‘ speed and focus. The young man did not seem intimidated by Pacquiao, who had to apply more pressure and attack from angles to get to his brash sparring partner.
Pacquiao took to stalking Dallas without utilizing his jab in the fourth round, basically walking the prospect down while blocking in-coming punches with his gloves. Pacquiao sought to punch between his Dallas’ combinations and he slipped his straight left in but Dallas took it well and retaliated with a right hand to the body. Pacquiao abandoned his high guard and the two exchanged punches in the center of the ring on even terms until the bell.
Dallas worked his jab overtime in the fifth round, doubling it and sometimes tripling it up. The tactic worked well with Pacquiao and even backed the superstar up occasionally. When Pacquiao went on the offensive, Dallas’ quick reflexes, head movement and footwork made pound-for-pound king miss more than gym regulars are used to seeing during a sparring session.
However, Pacquiao kept the pressure on Dallas, eventually forcing the kid to let both hands go and the two exchanged some hard leather in quick multi-punch bursts until the end of the round.
The gym action intensified in the sixth round when Abdullai Amidu, a strong and athletic welterweight prospect from Ghana, replaced Dallas.
It was during these final rounds of sparring with the power-punching African that onlookers were reminded of Pacquiao’s warrior temperament.
Amidu confidently stepped toward Pacquiao with a hard jab and a competitive glare at the start of the round. Pacquiao slipped and ducked under most of Amidu’s heavy left jabs and it was clear that he could avoid most of undefeated (18-0, 17 KOs) banger’s punches with his upper-body movement. But the impish welterweight titleholder couldn’t help but stand and block a few shots with his gloves.
Amidu exhibited some decent head and upper-body movement of his own in the seventh round, which spared him from Pacquiao’s sharp jab, but he had trouble dealing with the Filipino’s lateral movement.
Pacquiao effectively neutralized Amidu’s offense with his footwork and head movement, but he settled down to test the prospect’s power shots in the final minute of the round. It seemed like a dangerous thing to do because Amidu loaded up with every shot, grunting loudly as he leaned into each punch. Pacquiao blocked most of these hard hooks and crosses, but he ate a head-snapping uppercut, one of the key punches he told writers he would have to avoid against Clottey.
With seconds left in the round, Pacquiao shot a nice right to Amidu’s body and then landed a straight left to the face in order to get his respect.
The boxing portion of the sparring session ended with the seventh round. The eighth round was all about getting respect.
Pacquiao completely abandoned his footwork and stood his ground in the center of the ring, where some serious machismo ensued for the duration of the round. Amidu launched into the stationary Pacquiao with damaging-sounding punches.
“Come on, man, let’s go!” Pacquiao yelled at Amidu as the sparring partner dug to the body. “Got to feel that power. Bring it!”
Amidu, who is shy and quiet outside of the ring, banged his gloves together and, well, brought it as Pacquiao requested.
Pacquiao put it right back on him, and so it went. The two stood in front of each other, punching, blocking and absorbing the occasional hard shot that got through their gloves and forearms. Both landed stunning right hands before the bell. They posed in their fighting stances, arms extended and chins defiantly exposed, for the final seconds of the round to let the other know that they could take more.
More is what they gave each other in the ninth and final round of the session. Pacquiao ducked under some of Amidu’s shots and stepped around the Ghanaian where he could have attacked from the side but he didn’t let his hands go or continue to evade punches.
He wanted Amidu’s respect on a very basic level. He wanted to show the younger man that he could take his best shot and he wanted to see if Amidu could take his.
Pacquiao will no doubt have the same intensity in his March 13 showdown with Clottey, but if he brings the same mentality -- and why wouldn’t he? -- fans will be treated to a very entertaining fight.
Source: ringtv.com
***
Manny Pacquiao has changed a lot since he first burst into casual fan consciousness with his 11th-round stoppage of Marco Antonio Barrera back in 2003.
The Filipino icon is no longer an impetuous one-dimensional banger who loads up with his straight left. He’s a complete boxer now, a savvy veteran with defensive moves and patience to compliment his explosive athletic ability.
The change is evident in the manner in which Pacquiao analyzed his next opponent, welterweight contender Joshua Clottey, when a small group of boxing writers asked him about his March 13 fight before a workout Thursday at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif.
“He is strong,” Pacquiao said of Clottey. “He’s bigger and maybe stronger than (Miguel) Cotto. He’s never been knocked out and I think his defense is better than Cotto’s. I have to watch out for his jab and his uppercut.
“My advantage is my speed but I have to use it properly. You can have better speed than your opponent but it won’t be an advantage if you don’t use it wisely.”
Ray Beltran, a longtime sparring partner of Pacquiao’s, knows how much the pound-for-pound king has evolved from first-hand experience.
“I remember when he fought (Marco Antonio) Barrera the first time,” Beltran, who began sparring with Pacquiao when the Filipino was still a featherweight, told RingTV.com. “He was aggressive, aggressive, aggressive. Now, he's become a better boxer, he has better technique. And he thinks better now, he uses his brain."
Manny is still Manny, though. He’s added wrinkles to his game, slowed things down a bit, but to borrow a classic line from Paul Simon’s legendary folk ballad “The Boxer,” the fighter still remains.
Witnesses to Pacquiao’s spirited sparring session on Thursday, which included Academy award-winning actor Robert Duvall, were reminded of this.
Beltran (23-4, 15 KOs), a tough but crafty lightwieght who is coming off a recent seventh-round TKO of Washington-area prospect David Torres, was the first leg of Pacquiao’s three-man nine-round session.
The 28-year-old boxer knows Pacquiao better than the other sparing partners, but despite their familiarity they exchanged heavy-handed combinations after a warm-up first round.
Pacquiao alternately maneuvered around and pressured Beltran in the second round, periodically standing and allowing the sparring partner to tee off on him with head and body shots while he covered up against the ropes.
The sparring session heated up even more in the third round when Mike Dallas Jr. (11-0-1, 2 KOs) replaced Beltran. The junior welterweight prospect from Bakersfield, Calif., had the hand speed and busy offense (which included a few accidental low blows) to force Pacquiao to step up his intensity.
Dallas worked behind a constant jab that kept Pacquiao at bay for much of the third round. The 23-year-old boxer looked to counter Pacquiao whenever the dynamic southpaw tried to jump inside his longer reach. Dallas did well with this strategy, which was aided by his high guard and head movement.
Onlookers were impressed with Dallas‘ speed and focus. The young man did not seem intimidated by Pacquiao, who had to apply more pressure and attack from angles to get to his brash sparring partner.
Pacquiao took to stalking Dallas without utilizing his jab in the fourth round, basically walking the prospect down while blocking in-coming punches with his gloves. Pacquiao sought to punch between his Dallas’ combinations and he slipped his straight left in but Dallas took it well and retaliated with a right hand to the body. Pacquiao abandoned his high guard and the two exchanged punches in the center of the ring on even terms until the bell.
Dallas worked his jab overtime in the fifth round, doubling it and sometimes tripling it up. The tactic worked well with Pacquiao and even backed the superstar up occasionally. When Pacquiao went on the offensive, Dallas’ quick reflexes, head movement and footwork made pound-for-pound king miss more than gym regulars are used to seeing during a sparring session.
However, Pacquiao kept the pressure on Dallas, eventually forcing the kid to let both hands go and the two exchanged some hard leather in quick multi-punch bursts until the end of the round.
The gym action intensified in the sixth round when Abdullai Amidu, a strong and athletic welterweight prospect from Ghana, replaced Dallas.
It was during these final rounds of sparring with the power-punching African that onlookers were reminded of Pacquiao’s warrior temperament.
Amidu confidently stepped toward Pacquiao with a hard jab and a competitive glare at the start of the round. Pacquiao slipped and ducked under most of Amidu’s heavy left jabs and it was clear that he could avoid most of undefeated (18-0, 17 KOs) banger’s punches with his upper-body movement. But the impish welterweight titleholder couldn’t help but stand and block a few shots with his gloves.
Amidu exhibited some decent head and upper-body movement of his own in the seventh round, which spared him from Pacquiao’s sharp jab, but he had trouble dealing with the Filipino’s lateral movement.
Pacquiao effectively neutralized Amidu’s offense with his footwork and head movement, but he settled down to test the prospect’s power shots in the final minute of the round. It seemed like a dangerous thing to do because Amidu loaded up with every shot, grunting loudly as he leaned into each punch. Pacquiao blocked most of these hard hooks and crosses, but he ate a head-snapping uppercut, one of the key punches he told writers he would have to avoid against Clottey.
With seconds left in the round, Pacquiao shot a nice right to Amidu’s body and then landed a straight left to the face in order to get his respect.
The boxing portion of the sparring session ended with the seventh round. The eighth round was all about getting respect.
Pacquiao completely abandoned his footwork and stood his ground in the center of the ring, where some serious machismo ensued for the duration of the round. Amidu launched into the stationary Pacquiao with damaging-sounding punches.
“Come on, man, let’s go!” Pacquiao yelled at Amidu as the sparring partner dug to the body. “Got to feel that power. Bring it!”
Amidu, who is shy and quiet outside of the ring, banged his gloves together and, well, brought it as Pacquiao requested.
Pacquiao put it right back on him, and so it went. The two stood in front of each other, punching, blocking and absorbing the occasional hard shot that got through their gloves and forearms. Both landed stunning right hands before the bell. They posed in their fighting stances, arms extended and chins defiantly exposed, for the final seconds of the round to let the other know that they could take more.
More is what they gave each other in the ninth and final round of the session. Pacquiao ducked under some of Amidu’s shots and stepped around the Ghanaian where he could have attacked from the side but he didn’t let his hands go or continue to evade punches.
He wanted Amidu’s respect on a very basic level. He wanted to show the younger man that he could take his best shot and he wanted to see if Amidu could take his.
Pacquiao will no doubt have the same intensity in his March 13 showdown with Clottey, but if he brings the same mentality -- and why wouldn’t he? -- fans will be treated to a very entertaining fight.
Source: ringtv.com
***
Floyd Mayweather wrong to compare drug test campaign with civil rights -- The Guardian
By Kevin Mitchell, Guardian.co.uk
None but romantics minded much when Floyd Mayweather Jr compared himself to Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. He's a great fighter, after all – and it was just his ego talking.
But Floyd lost it this week when he compared his campaign for drug testing in his sport with the civil rights achievements of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.
"It's me taking a stand for something that means something," he said. "It's sort of the same stance Martin Luther King and Malcolm X made, so we could have freedoms, so everybody could tell the world that we're equal. The only thing I'm saying is that we are equal. So if you're not on nothing and I'm not on nothing then let's go take the test."
Floyd tried and failed to bully Manny Pacquiao into blood testing he knew he did not want because he wasn't ready to fight him – and now he equates that shabby act with King giving his people hope and dignity through years of personal sacrifice. He gave his life too. So did Malcolm X, in murky circumstances. All Floyd gave up was a postponed payday.
Alex Ariza, Pacquiao's conditioner, reckons the blighted fight with Mayweather may not happen. And Freddie Roach, his trainer, is not bothered any more. More worryingly, for Mayweather and boxing, Mayweather doesn't much care, either – so now it's up to Floyd to eat some humble pie or he will finish his career an unfulfilled fighter.
But he has a lot of credibility to claw back first. His remarks about Martin Luther King were shameless and shameful. Maybe he will regret them. He should – but I doubt it. The man's ego knows no bounds.
A lot of people wouldn't mind Shane Mosley giving him a hiding on 13 March. I can't see it happening – because Mayweather actually is as good as he says he is.
Fighters of a different stamp
Robert Guerrero did Kevin Mitchell a huge favour when he relinquished his IBF world super-featherweight title and pulled out of a fight against the Australian Michael Katsidis.
It made Frank Warren's job easier than it already was in negotiating a fight between Katsidis and his Dagenham fighter for the vacant WBO lightweight belt. That should happen in late May or early June, at the 02 Arena or Upton Park.
More importantly, Guerrero did the right thing for his wife, Casey, who has leukaemia. The Katsidis fight was going to be the biggest of his career. Hers dwarfs his. So he is in her corner every day.
"I'll be back," Guerrero said, talking the Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, where Casey has had a bone marrow transplant. "Right now I'm not sure when but I know I'll be back."
In January, Andre Berto withdrew from his welterweight unification fight against Shane Mosley to be with his family and friends in Haiti after the devastating earthquake. That, too, would have been Berto's biggest payday.
Guerrero and Berto are good fighters, and better human beings. But that would only be surprising to people who don't know boxers.
By the way, how good was Mitchell? That right hand to the temple of Ignacio Mendoza at Wembley last Saturday night landed with such dramatic suddenness it lifted him two feet off the canvas. Older codgers at ringside thought immediately of George Foreman's booming blows that sent Joe Frazier into orbit in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1973.
It was the sort of punch that can change a career. Any boxing suit in the US who saw it will have shuddered – in the way that men who like making money shudder. They love one-punch knockout artists, wherever they are from.
But it might never have happened had Mitchell not changed his attitude. He did his hands no favours early in his training by using smaller gloves in sparring – because he liked the thrill of hurting opponents – and was out for more than a year. He has found out, just in time, that there is more to the business than that.
What Mitchell does now, under his new mentor Jimmy Tibbs, is let the punches flow, rather than totally loading up – although there were no complaints from Tibbs when Kevin sent Mendoza on to Queer Street.
No fool like an old fool
How about this for weird, sad and predictable: Elijah McCall was due to step up from the undercard to fight in the main event at the Hard Rock Live Arena in Miami this week because the headliner, his father Oliver, has been arrested, again, for possessing cocaine.
The "Atomic Bull", 44, is still fighting – on all fronts – 16 years after knocking out Lennox Lewis to win the world heavyweight title, 15 years after losing it to Frank Bruno.
When he was arrested last weekend, police said they found a crack pipe and cocaine in his possession. He just can't kick the crack habit he has had for maybe 30 years. If convicted, he will almost certainly go back inside as he was on probation.
I went to see this most likeable of volcanoes when he was doing time for yet another public disturbance in his home town, Martinsville, Virginia, on the eve of Lewis's world title fight against Evander Holyfield at Madison Square Garden in 1999. I wondered if he'd be watching. "We don't have pay-per-view in prison," he said.
McCall got out and back into trouble. He brawled and raged, a danger to himself and others, but friends are always ready to forgive him because, basically, he's a good man with a bad problem.
While he can't beat life, McCall has no trouble with opponents in the ring; he hadn't lost in three years and was coming off a win over the once-decent Lance Whitaker, looking to take out no-name Zuri Lawrence this week. Away from the only place he feels safe, though, Oliver turns back into the wild teenager he was when learning about drugs and crime on the south side of Chicago. On his night, he was formidable.
Elijah? He didn't get the main gig in the end. That went to an NFL reject having his first fight. Elijah stayed down the bill, had Dieuly Aristilde down three times in round one – and was knocked cold in the fourth. Life goes on, and some times it can make you do what McCall did in his rematch with Lewis: cry.
There's more dads-go-on-too-long action to come...
Héctor Camacho now adds "Sr" to his name when he fights which, at 47, makes sense, although what "Jr" thinks of it is anyone's guess.
Pop's latest gig is not one of his biggest. The former world champion, who has shared ring space down the years with Roberto Durán, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio César Chávez, Félix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya, lowers his sights for the Dane Allan Vester to contest the vacant (there's a surprise) World Professional Boxing Federation middleweight title at the Arena Midt, Kjellerup, Denmark, on 26 March.
Roll up, roll up.
Quote of the week – in fact most weeks
"The magnitude of this event cannot be overestimated," said Yuri Foreman's publicist, Dovid Efune, in salivating over his fighter's proposed bout against Miguel Cotto in New York on 12 June, maybe at Madison Square Garden, possibly at the new Yankee Stadium. "It may be the biggest Jewish sporting event of all time. Definitely since David fought Goliath."
Source: guardian.co.uk
***
None but romantics minded much when Floyd Mayweather Jr compared himself to Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. He's a great fighter, after all – and it was just his ego talking.
But Floyd lost it this week when he compared his campaign for drug testing in his sport with the civil rights achievements of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.
"It's me taking a stand for something that means something," he said. "It's sort of the same stance Martin Luther King and Malcolm X made, so we could have freedoms, so everybody could tell the world that we're equal. The only thing I'm saying is that we are equal. So if you're not on nothing and I'm not on nothing then let's go take the test."
Floyd tried and failed to bully Manny Pacquiao into blood testing he knew he did not want because he wasn't ready to fight him – and now he equates that shabby act with King giving his people hope and dignity through years of personal sacrifice. He gave his life too. So did Malcolm X, in murky circumstances. All Floyd gave up was a postponed payday.
Alex Ariza, Pacquiao's conditioner, reckons the blighted fight with Mayweather may not happen. And Freddie Roach, his trainer, is not bothered any more. More worryingly, for Mayweather and boxing, Mayweather doesn't much care, either – so now it's up to Floyd to eat some humble pie or he will finish his career an unfulfilled fighter.
But he has a lot of credibility to claw back first. His remarks about Martin Luther King were shameless and shameful. Maybe he will regret them. He should – but I doubt it. The man's ego knows no bounds.
A lot of people wouldn't mind Shane Mosley giving him a hiding on 13 March. I can't see it happening – because Mayweather actually is as good as he says he is.
Fighters of a different stamp
Robert Guerrero did Kevin Mitchell a huge favour when he relinquished his IBF world super-featherweight title and pulled out of a fight against the Australian Michael Katsidis.
It made Frank Warren's job easier than it already was in negotiating a fight between Katsidis and his Dagenham fighter for the vacant WBO lightweight belt. That should happen in late May or early June, at the 02 Arena or Upton Park.
More importantly, Guerrero did the right thing for his wife, Casey, who has leukaemia. The Katsidis fight was going to be the biggest of his career. Hers dwarfs his. So he is in her corner every day.
"I'll be back," Guerrero said, talking the Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, where Casey has had a bone marrow transplant. "Right now I'm not sure when but I know I'll be back."
In January, Andre Berto withdrew from his welterweight unification fight against Shane Mosley to be with his family and friends in Haiti after the devastating earthquake. That, too, would have been Berto's biggest payday.
Guerrero and Berto are good fighters, and better human beings. But that would only be surprising to people who don't know boxers.
By the way, how good was Mitchell? That right hand to the temple of Ignacio Mendoza at Wembley last Saturday night landed with such dramatic suddenness it lifted him two feet off the canvas. Older codgers at ringside thought immediately of George Foreman's booming blows that sent Joe Frazier into orbit in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1973.
It was the sort of punch that can change a career. Any boxing suit in the US who saw it will have shuddered – in the way that men who like making money shudder. They love one-punch knockout artists, wherever they are from.
But it might never have happened had Mitchell not changed his attitude. He did his hands no favours early in his training by using smaller gloves in sparring – because he liked the thrill of hurting opponents – and was out for more than a year. He has found out, just in time, that there is more to the business than that.
What Mitchell does now, under his new mentor Jimmy Tibbs, is let the punches flow, rather than totally loading up – although there were no complaints from Tibbs when Kevin sent Mendoza on to Queer Street.
No fool like an old fool
How about this for weird, sad and predictable: Elijah McCall was due to step up from the undercard to fight in the main event at the Hard Rock Live Arena in Miami this week because the headliner, his father Oliver, has been arrested, again, for possessing cocaine.
The "Atomic Bull", 44, is still fighting – on all fronts – 16 years after knocking out Lennox Lewis to win the world heavyweight title, 15 years after losing it to Frank Bruno.
When he was arrested last weekend, police said they found a crack pipe and cocaine in his possession. He just can't kick the crack habit he has had for maybe 30 years. If convicted, he will almost certainly go back inside as he was on probation.
I went to see this most likeable of volcanoes when he was doing time for yet another public disturbance in his home town, Martinsville, Virginia, on the eve of Lewis's world title fight against Evander Holyfield at Madison Square Garden in 1999. I wondered if he'd be watching. "We don't have pay-per-view in prison," he said.
McCall got out and back into trouble. He brawled and raged, a danger to himself and others, but friends are always ready to forgive him because, basically, he's a good man with a bad problem.
While he can't beat life, McCall has no trouble with opponents in the ring; he hadn't lost in three years and was coming off a win over the once-decent Lance Whitaker, looking to take out no-name Zuri Lawrence this week. Away from the only place he feels safe, though, Oliver turns back into the wild teenager he was when learning about drugs and crime on the south side of Chicago. On his night, he was formidable.
Elijah? He didn't get the main gig in the end. That went to an NFL reject having his first fight. Elijah stayed down the bill, had Dieuly Aristilde down three times in round one – and was knocked cold in the fourth. Life goes on, and some times it can make you do what McCall did in his rematch with Lewis: cry.
There's more dads-go-on-too-long action to come...
Héctor Camacho now adds "Sr" to his name when he fights which, at 47, makes sense, although what "Jr" thinks of it is anyone's guess.
Pop's latest gig is not one of his biggest. The former world champion, who has shared ring space down the years with Roberto Durán, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio César Chávez, Félix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya, lowers his sights for the Dane Allan Vester to contest the vacant (there's a surprise) World Professional Boxing Federation middleweight title at the Arena Midt, Kjellerup, Denmark, on 26 March.
Roll up, roll up.
Quote of the week – in fact most weeks
"The magnitude of this event cannot be overestimated," said Yuri Foreman's publicist, Dovid Efune, in salivating over his fighter's proposed bout against Miguel Cotto in New York on 12 June, maybe at Madison Square Garden, possibly at the new Yankee Stadium. "It may be the biggest Jewish sporting event of all time. Definitely since David fought Goliath."
Source: guardian.co.uk
***
KTLA Exclusive: One on One with Manny Pacquiao -- KTLA
KTLA News
HOLLYWOOD -- Tucked away in a Hollywood strip mall, the best boxer in the word is hard at work in a small gym, preparing for his next fight.
But while Manny Pacquiao gets ready for a Texas duel with Josh Clottey, the biggest questions surround who he's not fighting, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
After nearly reaching an agreement, the mega-fight fell apart because of questions about different types of drug testing.
Pacquiao didn't want his blood taken because of personal preferences and beliefs, giving Mayweather a chance to walk away from the fight.
Regardless of the testing, the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and his trainer, still want a shot at Mayweather.
KTLA's Cher Calvin sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Manny Pacquiao.
Source: ktla.com
***
HOLLYWOOD -- Tucked away in a Hollywood strip mall, the best boxer in the word is hard at work in a small gym, preparing for his next fight.
But while Manny Pacquiao gets ready for a Texas duel with Josh Clottey, the biggest questions surround who he's not fighting, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
After nearly reaching an agreement, the mega-fight fell apart because of questions about different types of drug testing.
Pacquiao didn't want his blood taken because of personal preferences and beliefs, giving Mayweather a chance to walk away from the fight.
Regardless of the testing, the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and his trainer, still want a shot at Mayweather.
KTLA's Cher Calvin sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Manny Pacquiao.
Source: ktla.com
***
R.A. The Rugged Man on Floyd Mayweather Jr stepping up to the Plate; Pacquiao vs Clottey and More! -- Doghouse Boxing
By Brandon Estrict, Doghouse Boxing
At 40-0 (25), Floyd Mayweather Jr. hasn’t been presented much difficulty in his 14 years as a prizefighter. The celebrated 1996 US Olympic Bronze Medal winner turned pro later that year and has navigated five weight-classes, snatching championships at each stop. If ever there was any semblance of a legitimate struggle, it took place during the earlier portion of his career. Mayweather began his foray into the sport at the junior lightweight limit and completed his championship conquest less than two years later. He would successfully defend his throne eight times before leaping to the lightweight division and capturing championship gold in his very first fight.
It was only after he bolted that division did the picture become hazy.
With names on his resume like Diego Corrales (TKO 10), Genaro Hernandez (TKO 8), Jose Luis Castillo (W 12 twice), and Angel Manfredy (TKO 2), his standing in the sport was unquestioned. The can’t miss prospect-turned-world champion was for real, not some ticket selling, overprotected belt-holder. Sure, there were bumps in the road along the way, such as an ugly but short-lived spat with HBO (think slave contract) and one infamous decision victory in a close fight (see Castillo 1), but the general consensus was the kid could fight and had quite a future ahead of him.
Many pundits foresaw greatness for the young Mayweather, who drew comparisons to such past legends of the sweet science as Sugar Ray Leonard and Meldrick Taylor. The sheer talent and ability was there. But en route to championships at the 140, 147, and 154 lb. divisions, the best opponents were not.
The light middleweight division being the lone exception (it was a one-time deal for a megafight with Oscar De La Hoya), cynics couldn’t reconcile with the fact that Mayweather, by hook or by crook, managed to go around fighters such as Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Kostya Tszyu, and Paul Williams in attaining his lofty pound-for-pound status. Mayweather’s lowest risk-for most-reward fight selection has long provided fuel to the fire flamed by his staunchest of critics.
Late last fall after a near two year retirement, ‘lil’ Floyd returned to the ring against then number two pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, Juan Manuel Marquez. Sounds great on paper, but what’s misleading about that is the fact that Marquez had just moved up to the Lightweight division one year prior, yet this bout was contested at a catchweight of 144 lbs. or nine pounds heavier than Marquez had ever competed. Not to imply the outcome would’ve been different at any weight class, but the situation was further tainted when Mayweather weighed in two pounds heavier than the catchweight that had been agreed upon. ‘Dinamita’ was outsized, outgunned and out of his depth.
Not long after his domination of Marquez, Mayweather met what many consider his toughest match since Castillo in 2002.
Long Island, NY born R.A. Thorburn, better known as underground rap artist R.A. The Rugged Man, was scheduled for a radio spot to promote his mixtape, Legendary Classics Volume One. In a statement given to popular hip-hop magazine XXL, he explains what happened next:
“I went up to Eminem’s Shade 45 station on Sirius Satellite radio to do what I thought would be a standard hip hop interview.”
Only, in an instant it became anything but standard. Mayweather and rap superstar/Eminem protégé 50 Cent are great friends, so Floyd often calls into the station. Sure enough, during the interview with R.A., Mayweather would call in.
“The interview started becoming about boxing.”
Unbeknownst to many, including Mayweather, R.A. is an avid boxing fan with a respectable knowledge of the sports’ past.
“I just explained how I thought (Floyd Mayweather) was a great fighter but he needed to stop (messing) around and fight the best fighters in his own weight class.”
Needless to say, the fiery Floyd wasn’t happy. A verbal slugfest would ensue and R.A., unlike Carlos Baldomir or De La Hoya, was not only able to keep the pace of the fast-talking Mayweather, but may have exceeded it. The rest has is cyberspace history!
Fast forward to today. After the largely publicized failed negotiations between Floyd and Manny Pacquiao to make the richest and most meaningful fight in boxing over the last decade, things appeared bleak. But an unfortunate and tragic natural disaster in Haiti forced Welterweight titleholder Andre Berto to withdraw from his January title defense against Shane Mosley. With Pacquiao having already signed to fight Joshua Clottey on 3/13, the door was wide open for a Mayweather-Mosley fight that had been 10 years in the making.
Negotiations were quick, save for a few mind games from Mayweather who took his time before officially signing the contract; the fight was finalized to the delight of boxing fans all over the world. Doghouse Boxing recently caught up with R.A. The Rugged man to get his take on a Mayweather-Mosley clash.
“I hope that fight happens. I'll believe it when the contracts are signed by both parties (*the bout agreement has indeed been signed by both parties*) and the fight is officially announced. I'm still not completely convinced that Floyd/Mosley is going to get made yet. I hope Floyd don't duck out of it. Let's keep our fingers crossed.”
Granted, some concern may be warranted. Mayweather’s aforementioned risk versus reward business strategy has been completely turned on its ear. In fighting Mosley, he’s taking a bigger risk than Pacquiao is with Joshua Clottey, and many feel that Mosley be an even tougher opponent for Mayweather than Pacquiao himself would have been. All of this for less money than a Pac-man fight would have netted him, and it does seem unusual for a fighter who has often prided himself on his business decisions. It does appear that the Mosley fight is on, but many cynics have taken a show-and-prove approach similar to the one that R.A. expresses.
Likewise, a good number of boxing fans are less than thrilled with the selection of Clottey for Pacquiao. In Joshua’s last fight he dropped a close split-decision to Miguel Cotto. In winning the fight, Cotto earned the right to take on Pacquiao but was subsequently annihilated for his troubles last fall. Surely then, Clottey has no shot at victory and ‘The Event’ will serve as little more than Cowboys Stadium introduction to boxing right? The Rugged Man doesn’t think so.
“Clottey is a big, strong, real Welterweight who is capable of giving any true welterweight problems. I don't see anybody walking through him, and he's never been dominated or lost a fight convincingly. If Manny could walk through him that would be pretty incredible and it would make Manny even more special in my eyes. Any fighter willing to fight Cotto and Clottey back to back gets my respect.
“In fact, I can't name a fighter on Mayweather’s entire record that would've been able to beat a Josh Clottey or a Miguel Cotto. Not Corrales, not De La Hoya and not Marquez.”
The Rugged Man’s guess is as good as anyone’s as to whether or not we’ll ever see a Mayweather and Pacquiao standing opposite one another in the squared circle, but for now he’s satisfied with the two matchups that the failed fight has spawned.
“I believe Clottey is more established at Welterweight than Floyd is, and Mosley is more established at Welterweight than Pac-man is, so I'm not mad at these fights. I think both of these fights can actually be better fights than Floyd/Pac or just as good. Both fights are fights that either guy can lose.”
As for Floyd, R.A. was once a fan and feels that a victory over Mosley would go a long way toward erasing the negative perception of him.
“Floyd better not duck out of this Mosley fight. Mosley is a big step up in the right direction, a fight like that can do a lot to salvage his reputation amongst hardcore fans.”
Whether or not Floyd can revive his image with hardcore boxing fans or make up for time lost remains to be seen. As it stands, boxing fans can only live in the present. The best fighting the best is all that can be asked of the top fighters in the world. For Floyd Mayweather, a fight with Mosley in 2002 would’ve been excellent, but a fight with Mosley in 2010 is a start. Here’s to hoping that trend continues.
Contact Brandon at BEstrict@hotmail.com
Source: doghouseboxing.com
***
At 40-0 (25), Floyd Mayweather Jr. hasn’t been presented much difficulty in his 14 years as a prizefighter. The celebrated 1996 US Olympic Bronze Medal winner turned pro later that year and has navigated five weight-classes, snatching championships at each stop. If ever there was any semblance of a legitimate struggle, it took place during the earlier portion of his career. Mayweather began his foray into the sport at the junior lightweight limit and completed his championship conquest less than two years later. He would successfully defend his throne eight times before leaping to the lightweight division and capturing championship gold in his very first fight.
It was only after he bolted that division did the picture become hazy.
With names on his resume like Diego Corrales (TKO 10), Genaro Hernandez (TKO 8), Jose Luis Castillo (W 12 twice), and Angel Manfredy (TKO 2), his standing in the sport was unquestioned. The can’t miss prospect-turned-world champion was for real, not some ticket selling, overprotected belt-holder. Sure, there were bumps in the road along the way, such as an ugly but short-lived spat with HBO (think slave contract) and one infamous decision victory in a close fight (see Castillo 1), but the general consensus was the kid could fight and had quite a future ahead of him.
Many pundits foresaw greatness for the young Mayweather, who drew comparisons to such past legends of the sweet science as Sugar Ray Leonard and Meldrick Taylor. The sheer talent and ability was there. But en route to championships at the 140, 147, and 154 lb. divisions, the best opponents were not.
The light middleweight division being the lone exception (it was a one-time deal for a megafight with Oscar De La Hoya), cynics couldn’t reconcile with the fact that Mayweather, by hook or by crook, managed to go around fighters such as Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Kostya Tszyu, and Paul Williams in attaining his lofty pound-for-pound status. Mayweather’s lowest risk-for most-reward fight selection has long provided fuel to the fire flamed by his staunchest of critics.
Late last fall after a near two year retirement, ‘lil’ Floyd returned to the ring against then number two pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, Juan Manuel Marquez. Sounds great on paper, but what’s misleading about that is the fact that Marquez had just moved up to the Lightweight division one year prior, yet this bout was contested at a catchweight of 144 lbs. or nine pounds heavier than Marquez had ever competed. Not to imply the outcome would’ve been different at any weight class, but the situation was further tainted when Mayweather weighed in two pounds heavier than the catchweight that had been agreed upon. ‘Dinamita’ was outsized, outgunned and out of his depth.
Not long after his domination of Marquez, Mayweather met what many consider his toughest match since Castillo in 2002.
Long Island, NY born R.A. Thorburn, better known as underground rap artist R.A. The Rugged Man, was scheduled for a radio spot to promote his mixtape, Legendary Classics Volume One. In a statement given to popular hip-hop magazine XXL, he explains what happened next:
“I went up to Eminem’s Shade 45 station on Sirius Satellite radio to do what I thought would be a standard hip hop interview.”
Only, in an instant it became anything but standard. Mayweather and rap superstar/Eminem protégé 50 Cent are great friends, so Floyd often calls into the station. Sure enough, during the interview with R.A., Mayweather would call in.
“The interview started becoming about boxing.”
Unbeknownst to many, including Mayweather, R.A. is an avid boxing fan with a respectable knowledge of the sports’ past.
“I just explained how I thought (Floyd Mayweather) was a great fighter but he needed to stop (messing) around and fight the best fighters in his own weight class.”
Needless to say, the fiery Floyd wasn’t happy. A verbal slugfest would ensue and R.A., unlike Carlos Baldomir or De La Hoya, was not only able to keep the pace of the fast-talking Mayweather, but may have exceeded it. The rest has is cyberspace history!
Fast forward to today. After the largely publicized failed negotiations between Floyd and Manny Pacquiao to make the richest and most meaningful fight in boxing over the last decade, things appeared bleak. But an unfortunate and tragic natural disaster in Haiti forced Welterweight titleholder Andre Berto to withdraw from his January title defense against Shane Mosley. With Pacquiao having already signed to fight Joshua Clottey on 3/13, the door was wide open for a Mayweather-Mosley fight that had been 10 years in the making.
Negotiations were quick, save for a few mind games from Mayweather who took his time before officially signing the contract; the fight was finalized to the delight of boxing fans all over the world. Doghouse Boxing recently caught up with R.A. The Rugged man to get his take on a Mayweather-Mosley clash.
“I hope that fight happens. I'll believe it when the contracts are signed by both parties (*the bout agreement has indeed been signed by both parties*) and the fight is officially announced. I'm still not completely convinced that Floyd/Mosley is going to get made yet. I hope Floyd don't duck out of it. Let's keep our fingers crossed.”
Granted, some concern may be warranted. Mayweather’s aforementioned risk versus reward business strategy has been completely turned on its ear. In fighting Mosley, he’s taking a bigger risk than Pacquiao is with Joshua Clottey, and many feel that Mosley be an even tougher opponent for Mayweather than Pacquiao himself would have been. All of this for less money than a Pac-man fight would have netted him, and it does seem unusual for a fighter who has often prided himself on his business decisions. It does appear that the Mosley fight is on, but many cynics have taken a show-and-prove approach similar to the one that R.A. expresses.
Likewise, a good number of boxing fans are less than thrilled with the selection of Clottey for Pacquiao. In Joshua’s last fight he dropped a close split-decision to Miguel Cotto. In winning the fight, Cotto earned the right to take on Pacquiao but was subsequently annihilated for his troubles last fall. Surely then, Clottey has no shot at victory and ‘The Event’ will serve as little more than Cowboys Stadium introduction to boxing right? The Rugged Man doesn’t think so.
“Clottey is a big, strong, real Welterweight who is capable of giving any true welterweight problems. I don't see anybody walking through him, and he's never been dominated or lost a fight convincingly. If Manny could walk through him that would be pretty incredible and it would make Manny even more special in my eyes. Any fighter willing to fight Cotto and Clottey back to back gets my respect.
“In fact, I can't name a fighter on Mayweather’s entire record that would've been able to beat a Josh Clottey or a Miguel Cotto. Not Corrales, not De La Hoya and not Marquez.”
The Rugged Man’s guess is as good as anyone’s as to whether or not we’ll ever see a Mayweather and Pacquiao standing opposite one another in the squared circle, but for now he’s satisfied with the two matchups that the failed fight has spawned.
“I believe Clottey is more established at Welterweight than Floyd is, and Mosley is more established at Welterweight than Pac-man is, so I'm not mad at these fights. I think both of these fights can actually be better fights than Floyd/Pac or just as good. Both fights are fights that either guy can lose.”
As for Floyd, R.A. was once a fan and feels that a victory over Mosley would go a long way toward erasing the negative perception of him.
“Floyd better not duck out of this Mosley fight. Mosley is a big step up in the right direction, a fight like that can do a lot to salvage his reputation amongst hardcore fans.”
Whether or not Floyd can revive his image with hardcore boxing fans or make up for time lost remains to be seen. As it stands, boxing fans can only live in the present. The best fighting the best is all that can be asked of the top fighters in the world. For Floyd Mayweather, a fight with Mosley in 2002 would’ve been excellent, but a fight with Mosley in 2010 is a start. Here’s to hoping that trend continues.
Contact Brandon at BEstrict@hotmail.com
Source: doghouseboxing.com
***
Alex Ariza exclusive: Who says Floyd Mayweather gets through Shane Mosley? -- Telegraph
By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
Alex Ariza, the head conditioning coach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, who overseas the programmes for Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, believes Floyd Mayweather has stepped in the wrong direction to meet Shane Mosley.
“I don’t think he’ll get past Mosley,” said Ariza, who prepared Diego Corrales for his fight with Mayweather in 2001. “I think it’s even possible that Mayweather could come up with an injury or get ‘flu – or the stars won’t line up correctly – because if that fight happens and Mayweather loses, he loses everything. He will then never fight Manny for the amount of money that was originally offered, and he will lose all his pulling power.”
The proposed contest between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, which collapsed over disagreements in the pre-fight drug testing procedures – was expected to generate $200 million and was seen as boxing’s biggest showdown for a generation.
“What does he gain from beating Mosley – who is 38 years old, and who exposed Antonio Margarito’s obvious weaknesses in his last fight? Floyd will fiddle his way to a points victory if he defeats Mosley. He’ll run, build up a lead and run some more, and have Mosley running into gaps all night chasing him down.”
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
***
Alex Ariza, the head conditioning coach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, who overseas the programmes for Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, believes Floyd Mayweather has stepped in the wrong direction to meet Shane Mosley.
“I don’t think he’ll get past Mosley,” said Ariza, who prepared Diego Corrales for his fight with Mayweather in 2001. “I think it’s even possible that Mayweather could come up with an injury or get ‘flu – or the stars won’t line up correctly – because if that fight happens and Mayweather loses, he loses everything. He will then never fight Manny for the amount of money that was originally offered, and he will lose all his pulling power.”
The proposed contest between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, which collapsed over disagreements in the pre-fight drug testing procedures – was expected to generate $200 million and was seen as boxing’s biggest showdown for a generation.
“What does he gain from beating Mosley – who is 38 years old, and who exposed Antonio Margarito’s obvious weaknesses in his last fight? Floyd will fiddle his way to a points victory if he defeats Mosley. He’ll run, build up a lead and run some more, and have Mosley running into gaps all night chasing him down.”
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
***
Porter Comes Home on Business Trip -- SecondsOut
By Steve Kim, SecondsOut.com
On the campus of Cleveland State University at the Wolfstein Center, Shawn Porter, from nearby Akron, Ohio, headlines the latest edition of “Friday Night Fights” on ESPN2, as he faces Russell Jordan for the NABO junior middleweight title. As has become the custom, Porter and his father have made their training camp in Hollywood, California at the Wild Card Boxing Club, where they work alongside the likes of Manny Pacquiao.
If you want to inquire about tickets, don’t ask the Porters.
"We learned about this fight a long time ago and I posted it up and texted everybody right away and said, ’Don’t come to me for tickets.’ So me and my dad stay out of that part of it and we’re coming to fight. We’re not coming home; we’re coming to a fight. So that’s where it is for us," said the 12-0 (10) Porter.
Their focus has been squarely on the fight and nothing else. Kenny, his father/trainer, told Maxboxing last Saturday afternoon, "To be honest with you, I’m not keeping in contact with no one. We separated ourselves from that situation totally. I haven’t had one phone call about tickets or anything like that because everyone knew that I wasn’t going to be involved in that, just focusing in on Shawn. But I have seen a lot of things on YouTube, ESPN commercials and things like that. So I know there’s definitely a buzz back home."
They left Southern California to head back east on Tuesday, where the father says his son will be on "lockdown" outside of some time spent with his ten-year old brother. While there is a certain amount of glamour in headlining a show in your hometown, it also comes with a laundry list of distractions and pressure.
"He was born and raised there, so we put on a lot of shows there and he was the main event on my shows, even though they were amateur shows for a lot of years," Porter’s father points out. "So he did that in front of crowds of 2,000 people. So he knows what it feels like to be the main event. But in this particular situation, because I’m aware of that, I’m doing everything I can to detach him from the crowds, the people. Actually, I’m making plans right now, the night of the fight, to have some things going on in his dressing room with this brother and a TV and movies, just relaxing, nothing to do with anything outside of that door. Just to keep him relaxed, detached from the actual fight. So when he walks out there, that’s when it gets started. But not before that."
This isn’t so much a homecoming but a business trip for Porter.
"Yeah, it’s a business trip until my hand is raised and I get the victory. After that it will be the Super Bowl Mardi Gras in Cleveland," said Porter, with a smile, who gained notoriety a few months ago by serving as a sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao in the lead-up to his match with Miguel Cotto. And Porter’s most recent fight was televised on “ShoBox,” where he stopped Jamar Patterson in four rounds in mid-December. You get the sense that, from this point on, he will no longer be fighting in the dark. "It’s a little bit different because the coordination they bring to the television fights; you have to wait on them," explained Porter of the logistical differences. "You have to be prompt and on time for everything. So we’ve been able to adjust to it very well. We’ve been able to warm up and everything and we’ve been right on time for the television fights. It’s all fun for us."
In what was one of his final sparring days, Porter went four rounds with Pacquiao and a few more with Craig McEwan, whose tall upright stature mirrors his opponent. But it’s his rounds with the “Pac-Man” that leave an impression on him. "I tried to go tit-for-tat with him and I went ten rounds Monday, twelve rounds Wednesday, came back here and I felt great going those ten and twelve. But getting in there with Manny, trying to go tit-for-tat, it really pushes you. It was a joy, I’m glad I got to do it."
When asked if Pacquiao is the best boxer he’s moved around with, he answers, "Most definitely. I’ve sparred with Kelly Pavlik, Andre Dirrell; they’re great. But Manny is just on a whole ’nother level and he brings an excitement into the sparring that is bar none."
It was the opportunity to work on a consistent basis with world-class talent that brought he and his father out West.
"It’s experiences like this is why we come out here continuously for training camps and why, eventually, we’ll be out here, basically, living in the Wild Card, trying to get as much work as we possibly can," said Porter. His father mentioned that they will be back in California within a week or two of the fight and have already begun the process of looking at apartments and houses to stay on a permanent basis.
The father believes that his son can have the type of success that Pavlik, who hails from Youngstown, has had in becoming a draw in “The Buckeye State.”
"I really do believe he can. It’s gotta be done the right way. I’m not really sure that at this time of the year, when there’s a lot of snow there, it’s the time to go. But I expect us to come back some time soon. I do believe he can do that, though," he says. But can he have a hold on the people the way Pavlik has, training 2,500 miles away? One of the appeals of “The Ghost” to the local residents is that he has stuck around. The father doesn’t think that will be a major factor."I believe that people look at you and say, ’Y’know, what they’re doing is best for them in order to get their career where they need it to be,’ and when you’re out there in it and they can see it from the distance and you come back home, they anticipate being there and getting an opportunity to see you be a part of it," said Kenny.
Porter is promoted by Prize Fight Boxing, which is run by the brothers Brian and Russ Young. After showcasing Porter down south (in areas like Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi) where they are located for the majority of his early bouts, they believe the time is right to start building a fan base back home.
"We’re very pleased, we sold a ton of tickets, people in Cleveland have been very receptive about it, we’re going to have a strong crowd," said Brian Young. "This is a way for Shawn to reach back to his fans in the Northern Ohio area." The Wolstein Center will be configured for approximately 3,000 patrons. Unfortunately, like most of the country, they have been ravaged by the inclement weather. "It’s definitely affecting us," admitted Young, on Tuesday. "It’s snowing considerably up there and it’s snowing today, as a matter of fact. So I think that has hurt our ticket sales somewhat. But hopefully, sometime between now and Friday, the weather will break for us and give us a chance to have a real strong walk-up."
This much is clear; Young believes he has a gem on his hands.
"I think Shawn is doing extremely well. He’s been very impressive so far. He’s fighting for an NABO interim title at junior middleweight; he’s only 12-0. But we think Shawn is ready. It was a call we made, Russ and I, collectively. It just goes to show our deep faith is in Shawn’s ability and his work ethic."
As for Porter, he admits that the thoughts of performing back in his home region have monopolized his thoughts.
"I’m too excited to be nervous, to be honest with you," he states, smiling. "I don’t worry about the TV, that’s nothing to me. But to be performing in front of all my family and friends back home and everyone that hasn’t had a chance to see me coming up as an amateur, that’s the thrill I get coming back home to Cleveland."
LAKERS OR CAVS?
Akron just happens to be where LeBron James hails from. So I put Kenny Porter on the spot, Lakers or Cavs for this year’s Larry O’Brien Trophy?
"Hmmmm…oh my goodness, let me see," said Porter, looking to find a diplomatic way to answer my question. After some hemming and hawing, he said, "I’m leaning towards the Cavs; I gotta go with the Cavs but that’s where my heart is. There’s no doubt. I know it’s Cleveland and L.A. in the Finals, I know that. I absolutely know that."
TIX INFO
Tickets to this show can be purchased at the Wolstein Center box-office (where prices start at $25) and through any TicketMaster outlet or TicketMaster charge-by-phone. For more information call 216-687-9292.
FIGHT CAMP 360
Did anyone else enjoy the third installment of this series, which chronicles the “Super Six” on Showtime, as much as I did? I love the fact that they are able to air footage of the actual fights and, what I really like is, that the scenes look very organic, not staged or contrived like “24/7” on HBO.
The footage of Jermain Taylor’s brutal knockout at the hands of Arthur Abraham is chilling enough, but to see the reaction of his wife and mother really puts things into perspective. Whether you are a fan of a particular fighter or not, these individuals are putting their lives on the line and what they do as a profession has a profound effect on those around them. It was difficult not to feel for Taylor as you saw the reaction of those around him as he lay prone on the canvas and, later on, taken to the hospital for observation.
Another great shot was Abraham’s trainer telling his brother, in no uncertain terms, that he was the lead trainer and nobody else.
I understand that NFL Films is no longer involved in the production of “360” but I think that Showtime is doing just fine without them.
GERRY
I was at the Wild Card Boxing Club on Wednesday afternoon where I saw Gerry Penalosa, who was sporting dark glasses from the cuts he suffered from headbutts against Eric Morel. The overwhelming majority of people who saw that fight believed that Penalosa was the recipient of a dubious decision.
To see him, said it all. He was watching some sparring while on the table nearest the ring. It’s clear that while he loves this game, he hates what the business and political aspect of it has done to him. I think it’s safe to say that right now, he has a love-hate relationship with the sport. Could you blame him for being bitter? His trainer, Freddie Roach, told me he has advised him to retire. Which in light of what took place this past weekend, must be an even tougher choice for Penalosa to make.
As he walked out of the gym, he waved good-bye to everyone that acknowledged him. Who knows if we’ll ever see him again? But till the very end, he was a consummate professional and a class act.
SNOWY FLURRIES
Hey, how ’bout a rematch between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz? Wasn’t it ESPN.com’s “Fight of the Year”?...The Mosley-Mayweather press tour has been officially announced and will take place from March 2nd to the 4th and will land in New York, D.C. and Los Angeles...The highly-anticipated heavyweight tilt between Chris Arreola and Tomasz Adamek will be announced officially on Friday at the Citizens Business Bank Arena. This HBO bout will take place on April 24th...Anyone really enjoying the new season of “Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp” with Bobby Brown, “K-Fed” and Nicole Eggert? Seriously, this show actually has a lot of redeeming qualities to it...Seriously, isn’t it time to forgive (if not forget) when it comes to Mark McGwire?...I really don’t fully comprehend “Lost” but I’m still enjoying its last season...This week’s edition of “The Main Event” features Larry Merchant (We finally got him!) and the always classy Kathy Duva of Main Events...Any questions or comments can be sent to k9kim@yahoo.com...twitter.com/stevemaxboxing...And you can catch us on Facebook at Facebook.com/MaxBoxing...
Source: secondsout.com
***
On the campus of Cleveland State University at the Wolfstein Center, Shawn Porter, from nearby Akron, Ohio, headlines the latest edition of “Friday Night Fights” on ESPN2, as he faces Russell Jordan for the NABO junior middleweight title. As has become the custom, Porter and his father have made their training camp in Hollywood, California at the Wild Card Boxing Club, where they work alongside the likes of Manny Pacquiao.
If you want to inquire about tickets, don’t ask the Porters.
"We learned about this fight a long time ago and I posted it up and texted everybody right away and said, ’Don’t come to me for tickets.’ So me and my dad stay out of that part of it and we’re coming to fight. We’re not coming home; we’re coming to a fight. So that’s where it is for us," said the 12-0 (10) Porter.
Their focus has been squarely on the fight and nothing else. Kenny, his father/trainer, told Maxboxing last Saturday afternoon, "To be honest with you, I’m not keeping in contact with no one. We separated ourselves from that situation totally. I haven’t had one phone call about tickets or anything like that because everyone knew that I wasn’t going to be involved in that, just focusing in on Shawn. But I have seen a lot of things on YouTube, ESPN commercials and things like that. So I know there’s definitely a buzz back home."
They left Southern California to head back east on Tuesday, where the father says his son will be on "lockdown" outside of some time spent with his ten-year old brother. While there is a certain amount of glamour in headlining a show in your hometown, it also comes with a laundry list of distractions and pressure.
"He was born and raised there, so we put on a lot of shows there and he was the main event on my shows, even though they were amateur shows for a lot of years," Porter’s father points out. "So he did that in front of crowds of 2,000 people. So he knows what it feels like to be the main event. But in this particular situation, because I’m aware of that, I’m doing everything I can to detach him from the crowds, the people. Actually, I’m making plans right now, the night of the fight, to have some things going on in his dressing room with this brother and a TV and movies, just relaxing, nothing to do with anything outside of that door. Just to keep him relaxed, detached from the actual fight. So when he walks out there, that’s when it gets started. But not before that."
This isn’t so much a homecoming but a business trip for Porter.
"Yeah, it’s a business trip until my hand is raised and I get the victory. After that it will be the Super Bowl Mardi Gras in Cleveland," said Porter, with a smile, who gained notoriety a few months ago by serving as a sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao in the lead-up to his match with Miguel Cotto. And Porter’s most recent fight was televised on “ShoBox,” where he stopped Jamar Patterson in four rounds in mid-December. You get the sense that, from this point on, he will no longer be fighting in the dark. "It’s a little bit different because the coordination they bring to the television fights; you have to wait on them," explained Porter of the logistical differences. "You have to be prompt and on time for everything. So we’ve been able to adjust to it very well. We’ve been able to warm up and everything and we’ve been right on time for the television fights. It’s all fun for us."
In what was one of his final sparring days, Porter went four rounds with Pacquiao and a few more with Craig McEwan, whose tall upright stature mirrors his opponent. But it’s his rounds with the “Pac-Man” that leave an impression on him. "I tried to go tit-for-tat with him and I went ten rounds Monday, twelve rounds Wednesday, came back here and I felt great going those ten and twelve. But getting in there with Manny, trying to go tit-for-tat, it really pushes you. It was a joy, I’m glad I got to do it."
When asked if Pacquiao is the best boxer he’s moved around with, he answers, "Most definitely. I’ve sparred with Kelly Pavlik, Andre Dirrell; they’re great. But Manny is just on a whole ’nother level and he brings an excitement into the sparring that is bar none."
It was the opportunity to work on a consistent basis with world-class talent that brought he and his father out West.
"It’s experiences like this is why we come out here continuously for training camps and why, eventually, we’ll be out here, basically, living in the Wild Card, trying to get as much work as we possibly can," said Porter. His father mentioned that they will be back in California within a week or two of the fight and have already begun the process of looking at apartments and houses to stay on a permanent basis.
The father believes that his son can have the type of success that Pavlik, who hails from Youngstown, has had in becoming a draw in “The Buckeye State.”
"I really do believe he can. It’s gotta be done the right way. I’m not really sure that at this time of the year, when there’s a lot of snow there, it’s the time to go. But I expect us to come back some time soon. I do believe he can do that, though," he says. But can he have a hold on the people the way Pavlik has, training 2,500 miles away? One of the appeals of “The Ghost” to the local residents is that he has stuck around. The father doesn’t think that will be a major factor."I believe that people look at you and say, ’Y’know, what they’re doing is best for them in order to get their career where they need it to be,’ and when you’re out there in it and they can see it from the distance and you come back home, they anticipate being there and getting an opportunity to see you be a part of it," said Kenny.
Porter is promoted by Prize Fight Boxing, which is run by the brothers Brian and Russ Young. After showcasing Porter down south (in areas like Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi) where they are located for the majority of his early bouts, they believe the time is right to start building a fan base back home.
"We’re very pleased, we sold a ton of tickets, people in Cleveland have been very receptive about it, we’re going to have a strong crowd," said Brian Young. "This is a way for Shawn to reach back to his fans in the Northern Ohio area." The Wolstein Center will be configured for approximately 3,000 patrons. Unfortunately, like most of the country, they have been ravaged by the inclement weather. "It’s definitely affecting us," admitted Young, on Tuesday. "It’s snowing considerably up there and it’s snowing today, as a matter of fact. So I think that has hurt our ticket sales somewhat. But hopefully, sometime between now and Friday, the weather will break for us and give us a chance to have a real strong walk-up."
This much is clear; Young believes he has a gem on his hands.
"I think Shawn is doing extremely well. He’s been very impressive so far. He’s fighting for an NABO interim title at junior middleweight; he’s only 12-0. But we think Shawn is ready. It was a call we made, Russ and I, collectively. It just goes to show our deep faith is in Shawn’s ability and his work ethic."
As for Porter, he admits that the thoughts of performing back in his home region have monopolized his thoughts.
"I’m too excited to be nervous, to be honest with you," he states, smiling. "I don’t worry about the TV, that’s nothing to me. But to be performing in front of all my family and friends back home and everyone that hasn’t had a chance to see me coming up as an amateur, that’s the thrill I get coming back home to Cleveland."
LAKERS OR CAVS?
Akron just happens to be where LeBron James hails from. So I put Kenny Porter on the spot, Lakers or Cavs for this year’s Larry O’Brien Trophy?
"Hmmmm…oh my goodness, let me see," said Porter, looking to find a diplomatic way to answer my question. After some hemming and hawing, he said, "I’m leaning towards the Cavs; I gotta go with the Cavs but that’s where my heart is. There’s no doubt. I know it’s Cleveland and L.A. in the Finals, I know that. I absolutely know that."
TIX INFO
Tickets to this show can be purchased at the Wolstein Center box-office (where prices start at $25) and through any TicketMaster outlet or TicketMaster charge-by-phone. For more information call 216-687-9292.
FIGHT CAMP 360
Did anyone else enjoy the third installment of this series, which chronicles the “Super Six” on Showtime, as much as I did? I love the fact that they are able to air footage of the actual fights and, what I really like is, that the scenes look very organic, not staged or contrived like “24/7” on HBO.
The footage of Jermain Taylor’s brutal knockout at the hands of Arthur Abraham is chilling enough, but to see the reaction of his wife and mother really puts things into perspective. Whether you are a fan of a particular fighter or not, these individuals are putting their lives on the line and what they do as a profession has a profound effect on those around them. It was difficult not to feel for Taylor as you saw the reaction of those around him as he lay prone on the canvas and, later on, taken to the hospital for observation.
Another great shot was Abraham’s trainer telling his brother, in no uncertain terms, that he was the lead trainer and nobody else.
I understand that NFL Films is no longer involved in the production of “360” but I think that Showtime is doing just fine without them.
GERRY
I was at the Wild Card Boxing Club on Wednesday afternoon where I saw Gerry Penalosa, who was sporting dark glasses from the cuts he suffered from headbutts against Eric Morel. The overwhelming majority of people who saw that fight believed that Penalosa was the recipient of a dubious decision.
To see him, said it all. He was watching some sparring while on the table nearest the ring. It’s clear that while he loves this game, he hates what the business and political aspect of it has done to him. I think it’s safe to say that right now, he has a love-hate relationship with the sport. Could you blame him for being bitter? His trainer, Freddie Roach, told me he has advised him to retire. Which in light of what took place this past weekend, must be an even tougher choice for Penalosa to make.
As he walked out of the gym, he waved good-bye to everyone that acknowledged him. Who knows if we’ll ever see him again? But till the very end, he was a consummate professional and a class act.
SNOWY FLURRIES
Hey, how ’bout a rematch between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz? Wasn’t it ESPN.com’s “Fight of the Year”?...The Mosley-Mayweather press tour has been officially announced and will take place from March 2nd to the 4th and will land in New York, D.C. and Los Angeles...The highly-anticipated heavyweight tilt between Chris Arreola and Tomasz Adamek will be announced officially on Friday at the Citizens Business Bank Arena. This HBO bout will take place on April 24th...Anyone really enjoying the new season of “Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp” with Bobby Brown, “K-Fed” and Nicole Eggert? Seriously, this show actually has a lot of redeeming qualities to it...Seriously, isn’t it time to forgive (if not forget) when it comes to Mark McGwire?...I really don’t fully comprehend “Lost” but I’m still enjoying its last season...This week’s edition of “The Main Event” features Larry Merchant (We finally got him!) and the always classy Kathy Duva of Main Events...Any questions or comments can be sent to k9kim@yahoo.com...twitter.com/stevemaxboxing...And you can catch us on Facebook at Facebook.com/MaxBoxing...
Source: secondsout.com
***
Pacman don’t need no ’roids, he’s got dynamite! -- Northwest Asian Weekly
By Mark Lee, Northwest Asian Weekly
The Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight has now been called off. Pacquiao has also filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather, his father Floyd Sr., his uncle Roger, and Golden Boy Promotions for allegedly accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.
The controversy started after Pacquiao knocked out British boxer Ricky Hatton in the second round last year. Hatton was trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. Before the Hatton fight, several British papers reported that Floyd Sr. was going to get fired by Hatton’s camp for problems that included showing up late for training.
After Hatton was knocked out, Floyd did not try to support his fighter. Instead, he signed autographs, and during the post-fight conference, he blamed Hatton by claiming that he did not follow his instructions about keeping his hands up. He also stated that Hatton should retire.
At some point, after the Hatton fight, Floyd Sr. also claimed that Pacquiao had to be on steroids given how hard he hit Hatton.
Fast forward a few months and a fight is scheduled with Floyd Sr.’s son. The steroid issue was raised again, and after lengthy negotiations, the fight was eventually called off. The Mayweather camp wanted blood tests by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which conducts tests anytime a fight is signed to the fight date. However, the Pacquiao camp refused to provide these samples. They were only willing to allow blood to be taken from Pacquiao at least 30 days before the fight date, as well as immediately after the conclusion of the bout. Freddie Roach, on the other hand, commented that he would allow a blood sample to be taken from Pacquiao at least one week before the fight.
None of the news reports I have seen ever mentioned any solid evidence of steroid use such as witnesses who claimed they supplied steroids to Pacquiao. Floyd Sr. started the whole controversy by insulting Pacquiao and insisting that he had to be on steroids. He has a pattern of obnoxious behavior. For example, before the Hatton fight, he called Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie “the joke” Roach. Pacquiao should not have had to go out of his way to accommodate Mayweather, and it is understandable that he eventually decided to not bother doing business with someone who is disrespectful.
Pacquiao’s physique does not appear to show signs associated with steroid use such as upper body acne. He did bulk up from fighting at 106 pounds when he was 16 to his current 147-pound fighting weight at age 31.
However, people ofen fill out as they get older. Pacquiao’s strength coach, the usually reserved Alex Ariza, felt compelled to defend his fighter to the press and detailed the boxer’s 7,000-calorie diet, approved supplemental intake, and natural physique.
His power comes from the combination of a number of factors. Basically, power is a product of mass times speed. The faster you punch, the harder you hit. But you also need to coordinate your motions so that you get the maximum weight behind the punch.
Pacquiao has a lot of leg strength, which he uses to drive his upper body in transmitting power into his fists.
He has developed the ability to hit from a variety of angles, and he has excellent footwork, which puts him into a position where he can blast through his opponents guard.
There are many factors that give the “Pacman” his winning edge, and steroid use is highly unlikely.
Pacquiao does not like to get his blood drawn shortly before a fight because of his belief that it weakens him.
Some news reports made it sound like taking blood is just a pin prick. I called up a local lab testing service and was told a minimum sample takes at least 3 milliliters. The sample size can vary depending on how the blood test is conducted. In some cases, the blood sample can fill up the whole collection vial and be as much as 8 milliliters. This is quite a bit more than just a drop.
Pacquiao is now scheduled to fight Joshua Clottey, who is from Ghana. Unlike Mayweather, who is more of a tactical defensive boxer, Clottey has a reputation as an aggressive fighter. He also comes across as polite and leaves out the tiresome trash talk you hear from a lot of fighters. At 5’9”, he has a substantial size advantage over Pacquiao. But as we know, that didn’t stop Pacquiao from annihilating Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto.
The fight is scheduled for March 13, and it should an exciting one! ♦
Mark Lee can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
Source: nwasianweekly.com
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The Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight has now been called off. Pacquiao has also filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather, his father Floyd Sr., his uncle Roger, and Golden Boy Promotions for allegedly accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.
The controversy started after Pacquiao knocked out British boxer Ricky Hatton in the second round last year. Hatton was trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. Before the Hatton fight, several British papers reported that Floyd Sr. was going to get fired by Hatton’s camp for problems that included showing up late for training.
After Hatton was knocked out, Floyd did not try to support his fighter. Instead, he signed autographs, and during the post-fight conference, he blamed Hatton by claiming that he did not follow his instructions about keeping his hands up. He also stated that Hatton should retire.
At some point, after the Hatton fight, Floyd Sr. also claimed that Pacquiao had to be on steroids given how hard he hit Hatton.
Fast forward a few months and a fight is scheduled with Floyd Sr.’s son. The steroid issue was raised again, and after lengthy negotiations, the fight was eventually called off. The Mayweather camp wanted blood tests by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which conducts tests anytime a fight is signed to the fight date. However, the Pacquiao camp refused to provide these samples. They were only willing to allow blood to be taken from Pacquiao at least 30 days before the fight date, as well as immediately after the conclusion of the bout. Freddie Roach, on the other hand, commented that he would allow a blood sample to be taken from Pacquiao at least one week before the fight.
None of the news reports I have seen ever mentioned any solid evidence of steroid use such as witnesses who claimed they supplied steroids to Pacquiao. Floyd Sr. started the whole controversy by insulting Pacquiao and insisting that he had to be on steroids. He has a pattern of obnoxious behavior. For example, before the Hatton fight, he called Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie “the joke” Roach. Pacquiao should not have had to go out of his way to accommodate Mayweather, and it is understandable that he eventually decided to not bother doing business with someone who is disrespectful.
Pacquiao’s physique does not appear to show signs associated with steroid use such as upper body acne. He did bulk up from fighting at 106 pounds when he was 16 to his current 147-pound fighting weight at age 31.
However, people ofen fill out as they get older. Pacquiao’s strength coach, the usually reserved Alex Ariza, felt compelled to defend his fighter to the press and detailed the boxer’s 7,000-calorie diet, approved supplemental intake, and natural physique.
His power comes from the combination of a number of factors. Basically, power is a product of mass times speed. The faster you punch, the harder you hit. But you also need to coordinate your motions so that you get the maximum weight behind the punch.
Pacquiao has a lot of leg strength, which he uses to drive his upper body in transmitting power into his fists.
He has developed the ability to hit from a variety of angles, and he has excellent footwork, which puts him into a position where he can blast through his opponents guard.
There are many factors that give the “Pacman” his winning edge, and steroid use is highly unlikely.
Pacquiao does not like to get his blood drawn shortly before a fight because of his belief that it weakens him.
Some news reports made it sound like taking blood is just a pin prick. I called up a local lab testing service and was told a minimum sample takes at least 3 milliliters. The sample size can vary depending on how the blood test is conducted. In some cases, the blood sample can fill up the whole collection vial and be as much as 8 milliliters. This is quite a bit more than just a drop.
Pacquiao is now scheduled to fight Joshua Clottey, who is from Ghana. Unlike Mayweather, who is more of a tactical defensive boxer, Clottey has a reputation as an aggressive fighter. He also comes across as polite and leaves out the tiresome trash talk you hear from a lot of fighters. At 5’9”, he has a substantial size advantage over Pacquiao. But as we know, that didn’t stop Pacquiao from annihilating Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto.
The fight is scheduled for March 13, and it should an exciting one! ♦
Mark Lee can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
Source: nwasianweekly.com
***
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