Mosley lacked KO punch – Pacquiao -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

If it was only Manny Pacquiao – and not Shane Mosley – who struck with that thunderbolt punch that buckled Floyd Mayweather’s knees over the weekend in Las Vegas, the fight would have been over moments later.

Talking to American scribe Mike Marley, who is down with Pacquiao in General Santos City to cover the elections, the Filipino pound-for-pound king told the former Don King PR man that the outcome would have been different.

“If I can hit Mayweather like that, I will finish him off. I would continue the attack in a way that Mosley did not,” said Pacquiao, referring to the Mosley right hand that turned Mayweather’s legs into jelly.

Mayweather weathered the second-round storm and cruised to a lopsided win over Mosley, a victory that only put pressure on the camps of the two fighters – Pacquiao and Mayweather – to reach a compromise agreement.

Pacquiao lawyer Jeng Gacal believes a deal will eventually be reached because there is no sensible thing to do but to pit the two punchers – the former holder of the mythical title and the current holder – against each other in a super fight likely to take place late in the year.

Gacal reiterated that Pacquiao remains adamant about the Olympic-style testing that Mayweather is imposing for the fight to take place.

“Manny will fight under commission rules,” said Gacal.

And what if the commission mandates that Pacquiao undergo such random drug and urine tests?

“Then, Manny will undergo such tests,” said Gacal.

Boxing commissions all over the US don’t require random drug and urine testing, believing that the tests they conduct are more than enough to determine if a fighter is taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacquiao accuses Mayweather of 'dodging' showdown -- ESPN

ESPN staff

Manny Pacquiao has accused Floyd Mayweather Jnr of running scared after Mayweather once again insisted on pre-fight drug testing when asked about a future showdown between the two fighters.

Shane Mosley was swept aside by Mayweather over the weekend, making it five decision victories in his last six fights. However, for the first time in his career, "Pretty Boy" was put in real trouble by Mosley who clearly buckled the legs of Mayweather with a big right hand.

Inevitably, post-fight thoughts immediately turned to a super-fight with Pacquiao, in a contest that would -in the eyes of many - determine the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world of boxing. Mayweather continues to insists on Olympic-style drug testing, as adhered to by Mosley, and until Pacquaio follows suit it seems there will be no agreement.

"If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight, it's not hard to find me," Mayweather said after Saturday's victory. "We were going to make this fight happen a couple of months back. We couldn't make it happen, so we moved on.

"All I want to do is be on an even playing field. If every athlete is keen, then take the test. I'm willing to take the test. Like I've said before, if Manny Pacquiao takes the blood and urine tests, we can make the fight happen. [If he doesn't] then we got no fight."

Pacquiao is adamant there is no need to call his honesty into question by implementing tests, and he accused Mayweather of 'dodging' the defining fight of his career.

"He's just making up excuses," Pacquiao said in the Times. "He's still dodging me.

"I'm not against blood testing, as long as it's not done on the fight day itself."

© ESPN EMEA Ltd

Source: espn.co.uk

Mormeck-Oquendo presser -- FightNews

FightNews.com

Former two-time world cruiserweight champion Jean-Marc Mormeck of France puts his climb up the heavyweight ranks on the line against veteran USBA and NABA heavyweight champion Fres Oquendo. The bout is being promoted by Mormeck’s J3M Management in association with Roy Jones, Jr.’s Square Ring Promotions on Thursday, May 6 in the Halle Carpentier Arena in Paris and will be televised over the Orange Network in France. The 37 year old Mormeck 34-3 (22 KOs), will be making his second appearance at heavyweight, having won a unanimous decision over tough American Vinny Maddalone on December 17, 2009.

At their final press conference this morning at Adidas’ flagship store on the Champs Elysées, Mormeck said, “I feel great, much better than the last time when I fought Maddalone and had injured my arm in training. My training camp was very good, and I am confidant going into this fight. As I said before, there is a big difference between Maddalone and a top 10 fighter like Oquendo, and perhaps I should have chosen an opponent somewhere in between, but I always get up for a challenge. Anyway, if I agreed to fight Oquendo, its because I know I can beat him.”

The Puerto Rican born Oquendo 32-5 (21 KOs), also 37 years old, won the USBA championship and defended his NABA title by retiring Demetrice King the 9th round this past February 20. He lost a controversial decision to Chris Byrd for the International Boxing Federation title on Sept. 20, 2003. In his very next fight on April 17, 2004, he was stopped by John Ruiz while ahead on the scorecards in the 11th round for the WBA title in Madison Square Garden.

“Jean-Marc is a great champion, one of the rare Europeans who made his name in recent years,” said Oquendo who now resides in Chicago, Ill. “It’s a privilege for me to fight him. His style reminds me of Mike Tyson and the legendary Joe Frazier. But this win over him will put me right back in the world title picture. I’ve come too far to lose now, and I’m certain of victory.”

(Photos by Square Ring)

Source: fightnews.com

Will Mayweather take on Pacquiao after Mosley? -- Reuters

REUTERS

For a moment in round two it appeared the incredible was going to happen — Floyd Mayweather was going to get knocked out — but somehow he hung on and kept his unbeaten record intact with a commanding points win over Shane Mosley.

Mosley’s crushing right hand in that second round hurt Mayweather and I couldn’t help but feel if it had been Manny Pacquiao in the ring with Mayweather the fight would have been stopped shortly afterwards. Mosley just didn’t press home his advantage.

Maybe it was because he hadn’t fought in 15 months or that he was in shock at what he had done, but Mosley genuinely had Mayweather on the ropes, his legs unsteady, and that does not happen very often and when it does you need to take advantage.

Mayweather prides himself on his defence, he may be the greatest defensive boxer ever, certainly of his generation, but Pacquiao will have seen enough chinks in the American’s armour to believe he can do what no man has ever done before and knock down Mayweather.

One result of Mosley’s right hand was that it brought about a more aggressive approach from Mayweather, something we haven’t seen all that often. The attack-minded philosophy worked well and he overcame the lapse to swarm all over Mosley and seal a unanimous points victory. Perhaps it is a tactic he should employ more often.

His two displays since coming back from retirement have been well above expectations. I gave him 9 out of 10 for his performance on Saturday, his hand speed was devastating but was it as quick as Pacquiao’s?

Mayweather remains, arguably, the sport’s pound-for-pound number one. His only problem is finding someone good enough to give him a challenge.

After the fight Mayweather talked about stepping up in weight to fight light-middleweight and middleweight champion Sergio Martinez of Argentina but it is the lingering possibility of a fight with Pacquiao that is really intriguing.

After the death of Venezuelan pounder Edwin Valero last month in such tragic circumstances boxing needed some good news and while Mayweather’s performance has left people talking about the good side of boxing, an announcement about a fight with Pacquiao is what we are all really waiting for.

PHOTO: Shane Mosley (L) of the U.S. takes a punch from Floyd Mayweather Jr. of the U.S. as referee Kenny Bayless looks on during their welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada May 1, 2010. REUTERS/Steve Marcus

Source: blogs.reuters.com

Mosley needed to be a fighter versus Mayweather -- The Ring

By Doug Fischer, The Ring

LAS VEGAS -- The biggest boxing event of the year turned into a rather uneventful, one-sided affair but don’t place all the blame on Floyd Mayweather, who dominated Shane Mosley to a 12-round unanimous decision on Saturday at the MGM Grand.

Well, you can blame Mayweather, who won by scores of 119-109 (twice) and 118-110, for being a master ring general who specializes in being elusive while landing a ridiculously high percentage of his counter punches.

He survived a scare in the second round and controlled Mosley for the rest of the fight.

However, much of the blame for the lack of sustained action in the bout must go to Mosley, who was as responsible for the constant clinching as Mayweather was and perhaps more responsible for the many lulls in the action.

Mosley’s chance to beat Mayweather, a 4-to-1 favorite, was to be the aggressor and to outwork the economical defensive specialist. Mosley (46-6, 39 knockouts) was not the aggressor. Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) was.

Mayweather, who threw more punches (477 to 452) and landed 44 percent of those shots (208 to Mosley’s 92), was also the busier of the two future hall of famers.

“I did what the fans came to see,” Mayweather said after the bout. “I gave them a toe-to-toe battle.”

Not really, but again, that wasn’t his fault. Mayweather was the boxer in Saturday’s matchup. He did what he was supposed to. Mosley didn’t.

Perhaps Mayweather didn’t let him. Maybe he got into Mosley’s head. Maybe he hit Mosley with something that robbed the perceived live underdog of his confidence.

If that’s the case -- and it probably is -- all credit must go to Mayweather.

But Mosley still owed it to himself and to the fans to try to do more than he did. He needed to be himself in the ring, and that’s not a boxer.

Mosley has underrated skills, which he showed by making Mayweather miss in the early going, but the Southern Californian is a fighter at heart.

It’s understandable that Mosley did not want to press the action from the start of the fight. Constant pressure, volume punching and raw power is not enough to topple a sharp-shooting boxer of Mayweather’s caliber.

“When you’re too aggressive with somebody like Floyd Mayweather he can make it work against you,” Mosley said during the post-fight press conference.

Mosley’s plan was to use skill and fury to overwhelm his elusive foe but the aggressive part of his game plan never materialized.

Mosley, who gained fame for his "power-boxing” style when he was an undefeated lightweight terror in the 1990s, tried being a pure boxer in the early rounds of the bout.

He bounced on his toes just outside of Mayweather’s reach. He slipped jabs and stepped back from straight rights. He blocked left hooks and he tried to counter punch. He had some success in the second round when a right hand to the temple momentarily rocked Mayweather, but that was it.

Mayweather immediately answered Mosley’s challenge by upping his punch output and landing hard, effective punches of his own in the very next round.

Mosley’s answer was to continuing to box against the most talented boxer in the sport. He was out-boxed and out-punched for his misguided intentions.

“I caught him (in the second round) because I wasn’t just running in and throwing punches in the wind,” Mosley said. “But he made adjustments and I didn’t make adjustments.”

That’s the story of the fight.

At some point Saturday night, probably during the fifth or sixth round, “Shane the fighter” needed to come out to play because “Shane the boxer” wasn’t getting it done.

He was waiting for openings instead of trying to make them.

By the seventh and eighth rounds of the fight, Mayweather was backing up an increasingly frustrated and insecure-looking Mosley with head-snapping right hands. Mosley tried to pursue Mayweather in the final minutes of both rounds but he didn’t throw enough punches and he couldn’t land the ones he did.

By the late rounds of the bout, Mosley appeared to be in survival mode. The few punches he threw with any effort were triggered by instinct and they lacked technique and leverage.

What could have been a competitive or at least interesting fight gradually turned into another Mayweather clinic.

By the championship rounds of the bout, Mosley looked no different from the crude Carlos Baldomir or undersized Juan Manuel Marquez when they were being shut out by Mayweather.

Some ringsiders believed that Mosley might go the way of Ricky Hatton and get knocked out at some point during the final rounds of the bout but the veteran’s chin held out.

It was the only thing Mayweather did not strip Mosley of during one of the best performances of his career.

“I talked about the strategy at home with (trainer) Roger (Mayweather) and my father and they told me to box and then press the attack,” Mayweather said after the fight. “I think we could have pressed the attack earlier. If I did I could have got him out of there.”

A knockout of Mosley, who has never been stopped in an amateur or professional bout, would have been the only way the 33-year-old star could have topped his performance.

It was probably the only way he could have enticed the droves of fans who began to leave MGM’s Grand Garden Arena after the 11th round to stick around and watch the final minutes of the bout.

Again, the crowd’s boredom wasn’t Mayweather’s fault entirely. He took the fight to Mosley for most of the second half of the bout. Mosley didn’t reciprocate.

So what does Mosley, who is still a threat to most welterweight contenders, do?

“I don’t know yet,” he said. “I’m going to go home, watch the tape, see what I did wrong and take it slow from there.”

If he decides to retire, there’s a place waiting for him in the International Boxing Hall of Fame five years from now.

If Mosley decides to continue boxing there are a few marketable opponents who could rekindle the excitement he failed to spark versus Mayweather.

If Antonio Margarito, who Mosley stopped in nine rounds last January, wins his comeback fight on May 8 (and is able to get his license back in the U.S.) a rematch would be a natural attraction at L.A.‘s Staples Center, where the Mexican mauler made the veteran look as young as Mayweather made him appear old on Saturday.

Junior middleweight contender Alfredo Angulo would make a suitable substitute for Margarito if the disgraced fighter doesn’t get his boxing license reinstated. There’s also the winner of the up-coming Paul Williams-Kermit Cintron bout.

The aforementioned boxers are aggressive-minded punchers who lack Mayweather’s talent and technique. Mosley, even at his advanced age, should be able to compete with them. But for the sake of his health and the sport, he better remember to be himself in the ring.

Source: ringtv.com

Like him or not, Mayweather is magnificent -- The Ring

By Michael Rosenthal, The Ring

LAS VEGAS – Some will point to Shane Mosley’s age, 38, to diminish Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s accomplishment on Saturday night at the MGM Grand. Some will criticize him once again for his safety-first fighting style.

Let’s be honest, though: The man is a once-in-a-generation boxing marvel.

Mosley might not be the fighter he was five or 10 years ago but he’s a young 38 and a strong, full-fledged welterweight. He retains tools that are superior to almost any other fighter. He proved that early last year when he annihilated Antonio Margarito, even if Margarito had the perfect style for him.

And Mayweather utterly dominated Mosley from the third round on, sucking the life out of the fight but painting a masterpiece.

Mosley’s only memorable moments came in a dramatic second round, when he landed a big right to the side of Mayweather’s head that buckled his knees. The crowd, sensing something special was imminent, responded by rocking the Grand Garden Arena with chants of “Mosley! Mosley! Mosley.”

After that, though, Mosley’s fans had little reason to cheer. Mayweather took that monstrous punch and then immediately fired his own hard shots right back at Mosley’s head, revealing the warrior within him that is rarely evident.

Then, as if he instantly figured out Mosley’s style, he took complete control of the fight. He suddenly couldn’t miss his sharp left jab. His stinging, blur-like right found its mark time and again, leaving Mosley frustrated, clueless and ultimately beaten.

Meanwhile, Mosley (46-6, 39 knockouts) barely landed a meaningful punch after that second round. Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) was hit an average of seven times per round in his previous fights. Mosley landed 92 punches, 7.7 per round. In other words, he did no better than Mayweather’s previous opponents in spite of his skills.

That’s astounding.

And you can’t even criticize Mayweather for being overly passive, as is typically the case. Mayweather is incapable of fighting with raw aggression but he stood his ground and beat a strangely hesitant Mosley to the punch over and over again, making him the aggressor much of the fight.

“I did what the fans came here to see -- a toe-to-toe battle,” Mayweather said. “That’s not my style but I wanted to give them that kind of fight and I knew I could do it. I was happy it happened.”

Toe-to-toe might be a stretch by normal standards. That type of warfare would’ve produced a riveting fight, which this definitely was not. Some of the 15,117 fans in the arena began filing out of the arena after the 11th round, presumably because all drama was exhausted.

However, we’ll give Mayweather this one; by his standards, it was a toe-to-toe battle. He deserves some credit.

A more aggressive fighter – even slightly so – probably could’ve knocked out Mosley. However, Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts) wasn’t going to turn into something he’s not so he had to settle for a near-shutout decision – 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110. Thus, he missed an opportunity to become the first to stop Mosley and make a bigger statement.

This statement was plenty big, though. Mayweather’s performance probably was the best in his remarkable career. He not only beat one of the world’s best fighters and a future hall of famer, he embarrassed him.

Many of us will continue to dislike Mayweather because of his arrogance and we will bemoan the fact that he’ll never be an exciting fighter to watch, but we must admire skills that far exceed those of any other boxer in the world.

How does he top this?

He beats Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather reiterated at the post-fight news conference that he would like to fight his Filipino rival, with whom he was unable to come to terms for a proposed fight in March.

However, he also reiterated that he won’t give ground on his demand for random testing, which Pacquiao rejected. Pacquiao isn’t prepared to budge either, meaning it will be very difficult –- if not impossible -- to make the fight.

And, sadly, Pacquiao is the only fighter left standing who is deemed a worthy challenger for Mayweather. After that, he and his handlers will have to be creative. Will he move back up to 154 pounds? Will he go up to middleweight in search of a challenge and another big payday?

Time will tell. For now, we’re left with the memory of a magnificent performance and a question in our minds: Can anyone give this guy a fight?

Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com

Source: ringtv.com

Pacquiao: I would've finished off Floyd -- Philippine Star

By Dino Maragay, philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines – If Manny Pacquiao were in Shane Mosley’s shoes in the second round of the latter’s fight with Floyd Mayweather last Sunday, the outcome would have been different, the Filipino ring icon said.

Speaking to veteran boxing scribe Michael Marley of examiner.com, Pacquiao gave his thoughts on the Mayweather-Mosley fight, particularly in the second round where Mosley had the champion in trouble with two vicious right straights.

“I saw that (round two), I did,” Pacquiao told Marley. “If I can hit Mayweather like that, I will finish him off.”

Mayweather went wobbly from Mosley’s blows that he had to hold on to avoid getting knocked down. But the undefeated boxer from Grand Rapids, Michigan survived the second-round scare to administer a masterful beating on Mosley, cruising to a unanimous decision victory.

For his part, Pacquiao, currently the WBO welterweight champion, added that Mosley should have pressed the action harder until he knocks out Mayweather for good.

“I would continue the attack in a way that Mosley did not. I will attack until Mayweather is gone,” he said.

Asked about facing Pacquiao next, Mayweather reiterated his demand for an Olympic-style drug testing. Earlier negotiations for a Pacquiao-Mayweather megafight went down the drain when both camps failed to find common ground on the issue of drug testing.

“If you’re clean, take the test. I’m willing to take the test. Manny Pacquiao, take the blood and urine test and we can make the fight happen for all the fans,” Mayweather said in a post-fight interview.

Mayweather wanted random drug tests to be carried out until 14 days before the fight, but Pacquiao would only agree to do them 24 days prior to the bout.

This time, Pacquiao said he would only subject himself to random blood testing if the commission supervising the fight mandates him to.

“My message to Mayweather, to the world, is simple. I am not the lawmaker when it comes to the rules and regulations of any boxing commission. That is not my job or my duty. Neither is it Mayweather's unless he forms his own personal commission,” Pacquiao said.

“I will comply fully with whatever drug test, blood or urine, rules are specified by the commission of the place where this fight is arranged,” he added.

Pacquiao is currently in the thick of campaigning for a congressional seat in Sarangani province. Does he still crave for the Mayweather fight?

“Yes, I want Mayweather,” Pacquiao, 31, said.

Source: philstar.com

Manny Pacquiao: Mosley hurt Mayweather, I can destroy him -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

MICHAEL MARLEY'S PHILIPPINE DIARY, PART 9:

BEHIND THE WALLS OF THE PACMAN MANSION, INSIDE MP'S BILLIARDS PALACE AND BUSINESS COMPLEX IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY

What did Manny Pacquiao say and when did he say? And what, pray tell, did Pacman mean when he allegedly spoke to various people about adjusting blood testing arrangements which will smooth a path to going to contracts on the Super Bout against undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr.

It was a ball of confusion around Pacworld, first at his high walled and armed guard protected mansion and then, as his daily custom, when Megamanny went to the MP commercial complex which includes a sports bar, restaurants, a night club, a printing service and his prize jewel, his lavish billiards facility.

People were running to and fro, debating what, if anything, to read in these supposed remarks as the public fever for the showdown with Mayweather began to boil to a fever pitch.

I went to organ grinder and skipped over a few monkeys, even though as a White Gorilla, I only have love for my jungle cousins.

Before Manny got into his marathon billiard contests, I asked him what his message to Mayweather and the boxing is public.

“My message to Mayweather, to the world, is simple. I am not the lawmaker when it comes to the rules and regulations of any boxing commission. That is not my job or my duty. Neither is it Mayweather's unless he forms his own personal commission.

“I will comply fully with whatever drug test, blood or urine, rules are specified by the commission of the place where this fight is arranged.”

So that means, I said, Pacquiao is presumably licking his chops to see if he can hand slick L'il Floyd his first professional loss. I put a question mark at the end of my meaningful query.

Manny flashed the kid who got the bicycle under the Christmas tree, 10,000 megawatt smile.

“Yes, I want Mayweather,” the 31 year old WBO welterweight champion said. “I did not watch the (Shane) Mosley fight live but, when I got up, I looked at some clips on the fight.”

Did Pacman focus on round two, when the nearly age 40 Mosley hammered Mayweather with a booming right hand, wobbling him and nearly sending him crashing to the canvas?

Now came a 100,000 watt smile, the happy glow of a fierce competitor who concedes victory to no man, be it in billiards, basketball or in the ring.

“I saw that, I did,” Pacquiao said. “If I can hit Mayweather like that, I will finish him off. I would continue the attack in a way that Mosley did not. I will attack until Mayweather is gone.”

The battle cry was spoken matter of factly.

Manny Pacquiao has laid down the gauntlet.

This generation's answer to Robert Duran versus Sugar Ray Leonard will never be more ripe to be made, to negotiated fully and brought to a contract with signatures of the Pinoy Idol and the American superstar attached at the end.

A plague on all their houses, meaning Al Haymon and the Golden Boys for Mayweather and to Bob Arum for Pacman, if they do not strike now while the promotional iron is so hot it is scalding.

Pacman clearly wants the Big Fight. Mayweather seems to be ready to try to rise to his ultimate challenge.

In the words of referee Mills Lane, “Let's get it on!”

I can accept no less, neither should the principals, and neither should you.

Serve us Mayweather_Pacquiao next and serve it piping hot.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Floyd Mayweather: 'I Wasn't Going To Lay Down' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

LAS VEGAS -- FanHouse was on hand at Saturday night's post-fight press conference, during which unbeaten Floyd Mayweather dominated WBA welterweight (147 pounds) champion, Shane Mosley, by lopsided unanimous decision before 15,117 at the MGM Grand.

The 33-year-old Mayweeather rose to 41-0, with 25 knockouts, earning a non-heavyweight record, guaranteed $22.5 million purse for his performance.

Mosley (46-6, 39 KOs), whose title was not on the line against Mayweather, earned his largest career pay day -- a guaranteed $7 million.

Over the next few days, FanHouse will post the highlights from Mayweather's entire post-fight comments concerning what was a historic, and, potentially, record-breaking event that was televised on HBO pay per view.

Below are Floyd Mayweather's responses to some of the subjects raised during the post-fight:

On the overall night and his performance.

Floyd Mayweather: It was another tremendous night, another tremendous fight, and another tremendous turnout. Without the fans, of course, you know, I wouldn't be where I am at in the sport of boxing. With HBO and my staff, it was another good show. What can I say?

There was a point to prove, to see who is one of the best welterweights out there, and once again, I stepped up to the plate and I proved that I am the best. And, it was just a lot of hard work and we had a smart team. We had a helluva a game plan.

Our game plan was stay relaxed, dig down and just be me. And, you know, I'm very, very thankful for all of the media coming out, and for all of the sponsors. For all of the commentators, and, for all of the fans, of course, coming out and supporting me.

For all of the fans coming out and supporting Shane. It was truly an unbelievable turnout, really. What else can I say? Of course, my team did one helluva job. They gave me everything that I needed, and they stepped up and made sure that I was comfortable.

I told my team that I'm comfortable as long as they take care of business outside of the ring and make sure that I'm comfortable, I'll make sure that I take care of business inside of the squared circle. Any questions?

On who would call the shots, Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, in a potential negotiation for that fight, given that Shane Mosley was willing to do what Mayweather had asked him to do in terms of the random drug testing with the United State Anti-Doping Agency.

I've just been dedicating myself to the sport for 15 years. I'm not saying that Manny Pacquiao is not a good fighter. But, you know I've got the will to win under the lights, and, you know, that's like I have said before.

If you guys watch [HBO's] 24/7, I said, 'We all may hit the bag alike, we all may do the padwork alike. We all may jump rope the same. But we all don't perform under the lights the same.' And I can see that in the second round, everybody was whooping and hollering and going crazy [When Mosley staggered Mayweather with a right hand.]

But the only thing that I thought about was to relax and stay focused. Because that comes with the territory in the sport of boxing. That comes with, you know, the sport. I'm a strong individual.

On what happened in the second round, when Shane Mosley hurt him with a right hand.

What happened is that I'm a fighter, you know. And things happen. I'm a strong individual, like I said before. He hit me with a good shot, but I've been hit like that before. DeMarcus 'Chop Chop' Corley hit me with a harder shot than that.

Zab Judah hit me with a harder shot than that. But when you dedicate yourself to the sport, and you're hungry, and you truly believe, and, of course, like I said before, I come from a family of winners. I wasn't going to lay down, so I wasn't really worried about that. That comes with the sport.

On where the Shane Mosley fight ranks among his victories and in his career.

I really don't know. I'm not here to rank myself. I''m here to just fight the best guys out there and to be the best that I can be. Like I said, before, a lot of people sit in judgement of you and don't even know you. And I think that there are many different sides to Floyd Mayweather.

And, 24/7, everyone on 24/7 did an unbelievable job with both camps. I think that 24/7 did a tremendous job. Of course, I had my own team, along with Al Haymon and Leonard Ellerbe, who did some behind the scenes things that people didn't get to see.

Like I said before, 24/7, HBO, all of the sponsors, all of the media and all of the people, without them, we wouldn't have had this great event. Of course, it also takes the two fighters.

On whether or not the second-round punch from Shane Mosley was the most he had been hurt during his career.

No. Like I said before, Zab Judah hit me with a better shot. And DeMarcus 'Chop Chop' Corley hit me with a better shot. But, like I said before, Shane's a solid welterweight. And, actually I was in such tip-top shape, that I came into the fight weighing 147.

And I ate three times after the weig-in. I ate twice yesterday and I ate a big meal today, but my weight wouldn't go anywhere. I wanted to come into the fight weighing at least 150, or 152. But I was in such good shape that my weight wouldn't go any higher.

On why he didn't believe that Shane Mosley was able to follow up his second-round effort at any other time during the rest of the fight.

I think that he tried, but it was just that I was able to show my versatility and adapt and adjust to any opponent. I'm just able to adapt and to adjust.

And I knew that my game plan was going to work. Breaking him down in every which way. Turning it into a dogfight if that is what was needed.

On the adjustments he made to take away Shane Mosley's right hand.

Over the years, you know, I never study an opponent. I never go watch tapes, because I think that when an opponent gets into the rign with me, they're going to be totally different. So, Shane never used a full jab. He used like a tit-tat jab, trying to set up a big shot -- either the big left hook, or the big right hand.

But, like I said before, I just took my time and kept my composure. And every time that I saw an opening, I took advantage of it.

On whether this compares favorably to the victory over previously unbeaten Diego Corrales, whom he floored five times, and his response to the general criticism from the media about not having fought big welterweights or the best fighters.

For all of the people who don't know, I came from a small weight class. I came from 130 pounds, and I went from 130, all the way to 140, and won titles in those weight classes. Everbody is entitled to their opinion. All that I can do is to beat whoever they put in front of me.

Just be the best that I can be. Obviously, it's not bragging or boasting if you can back it up. I just truly believe in myself, I believe in my talent, and I believe in my team, and I believe in my skills. Like I said before, HBO has done a tremendous job throughout my career.

On the Shane Mosley right hand that hurt him, yet again.

Of course, this is a contact sport. Anything can happen. This was the 41st fight of my career, like I said before, anything can happen. But my job is like being a cop: One shot can end your entire career. So me, just being a sharp fighter, I went back to my corner.

My corner really wasn't tripping. They told me, 'Floyd, just relax and do what you do.' My uncle, [Roger Mayweather,] said, 'Just relax and do what you do.' And I turned around and asked my father [Floyd Mayweather Sr.], 'What's going on?'

And he said, 'You know what you've got to do.' My father said, 'Just stick to the game plan, I told you what you've got to do.' Third round, we came out, we pressed the attack. But we were smart. We broke with the left hook when he tried to use the same shot.

It was that same shot that he knocked Fernando Vargas out with. I said, 'He likes to break with the left hook too.' I think that, just, mentally, I'm a smarter fighter. I think that a lot of fighters fight off of strength. Other fighters worry about who's the fastest. I just work on timing and being smart.

I was getting my left over his right hand. I was also getting a full, right-hand counter over his left jab so that he would stop using his jab.

On whether he would have the urge to just get into the ring and get into a slugfest with anybody again.

Like I said before, boxing has been great to me. We don't know what the future holds. I don't know what the future holds. I may just go home and chill out with the kids, just chill for a little while. I just don't know.

On what was said between he and Shane Mosley, who tried to touch gloves often before some rounds, when they were talking to each other during the middle rounds of the fight.

I just told him, 'Stop trying to touch my gloves.' I just kind of said, 'Stop worrying about what the referees are talking about and stop holding. Let's fight.' I mean, 'You all said that I was going to do all of this different running, and that I didn't come to fight.'

I'm not saying that Shane is not one helluva fighter, and I'll take my hat off to Shane, he's one helluva fighter. He caught me with a good shot. Like I said before, though, I've got the will to win under any circumstances. When you say that you're the best, you have to stand up.

You have to take the good with the good, and take the bad with the bad, and you keep going, and that's all that I did. What I was telling Shane was, 'I'm not worried about all of that touching gloves, let's fight.' That's what that was all about.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Pacquiao reportedly softens stance on testing -- NBC Sports

NBCSports.com news services

Manny Pacquiao appeared to soften his stance about blood testing, saying he would be willing to undergo testing 14 days before a fight if it helps set up a showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr., ESPN reported Monday.

Mayweather and Pacquiao had originally agreed to a megafight last year before it broke down in a dispute over blood and urine testing. Mayweather wanted strict testing before the fighting, hinting that he thought Pacquiao had taken performance-enhancing drugs. Pacquiao, meanwhile, wanted a cutoff of blood testing 24 days before any fight.

Pacquiao has said he feels drawing blood would make him weaker.

"I am willing to help the sport for the future of the sport. I do not want to see anyone cheat or cheat this sport. For that reason I am willing to consider taking blood (tests) as close as 14 days prior to the fight, as long as my opponent does the same, and it is not a lot of blood, just enough to test," Pacquiao said on his official website, ESPN reported.

No talks have restarted on a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, ESPN reported.

The two sides had agreed on everything except the drug testing in January. But when they couldn't agree on the testing, each went his separate way. But talk of the bout restarted after Mayweather beat Shane Mosley on Saturday night.

"If Manny Pacquiao can take a blood and urine test then we have a fight," Mayweather said Saturday night. "If not, no fight."

Pacquiao is currently campaigning in the Philippines for a seat in Congress. His promoter, Bob Arum, said he wasn't concerned about a fight right now.

"I'm not going to lose any sleep over it," Arum said Sunday, the Associated Press reported. "What I'm concerned about right now is Manny winning the election. If the fight doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. We're not going to be dictated to."

© 2010 NBC Sports.com

Source: nbcsports.msnbc.com

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, the best of the best -- Los Angeles Times

By Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times

MANILA -- This one has a familiar ring. Pacquiao-Mayweather. Here we go again.

This is the Ali-Foreman of our time. The real stuff. Boxing titles its fights and this one is easy: The Best of the Best. Finally, the sport that excels at selling us pigs and calling it filet mignon would be delivering genuine Kobe beef.

There are guys who fight and then there are Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. They are artists in the boxing ring. The rest are paint-by-the-numbers guys.

We have been here before, but this is boxing. The gauntlets thrown down outside the ring are as much fun as the punches thrown in it.

Mayweather said he'd fight if Pacquiao took more than the normal pre-fight drug test. Check his blood, Mayweather said, implying that Pacquiao's sculpted body was more the result of pills than pumped iron.

Pacquiao, with no history of any such pill-taking, was insulted. He so disliked being called out by the trash-talking Mayweather and his trash-talking dad and trainer-uncle, that Pacquiao not only said no, but sued for defamation of character. They'll settle this in the ring well before they do so in court.

So, the fight of the century -- in boxing, they have about 30 of those every 100 years -- didn't happen.

Pacquiao went off to fight in Dallas, allowing his promoter, Bob Arum to provide additional time in the limelight for his friend Jerry Jones. Jones helped entice 60,000 to his shiny new football stadium and Pacquiao entertained them by punching a turtle for 12 rounds. Joshua Clottey peeked out of his self-imposed shell of raised boxing gloves just long enough to get whacked hard several times by Pacquiao.

Mayweather waited until last weekend to counter, so to speak.

He took a couple of hard shots from the once-great Shane Mosley, and then put on a boxing clinic. The message was clear: Take a look at that, Manny.

Certainly, Pacquiao did. But it will be several weeks before the Filipino star will be able to focus on his future with Floyd. Pacquiao is in the late rounds of his run for a seat in the Philippine Congress. Election day here is May 10.

Why would a boxer seek politics?

Once poverty ridden, Pacquiao takes his celebrity seriously and doesn't think the cliché of helping the less fortunate is one. He is the Robin Hood of the Philippines, except he doesn't have to take from the rich to give to the poor. He is the rich.

Mayweather, while a more decent guy than the image he perpetuates, talks trash, lives fast and directs much of his charity to various Las Vegas night clubs.

The contrast just adds to the anticipation. Not only do both box like a dream, but one wears the figurative white cowboy hat and the other a black one. Sports often attempts to find morality plays amidst its competition, and it has one here.

Mayweather's cards are already on the table: "You saw what I did to Mosley. Take a blood test and you know where to find me." Pacquiao's side would answer: "We'll fight if you don't dictate the terms." So if it sounds as if this has come right back to where it was months ago, indeed it has. But the economy has improved a bit and the money will be even better.

Arum arrives here Wednesday, and his presence may include time for more than merely to signal to the voters that, yes, he still expects Pacquiao to fight on, even if he wins the election. As Arum said so famously after the Clottey fight, Pacquiao's election shouldn't be the slightest interruption to his boxing, because "he would do the same thing Congressmen in the United States do. Nothing."

Certainly, amidst the rallies and banner-waving, Arum and Pacquiao will talk about Mayweather. Arum likes the potential revenue from all those seats in the Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Richard Schaefer, the man out front for Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions and for Mayweather's mysterious manager, Al Haymon, prefers the casino scene.

When the two sides sit down to talk, there will be egos and agendas flying around. Voices will rise, fingers will point.

If they do it right, just before they go into the room, they'll have Michael Buffer stand outside the door and intone: "Let's Get Ready to Rumble."

Will the fight happen? You bet.

Last week, a reporter asked Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, and guru, that very question. Roach looked him in the eye and said, "We REALLY want him."

In boxing, everybody understands that language.

bill.dwyre@latimes.com

Source: mobile.latimes.com

Drop the damn blood tests and let's get it on -- PhilBoxing

By Ed de la Vega, PhilBoxing.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr looked impressive last Saturday at the MGM Grand against Sugar Shane Mosley.

But then again, Sugar was not as sweet anymore. Age has finally caught up with the guy. And, I am betting not too many will disagree with that.

Mayweather in fairness still had some of his old sting and he repeatedly caught Mosley with his counter punches and he rightfully deserves to win.

And win he did!

Mayweather’s win however was not as smooth as the judges’ scores. (One judge gave 11 rounds to him and the other, 10 rounds.) There was a huge kink, particularly in the second round when he was caught with a couple of right hands form the aging Mosley that buckled his knees. Only his quick thinking saved him from a disastrous knock down. He instinctively grabbed on Mosley and that prevented him from hitting the canvas. There were a few occasions when he was caught by Mosley with solid but weak shots, particularly as the fight went on when Mosley was gassed -out.

But I give credit to Mayweather. He adjusted after that 2nd round and went on to continually frustrate Mosley all through the last round.

Now that Mayweather is finally done with the aging Mosley, many including Oscar de la Hoya is calling him the best in the world?

Nah!

Mayweather, in spite of what everyone is saying still has one hurdle to pass before he can be called the “best in the world”. And, no matter what is said and done by anyone including him, his legacy is still incomplete.

There is no doubt he will be in the Hall of Fame. He has done enough to deserve that spot.

But, the best in the world? I don’t think so. But to be fair, I say he is almost there.

Mayweather must fight and beat Pacquiao to claim an undisputed “ best in the world” designation. Until that is done, he can’t rightfully claim the designation. Oh, many will still regard him as such but in reality he isn’t, until he gets over the Filipino spitfire.

In my opinion, Mayweather is scared of Pacquiao.

Pacquiao is the only one fighter who has the true potential to beat him. That is why he is not too keen to fight him. And, he will even ignore a huge pay check just to avoid the Pacman.

Mayweather found a good excuse with the “blood tests”. And he repeatedly pushed that issue to hide from Pacquiao.

So I say, - Hey Junior dropped the damn blood test demand and man up. Let the fight happen and see if you are really the best and deserved to be designated as such.

Without that fight, a blot will remain in your record. And nothing short of the fight can erase that.

Source: philboxing.com

Pacquiao-Mayweather still possibility -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Now that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has dispatched Shane Mosley, talk immediately turned to the potential showdown with Manny Pacquiao, who has apparently softened his stance on the drug testing procedures that derailed their negotiations in January.

Pacquiao and Mayweather, universally regarded as the top two fighters in boxing, tried to make the mega fight in December and January.

The camps had agreed on all terms except for the way to handle drug testing for what many believe would be the biggest money fight in boxing history. The all-time pay-per-view record of 2.45 million was set in Mayweather's victory against Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.

When Pacquiao and Mayweather reached an impasse, Pacquiao went on to easily defeat Joshua Clottey on March 13 and Mayweather took a lopsided unanimous decision against Mosley in their welterweight super fight on Saturday night.

Mayweather, who accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs despite having no evidence, had insisted on strict blood and urine testing, which was employed during the lead-up and immediate aftermath of his fight with Mosley.

Pacquiao, who has a defamation lawsuit pending against Mayweather and his team over the accusations, agreed to unlimited urine testing -- but with limits on how many blood tests he would take and how close to the fight he would agree to be tested.

Now, less than 48 hours after Mayweather's victory, Pacquiao seems to be in a compromising mood in order to make a fight for which official negotiations have not yet begun.

"I am willing to help the sport for the future of the sport. I do not want to see anyone cheat or cheat this sport. For that reason I am willing to consider taking blood [tests] as close as 14 days prior to the fight, as long as my opponent does the same, and it is not a lot of blood, just enough to test," Pacquiao is quoted as saying on his official website.

Mayweather has no issue undergoing the same kind of testing as his opponent.

During the previous negotiation, Pacquiao had insisted on a cut-off of blood testing 30 days before the fight and eventually moved to 24 days when it came to light that he had taken a blood test during that time frame before his second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in May 2009.

Pacquiao had agreed all along to take a blood test immediately after the fight.

"I do not want anyone having an unfair advantage where someone may get hurt," said Pacquiao, who is in the final days of his congressional campaign in the Philippines. "I am willing to do my part to help this sport out."

Pacquiao had said previously he did not want to have blood drawn too close to the fight because he feels like it weakens him.

"Mayweather is the furthest thing on our mind," Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's adviser, said in a statement to Pacquiao's website. "Our focus has been and continues to be Manny's desire to become congressman."

Following the election, Pacquiao and his family are expected to go on vacation and the fighter will discuss his next bout upon his return. "As Manny has stated many times, we are willing to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere in accordance with the athletic commission's rules and regulations in which ever state we fight in. We will not be bullied into or entertain any additional rules or regulations to be imposed by our opponent."

Top Rank's Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter is headed to the Philippines to support Pacquiao in the final days of his campaign. He told ESPN.com on Monday that during the trip he will not talk to Pacquiao about Mayweather, drug testing or any boxing business.

"As far as I am concerned, I am not even going to raise anything," Arum said. "We're not even going to talk about future plans until after election and that's the truth.

"I have no thoughts about the other stuff but I have an open mind to everything. Obviously, he's my fighter and I will do what he asks me to do, but there's a time for everything. And the time is not now."

Mayweather said after the fight Saturday night that he would fight Pacquiao under the same kind of Olympic-style testing used for the fight with Mosley.

"If he wants to fight it's not that hard to find me," Mayweather said. "We tried to fight before and it didn't work, and we moved on. Mosley did what I asked him to do and if every athlete in the sport would do that, we know we would have a clean sport. Everyone should take the test. I am willing to take the tests. If Manny takes the test we can make the fight happen. If he doesn't we don't have a fight."

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Pacquiao willing to compromise but Mayweather fight still unlikely -- The Ring

By Michael Rosenthal, The Ring

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao seem to want to fight one another. The promoters say they’re open to the idea. However, the fighters have said nothing after Mayweather’s demolition of Shane Mosley on Saturday to significantly raise optimism that the fight will happen.

Pacquiao said on his Web site that he is willing to have his blood tested 14 days prior to the fight, which would’ve met Mayweather’s original demand and allowed the fight to take place on March 13. Pacquaio said at the time that he would agree to testing no closer than 24 days before the fight.

“I am willing to help the sport for the future of the sport,” he stated. “I do not want to see anyone cheat or cheat this sport. For that reason I am willing to consider taking blood as close as 14 days prior to the fight, as long as, my opponent does the same, and it is not a lot of blood, just enough to test. I do not want anyone having an unfair advantage where someone may get hurt. I am willing to do my part to help this sport out.”

However, Mayweather is now indicating that Olympic-style random testing will be used for his future fights, as it was for the fight on Saturday. Pacquiao obviously is willing to compromise but he is unlikely to agree to random testing, which can be done up to the day of the fight.

Mayweather seemed to say immediately after the fight that he will not budge on his demands.

"If he wants to fight, it's not that hard to find me," he said. "We tried to fight before and it didn't work, and we moved on. Mosley did what I asked him to do and if every athlete in the sport would do that, we know we would have a clean sport. Everyone should take the test. I am willing to take the tests. If Manny takes the test, we can make the fight happen. If he doesn't, we don't have a fight."

Plus, after the pay-per-view tally is complete and it becomes clear that Mayweather-Mosley drew many more buys than the 700,000 buys of Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey, Mayweather could demand a larger portion of the profits than he did in the original negotiations. That isn’t likely to sit well with Pacquiao.

The incentive to find common ground exists. The fighters stand to make $50 million or more in what probably would be the biggest fight in the history of the sport. That was the case the first time around, though, and they walked away from the negotiating table.

Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, has said that a Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito fight is a possibility.

At the moment, Pacquiao is focused on his congressional bid in the Philippines. It’s not clear what a victory would mean to his boxing career as his new duties presumably would consume much of his time.

He hadn’t seen the Mayweather-Mosley fight as of Monday, according to his Web site.

Source: ringtv.com

Morales interested bystander to Marquez-Diaz II announcement -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

LAS VEGAS -- His presence was low-key, but Erik Morales, looking fit and trim, was an interested attendee at Saturday morning's news conference in the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Shane Mosley media center at the MGM Grand, where Golden Boy announced the July 31 HB PPV rematch between lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez and former titleholder Juan Diaz, which will take place at Mandalay Bay.

Morales, one of Mexico's greatest fighters, won championships in three divisions -- junior featherweight, featherweight and junior lightweight -- but his career went downhill in a hurry as he lost five of six fights before retiring in 2007 after an unsuccessful shot at then-lightweight titlist David Diaz.

The one win in the batch, however, was against Manny Pacquiao in 2005 in the first fight of their trilogy. That remains Pacquiao's last loss.

Like so many fighters who retire, Morales, 33 (but an old 33) couldn't stay away. He returned to outpoint former lightweight titlist Jose Alfaro at welterweight on March 27. It was an entertaining scrap, as all Morales fights are. Now, he intends to keep fighting and by the look of things he's serious because he looked in good shape.

Morales told me he plans to fight again on July 17 in Mexico. After that, he said he wants to fight the winner of Marquez-Diaz II at either junior welterweight or lightweight.

I never thought about a possible Diaz-Morales fight, but Marquez-Morales was one of the great matchups that didn't happen during the virtual round-robin between Marquez, Morales, Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera. It was talked about by both sides at one time or another, especially when they were both with Top Rank, but it never came off. I always wanted to see it.

I suppose if Marquez wins and Morales looks good this summer, it would be a possible fight.

"We have a lot of common opponents, but we never met up in the ring," Morales said of Marquez. "It would be exciting."

It wouldn't be the kind of pound-for-pound argument fight it would have been a few years ago, but if they want to fight, why not? If Morales is going to keep taking punches, he might as well be paid well for it.

Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer told me that he and Morales have been talking and that Marquez-Morales would be something possible later in the year.

Of course, with Morales back fighting and old rival Barrera continuing to fight well past his prime, I wouldn't be shocked at all if we saw Barrera-Morales IV. They had a great rivalry, which Barrera won 2-1. All three fights were close.

I'm not saying that I am hoping to see that fight or Morales against the Marquez-Diaz II winner. I'm just saying be prepared because either could happen.

Source: espn.go.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Will Be Favored If He Fights Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse

By Michael David Smith, FanHouse

We still don't know if we'll ever get to see the one fight that every boxing fan on earth wants, Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao. But we do know that if the fight ever happens, Mayweather will open as a slight favorite to win.

The online sports book Bodog has released its odds on the fight, with Mayweather listed as a -140 favorite (meaning you'd need to bet $140 to win $100 on Mayweather), and Pacquiao listed as a +110 underdog (meaning you could win $110 by betting $100 on Pacquiao).

That demonstrates that Mayweather is perceived as the likely winner if the two ever meet in the ring, although he's actually not quite as heavy a favorite as he was last year, when Bodog initially installed Mayweather as a -170 favorite, only to move the number down when money started coming in on Pacquiao.

But more importantly, the odds demonstrate that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao would be the only competitive fight either one of them could participate in without moving way up in weight class. Mayweather was listed as a -450 favorite against Mosley, who's probably the third-best welterweight in the world. After Mayweather's performance on Saturday night, either Mayweather or Pacquiao would be listed as favorites of at least -500 against any other welterweight in boxing. There's that big a gulf between the top two and everyone else.

When you start to see odds of -500, you're getting into the kind of territory where people don't think they're seeing a competitive fight, and therefore don't want to plunk down $60 to watch it on pay-per-view. And that's why, despite all the breakdowns in negotiations between the two fighters, I'm still holding out hope that Pacquiao and Mayweather will agree to fight each other. Whether you think Mayweather deserves to be favored or you'd pick Pacquiao to pull off a slight upset, you have to agree that it's a close enough fight to capture your interest. There's no other welterweight either man canfight whom you'd say that about.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com