Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Man, mouse or just mannequin -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

Man or mouse?

That's what Manny Pacquiao fans and many just plain fight fans are asking about Floyd Mayweather Jr. right now as he hides behind a wall of silence and shows no great desire to tangle with the only fighter who can drop him from the ranks of the undefeated.

I say that Mayweather, who is running silent but hardly deep, is neither.

I say that Mayweather has become a mannequin, a dummy like the ones you see in the department stores.

At this point, can you imagine what great boxing icons of the past would be doing in the face of a threat like Pacquiao?

Muhammad Ali would be pounding the table, trying to come up with insults and warnings about how he would Pacman like a lazy donkey.

Ali would be invading Pacman's training quarters trailed by TV cameras.

His archrival, Smokin' Joe Frazier, would be talking a blue streak about how he will rip Manny apart.

Sugar Ray Leonard would be telling the media he would be glad "to accomodate Pacquiao" anytime, anywhere.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler would be telling us how no judges would be needed for the fight, how he would bring his two fists, one called "K" and the other known as "O," and that would obivate the need for any paper shuffling fight scorers. Hagler would say the only other required person would be a referee able to count to 10.

"I will destruct and I will destroy Pacquiao," Marvy Marv would say repeatedly.

Those guys knew how to throw gasoline onto the bonfire. Those guys knew how to fuel an already burning rivalry, how to stoke a hot match that caught the public imagination.

Maybe Mayweather is being held in isolation for a reason although I can't think of any.

Maybe Mayweather walks the steamy streets of hometown Las Vegas in a burqua, his face hidden by a veil.

By contrast, Pacman even gives out interviews from a hospital bed in Manila, where he was treated and released for a stomach ailment.

A European sportswriter recently inquired about getting at Mayweather for an interview.

"You seem to write positively about Pacquiao all the time," the scribe was told by way of rejection.

In other words, pal, take your million plus daily circulation and buzz off.

But the same writer would have little problem getting access to Pacman.

Pacquiao is headed from Manila to Los Angeles and he will speak to the media.

Then he comes to my fair city, New York, to pick up is 32nd Fighter of the Year Award from the Boxing Writers Association, and of course he will speak to the media.

But Mayweather remains a virtual shut in in Nevada.

What are Mayweather's handlers afraid of?

Maybe they know their charge will say something moronic like his comment about a possible fight against little known Sergio Martinez.

"That's interesting," Mayweather told someone.

No, it's not, it is idiotic.

The public pulse is for Mayweather-Pacquiao and for that mega bout only.

It's clear to me that Mayweather wouldn't be upset if he does fight some chopped liver opponent next.

By contrast, Pacman wants Mayweather like the starving wolf wants the meaty lamb chop.

But we know what Manny thinks, what he wants because he's not locked away in any so called Big Boy Mansion.

Speak Mayweather speak, make your intentions known.

Pacquiao wants to tear you limb from limb. Pacquiao smells the mood of the paying customers.

Your talent is large but your access to any media, unless they are complete and utter bootlickers, is limited.

So we don't know how badly you want Pacquiao next, if indeed that's really what you desire at all.

Floyd Mayweather, man, mouse or merely a mannequin?

Speak louder, L'il Floyd, we can't hear you.

You say you're an icon but you don't act like one.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Released From Hospital, Manny Pacquiao Films Sitcom -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Manny Pacquiao has been knocked out twice during the early part of his boxing career.

But you just can't keep a great man down.

The seven-division champion has won his past 12 fights, a span of more than five years that include eight knockouts.

And on Tuesday in the Philippines, just hours after climbing out of a hospital bed, the crossover star and recently elected congressman was in a studio filming a soon-to-be-released sitcom, "Show Me The Manny."

After three days of treatment for "stomach pain from an ulcer and acid reflux and fatigue," the 31-year-old WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champion was released from the Cardinal Santos Hospital in suburban Manila, his adviser, Michael Koncz, told FanHouse.

Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) was admitted on Sunday, and rested until being discharged, said Koncz. Pacquiao had successfully campaigned for a congressional seat in the Sarangani province following the May 10 elections.

Pacquiao's diagnoses was the result of a routine checkup on Sunday, after which his family convinced him to stay at the hospital, according to Pacquiao's political adviser, Miles Roces.

As much energy as Pacquiao exerts in the ring, let alone that which he exerted during his landslide congressional victory, being hospitalized was among the rare times Pacquiao has been off of his feet in the ring or out.

"Well, that's not exactly accurate," said Koncz. "He does sleep."

Pacquiao received intravenous dextrose drips while hospitalized.

"You know that the guy is always out, but he realized that he needed the rest," said Roces. "So now, he's taking some time off from the exhaustive routine, spending some time with his family, with his kids."

Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, is working toward a possible mega bout with Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) for as early as November, even as Pacquiao is slated to assume his congressional duties starting on June 30.

Arum has said that he will soon start talking to Mayweather's camp about putting together the world's top two welterweights for a Nov. 13 bout in Las Vegas or Texas.

Arum said he hoped to match Pacquiao against former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito if talks with Mayweather fall through.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, has duties that include endorsements and advertisements for products ranging from food to sports items.

"Manny's fine. His spirits are good and we're actually filming at the studio right now. It's his sitcom, 'Show Me The Manny,' " said Koncz. "Manny's bounced back 100 percent. He's resilient. That's just the way that Manny is. He's like the energizer bunny rabbit. He can just keep going and going."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Sports news seems as if it's on steroids -- Los Angeles Times

By Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times

Our sports news cycles have become spurts of normality, squeezed between stories about athletes and drugs.

Sometimes, we can go for a couple of months. But then — wham, bang — there is Floyd Landis, telling all. Or Brian Cushing, saying he didn't think what he was taking was wrong. Or Floyd Mayweather Jr., pointing his finger at Manny Pacquiao.

They used to be called sports pages. Now it's the pharmaceutical section. Rite Aid is missing some great advertising opportunities.

Don't misunderstand. This is not a rant against the media. Media serve as the messenger of stories that need to be told so that people buying the tickets and the goods hawked on TV during sports broadcasts can have at least some idea of what their entertainment dollar is purchasing. Do you write that $4,000 check for season tickets when Manny Ramirez is going to sit out 50 Dodgers games for enhancing his performance with stuff that isn't Advil?

There is so much of it now. Mea culpas from Alex Rodriguez and Mark McGwire. Shane Mosley, back in the ring with questions about the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative scandal swirling around him. A doctor in Toronto, accused in a federal complaint of having provided NFL players with performance enhancers, the same doctor who has said his patients once included A-Rod and Tiger Woods.

Olympic sprint star Marion Jones is back in the news with her return to athletics and a spot on a WNBA team. We are reminded of Ben Johnson when his infamous coach, Charlie Francis, dies. Horse trainer Jeff Mullins is hit with yet another suspension for putting bad stuff in the horse or the hay.

And somewhere, behind closed doors, they are trying again to make a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao, while facing the same stumbling block that killed the last one: drug testing.

The subject of drugs in sports always brings to mind two people, Lily Tomlin and Michael Josephson.

Tomlin, the wonderful comedian, once said, "No matter how cynical I get, I can't keep up."

Josephson, a friend and mentor who is heard frequently on KNX with his vignettes on right and wrong, has long seen sports as fertile ground for ethical reform. He should be remembered in our prayers as he attempts to clean out the cesspool with a teaspoon.

Big-time sports these days are no different from Wall Street or your corner banker. Everybody wants an edge. Wall Street and the bankers get theirs in mostly legal, although murky, ways. Sports cross that line more and more now. If it isn't cheating unless you get caught, there must be lots of cheating in sports. For every Cal Ripken Jr., we have a handful of Roger Clemenses.

The specifics of the Landis case bring back to the forefront an element of the performance-enhancing drug world that has been much discussed in the Mayweather-Pacquiao controversy. In our legal system, you are innocent until proven guilty. When Landis pointed his finger at cycling superstar Lance Armstrong, just as Mayweather had at Pacquiao, it suddenly was the other way around.

Whether true or not, Armstrong and Pacquiao are, in the eyes of millions, guilty of enhancing their performances with drugs. Sports give that kind of platform, get that kind of attention.

Armstrong is guilty because he was hugely successful, because he competes in a sport that has been shown to be full of cheaters and because Landis said he is. Pacquiao is guilty because he is hugely successful, because Mayweather and several of his associates said he couldn't have possibly gotten so big and strong so fast without drugs, and because he refused to take a blood test just prior to the fight.

Millions listened to Landis and Mayweather and said the same thing about Armstrong and Pacquiao: Gotcha.

Armstrong can sue for slander or defamation, win millions, and people will still wink knowingly. Pacquiao has already sued, and depositions have begun in that case. He, too, can win millions. He can also fight Mayweather after taking blood tests just prior to the fight, and win the bout. No matter. People will still wink knowingly.

The juice is out of the needle.

Big-time sports are now so corroded by big money, by TV networks chasing big money with big ratings, and by all sorts of other media chasing the TV networks, that there is no turning back. Big money is the ultimate justification for athletes to cut corners chasing it.

If that is a cynical view, blame Lily Tomlin.

The games will go on as always. There will be much to root for, much to be excited about. And we can always hope that the greatness we see is really, truly untarnished.

But we won't be surprised if it isn't.

bill.dwyre@latimes.com

Source: articles.latimes.com

UFC: Georges St Pierre recruits trainer Freddie Roach -- Daily Star

By Kevin Francis, DailyStar.co.uk

GEORGES St Pierre is already on top of the world – but now he’s aiming to get even better!

The UFC world welterweight champion has recruited legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach to help hone his skills even more.

Roach is the man behind WBO world welter­weight champion Manny Pacquiao and the resurgence of Britain’s WBA light-welterweight king Amir Khan.

Roach has had 25 world champions through his famous Wildcard Gym and has previously worked with other MMA stars, including Anderson Silva.

A member of the Roach team revealed: “Freddie is very much at home with MMA fighters and can really help them.

Power

“People like GSP are at the top of their game, but it won’t do any harm to pick up some of the tips Freddie can give them.”

St Pierre is set to defend his title against Josh Koscheck in a rematch from their UFC 74 fight back in August 2007.

St Pierre out-wrestled him on that ­occasion, but ­Koscheck said: “Georges, you better work on your power because I’m ­going to force you to stand up with me and I’m ­going to knock you out.”

GSP and Koscheck will be coaches on the ­upcoming season of ‘The ­Ultimate Fighter’, with their rematch later this year.

RASHAD Evans meets ‘Rampage’ Jackson at UFC 114, which will be shown live on ESPN from 3am this Sunday morning.

Source: dailystar.co.uk

Q&A Andre Berto -- FightNews

By Ricardo Conde, FightNews.com

In his last outing, undefeated WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto (26-0, 20 KOs) defeated former WBO welterweight champion Carlos “El Indio” Quintana (27-3, 21 KOs) of Puerto Rico, via knockout in the eight round last month at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. We recently caught up with Andre Berto and asked him a few questions about his fight with Carlos Quintana, who he’d like to face in the near future and a lot more. Here’s what he had to say…

You were scheduled for a WBC/WBA welterweight unification bout in January against “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-6, 39 KOs) but had to withdraw two weeks before the fight because of the tragic earthquake in Haiti and the loss of some family. Can you talk a little bit about that? What was going through your mind when you first learned about it, what was your reaction upon hearing about the earthquake, and about having to withdraw from the fight?

It was a very tough situation for me, I was basically preparing for the biggest fight of my life and then to have such tragedies happen and losing my family like I did, it was hard. I went through different emotional stages during that time. I was trying to stay focused for the fight and at the same time I was worried about my family that I lost and that’s all I could think about. Everyday it just kept getting harder and harder so we made a decision to cancel the fight so I can make a trip over there and try to do everything I could for my family.

Subsequently, Mosley ended up fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0, 25 KOs), give us your thoughts on the fight, was it what you expected?

Yes, and no, I mean Mosley definitely showed his age. He just couldn’t get off; he just couldn’t let his hands go. Floyd, he looked sharp, it was the best I’ve ever seen him, he stayed composed and very relaxed and he came out with the win, it was a good win for Floyd.

Any idea who you’ll be fighting next, when and where?

I’m not sure yet. I just got off the phone with my manager and it looks like I’ll be back in the fall, sometime in August or September maybe. They haven’t mentioned any names but I’m still in rehab for my bicep that I injured during my last fight so I’ll have to be 100% before we can make a decision on when I’ll be coming back.

Let’s talk a little bit about your last fight. In your last outing you were able to stop former WBO welterweight champion Carlos Quintana in the 8th round, what’s your opinion of him as a fighter?

Carlos Quintana is a tough fighter. He’s a tough southpaw and he’s showed that in the fight with Miguel Cotto, he showed that when he beat Paul Williams, and he’s definitely a tough veteran. He impressed me a lot but I came out victorious.

Before your fight with Carlos Quintana, you hadn’t fought for almost a year; do think having been out of the ring for so long had any affect on you during the fight?

Yes, definitely I felt some ring rust in there, with everything that was going on I couldn’t fight for a year but I still had to go in there and do what I do best and that’s winning. So I definitely paid a price there, I was battling two things in the fight, ring rust and it didn’t make things easier when I injured my bicep in the second round so it was just another obstacle I had to overcome.

You had injured your bicep during the fight, how’s the arm now?

It’s feeling better, a lot better. I’ve been in rehab so it’s getting better. The doctor said I couldn’t be in the gym for a few weeks so with rehab everything is coming along pretty well.

What kind of statement were you looking to make in your fight with Carlos Quintana, were you looking for the knockout?

Yea, definitely, with so much attention on the 147 pound division and going the distance in my last three fights, we worked on different things in the gym and I definitely wanted to make a statement in this fight with Carlos Quintana. I went into the fight with a lot more emotion and I really wanted to give the fans a great performance.

Who do you feel has been your toughest opponent to date and why?

I think my fights with David Estrada and Luis Collazo have been my toughest fights. With David Estrada, I felt like that was my first real test as a young fighter coming up, I would punch the guy and he would come back and punch me harder and I had to dig deep in that fight to come out with the win and I did. With Luis Collazo, I didn’t come in the best shape and he definitely pushed me to the limit in that fight but again we did what we do best and that’s winning.

What is your opinion on the current welterweight division?

It’s the best division in boxing right now. At the top of the division you have Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao and these are guys I looked up to coming up and now to be up there with them in the same division, its great. It’s just so full of great competition.

Name one or two fighters you’d like to face in the near future?

Well, anyone at the top of the division. I’d love to fight Floyd, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto; a fight with any one of them would be great. Basically anyone in the top five of the division would be great.

Do you plan on moving up in weight any time soon?

Not right now, the weight has been coming pretty easy. No plans on moving up any time soon, I haven’t had any problems making weight, so no.

You are signed with Lou DiBella’s, DiBella Entertainment; tell us a little bit about him and how it has helped your career?

Louie has been great, he’s always believed in me and had faith in me from the beginning. He’s done a lot for my career and I know we made the right choice in teaming up.


What are some of your goals for the rest of 2010?

Well, I hope 2010 will be an interesting year for us. One goal of course is to stay healthy and hopefully I can give the fans the best fights.

Is there anything you would like to tell your fans?

Definitely, I really and truly appreciate everybody that’s shown me support here in the States and all over the world; I thank everyone for all the tremendous support. I look forward to putting on some great fights for the fans and make this the best year.

Source: fightnews.com

Dana White Says Mayweather, Pacquiao Would Lose in MMA -- MMA Fighting

By Michael David Smith, MMAFighting.com

UFC President Dana White gave an interview Monday morning in which he talked about all the usual things (promoting the soon-to-be released UFC video game and this weekend's UFC pay-per-view), but he also had an interesting exchange with radio host Dan Patrick about the world's two best boxers, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

White said Mayweather and Pacquiao would lose if they gave mixed martial arts a try. I think he's half right.

Patrick asked White, "If I put Pacquiao and Mayweather in the Octagon, could you tell -- from their boxing skills -- how they would be in the Octagon?"

White answered, "I'm a huge Pacquiao fan. Pacquiao is a more aggressive fighter and his fights are more fun to watch, but either one of those guys would get beaten in mixed martial arts."

Obviously, White isn't going to say that Mayweather or Pacquiao could just waltz into MMA and beat the best fighters, but it is worth noting that it's far from unprecedented for an accomplished athlete in one combat sport toget into MMA and find success quickly. Brock Lesnar, after all, was an NCAA champion wrestler who won the UFC heavyweight title in just his fourth professional MMA fight.

It's also a little strange that White is saying Mayweather or Pacquiao would lose in MMA while he's preparing to promote a fight featuring boxer James Toney making his MMA debut against Randy Couture. If the two best boxers in the world can't win in MMA, why even bother watching a washed-up boxer like Toney?

Ultimately, I think White is underestimating how Mayweather or Pacquiao would do in MMA -- and in fact, I think Pacquiao would have an excellent chance of winning a championship in MMA if he ever wanted to try it.

Mayweather is a great athlete with incredible cardiovascular conditioning, great defensive skills and head movement, and tremendous hand speed, and he'd be a threat to a lot of the best 145-pound fighters in MMA. I couldn't see him winning the championship, though: If Mayweather were to fight the best MMA fighter in his weight class, WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, he'd get his leg kicked into oblivion.

But Pacquiao is a different fighter altogether. For starters, it's important to remember that Pacquiao is boxing above his natural weight class because after he dominated all the guys his own size he didn't have anyone else to fight. If Pacquiao were ever going to try MMA, he'd do it at 135 pounds. And the top 135-pounder in MMA, WEC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, would have his hands full in a fight with Pacquiao.

Cruz would try to use his superior reach to land some kicks against Pacquiao and then try to take him down, but Pacquiao is such a fast and powerful puncher that I would give him a real chance of knocking Cruz out in an MMA fight.

This is never going to happen, of course. Mayweather and Pacquiao can make more money for one fight than any MMA fighter has ever made in his entire career, so neither one of them is ever going to give MMA a try. But I hope a day comes when a truly elite boxer tries MMA at the top of his career. If it ever happens, I think that boxer will do better than Dana White -- and most MMA fans -- would like to think.

Source: mmafighting.com