Tabled license request irks Margarito promoter -- Las Vegas Review-Journal

By STEVE CARP, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Todd duBoef still is puzzled by the actions of the Nevada Athletic Commission in tabling Antonio Margarito's request to be licensed in the state.

The Top Rank president, who promotes the former welterweight world champion, said the four commissioners who voted to table the request in the 4-1 verdict might have misread Margarito's intent.

"He wasn't trying to make an end-run around California," duBoef said. "He has no plans to fight in California, so why would he go there to get a license? It doesn't make sense."

Margarito served a one-year suspension and had his license revoked after hard inserts were found within his hand wraps prior to his entering the ring for his Jan. 24, 2009, fight with Shane Mosley in Los Angeles. His suspension ended Feb. 10.

Margarito is a possible opponent for Manny Pacquiao should Pacquiao's proposed Nov. 13 megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fail to materialize. That fight is being targeted for Las Vegas, either at the MGM Grand Garden or the Thomas & Mack Center.

"I think the commission misunderstood Antonio's motive for appearing before them," duBoef said. "If he was going to fight in California, by all means, he should apply in California. But he's not fighting in California.

"His intention is to fight in Nevada, and that's why we went before the commission (Friday)."

When commissioner Francisco Aguilar asked Margarito during the two hours spent on the agenda item whether he had a fight planned, Margarito said no. DuBoef said he made a mistake in not stepping in at that point and clarifying the situation.

"I probably should have said something," duBoef said. "But the point is, (Margarito) has no intention to fight in California. He intends to fight in Nevada. So why go to California? Where is California's incentive to license Margarito if he's not going to fight there? They don't benefit at all by licensing him, so why would they?"

DuBoef said the plan for Margarito is to see what happens with Pacquiao-Mayweather. Top Rank chairman Bob Arum recently said that if Mayweather doesn't sign to fight Pacquiao by mid-July, Pacquiao will move on and they can revisit making the megafight in 2011. DuBoef said he thinks a decision will come by the end of this week.

If Mayweather passes, Top Rank is ready to make a Pacquiao-Margarito fight at the MGM Grand on Nov. 13. If Mayweather accepts, Margarito could face Miguel Cotto in a rematch of their July 26, 2008, fight at the MGM, which Margarito won. It also was the last time Margarito fought in Nevada.

"If we have something tangible with a signed deal for Margarito to fight in Las Vegas, I can't see Nevada punting again if we go back to them," duBoef said. "The circumstances would be much different, and I'd be hopeful they would give him a license."

■ MARQUEZ-DIAZ OFFICIALS -- The NAC selected Vic Drakulich to referee the July 31 junior welterweight rematch between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz at Mandalay Bay. The judges will be Patricia Morse-Jarman, Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge, all from Las Vegas.

Robert Byrd has been selected to work the WBO middleweight title bout on the card between Daniel Jacobs and Dmitry Pirog. The judges will be Las Vegas' C.J. Ross, Duane Ford and Paul Smith.

■ NEW INSPECTOR -- The commission approved Alex Aragonez as an inspector. Aragonez, 40, works for the Clark County School District as a technical specialist.

■ CLUB SHOWS -- After taking time off to regroup following the April 10 Evander Holyfield-Frans Botha fight at the Thomas & Mack Center, Crown Boxing plans to return to doing club shows at the Mardi Gras Ballroom at The Orleans, beginning Aug. 20. Crown also has an Oct. 22 show planned for The Orleans.

California promoter Roy Englebrecht also is coming back to Nevada, as he plans to host a fight card Oct. 16 at the Silverton Hotel and Casino.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.

Source: lvrj.com

Donaire is the only one who can carry torch after Pacquiao -- PhilBoxing

By Ed C. Tolentino, PhilBoxing.com

While it remains to be seen if Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao will lace on the gloves again, it cannot be denied that the clock is winding down on his illustrious career. Pacquiao has already made the cross-over to the House of Representatives and with each passing day at the hallowed halls of Congress, the seven-time world champion is arguably getting more convinced that he has found life after boxing.

Which begs the 64-peso question: Who will carry the torch for Philippine boxing after Pacquiao?

On Sunday, featherweight Bernabe Concepcion became the latest Pacquiao-wannabe to bite the dust. Looking to shave the lion (WBO featherweight king Juan Manuel Lopez) right inside his den (Puerto Rico), Concepcion ended up looking like a sacrificial lamb. Except for the Hail Mary left that nearly knocked the day lights out of Lopez in the first round, Concepcion did not really have a prayer, much less a solid offensive fight plan, in the fight and was predictably bamboozled.

Early in the card, super bantamweight Eden Sonsona blew a wide lead over Puerto Rican Jonathan Oquendo and ended up getting stopped in nine rounds. Sonsona was more than holding his own until the 5th round, when Oquendo nailed him with a huge blow to the breadbasket. Oquendo kept pounding the body until Sonsona wilted in the ninth round. While it may be argued that Oquendo was benefited by low blows and a referee who appeared to be suffering from some cataract problems, the fact remains that in a fight that was supposed to be a gut check, Sonsona ended up flat on his back.

WBA interim super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire was the only Filipino to emerge from Puerto Rico with his head held high. Donaire methodically dissected Mexican power puncher Hernan “Tyson” Marquez before stopping him for good in the eighth with a solid left.

So clinical was Donaire’s demolition of Marquez that he should be, from hereon, labelled “Doctor Donaire” instead of the “Filipino Flash.”

Skill-wise, Donaire once again showed that he is the only Filipino fighter right now who can carry the torch for Philippine boxing after Pacquiao archives the gloves. Donaire, however, needs to step up to the big leagues. An impending showdown with Fernando Montiel might just give his career back the momentum it lost after his spectacular knockout win over Vic Darchinyan in July 2007.

Outside Donaire, Philippine boxing is littered with prospects who want to be the next Pacquiao overnight.

Pacquiao has generously supported a host of promising Filipino fighters, including Concepcion. Pacquiao cannot do the fighting for them, which means these local prospects of ours must step up to the challenge and prove themselves worthy.

Thus far, only Donaire is moving to that direction.

Source: philboxing.com

Nonito Donaire Stops Hernan Marquez in Eighth Round -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) champion Nonito Donaire dropped his rival with a left hook and left uppercut, respectively, in the fifth and eighth rounds -- the second time for good -- on the way to scoring his 24th victory against one loss, and his 16th knockout against challenger Hernan "Tyson" Marquez in Saturday night's Showtime-televised bout at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Nicknamed "The Filipino Flash," the 27-year-old Donaire fought the first four rounds from a southpaw stance for the first time in his career, but, nevertheless, improved his winning streak to 23 fights with knockouts against eight of his last 10 opponents.

The 21-year-old Marquez, who was coming off of his first loss in March's unanimous decision to Richie Mepranum, slipped to 25-2 with 18 knockouts.

"You know, I wanted some more rounds. I knew that I could figure him out right away if I returned to my regular right-handed style. But I wanted to do my lefty style," said Donaire. "I really practiced for it, and everybody believed in me. I was very confident going in there. But he came out really tough. I couldn't counter him the way that I had done against other guys. So I took some beating, but I think that I needed that."

A Philippines native with long-range goals that include being a four-to-five division champion, the nearly 5-foot-7 Donaire has had trouble remaining at 115 pounds and said that Marquez represented his final fight at that weight.

In fact, from June of 2004 through November of 2005, Donaire fought six times as a bantamweight (118 pounds), going 6-0 with three knockouts.

In his last bout on Feb. 13, Donaire physically dwarfed 29-year-old Manuel Vargas (26-5-1, 11 KOs), whom he flattened in the third round.

A San Leandro, Calif. resident, Donaire constantly draws comparisons to his Filipino countryman, Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), a seven-division titlist and current holder of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title.

Donaire would next like a shot at 31-year-old, WBO bantamweight (118 pounds) champion Fernando Montiel (41-2-2, 31 KOs), who has a July 17 clash with Rafael Concepcion (14-4-1, 8 KOs) in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico.

Montiel is coming off of April's fourth-round knockout over Hozumi Hasegawa, this after having scored February's first-round knockout over Ciso Morales.

"As of now, we have Montiel and we have other guys that we can work on fighting and to look ahead to," said Donaire. "This was a learning experience for me tonight."

In the first round, Donaire was troubled by Marquez's right hand early. Nevertheless, Donaire won the round over the latter stages largely with a big right hand.

Marquez, in his first bout under trainer Rudy Perez, had more second-round success out of his own southpaw stance with his right jab and follow-up left hooks. Donaire fought off of the ropes in the third round, landing telling left hooks and left uppercuts, yet again, late in the round.

Donaire went more to the left hooks and left uppercuts early in the fourth, even as he boxed, in retreat. Donaire landed two hard left uppercuts midway through the fourth, also following up with lead left hands and decent right jabs that began to cause swelling and puffiness beneath Marquez's eyes.

Donaire switched back to his right hand stance in the fifth round and enjoyed immediate success, nailing and dropping Marquez with a left hook to the temple. Marquez was up at the count of eight, but took more punishment.

"I definitely like my left hand side. I feel so much more power on my left hand side, but you haven't seen it yet," said Donaire. "It's just a matter of time where you are going to see a Pernell Whitaker or a Marvelous Marvin Hagler with that style. That's what I want to do."

Donaire wobbled Marquez early in the sixth with another left, and, later, a right hand that was followed by a left jab. Sensing that his man was ready to go, Donaire went more frequently with right hands to the head and body which repeatedly backed up Marquez.

Told by his corner not to "let Marquez survive," Donaire absorbed some early, seventh-round combinations before settling in with some nice head and shoulder movement while fighting tall from behind his left jab. Donaire punished Marquez with a left-right-left uppercut series late in the seventh, as well as a right-left-right volley before the bell.

The eighth saw more of Donaire's punishing left jab reaching the swelling face of Marquez, whom he also nailed with straight rights and right uppercuts. A looping right uppercut hurt Marquez, as did an assortment of subsequent right and left hands -- the last of which lifted and dropped Marquez.

Marquez rose, and intended to continue, but Perez signaled for the referee, Roberto Ramirez, to wave an end to the fight.

"I knew that I could make him miss, because he ducks down a lot. And every time that I made him miss, I was going throw an uppercut, and that's what landed every time," said Donaire. "Every time that he missed, he left himself open for an uppercut. And I knew that if I turned to the right hand, that I would get him right away."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Money Talks: The Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather JR Superfight Complications -- Ringside Report

By Joe Wilson, Ringside Report

Over the past few months professional boxing has delivered some good match- ups. The first half of this year has not been that bad! Even though the biggest fight of the decade fell apart, the sport continued to stride. With the access of HBO Sports, Showtime and ESPN2, boxing is alive and well. There have been some exciting fights on all of these networks.

We enjoy HBO Boxing, HBO Boxing After Dark, Showtime’s Super Six and ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. Some of these events were with the best fighters boxing has to offer, such as; Paul Williams, Sergio Martinez, Andre Berto, Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Victor Ortiz, Joshua Clottey, Vitali Klitschko, David Haye, Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather JR.

These fighters and there were some I didn’t mention here, have already fought in this first half of 2010. The sport is off to a good start. It seemed that most of the match ups went pretty well, even the negotiations.

Why is Floyd Mayweather JR. and Manny Pacquiao fight so complicated?

First of all, these two fighters are special, but human. Sometimes the bigger the demand, the more complicated it gets. The public has made these two special fighters immortals. To add to that, they know how important they are to boxing fans. Right now these two fighters are sitting at the very top of the world in boxing with their promoters strapped to their ankles.

Even though we have enjoyed some good fights this year, it seems the one everybody wants to see is Floyd “Money” Mayweather JR. vs. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. It seems the boxing public do not care what other good match ups are out there and I’m sure there are some. Right now it seems nothing can fill this void, except that fight. Fight fans are like junkies needing a fix when it comes to these guys. These two fighters know the magnitude of this fight and what it’s worth in dollars, which has somewhat made them gods.

They are so big that their promoters have very little power over them. Turn the calendar back five years and these two fighters were known only by boxing fans, now they are both household names. When you think of one, you automatically think of the other. That’s why this fight has to happen. They are forever linked together even if a fight never materializes.

I don’t believe either fighter is afraid of the other. Fighting is what they are trained to do, it’s their job. Some believe the media and all the hype around it is what delaying this match. The promoters and the way they have handled things has made this fight complicated. What happen to the days when a both promoters get the signatures of their fighter, and then put together a contract they both agree on, then make the announcement?

Say what you want about Don King, I must admit, I can’t remember any of the big fights that he promoted in the past (and he’s promoted some big ones); go through this kind of behavior. This is ridiculous! These two fighters are in the position to take part in one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport, and they continue to drag their feet.

Marketing a fight is a good thing, but enough already… This fight doesn’t need anymore marketing. If it was a fruit it would have fallen off the tree already, “it can only get so ripe.” These two fighters are at the very top of their game right now and it would be sad to see this fight fall apart for a second time.

There should be no questions regarding the conditioning of these fighters come fight time, because neither fighter has showed problems in the past. Floyd Mayweather, JR., is undefeated as a boxer. He has beaten everyone who’s stepped in the ring with him. Winning is all he knows. Mayweather JR. is one of the smartest fighters in the ring today. He usually figures his opponent out within the first few rounds.

By the middle rounds, he starts to punish his opponents. It’s like watching something on the Discovery Channel. There are certain animals like the lion for instance. I’ve seen the lion catch its prey and not kill it right away. They seem to enjoy seeing their prey struggle first, before taking it out. Floyd Mayweather, JR., has displayed this type of embodiment in the ring against his opponents.

What makes Manny Pacquiao different from Mayweathers JR’s past opponents?

It is his will to win. He is a southpaw who is more skillful and hits harder than Zab Judah, the last southpaw Mayweather JR. faced. Judah gave Mayweather, JR., problems early in their fight. Manny Pacquiao has improved tremendously over the past few years. He brings everything he has, when he steps in the ring and lately, he’s been beating up elite fighters, left and right.

Fight fans already know if anyone out there who can give Floyd some problems or maybe even his first loss, is none other than Manny Pacquiao. That’s what makes this fight so exciting! Pacquiao has speed and power which keeps most of his opponents on their toes. He brings the fight to his opponents and once he gets into a rhythm he usually takes them out.

The biggest problem I see for Pacquiao, if and when this fight takes place is his defense. Well, some would say a good offense makes up for a bad defense, and in most cases this would be true, but not with Mayweather JR. No one knows how well their offense will work until in the ring with him. He is hard to hit clean. During the Shane Mosley fight back in early May; Mayweather JR. got hit clean in round two, but never hit clean again throughout the whole fight.

He has a way of making adjustments in the ring. If Pacquiao doesn’t move his head while fighting Floyd, he will get beaten badly. Trainer Freddie Roach better put in some serious work regarding the defense and head movement, because Floyd’s hands are lightening fast. He will not let Pacquiao get out a single round without tasting some leather. That’s the type of fighter he’s dealing with in “Money” Mayweather.

This fight can become very ugly going into the later rounds, if it ends up there. Floyd Mayweather JR. lives for big moments when he can shut up his haters. It’s these kinds of fights that he shows up very big, and usually wins by a large margin. As a boxing fan myself, I like both fighters and what they share alike is; they both seem to be great athletes who will put it all on the line to be known as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Tell me what individual would want to live his life 30 to 40 years from now, knowing that he walked away from what could have been the biggest fight in the history of boxing, only because there was a disagreement regarding random drug testing. It’s a given, either way these two names will forever be linked together, so why not give the boxing fans what they want and also pocket one of the biggest paychecks in the history of the sport?

Source: ringsidereport.com