By David Mayo, The Grand Rapids Press
I think Floyd Mayweather is scared.
Oh, he’s not scared of Manny Pacquiao. I think he whips Pacquiao flat if they ever find themselves in a prize ring together. One false whirlwind move and, presto, Pacquiao pancake.
Of course, if someone like me expresses such an opinion, I’m just a homer in the Mayweather camp’s pocket to some bloggers who couldn’t get 10 seconds with either fighter, unless they had a Sharpie in one hand and something to autograph in the other.
But that’s how pathetic the discussions have come between packs of blindedly loyal fans that have developed derogatory-but-familiar nicknames for each other: Pacquiao loyalists who think anyone who picks against their man is a racist “Floyd-iot,” and Mayweather groupies who think the other side is filled with “Pac-tards.”
They’ll be at each other hard now after it all fell apart again in the wee hours Saturday -- with an asterisk -- when Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, conducted a 3 a.m. EST conference call to announce the deadline for negotiating exclusivity had ended and Pacquiao should have an agreement within 10 days to fight either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito -- unless Mayweather pops up and agrees to their terms before then.
That won’t happen.
That’s where Mayweather’s fear comes in.
It isn’t fear of the fighter, it’s fear the negotiation goes against him. It’s fear his ego won’t get fed by the fiscal measure of the professional athlete, because when you punch for pay, only two things matter: money and championships.
Mayweather has plenty of the latter.
What the Grand Rapids native wants to make sure of is that he doesn’t get hoodwinked at the negotiating table, because the measure of a fighter at this stage of his career is predicated just as much on who holds the upper hand before the fight as it does on what happens after the bell rings.
Mayweather is a walking ATM. According to Forbes’ list of richest athletes, he made $68 million in the recently concluded 12-month period, making him the second-highest-earning person in sports during that time. Tiger Woods topped the list at $105 million.
The other sports figures earning in excess of $40 million were Michael Jordan ($55 million), Kobe Bryant ($48 million), David Beckham ($44 million), Roger Federer ($43 million), Pacquiao ($42 million) and Lionel Messi ($40 million).
When Mayweather defeated Oscar De La Hoya in the fight that propelled him into astronomical, difficult-to-calculate earnings, the final tally had Mayweather earning about $25 million, while De La Hoya made the biggest one-night windfall in sports history, about $53 million. Give or take a couple million, that is.
Mayweather won the fight. De La Hoya won the negotiation.
In no way does Mayweather want to leave boxing knowing Pacquiao can make the same claim.
Would Mayweather leave $50 million-plus on the table on principle, walk away from boxing without making the biggest possible fight and tarnish his legacy with people who think he’s fearful of Pacquiao defeating him?
One might think the obvious answer is no.
One very well could be wrong.
I still think the fight gets put together for May 2011 and that Mayweather, who made $40 million for beating Shane Mosley two months ago, would just as soon take some time off and defer his biggest career payday until a new tax year.
But anyone who thinks that’s a certainty probably thought the talks for the proposed March and November fights were certainties, too.
Arum never specified the terms proposed to Mayweather, although it was interesting he never had direct contact with the Mayweather camp. All talks when through HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, which was a stunning break in negotiating protocol.
My best guess is drug testing isn’t the issue but that Pacquiao sought a 50-50 financial split, which is why Mayweather never even responded to the proposal.
Not getting the negotiating advantage after a 41-0 career, against his rival promoter and an opponent with five non-victories, is Mayweather’s true fear.
He just might be willing to walk away from the richest fight in history if an equitable split is the financial term.
The question, at some point, could be whether Pacquiao is willing to bend or play hardball to the same bitter conclusion.
E-mail David Mayo: dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
Sunday 18 July 2010
No one can beat Pacquiao – Roach -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
Regardless of who it’s going to be for Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 – Mexican Antonio Margarito or Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto – top trainer Freddie Roach believes the Filipino star will win hands-down.
“A hundred percent,” Roach told The Ring magazine’s on-line edition when staffer Michael Rosenthal suggested that the Mexican warrior charging into Pacquiao “would be as if Margarito would be walking into a meat grinder.”
Roach prefers to pit Pacquiao against Margarito simply because Cotto had already tasted the fury of Pacquiao’s punches last year.
“I just think Manny has his (Cotto) number,” said Roach, who guided Pacquiao to a smashing 12th-round stoppage over the Puerto Rican.
“I think Margarito would be more interesting for the fans. They’ve already seen Cotto,” he said. “Cotto was in the fight for about four rounds and that was about it. Margarito has been a pretty dominant fighter, except for the (Shane) Mosley fight. Cotto is at a higher weight now. And maybe there’s some interest because of the world title. And, who knows, maybe having Emanuel Steward in his corner will make a difference. That might add some interest.”
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is looking at either Cotto or Margarito as Pacquiao’s next foe after efforts to tap Floyd Mayweather the last several weeks proved futile.
Arum, however, said Saturday that Mayweather has another 10 days or so to make a contact while he talks with other fighters.
Arum said the Mayweather fight is not dead but now he must start making plans for the Asian superstar's next bout.
Source: mb.com.ph
“A hundred percent,” Roach told The Ring magazine’s on-line edition when staffer Michael Rosenthal suggested that the Mexican warrior charging into Pacquiao “would be as if Margarito would be walking into a meat grinder.”
Roach prefers to pit Pacquiao against Margarito simply because Cotto had already tasted the fury of Pacquiao’s punches last year.
“I just think Manny has his (Cotto) number,” said Roach, who guided Pacquiao to a smashing 12th-round stoppage over the Puerto Rican.
“I think Margarito would be more interesting for the fans. They’ve already seen Cotto,” he said. “Cotto was in the fight for about four rounds and that was about it. Margarito has been a pretty dominant fighter, except for the (Shane) Mosley fight. Cotto is at a higher weight now. And maybe there’s some interest because of the world title. And, who knows, maybe having Emanuel Steward in his corner will make a difference. That might add some interest.”
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is looking at either Cotto or Margarito as Pacquiao’s next foe after efforts to tap Floyd Mayweather the last several weeks proved futile.
Arum, however, said Saturday that Mayweather has another 10 days or so to make a contact while he talks with other fighters.
Arum said the Mayweather fight is not dead but now he must start making plans for the Asian superstar's next bout.
Source: mb.com.ph
Mayweather disappoints Pacquiao -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
It was not as if the world was about to come to an end when Manny Pacquiao learned that Floyd Mayweather Jr. had opted to ignore a deadline set by promoter Bob Arum for him to make a statement regarding a proposed November 13 fight.
“I am very disappointed but we have no choice but to move on,” said Pacquiao when Arum told him the bad news.
“I have always wanted to please the (boxing) fans. That’s why I badly wanted to fight Mayweather. This is what the whole world wants to see,” said Pacquiao, who has to settle for a fight either with Mexican Antonio Margarito or Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
A deal can de made within the next seven or ten days, according to Arum, and this was not contested by Pacquiao’s consigliore, Mike Koncz, who is in the US attending to very important matters concerning the pound-for-pound king’s needs.
“It wouldn’t take long before we get a deal made,” said Koncz, who expects to return to Manila on Thursday with a deal in hand.
Koncz has been in constant touch with Arum as they work on the finalization of an agreement.
Four cities are bidding to host a Pacquiao fight: Abu Dhabi (in the United Arab Emirates), Dallas, Las Vegas and Monterrey (in Mexico).
If Pacquiao decides to meet Margarito, Las Vegas and Monterrey will slug it out to stage it and if it’s Cotto, it’ll be a tossup between Dallas and Abu Dhabi.
Koncz said fighting outside the US has a distinct allure since Mexico doesn’t collect taxes on purses.
“It’ll save Manny millions in taxes if he ends up fighting outside the US,” stressed Koncz, noting that 30 percent of earnings goes to the IRS.
Still, Koncz is hopeful that Pacquiao and Mayweather would eventually find each other on opposite corners.
“Maybe next year (in May 2011),” said Koncz.
Meanwhile, Top Rank is dying to know the schedule of Pacquiao, who also has a new role being Sarangani congressman, so it could map out the promotional activities being lined up.
“We have to see what the congressman’s schedule looks like (before we plan anything),” said Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez. “We have a boxer (who is) like no other,” said Jimenez.
Source: mb.com.ph
It was not as if the world was about to come to an end when Manny Pacquiao learned that Floyd Mayweather Jr. had opted to ignore a deadline set by promoter Bob Arum for him to make a statement regarding a proposed November 13 fight.
“I am very disappointed but we have no choice but to move on,” said Pacquiao when Arum told him the bad news.
“I have always wanted to please the (boxing) fans. That’s why I badly wanted to fight Mayweather. This is what the whole world wants to see,” said Pacquiao, who has to settle for a fight either with Mexican Antonio Margarito or Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
A deal can de made within the next seven or ten days, according to Arum, and this was not contested by Pacquiao’s consigliore, Mike Koncz, who is in the US attending to very important matters concerning the pound-for-pound king’s needs.
“It wouldn’t take long before we get a deal made,” said Koncz, who expects to return to Manila on Thursday with a deal in hand.
Koncz has been in constant touch with Arum as they work on the finalization of an agreement.
Four cities are bidding to host a Pacquiao fight: Abu Dhabi (in the United Arab Emirates), Dallas, Las Vegas and Monterrey (in Mexico).
If Pacquiao decides to meet Margarito, Las Vegas and Monterrey will slug it out to stage it and if it’s Cotto, it’ll be a tossup between Dallas and Abu Dhabi.
Koncz said fighting outside the US has a distinct allure since Mexico doesn’t collect taxes on purses.
“It’ll save Manny millions in taxes if he ends up fighting outside the US,” stressed Koncz, noting that 30 percent of earnings goes to the IRS.
Still, Koncz is hopeful that Pacquiao and Mayweather would eventually find each other on opposite corners.
“Maybe next year (in May 2011),” said Koncz.
Meanwhile, Top Rank is dying to know the schedule of Pacquiao, who also has a new role being Sarangani congressman, so it could map out the promotional activities being lined up.
“We have to see what the congressman’s schedule looks like (before we plan anything),” said Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez. “We have a boxer (who is) like no other,” said Jimenez.
Source: mb.com.ph
Timothy Bradley Beats Abregu; Angulo Destroys Alcine -- The Sweet Science
By David A. Avila, The Sweet Science
RANCHO MIRAGE-Fighting bigger guys proved just a bit more of a problem but not enough to keep Palm Spring’s Timothy “Desert Storm
” Bradley from moving into the welterweight division and junior middleweight Alfredo “Perro” Angulo had no problems stopping Joachime Alcine early on Saturday night.
A sold out crowd saw Bradley out-speed and use his defensive ability to overcome a surprisingly more defensive-minded Abregu (29-1, 23 KOs) before 2,152 at Agua Caliente Casino. Ultimately, it was Bradley’s defense that proved superior. Angulo was just too strong for the Canadian.
“He’s a hard puncher. He swore he was going to knock me out it,” said Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs). “It didn’t happen tonight.”
The first three rounds saw each fighter defensive minded and hoping the other would make a move that could be countered. Each fighter looked tight as a core of wire.
A counter right hand by Bradley wobbled Abregu twice in the first round. The smaller fighter jumped on him but couldn’t land a decisive blow. Earlier in the round Abregu landed a counter right following a Bradley jab.
The third round was close as defense took priority for both fighters. A counter right hand by Bradley was again the big punch, but Abregu also got in a left hook. A right hand missed for Bradley and he demonstrated his
Abregu stepped into a higher gear in the fourth round. A right hand connected for the Argentine but he suffered a cut over his right eye. It was his best round but blood dripped down his eye at the end.
A more comfortable Bradley found a good rhythm in the fifth round with some solid body shots and a snapping counter left hook. Abregu couldn’t seem to zero in on the quickness of Bradley.
Abregu shortened his punches in the sixth round and found more success against the fast moving Bradley. Though Bradley landed a good left hook, Abregu landed more telling blows.
During the seventh round an exchange by both fighters led to a clash of heads with Abregu hitting the floor in pain and showing a gash on the side of his left eye. When the fight resumed both got tied up inside but Bradley continued to punch to win the round.
From the seventh round to the ninth it became a tactical fight with less punches and more posing. Abregu had a good seventh but the next two rounds were more difficult to surmise.
"They told me to calm down that he was dangerous,” said Bradley. “He hits a little harder than in my weight class.”
Bradley seemingly landed more punches in the 10th than he had in the previous two rounds combined. Right hand counters did the job to open it up for some left hooks too.
The two fighters engaged a bit more in the last two rounds with Bradley scoring more with left hook counters to the body and head. Abregu’s attempts to land his right hand bombs proved ineffective against the defensive adeptness of Bradley.
“He was every bit a test as I thought he would be,” said Abregu who suffered cuts on both eyes.
Bradley did not take big chances in the final 30 seconds knowing he was probably ahead and not wanting to test Abregu’s power.
All three judges scored it in favor of the more accurate Bradley 118-110, 117-109, 116-112.
“I didn’t think a unanimous decision was fair. At worse I thought it was a draw,” said Abregu who added that he re-injured his right hand during the fight. “I would urgently like a rematch.”
Bradley said a match with Manny Pacquiao is preferred but a fight against any leading contender or rival champion is sufficient.
“I’m making a challenge right now to Manny Pacquiao,” Bradley said. “Any of the top fighters even Devon Alexander if the money is right.”
Angulo KOs Alcine
In the co-main event Mexico’s Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (19-1, 16 KOs) didn’t need much time to show that a new strength regimen is paying off with a quick demolition of Canada’s Joachim Alcine (32-2, 19 KOs) in a junior middleweight match.
It was expected to take a while for the brawling and slugging Angulo to wear down and catch up to the fleet footed Alcine, but a tactical error by the Canadian based boxer proved pretty bad.
Both boxers opened up the opening round with some opening combinations and tested each others moves. But when Alcine tried to tie up Angulo on the inside with one hand he allowed the gritty Mexican prizefighter to keep hitting him. About 10 punches connected for Angulo on Alcines left side of his head.
“He grabbed me because he didn’t want to fall,” said Angulo. “Even if they grab me I have one free hand so im going to keep on throwing.”
When both fighters finally broke apart Angulo tore into the taller Canadian fighter with a bloodlust. Alcine found himself on the ropes and was battered by six vicious blows each worse then the last. Referee Lou Moret saw that Alcine’s eyes seemed closed and stopped the fight at 2:59 of the first round.
“My punches were too wide,” said Alcine. “I wanted to keep the fight going.”
Angulo now becomes the number one junior middleweight contender in the WBC. He already is number one in the WBO.
Angulo attributed added strength to his new conditioning coach Darryl Hudson, who also works with Riverside’s Chris Arreola. The Mexicali native doesn’t care who he faces next.
“Fighting in California, in front of my people, I trained even harder for this fight,” Angulo said. “When they want to fight me we’ll fight. Whoever they are…I do my job and I do the best I can. If they don’t want to fight the Perro there must be a reason for that.”
Mexico’s Antonio DeMarco (24-2-1, 18 KOs) needed only 2:30 of the second round to figure out Daniel Attah’s (24-6-1) weakness an catch the fellow southpaw with one of his own left hand missiles for a knockdown. Attah survived the knockdown and attempted a left hand bomb of his own but fell flat on his knees again from tripping and missing. He got up and was met with a right hook that prompted referee Raul Caiz Jr. to halt the lightweight contest. It was DeMarco’s first fight since losing by technical knockout to the late Edwin Valero last February.
Glendale’s Art Hovannesyan (12-0-1) took a unanimous decision over Mexico’s wily veteran Cristian Favela (19-28-6) after eight rounds in a lightweight clash. The Mexican fighter waited too long to make his move. Meanwhile, Hovannesyan’s combinations did the job over eight rounds. The scores were 78-74, 77-75 twice for the Glendale boxer.
Gloria Salas (3-4-1) won by unanimous decision over Katarina De La Cruz (0-4-1) in a junior flyweight battle after four rounds. Salas was busier but tired a bit as De La Cruz made her move with some pinpoint counter punches in the third round. All three judges scored it for Salas.
Lancaster’s Joel Diaz scored a second round knockout of L.A.’s Rene Torrez (0-3-1) at 23 seconds of the second round of featherweight bout. A body and head combination ended the fight for Torrez. It was Diaz’s pro debut.
After taking a few right hand shots from Willshaun Boxley (5-7) to wake up La Puente’s Abraham Lopez (12-0, 10 KOs) retaliated with stinging jabs that opened a path for his combinations. It didn’t take long to prove he was the stronger fighter. Boxley was unable to continue at the end of round three for a technical knockout victory for Lopez.
Santa Maria’s Rufino Serrano (6-3) used his quickness and slightly more experience to beat East L.A.’s Eduardo Cruz (1-1) after four rounds of a featherweight clash. The fourth round was Cruz’s best round but it wasn’t nearly enough to offset Serrano’s quick combinations that allowed him to dominate early.
Source: thesweetscience.com
RANCHO MIRAGE-Fighting bigger guys proved just a bit more of a problem but not enough to keep Palm Spring’s Timothy “Desert Storm
” Bradley from moving into the welterweight division and junior middleweight Alfredo “Perro” Angulo had no problems stopping Joachime Alcine early on Saturday night.A sold out crowd saw Bradley out-speed and use his defensive ability to overcome a surprisingly more defensive-minded Abregu (29-1, 23 KOs) before 2,152 at Agua Caliente Casino. Ultimately, it was Bradley’s defense that proved superior. Angulo was just too strong for the Canadian.
“He’s a hard puncher. He swore he was going to knock me out it,” said Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs). “It didn’t happen tonight.”A counter right hand by Bradley wobbled Abregu twice in the first round. The smaller fighter jumped on him but couldn’t land a decisive blow. Earlier in the round Abregu landed a counter right following a Bradley jab.
The third round was close as defense took priority for both fighters. A counter right hand by Bradley was again the big punch, but Abregu also got in a left hook. A right hand missed for Bradley and he demonstrated his
Abregu stepped into a higher gear in the fourth round. A right hand connected for the Argentine but he suffered a cut over his right eye. It was his best round but blood dripped down his eye at the end.
A more comfortable Bradley found a good rhythm in the fifth round with some solid body shots and a snapping counter left hook. Abregu couldn’t seem to zero in on the quickness of Bradley.
Abregu shortened his punches in the sixth round and found more success against the fast moving Bradley. Though Bradley landed a good left hook, Abregu landed more telling blows.
During the seventh round an exchange by both fighters led to a clash of heads with Abregu hitting the floor in pain and showing a gash on the side of his left eye. When the fight resumed both got tied up inside but Bradley continued to punch to win the round.
From the seventh round to the ninth it became a tactical fight with less punches and more posing. Abregu had a good seventh but the next two rounds were more difficult to surmise.
"They told me to calm down that he was dangerous,” said Bradley. “He hits a little harder than in my weight class.”
Bradley seemingly landed more punches in the 10th than he had in the previous two rounds combined. Right hand counters did the job to open it up for some left hooks too.
The two fighters engaged a bit more in the last two rounds with Bradley scoring more with left hook counters to the body and head. Abregu’s attempts to land his right hand bombs proved ineffective against the defensive adeptness of Bradley.
“He was every bit a test as I thought he would be,” said Abregu who suffered cuts on both eyes.
Bradley did not take big chances in the final 30 seconds knowing he was probably ahead and not wanting to test Abregu’s power.
All three judges scored it in favor of the more accurate Bradley 118-110, 117-109, 116-112.
“I didn’t think a unanimous decision was fair. At worse I thought it was a draw,” said Abregu who added that he re-injured his right hand during the fight. “I would urgently like a rematch.”
Bradley said a match with Manny Pacquiao is preferred but a fight against any leading contender or rival champion is sufficient.
“I’m making a challenge right now to Manny Pacquiao,” Bradley said. “Any of the top fighters even Devon Alexander if the money is right.”
Angulo KOs Alcine
In the co-main event Mexico’s Alfredo “Perro” Angulo (19-1, 16 KOs) didn’t need much time to show that a new strength regimen is paying off with a quick demolition of Canada’s Joachim Alcine (32-2, 19 KOs) in a junior middleweight match.
It was expected to take a while for the brawling and slugging Angulo to wear down and catch up to the fleet footed Alcine, but a tactical error by the Canadian based boxer proved pretty bad.
Both boxers opened up the opening round with some opening combinations and tested each others moves. But when Alcine tried to tie up Angulo on the inside with one hand he allowed the gritty Mexican prizefighter to keep hitting him. About 10 punches connected for Angulo on Alcines left side of his head.
“He grabbed me because he didn’t want to fall,” said Angulo. “Even if they grab me I have one free hand so im going to keep on throwing.”
When both fighters finally broke apart Angulo tore into the taller Canadian fighter with a bloodlust. Alcine found himself on the ropes and was battered by six vicious blows each worse then the last. Referee Lou Moret saw that Alcine’s eyes seemed closed and stopped the fight at 2:59 of the first round.
“My punches were too wide,” said Alcine. “I wanted to keep the fight going.”
Angulo now becomes the number one junior middleweight contender in the WBC. He already is number one in the WBO.
Angulo attributed added strength to his new conditioning coach Darryl Hudson, who also works with Riverside’s Chris Arreola. The Mexicali native doesn’t care who he faces next.
“Fighting in California, in front of my people, I trained even harder for this fight,” Angulo said. “When they want to fight me we’ll fight. Whoever they are…I do my job and I do the best I can. If they don’t want to fight the Perro there must be a reason for that.”
Mexico’s Antonio DeMarco (24-2-1, 18 KOs) needed only 2:30 of the second round to figure out Daniel Attah’s (24-6-1) weakness an catch the fellow southpaw with one of his own left hand missiles for a knockdown. Attah survived the knockdown and attempted a left hand bomb of his own but fell flat on his knees again from tripping and missing. He got up and was met with a right hook that prompted referee Raul Caiz Jr. to halt the lightweight contest. It was DeMarco’s first fight since losing by technical knockout to the late Edwin Valero last February.
Glendale’s Art Hovannesyan (12-0-1) took a unanimous decision over Mexico’s wily veteran Cristian Favela (19-28-6) after eight rounds in a lightweight clash. The Mexican fighter waited too long to make his move. Meanwhile, Hovannesyan’s combinations did the job over eight rounds. The scores were 78-74, 77-75 twice for the Glendale boxer.
Gloria Salas (3-4-1) won by unanimous decision over Katarina De La Cruz (0-4-1) in a junior flyweight battle after four rounds. Salas was busier but tired a bit as De La Cruz made her move with some pinpoint counter punches in the third round. All three judges scored it for Salas.
Lancaster’s Joel Diaz scored a second round knockout of L.A.’s Rene Torrez (0-3-1) at 23 seconds of the second round of featherweight bout. A body and head combination ended the fight for Torrez. It was Diaz’s pro debut.
After taking a few right hand shots from Willshaun Boxley (5-7) to wake up La Puente’s Abraham Lopez (12-0, 10 KOs) retaliated with stinging jabs that opened a path for his combinations. It didn’t take long to prove he was the stronger fighter. Boxley was unable to continue at the end of round three for a technical knockout victory for Lopez.
Santa Maria’s Rufino Serrano (6-3) used his quickness and slightly more experience to beat East L.A.’s Eduardo Cruz (1-1) after four rounds of a featherweight clash. The fourth round was Cruz’s best round but it wasn’t nearly enough to offset Serrano’s quick combinations that allowed him to dominate early.
Source: thesweetscience.com
Arum not ready to give up on Mayweather-Pacquiao -- OC Register
By MARK WHICKER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERThe empathy of Bob Arum comes out after midnight.
He was on the phone as Friday turned into Saturday, PDT. It was 3 a.m. for the New York-based writers in the conference call audience.
Arum had presented a Friday night deadline for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to commit to fight Manny Pacquiao, the only real event on the boxing table, although it has been tabled for nearly a year now.Mayweather said no. Well, that's not entirely true. Mayweather said nothing.
And yet here was Arum, Bombastic Bob, the guy who rails at officiating decisions on the post-fight mike, the guy who said that Edwin Valero's escapades meant that "we know there's two idiots from Venezuela" and, when asked how he could insult a head of state like Hugo Chavez, replied, "I'm 75 years old and I can't hear in one ear and I don't really care what I say."
He was pleading for mercy. For Mayweather.
"I am sure, without knowing, that there's a very good reason Mayweather has for not committing at this time," Arum said. "I don't think any of you guys should be too harsh on Floyd. The boxing fans have to realize they need to cut Floyd some slack."
Arum and others are speculating that Mayweather prefers to wait until Roger Mayweather, his uncle and trainer, stands trial on assault charges Aug. 2. This would be Roger's second conviction and might lead to a long prison sentence.
"I know how Manny would feel if he had to go into a fight like this without (trainer) Freddie Roach," said Merciful Bob.
Nevertheless, Mayweather's silence means the end of the exclusive negotiating period.
Now, Pacquiao will pick his next opponent for the Nov. 13 fight, and he'll begin with two other Arum clients, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto.
"But if Floyd emerged and said he wanted to do the fight, there would be nothing opposed to us getting together and making the fight," Arum said. "That's our position and it's as clear as I can make it.
"The fight we want to do is Mayweather. It would be a shame if it didn't happen."
But if Pacquiao fights anybody between now and then, you're inviting all kinds of Murphy's Laws, in a sport that invented them.
Neither Cotto or Margarito make you circle the calendar.
Pacquiao blitzed Cotto last November at the MGM Grand. Arum is trying to persuade us that Emanuel Steward's presence in Cotto's corner will make a difference, but it won't make Pacquiao's hands any slower. If the trainer had that much impact, Roach would have coached Oscar De La Hoya past Mayweather.
Margarito is still under suspension in the U.S. for the loaded-glove incident before the Shane Mosley fight. He would need a special license to fight in Nevada, but Arum leans toward staging that fight in Monterrey, Mexico, anyway because Pacquiao wouldn't take such a haymaker from the taxman.
But who knows about Pacquiao? Since his victory over sudden pacifist Joshua Clottey last November, Pacquiao has been a politician. He scored an upset to make the Phillippine congress, and now has to handle that particular exercise in pugilism at least three days a week.
"He will train on the four days that congress isn't in session, from what I understand," Arum said. "He wouldn't come to work at Wild Card (Roach's L.A. gym) until three weeks before the fight. But the fight itself wouldn't be a problem. They wouldn't be able to get a quorum (in Congress) when Manny fights, so they will take three weeks off."
Arum's first preference for a site is Cowboys Stadium, since he envisions at least 100,000 there for Pacquiao-Mayweather. However, the MGM Grand casino set records, during Pacquiao-Cotto weekend, thanks to epicurean gambling by Pacquiao's fans.
But if Pacquiao wants an interesting challenge, or if he wants to juice up the sport in general, he could pick Tim Bradley or Paul Williams.
Bradley is quick and fearless, Williams is 6-foot-3 and frenetic, and both deserve something like this.
And here is where you run into the problem with boxing. It is not a meritocracy. It belongs to the promoters and the networks, and has no commissioner like the UFC does.
"They're tremendous fighters," Arum said. "But Williams hasn't been promoted correctly and he can't sell a ticket. These promoters take money from HBO or Showtime or a little Indian casino and they think they're doing their fighters a service. We spend hundreds of thousands promoting our fighters. I'm not going to give them (Bradley and Williams) a free ride."
There is a limit to empathy, even after dark.
But clearly Arum and the rest of us are thinking the same thing: Pac-Floyd is probable for May 2011.
You grasp for anything, in lieu of knowing what Mayweather thinks.
mwhicker@ocregister.com
Source: ocregister.com
Alex Ariza: “I’ve been saying it forever that Floyd just didn’t want to face Manny” -- Examiner
By Chris Robinson, Examiner.com
Heading into the second waive of negotiations for the proposed super bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, people seemed unsure as to whether or not the contest would truly come off. Differences at the negotiating table over money and drug testing seemed to be a serious red flag but when it was announced by Bob Arum in late June that a resolution was close many people got their hopes up.
One person who was still skeptical was Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza. The Columbia native had always had his doubts as to whether Floyd wanted to test himself against a fight of Pacquiao’s caliber, pointing to the combative differences of each man's nature in the ring. So last night when promoter Bob Arum noted that he was looking past Mayweather and on to other bouts for his superstar fighter, Ariza was hardly surprised yet still slightly down.
What is next for Pacquiao is still uncertain but the two names being mentioned right now are former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito and Puerto Rican banger Miguel Cotto. While Cotto was thoroughly destructed by Pacquiao in November of last year he bounced back last month by moving up in weight and claiming the WBA Jr. Middleweight championship with a solid 9th round stoppage over game Yuri Foreman. But was it enough of a turnaround to make Ariza think that the Caugus fighter had rejuvenated his career?
“It’s really hard to say,” Ariza said. “I thought Yuri was starting to come on. Then he went down and he was without his legs and it’s kind of like fighting with one arm.”
So what then of Margarito, the scarred Tijuana fighter whose career took a serious hit when he was caught with elements of plaster of paris in his gloves before his January 2009 loss to Shane Mosley? Margarito may forever have a black cloud over his head but he is still a threat because of his imposing size, granite chin, and pressing style. When looking at the 32-year old Ariza can’t point out any strengths or weaknesses, noting that everything would lie in trainer Freddie Roach’s hands.
“He’s the master strategist when it comes to those kind of things,” Ariza said with respect. “Whatever game plan he comes up with I’m sure will be the game plan for us to win. I would just do my best to get Manny in the best condition and shape possible.”
Speaking further on his life Ariza noted that since finishing camp with Wild Card transplant Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. he has been working with Vanes Martirosyan and some fighters from the Ukraine, including WBA welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko, who has been sparring intensely with Cincinnati, Ohio’s Rashad Holloway. It is obvious in speaking to Ariza that he is taking everything in stride and he speaks at though he could see the writing on the wall well beforehand.
“Pretty much. I know more than I read but it has always just been my personal opinion that Floyd just wouldn’t take that risk. Unfortunately I was right.”
Source: target=blankexaminer.com
Heading into the second waive of negotiations for the proposed super bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, people seemed unsure as to whether or not the contest would truly come off. Differences at the negotiating table over money and drug testing seemed to be a serious red flag but when it was announced by Bob Arum in late June that a resolution was close many people got their hopes up.One person who was still skeptical was Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza. The Columbia native had always had his doubts as to whether Floyd wanted to test himself against a fight of Pacquiao’s caliber, pointing to the combative differences of each man's nature in the ring. So last night when promoter Bob Arum noted that he was looking past Mayweather and on to other bouts for his superstar fighter, Ariza was hardly surprised yet still slightly down.“I’ll be really honest that I’m really not thinking about it,” the always busy Ariza said. “I’m disappointed like everybody else. I’m not surprised for sure. I’ve been saying it forever that Floyd just didn’t want to face Manny. I’m sure Michael Koncz and Bob will figure out what the next move is. We’ll be ready for whatever is next.”
What is next for Pacquiao is still uncertain but the two names being mentioned right now are former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito and Puerto Rican banger Miguel Cotto. While Cotto was thoroughly destructed by Pacquiao in November of last year he bounced back last month by moving up in weight and claiming the WBA Jr. Middleweight championship with a solid 9th round stoppage over game Yuri Foreman. But was it enough of a turnaround to make Ariza think that the Caugus fighter had rejuvenated his career?
“It’s really hard to say,” Ariza said. “I thought Yuri was starting to come on. Then he went down and he was without his legs and it’s kind of like fighting with one arm.”
So what then of Margarito, the scarred Tijuana fighter whose career took a serious hit when he was caught with elements of plaster of paris in his gloves before his January 2009 loss to Shane Mosley? Margarito may forever have a black cloud over his head but he is still a threat because of his imposing size, granite chin, and pressing style. When looking at the 32-year old Ariza can’t point out any strengths or weaknesses, noting that everything would lie in trainer Freddie Roach’s hands.
“He’s the master strategist when it comes to those kind of things,” Ariza said with respect. “Whatever game plan he comes up with I’m sure will be the game plan for us to win. I would just do my best to get Manny in the best condition and shape possible.”
Speaking further on his life Ariza noted that since finishing camp with Wild Card transplant Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. he has been working with Vanes Martirosyan and some fighters from the Ukraine, including WBA welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko, who has been sparring intensely with Cincinnati, Ohio’s Rashad Holloway. It is obvious in speaking to Ariza that he is taking everything in stride and he speaks at though he could see the writing on the wall well beforehand.
“Pretty much. I know more than I read but it has always just been my personal opinion that Floyd just wouldn’t take that risk. Unfortunately I was right.”
Source: target=blankexaminer.com
Bob Arum: Don't be 'Too Harsh' on Floyd Mayweather -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouseAbout a week prior to Floyd Mayweather's Sept. 19 welterweight (147 pounds) unanimous decision victory over a legendary but undersized Juan Manuel Marquez, Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum called Mayweather "a head case" who "fights scared" and "makes a stinking fight."
"[Mayweather] is a boxer and he has to entertain. And Mayweather does not entertain. Outside the ring, yeah, he shoots up cars and he does other things like that, and he entertains. But in the ring, he's not an entertaining fighter," said Arum, who at the time was assessing the feasibility and saleability of a Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao matchup.
"People don't want to spend money watching a defensive fighter. That's the problem," Arum said of Mayweather. "Now, it may very well be that a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight can be built up and people can talk about it. But in my heart of hearts, I know this would be like a hunter running around the ring looking for a deer. And that's not boxing."But Arum had softened his words concerning Mayweather during a July 16 international conference call with the media in an effort to maintain the potentially slim prospects of putting together a mega fight with Pacquiao.
Having earned his seventh crown in as many divisions after dethroning Miguel Cotto as WBO welterweight king with November's 12-round knockout, Pacquiao, Arum and the fighter's adviser, Michael Koncz, had established the stroke of midnight, Pacific time, this past Friday, July 16, as the deadline at which time Mayweather could ink his name on the dotted line of documents to make the fight.
Arum said that he didn't believe Mayweather's issue to be money -- the fighters reportedly agreed to a 50-50 split of the purse. Nor was it one of random drug-testing, the latter being a sticking point in December's previously failed negotiations.
Pacquiao originally cited the notion that it would weaken him to have blood drawn too close to a fight, but he has apparently softened his stance to the point where he has agreed to a 14-day cutofff .
"I don't want to get into specifics, but I think that issue [drug-testing] was resolved. Not as clear-cut as you may be saying it, but I believe it was resolved," said Arum, who this time conducted the negotiations with Mayweather's adviser, Al Haymon, through HBO's President of Sports, Ross Greenburg, who acted as the mediator.
"That's what it seemed like to me from what I was hearing from Ross. Remember, I never spoke to [Al] Haymon or anybody else but Ross," said Arum. "They kept assuring Greenburg that an agreement was imminent, and that Haymon was working on it and expected an answer shortly, and it just never materialized. I don't blame Haymon. I think he really tried -- based on what Greenburg said -- Haymon really tried to put the fight together."
Arum was conciliatory even as the deadline came and went -- with nary a word from Mayweather -- to the point of pleading for reporters, and, by extension, the public, to be lenient in criticizing the fighter.
"People should be understanding," said Arum. "I am sure, without knowing, but I am sure that there is a very good reason that Floyd Mayweather has for not committing to a fight at this time. I really and truly believe that."
Among those reasons, Arum speculated, are the legal troubles involving Mayweather's uncle and long-time trainer, Roger Mayweather.
"I would have liked for [Floyd Mayweather] to communicate, but I really believe that this issue with the uncle has an affect," said Arum. "I would think that, putting myself in their shoes, that there would be a lot of reluctance of going into this big fight without my trainer. We are not going to know the outcome of this criminal situation for some time."
Roger Mayweather goes on trial in Clark County District Court in Nevada on Aug. 2 on an assault charge stemming from last August's allegedly choking and assaulting female boxer Melissa St. Vil. Roger Mayweather could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, meaning that he might not be available for a November fight.
"Now I am speculating that one of the reasons could be the uncertainty regarding Roger Mayweather. And for people that don't know, Roger Mayweather is scheduled for court in Nevada regarding criminal charges. Now I know how Manny would feel if he had to go into a fight like this without the services of [trainer] Freddie Roach," said Arum.
"Presumably, Floyd would feel the same way going into a fight like this without the services of his uncle Roger, who has been training him for a number of years. Right now I understand Floyd's position. I believe that his position is one that is regarding Roger," said Arum. "We know about this serious issue regarding Roger. I can understand Floyd delaying any plans for a future fight until there is a resolution of the Roger situation. Once you understand that, how can you jump on the guy?"
Arum said that he will spend the next week to 10 days working to set up Pacquiao's challenge for his eighth crown in as many different weight classes against either WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion Miguel Cotto or ex-titlist Antonio Margarito, with Margarito and Pacquia meeting for the WBC junior middlweight crown vacated by Sergio Martinez.
Either Dallas Cowboys' Stadium or the MGM Grand in Las Vegas would be more suitable for a bout between Pacquiao and Cotto, said Arum, while the MGM and Monterrey, Mexico, would be more appropriate for a Margarito fight. Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates in the Middle East) still is a consideration if the money is right.
But perhaps in the back of his mind, Arum believes that being a kinder and gentler negotiator will bring Mayweather-Pacquiao to fruition some day -- perhaps in next May.
"Floyd Mayweather is not saying that he will never fight Manny Pacquiao, and Manny Pacquiao is not saying he's not going to fight. There's always next year," said Arum. "It would be a shame if it didn't happen, but I don't think any of you guys should be too harsh on Floyd in this situation."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Bob Arum's attempt to be apologetic for Mayweather is nauseating! -- Eastside Boxing
By Paul Strauss, Eastside BoxingAfter fans read the transcript of Arum's conference call, they will be forced to remember Arum is an attorney. He is used to providing information that is accurate, concise, and entirely irrelevant. Arum managed to avoid answering all of the important questions, and kept apologizing for the plight of poor Floyd and his uncle Roger, who possibly faces some prison time for allegedly assaulting a woman.
When Arum was asked if he knows why Floyd hasn't agreed to the fight? He answered no, but asks fans to be sympathetic. Arum would like fans to believe poor Floyd, Jr., who has been fighting all his life, might have to train without his uncle Roger, and that's something he doesn't want to do. Heavens to mergatroid! Floyd must be scared to death about the possibility. Give me a break. Floyd has repeatedly said he and Roger do not formulate a fight plan. The truth is little Floyd knows the training regimen by heart. He could do it in his sleep. Finally, he can get just about anyone (maybe his Dad) to unleash a string of obscenities now and again so he will feel at home.
![Nauseating Emulations of Perverse Images of Faith [Explicit]](http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00177H5B2&tag=boxnewwor-20)
When Arum was asked if he believed the blood testing issue was resolved? He said he thought so, but hasn't received specific confirmation of that fact. He assures readers that Floyd must have a legitimate reason (a different reason, i.e.absence of Roger) for not making the fight. When Arum was asked if he really thinks Margarito deserves the fight? He said, he wouldn't get into that until the fight is made, and then he suggests reporters can editorialize about it. Least you forget, Arum believes Margarito is innocent of any wrong doing.
Apparently, Arum thinks another fight with Cotto would work, not necessarily because it would be the best fight out there for fans, but because it would give Manny another title in another weight class. If that were the case, they could have previously made a fight with Yuri Foreman when he held the title. Oh, and Arum implies that Emanuel Stewart, as Cotto's new trainer, might make a big difference. Well, fans know Stewart is a great trainer, but he would be the first one to tell fans that he can't make Miguel any faster, or teach him how take a punch any better?
Finally, Arum suggests that he can't sell a fight between Manny and many of the other fighters because fans haven't heard of them. You know, fighters like Andre Berto, Timothy Bradley, Amir Khan, Devon Alexander, and maybe even Marcos Maidana. Right! No one has ever heard of them. Certainly no one has ever heard of Paul Williams, or Sergio Martinez. You couldn't possibly sell a fight with them!
Just how many lawyers (promoters) does it take to change a light bulb? None, they'd rather keep their clients (fans) in the dark.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Pacquiao seeks opponent as Mayweather misses deadline -- AFP
AFP
NEW YORK — Manny Pacquiao
will begin negotiations with other potential opponents after Floyd Mayweather missed a deadline set by the Filipino fighter's promoter to make a megafight deal.
Promoter Bob Arum said Saturday that Mayweather has another 10 days or so to make a contact while he talks with other fighters such as Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. Arum said the Mayweather fight is not dead but now he must start making plans for the Asian superstar's next bout.
"We now have to go out and secure an opponent for Manny Pacquiao assuming it won?t be Floyd," Arum said.
"The deal is dead when we reach a deal with an opponent for Manny?s fight in November. Then we are contractually bound to do that fight and we would look hopefully to do a fight with Floyd next year."
"That is the fight that we want more than all others. There is no question about it."
Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, rekindled hopes of a megafight showdown with unbeaten US star Mayweather in May by agreeing to blood test terms that scuttled a showdown.
Mayweather's uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, is facing criminal charges and Arum speculated that issue might have been a factor in the fighter not replying by the deadline Arum imposed.
"Floyd, for whatever reason, didn?t want to commit," Arum said. "I'm sure there is a very good reason.
"Boxing fans are going to be disappointed but they have to cut Floyd Mayweather some slack. Floyd Mayweather is not saying he will not ever fight Manny Pacquiao. There is always next year."
Pacquiao, however, has commitments as well, including his new career as a Congressman in the Philippines.
"He has legislative duties and commitments in the Philippines and I have really short windows to do various aspects of the promotion," Arum said.
"He will be training for the fight while being a congressman and he will have to fit his training into the legislative sessions."
Pacquiao, a 31-year-old southpaw, can seek an unprecedented eighth weight division world crown against Cotto, whom he stopped in the 12th round last November, in either Las Vegas or Texas, where "Pac-Man" defeated Ghana's Joshua Clottey by decision last March.
Arum said he has asked Nevada officials for a conditional license to allow the suspended Margarito to fight in Las Vegas. If rejected, Pacquiao would travel to the Mexican's homeland with the fight to be staged in Monterrey.
Former welterweight champion Margarito was suspended by California officials after a plaster-like substance was discovered in his handwraps before a bout in January of last year, one he eventually lost to Shane Mosley.
The ban could scuttle US plans but would not stop a bout in Mexico.
Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.
Source: google.com
NEW YORK — Manny Pacquiao
will begin negotiations with other potential opponents after Floyd Mayweather missed a deadline set by the Filipino fighter's promoter to make a megafight deal.Promoter Bob Arum said Saturday that Mayweather has another 10 days or so to make a contact while he talks with other fighters such as Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. Arum said the Mayweather fight is not dead but now he must start making plans for the Asian superstar's next bout.
"We now have to go out and secure an opponent for Manny Pacquiao assuming it won?t be Floyd," Arum said."In the interim, while this was going on, if Floyd suddenly emerged and said he wanted to do the fight, there would be nothing opposed to getting together and doing the fight.
"The deal is dead when we reach a deal with an opponent for Manny?s fight in November. Then we are contractually bound to do that fight and we would look hopefully to do a fight with Floyd next year."
"That is the fight that we want more than all others. There is no question about it."
Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, rekindled hopes of a megafight showdown with unbeaten US star Mayweather in May by agreeing to blood test terms that scuttled a showdown.
Mayweather's uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, is facing criminal charges and Arum speculated that issue might have been a factor in the fighter not replying by the deadline Arum imposed.
"Floyd, for whatever reason, didn?t want to commit," Arum said. "I'm sure there is a very good reason.
"Boxing fans are going to be disappointed but they have to cut Floyd Mayweather some slack. Floyd Mayweather is not saying he will not ever fight Manny Pacquiao. There is always next year."
Pacquiao, however, has commitments as well, including his new career as a Congressman in the Philippines.
"He has legislative duties and commitments in the Philippines and I have really short windows to do various aspects of the promotion," Arum said.
"He will be training for the fight while being a congressman and he will have to fit his training into the legislative sessions."
Pacquiao, a 31-year-old southpaw, can seek an unprecedented eighth weight division world crown against Cotto, whom he stopped in the 12th round last November, in either Las Vegas or Texas, where "Pac-Man" defeated Ghana's Joshua Clottey by decision last March.
Arum said he has asked Nevada officials for a conditional license to allow the suspended Margarito to fight in Las Vegas. If rejected, Pacquiao would travel to the Mexican's homeland with the fight to be staged in Monterrey.
Former welterweight champion Margarito was suspended by California officials after a plaster-like substance was discovered in his handwraps before a bout in January of last year, one he eventually lost to Shane Mosley.
The ban could scuttle US plans but would not stop a bout in Mexico.
Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.
Source: google.com
The Bob Arum Bluff: Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather JR is Coming Soon -- Ringside Report
By Geno McGahee, Ringside Report
The deadline was missed for Floyd Mayweather, JR., to acquire exclusive negotiations with Manny Pacquiao, and now Promoter Bob Arum has announced plans to negotiate for a rematch with Miguel Cotto or a showdown with boxing bad boy, “Hands of Plaster” Antonio Margarito. Floyd missed the deadline and it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have to be controlled by a deadline because there is no other fight in boxing right now.
The two alternatives that Arum mentions are not legitimate threats to the big fight. Miguel Cotto has rebounded with a victory over the gutsy yet limited Yuri Foreman, but few would believe that a rematch with Manny Paccquiao would produce anything other than another TKO win for the Filipino warrior, only this time much sooner.
The other bout being thrown out there is a match with the still banned, Antonio Margarito. Margarito, at one time, was a huge name in boxing…the working man’s fighter, but now, his secret to his success was exposed as he used Plaster of Paris in his hand wraps. He loaded his gloves and when he didn’t have this edge, he was easily stopped by an older Shane Mosley. If Mosley can dominate and leave Margarito in a heap, Pacquiao would do it early without much problem. There is also the little problem of Margarito still being banned from boxing, although if the money is right, he will be back in the states and Arum has the power to sell a Pacquiao-Margarito fight and get it approved.
Now those looking forward to a Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather, JR., showdown need not worry, yet. The fight is as close to being signed, sealed, and delivered as it has ever been, meaning that it is still up in the air, but it is still the only mega fight in boxing and the public demand only grows larger day by day.
There is reported concern from Floyd Mayweather, JR., about his trainer and reported woman beater, Roger Mayweather. Roger is having legal issues and his future is up in the air. Should he be locked up, Floyd would be without his trainer and that is not a position that he would want to be in going into the biggest fight of his career, but it doesn’t mean that the fight will not take place. Floyd is a professional and there are plenty of options to get him ready for the big fight.
This is big business and there is going to be a lot of on again-off again moments and a lot of nonsense from both sides and of course, Bob Arum. Arum knows how to use the media to further a cause and has just let Floyd know that there are other plans outside of him, but they are not legitimate options because I don’t think that you can sell the fights, especially when you are telling the people: “Instead of Mayweather-Pacquiao, you’re getting a Cotto rematch.” The people will revolt.
Floyd Mayweather, JR., doesn’t have a lot of options here either. A bout with Andre Berto isn’t going to excite any of the fans. Kermit Cintron wouldn’t sell, and Paul Williams, although dangerous and talented, would not replace what everyone wants.
Money talks and there are a lot of people that are going to get extremely rich off the eventual showdown between Manny and Floyd. It will break every pay per view record and is already the most talked about fight in recent history. They will not be able to build an arena large enough to fit all of the people. The fight will sell out in minutes and that is rare for a boxing event of late. Floyd and Manny will make the most they’ve ever made, boxing will be mainstream again, and the world of pugilism will be reborn by this one fight. So, it will happen.
Should, for some reason, A Margarito-Pacquiao fight gets made, which is the only option out of the two (Cotto,Margarito) that may make some money because of the bad boy image of the Mexican fighter, it will further hurt boxing. Any bout that Margarito is involved in now shows just how criminal and bought and sold the sport is. No other sport would permit a proven cheater that endangered the lives of others to continue.
Hang in there people, the real fight is coming. Floyd Mayweather, JR., and Manny Pacquiao will be facing each other in the near future. The money is right and soon all of the obstacles will be overcome and the announcement will be made. The super fight is on the way.
Source: ringsidereport.com
The two alternatives that Arum mentions are not legitimate threats to the big fight. Miguel Cotto has rebounded with a victory over the gutsy yet limited Yuri Foreman, but few would believe that a rematch with Manny Paccquiao would produce anything other than another TKO win for the Filipino warrior, only this time much sooner.
The other bout being thrown out there is a match with the still banned, Antonio Margarito. Margarito, at one time, was a huge name in boxing…the working man’s fighter, but now, his secret to his success was exposed as he used Plaster of Paris in his hand wraps. He loaded his gloves and when he didn’t have this edge, he was easily stopped by an older Shane Mosley. If Mosley can dominate and leave Margarito in a heap, Pacquiao would do it early without much problem. There is also the little problem of Margarito still being banned from boxing, although if the money is right, he will be back in the states and Arum has the power to sell a Pacquiao-Margarito fight and get it approved.
Now those looking forward to a Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather, JR., showdown need not worry, yet. The fight is as close to being signed, sealed, and delivered as it has ever been, meaning that it is still up in the air, but it is still the only mega fight in boxing and the public demand only grows larger day by day.
There is reported concern from Floyd Mayweather, JR., about his trainer and reported woman beater, Roger Mayweather. Roger is having legal issues and his future is up in the air. Should he be locked up, Floyd would be without his trainer and that is not a position that he would want to be in going into the biggest fight of his career, but it doesn’t mean that the fight will not take place. Floyd is a professional and there are plenty of options to get him ready for the big fight.
This is big business and there is going to be a lot of on again-off again moments and a lot of nonsense from both sides and of course, Bob Arum. Arum knows how to use the media to further a cause and has just let Floyd know that there are other plans outside of him, but they are not legitimate options because I don’t think that you can sell the fights, especially when you are telling the people: “Instead of Mayweather-Pacquiao, you’re getting a Cotto rematch.” The people will revolt.
Floyd Mayweather, JR., doesn’t have a lot of options here either. A bout with Andre Berto isn’t going to excite any of the fans. Kermit Cintron wouldn’t sell, and Paul Williams, although dangerous and talented, would not replace what everyone wants.
Money talks and there are a lot of people that are going to get extremely rich off the eventual showdown between Manny and Floyd. It will break every pay per view record and is already the most talked about fight in recent history. They will not be able to build an arena large enough to fit all of the people. The fight will sell out in minutes and that is rare for a boxing event of late. Floyd and Manny will make the most they’ve ever made, boxing will be mainstream again, and the world of pugilism will be reborn by this one fight. So, it will happen.
Should, for some reason, A Margarito-Pacquiao fight gets made, which is the only option out of the two (Cotto,Margarito) that may make some money because of the bad boy image of the Mexican fighter, it will further hurt boxing. Any bout that Margarito is involved in now shows just how criminal and bought and sold the sport is. No other sport would permit a proven cheater that endangered the lives of others to continue.
Hang in there people, the real fight is coming. Floyd Mayweather, JR., and Manny Pacquiao will be facing each other in the near future. The money is right and soon all of the obstacles will be overcome and the announcement will be made. The super fight is on the way.
Source: ringsidereport.com
Mayweather must speak up soon -- FOX Sports
By Trent Pusey, FOX SportsTo fight or not to fight? That is the question for Floyd Mayweather Jr.
With their self-imposed “deadline” now expired for Mayweather to sign a contract, Manny Pacquiao and his Top Rank promotional team are considering other options. This does not mean that negotiations are off with Mayweather, as a deal can still be reached for the superfight. It merely means that Team Pacquiao will wait no more.
It’s a shame that this fight hasn’t been made. Both Pacquiao and Mayweather are poetry in motion inside the ring. Unfortunately, they create nothing more than tabloid fodder outside of it.The details of the contract that Bob Arum said he offered to Mayweather are unknown. In fact, there is no confirmation from the Mayweather side that they even received a contract. Yet with all the major sports networks running stories on the “deadline,” the Mayweather camp hasn’t said a word. And we all know how much Mayweather loves to talk. There are two sides to every story and it’s time that Mayweather tells his. If he doesn’t want the fight, then he ought to explain why. If he does want the fight, then what’s stopping him from signing the contract?
If Mayweather continues to be mum on the fight, then speculation will begin to run rampant. Just as when Pacquiao balked at the drug testing caveat demanded by Mayweather, Pacquiao had some explaining to do. No one had proof that Pacquiao was doping yet the accusations came anyway. Why would he pass up the fight and the money if he’s clean?
Until Mayweather speaks up, it will be perceived that he is balking at the deal. For whatever reason, be it the upcoming trial of his trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather or his possible desire to get this payday in 2011 for tax purposes, now Floyd has some explaining to do.
Mayweather has never been shy. When it comes to self-promotion, he will be the first to tell you that he’s the best. He’s obsessed with his own legacy. Mayweather has always been careful about selecting his opponents so maybe he’s having second thoughts on a fight with Pacquiao. As Shakespeare penned, “Conscience makes cowards of us all.”
Mayweather may be overthinking his legacy, and in the process, losing an opportunity to enhance it. The winner of Mayweather-Pacquiao would not only gain pound-for-pound supremacy but also be considered the best boxer of the last decade. That’s quite a legacy being dangled in front of him.
So here we are. Two rounds of negotiating and still no fight. Each side has manipulated the media and the public into thinking that the other side doesn’t want to fight. The first negotiations last winter were borderline ridiculous. Remember $10 million per pound overweight? But what was once a comedy is now becoming a tragedy. Until we hear from Floyd as to why he isn’t giving his autograph, no progress can be made in the negotiations. No rhyme or reason exists, only speculation.
Pacquiao and Mayweather are both so stubborn that the negotiation process has been a fight in and of itself. Both are accustomed to getting everything they want during negotiations. Letting up now would be like conceding victory in the ring. That is not an attractive prospect for two egomaniacs.
We’ve already heard the excuses from Pacquiao concerning the drug testing. We’ve also heard excuses as to why Mayweather may not want to fight in November. No more excuses. To thine own self be true.
This fight is too big not to be made. Boxing made Manny Pacquiao millions. Boxing made Floyd Mayweather Jr. into a superstar. Boxing needs this fight. But something tells me that these two are too stubborn to see it.
Source: msn.foxsports.com
Pacquiao vs. Mayweather: The Fight - or the Farce? - of the Century -- TIME
By Gary Andrew Poole, TIMEDon't hold your breath for the "Fight of the Century." The most anticipated fight to never happen won't happen again this year. Perhaps it never will. Ever.
Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of the craftiest defensive boxers in the history of the sport, has decided not to risk his undefeated record against Manny Pacquiao, the relentless Filipino fighter who has won an unprecedented seven world championships in seven different weight classes. They have never met in the ring and the sport and industry of boxing desperately wanted a gigantic moneymaker and potentially gargantuan showdown.
Fans demanded a fight. The rapper Snoop Dogg made a video pleading with the men to rumble in the ring. Michael Wilbon, a host on an ESPN commentary show, said Mayweather would be a "coward" if he didn't face Pacquiao. So, after about eight months of fits, feints, lawsuits and non-starters, the Filipino's promoter Bob Arum gave Mayweather an arbitrary two-week deadline to approve and sign the contract or he would start negotiating with other fighters. The deadline was midnight on Friday, July 16. The potential purse was $40 million — each. How could the fight not happen? It's never a fair fight when boxing people and logic go toe-to-toe: logic inevitably gets knocked to the canvas. Shortly after Friday passed into Saturday in Las Vegas, a weary Arum relayed the depressing news to a handful of bleary-eyed journalists. "Floyd, for whatever reason, didn't want to commit," Arum said. More accurately, he said, Mayweather had chosen to ignore the proposed contract and hadn't communicated with anyone. Or could it be that Mayweather just didn't like the unilateral nature Arum and the Pacquiao camp had taken the so-called negotiations?
The two best boxers in the world have enough personality and back-story to transcend their blood sport. Pacquiao, who grew up in a cardboard shack, sings and cuts platinum-selling albums despite having a high-pitched squeal of a voice, was just elected to the Filipino Congress. Mayweather enjoys trash talking, hanging out with rap artists, and was a contestant on the reality show Dancing With the Stars. He calls himself "Money" and carries thousands of dollars of cash in his pockets.
(See the meaning and mythos of Manny Pacquiao.)
As good as they are in the ring, Pacquiao and Mayweather have proved to be laughably inept at actually holding a prize fight. And fans and boxing insiders are afraid the constant build-up and let-downs for the so-called "Fight of the Century" are black eyes for a sport that has seen its audience erode. Some say last night's announcement of a non-event may be the most embarrassing thing for the sport since Mike Tyson bit off Evander Holyfield's ear in a 1997 fight — though that was painful as well as shameful.
This week's ridiculous Pacquiao-Mayweather non-starter is only the latest in a series. The men were supposed to go at each other earlier this year, but the fight negotiations broke down after Mayweather insisted on Olympic style random blood-testing. He said he was crusading for more stringent drug tests as a way to clean up the sweet science. But many people believe the blood-testing requirement was simply a way for him to duck the PacMan and preserve his perfect record, which Mayweather is supremely proud of.
Pacquiao, who is very superstitious and claims to get weak when he gives blood close to a fight, refused Mayweather's testing regime and said that his opponent didn't have the right to create his own set of rules. Then the Filipino, who has never tested positive for using performance-enhancing drugs, sued Mayweather alleging that he made false and defamatory statements. Pacquiao's entourage started wearing T-shirts that said, "100 Percent God, No Steroids." Disgusted with each other, both men fought other opponents this spring, winning decisively in fights that weren't exactly spellbinders.
Early this summer their representatives went to the negotiating table to see if they could line up a fight on November 13. A strict gag order was issued so insults weren't reproduced in the media. Arum worked through Ross Greenburg, the president of HBO Sports, who acted as a mediator and communicated with the Mayweather camp. Arum wouldn't reveal the exact terms, but he says the blood-testing issue was settled. Sources say that Pacquiao was willing to overcome his fear of blood testing so he could have a chance to beat-up his arch-nemesis. "We want to knock this bum out," says Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer. When he shadow boxes in the gym, Pacquiao says he pretends he is fighting Mayweather.
But Mayweather wouldn't play and didn't bother to call by the deadline set by Arum. In fact, the usually loquacious Mayweather probably wasn't even listening. (He didn't respond to phone calls from TIME as well.) He has good reasons for not getting into the weeds of a PR campaign right now. His uncle and trainer Roger Mayweather will go on trial early on Aug. 2 on charges of assaulting and choking a female boxer. The elder Mayweather has pleaded not guilty but could face up to 16 years in prison. He has always been a seminal influence on his nephew.
"I understand Floyd's position, regarding Roger," said Arum. "I can understand Floyd delaying until there is a resolution of the Roger situation. I don't think you guys should be too harsh on Floyd." But when asked to speculate on why Mayweather wouldn't even bother to call him and explain his reasons for bowing out of the fight of the century? "I can't figure it out," Arum admitted.
As a good showman, Arum used the occasion to talk about what's up next for Pacquiao. He said he would talk with his fighter to figure out who he wanted to meet next: the Mexican-American Antonio Margarito or a rematch with the Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, whom he defeated in a spectacular battle in November 2009. If he fights Margarito, the bout will probably be held in Las Vegas or Monterrey, Mexico. If he fights Cotto, the fight will be held in Vegas or at Dallas' Cowboy Stadium.
Arum said the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight could still happen this year if Mayweather suddenly emerged, but it would be more likely that it happens next year, if ever. But interest in the mega-fight might evaporate if the men drag it out much longer, testing the patience of beleaguered and disappearing boxing fans. And the greatest fight ever might just turn into the biggest farce in the sport's history.
Source: time.com
Manny Pacquiao halts talks with Floyd Mayweather -- The Guardian
Reuters
Manny Pacquiao will begin talks about a possible fight with the Mexican Antonio Margarito or Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto next week after a deadline to agree a clash with the undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr expired.
Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, said exclusive negotiations with Mayweather were over and although a fight between the pair could yet happen other opponents had to be considered for the Filipino's scheduled 13 November bout.
"The fight we wanted is Mayweather," Arum said. "Floyd, for whatever reason, didn't want to commit. I am sure, without knowing, that there is a very good reason why Mayweather hasn't committed at this time."
A highly anticipated fight between WBO welterweight champion Pacquiao (51-3-2) and Mayweather (41-0), easily the sport's best two fighters, was called off earlier this year over the Filipino's failure to agree to blood and urine testing.
Arum suggested that the issue of drug testing had been resolved and speculated that the pending trial of Floyd's uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, on a charge that he attacked a female boxer could be the reason Floyd would not agree to fight this year.
"I really believe this issue with the uncle has an affect," Arum said. "If I were in his shoes I wouldn't want to go into this big fight without my trainer."
Pacquiao now faces the prospect of an unattractive clash against Cotto (35‑2), whom he stopped in the final round of their November clash, or Margarito (38-6), who has only just returned to the ring after being banned for a year for wearing illegal hand wraps.
Arum said he expected it to take only a week to negotiate a contract with either opponent, both part of his Top Rank stable.
"I have to discuss with Manny to see who he prefers. The decision falls on Manny."
However, Arum suggested that Pacquiao could fight Mayweather in 2011 in what could be the richest fight ever in the sport.
"If Floyd emerged and said he wanted to do the fight there would be no objection on our part. It would be a shame if it didn't [happen]."
Source: guardian.co.uk
Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, said exclusive negotiations with Mayweather were over and although a fight between the pair could yet happen other opponents had to be considered for the Filipino's scheduled 13 November bout.
"The fight we wanted is Mayweather," Arum said. "Floyd, for whatever reason, didn't want to commit. I am sure, without knowing, that there is a very good reason why Mayweather hasn't committed at this time."
A highly anticipated fight between WBO welterweight champion Pacquiao (51-3-2) and Mayweather (41-0), easily the sport's best two fighters, was called off earlier this year over the Filipino's failure to agree to blood and urine testing.
Arum suggested that the issue of drug testing had been resolved and speculated that the pending trial of Floyd's uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, on a charge that he attacked a female boxer could be the reason Floyd would not agree to fight this year.
"I really believe this issue with the uncle has an affect," Arum said. "If I were in his shoes I wouldn't want to go into this big fight without my trainer."
Pacquiao now faces the prospect of an unattractive clash against Cotto (35‑2), whom he stopped in the final round of their November clash, or Margarito (38-6), who has only just returned to the ring after being banned for a year for wearing illegal hand wraps.
Arum said he expected it to take only a week to negotiate a contract with either opponent, both part of his Top Rank stable.
"I have to discuss with Manny to see who he prefers. The decision falls on Manny."
However, Arum suggested that Pacquiao could fight Mayweather in 2011 in what could be the richest fight ever in the sport.
"If Floyd emerged and said he wanted to do the fight there would be no objection on our part. It would be a shame if it didn't [happen]."
Source: guardian.co.uk
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