By Bob Velin, USA TODAY
Saying he didn't need a fight with Floyd Mayweather to complete his career, Manny Pacquiao, in a visit Thursday to USA TODAY, said he'd be waiting when Mayweather was ready to fight.
In the meantime, Pacquiao is focused on his next opponent, Antonio Margarito. They will meet Nov. 13 for the vacant WBC light middleweight title at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas (HBO pay-per-view).
Pacquiao, 31, who is taking a few days off from his duties as a congressman in the Philippines to finish his whirlwind promotional tour for the fight, said he had agreed to all of Mayweather's demands for blood testing and it was not his fault if the fight was not happening. Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who is accompanying his fighter on the tour, has his own ideas why the fight hasn't happened.
"It's real important for (Mayweather) to stay undefeated," Roach said. "He has that zero on his record, and he can say he's the best fighter of all time, better than Sugar Ray Robinson (and) a lot of legendary fighters. With that zero on his record, he has an argument. I don't think he wants to risk a loss on his record, because then the argument goes away. But, hey, Floyd is a gambler, and hopefully he loses a couple of bets and then needs to fight."
A Mayweather-Pacquiao bout likely would be the richest in boxing, with both fighters figured to gross at least $50 million. But there has been a disagreement as to whether negotiations for the fight have even taken place.
Mayweather's side and Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, which is representing Mayweather for the fight, insist talks never happened, while Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter, and HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg, the go-between, say they absolutely did. "Negotiations were going on, because I had to answer questions," Roach said.
Don King, an adversary of Top Rank chairman Bob Arum for 40 years, has been trying to woo Mayweather, who became a world champion under Top Rank, away from Golden Boy.
Top Rank President Todd DuBoef said he would welcome such a move. "I think Don would do a great job," he said. "Don has dealt with the (Mike) Tysons of the world and understands business. He could convince (Mayweather) to get in the ring to create the biggest event in boxing history."
But for now it will be Pacquiao vs. Margarito. Asked why he would risk a fight with the "Tijuana Tornado," who was suspended from boxing in the USA for a year after being caught with illegal hand wraps, Pacquiao said, "We know Margarito is a very aggressive fighter who throws a lot of punches, but that's what I want. I want more action in the ring so people will be satisfied by my performance."
Pacquiao added that they chose Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs), also a Top Rank fighter, because they wanted to give the disgraced boxer another chance.
Asked about retirement plans, Pacquiao said he probably would fight a few more times but said a fight with Mayweather would not be a prerequisite to retirement. "If we decide to retire, we'll retire," he said. "We don't need him. He needs us."
Source: usatoday.com
Friday 3 September 2010
Floyd Mayweather's Racist Rant Caught On Tape (VIDEO) -- Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
Floyd Mayweather Jr. went on an racist and homophobic rant about Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao this morning via Ustream. Mayweather referred to Pacquiao as a midget several times and said that once he beats his rival (if the fight ever happens), he will force Pacquiao to "make some sushi rolls and cook some rice." He also said "we're going to cook him with some cats and dogs." Scroll down for the video, which was flagged by You Been Blinded.
Floyd Mayweather Going in on Manny Pacquiao
Uploaded by dmotionuser10. - More professional, college and classic sports videos.
Source: huffingtonpost.com
Floyd Mayweather Jr. went on an racist and homophobic rant about Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao this morning via Ustream. Mayweather referred to Pacquiao as a midget several times and said that once he beats his rival (if the fight ever happens), he will force Pacquiao to "make some sushi rolls and cook some rice." He also said "we're going to cook him with some cats and dogs." Scroll down for the video, which was flagged by You Been Blinded.
Floyd Mayweather Going in on Manny Pacquiao
Uploaded by dmotionuser10. - More professional, college and classic sports videos.
Source: huffingtonpost.com
The Mind Behind Manny Pacquiao: Freddie Roach -- Ringside Report
By Gina L. Caliboso, RingsideReport.com
In the coach-athlete relationship, it’s always touching to see the athlete undergo a transformation into an even better athlete under the coach’s guidance. As I have watched Pacquiao’s boxing career in the last 5 years skyrocket into boxing fame and prestige, there has been one notable man right in his corner – Freddie Roach. As the skilled and savvy boxing trainer that has gone up against such trainers as Nacho Beristain, Roger Mayweather, and Floyd Mayweather, SR, Roach stands above everyone else because his fighter Pacquiao wisely listens to the man in his corner with a clear objective – to box and win.
As far as I can see, there is something genuine and kind about the Pacquiao – Roach boxing relationship. The partnership has met with its challenges, especially since Pacquiao’s focus has increasingly ventured outside of the ring. Pacquiao is a true multi-tasker and with his current political success back in the Philippines, Roach remains busy. As the Mayweather – Pacquiao mega-bout buckled in contract negotiations and hearsay, it’s been considered what will happen to the Hall of Fame Roach and what are his prospects? Can he or will he find another Pacquiao like fighter in the current boxing pool of talent?
Even as Roach suffers from Parkinson’s, he shows no signs of resting or settling down from boxing. Physically, his body may resist, but mentally, Roach is there for his fighters. More importantly, boxers and MMA fighters seek Roach to help improve their boxing. He will continue to train as long as he can. It’s a true testament to his physical and mental will to battle a disease that can only get worse. He is a living and breathing example that if mentally and physically motivated, you can defeat anything. Roach is a true fighter even outside the ring.
If and when he should decide to retire, Roach has always made it clear that his fighter Pacquiao calls all the shots. But it’s not as if he doesn’t have a say either. I’ve never been quite clear just how much influence Roach has on Pacquiao, but he’s always been adamant about training and protecting Pacquiao by choosing fighters that he knows he can beat. There is no doubt that Roach has made Pacquiao into a better fighter by showing diligence with analyzing Pacquiao’s opponents so perfectly that he has been able to predict that his boxer will come away as the winner.
In his last two bouts, Pacquiao had a tendency to test his opponent and not necessarily as a form of strategy. Against Cotto, Pacquiao wanted to test his body by physically taking shots and biting the jab. And, against Clottey, Pacquiao did the same thing in the opening rounds. Roach brushed this aside and set Pacquiao back into boxing. Pacquiao listened and won both bouts. But it does reveal a moment that a fighter is breaking free from his trainer to a degree – knowing his own ability, but for a brief moment stepping independently and showing everyone else what he can really do. Roach does not tolerate such independence, but instills his fighting will and pulls his fighter back to settle to the immediate task – to box and win.
As Pacquiao is a living and boxing result of Roach’s training, I’d also like to mention that there is something about Roach that makes him a trainer that a fighter that can trust. I believe that Roach genuinely cares and cultivates his fighter to be not only the best fighter possible, but the best person as well. Roach is an obvious man of integrity. Even as the Pacquiao steroid accusations were being thrown around by the Mayweathers, Roach did not hurl back any insults except to maybe challenge Floyd Mayweather (JR or SR) himself and put the fight to the ring where it belongs. Roach has a level of grace and kindness that works with his fighters and the success rate is obvious. Roach works his fighters hard and I always thought it was motivating for Pacquiao sparring partners to accept his $1,000 challenge to knock his fighter out. I don’t think he’s had to make good on that bet just yet.
Since Roach’s boxer Pacquiao has met with such great success over a period of time, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya should really look to the Hall of Fame trainer to work with their young prospects. As Roach helped train De La Hoya in his bout against Mayweather, JR., he knows firsthand how motivating Roach can be. Although the partnership ended with a loss for De La Hoya, Roach does know how to take a boxer’s assets and turn them into powerful boxing weapons. But enough about his past, Roach’s future imprint remains steady as he has now worked with some established and talented boxers.
Roach currently offers training assistance to world class champion and female Filipina fighter, Ana “Hurricane” Julaton, 7-2, 1 KO. Julaton became the current WBO Women’s Super Bantamweight titleholder when she defeated Maria Elena Villalobos,
7-4, 3 KO’s back in June. Even as Julaton suffered a loss and a bad cut against Lisa Brown, 17-4, 5 KO’s in March, she came back stronger to earn the WBO belt. I’m sure she’ll continue her winning ways
Golden Boy fighter and talented champ Amir Khan, 23-1, 17 KO’s, shows definite championship potential to dominate at light welterweight. But it’s a division that is filled with potential challengers. It won’t be easy for De La Hoya to match up Khan because I’m sure it’s also a matter of who will be the challenging fighter for Khan, but at the same time be financially rewarding. With Roach, Khan showed a good jab and power cross combination with a cultivated lead hand. In his last fight against Paul Malignaggi, 27-4, 5 KO’s, I observed that Khan didn’t necessarily beat the animated Magic Man from Brooklyn. Khan defeated Malignaggi with an 11th round TKO and defended the WBA Light Welterweight title.
As Roach helped Pacquiao through the various weight divisions, he does have training experience with heavyweight and cruiserweight fighters. He is the former trainer of James “Lights Out” Toney, now MMA fighter (I guess – insert wink emoticon here). He has also trained Michael Moorer. In August, Roach was in the corner of Nigerian Cruiserweight Lateef “Power” Kayode, 13-0, 12 KO’s. Kayode, 27 years old, stands at 6’3, and defeated Puerto Rican fighter Alfredo Escalera, JR, 18-3, 12 KO’s with an 8th round TKO. MMA fighters such as Dan Hardy, Arlovski, and Anderson Silva have all sought boxing (or stand up) assistance from the Hall of Famer Trainer
There is also one possibility that wouldn’t be a bad decision for Roach. It would be okay that once Pacquiao hangs up his gloves, Roach may consider retirement (in the Philippines) as well. And this is one fortunate option that isn’t necessarily a bad one. But as I can tell, Roach has no such intention and will always be in the ring with his fighter supporting and cheering his fighter to be only the best and come away as the winner. It’s the only option Trainer Freddie Roach truly knows.
Source: ringsidereport.com
In the coach-athlete relationship, it’s always touching to see the athlete undergo a transformation into an even better athlete under the coach’s guidance. As I have watched Pacquiao’s boxing career in the last 5 years skyrocket into boxing fame and prestige, there has been one notable man right in his corner – Freddie Roach. As the skilled and savvy boxing trainer that has gone up against such trainers as Nacho Beristain, Roger Mayweather, and Floyd Mayweather, SR, Roach stands above everyone else because his fighter Pacquiao wisely listens to the man in his corner with a clear objective – to box and win.As far as I can see, there is something genuine and kind about the Pacquiao – Roach boxing relationship. The partnership has met with its challenges, especially since Pacquiao’s focus has increasingly ventured outside of the ring. Pacquiao is a true multi-tasker and with his current political success back in the Philippines, Roach remains busy. As the Mayweather – Pacquiao mega-bout buckled in contract negotiations and hearsay, it’s been considered what will happen to the Hall of Fame Roach and what are his prospects? Can he or will he find another Pacquiao like fighter in the current boxing pool of talent?
Even as Roach suffers from Parkinson’s, he shows no signs of resting or settling down from boxing. Physically, his body may resist, but mentally, Roach is there for his fighters. More importantly, boxers and MMA fighters seek Roach to help improve their boxing. He will continue to train as long as he can. It’s a true testament to his physical and mental will to battle a disease that can only get worse. He is a living and breathing example that if mentally and physically motivated, you can defeat anything. Roach is a true fighter even outside the ring.
If and when he should decide to retire, Roach has always made it clear that his fighter Pacquiao calls all the shots. But it’s not as if he doesn’t have a say either. I’ve never been quite clear just how much influence Roach has on Pacquiao, but he’s always been adamant about training and protecting Pacquiao by choosing fighters that he knows he can beat. There is no doubt that Roach has made Pacquiao into a better fighter by showing diligence with analyzing Pacquiao’s opponents so perfectly that he has been able to predict that his boxer will come away as the winner.
In his last two bouts, Pacquiao had a tendency to test his opponent and not necessarily as a form of strategy. Against Cotto, Pacquiao wanted to test his body by physically taking shots and biting the jab. And, against Clottey, Pacquiao did the same thing in the opening rounds. Roach brushed this aside and set Pacquiao back into boxing. Pacquiao listened and won both bouts. But it does reveal a moment that a fighter is breaking free from his trainer to a degree – knowing his own ability, but for a brief moment stepping independently and showing everyone else what he can really do. Roach does not tolerate such independence, but instills his fighting will and pulls his fighter back to settle to the immediate task – to box and win.
As Pacquiao is a living and boxing result of Roach’s training, I’d also like to mention that there is something about Roach that makes him a trainer that a fighter that can trust. I believe that Roach genuinely cares and cultivates his fighter to be not only the best fighter possible, but the best person as well. Roach is an obvious man of integrity. Even as the Pacquiao steroid accusations were being thrown around by the Mayweathers, Roach did not hurl back any insults except to maybe challenge Floyd Mayweather (JR or SR) himself and put the fight to the ring where it belongs. Roach has a level of grace and kindness that works with his fighters and the success rate is obvious. Roach works his fighters hard and I always thought it was motivating for Pacquiao sparring partners to accept his $1,000 challenge to knock his fighter out. I don’t think he’s had to make good on that bet just yet.
Since Roach’s boxer Pacquiao has met with such great success over a period of time, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya should really look to the Hall of Fame trainer to work with their young prospects. As Roach helped train De La Hoya in his bout against Mayweather, JR., he knows firsthand how motivating Roach can be. Although the partnership ended with a loss for De La Hoya, Roach does know how to take a boxer’s assets and turn them into powerful boxing weapons. But enough about his past, Roach’s future imprint remains steady as he has now worked with some established and talented boxers.
Roach currently offers training assistance to world class champion and female Filipina fighter, Ana “Hurricane” Julaton, 7-2, 1 KO. Julaton became the current WBO Women’s Super Bantamweight titleholder when she defeated Maria Elena Villalobos,
7-4, 3 KO’s back in June. Even as Julaton suffered a loss and a bad cut against Lisa Brown, 17-4, 5 KO’s in March, she came back stronger to earn the WBO belt. I’m sure she’ll continue her winning ways
Golden Boy fighter and talented champ Amir Khan, 23-1, 17 KO’s, shows definite championship potential to dominate at light welterweight. But it’s a division that is filled with potential challengers. It won’t be easy for De La Hoya to match up Khan because I’m sure it’s also a matter of who will be the challenging fighter for Khan, but at the same time be financially rewarding. With Roach, Khan showed a good jab and power cross combination with a cultivated lead hand. In his last fight against Paul Malignaggi, 27-4, 5 KO’s, I observed that Khan didn’t necessarily beat the animated Magic Man from Brooklyn. Khan defeated Malignaggi with an 11th round TKO and defended the WBA Light Welterweight title.
As Roach helped Pacquiao through the various weight divisions, he does have training experience with heavyweight and cruiserweight fighters. He is the former trainer of James “Lights Out” Toney, now MMA fighter (I guess – insert wink emoticon here). He has also trained Michael Moorer. In August, Roach was in the corner of Nigerian Cruiserweight Lateef “Power” Kayode, 13-0, 12 KO’s. Kayode, 27 years old, stands at 6’3, and defeated Puerto Rican fighter Alfredo Escalera, JR, 18-3, 12 KO’s with an 8th round TKO. MMA fighters such as Dan Hardy, Arlovski, and Anderson Silva have all sought boxing (or stand up) assistance from the Hall of Famer Trainer
There is also one possibility that wouldn’t be a bad decision for Roach. It would be okay that once Pacquiao hangs up his gloves, Roach may consider retirement (in the Philippines) as well. And this is one fortunate option that isn’t necessarily a bad one. But as I can tell, Roach has no such intention and will always be in the ring with his fighter supporting and cheering his fighter to be only the best and come away as the winner. It’s the only option Trainer Freddie Roach truly knows.
Source: ringsidereport.com
So What If Antonio Margarito Beats Manny Pacquiao? -- The Sweet Science
By Raymond Markarian, The Sweet Science
So what if Margarito beats Manny Pacquiao?
Yeah, no one is really talking about that one. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Antonio Margarito’s boxing license and justifiably so. The guy was found with cement, check that, plaster in his boxing gloves before a welterweight championship fight against Shane Mosley in January 2009.
But now he has the opportunity to defeat arguably the greatest fighter in the world today, Manny Pacquiao. Margarito will be facing a man that is much smaller than him, the same man that fought at 130 pounds two years ago.
So what if Margarito wins? Then we will have a supposed cheater as one of the most feared fighters on the planet, literally. There would also be less talk about the dream match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
And here is the thing about the mastermind man they call Money Mayweather. The guy is playing is all for a fool. Boxing fans wake up every morning to search for information on when or if Floyd is going to fight again. The anticipation is there and he knows it. The Pacquiao fight will also supposedly be Mayweather’s last fight in the ring, so why rush?
This just in, Mayweather is a smart business man, ladies and gentlemen. The more we wait, the more we will anticipate. Mayweather understands the concept of anticipation more than anyone. He had to wait until he was 30 years old before he got a shot at Oscar De la Hoya. And now he is, as he likes to call himself, the cash cow. After Pacquiao, there is no one left for Mayweather to fight. No one else could generate that kind of dough. That is why Floyd is making us wait. And it is arguably the reason why he “retired” after defeating Ricky Hatton in 2007. It was to generate more anticipation for a big fight.
Will we lose interest in a Mayweather/Pacquiao fight if we have to wait until next year? Absolutely not.
Any boxing fan that refuses to watch Mayweather/Pacquiao fight next year because Floyd made us wait for too long is not a real fight fan. And no matter what you think about the outcome of Margarito/Pacquiao, win or lose, Pacquiao will eat some leather in this fight. He might even lose a step. The last two name opponents Margarito fought, Cotto, and Mosley, were not the same afterwards.
Bingo Floyd Mayweather.
Skeptics of Margarito will point to his weak performance against Shane Mosley as a drawing point of demise. But that was the Antonio “Oops, I just got caught cheating and my career might be over” Margarito against Mosley.
That wasn’t the Antonio “Hey, I am going to walk through all of your punches until I make you quit,” Margarito that we saw against Miguel Cotto. Pacquiao thirsts on stalking opponents that come to him. But is Pacquiao going to run through Margarito the way he did Ricky Hatton? Please.
No matter what we think about Margarito’s merit to fight Manny Pacquiao and no matter how he or his promoter pulled the fight off, an opportunity of a lifetime is upon him. Margarito will be ready. And the hype will be plenty. Believe that.
So what if Margarito wins? And then what do we do? Maybe there will be no more Mayweather/Pacquiao. Maybe there will be no more Floyd Mayweather period.
Source: thesweetscience.com
So what if Margarito beats Manny Pacquiao?
Yeah, no one is really talking about that one. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Antonio Margarito’s boxing license and justifiably so. The guy was found with cement, check that, plaster in his boxing gloves before a welterweight championship fight against Shane Mosley in January 2009.
But now he has the opportunity to defeat arguably the greatest fighter in the world today, Manny Pacquiao. Margarito will be facing a man that is much smaller than him, the same man that fought at 130 pounds two years ago.So what if Margarito wins? Then we will have a supposed cheater as one of the most feared fighters on the planet, literally. There would also be less talk about the dream match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
And here is the thing about the mastermind man they call Money Mayweather. The guy is playing is all for a fool. Boxing fans wake up every morning to search for information on when or if Floyd is going to fight again. The anticipation is there and he knows it. The Pacquiao fight will also supposedly be Mayweather’s last fight in the ring, so why rush?
This just in, Mayweather is a smart business man, ladies and gentlemen. The more we wait, the more we will anticipate. Mayweather understands the concept of anticipation more than anyone. He had to wait until he was 30 years old before he got a shot at Oscar De la Hoya. And now he is, as he likes to call himself, the cash cow. After Pacquiao, there is no one left for Mayweather to fight. No one else could generate that kind of dough. That is why Floyd is making us wait. And it is arguably the reason why he “retired” after defeating Ricky Hatton in 2007. It was to generate more anticipation for a big fight.
Will we lose interest in a Mayweather/Pacquiao fight if we have to wait until next year? Absolutely not.
Any boxing fan that refuses to watch Mayweather/Pacquiao fight next year because Floyd made us wait for too long is not a real fight fan. And no matter what you think about the outcome of Margarito/Pacquiao, win or lose, Pacquiao will eat some leather in this fight. He might even lose a step. The last two name opponents Margarito fought, Cotto, and Mosley, were not the same afterwards.
Bingo Floyd Mayweather.
Skeptics of Margarito will point to his weak performance against Shane Mosley as a drawing point of demise. But that was the Antonio “Oops, I just got caught cheating and my career might be over” Margarito against Mosley.
That wasn’t the Antonio “Hey, I am going to walk through all of your punches until I make you quit,” Margarito that we saw against Miguel Cotto. Pacquiao thirsts on stalking opponents that come to him. But is Pacquiao going to run through Margarito the way he did Ricky Hatton? Please.
No matter what we think about Margarito’s merit to fight Manny Pacquiao and no matter how he or his promoter pulled the fight off, an opportunity of a lifetime is upon him. Margarito will be ready. And the hype will be plenty. Believe that.
So what if Margarito wins? And then what do we do? Maybe there will be no more Mayweather/Pacquiao. Maybe there will be no more Floyd Mayweather period.
Source: thesweetscience.com
Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito Covered on HBO's '24/7' -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
The Nov. 13, HBO pay per view clash for the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) title between WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao and ex-champ Antonio Margarito will be the subject of HBO's 30-minute, Oct. 23, "24/7" episode.
The bout between the 31-year-old Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) and the 32-year-old Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs), to be fought at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, will be the first of a four-episode, all-access series, in accordance with a release on Wednesday.
"'24/7' excels when there is great drama, and this fight has it. Manny Pacquiao continues to conquer new challenges in the ring and in his life, while Antonio Margarito returns to the ring having been through a very controversial episode that polarized many in the boxing community," said Ross Greenburg, HBO's president of sports.
"'24/7' will examine all aspects of what has taken place since the night Antonio Margarito fought Shane Mosley," said Greenburg. "We will chronicle the suspension handed down to Margarito and the subsequent reinstatement process."
Episodes No. 2 and No. 3 will debut on subsequent Saturdays -- Oct. 30 at 10 p.m., and Nov. 6 at 10:45 p.m. The finale will debut on Friday, Nov. 12 at 9:30 p.m.
All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand.
The bout is being promoted by Top Rank Promotions.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
The Nov. 13, HBO pay per view clash for the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) title between WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao and ex-champ Antonio Margarito will be the subject of HBO's 30-minute, Oct. 23, "24/7" episode.
The bout between the 31-year-old Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) and the 32-year-old Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs), to be fought at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, will be the first of a four-episode, all-access series, in accordance with a release on Wednesday.
"'24/7' excels when there is great drama, and this fight has it. Manny Pacquiao continues to conquer new challenges in the ring and in his life, while Antonio Margarito returns to the ring having been through a very controversial episode that polarized many in the boxing community," said Ross Greenburg, HBO's president of sports.
"'24/7' will examine all aspects of what has taken place since the night Antonio Margarito fought Shane Mosley," said Greenburg. "We will chronicle the suspension handed down to Margarito and the subsequent reinstatement process."
Episodes No. 2 and No. 3 will debut on subsequent Saturdays -- Oct. 30 at 10 p.m., and Nov. 6 at 10:45 p.m. The finale will debut on Friday, Nov. 12 at 9:30 p.m.
All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand.
The bout is being promoted by Top Rank Promotions.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Texas official explains Margarito licensing -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
While Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito and the rest of the circus wind their way through this week's three-city media tour, which concludes Friday at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas, perhaps the most important person in the whole sideshow is missing.
William Kuntz, who most of you have probably never heard of, is probably working in his office somewhere deep in the heart of Texas while everyone else involved in the fight is off selling it.
Kuntz, more than anyone else, is responsible for Margarito -- convicted of trying to wear loaded gloves into his fight with Shane Mosley in January 2009 -- getting a boxing license so he can face Pacquiao for a vacant junior middleweight Nov. 13 on HBO PPV.
Kuntz made the ultimate decision to license him. Maybe the shameless WBC will even give him a belt for the decision.
Kuntz is the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the agency that overseas, well, licensing and regulation for 29 occupations and industries in the state. Boxing is one of them. It also oversees electricians, barbers, cosmetologists and tow truck operators, among other professions.
California had revoked Margarito's license after the sordid incident before the Mosley fight. It also revoked the license of Margarito's former trainer Javier Capetillo, who wrapped his hands. When 'Cheato re-applied last month in California, the commission voted to deny him a new license on a 5-1 vote. However, just by appearing before the commission, Margarito was then allowed to apply in other states. That's because the Association of Boxing Commissions, which oversees and interprets rules for all state commissions, strongly suggested he go to California before asking any other state. The ABC also strongly urged its members to not consider licensing Margarito until he did so. The result of the California hearing was not important, so long as he showed up.
Margarito did and it became nothing more in Texas than a virtual rubber stamp, which Kuntz applied days later. I have no idea if there were outside pressures on Kuntz to give Margarito the license, but I do know that people like Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wield a lot of influence. I also know that, love the fight or despise the fight, it's going to generate tens of millions of dollars in business. As soon as Margarito appeared before the California board -- where I would have bet anything he was going to be denied -- I knew there was no way he wouldn't get a license in Texas.
Typically, to get a boxing license in Texas all you need to do is fill out the application, provide proper medical paperwork and pay $20. If that happens, the folks in financial services issue the license.
Margarito's case, of course, is high profile. Because of that, his paperwork was flagged and sent to Kuntz.
Despite the controversy over the license in Texas, Kuntz said he was just doing his job when he issued it. In his opinion, he went above what was necessary to review the application, which is not something he does for any run of the mill applicant.
"The application came through the normal process, but because this was a high profile application, they brought it to me to see what should be done," Kuntz told me over the phone.
He said few applications land on his desk. Typically, the ones that do involve boxers applying for licenses who are older than 36 or younger than 18.
Margarito's, of course, did, and he said he was prepared.
"Because of the high profile nature of this, there has been a lot of discussion in the press," said Kuntz, who has been in his position for 11 years. "I've been following the issues and the terms of his revocation. We had gotten a copy of the transcript of the revocation hearing. We listened to the license hearing in California [on Aug. 18] and listened to the discussion there, and the decision they made. And we received a letter from the ABC legal committee" saying state commissions were authorized to license Margarito.
"So that background information was all factored into my decision and his medical information was in order," Kuntz said.
Kuntz said his explanation for issuing the license was based on his reading of the California transcripts. In Margarito's two hearings there, no evidence was ever presented that he knew that his wraps were loaded. Kuntz correctly pointed out that California's decision was based on the notion that Margarito "should have known" what was in his wraps.
"They didn't make a finding that he knew something was done improperly, just that he should have known," said Kuntz, who once denied Mike Tyson a license during his search for one following the Evander Holyfield ear bite. "The finders of fact [in California] made that decision that he should have known rather than he did know. I'm going to rely on the finders of fact because they heard the original testimony."
Kuntz said the cases of Tyson and Margarito are different. He denied Tyson because he knew he had bitten Holyfield. He licensed Margarito because the California finding said he didn't know he had illegal inserts in his wraps.
"We went through a similar atmosphere when Mike Tyson came here and everybody weighed in," Kuntz said. "But we need to look at our laws and rules and the facts presented to us and make a decision."
Now the decision is made whether any of us like it or not, and Margarito will lace 'em up in Texas.
As Kuntz said of the moments in which his hands are being wrapped by new trainer Robert Garcia, "I'm sure with all the publicity, that will be something to watch very carefully."
Source: espn.go.com
While Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito and the rest of the circus wind their way through this week's three-city media tour, which concludes Friday at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas, perhaps the most important person in the whole sideshow is missing.
William Kuntz, who most of you have probably never heard of, is probably working in his office somewhere deep in the heart of Texas while everyone else involved in the fight is off selling it.
Kuntz, more than anyone else, is responsible for Margarito -- convicted of trying to wear loaded gloves into his fight with Shane Mosley in January 2009 -- getting a boxing license so he can face Pacquiao for a vacant junior middleweight Nov. 13 on HBO PPV.
Kuntz made the ultimate decision to license him. Maybe the shameless WBC will even give him a belt for the decision.
Kuntz is the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the agency that overseas, well, licensing and regulation for 29 occupations and industries in the state. Boxing is one of them. It also oversees electricians, barbers, cosmetologists and tow truck operators, among other professions.
California had revoked Margarito's license after the sordid incident before the Mosley fight. It also revoked the license of Margarito's former trainer Javier Capetillo, who wrapped his hands. When 'Cheato re-applied last month in California, the commission voted to deny him a new license on a 5-1 vote. However, just by appearing before the commission, Margarito was then allowed to apply in other states. That's because the Association of Boxing Commissions, which oversees and interprets rules for all state commissions, strongly suggested he go to California before asking any other state. The ABC also strongly urged its members to not consider licensing Margarito until he did so. The result of the California hearing was not important, so long as he showed up.
Margarito did and it became nothing more in Texas than a virtual rubber stamp, which Kuntz applied days later. I have no idea if there were outside pressures on Kuntz to give Margarito the license, but I do know that people like Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wield a lot of influence. I also know that, love the fight or despise the fight, it's going to generate tens of millions of dollars in business. As soon as Margarito appeared before the California board -- where I would have bet anything he was going to be denied -- I knew there was no way he wouldn't get a license in Texas.
Typically, to get a boxing license in Texas all you need to do is fill out the application, provide proper medical paperwork and pay $20. If that happens, the folks in financial services issue the license.
Margarito's case, of course, is high profile. Because of that, his paperwork was flagged and sent to Kuntz.
Despite the controversy over the license in Texas, Kuntz said he was just doing his job when he issued it. In his opinion, he went above what was necessary to review the application, which is not something he does for any run of the mill applicant.
"The application came through the normal process, but because this was a high profile application, they brought it to me to see what should be done," Kuntz told me over the phone.
He said few applications land on his desk. Typically, the ones that do involve boxers applying for licenses who are older than 36 or younger than 18.
Margarito's, of course, did, and he said he was prepared.
"Because of the high profile nature of this, there has been a lot of discussion in the press," said Kuntz, who has been in his position for 11 years. "I've been following the issues and the terms of his revocation. We had gotten a copy of the transcript of the revocation hearing. We listened to the license hearing in California [on Aug. 18] and listened to the discussion there, and the decision they made. And we received a letter from the ABC legal committee" saying state commissions were authorized to license Margarito.
"So that background information was all factored into my decision and his medical information was in order," Kuntz said.
Kuntz said his explanation for issuing the license was based on his reading of the California transcripts. In Margarito's two hearings there, no evidence was ever presented that he knew that his wraps were loaded. Kuntz correctly pointed out that California's decision was based on the notion that Margarito "should have known" what was in his wraps.
"They didn't make a finding that he knew something was done improperly, just that he should have known," said Kuntz, who once denied Mike Tyson a license during his search for one following the Evander Holyfield ear bite. "The finders of fact [in California] made that decision that he should have known rather than he did know. I'm going to rely on the finders of fact because they heard the original testimony."
Kuntz said the cases of Tyson and Margarito are different. He denied Tyson because he knew he had bitten Holyfield. He licensed Margarito because the California finding said he didn't know he had illegal inserts in his wraps.
"We went through a similar atmosphere when Mike Tyson came here and everybody weighed in," Kuntz said. "But we need to look at our laws and rules and the facts presented to us and make a decision."
Now the decision is made whether any of us like it or not, and Margarito will lace 'em up in Texas.
As Kuntz said of the moments in which his hands are being wrapped by new trainer Robert Garcia, "I'm sure with all the publicity, that will be something to watch very carefully."
Source: espn.go.com
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