BY KEITH IDEC, NorthJersey.com
Glen Tapia plans to compete at boxing’s elite level one day.
Manny Pacquiao plans to teach him how to get there.
The undefeated Tapia, a fast-rising junior middleweight prospect from Passaic, has been hired as Pacquiao’s primary sparring partner for the Filipino superstar’s Nov. 13 fight against Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium. Tapia will leave today for Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Calif., where they’ll train for several days until leaving late next week for Pacquiao’s training camp in the Philippines.
"I’m going to learn how one of the greatest world champions trains, how he fights, everything," Tapia, 20, said. "It’s a great opportunity for me."
North Arlington’s Carl Moretti helped establish the Pacquiao-Tapia partnership while discussing potential sparring partners with Roach, Pacquiao’s respected trainer, during a three-city U.S. media tour to promote the HBO Pay-Per-View fight last week.
"Freddie was looking to give Manny a different look in this training camp," said Moretti, vice president of boxing operations for Top Rank Inc., which promotes Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) and Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs, 1 NC). "He was looking for a young, aggressive kid to give Manny something to think about, so that it’s not the same old thing. Glen was the first kid that came to my mind. He’s built a little like Margarito. He’s right-handed, he throws a lot of punches and he’ll give it his all."
Tapia (7-0, 5 KOs) was supposed to meet Miami’s Edvan Barros (10-10-1, 7 KOs) in a six-round fight Saturday night in Las Vegas, but the fight was canceled two weeks ago. Tapia continued training at the Passaic PAL boxing gym, so he’ll head to Pacquiao’s homeland in good condition for at least five weeks of sparring.
Tapia expects Pacquiao’s training camp to be more challenging than the training camp he experienced with Ghana’s Joshua Clottey last year. Tapia was Clottey’s primary sparring partner for Clottey’s split-decision defeat to Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto 15 months ago at Madison Square Garden.
Pacquiao dominated Clottey (35-4, 20 KOs, 1 NC) in their welterweight title fight March 13 at Cowboys Stadium.
"Pacquiao’s going to throw way more punches than Clottey, and I throw a lot of punches," Tapia said. "So I think it’s going to be very explosive sparring. I’m very excited to see how the first sparring [session] goes. I’m not going to just stand there and take his punches. I’m going to go in there ready to go at it."
INVADING GERMANY: Samuel Peter is extremely thankful that Alexander Povetkin passed on a mandatory title shot and provided him with another shot at Wladimir Klitschko. He intends to prove it before 45,000 Klitschko-loving fans during their IBF/WBO heavyweight championship rematch Saturday in Frankfurt, Germany.
The Nigerian-born Peter (34-3, 27 KOs) knocked down Klitschko three times during their first fight, but Klitschko survived Peter’s power and won nine of the 12 rounds, 114-111, on all three scorecards nearly five years ago in Atlantic City. At least one of the knockdowns was questionable because Peter hit Klitschko behind the head.
The 6-foot-7, 245-pound Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs) is now boxing’s most dominant heavyweight since Lennox Lewis retired 6 1/2 years ago.
"This time around, I’ve got my referee and my judge," Peter, 30, said. "My referee is my right hand and my judge is my left hook. So no question about it this time around. He will not get up from my hook."
Ukraine’s Klitschko, 34, hardly has lost any of the 73 rounds he has started in nine straight bouts he has won since Peter tested him at Boardwalk Hall. Klitschko’s safety-first style has frustrated American premium cable executives, however, to the point that they’ve stopped paying large license fees to televise his fights in the United States.
His rematch against Peter, his most dangerous fight since the first time they met, won’t be televised live in the United States. It will be available live at 5 p.m. on ESPN3.com, a subscription-based web site, and will be broadcast on ESPN on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
COMPLETELY COMMITTED: Peter’s shoddy conditioning has cost the former WBC champion in many of his title fights, but his new trainer believes he has learned from merely relying on his power to win fights.
"I think the dedication has been the big difference that I’ve seen in Sam," said Abel Sanchez, Peter’s trainer since May 2009. "I’ve been able to keep him in the gym six, sometimes seven days a week. … I think in the past he has allowed outside influences to contribute to his lack of dedication, his lack of commitment. The discipline, this time, has been there, for me, anyway."
Peter has knocked out each of the four opponents he has faced since Sanchez started training him, but none of them were world class-caliber heavyweights.
E-mail: idec@northjersey.com Blog: northjersey.com/ringposts
Source: northjersey.com
Friday, 10 September 2010
Manny Pacquiao What Do You See When You Look in the Mirror? -- Ringside Report
By “Bad” Brad Berkwitt, Ringside Report
How does it happen? Is it greed? Bad business or maybe a combination of both? On November 13, 2010, the number one Pound for Pound boxer in the sport today Manny Pacquiao, 51-3-2, 38 KO’s goes against known cheater Antonio “Hands of Plaster” Margarito, 38-6, 27 KO’s at the Cowboys Stadium for the vacant WBC Light Middleweight Title.
This fight is a sham! By far the worst thing that has happened to boxing in a long time and that includes bad decisions, ridiculous sanctioned title fights and shame on the WBC who is allowing this fight to be contested for their strap. What did “Hands of Plaster” do to deserve a title shot? He was destroyed in nine rounds against a faded Sugar Shane Mosley without his “Special Weapon”. In his most recent appearance this past May, he was taken the distance by a nondescript opponent named Roberto Garcia who when there was no Plaster of Paris applied to his wraps, he couldn’t stop him going the full ten rounds.
Manny Pacquiao was all that was good in boxing. A man who rose from the depths of poverty and hooked up with a Class Act in Freddie Roach. This was the manuscript for a great movie. Where did it all go wrong and why? Greed! A greedy promoter, a boxer who allowed money to taint what would have been the right thing to do and that was turning down the fight. Face anybody that deserved a shot, but not a fighter that beat up your fellow boxers by cheating.
Pacquiao can say all that he wants or to pretend this fight is acceptable, but deep down, he knows in his heart how wrong this is for him to take the fight and the long lasting black eye it will leave on a sport that has endured so many black eyes over the years. I still feel Manny is a good man, but money does crazy things to some people. It’s too late for him to call of the fight, but a “Call to Arms” is mandatory whether a boxing fan, or a fan of just Manny Pacquiao, you must tune out on November 13th to show Bob Arum and Manny that they made a really bad business decision.
Manny Pacquiao when you look in the mirror what do you see?
Source: ringsidereport.com
How does it happen? Is it greed? Bad business or maybe a combination of both? On November 13, 2010, the number one Pound for Pound boxer in the sport today Manny Pacquiao, 51-3-2, 38 KO’s goes against known cheater Antonio “Hands of Plaster” Margarito, 38-6, 27 KO’s at the Cowboys Stadium for the vacant WBC Light Middleweight Title.
This fight is a sham! By far the worst thing that has happened to boxing in a long time and that includes bad decisions, ridiculous sanctioned title fights and shame on the WBC who is allowing this fight to be contested for their strap. What did “Hands of Plaster” do to deserve a title shot? He was destroyed in nine rounds against a faded Sugar Shane Mosley without his “Special Weapon”. In his most recent appearance this past May, he was taken the distance by a nondescript opponent named Roberto Garcia who when there was no Plaster of Paris applied to his wraps, he couldn’t stop him going the full ten rounds.Manny Pacquiao was all that was good in boxing. A man who rose from the depths of poverty and hooked up with a Class Act in Freddie Roach. This was the manuscript for a great movie. Where did it all go wrong and why? Greed! A greedy promoter, a boxer who allowed money to taint what would have been the right thing to do and that was turning down the fight. Face anybody that deserved a shot, but not a fighter that beat up your fellow boxers by cheating.
Pacquiao can say all that he wants or to pretend this fight is acceptable, but deep down, he knows in his heart how wrong this is for him to take the fight and the long lasting black eye it will leave on a sport that has endured so many black eyes over the years. I still feel Manny is a good man, but money does crazy things to some people. It’s too late for him to call of the fight, but a “Call to Arms” is mandatory whether a boxing fan, or a fan of just Manny Pacquiao, you must tune out on November 13th to show Bob Arum and Manny that they made a really bad business decision.
Manny Pacquiao when you look in the mirror what do you see?
Source: ringsidereport.com
Floyd Mayweather Sought in Potential Domestic Violence Case -- FanHouse
By FanHouse Staff
As if his recent homophobic tirade against Manny Pacquiao wasn't enough, boxer Floyd Mayweather is apparently under suspicion that he beat up the mother of his child.
TMZ reported that Las Vegas police arrived at Mayweather's home there early Thursday morning after receiving a call from Josie Harris, the mother of Mayweather's child.
TMZ cited law enforcement sources who said they couldn't find Mayweather and were looking to speak with him before determining whether to charge him. According to Officer Barbara Morgan, the 33-year-old Mayweather wasn't at a southwest Las Vegas house when officers responded to the woman's complaint a little after 5 a.m. Thursday. Morgan says the woman alleges Mayweather hit her during an argument.
Harris accused Mayweather of punching and kicking her while the two were in a Bentley in 2003, but the charges were subsequently dropped two years later when Harris testified that she lied because she was upset that Mayweather had left her for another woman.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
As if his recent homophobic tirade against Manny Pacquiao wasn't enough, boxer Floyd Mayweather is apparently under suspicion that he beat up the mother of his child.
TMZ reported that Las Vegas police arrived at Mayweather's home there early Thursday morning after receiving a call from Josie Harris, the mother of Mayweather's child. TMZ cited law enforcement sources who said they couldn't find Mayweather and were looking to speak with him before determining whether to charge him. According to Officer Barbara Morgan, the 33-year-old Mayweather wasn't at a southwest Las Vegas house when officers responded to the woman's complaint a little after 5 a.m. Thursday. Morgan says the woman alleges Mayweather hit her during an argument. Harris accused Mayweather of punching and kicking her while the two were in a Bentley in 2003, but the charges were subsequently dropped two years later when Harris testified that she lied because she was upset that Mayweather had left her for another woman.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Police: Floyd Mayweather Jr. being sought in domestic violence incident -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
Unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is being sought for questioning in Las Vegas after a domestic violence report was given by his former girlfriend early Thursday morning.
The woman, Josie Harris, who Las Vegas Metropolitan Police say has children with Mayweather, summoned multiple police cars at 5:03 a.m. to a southwest Las Vegas home and reported the boxer attacked her. Domestic violence investigators were at the scene, police spokesman Bill Cassell told The Times. The spokesman said Harris was treated at a hospital for "minor injuries" and released.
"At this point, Mr. Mayweather is a suspect in a domestic battery violence case, and we would very much like to speak with him," Cassell said.
Mayweather's spokeswoman had no information about the alleged incident, and attempts to reach his adviser were not immediately successful.
Cassell said details such as what prompted the alleged incident and Harris' specific injuries were "part of the investigation." Asked if Mayweather would be arrested, Cassell said only that, for now, the boxer is a "person of interest."
Mayweather, who last fought May 1 and won a lopsided decision over Shane Mosley in Las Vegas, apologized this week after unleashing a racially charged, expletive-filled video attack on his possible future opponent, Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather's uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, faces a coming criminal trial for allegedly beating a female boxer.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is being sought for questioning in Las Vegas after a domestic violence report was given by his former girlfriend early Thursday morning.
The woman, Josie Harris, who Las Vegas Metropolitan Police say has children with Mayweather, summoned multiple police cars at 5:03 a.m. to a southwest Las Vegas home and reported the boxer attacked her. Domestic violence investigators were at the scene, police spokesman Bill Cassell told The Times. The spokesman said Harris was treated at a hospital for "minor injuries" and released."At this point, Mr. Mayweather is a suspect in a domestic battery violence case, and we would very much like to speak with him," Cassell said.Mayweather's spokeswoman had no information about the alleged incident, and attempts to reach his adviser were not immediately successful.
Cassell said details such as what prompted the alleged incident and Harris' specific injuries were "part of the investigation." Asked if Mayweather would be arrested, Cassell said only that, for now, the boxer is a "person of interest."
Mayweather, who last fought May 1 and won a lopsided decision over Shane Mosley in Las Vegas, apologized this week after unleashing a racially charged, expletive-filled video attack on his possible future opponent, Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather's uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, faces a coming criminal trial for allegedly beating a female boxer.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Outrage to Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s racist rant still missing -- USA Today
By Mike Lopresti, Gannett
One week. I've waited one week for the outrage to pour down on all the verbal trash a boxer named Floyd Mayweather Jr. had to say about another boxer named Manny Pacquiao. And so far, the silence has been deafening, not to mention sad and telling.
Let's be bold and take a wild guess that many of you don't wake up each morning eager for the latest boxing headlines. Vanishing faster than pay phones are Americans who can tell you the name of the heavyweight champion of the world — however many versions there are.
But these are two of the hottest names in the sport, supposedly destined to one day meet in a super fight that would make Las Vegas glow, if they can ever stop bickering about the contract. So you might have heard some of the excerpts from Mayweather's profane and racist Internet video rant about his Filipino rival.
You might have noted this for example: "As soon as we come off vacation, we're going to cook that little yellow chump."
Or this: "Once I stomp that midget, I'll make that mother-(bleeper) make me a sushi roll and cook me some rice."
Or this: "We're going to cook that (bleeper) up with some cats and dogs."
Throw in calling Pacquiao a "whore," along with generous usage of a derogatory F-word normally aimed toward gay males, and you get the general tone.
This was like making a 911 call to the sports precinct of the PC police. Certainly, it rose to the level of Don Imus calling the Rutgers basketball team "nappy-headed hos."
Absolutely, it matched Fuzzy Zoeller's bad joke about Tiger Woods not putting fried chicken and collard greens on the Masters champions dinner.
Positively, it could stand aside Howard Cosell referring to a small Washington Redskins player as "that little monkey."
Imus was fired. Zoeller, once among the most gregarious figures in golf, retreated into the shadows and never quite recovered. Cosell, despite being a stalwart defender of Muhammad Ali in the stormy Vietnam years, was savaged by critics. They all apologized, as Mayweather did, but that did not save them from having reputations burned at the stake.
So I waited for the volcano of indignation. One week. And mostly … nothing.
Nothing from the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who led the charge after Imus and said after the radio host was summarily sacked, "It's a victory for public decency."
Nothing from the Rev. Al Sharpton, who said of Imus: "We cannot afford a precedent establishing that the airwaves can commercialize and mainstream sexism and racism."
The loudest and lonely cry came from the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, which was probably appalled not only by the mean spirit of the words but the errant idea that sushi is regarded as a Filipino dish.
Imagine a major league pitcher talking about Ichiro Suzuki: "My fastball is going to cook that little yellow chump."
Or a defensive end in the NFL talking about Donovan McNabb: "Once I stomp that midget, I'll make him make me fried chicken."
Think there'd be some, ah, ramifications? It'd be headlines and talk show fodder for days. But for whatever reason — plenty to choose from — this vanished like a shooting star.
Is it because nobody cares about boxing? Most Americans can't find the Philippines on a map, so why bother to be offended? The ugly underbelly of the Internet makes us numb to inane ramblings? An African-American athlete is not held to the same standard of sensitivity?
Only a couple of conclusions can be made.
One more time, boxing has given us a reason to dismiss it as a sport that's turned into grimy carnival act.
And many who portray themselves as tireless guardians of the boundaries of decency in discussion on race appear to have very selective criteria for where the line might be.
Source: usatoday.com
One week. I've waited one week for the outrage to pour down on all the verbal trash a boxer named Floyd Mayweather Jr. had to say about another boxer named Manny Pacquiao. And so far, the silence has been deafening, not to mention sad and telling.
Let's be bold and take a wild guess that many of you don't wake up each morning eager for the latest boxing headlines. Vanishing faster than pay phones are Americans who can tell you the name of the heavyweight champion of the world — however many versions there are.
But these are two of the hottest names in the sport, supposedly destined to one day meet in a super fight that would make Las Vegas glow, if they can ever stop bickering about the contract. So you might have heard some of the excerpts from Mayweather's profane and racist Internet video rant about his Filipino rival.
You might have noted this for example: "As soon as we come off vacation, we're going to cook that little yellow chump."
Or this: "Once I stomp that midget, I'll make that mother-(bleeper) make me a sushi roll and cook me some rice."Or this: "We're going to cook that (bleeper) up with some cats and dogs."
Throw in calling Pacquiao a "whore," along with generous usage of a derogatory F-word normally aimed toward gay males, and you get the general tone.
This was like making a 911 call to the sports precinct of the PC police. Certainly, it rose to the level of Don Imus calling the Rutgers basketball team "nappy-headed hos."
Absolutely, it matched Fuzzy Zoeller's bad joke about Tiger Woods not putting fried chicken and collard greens on the Masters champions dinner.
Positively, it could stand aside Howard Cosell referring to a small Washington Redskins player as "that little monkey."
Imus was fired. Zoeller, once among the most gregarious figures in golf, retreated into the shadows and never quite recovered. Cosell, despite being a stalwart defender of Muhammad Ali in the stormy Vietnam years, was savaged by critics. They all apologized, as Mayweather did, but that did not save them from having reputations burned at the stake.
So I waited for the volcano of indignation. One week. And mostly … nothing.
Nothing from the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who led the charge after Imus and said after the radio host was summarily sacked, "It's a victory for public decency."
Nothing from the Rev. Al Sharpton, who said of Imus: "We cannot afford a precedent establishing that the airwaves can commercialize and mainstream sexism and racism."
The loudest and lonely cry came from the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, which was probably appalled not only by the mean spirit of the words but the errant idea that sushi is regarded as a Filipino dish.
Imagine a major league pitcher talking about Ichiro Suzuki: "My fastball is going to cook that little yellow chump."
Or a defensive end in the NFL talking about Donovan McNabb: "Once I stomp that midget, I'll make him make me fried chicken."
Think there'd be some, ah, ramifications? It'd be headlines and talk show fodder for days. But for whatever reason — plenty to choose from — this vanished like a shooting star.
Is it because nobody cares about boxing? Most Americans can't find the Philippines on a map, so why bother to be offended? The ugly underbelly of the Internet makes us numb to inane ramblings? An African-American athlete is not held to the same standard of sensitivity?
Only a couple of conclusions can be made.
One more time, boxing has given us a reason to dismiss it as a sport that's turned into grimy carnival act.
And many who portray themselves as tireless guardians of the boundaries of decency in discussion on race appear to have very selective criteria for where the line might be.
Source: usatoday.com
Shane Mosley: Boxing Needs the Big Fights -- FanHouse
By Michael David Smith, FanHouse
At age 39, Shane Mosley knows that most of his boxing career is behind him. He also knows that in his lifetime, boxing has fallen, and fallen hard.
But Mosley (46-6, 39 knockouts) still believes that he has a few good years left in him, and in those years he says that there's one thing that can cement his own legacy and energize the sport: Make the kinds of big, exciting fights that can bring back the fans who have drifted away through the years.
Mosley's next fight, September 18 against Sergio Mora (21-1-1, six KOs), doesn't exactly have the sports world buzzing the way his last fight, against Floyd Mayweather, did. But Mosley insists that he's going to put on a show in front of his hometown fans at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
"This should be a great fight. Sergio Mora is definitely a competitor and he's coming to fight," said Mosley. "He's the right opponent right now because he's tough, he's bigger than me, it's in LA and fighting at the Staples Center in front of 20,000 people is exciting. It's very important for me to fight there and give the hometown fans a chance to see me up close, and I'm predicting a knockout."
Talk to Mosley and you'll hear him say that all of his focus is on Mora. But in the next breath he talks about the big fights he thinks he has ahead of him against bigger names.
"I think I have about three or four more years left in me," Mosley said. "Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Floyd Mayweather, Antonio Margarito -- those are the four top fighters right now and those are the guys people want to see me fight. Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran all fought each other in round robins and we should be the same way. That's what people want to see, that's what boxing needs right now. We have to give the fans what they want: Great fights."
Great fights are absolutely what the sport needs. The refusal of Mayweather and Pacquiao to fight each other has been a dark cloud hanging over boxing in the last year, and Mosley knows that everything -- even his own fights fall short of the firepower that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao would provide.
"Mayweather and Pacquiao need to get together and make it happen," said Mosley, who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. "But I don't think either one of them's going to budge."
And so Mosley tries to push his own fights as the ones boxing fans want, and insists that even at 39 he has plenty of good fights left in him.
Asked if being 10 years older than his opponent in Mora (pictured at right) is a problem, Mosley said, "We'll find out when we get in the ring but I don't think so. I've been in the ring with a lot of younger guys. Age doesn't cross my mind when I get in the ring. When I'm in the gym it definitely doesn't cross my mind because I'm doing so well with 21-year-old, 25-year-old kids. I'm holding my own."
If Mosley can do more than just hold his own against Mora, he'll have more big fights ahead of him. even as he heads into his 40s.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
At age 39, Shane Mosley knows that most of his boxing career is behind him. He also knows that in his lifetime, boxing has fallen, and fallen hard.
But Mosley (46-6, 39 knockouts) still believes that he has a few good years left in him, and in those years he says that there's one thing that can cement his own legacy and energize the sport: Make the kinds of big, exciting fights that can bring back the fans who have drifted away through the years.
Mosley's next fight, September 18 against Sergio Mora (21-1-1, six KOs), doesn't exactly have the sports world buzzing the way his last fight, against Floyd Mayweather, did. But Mosley insists that he's going to put on a show in front of his hometown fans at the Staples Center in Los Angeles."This should be a great fight. Sergio Mora is definitely a competitor and he's coming to fight," said Mosley. "He's the right opponent right now because he's tough, he's bigger than me, it's in LA and fighting at the Staples Center in front of 20,000 people is exciting. It's very important for me to fight there and give the hometown fans a chance to see me up close, and I'm predicting a knockout."
Talk to Mosley and you'll hear him say that all of his focus is on Mora. But in the next breath he talks about the big fights he thinks he has ahead of him against bigger names.
"I think I have about three or four more years left in me," Mosley said. "Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Floyd Mayweather, Antonio Margarito -- those are the four top fighters right now and those are the guys people want to see me fight. Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran all fought each other in round robins and we should be the same way. That's what people want to see, that's what boxing needs right now. We have to give the fans what they want: Great fights."
Great fights are absolutely what the sport needs. The refusal of Mayweather and Pacquiao to fight each other has been a dark cloud hanging over boxing in the last year, and Mosley knows that everything -- even his own fights fall short of the firepower that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao would provide.
"Mayweather and Pacquiao need to get together and make it happen," said Mosley, who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. "But I don't think either one of them's going to budge."
And so Mosley tries to push his own fights as the ones boxing fans want, and insists that even at 39 he has plenty of good fights left in him.
Asked if being 10 years older than his opponent in Mora (pictured at right) is a problem, Mosley said, "We'll find out when we get in the ring but I don't think so. I've been in the ring with a lot of younger guys. Age doesn't cross my mind when I get in the ring. When I'm in the gym it definitely doesn't cross my mind because I'm doing so well with 21-year-old, 25-year-old kids. I'm holding my own."
If Mosley can do more than just hold his own against Mora, he'll have more big fights ahead of him. even as he heads into his 40s.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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