TEDDY ATLAS IS A PACQUIAO HATER WITH OLD SCHOOL BIAS -- Now Boxing

By Don Donatello, NowBoxing.com

Teddy Atlas will be at his PacHating best before, during, and after the Marquez/Pacquiao III fight. He will thump his chest how Manny Pacquiao’s win over Juan Manuel Marquez was empty and at the same time give Mayweather’s victory over Marquez a thumbs up, make that two thumbs up. Atlas will repeat how the old days were better in boxing than the current state.

As evident in every Olympics, records are being broken because today’s athletes are bigger, stronger, faster, quicker, better trained, and over all better athletes. Of course Atlas has no clue that today’s athletes also include boxers. Do you guys think Atlas knows that boxing is also an Olympic event?

Of course Atlas is incapable of knowing that in the olden days boxers used tomato cans to stay in shape between big fights.

In July of 1949 Sugar Ray Robinson beat Kid Gavilan in a World Welterweight Title fight. In Robinson’s next seven fights after beating Gavilan, it consisted of the following:

8/24-1949 Steve Belloise 90-10-3

9/09-1949 Benny Evans 33-36-5

9/12- 1949 Charley Dodson 38-29-4

11/9-1949 Don Lee 46-17-9

11/13-1949 Vern Lester 25-25-12

2/30-1950 George LaRover 66-26-6

2/13-1950 Al Mobley 50-26-1950

In another stretch after Robinson loss to Joey Maxim in June 25th of 1952, his next five fights were:

1/5-1955 Joe Rindone 36-13-4

1/19-1955 Ralph Jones 32-12-3

3/29-1955 Johnny Lombardo 32-12-2

4/14-1955 Ted Olla 36-18-2

5/4-1955 Garth Panter 56-19-3

Another stretch. After Robinson loss to Gene Fulmer in March 4rth of 1961, his next four opponents were:

9/25-1961 Wilf Greaves 34-20-1

10/21-1961 Denny Moyer 30-5-0

11/20-1961 Al Hauser 7-15-2

10/21-1961 Denny Moyer 30-6-0

4/27-1962 Bobby Lee 0-1-0

As you can see, Atlas fails at his argument how the old boxers were better than today’s. He always brings up how many and how often the old time boxers were fighting. Could you imagine if Pacquiao fought someone with a 33-36-5 record after a championship fight like Robinson did.

It just shows you how bias Teddy Atlas is to the old school.

And let’s see Atlas’ failed predictions that he made on ESPN. Is ESPN actually paying this guy? I need to call ESPN.

Mosley over Cotto
De La Hoya over Mayweather
Kessler over Calzaghe
Mayorga over Oscar Dela Hoya
Thompson over Klitschko
Barrera over Pacquioa in rematch
Ibragimov over Wlad
Margarito over Mosley

Source: nowboxing.com

De La Hoya Apologizes To Arum and Pacquiao Via Twitter...WOODS -- The Sweet Science

By Michael Woods, The Sweet Science

This is a brand new age we live in, isn't it? Oscar De La Hoya is doing some 12 step work, it looks like, via Twitter.

The retired fighter, currently in rehab battling cocaine and booze issues, according to the gossip site TMZ, took to Twitter to make some amends on Thursday afternoon. (I cleaned up the Tweets for spelling and grammar and such).

"Dear Bob Arum, first I would like to humbly apologize for any pain I have caused to you and or your family. I also want to apologize to Manny Pacquiao for any wrong doing in my part. You are a great champion. I have realized that by accepting my mistakes everyone around me will hopefully forgive me. With great humility I ask we work together for the good of the sport we dearly love. It is not fair to the fans and to the fighters. So today let's move forward and put on the best fights possible and show the world what we are capable of doing. Thank you Bob. Your friend Oscar

Simply stunning, no?

Cynics out there might see this as mere posturing, or inappropriate gestures which would be better suited to a behind-closed-door meeting.

I disagree; I applaud Oscar firmly, because he is indeed humbling himself to a humongous audience.

Sure, there is a calculating nature to the plea for everyone to get along. But Oscar's right, the fans will benefit if Arum and Oscar and Schaefer and Pacquiao, and yes, Mayweather too, can move beyond sniping. We in the media don't help matters by focusing on the mud slinging, and encouraging it by serving it up the a hungry public. Let us all follow Oscar's lead, and admit our culpability, so we can move forward, and not wallow, which only enriches some lawyers who don't need enriching.

Oscar, we at TSS appreciate your public displays of humility, and encourage all parties to get over past bad blood. Keep it professional, keep it classy, and keep the sport advancing. Your friends at TSS

Source: thesweetscience.com

Juan Manuel Marquez enlists doctors for Pacquiao battle -- Examiner

By Ricardo Lois, Examiner.com

With a November 12 battle against Manny Pacquiao announced for a catchweight of 144 pounds, lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez will be adding weight to his frame with the help of doctors.

"I will come in at a higher weight than normal," said Marquez, "but I will have doctors monitoring my progress."

The highest Marquez has ever weigh-in for a fight was 142 pounds against Floyd Mayweather, a fight where he was knocked down and lost by a wide unanimous decision on the score cards.

Since that 2008 let down, Marquez weighed in at 133 1/2 and 134 pound for fights with Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis, respectively.

Though Marquez feels he needs to add weight to face Pacquiao - whose average weigh-in has been 145 pounds for his last fights, mainting speed is a focus.

"Matching Pacquiao's speed and rhythm are key," said Marquez. "The doctors I work with will help me maintain my speed."

This will be the third bout between Marquez and Pacquiao, with Pacquiao owning a win and both men sharing a draw.

Source: examiner.com

Freddie Roach gets show on HBO -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Star boxing trainer Freddie Roach is used to having cameras follow him around when he is preparing pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao for fights.

Now, he will take center stage as the star of a new six-episode unscripted primetime series, "On Freddie Roach," which is slated to debut in early 2012 on HBO.

Pacquiao has been the subject of multiple editions of HBO's "24/7" as well as the recent "Fight Camp 360" on Showtime while getting ready to fight Shane Mosley earlier this month. Roach was a big part of those series, but still a supporting player.

This series, announced Tuesday, includes filmmaker Peter Berg and HBO blow-by-blow announcer Jim Lampley among its executive producers. It will focus on Roach and his daily life working with fighters at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., as well as his daily battle with Parkinson's disease.

"I am used to it," Roach told ESPN.com about having the cameras around him constantly. "Pretty much the same deal as '24/7' and 'Fight Camp' with cameras there at 5 a.m. and waking me up. They have the keys to my house to get in.

"It's going to be my life at home and mostly everything in the gym leading up to fights. It doesn't bother me having the cameras around. Sometimes it gets overwhelming and if it does, I tell them to go home."

The cameras will follow Roach as he works with his fighters, including Pacquiao, junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan and middleweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and as he manages his new role working with USA Boxing.

Roach recently accepted an unpaid role with the amateur organization to bring several young fighters to his gym who are leading contenders to make the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.

"They put together a really good idea of people looking into my life from the outside," Roach said. "The thing is it will give people a look at what my life is like. I have a great life and with the Olympic team thing coming up and Manny and Amir having fights, I hope people will find it interesting."

"We are truly excited about this innovative new reality series that will allow HBO to partner with Peter Berg," Michael Lombardo, president of HBO Programming, said. "Freddie Roach is an extraordinary person and many of our subscribers are familiar with his superior work in training some of the world's premier fighters. This will be a fascinating and unique series."

The show began filming about 10 days before Pacquiao's May 7 welterweight title defense against Mosley, which Pacquiao won in a lopsided decision. His next fight is slated for Nov. 12 against rival Juan Manuel Marquez. Khan opened training camp on Monday to prepare for a July 23 title defense. His opponent is expected to be set this week.

"We start filming more of the show this week. They stopped in (Tuesday) to get a look at the gym and see the atmosphere and see who the characters are at my gym. I have some interesting friends," Roach said with a laugh. "This show will give a broader picture of my life and the people I take care of and the people that take care of me. It will be much broader than just getting one fighter ready for a fight. You're not going to catch me at home too often though. The gym will be the focal point of the show."

HBO Sports originally rejected the series and it was picked up by AMC for development. But after creative differences with AMC, HBO got another opportunity and decided to pick it up.

"HBO's enthusiasm in supporting a less-conventional, vérité style of storytelling is why they continue to create original and truly innovative programming," Berg said. "It's why they are the best and we are very excited to be working with them."

Roach, 51, a native of Dedham, Mass., who now lives in Hollywood, was a longtime professional fighter, which many believe is the cause of his Parkinson's. As a trainer, he has worked with numerous champions, and earlier this month he collected his third trainer of the year award in a row -- and fifth overall -- from the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter @danrafaelespn.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Pacquiao-Marquez III: A Six-Pac Of Signing Subplots -- The Sweet Science

By Eric Raskin, The Sweet Science

Three years ago, on the day after Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez II, I wrote a column for ESPN.com entitled “The Pacquiao-Marquez Postfight Six-Pac.” After tense back and forth discussions and negotiations with myself, I have permitted myself to steal intellectual property from me, and so, now that Pacquiao-Marquez III is officially signed, I’ve put together a prefight “six-Pac” of subplots worth discussing. With Pacquiao vs. Marquez the matchup on everybody’s mind, here are six underlying matchups worth watching for in the weeks and months ahead:

1. Size vs. Style

This is what’s at the root of the debate currently taking over the blogosphere/podcast-o-sphere/message-board-o-sphere: Is this a competitive fight or a mismatch? If you’re championing it as a competitive fight (as I am, more or less), you’re basing that on the belief that Marquez has proven his style gives Pacquiao fits, and it’s a style unlike anything Pac-Man has seen since his one-point split decision over JMM in ’08. If you’re decrying it as a mismatch, you’re basing that on the belief that Pacquiao has outgrown Marquez since their last fight and, at a contract weight of 144 pounds, Pacquiao will be at his most effective and “Dinamita” will be at his least effective.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’d rather have seen the fighters agree to meet at 140, a weight I firmly believe Manny can still make (since his team has repeatedly insisted he has to trap several pounds of food in his moustache and goatee just to tip the scales at 145). But to me, it’s more about what Marquez weighs than what Pacquiao weighs. Marquez, regardless of the contract weight, should still train to be about 135 pounds or so—in shape, comfortable, no spare tire like we saw against Floyd Mayweather. The better condition Marquez is in, the quicker he’ll be, and the more he can offset whatever poundage he’s giving away.

This is an unusual situation in that almost nobody is picking Marquez to win, but many of us endorse the fight anyway. Perhaps we’ve just been beaten down by the parade of matches (Josh Clottey, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley) for which you couldn’t find anyone at all picking against Pacquiao. But what I see here is an opponent who, at any weight, knows how to time and hit Pacquiao. Yes, it’s possible the size difference will influence each man’s ability to take the other’s punch. It’s possible Pacquiao will blow Marquez out, as he nearly did in their first meeting seven years ago. But whatever the outcome, I want to see Pacquiao face someone with a style that isn’t made to order. Marquez MIGHT give Pacquiao fits again. That’s good enough to get me supporting Pacquiao-Marquez III.

2. HBO vs. Showtime

This will be a fascinating behind-the-scenes battle, and the roles are very different now: Showtime is the incumbent, and the onus is on HBO to blow Bob Arum away with a marketing package that outdoes what Showtime and CBS can do. HBO’s parent company, Time Warner, does not own any of the “big four” free networks. But it owns TNT and TBS, which are the same as a free network to any household that would ever consider ordering a pay-per-view fight. It owns CNN and might be able to promise Arum extra news coverage leading up to the Pacquiao-Marquez fight on that channel. It owns Sports Illustrated, which means HBO might be able to guarantee that Pacquiao goes on the cover the week of the fight.

There’s a lot at stake here; without Pacquiao in the fold and without Mayweather in anybody’s fold, HBO is in danger of going the entire year without a major moneymaker on pay-per-view. Ross Greenburg and company will be bending over backward to please, while Ken Hershman and company will be equally motivated to hold onto the biggest star in the sport and put their competitors in a world of hurt. Pacquiao vs. Marquez MIGHT be a two-way slugfest; HBO vs. Showtime definitely WILL be.

3. Top Rank vs. Golden Boy

Even those who weren’t excited to see Pacquiao-Marquez III consummated expressed delight over Lance Pugmire’s report in the L.A. Times that Arum met face to face with Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions (to politely pry Marquez away from him) and that the meeting ended “in a burst of goodwill, with handshakes.”

Look, Top Rank doesn’t need Golden Boy all that badly right now. But GBP could greatly benefit from matching some of its fighters against Top Rank’s and eventually getting its finger in the Pacquiao pie again. So Schaefer, intelligently, let Marquez go without kicking up much of a fuss. (Well, he kicked up a little fuss initially, but rolled over in the end.) If Top Rank and Golden Boy start working together again, as Arum said he expects they will, it’s a huge victory for both promotional companies and for the fight fans.

And, not to set everyone up for disappointment by being overly optimistic, but if that Mayweather guy ever decides he wants to risk his perfect record against Pacquiao and make $40-million or so to do it, this would be one less obstacle to stand in the way of the fight the world has been demanding for the last two years.

4. Juan Manuel Marquez vs. David Diaz

This is a tough one to wrap my head around. Why exactly would Marquez risk blowing his $5-million (at least) payday with a keep-busy fight against Diaz on July 2? If something goes wrong here, it ends the 18-year reign of Michael Bentt-Tommy Morrison as the go-to example of a tuneup-turned-tragedy. And it’s not impossible for something to go wrong here. Ninety-eight times out of 100, JMM whips Diaz with all the bones removed from his hands and his feet tied together. But one time out of 100, Marquez gets a nasty cut from a clash of heads. And one time out of 100, Diaz catches him with the perfect punch.

For fans of symmetry, perhaps it’s pleasing that the very same tuneup opponent Pacquiao butchered after the second Marquez fight will be presented to Marquez three years later. But for fans of sanity, it’s shocking that Marquez-Diaz could actually happen. There are ways to stay sharp by simulating a fight in the gym while wearing headgear and not taking any chance of suffering an official defeat. But if Marquez vs. Diaz goes forward, it’s a tuneup that the boxing world will be watching nervously and intently.

5. Urine vs. Steroids

These serve as a diversion from some of the serious subplots, and it can’t be denied that we’ll hear plenty about both of these substances entering the fighters’ bodies over the next few months. You can’t build to a Marquez fight anymore without acknowledging that the man likes to get his drinkle on. (Do I get credit for that one on UrbanDictionary.com?) And as we’ve sadly come to learn, every phony story about Pacquiao ’roiding up will create a hurricane of interest and retweeting from his detractors.

Throughout the buildup to Pacquiao-Marquez III, we will see/hear/read about what these fighters are or aren’t putting into their bodies. One will be unimportant and will serve to amuse and entertain. The other will be highly important and will serve to stir up fabricated controversy.

And it’s probably only a matter of time until an unnamed source blogs about how he watched Manny shoot up, then pee into a cup, then Marquez drank the pee and got juiced up himself. Let the reckless tweeting begin.

6. Floyd Mayweather vs. Anybody

The sixth subplot of this six-Pac was supposed to be Timothy Bradley vs. Amir Khan, a fight that, a few days ago, looked like it was poised to come together now that Bradley’s dream of fighting Pacquiao in the fall had been dashed by the Pacquiao-Marquez signing. So I wrote a few staggeringly brilliant paragraphs about this battle for undisputed junior welterweight supremacy. And then Bradley took his reputation for doing damage by using his head to a new level. Instead of relying on his fighter’s instinct and signing for the fight, he found a way to convince himself he has better options. I’m pretty sure he’s wrong, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Instead, the discussion turns to the name that lurks in the background of every Pacquiao fight. The Pacquiao vs. Mayweather talk hasn’t slowed down—at least not among the mainstream observers and general sports show talking heads—and the rumor mill will churn over the next few months as to whether and when Mayweather will fight again. Pacquiao-Marquez III is still almost six months away; will Floyd fight in the interim? In terms of a possible opponent, the name that keeps popping up is Paul Spadafora. (You know, because Pito Cardona isn’t available and Stefano Zoff wants too much money.)

Whether he takes a tuneup, a real fight, or no fight at all, Mayweather’s name will swim about the Pacquiao-Marquez proceedings. It’s a constant subplot.

Maybe the Vegas casinos will even post lines on whether “Money” will fight again this year. If they do, look for Mayweather to place bets on both sides. It seems he hasn’t made his mind up yet, and he’s going to want to be able to show us the winning ticket either way.

Eric Raskin can be contacted at RaskinBoxing@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can follow him on Twitter @EricRaskin and listen to new episodes of his podcast, Ring Theory, at http://ringtheory.podbean.com.

Source: thesweetscience.com

Roach Says Juan Manuel Marquez Has Given Manny Problems Like No Other -- The Sweet Science

By Ron Borges, The Sweet Science

It has been too long in coming and so you have to wonder if it’s too late getting here, even though short of one other possibility it’s the only fight most people want to see Manny Pacquiao in.

With the stalemate between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. dragging on into its third year, promoter Bob Arum announced as expected last week that he’d reached agreement with Juan Manuel Marquez for a Nov. 12 showdown with Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas that would complete boxing’s best trilogy since Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti retired.

Marquez is the one fighter who has given Pacquiao fits, his style sometimes mesmerizing him and often leading him into traps where trouble brewed. The result has been two controversial endings, the first a 2004 draw when both were featherweights and the second a 2008 split decision for Pacquiao when they fought as 130-pound junior lightweights.

In both cases many observers felt Marquez deserved the win, most especially in their remarkable first fight in which Pacquiao dropped Marquez three times in the opening round but didn’t win three minutes of the rest of the fight as the remarkably resilient and resourceful Marquez not only fought his way back into the fight but to the point where, in this corner at least, it seemed his hand should have been raised.

The second fight was nearly as debatable, although a stronger case could be made for Pacquiao that time even though it didn’t seem from this corner that he’d done enough to win. Or rather, to be fair, it seemed that once again Marquez had done more to win.

That three long years have passed between their last meeting and this one does not bode well for Marquez, however, because while he has remained a lightweight, Pacquiao has blossomed into a full-fledged welterweight who has seemingly retained all the speed and power he brought to the lighter weight divisions while losing nothing, including any fights since adding another 15 pounds.

Equally concerning is the fact Marquez will be 38 by the time they touch gloves (message of Shane Mosley: they’ll only once, and barely) and go at each other a third time. Marquez remains in good shape and still among the most skilled fighters in the world but there have been clear signs of slippage in him that have not been evident in the 32-year-old Pacquiao.

He was badly beaten by Mayweather in his only previous foray into the welterweight division – where to be honest he looked under-sized and over-matched – and has been dropped by Michael Katsidis before giving him a schooling in a TKO victory. One could excuse the Mayweather loss because he may still be the best fighter in the world and one could argue he came back strong to stop Katsidis, stopped the somewhat faded Joel Casamayor and twice beat up Juan Diaz since losing that split decision to Marquez so whatever slippage occurred has been slight.

That may be true but any slippage against a fighter as strong, quick and aggressive as Pacquiao could prove fatal for Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KO), especially since he will be forced to fight at a catchweight of 144 pounds.

What that weight means is that Pacquiao is giving away nothing. Despite the fact the welterweight division has a 147-pound limit, he seldom gets much above 143 so he will not be dieting down. Meanwhile Marquez will have to come up nine pounds from the 135 he’ll fight in July when he defends the WBA and WBO lightweight titles he holds against former champion David Diaz. Coincidentally, that’s the same Diaz Roach saw as the turning point for Pacquiao.

Yet other than Mayweather is there another fighter fans would rather see Pacquiao face? Zab Judah? Timothy Bradley? Selcuk Aydin? Mike Jones? No, no, 1000 times no.

Some floated the idea of Pacquiao moving up to middleweight to challenge Sergio Martinez but trainer Freddie Roach quickly squelched that idea as, to be kind, ridiculous because of the size difference (five inches in height, eight inches in reach, true middleweight vs. junior welterweight at best). That left Mayweather, Marquez and everyone else and with Mayweather still seemingly semi-retired and everyone else of little interest to the public the logical challenge is Marquez, who has always felt he won both of their encounters and didn’t get the decisions only because of the greater power of Pacquiao’s celebrity.

Whatever the truth or not of that, even Roach concedes no one has given Pacquiao the kind of problems Marquez has in the past.

“One hundred per cent,’’ Roach said when asked if he believed Marquez had given Pacquiao more problems than anyone he’d faced since Erik Morales beat him six years ago when he was a one-armed and one dimensional fighter.

“Marquez is a difficult fighter. Very skilled. Very steady. Very resourceful. But my fighter is a better fighter now than he was then. Manny could only move in one direction and he only punched with the right hand then.

“The (David) Diaz fight (which came immediately after the second Marquez fight) was the turning point. Everything started to fit together. In the Oscar fight it all did. Marquez is a tough guy. A great fighter. But Manny is a better fighter than he was before.’’

Depending on how you look at the outcome of those fights two fights and the ravages of age and size on Juan Manuel Marquez, he may have to be.

Source: thesweetscience.com

Manny Pacquiao May Not Like Condoms, But Why Punish Filipino Women? -- UN Dispatch

By Mark Leon Goldberg, UN Dispatch

Manny Pacquiao is a championship boxer from the Philippines. “Pac Man,” as he is affectionately known, is arguably the most popular Filipino around the world. Boxing fans love the prize fighter for his agility and the ease with which he has taken down some tough, established opponents. At home, he has harnessed his fame in a political career as a member of parliament.

He’ a very exciting boxer. He also, apparently, has extremist views on contraception.

God said, ‘Go out and multiply.’ He did not say, just have two or three kids,” Pacquiao said.

“It’s sinful to use condoms and commit abortion,” he said and when questioned about overpopulation said “my parents were poor… they had four children, it was very difficult but we persevered.”

He uttered those words in the midst of a big national debate over whether or not the Philippines parliament (of which Pacquiao is a member) should adopt a national reproductive health bill. That bill, which is being championed by Prime Minister Benigno Aquino, would provide for sexual education in schools and would increase public access to contraception and other reproductive health services.

A reproductive health bill is something that the Philippines could use. The Philippines has an adolescent fertility ratio of 45 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19. For every 100,000 live births in the Philippines, 94 Filipino women die in child birth. The country ranks 47th out of 79 countries on Save The Children’s 2011 State of the World’s Mother’s Index. This makes the Philippines one of the more dangerous places in the world to be a mother.

It is a wonder that so influential a figure as Manny Pacquiao would have such anachronistic views on reproductive health? He may think it’s sinful to use condoms, but why deny others who might not feel the same way? It just goes to show that being a world champion boxer doesn’t prevent you from being a world class something else.

Source: undispatch.com

Pacquiao used steroids? Mosley denies saying that on Twitter -- Yahoo! Sports

By Steve Cofield, Yahoo! Sports

The crazy world of 140 characters. Sarcasm stinks on Twitter and it's very easy to get burned once what looks like a critical statement goes viral. Shane Mosley found that out after his comments about Manny Pacquiao, @sugarshanem, blossomed into what many were labeling a steroid allegation.



Mosley says his Tweet was misunderstood:

"There has been some media coverage recently, stating that I accused Manny Pacquiao of steroid use on Twitter. This is not true. I personally respond to my followers on Twitter, and there was an article sent to me which I Re-tweeted. I did not write the article and did not say that I agree with it. I have defended Manny Pacquiao publicly regarding these type of allegations, stating that they have never been proven true," Mosley told Yahoo! Sports through a P.R. person.


"In our post-fight press conference I told the world that Manny won because he was the better man that night. Manny and I have a mutual respect for one another as true warriors and gentlemen. We both strive to be the best we can be at boxing, as family men, and as humanitarians."

The initial reports were shocking considering the fact that Mosley is working a deal to have Pacquiao's promoter Top Rank Promotions assist him with his new promotion. Bob Arum and Mosley pledged their allegiance shortly after the Pacman fight at the MGM.

Source: sports.yahoo.com

Don't Call Him Old, Just Call Him A Legend: Hopkins Beats Pascal, Is Oldest Man To Win Title -- The Sweet Science

By Michael Woods, The Sweet Science

All must hail the cagiest pugilist of this, and maybe any era, after 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins schooled 28-year-old Jean Pascal in the main event at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday night. Hopkins was looking to be the oldest man to win a legitimate title, to surpass George Foreman, who was 45 when he won a crown by beating Michael Moorer in 1994, and after a bit of a slow start, he got cooking, rendered Pascal into a sad stew of uncertainty, and passed Foreman in the record books. A timely, sharp jab, and lead rights that rarely missed proved problematic for Pascal, who helped the Philly fighter out by not pressing the action, and forcing the elder man to test his stamina to the max. After 12 rounds of professorial magic on the part of Hopkins, the judges weighed in, and bless them, they didn't screw it up. They scored it 115-113, 116-112, 115-114 for the wiliest of pugilists.

Hopkins won the stat battle, going 131-409, while Pascal, who some will say was criminally weak in the volume department, was 70-377. He said afterwards he wants to go out "a winner, not punch drunk, not broke." He said yes, he did get hit with clean shots, but that he can take a nasty shot if need be. He called Pascal a "strong bull" who will come back if he doesn't get too disappointed. He said Pascal needs to take some mustard off his shots, and not go overboard in loading up. He said he'd like to fight Lucian Bute in Canada after he fights Chad Dawson. Pascal after called Hopkins a "great legend. We need a part three and the fans want to see a part three." He said Hopkins "has a lot of tricks. It was a close fight, he won the fight." he admitted he's still "green" and that his two bouts with Hopkins will bring him to the next level.

Hopkins is 192 days older than Foreman was on his special night, on the night of May 21, 2011.

Hopkins (51-5-2 entering; age 46; from Philadelphia; ex longtime middleweight champion, ex light heavyweight champion) needed extra time to make weight, and on a third attempt, he was 174 pounds, 14 ounces, on Friday, while the WBC and TSS light heavyweight champion Pascal (28-0-1 entering; age 28; from Haiti, lives in Montreal) weighed the same. Both were 186 pounds unofficially on Saturday night.

Ian John-Lewis was the ref. He made Pascal return to center ring to touch gloves with Hopkins before he'd let the bell ring to start round one. 17,560 people were in attendance at the Bell.

The two men fought in December, and battled to a draw, though Pascal knocked Hopkins down in both the first and third rounds. Hopkins outlanded the younger man, 153-86, helping bolster his case as he told the world he was robbed. Pascal got under Hopkins' skin, not something many men can boast, when during a pre-fight press conference he accused Hopkins of being a "cheater," of using PEDs ("Are you willing to take the test?"), and demanded he take a pre-fight test to insure his cleanliness.

In the first, Hopkins didn't get knocked down. Pascal ran excessively to start. Hopkins caught him with a left as he moved in to attack with a minute left, but Pascal landed a couple more meaningful blows. His trainer asked him to "make him work" after the round.

In the second, both men got fiery early. Chad Dawson, looking to meet the winner, was in the booth. He said he'd fight either man happily. Hopkins tried to make Pascal miss badly, and then counter him.

In the third, Pascal landed some clean shots, as he looked to run less, and throw more. Hopkins then looked to make his mark with 1:40 to go. He lead with his head shortly after he scored with a combo, and a sharp right. Hopkins was properly warmed up now.

In the fourth, a right hurt Hopkins at the end of the round. "They must think they got an ordinary emeffer in there," said trainer Naazim Richardson to Hopkins after.

In the fifth, Pascal started slow but landed a few clean shots after a minute. The ref warned Hopkins for using his head. He then held Pascal with his left in a headlock and whacked him with his right. Hopkins shuffled, stuck out his tongue and clowned at the end of the round. The older man acted as the aggressor in this round. Pascal's trainer Marc Ramsey asked his guy to keep closer to Hopkins after the round. The score could've been 4-1 Pascal or 3-2, Pascal, after five.

In the sixth, Hopkins ran out of his corner and bombed with a right. He told the judges that he wanted it more. The ref warned both men to break clean after two minutes. Hopkins didn't comply. He thumbed Pascal with a jab. He followed Pascal to his corner, then Pascal followed Hopkins to his. This gamesmanship, the Graterford style stuff, had to favor the vet.

In the seventh, Hopkins did a few pushups at the start of the round while Pascal was still on his stool. A right landed clean on Pascal at 1:55. Again, a right lead hit home in the last minute. I had Hopkins up 4-3 after the seventh.

In the eighth, Manny Steward said Hopkins looked better than he has in any fight since he fought Tito Trinidad. Hopkins landed nasty right, after a setup jab, at 1:32. His jab was quick and timely, and his right hand was sharp and accurate. Left hooks by Pascal excited the crowd, but he likely lost the round. I had Hopkins up 5-3, while Harold Lederman saw it 4-4.

In the ninth, Hopkins came out jabbing. A short right had Pascal's gloves touching the canvas, but it wasn't ruled a knockdown, as it looked like maybe he slipped. But on a replay, it looked like a real-deal knockdown. Hopkins may have stolen the round with a lead right late. He did in my eyes; I had it 6-3 Hopkins.

In the 10th, a lead right had Pascal's glove hitting the canvas, but again, no knockdown was called. The fight went over its alotted DVR time during the tenth.

In the 11th, Pascal got the crowd jazzed, as he was more busy than we'd seen.

In the 12th, Pascal landed a couple power shots, and Hopkins answered. But Pascal scored with a right hand, and buzzed Bernard. Hopkins moved, buying time. He bought enough to go to the cards. Lederman saw it 115-113 for Hopkins.

SPEEDBAG Manny Steward did double duty in Montreal. He worked Chad Dawson's corner in "Bad's" win over Adrian Diaconu, and then the main event with Jim Lampley and Max Kellerman.

--FYI HBO will run Wlad-Haye live, at 4:45 ET on July 2, and then re-run the bout after dark.

Source: thesweetscience.com

"I couldn't bet on that fight"- Shane Mosley's quick take on Pacquiao-Mayweather -- Examiner

By Chris Robinson, Examiner.com



On May 7th Shane Mosley suffered what very well could have been his most humbling night as a professional when he was shut down over twelve dismal rounds by WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Outside of a third round knockdown by Pacquiao and a tenth round knockdown by Mosley that was later viewed to be a push, the fight was void of any real drama or intrigue as Shane looked every bit his 39 years of age.

But Mosley is far from a sorrowful soul, having just deposited $5 million plus in the bank for his outing against Pacquiao, and recently made an appearance on George Lopez's Lopez Tonight to discuss his loss to Pacquiao as well as what the future may hold for him. All smiles as is often the case with him, Mosley opened up his conversation with Lopez in boring fashion by answering why some athletes shave their chest as well as his time flying a personal jet owned by his friend that he flew into Las Vegas for the fight earlier this month.

Getting to the meat and potatoes of his recent life, Mosley went in-depth on his fight with Pacquiao, specifically the third round where he suffered that aforementioned knockdown.

"When he hit me the first time I said 'Wow, this little guy hits pretty hard'," Mosley said of the Filipino star. "I went down in the third round and it seemed like a little shot and when I went down I was thinking 'Wow, he didn't really hit me hard'. But later on when the bell rang I went back to my corner, got some water, and I looked up and I asked what round it was. It was the sixth round. I lost track of three rounds."

Lopez then brought up enigmatic superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr., whom defeated Mosley convincingly himself a year ago. Pacquiao and Mayweather have been linked together as possible opponents for a few years now and Mosley was asked to compare the two.

"Pacquiao hits harder," Shane said, giving a response that elicited some boos from the crowd. "But Mayweather's got him on the boxing skills. The thing with Pacquiao, he's a great fighter, he throws good punches and everything but its more of his punch. He doesn't throw from far back, but his punches are there. Mayweather is a good defensive fighter and it's kind of hard finding him in there."

As far as giving a prediction of an eventual meeting between the two, Mosley seemed at a loss.

"I really don't know. The reason why I say this is because I think Mayweather can outpoint him but it's a 50-50 chance that he won't get hit. If he gets hit there could be some problems. I couldn't bet on that fight. I wouldn't bet on it," an honest Mosley claimed.

Getting more serious, Mosley was asked just how much longer he intended on fighting. Shane's career has seen him win some memorable battles from 135 to 154 pounds while collecting multiple championships and facing a who's who of formidable opponents. But nothing lasts forever and Mosley seemed to hint that the end may just be around the corner.

"As I get closer, I used to look at the exit door and it was kind of blurry, now I look at the exit door and it's becoming more clear. So I may be looking towards that exit door. Maybe if there's a Margarito or a Cotto who wants to get in there and fight, maybe I'll take that fight, but other than that, I'll probably leave it alone."

Lopez almost made sure to bring up Mosley's head-turning girlfriend, Cuban model Bella Gonzalez. Lopez asked Shane just how hard it was to stay away from any intimacy with the 21-year old vixen prior to the bout and Mosley's response was candid as ever.

"I definitely have to stay away from that type of strenuous activity before the fight. But after the fight, we're good."

Source:

Oscar De La Hoya enters rehab -- ESPN

ESPN

Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya has checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic in California.

De La Hoya went into rehab within the last few weeks, TMZ first reported Saturday. The nature of his substance abuse problem is not known.

"He is my friend and I wish him well," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, De La Hoya's close friend, told ESPN.com at the Bell Centre Saturday night, where he was promoting the Jean Pascal-Bernard Hopkins light heavyweight championship rematch. "I'm sure that all the fans are joining me in wishing him the best."

Schaefer said De La Hoya was still in rehab, which is why he is not at one of his company's biggest fights of the year.


"After doing an honest evaluation of myself, I recognize that there are certain issues that I need to work on," De La Hoya said in a statement. "Like everyone, I have my flaws, and I do not want to be one of those people that is afraid to admit and address those flaws.

"Throughout my career and my life, I have always met all challenges head-on, and this is no different. I am confident that with the support of my family and friends, I will become a stronger, healthier person.

De La Hoya asked for privacy as he goes through the process.

De La Hoya, a former six-division titleholder, had a career record of 39-6. He retired shortly after losing by technical knockout to Manny Pacquiao in December 2008.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Antonio Margarito Refutes Detached Retina Story, Says His Career Is Not Over With Quite Yet -- Eastside Boxing

By James Slater, Eastside Boxing

A few days ago, news broke saying the career of Mexico’s Antonio Margarito was all but over due to how “Tony” had suffered a detached retina in his punishing loss to Manny Pacquiao last November. Margarito was badly banged up in the fight with Pac-Man, and his right orbital bone was broken and required surgery. It was easy to accept, then, that a detached retina could also have been suffered.

However, in speaking with radio show A Los Golpes last night, Margarito said such news is vastly premature, and that he is not yet looking at retiring from the sport he loves.

“I have not seen such news but I have been told that I had a detached retina and that I am going to retire,” Margarito said. “But those are just speculations. My retina is not detached. I have an appointment with Bob Arum’s doctor on Thursday. I am in the doctor’s hands. The only thing is, I cannot fight in September (the planned date for Margarito’s rematch with Miguel Cotto) because the doctor has not given me the green light and this is why I am going to see the specialist.

“100-percent, there is no retinal damage. I keep training. I have been sparring because the doctor said, ‘ok, start your sparring.’ Everything is fine with my eye.”

Margarito went on to say that although he is not in any way planning on retiring any time soon, he has to wait for the “green light” from the specialist he will visit with on Thursday before he can say for sure where his future lies.

It is clear, though, that the warrior is very much hoping he can fight again. Fans may have mixed emotions upon reading how “The Tijuana Tornado” may not be all done yet. Some fans said “good riddance” when reading of the reported retinal injury, while others said the man who will forever be known for the infamous 2009 hand-wraps scandal had paid his dues and didn’t deserve such a serious injury.

Now, with stories of his demise seemingly premature, Margarito continues to train, looking ahead to potential fights with Cotto and other names. Thursday of next week will prove to be a hugely pivotal day in the career of one of the 21st century’s most controversial boxers.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Manny Pacquiao laces up gloves in country's fight over birth control -- CNN

CNN

Manny Pacquaio's latest fight could be much tougher than pounding on “Sugar” Shane Mosley for 12 rounds.

Fresh off his trouncing of the American welterweight contender, Pacquiao, 32 – who also serves as a Sarangani representative in the Filipino Congress – has entered the ring again to denounce a reproductive health bill that he and his fellow lawmakers are considering.

The bill has several controversial provisions, such as the requirement that women experiencing problems after abortions, which would still be banned, must be treated humanely and compassionately.

Pacquiao and President Benigno Aquino III, a backer of the bill, agree abortion should be outlawed, The Manila Times reported. Where they part ways is on the issue of contraception, according to Filipino media.

Aquino believes couples should be educated on birth control and should be free to choose the method they deem most appropriate, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. Pacquiao, on the other glove, opposes contraception and paraphrased Genesis to defend his stance.

“God said, ‘Go forth and multiply.' He did not say, ‘Go and have just one or two children,’” the People’s Champ said, according the paper.

Source: religion.blogs.cnn.com

Boxing needs more than another Pacquiao-Marquez fight -- OC Register

By MARK WHICKER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LOS ANGELES – Whenever the speed bag stops thumping and the bells stop ringing, this is what you hear at the gym:

•Manny Pacquiao hasn't signed yet, but the deal is done for a Juan Manuel Marquez fight in Las Vegas on Nov. 12. The appeal is that Marquez has a draw with, and a controversial split-decision loss to, Pacquiao, although those fights happened in 2004 and 2008 when Pac-Man fought at 125 and 129 pounds.

•"This could be my biggest challenge," said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer and the man in charge of Wild Card Gym, where he's also training Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for Sebastian Zbik in Staples Center June 4.

•"Marquez is a great counterpuncher," Roach said. "I don't think he's seen this particular Manny Pacquiao yet because Manny has improved so much. But sometimes you run into a guy who maybe feels like he has your number."

•Marquez has fought once when he weighed over 135, and that was his nolo contendere loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. The "catch-weight" for this one is 142. And Marquez will be 38 on fight night. Still, it's easily the best thing out there for Pacquiao.

•Marquez also has a fight scheduled with David Diaz in August. If he loses that one, Pacquiao fights somebody else, probably Zab Judah unless promoter Bob Arum can get Tim Bradley into the ring, which might be difficult with Gary Shaw managing Bradley.

•The significance could be a thawing of the icy stares between Arum and Golden Boy Promotions. He and Richard Schaefer did at least have to shake hands on this, although the dispute over Nonito Donaire's contract is still going to arbitration.

•If Top Rank and Golden Boy can stay civil, perhaps Victor Ortiz could await Pacquiao. Ortiz looked great when he handed Andre Berto his first loss.

•Arum is reminding everyone that Pacquiao would have won the first Marquez fight had a judge remembered that he was permitted to give Pacquiao a 10-6 edge in the first round, when he floored Marquez three times. Pacuqiao won the second one by one point.

•The pay-per-view numbers for Pacquiao's yawner with Shane Mosley are not in yet. The fight went to Showtime because Showtime is owned by CBS, and CBS ran Pacquiao-Mosley promotional shows. It was presumably a wedge to return boxing to a "terrestrial network," as Arum calls it.

•"Saturday nights are the worst-rated nights for the networks," Arum said. "That's the best night for us. We promote pay-per-views on Saturdays as a way to have a party in your horse. But we need the right sponsors. I can't convince the networks to do it as long as they have to beat the bushes for sponsors. A promoter like us would have to find sponsors and then go to the network pregnant. Once that happens, it's an easy sell."

•When Tiger Woods' career as America's Endorser ended, IMG's Lucia McKelvey looked for new marketing challenges. Top Rank hired her, and Arum thinks McKelvey's expertise will be the key to returning to the networks. "She's already gotten huge endorsements for Manny," Arum said. If you'll recall, Mike Tyson built his audience by regularly busting heads on ABC's Sunday afternoon telecasts.

•Which brings up Andre Ward: undefeated, talkative, devout, funny and Olympic gold medalist: Arum (who does not promote Ward) says Ward doesn't have the heft to get on pay-per-views yet, but he recognizes all of Ward's gifts. So the networks might suit him, particularly if Ward finishes off the Super Six super-middleweight championship and heads for headline fights against Lucien Bute or Sergio Martinez.

•"Ward's personality will show through on pay-per-view when the time comes and he'll have good staying power," Arum said.

•However, Arum said he would never let his fighters enter such a complicated tournament as the Super Six. "Lose or go home. Four or eight fights, and that's it," he said. "No points or any of that. It's not the World Cup."

•Roach laughed as he noted that Super Six entrants Glen Johnson, Allen Green and Andre Dirrell are all very near retirement. "So it's really the Super Three," he said.

•Another Roach protégé, Lateef "Power" Kayode, is an impressive Nigerian cruiserweight who is 16-0 with 14 knockouts. Kayode's next opponent is Matt Godfrey, in Santa Ynez on June 11.

•As Pacquiao keeps threatening to run for president of the Philippines, the hand-wringing over boxing's future amuses Arum. "The advantage of doing this for 45 years is that I remember when boxing wouldn't survive the loss to Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard," he said. "Someone will come along." But neither Arum nor anyone else can identify him.

mwhicker@ocregister.com

Source: ocregister.com

It Looks Like Hopkins Has Pascal On The Run Already -- The Sweet Science

By Ron Borges, The Sweet Science

In the next two days, WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal will be weighed and measured. The measuring may prove far more difficult than the weighing.

The former will occur this afternoon at the Bell Centre in Montreal on the eve of his rematch with 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins. The latter will occur one night later when he’s back in the ring with Hopkins for the second time since last December with the weight of doubt hanging all around him.

Their first meeting ended fortuitously for Pascal when he was awarded a draw by a decidedly generous crew of ringside judges. The fans packed inside the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City had come to cheer Pascal but by the end many of them were not as kind as those judges, booing the decision lustily even though it had saved their adopted countryman’s title, at least for the moment.

Hopkins knows how to work the public as well as an opponent and he quickly used his considerable persuasive power to convince the WBC that an international incident had occurred, one that could only be rectified by a rematch. The WBC agreed, the money was right and Pascal was ordered into a rematch he probably wanted little to do with despite his public pronouncements to the contrary.

That is because although he’s 18 years younger than Hopkins by the end of their first fight he looked 18 years older. Hopkins had him on the run, both physically and mentally, and has continued to apply psychic pressure on Pascal ever since that decision was announced.

Perhaps this time the champion can cope with Hopkins but frankly it hasn’t looked that way whenever the two have been face-to-face. Hopkins has won every one of those confrontations, both inside the ring and out, knowing well that many boxing matches at this level are won long before anyone has donned gloves and trunks.

Not even twice dropping Hopkins in their first meeting seems to have bolstered Pascal, who has looked and sounded like a guy trying to convince himself this bully isn’t as dangerous as he seems to be and isn’t having much success doing it.

Pascal went so far as to suggest that Hopkins’ longevity was the product of performance enhancing drugs, chiding him for not willingly agreeing to full blood testing for PEDs. Hopkins’ reply was predictable; he has promised to beat him down for making such a suggestion and then sue him senseless after the fight is decided.

“I don't think Bernard's cheating,’’ Pascal said, back-pedaling as the fight neared in the same way he did last December and with about the same effectiveness.

“I said at the press conference, "Bernard, I know you're a clean fighter." He said, "Who am I to ask him that?" I wasn't going to be disrespectful. I just wanted to make sure that the fans' voices were heard to let them know that we participate in a clean sport. That's it.

“I didn't say that he was cheating. I said that he's a legend and he should lead by example. He should have taken the lead. Look, another boxer who's representing his country for free, only for the honor, has to go through the Olympic testing series before going to the Olympic games. A pro fighter has to pass obsolete tests only. So, these tests have to be updated in 2011.

“It was a trend that was started by Floyd Mayweather. Even Manny Pacquiao said recently that he would take the test (for a fight with Mayweather), so if Hopkins doesn't want to take the lead and do that, I am is willing to do it. Also, it's funny how Golden Boy stressed how Manny Pacquiao had to take the test. Now, they are trying to avoid the subject (as it relates to Hopkins).’’

Perhaps so but Pascal sounded like a guy trying to avoid the reality of the sad ending to his first fight with Hopkins, which was one in which he dropped him twice with flash knockdowns yet still couldn’t keep the old man off him.

PEDs didn’t seem to be the problem that night. Hopkins’ skill and vast storehouse of boxing knowledge and technique did and there’s no blood test for that. At least none Pascal may be able to pass.

Physically, the younger man should be superior and probably is. Certainly he has more punching power, as those two knockdowns suggest, and probably faster hands early in a fight.

But Bernard Hopkins does little early in a fight but make you understand how long a night it is going to be. He has promised the same this time while suggesting he just might come up and take it to Pascal early as well.

Pascal’s responses to all this has been tepid, sounding more like a fighter suffering a crisis of confidence than one sure that he got what he deserved last time and ready to prove it this time.

“It wasn't harder than I thought because I knew Bernard was still a good fighter,’’ Pascal has said of their first meeting. “I know when you fight with Hopkins, it's always complicated. He has a lot of experience.

“I'm young and I did some things wrong last time. But, with the rematch, I'm going to expect to be me and to show the world that I'm a great fighter, and that I'm better than Bernard Hopkins.

“He’s trying to make me quiet but, that won't work. I'm going to bark like a dog, and I'm going to explode…’’

Not too sure barking like a dog will help Pascal and one wonders if he meant explode or implode. Only time will tell, but even his promoter sounded less than sure of what is about to happen.

“When Jean fought Hopkins the first time, he was the odds favorite,’’ Yvon Michel said. “Most of the people believed that Jean was going to be too young, too strong and too fresh for Hopkins who was coming off two ordinary fights, two ordinary performances against (Enrique) Ornelas and Roy Jones. So, most of the people believed that Hopkins should have called off and not taken the fight, but because of his performance, the draw that he got against Pascal, Hopkins is back in people's minds.

“He's a phenomenon. Most people didn't know who Jean Pascal was until he fought Chad Dawson. But, the same people believed that it was a counter-performance by Dawson instead of a great performance of Jean Pascal. Now, some believe that Jean was exposed when he fought the great Hopkins, so a win for Pascal over Hopkins next week will be a great win. It will make Jean Pascal go from a champion to a star around the world and in the United States because it will be a significant win.

“Not a win against somebody who is over the hill and too old like it would have been December 18th, but a win against the great fighter who still has what it takes to put up a great fight. So a win for Jean will be a break-through fight.’’

A break-through fight against a 46-year-old opponent who is trying to become the oldest (by 190 days) boxer in history to win a world title?

“I think he’s showing it himself (that he’s cracking mentally),’’ Hopkins (51-5-2, 32 KO) said of Pascal (26-1-1, 16 KO). “I think he's showed it himself by bringing up something that can cost him a lot of money later on and that's allegations that totally is from way out north.

“Just by that in itself, this stuff from the first fight, that completely had me saying, "Wait a minute, this guy, is he serious?" Or is he just that ignorant? Is he just that green?’

“I've been blessed to have been around all kinds of people. I'm around young people all day in the gym, so I understand certain mentalities, but I'm not shocked to a point where I see these things because I understand the different era. I'm in a different era. Even in the streets of Philadelphia, the young are totally different than when I was coming up. It's a whole new different mindset in today's world from the boxing world through society. We all know that.

“I just take it as the guy’s really scared to death but dangerous in the same token. Because of ignorance, he can be extremely dangerous. So, I do not underestimate him. I do not look at it as an easy fight. I look at it as a scared, young guy who is high on himself and he wants to be great, but he doesn't want to pay the price.

“I'm ready mentally. I'm ready physically. I would love to go in there and get my knockout. That would stop my drought. The last time I had a knockout was Oscar De La Hoya (in 2004). I've been in a drought for many years, but I'll take a good beat-down, sort of like a William Joppy type of beat-down (over a knockout).

“It'd probably be better for Pascal to get knocked out than take a 12-round beating because we know that everybody that fought, well, not everybody, but most of the young fighters that were in the ring with me for more than eight to ten rounds weren't the same after that. I don't have to mention any names, we know who they are.’’

Felix Trinidad was never the same. William Joppy was never the same. Robert Allen was never the same. Kelly Pavlik was never the same. Antonio Tarver was never the same. Jermain Taylor beat him twice yet still was never the same.

There is a toll that must be paid to fight Bernard Hopkins. A toll Jean Pascal barely was able to muster the last time they met.

Saturday night that toll will be higher.

Is he ready to pay it?

Source: thesweetscience.com

Aquino, Pacquiao spar over RH -- Manila Bulletin

By GENALYN D. KABILING, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — President Aquino and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao faced off Friday over the reproductive health bill during the boxing champion’s courtesy call in Malacañang.

The President met Filipino boxing champion Pacquiao in the Palace with both of them talking not just about boxing but defending their contrasting positions on responsible parenthood.

The hour-long face-off between the President, a supporter of freedom of choice, and Pacquiao, the Catholic Church’s poster boy in the campaign against the RH bill in Congress, ended in an agreement that they are opposed to abortion, according to Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte.

Valte, in a Palace press briefing, said the President first congratulated Pacquiao on his victory against Shane Mosley and later explained his five-point position on responsible parenthood to the visiting lawmaker.

She said the President also shared with the visiting congressman about the sad plight of a 16-year-old girl who had just given birth to her second child during his visit in a poor Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila. Aquino had earlier said such tragedy is among the reasons the country needs legislation on responsible parenthood.

After hearing the President’s position, Valte said Pacquiao voiced his concerns against the reproductive health measure, including the parents’ prerogative to prevent their children to learn sex education in schools.

Asked about Pacquiao’s reaction to the President’s position on RH measure, Valte said it was “clear” in the meeting that the Sarangani lawmaker understood the President’s five-point position on responsible parenthood.

“The President reiterated that we do not favor one (family planning) method over the other as there is no mandatory provision in responsible parenthood,” she said. “Of course, they were in agreement that there should be no abortion. It is very clear that the President and Congressman Pacquiao are both against abortion,” she added.

The President’s five-point position on responsible parenthood involves opposition to abortion, informed choice on couples on how to raise their families, respect for a person’s conscience and religious convictions on family, responsibility of the State to help poor and disadvantaged couples if they are in no position to make an informed judgment, and equal availability of natural family planning and modern methods.

From RH discussions, Valte said the President and Pacquiao tackled the lawmaker’s concerns on universal health insurance coverage, cash subsidy for the poor, among others. “Congressman Pacquiao is very interested in knowing about these programs, on how many of his constituents can avail themselves of these programs,” Valte said.

Before the meeting ended, Pacquiao gave the President the pair of yellow boxing gloves he used in his fight against Mosley, DVD copies of the fight, a “Pacman” souvenir gray hood jacket and yellow T-shirt.

As a token for his new victory and another honor for the country, the President presented Pacquiao his coffee table book “The Inaugural: The Inside Story of the Aquino Presidency” and a decorative box.

Source: mb.com.ph

Khan disapproves of Haye's disrespectful conduct -- ESPN

ESPN.co.uk

Amir Khan has urged David Haye to stop disrespecting Wladimir Klitschko ahead of the Brit's world heavyweight title encounter later this year.

Khan is a big fan of Haye, but he admits it has been difficult to watch his compatriot in the build-up to the July 2 bout. The Hayemaker has repeatedly refused to shake Klitschko's hand, preferring instead to belittle the Ukrainian's ability as a boxer.

While Klitschko has appeared relaxed and jovial, Haye has remained serious and dismissive of his rival, insisting he bores opponents into defeat. Khan would prefer it if Haye left his talking until fight night.

"I would never do that," Khan said in the Daily Mirror. "I have always tried to be respectful to my opponents.

"David should leave that kind of stuff for the ring but I suppose he wanted to show that he was not scared of this guy who was so much bigger than him.

"Everyone's different but I never go into a ring hating my opponent. I'd make mistakes."

Khan's own situation sees him attempting to lure Timothy Bradley into a light-welterweight unification bout, although financial disagreements could see the encounter fail to materialise. One man Khan will never face, despite misquoted comments from coach Freddie Roach, is Manny Pacquiao.

"If you are going to be the best, you have to fight the best," Khan said."I want to fight at the elite level to show people how good I am and I have the tools to beat [Floyd] Mayweather.

"I'm faster than him and I have a better punch, but he is technically brilliant and very smart. Those qualities will come to me in time, especially as I have the best trainer in the world in Freddie Roach. I think Mayweather will happen in 2012.

"But there will never be a fight between Manny and me. We respect each other too much. It just wouldn't feel right."

Source: espn.co.uk

Forbes says 19 of top 100 celebrities from sports -- Mercury News

By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer

Tiger Woods has not finished a tournament atop the leaderboard in 18 months. Nonetheless, Forbes says the world's former No. 1 golfer remains the biggest celebrity in the sports world.

Woods is No. 6 on Forbes' annual "Celebrity 100" compilation of the most powerful people or groups in the entertainment business, the highest rank of any of the 19 athletes who made the list.

Miami Heat star LeBron James is 10th, up 18 spots from a year ago, and the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant was at No. 14 for the second straight year.

Lady Gaga tops Forbes' overall rankings, followed by Oprah Winfrey, Justin Bieber, U2 and Elton John.

Woods will fall out of the top 10 in golf's world ranking next week, the first time he'll be 11th or lower since 1997. His last tournament win was at the 2009 Australian Masters.

His star power apparently remains nearly as bright as ever.

Woods was No. 5 on Forbes' list in 2010, when the magazine estimated his annual earnings at $105 million—$30 million less than what it figured him to make over the most recent 12-month period. Even after taking major endorsement hits following the scandal that ended his marriage, Woods still made $22 million more than Bryant in the past year, Forbes said.

Forbes listed James' earnings at $48 million, up $5 million from the previous year, and ranked him No. 2 behind only Winfrey in terms of media visibility. Forbes said its formula includes pretax income for the year ending media visibility and social media power through Facebook and Twitter.

Tennis star Roger Federer was 25th on the list, placing him fourth among athletes.

The Heat had two of the top 100, with Dwyane Wade (No. 57) joining James. And the New York Yankees also had two mentions, with Alex Rodriguez at No. 49 and Derek Jeter at No. 69, tying him with actress Julia Roberts.

Other sports figures on the list: David Beckham and Phil Mickelson (tied at No. 35), Cristiano Ronaldo (No. 43), Rafael Nadal (No. 46), Tom Brady (No. 55), Dwight Howard (No. 59), Lionel Messi (No. 62), Peyton Manning (No. 72), Maria Sharapova (No. 80), Serena Williams (No. 84), Venus Williams (No. 86) and Danica Patrick (No. 96).

Combined, Forbes said the 19 athletes on the list this year earned a combined $647 million.

Among those from the sports world who were ranked in 2010 but fell off the most recent Forbes celebrity list were Michael Jordan (20th in 2010), Floyd Mayweather (31st), Shaquille O'Neal (52nd), Manny Pacquiao (55th) and Lance Armstrong (65th).

Source: mercurynews.com

When Manny Pacquiao speaks, a nation listens -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao is the only boxer in the 150-year history of boxing to hold world titles in eight weight divisions. His contests are watched at home with a level of idolatry bordering obsession by 70 per cent of the 100 million Filipino population.

However, Pacquiao insists that “the biggest fight in my life is how to end poverty in my country.” He means business, too. The little man from South East Asia, standing 5ft 6ins in his cotton socks, and who weighs 10st 7lb, has risen from pauper to a prince of pugilism. Not since Muhammad Ali has one boxer had such a galvanising social impact worldwide.

He was elected to Congress as a politician in 2010 and, in this week, has made his first serious challenge to the reigning president over condom use.

There are two major issues in The Philippines. Interference from the Catholic church and corruption. A political mire straddles both fields.

Pacquiao’s rise into politics was phenomenal, on a wave of local word of mouth support. He ousted a family dynasty which had ruled politically in Sarangani for three generations, and won a landslide victory. His has become a great orator in his native dialect, and in tagalog.

It is enshrined in law that armed national military guards protect Pacquiao’s residence 24/7 in General Santos City, such is his standing nationally. He carried the flag for his country at the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Games in Beijing; he head is etched onto postage stamp; and his title as ‘The National Fist’ has been accepted into the vernacular.

The only comparison I can come up with of equal status in the UK would be, say, a figure who incorporates the sporting popularity of David Beckham, the quasi-feverish adoration of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, combined with the rock star status of a modern music icon who is afforded leeway and a degree of freedom.

His vices are a penchant for gambling at baccarat, and gambling at cock-fighting.

Perhaps in some crass way, encouraging a generation to go and have tribes of children could create a ‘Pacquiao generation’, which, in a couple of decades, would vote in the glorious new leader. There are those who believe Pacquiao is a nailed-down future President of that country within a decade. There is definitely the sense with some Filipinos that Pacquiao would have made the perfect revolutionary grass-roots leader in another age.

Granville Ampong, a respected Filipino writer on politics and history, based in Los Angeles, told me last year that Pacquiao for many, embodies the spirit of the ‘Maharlikan’, the original tribe which occupied the islands in the south china seas before the invasions of the Spanish, and Americans.

Ampong said: “The early life of Manny Pacquiao serves as a paradigm shift to show people what life can really be like. Manny launched himself in US as part of The American Dream, but seen in the context of The Philippines, he has become an icon for Filipinos, not just for their future dreams, but for future generations to look up to. Manny bridges the generations.”

There is the suggestion that each time Manny fights, he has a soothing affect on the ills of the nation. Muslim insurgents lay down their arms against the national army in a truce when he fights. Yet he also represents the strength of the Catholic faith.

“Other than inspiration, he has great spirituality. You can see men, women, children, beggars with tears in their eyes because they can see an icon they have been dreaming of for so long. The Philippines has lost the essence of being a true Maharlikan nation. Long before the Spanish conquered the island [and renamed it after the Spanish royal Felipe] the Maharlikans were a great nation. The spirit of the Maharlikan was imbued with a sense of royalty, and one of divinity.

"Manny has that parallel in his life. He is a genuine real national hero.”

Pacquiao has already involved himself politically, for example, in US-Filipino relations. US President Barack Obama watched Pacquiao’s latest fight in Las Vegas two weeks ago, after the world’s leading boxer and his wife Jinkee had a pow-wow in the White House with the leading man. Pacquiao called it “one of the highlights” of his life, but he also used the visit to press home a point about US-Filipino import/export relations in the textile industry. And it worked, with the law having changed with benefit to both countries. It is said that it has made an impact on 400,000 Filipinos involved in that country’s textile industry. Pacquiao’s generosity knows no bounds.

Huge queues form outside his house for handouts when he returns from his multi-million dollar earning contests in the United States. “There is a welfare state in the Philippines,” explained Bob Arum, the veteran boxing promoter who oversees the fighter’s career, and who once promoted Muhammad Ali. “It’s called Manny Pacquiao.”

When Pacquiao speaks, a nation listens.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Marquez signs deal to fight Pacquiao Nov. 12 -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez Wednesday officially signed a contract to fight Manny Pacquiao for a third time Nov. 12, most likely in Las Vegas, said Todd duBoef, the president of Pacquiao's promotional company, Top Rank.

Marquez and Pacquiao fought to a 2004 draw, then battled to a split-decision won by Pacquiao in 2008. Part three of the trilogy appears destined for MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with Pacquiao's World Boxing Organization welterweight belt on the line.

Pacquiao, considered the world's top pound-for-pound boxer, has proceeded to dominate the likes of Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto since edging Marquez. His three consecutive unanimous decisions over Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley have been landslides.

Meanwhile, Marquez has lost only to the far bigger and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. since his narrow Pacquiao loss, ascending to become world lightweight champion and insisting his style will give Pacquiao fits.

A 144-pound catch weight has been agreed upon.

"I like the fight, how can you not after the first two fights?" said DuBoef, who supervised Marquez's signing at the Beverly Hills Hotel. "The thing I like best about this one is that the fans are encouraged by it.

"These guys have fought like gladiators over the course of their last 24 rounds together, and I believe we have another 12 more like that ahead of us."

Marquez will receive a guaranteed $5 million, plus an unspecified "upside" of pay-per-view sales. Pacquiao's U.S. business advisor met with Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum Tuesday, and the Filipino star boxer will likely sign his deal -- likely to be in the $20-million guaranteed neighborhood -- later this month in the Philippines.

Marquez's signing triggers what will likely be a compelling battle to televise the bout between Showtime -- which televised Pacquiao-Mosley on May 7 -- and the fighter's former home network, HBO.

Rumors abound in the industry that HBO executives were extremely displeased to lose the Pacquiao fight, ramping up pressure on HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg to land Pacquiao-Marquez.

An HBO spokesman told The Times Wednesday that Greenburg was not available to comment about the network's interest in Pacquiao-Marquez.

Showtime, which has yet to announce the number of pay-per-view buyers it drew for Pacquiao-Mosley, has proven to Arum "they can perform."

"We will evaluate whoever is providing the most assets in the publicizing and promotion of the event," Arum said Wednesday.

Arum said he won't use Pacquiao-Marquez to get other premium network fight dates, and said, "Whoever offers me dates is out. My job is to maximize the revenue for these two fighters, period."

Negotiations for Pacquiao-Marquez also included a Monday session that placed Arum and Golden Boy Chief Executive Richard Schaefer at the same table for the first time in several months, and the rivals who haven't staged a fight together in two years emerged conciliatory rather than still divisive, DuBoef said.

"It's good to have positive dialogue and not allow negative banter -- backstabbing, talking about each other to the media -- to take over," DuBoef said. "Positive interaction is encouraging. You crawl before you walk. I hope we can do business together again, we want a more healthy environment, and that brief interaction represents the first steps."

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com