By Ray Brewer, Las Vegas Sun
There will likely never be another boxer that equals Manny Pacquiao's celebrity and success in the eyes of his loyal fan base, especially in his native Philippines.
But fellow Philippine fighter Nonito Donaire is drawing comparisons heading into his fight Saturday against Fernando Montiel at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Several feel that Donaire, the challenger in the WBO and WBC bantamweight championship match against Montiel, has the credentials to be a superstar.
“The face of boxing today is Manny Pacquiao and he comes from the Philippines,” said Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank, which is promoting the fight. “But right behind him in the Philippines is a man who comes from the same city as Pacquiao (General Santos) and is becoming more and more endeared to the Philippine fans. He’s a great fighter, a tremendous technician and a hard puncher.”
The 28-year-old Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) is a two-division world champion who is favored by odds makers to beat Montiel.
“(Pacquiao) is definitely an inspiration in my career, an inspiration in boxing and how I want to be,” said Donaire, who moved to the United States from the Philippines as a 10-year-old. “I am inspired to see no impossibility.”
Beating Montiel will be no easy task in arguably the most difficult matchup of his career.
The 31-year-old Montiel (43-2-2, 33 KOs) is considered one of the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the world, also winning flyweight and super flyweight titles during his lengthy career. Montiel’s veteran presence in the ring and experience, natural boxing instincts and technical boxing supremacy give him an advantage.
“Montiel is the most complete fighter I will have faced,” Donaire said. “This is the biggest fight of my career. People say he may be shot because he has been fighting for such a long time, but no, he has been fighting guys at the top of his weight class. I know he is up there and capable of anything.”
That’s something Donaire showed in his most recent fight, overpowering former WBA bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidorenko with three knockouts before the fight was stopped in the fourth round.
What’s even more impressive is that Donaire enters on a 24-fight winning streak, with his last defeat coming nine years ago.
“He is obviously a fighter that has a lot of speed. He moves around the ring and is an intelligent fighter,” Montiel said. “The question to me is what is going to happen when he fights a guy that is just as intelligent, just as strong and just as good as he is. That is the question -- when he fights someone that is equal to him. I think it’s the first time he will find a fighter that is just as good as he is.”
Donaire knows what another victory would bring. He’ll likely move up from the 118-pound bantamweight division for stiffer competition. And, of course, there is the growing celebrity for “The Filipino Flash.”
“My marketability will skyrocket,” Donaire said. “My name will get bigger and I will get bigger fights. People will come after me because that’s what happens when you’re on top. My name is in the top pound-for-pound lists and no one can take that away from me after I beat Montiel. “
Source: lasvegassun.com
Monday 14 February 2011
Pacquiao opening doors for Filipino fighters -- Miami Herald
By SANTOS A. PEREZ, Miami Herald
Manny Pacquiao’s ascent to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings has raised the stature of fighters from the Philippines.
While building a legacy as best fighter of his generation, Pacquiao also is opening opportunities for countrymen to penetrate into the American market and land possible pay-per-view dates.
Philippines native Nonito Donaire recognizes how Pacquiao’s impact is helping his career.
“He is definitely an inspiration in my career – an inspiration in boxing and how I want to be,” Donaire said in a recent conference call. “I am inspired to see no impossibility.”
Already a world champion in two weight divisions, Donaire will seek his third belt in a separate class Saturday night. Donaire, 28, will fight defending champion Fernando Montiel for the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization bantamweight titles at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
“I think Montiel is the most complete fighter I will have faced,” said Donaire, a former titlehoder in the flyweight and super-flyweight divisions. “This is the biggest fight of my career.”
Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) has moved into pound-for-pound consideration thanks to eight knockouts in his last nine fights. His knockouts include Vic Darchinyan, whom he stopped in four rounds for a world flyweight title four years ago.
With Pacquiao now the sport’s most popular fighter, Donaire also hopes to gradually win over followers. Donaire considers the HBO telecast Saturday night as an ideal setting to make his push into the mainstream and larger fight purses.
“My marketability will skyrocket,” Donaire said of his prospects with a victory over Montiel. “My name will get bigger and I will get bigger fights. People will come after me because that’s what happens when you’re on top.”
Not lost in Donaire’s is the popularity he already is winning in the Philippines. Although he only has fought four bouts in his native country, Donaire said he usually visits the Philippines after each fight.
“The people have received me very well,” Donaire said. “They have noticed what I have done for boxing and the country. They are very warm to me and it is a blessing.”
Gallos fight in limbo
The Miami Gallos still have not rescheduled their World Series of Boxing match against the Memphis Force, according to the agency that oversees the Florida Boxing Commission.
“As of [Friday], WSB has not reapplied for an event permit to reschedule their February 5, 2011 event and we have not received the event permit application for their previously pending event scheduled February 24,” Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation spokesperson Sandi Copes, said in an email.
The Gallos’ first permit application for the Memphis match was denied because it lacked multiple requirements.
New fight locations
Miami promoter Felix Zabala Jr. is expanding his Florida fight card locations after the ending of shows at Miccosukee Resort and Gaming. Zabala will present his first show of the year in Florida on Feb. 25 in Palm Bay.
With the end of boxing at Miccosukee Resort and Gaming in west Miami-Dade last year, Zabala is now targeting other locations. Zabala promoted between four to six shows at Miccosukee since 2002.
Two weeks after his show in Palm Bay, Zabala will present another card in Kissimmee
sperez@MiamiHerald.com
Source: miamiherald.com
Manny Pacquiao’s ascent to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings has raised the stature of fighters from the Philippines.
While building a legacy as best fighter of his generation, Pacquiao also is opening opportunities for countrymen to penetrate into the American market and land possible pay-per-view dates.
Philippines native Nonito Donaire recognizes how Pacquiao’s impact is helping his career. “He is definitely an inspiration in my career – an inspiration in boxing and how I want to be,” Donaire said in a recent conference call. “I am inspired to see no impossibility.”
Already a world champion in two weight divisions, Donaire will seek his third belt in a separate class Saturday night. Donaire, 28, will fight defending champion Fernando Montiel for the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization bantamweight titles at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
“I think Montiel is the most complete fighter I will have faced,” said Donaire, a former titlehoder in the flyweight and super-flyweight divisions. “This is the biggest fight of my career.”
Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) has moved into pound-for-pound consideration thanks to eight knockouts in his last nine fights. His knockouts include Vic Darchinyan, whom he stopped in four rounds for a world flyweight title four years ago.
With Pacquiao now the sport’s most popular fighter, Donaire also hopes to gradually win over followers. Donaire considers the HBO telecast Saturday night as an ideal setting to make his push into the mainstream and larger fight purses.
“My marketability will skyrocket,” Donaire said of his prospects with a victory over Montiel. “My name will get bigger and I will get bigger fights. People will come after me because that’s what happens when you’re on top.”
Not lost in Donaire’s is the popularity he already is winning in the Philippines. Although he only has fought four bouts in his native country, Donaire said he usually visits the Philippines after each fight.
“The people have received me very well,” Donaire said. “They have noticed what I have done for boxing and the country. They are very warm to me and it is a blessing.”
Gallos fight in limbo
The Miami Gallos still have not rescheduled their World Series of Boxing match against the Memphis Force, according to the agency that oversees the Florida Boxing Commission.
“As of [Friday], WSB has not reapplied for an event permit to reschedule their February 5, 2011 event and we have not received the event permit application for their previously pending event scheduled February 24,” Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation spokesperson Sandi Copes, said in an email.
The Gallos’ first permit application for the Memphis match was denied because it lacked multiple requirements.
New fight locations
Miami promoter Felix Zabala Jr. is expanding his Florida fight card locations after the ending of shows at Miccosukee Resort and Gaming. Zabala will present his first show of the year in Florida on Feb. 25 in Palm Bay.
With the end of boxing at Miccosukee Resort and Gaming in west Miami-Dade last year, Zabala is now targeting other locations. Zabala promoted between four to six shows at Miccosukee since 2002.
Two weeks after his show in Palm Bay, Zabala will present another card in Kissimmee
sperez@MiamiHerald.com
Source: miamiherald.com
Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley Field Fans' Questions in Las Vegas -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
This past Thursday, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum was enthused that a throng of 300 or so reporters was in attendance on at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where eight-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, was in Los Angeles for the first top in a four-city promotional tour gearing up for a May 7, Showtime pay per view televised defense of his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt against Shane Mosley that will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
This past Saturday, Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) and Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) were, yet again, greeted by a large contingent of media members during the second press stop in the tour, this time, at the MGM Grand. On Monday, the duo will be in New York, and, on Tuesday, in Washington, D.C.
But on Saturday, the two fighters -- who will be on Showtime for the first time along with its parent company's network, CBS, as opposed to HBO -- answered questions not only from the media, but also, from their fans in attendance at the event, which was open to the public.
An estimated a thousand plus fans were on hand, and one-by-one, a few of them were allowed to approach a microphone that was provided for their use to ask questions.
"Are you ready for Mosley's body punishment?" a boy who looked to be around 12 or 13 years old asked Pacquiao.
"Nice, kid. Thanks for that," Arum said, before Pacquiao addressed the boy.
"I have two months to prepare for this, so I know I will get stronger," said Pacquiao. "I'll be ready on May 7."
Each of the fighters spoke to the notion posed by a fan concerning what the difference will be fighting on Showtime as opposed to rival HBO.
"It's an honor to fight on Showtime and be covered by CBS. Pacquiao. A lot of people can watch the fight on TV. It's just a big privilege," said Pacquiao, who, along with Mosley, will be profiled on a four-fight, Fight Camp: 360 series that will appear in part on regular CBS network television.
"I've never fought on Showtime. There have been a lot of big fights in the past on Showtime," said Mosley. "Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez. A lot of guys have fought on that channel and I'm excited to make an impact on Showtime."
Still another query was posed by a young, female fan concerning the new hairstyle of Pacquiao, which has been likened to that of teenage heartthrob and pop star, Justin Bieber.
"Do you like Justin Bieber," she said, "Because of your new hairstyle?"
The audience laughed.
"I like him," said Pacquiao. "But Bruce Lee is my idol."
As for the fight, itself, both boxers predicted a good one, even though they were complimentary when speaking to and about each other.
"Manny and are I are a lot alike. We don't like to trash talk. Manny's a warrior, but he wants to take your heart out," said Mosley.
"I'm pretty sure I'll be able to land some shots on Manny. I think size will be the big difference in the fight," said Mosley. "I'm too fast and too big, and I have the height and reach advantage and I'm going to use it."
Pacquiao is coming off of November's unanimous decision over ex-champion, Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs), whom he defeated for the WBC's junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt, but has since vacated that title.
"I think Mosley is a different man than Margarito, and a good man," said Pacquiao. "That's what I love about this fight, because we don't talk trash."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
This past Saturday, Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) and Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) were, yet again, greeted by a large contingent of media members during the second press stop in the tour, this time, at the MGM Grand. On Monday, the duo will be in New York, and, on Tuesday, in Washington, D.C.
But on Saturday, the two fighters -- who will be on Showtime for the first time along with its parent company's network, CBS, as opposed to HBO -- answered questions not only from the media, but also, from their fans in attendance at the event, which was open to the public.
An estimated a thousand plus fans were on hand, and one-by-one, a few of them were allowed to approach a microphone that was provided for their use to ask questions.
"Are you ready for Mosley's body punishment?" a boy who looked to be around 12 or 13 years old asked Pacquiao.
"Nice, kid. Thanks for that," Arum said, before Pacquiao addressed the boy.
"I have two months to prepare for this, so I know I will get stronger," said Pacquiao. "I'll be ready on May 7."
Each of the fighters spoke to the notion posed by a fan concerning what the difference will be fighting on Showtime as opposed to rival HBO.
"It's an honor to fight on Showtime and be covered by CBS. Pacquiao. A lot of people can watch the fight on TV. It's just a big privilege," said Pacquiao, who, along with Mosley, will be profiled on a four-fight, Fight Camp: 360 series that will appear in part on regular CBS network television.
"I've never fought on Showtime. There have been a lot of big fights in the past on Showtime," said Mosley. "Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez. A lot of guys have fought on that channel and I'm excited to make an impact on Showtime."
Still another query was posed by a young, female fan concerning the new hairstyle of Pacquiao, which has been likened to that of teenage heartthrob and pop star, Justin Bieber.
"Do you like Justin Bieber," she said, "Because of your new hairstyle?"
The audience laughed.
"I like him," said Pacquiao. "But Bruce Lee is my idol."
As for the fight, itself, both boxers predicted a good one, even though they were complimentary when speaking to and about each other.
"Manny and are I are a lot alike. We don't like to trash talk. Manny's a warrior, but he wants to take your heart out," said Mosley.
"I'm pretty sure I'll be able to land some shots on Manny. I think size will be the big difference in the fight," said Mosley. "I'm too fast and too big, and I have the height and reach advantage and I'm going to use it."
Pacquiao is coming off of November's unanimous decision over ex-champion, Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs), whom he defeated for the WBC's junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt, but has since vacated that title.
"I think Mosley is a different man than Margarito, and a good man," said Pacquiao. "That's what I love about this fight, because we don't talk trash."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Freddie Roach: Manny Pacquiao Will Knock Out Shane Mosley -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Eight-division king Manny Pacquiao will be the first man to score a knockout against three-division, five-time titlist, Shane Mosley, when the Filipino super star defends his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt against Mosley on May 7, in a Showtime pay per view televised clash from the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, according to Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach.
Pacquiao is coming off of November's unanimous decision over Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 knockouts) that earned him the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt, which he has since vacated. Mosley stopped Margarito in the ninth round in January of 2009.
"Shane is a tough guy. He has a good chin and he's dangerous," said Roach, a five-time Trainer of the Year.
"He is faster than [Antonio] Margarito, and he's a much better boxer," said Roach. "But I don't think he's going to last the distance. I think my guy will knock him out."
Last month, however, HBO's Larry Merchant told FanHouse that he believed that the 32-year-old Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) "could lose" to the 39-year-old Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), against whom he will be pursuing his 14th straight victory and his ninth stoppage during that run.
Merchant called Mosley, "a dangerous guy," owing to the fac that, other than present WBA junior middleweight king Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) and six-time titlist Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), who decisioned Mosley, respectively, for the WBA welterweight crown in November of 2007, and, in a May of 2010 non-title bout, Mosley's only troubles have come against taller boxers with good defensive skills.
Mosley was unbeaten before twice losing his WBC welterweight belt to the late, 6-foot tall, Vernon Forrest (41-3, 29 KOs) in January and July of 2002, and, also suffered back-to-back decision losses in March and November of 2004 to the nearly 5-11 southpaw Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs) when Mosley was dethroned as WBA and WBC junior middleweight champ.
In September, Mosley battled to a junior middleweight draw with 6-foot, ex-champion Sergio Mora (21-2-2, six KOs), a man who has split bouts with Forrest, who floored Mosley for the only time in the latter's career in their initial fight.
Prior to facing Mora, against whom many observers felt that Mosley looked old, he staggered Mayweather and appeared to be on the verge of a knockout during their battle in May, only to lose a lopsided decision.
"If Mosley can get in shape to fight for 12 rounds, I'm saying that Shane Mosley could beat Manny Pacquiao. But I'm not saying that he will. But Shane Mosley has fought everybody out there for decades and has been knocked down in only one fight -- the first one against Vernon Forrest," said Merchant.
"So Mosley always has had a great chin," said Merchant, who believes Mosley to be a harder puncher than the defense-oriented former belt-holder, Joshua Clottey, a man Pacquiao decisioned in March of 2010.
"A Mosley at 75 percent has way more offensive skills than somebody like Antonio Margarito or the previous guy Pacquiao fought, Joshua Clottey," said Merchant "That, to me, means that he's a dangerous guy. I mean, he's an underdog, and he should be the underdog, but I'm just saying that he's a dangerous guy given his makeup."
Still, Pacquiao and his handlers, Top Rank Promotions CEO, Bob Arum, and, adviser, Michael Koncz, have taken criticism for choosing Mosley over 37-year-old WBO and WBA lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 38 KOs) and 27-year-old WBC welterweight belt-holder Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs).
"The criticism is very understandable after Mosley was beaten so thoroughly by Mayweather," said Merchant. "It is understandable, I guess, after Mosley fought a stink-out artist in Mora that nobody can look good against and that Mosley didn't look good against."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Pacquiao is coming off of November's unanimous decision over Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 knockouts) that earned him the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt, which he has since vacated. Mosley stopped Margarito in the ninth round in January of 2009.
"Shane is a tough guy. He has a good chin and he's dangerous," said Roach, a five-time Trainer of the Year.
"He is faster than [Antonio] Margarito, and he's a much better boxer," said Roach. "But I don't think he's going to last the distance. I think my guy will knock him out."
Last month, however, HBO's Larry Merchant told FanHouse that he believed that the 32-year-old Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) "could lose" to the 39-year-old Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), against whom he will be pursuing his 14th straight victory and his ninth stoppage during that run.
Merchant called Mosley, "a dangerous guy," owing to the fac that, other than present WBA junior middleweight king Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) and six-time titlist Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), who decisioned Mosley, respectively, for the WBA welterweight crown in November of 2007, and, in a May of 2010 non-title bout, Mosley's only troubles have come against taller boxers with good defensive skills.
Mosley was unbeaten before twice losing his WBC welterweight belt to the late, 6-foot tall, Vernon Forrest (41-3, 29 KOs) in January and July of 2002, and, also suffered back-to-back decision losses in March and November of 2004 to the nearly 5-11 southpaw Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs) when Mosley was dethroned as WBA and WBC junior middleweight champ.
In September, Mosley battled to a junior middleweight draw with 6-foot, ex-champion Sergio Mora (21-2-2, six KOs), a man who has split bouts with Forrest, who floored Mosley for the only time in the latter's career in their initial fight.
Prior to facing Mora, against whom many observers felt that Mosley looked old, he staggered Mayweather and appeared to be on the verge of a knockout during their battle in May, only to lose a lopsided decision.
"If Mosley can get in shape to fight for 12 rounds, I'm saying that Shane Mosley could beat Manny Pacquiao. But I'm not saying that he will. But Shane Mosley has fought everybody out there for decades and has been knocked down in only one fight -- the first one against Vernon Forrest," said Merchant.
"So Mosley always has had a great chin," said Merchant, who believes Mosley to be a harder puncher than the defense-oriented former belt-holder, Joshua Clottey, a man Pacquiao decisioned in March of 2010.
"A Mosley at 75 percent has way more offensive skills than somebody like Antonio Margarito or the previous guy Pacquiao fought, Joshua Clottey," said Merchant "That, to me, means that he's a dangerous guy. I mean, he's an underdog, and he should be the underdog, but I'm just saying that he's a dangerous guy given his makeup."
Still, Pacquiao and his handlers, Top Rank Promotions CEO, Bob Arum, and, adviser, Michael Koncz, have taken criticism for choosing Mosley over 37-year-old WBO and WBA lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 38 KOs) and 27-year-old WBC welterweight belt-holder Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs).
"The criticism is very understandable after Mosley was beaten so thoroughly by Mayweather," said Merchant. "It is understandable, I guess, after Mosley fought a stink-out artist in Mora that nobody can look good against and that Mosley didn't look good against."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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