Former Contender Peter Manfredo Jr. & Aaron Pryor Jr. Headline ESPN2 Friday Night Fights -- ESPN Press Release

Boxing News World

ESPN2 Friday Night Fights will originate from Key West, Fla. at 9 p.m. when middleweight Peter Manfredo Jr., a finalist and star in the first season of the TV reality series The Contender, and super middleweight Aaron Pryor Jr., son and namesake of the 1996 International Hall of Fame inductee, headline the co-feature main events.

Manfredo Jr. (36-6, 20 KOs, IBF #9, WBC #11), born and raised in Providence, RI, will meet Haitian-American Daniel Edouard (23-3-2, 14 KOs), born in Jersey City, N.J. but spending most of his time outside Port-au-Prince helping there following the hurricane.

Cincinnati native Pryor Jr. (15-2, 11 KOs), with his father and former WBA and IBF 140-pound world champion in his corner, takes on Worcester, Mass. resident Edwin Rodriguez (17-0, 13 KOs, WBA #15, WBC #25).

Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside while studio host Brian Kenny will present the latest boxing news. Friday will also feature a piece detailing what has happened to Manfredo Jr. since leaving The Contender.

Media Contact: Dan Quinn (860) 766-2234; dan.quinn@espn.com

The Protection of Manny Pacquiao & Miguel Cotto: The Bob Arum Agenda -- Ringside Report

By Idris “Drees” Newton, Ringside Report

New year, same old Bob Arum, with Miguel Cotto slated to return to the ring early March, Top Rank is staying true to form and has been shopping possible foes such as Ricardo Mayorga, Vanes Martirosyan and Pawel Wolak; apropos, I’m sure none of you can tell me who they are without first looking them up (no way you can prove me wrong, so just let it go). HBO, whom want no parts of such a “who cares” kind of fight, told Top Rank to keep shopping (I’m paraphrasing of course). I’m sure HBO shares my sentiment when I ask, “Could he possibly think anybody would be interested in seeing any of these guys in the ring with Cotto”, besides of course his largely Puerto Rican following.

This is no surprise to me, Arum is a perpetual “Under matcher”, always making sure to set bouts where his fighters ultimately have the advantage in boxing attributes. Unless, he promotes both fighters and is in a win/win kind of scenario, Arum has a keen eye for making the optimal match for his pocket rather than the best fight for boxing fans i.e. Pacman/Clottey, Pacman/De La Hoya (washed up), Pacman/Hatton (Washed up), Pacman/Margarito and last and maybe the very least (Drum roll please) SHANE MOSLEY!?!? WHAT!?!? If that doesn’t make you want to puke then you should’ve auditioned for “Fear Factor”. Boxing takes a big credibility hit every time Top Rank holds a press conference.

I contend that it is Arum and not “Pacman” (afraid of needles) or “Money” that torpedoed that mega fight. Arum has very negative feelings toward Floyd stemming from a very tumultuous history filled with resentment and feelings of betrayal on the part of Arum and Top Rank caused by Mayweather’s decision to leave the promoter in 2006. While Arum, again trying to make himself more money by pitting Floyd with his then unknown fighter (Antonio Margarito), who would have been an easy victory for “Money” (and a lesser draw, as far as PPV buys, I believe), for a measly eight million, instead of getting the big money fight Floyd wanted against a De La Hoya, or a primed Mosley or a still Dangerous Kostya Tszyu.

Floyd knew then what we are all beginning to realize now, that Bob Arum and Top Rank are not in the business of making good fights they are in the business of acting. Acting as if, Clottey/Pacquiao was a big fight to pack the Cowboys monstrosity of a stadium. Don’t be fooled folks; it was Arums desire to make a deal with Jerry Jones that created that horrible fight with Clottey and the fact that Richard Schaffer of Golden Boy Promotions (Arum’s Arch enemies, and Floyd’s Co-Promoters) had no interest in “Jerry’s World” as a venue. In other words, no Dallas=no fight, not for Golden Boy, not for Floyd, and certainly not for you and I (The Fans). Simple as that, Bob Arum cared more about sticking it to Floyd and Golden Boy as well as getting the first big fight in the “The Terror Dome” (Cowboys Stadium)

Is this what it has come to boxing fans, Cotto/Mayorga?

Really, no other matches to be made, this is what we have to look forward to? No Margorito/Cotto rematch, who are pretty much even now that we all can assume that Tony was by all accounts a cheater back when they met the first time around. They’ve both gotten shellacked by “Pacman” so the only difference would be the level playing field the fight would be contested on. Why not Cotto/Berto, who wouldn’t want to watch all action spectacle? Berto is about due for a real challenge and Berto is just the right kind of fight. That would jolt him into the names of possible Floyd/Manny matchups instantly. We could use a new face, and exciting young and hungry fighter like Berto to make waves in the division. A welterweight Division that has become boring because of Top Rank’s selfish fight hoarding, and obvious disregard for bettering the sport.

Soon it will be official, the end of the welterweight division that is taking a back seat to the junior welterweight division. A junior welterweight division that is pairing its best fighters in great fights, real competition between the best that the weight class has to offer. All the while Top Rank is content with being a cancer to boxing, producing such an ill advised fight. Cotto/Mayorga, why not give us Cotto/Martinez who has expressed interest in a Cotto match up?

Why?

Because Cotto will lose that’s why and Arum’s last name isn’t Dibella as in Lou Dibella who promotes the Middleweight champ. Can we get this fight on a video game, I don’t think they (Top Rank) would let even that happen. “Sorry kid we’re suing you for playing your video game, we haven’t sold you the rights to kick the crap out of our fighter’s likeness”

Martinez/Cotto, would be a huge money maker, and for once a good reason to have a huge fight in a huge stadium. It would actually be competitive, sure Cotto would lose but still, it’s much better than the wipe out Cotto/Mayorga is destined to be. Complete wipe out, there is no doubt in my mind or Top Rank’s for that matter, this fight will be a land slide victory for Bob and all his cronies. What do we fans need to do to see a good fight now that all but one of Top Rank’s fighters has been exposed? Will they ever match their top guys against someone like a Berto or Martinez, a top fighter with skill and desire and not just a name fighter? I for one don’t see it happening.

Where has it left us, with a fight between Miguel Cotto and who else but washed up Ricardo Mayorga who couldn’t cut it in a short run as a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter. Who couldn’t cut it as a boxer back when he was relevant in boxing, rendered useless, a villain in a play to be viewed over and over again always with a new (but old) star looking to re-energize his career (De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosley) long gone are the days when you made Vernon Forest look like well, you in so many of your late beat downs.

We all felt sorry for you after a while and maybe you missed the empathy of the crowd, shouts of “Leave him alone” like something out of an 80’s nerd gets the girl movie. But you became a bore long ago and you will be a bore once more when you step in the ring with Cotto to reprise your old role as punching bag. Sure you’ll show your chin early on as you do in an entertaining show of bravado and tough, sure you throw a wild haymaker that might catch Cotto on the top of his head at some point but in the end you will be the same old Mayorga. A Mayorga that does not deserve a title shot with any champion. But that’s what he is getting and that’s what we are getting and we have Bobby boy Arum and Top Rank to thank for this farce of a fight.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Larry Holmes: I'm proud of Pacquiao, disgusted by Mayweather -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

Former world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes must have felt like the guy who was called on stage to sing after Frank Sinatra just wowed an audience.

The "Easton Assassin" nobly ruled the (back then) most important weight division in boxing for seven, solid years but unfortunately his predecessor was the charismatic Muhammad Ali.

So, during his reign, Holmes never got the appreciation his exquisite ring skills merited.

Retired since 2002, the 61 year old Holmes, whose has only been living in the small Pennsylvania city since 1957, looks better with the passage of time.

But, at least, Holmes is getting his props, smelling the roses, while he's still above ground.

Holmes does not believe America's top boxer of today, controversial Floyd Mayweather Jr., will enjoy such reverence in his later years.

"I don't think so." Holmes told me in a face to face conversation. "This guy is a little assh----.

"I don't know what his problem is really but Mayweather has got a big chip on his shoulder. He conducts himself like an ass in public, flashing money and all that. These are hard economic times, lot of people can't find jobs and he's flashing all that cash?

"Could he as popular like Sugar Ray Leonard was? Yeah, if he didn't come as such an an assh---. He just comes off as a bad guy. The way he talks, all that bitch this and bitch that, I don't go for that, either. No one's going to call my sister a bitch, call her out of her name, at least not in front of me," Holmes said.

Holmes doesn't expect Mayweather to listen to him. He said that L'il Floyd doesn't even acknowledge that his boxing skills are mainly inherited from his ex-boxer father and former world champion uncle.

"Yeah, he's a good fighter but he got his ability in boxing from them, from his family. But you don't ever hear him speak on that. You got to be humble. You got to be someone who people can like, who they can admire.

Switch the topic of Manny Pacquiao and Holmes lights up.

"I'm proud of Pacquiao for all he's doing. I think Manny brings a lot of excitement to the ring and makes people want to see his fights. Best thing Manny ever did was getting connected with Freddie Roach as his teacher, his trainer."

Holmes said Roach laid the fistic foundation for Pacman just as his own early career tutors did for him.

"Freddie Roach...he's been there," Holmes said. "Freddie was trained by Eddie Futch. I was trained by Ray Arcel and by Freddie Brown. I also had Eddie in my corner sometimes. I had the greatest minds in boxing working with me. Richie Giachetti, he knew boxing but he couldn't demonstrate it like those other guys could.

"That's why we got no heavyweights in America now...we got no teachers like those guys. It's not just the fact that a lot of big guys are playing pro football or basketball."

Nobody taught Holmes how to take the hammer blows of Earnie Shavers, hit the canvas and rise again to fight on to victory.

With a 69-6, 44 KOs record, Holmes is the voice of authority.

He cheers Pacquiao and jeers Mayweather.

Is anyone surprised by that at this point?

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Fernando Montiel to defend titles -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

The biggest boxing action often comes in the smallest packages, which is what fight fans are hoping for when unified bantamweight titleholder Fernando Montiel defends his belts against Nonito Donaire on Feb. 19 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The 118-pound world title fight, which kicks off HBO's season of "Boxing After Dark" and pits fighters on the pound-for-pound list, was formally announced Monday.

"Eighteen years ago I promoted a fight with two 108-pound world champions which was one of the greatest events I ever promoted -- Michael Carbajal vs. Humberto Gonzalez at the Las Vegas Hilton," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said. "It proved to everyone that dynamite can come in all size of packages. Montiel vs. Donaire will feature a matchup between two hard-punching bantamweights that is every bit as explosive as Carbajal-Gonzalez. It's a can't- miss fight and the fans will be assured of seeing a dynamite event."

Montiel, installed as a 2-to-1 underdog by the casino, will be making his fourth title defense and is coming off a second-round knockout of Jovanny Soto in a December non-title bout designed to be his final tune-up before facing Donaire.

Montiel (43-2-2, 33 KOs), who has not lost since 2006, is one of four Mexican fighters to win world titles in three weight divisions along with Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.

He has also won titles at junior bantamweight and flyweight and said he is not concerned about being the underdog against Donaire. In April, Montiel was also the underdog when he went to Japan for a unification bout with Hozumi Hasegawa. Although Montiel was trailing on all three scorecards after three rounds, he stopped Hasegawa in the fourth round to unify two of the major belts.

"This is the kind of fight that motivates me," said Montiel, 31, of Mexico. "I am not worried about Nonito being the favorite. You should run to the sports book and bet me. It is a very important fight for me and a great opportunity to prove that I am one of the best fighters in the world. I expect a tough fight, but I also expect to win."

Said Fernando Beltran, Montiel's co-promoter, "We don't worry about odds. We were 3-to-1 underdogs in Japan when Fernando won a world title."

The 28-year-old Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), a native of the Philippines who grew up in California, is a former flyweight titlist and interim junior bantamweight titlist. He fought as a bantamweight earlier in his career, but returned to the division on Dec. 4 in his final tune-up before the fight with Montiel and scored a dominant fourth-round knockout of former titlist Wladimir Sidorenko, who many considered to be a formidable opponent.

"Fernando Montiel is the best fighter I have ever faced and certainly the toughest challenge of my professional career," said Donaire, who has scored knockouts in eight of his last nine fights. "It's going to be a battle of strength and will. I'm leaving nothing to chance in training and when the final bell rings on Feb. 19, the Philippines will have another mark in the victory column against Mexico.

"I'm taking on a great champion and I'm going to prove where I stand in boxing. It will not go 12 rounds. I have power. He has power. I want to win by knockout. He wants to win by knockout."

HBO's telecast will open with a scheduled 12-round rematch between Philadelphia welterweight Mike Jones (23-0, 18 KOs) and Mexico's Jesus Soto-Karass (24-5-3, 16 KOs), who fought an action-packed fight Nov. 13 on the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito undercard at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Jones won a majority decision -- 97-93, 95-94 and 94-94 on the scorecards -- in a highly competitive fight. Jones nearly knocked Soto-Karass out in the second round, but he survived and battled back to nearly pull the upset.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Manny Pacquiao's Adviser Lashes Out at Shane Mosley Criticism -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

In an HBO pay per view televised, Top Rank Promotions bout on Nov. 13 from the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, eight-division king Manny Pacquiao scored a lopsided, unanimous decision rout over ex-titlist Antonio Margarito, adding the vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt to the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown that he already owned.

The victory was Pacquiao's 13th straight during a run that has included eight knockouts since his last defeat, a March, 2005, unanimous decision loss to Erik Morales, whom Pacquiao has since twice stopped in the third and 10th rounds.

On May 7 in an HBO pay per view contest from the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) will defend his WBO belt against 39-year-old three-division, five-time titlist, Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), a selection for which Pacquiao and his handlers, including Top Rank Promotions CEO, Bob Arum, have taken much criticism.

Many observers consider Mosley to be over the hill, even as Pacquiao's dominance has gained him an aura of invincibility in the eyes of his own fans.

Mosley's not looked good in his past two fights, May's Golden Boy Promotions, lopsided, 12-round unanimous decision loss to six-time champion Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), and, September's split-decision draw with ex-champion, Sergio Mora (21-1-1, six KOs) that was contested at 154 pounds.

Still, he was chosen 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).




Berto had scored two straight knockouts, respectively, over southpaw former world champion Carlos Quintana (27-3, 22 KOs) in April and hard-punching Freddy Hernandez (29-1, 20 KOs) last month in the eighth and first rounds.

Marquez battled Pacquiao to a disputed draw, and lost a controversial, split-decision, respectively, in May of 2004, and, March, 2008, being knocked down a combined four times over the course of the two bouts.

Last month, Marquez rose from a third-round knockdown to win by an HBO televised, ninth-round knockout over former WBO interim champ Michael Katsidis (27-3, 22 KOs).

During a Monday interview with FanHouse, Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, defended the selection of Mosley.

"Again, who cares? I'm not too concerned, and nor is Manny, because, we want to do two things -- and when I say, 'we,' I'm speaking for Manny," said Koncz.

"No. 1, we want to entertain the fans, because that's of the utmost importance to Manny. No. 2, we want to generate a paycheck, because that's his living," said Koncz. "Out of the three names that we were giving, this was the best, overall opponent that we could get. Bob Arum never forces anything on us. He gives us options, and then, it's our decision on what we do."

Koncz lashed out at those whom he believes are denigrating Mosley's credentials and, by extension, Pacquiao's accomplishments.

"I mean, what's wrong with Mosley? Mosley is a very talented fighter who has got power in both hands. I mean, when you look at it, Manny has done nothing but taken on larger opponents ever since he fought Oscar De La Hoya, and it has taken the toll at times," said Koncz.

"I mean, Margarito hurt him in the sixth round when he caught Manny with that body shot," said Koncz. "There was similar criticism of Manny before we took the fight with Antonio Margarito, and then, after the fight, they changed their tune."

Koncz pointed to the fact that Mosley staggered Mayweather with a second-round right hand that appeared to have the Las Vegas resident on the verge of suffering his first loss.

"Shane Mosley damn near knocked out Floyd Mayweather," said Koncz, whose negotiations for a bout with Mayweather twice failed. "I think that during rounds one through round five, Mosley is a very, very dangerous opponent."

The 32-year-old Pacquiao and Mosley have three opponents in common -- Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs), Miguel Cotto and Oscar De La Hoya.

Mosley has scored a January 2009, ninth-round knockout over Margarito, this, after having been unanimously decisioned in July of 2007 in his failed bid to earn the WBA welterweight crown from Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs), whom Pacquiao dethroned as WBO 147-pound king by 12th-round stoppage in November of 2009. Cotto is now the WBA's junior middleweight champ.

Pacquiao also debuted as a welterweight with a December, 2008 eighth-round knockout of De La Hoya, whom Mosley decisioned for WBC welterweight belt in June of 2000, and, yet again, in September of 2003 to add the WBC's junior middleweight title to the WBA 154-pound crown that he already owned.

"That's the frustrating part of all of this is that Manny has accomplished so much in boxing. We've taken on Oscar De La Hoya, and we've done this and we've done that. Now, just because a guy is 39 years old, he's pasts his prime and not worth the fight?" said Koncz.

"Manny's career is winding down over the next two years or whatever, so here's a suggestion. Why don't all of those writers and guys who want to criticize us for fighting Mosley -- why don't they pull all of their money together, put it into a pot," said Koncz. "Then, they can give us the guaranteed purse that we're getting with the opponents that we're selecting and we'll fight anybody they want -- Juan Manuel Marquez, Andre Berto or whoever."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Against Mosley, it's easily $15M for Pacman -- Philippine Star

By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - No easy fight. No easy money.

Yes, Manny Pacquiao stands to earn no less than $15 million for his next fight, but like the previous ones, nothing comes on a silver platter.

His chief-of-staff, Atty. Franklin Gacal, yesterday said Pacquiao will get no less than $15 million (P660 million) for his May 7 showdown with Shane Mosley.

“But it’s not going to be easy,” said Gacal, who also expects the pay-per-view sales for the welterweight clash to easily exceed the one million mark.

If it does, then Pacquiao’s earnings, aside from the guaranteed purse, would break $20 million, just like in his November bout with Antonio Margarito in Dallas.

“No lower than $15 million,” said Gacal when asked how much Pacquiao could make for this one.

In his last five fights, Pacquiao has made $68 million on paper. For the Oscar dela Hoya fight it was $15 million guaranteed, Ricky Hatton ($13 million), Miguel Cotto ($13 million), Joshua Clottey ($12 million) and Margarito ($15 million).

He has averaged a million PPV buys in these fights as well, doing 1.25 million for Dela Hoya, 850,000 for Hatton, 1.25 million for Cotto, 700,000 for Clottey and 1.15 million for Margarito.

Pacquiao is fresh from a long family vacation that took them to Boracay, Japan and Australia over the last two weeks.Pacquiao has held on to his final decision on the Mosley fight, but Gacal said “everything’s okay now” even if the fight contract hasn’t been signed yet.

Pacquiao said while experts insist there are better fights out there than Mosley, this one won’t be easy.

There’s even been a call to boycott the May 7 fight.

“There is never an easy fight. Every time I step into the ring, I risk my life and my future. I had to find ways to negate the advantages in size of Diaz, Dela Hoya, Hatton, Cotto, Clottey and Margarito,” he wrote in his philboxing.com column yesterday.

“I have stepped up to face men easily bigger and taller than me. To say that every fighter I face in the ring does not deserve attention talks about ignorance. How can a fight be easy when I have been working my hardest efforts every single time?

“I am no Superman. When I get hit, I pretend I did not get hurt so as to frustrate my opponent. That’s part of the sacrifice! Funny, these same writers who ask for a boycott almost always cover my fights, anyway,” Pacquiao wrote.

Source: philstar.com

Pacquiao’s weight gain is hardly unique in boxing history -- Eastside Boxing

By Mike Burnell, Eastside Boxing

Much debate has been stirred through Manny Pacquiao’s humble genesis from a small neighborhood kid in the impoverished city of Kibawe Bukidon Philippines to his improbable rise to World Champion in 8 weight classes. In 1995 Manny weighed 106lbs for his first professional fight vs. Edmund Enting Ignacio and 15 years later tipped the scales at 145 lbs vs. Joshua Clottey, a difference of 39 lbs.

From a little boy struggling for a scrap of food to the supreme pound for pound champion of the entire world; it’s a story of struggle and success that some believe simply transcends all logic. One that has created a fiery debate between those who insist it is impossible to attain such results naturally vs those who believe his success came from vastly improved diet and a superior conditioning regimen that would make a Spartan take a knee. This dispute will not ultimately be settled without a full submission by Manny to Floyd Mayweather’s demand for random blood testing up to the day before the fight. Debate between rather Pacquiao, who has never failed a mandatory pre/post fight drug test in his career, should comply Olympic Style Drug Testing as mandated by the Mayweather camp rages as fiercely as ever.

Championships in 8 weight classes is impressive to say the least but is also a sign of the times with four “major” alphabet soup titles in a bloated 17 weight classes. While certainly worthy of robust discussion Manny Pacquiao’s weight gain is hardly unique in boxing history.

Henry Armstrong turned professional in 1931 weighing a paltry 120lbs. As “Homicide” Hank’s weight grew, however, so did his stature in boxing history. Armstrong, in the golden era of 8 weight classes and 1 champion per class proudly reigned supreme over the Featherweight, Lightweight and Welterweight divisions, a fluctuation in weight limits of 21lbs……at the same time. Armstrong’s heaviest weight was 145lbs.

Billy Conn was another Golden Age Gladiator. Conn weighed in at 135lbs for his debut vs Johnny Lewis. Few would imagine that 11 years and 47lbs later the undersized, upset minded Irishman would one day challenge the great Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis in an epic battle. As fate would have it Conn, now 182lbs was stopped in the 13th round while leading handily on points. While losing the fight Billy won a moral victory that has gone into the annals of boxing history.

“The Cincinnati Cobra” Ezzard Charles is another example of a boxer from the 8 division era who decided that bigger is better. He is a fighter who grew into his potential, literally. Charles threw his first professional punch in 1940 at 157lbs, 3lbs under the Middleweight limit. He went on to win the Light Heavyweight Championship then the Heavyweight Championship vacated by Joe Louis but may be best remembered for his pair of bouts in 1954 vs undefeated Rocky Marciano. Their first bout was a titanic battle that saw both fighters give and take the best their opponent had to give with Charles, 192lbs, losing a 15 round decision. So dramatic was the fight that it was voted 1954 Fight of the Year. Not too shabby for a fighter who began his journey 35lbs lighter.
“The Ol’ Mongoose” Archie Moore met and defeated fighters of many shapes and sizes. In 1936 Moore, a svelte 148lbs, defeated Kid Pocahuntas. Moore continued his career over a number of years and weight classes finally winning the Light Heavyweight Championship in 1952, 4 days after his 39th birthday. Having been defeated by Floyd Patterson in 1956 the ever ambitious Moore dipped his toe back into the Heavyweight division four years later. The 58lbs he had gained since his early days apparently didn’t hinder him and at 206lbs he TKO’d veteran journeyman Willie Besmanoff.

“Ancient” Archie enjoyed a string of success against the Heavyweights until being defeated by his former pupil, a young Muhammad Ali.

A more modern example of “growing excellence” is the legendary Roberto Duran. Duran, rising from the absolute poverty in the city of El Chorrillo, Panama turned professional in 1968 weighing 119lbs. Widely considered one of the greatest fighters of all time Duran won titles in four weight divisions and is the only boxer in history to have notched wins in 5 separate decades, from the 60’s to 2000’s. Though weighing as much as 176lbs (57lbs north of debut) in a losing effort v Omar Eduardo Gonzalez in one of his last fights he also enjoyed great success far above his original weight. In 1983 Duran found himself a considerably underdog against young Light Middleweight champion Davey Moore. “Manos de Piedra” recorded a stunning 8th round TKO, once again becoming King. In one of his most exciting performances Duran took on two time Thomas Hearns conqueror Iran Barkley. Duran weighed 156, 37lbs heavier than his debut 21 years earlier. In an unforgettable12 round battle the split decision went to Roberto who wrested the WBC Middleweight Championship in the process.

Manny Pacquiao has unquestionably accomplished what few in this modern era have scarcely even dared to imagine attempting. He has unquestionably become the matinee idol of the decade and become the man to beat. What is questionable is rather he was able to attain his lofty position naturally as his legions of fans fervently believe or through crafty use of Performance Enhancing Drugs as argued with the same passion by his detractors. Is his career nothing more than a cleverly designed money making farce or are modern boxing fans truly witnessing a great fighter repeating history before our eyes?

This debate may or may not one day be resolved, time will tell…

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Arum confident of Pacquiao-Obama meeting -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — By the time the five-city promotional tour for the May 7 bout between Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley hit Washington, D.C., in the second week of February, the Filipino might end up rubbing elbows with US President Barack Obama.

From Las Vegas, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum told the Bulletin on Friday as he was waiting for a flight to Los Angeles that he will try to arrange such a meeting.

“It would all depend on the availability of the President,” said Arum, who nevertheless, revealed that Pacquiao, a congressman from Sarangani, will be presented to the US Senate.

Pacquiao is no stranger to US politics, having endorsed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada last year, and in 2009, just a few days before facing British Ricky Hatton, the Filipino pound-for-pound king met with ex-US President Bill Clinton at the Four Seasons Hotel inside Mandalay Bay.

Arum, whose promotional outfit Top Rank is based in Las Vegas, is a dear friend of Reid, who used to box as an amateur.

Arum said the press tour will kick off on Feb. 9 when a news conference is held at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles

followed by stops in Las Vegas, New York, Washington and San Francisco.

“It’s going to be absolutely huge (if the meeting between Obama and Pacquiao takes place),” Arum said.

Both Obama and Reid are members of the Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, tickets for the Pacquiao-Mosley welterweight war at the MGM Grand will go on sale on January 31, said Arum.

Tickets are priced at $1,000, $700, $500, $350 and $150.

Source: mb.com.ph

Homeowners association seeking injunction against Floyd Mayweather -- Examiner

By Scott Heritage, Examiner.com

Another day, another legal incident for the increasingly troubled former pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather. After numerous incidents involving staff members and infractions of community rules it appears Mayweather is now facing a legal injunction from the Southern Highlands Estates, the gated community he moved to in 2009 and which more recently has been the scene of several of his infamous outbursts.

This latest suit alleges that Mayweather refuses to show identification to security guards, (which incidentally was one of the incidents captured on tape by TMZ recently), refuses to put identification decals on his vehicles, and refused to carry a gate opening transponder.

As per the Las Vegas Sun:

“repeatedly engaged in hostile, harassing and threatening behavior toward and against certain employees and security personnel employees...including but not limited to, threatening the life of a patrol officer, physically accosting a security officer, refusing to provide identity to gate officers”

The suit, filed to the Clark County Court, is also seeking $10,000 in damages and wants Mayweather to: "refrain from threatening, yelling or harassing security," and to "otherwise comport himself at all times in a reasonable manner."-Courthouse news.

The law suit comes after several very public incidents involving Mayweather including allegedly assaulting a security guard, harassing and threatening another and only days ago refusing to provide his identification on the grounds that the security guard should recognize him and that he didn't ask everyone who lived there.

The suit is only the latest in a long line of problems for Mayweather of late however. Since winning his last bout in May against Shane Mosley, Floyd has made the headlines on numerous occasions and nearly always for the wrong reasons.

First there was the racially offensive late night broadcast aimed at rival Manny Pacquiao, perhaps more misguided than anything else. Then the ongoing alleged assault of his former girlfriend in front of his children, which carries with it the possibility of jail time should he be found guilty on even some of the charges he faces.

Later there was the run in with the security guard who claims that Mayweather poked him in the face, and the former friend who claimed that Mayweather tried to run him off the road.

The fact that the community group is taking action is hardly surprising after the volume of complaints it has been receiving over Mayweather of late, who appears to want all the benefits of living in a place like Southern Highlands Estates without having to play by the rules.

Whether anything much will come of the suit is difficult to say a this juncture, but it probably won't do much to improve Floyd's mood, reputation or to assuage his aggressive tendencies recently, particularly if the staff have now been instructed to take a hard line approach to his behaviour.

Several other residents of the estate are also unhappy about the entire mess due to the fact that they claim money paid by them to the homeowners association is being wasted on the suit while other problems are being ignored.

So in this respect Floyd really can't win whatever the outcome of the suit. If he wins then the other residents are still going to be angry about their money being wasted, perhaps equally with the association as with Mayweather. If he loses then he's down 10k plus attorney fees and he has to moderate his behaviour and play by the rules.

Bill Short, Philly: "I get the feeling Floyd might be moving again in the near future"

Agi Santiago, Pitt: "If he hates everything the homeowners people do, and they are usually a rip off, why did he move there in the first place? Isn't that the reason he moved from his last place?"

Source: examiner.com

B.J. Penn learning how to box correctly, according to Floyd Mayweather Sr. -- Yahoo! Sports

By Steve Cofield, Yahoo! Sports

B.J. Penn is on a mission. After two straight losses to current UFC lightweight champ Frank Edgar, Penn scrapped most of his old trainers and began seeking out new voices and experts. The latest he worked with was Floyd Mayweather Sr.

Big Floyd has a solid reputation as a boxing trainer and a very high opinion of his work outside the ring.

Mayweather Sr. told FightHype he wasn't impressed when he first began to work with "The Prodigy."

"I’ll be honest, at first, it didn’t seem like he could fight that good. I mean, I don’t know about his ground game and all of that stuff, but he’s got some pop and in just the three days I’ve been working with him, he has improved, man."

Penn is a quick learner. Mayweather continued:

"In his words, man, he told me, ‘I ain’t never seen some of this stuff you’re showing me, man.’ And that’s only after three days. BJ is learning fast, man. He's a good guy."

Mayweather looks forward to helping more MMA fighters, and thinks he's given Penn an edge for his fight against the taller Jon Fitch in February at UFC 127.

"I work with a couple now and I'm all for it. I don't know [expletive] about that ground stuff, but I can get their defense tight and get them throwing their shots right. I got B.J. working something just for a taller opponent. I don't know what B.J.'s ground game is like at all, but if he uses what I'm showing, he won't need it."

This isn't the first time Penn reached out to a top boxing trainer. In the past, he worked with Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach. Roach once told me that Penn was the best MMA fighter he'd worked with as far as straight boxing. Said Mayweather:

"I bet he ain't going back to [Freddie Roach] either. He worked with Freddie 'The Joke Coach' Roach, and he telling me he has never see the stuff I'm showing him. So what does that tell you? Man, the only thing Freddie Roach can do better than me is wash my car."

Expect more of this crossover work in the future. MMA fighters like Penn are smart to seek out the experts from the world of boxing.

Source: sports.yahoo.com