Missing photo of Obama-Pacquiao meet -- Philippine Daily Inquirer

By Rina Jimenez-David, Philippine Daily Inquirer

ONE OF the enduring mysteries of the recent Pacquiao-Obama encounter at the White House is that no photos of that meeting have so far surfaced, at least in the traditional media.

In this age of photo-ops and instantly downloadable images, not a single photo, not even a grainy image shot with a cell phone, has been aired or printed. All we’re provided so far have been photos of the Filipino boxer with US Sen. Harry Reid, who served as Pacquiao’s tour guide in Washington, D.C.

Explanations have been scarce. And to fill the vacuum, people have come up with several theories. Was it the Pacman’s new Justin Bieber ’do? Maybe the graying Obama didn’t want to be shown standing beside a teen idol wannabe (or avid Bruce Lee fan, as Pacquiao explained), deeming it damaging to his image.

Could the White House have feared that “boxing’s only legislator,” as the New York Times dubbed him, would use any photo with Obama in a future campaign? This early, trainer Freddie Roach already proclaims Pacquiao a future Philippine president. Is the Pacquiao camp reserving the valuable photos for a future run for the presidency?

Talking with a broadcast executive at Friday’s Anvil Awards night, I heard the most intriguing theory yet. It’s possible the White House imposed an embargo on any Obama-Pacquiao photo release because the Pacman will be fighting an African-American, Sugar Shane Mosley, in his coming fight. Is Obama afraid he would be accused of abandoning a “brother” just to cozy up with the Pacman from Dadiangas? “Obama has always labored under the perception that he isn’t ‘black’ enough,” said my broadcaster friend, so the half-white President might have thought it the wiser course not to further damage his standing among the African-American community.

Whatever the reason, I hope someone from the Pacquiao camp comes up with a credible explanation soon. I for one am begging for answers to a burning question: What did Jinkee wear to the White House meeting? (And did the outfit include an Hermes Birkin?)

Source: opinion.inquirer.net

Donaire puts reputation on line by working with BALCO figure -- Las Vegas Review-Journal

By Steve Carp, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Nonito Donaire insists tonight's WBC-WBO bantamweight championship fight against Fernando Montiel is a make-or-break moment in what has been a highly successful boxing career.

Donaire has trained to respond to the challenge that awaits him at Mandalay Bay Events Center, working with Victor Conte for the past 10 months to maximize the strength, speed and power of the fighter's 118-pound body.

"I'm in the best shape of my life, no question," Donaire (25-1, 17 knockouts) said on the eve of his showdown with Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs). "I'm faster, stronger than I've ever felt, and I'm ready to give a great performance."

But will he be clean?

By associating with Conte, Donaire risks having his performance questioned.

Conte's dealings in designer steroids led to his four-month stint in prison in 2005 after a lengthy federal probe into his infamous Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative and tarnished the reputations of world-class athletes and Conte clients Barry Bonds, Marion Jones and Shane Mosley.

Donaire bristled at the notion that he might be cheating or that Conte is doing anything illegal with him.

"People can doubt what they want," the 28-year-old Donaire said. "But I know I have nothing to hide. They can test me all they want. I'm totally clean.

"I always seek to be better, to be stronger. Victor knows that. I'm in better shape for this fight than before."

The two have been working together for 10 months after a mutual friend introduced them.

"If I work with somebody, I have to be 100 percent for him, and he has to be 100 percent for me," Conte told Yahoo! Sports. "We've gotten to that point, and there has been no doubt, no wavering about us working together."

In his previous fight, Donaire dominated Wladimir Sidorenko on Dec. 4, flooring the former WBA bantamweight champion in the second round and stopping him in the fourth.

Donaire looks even stronger since that fight. He credits a strength training program with one of Conte's coaches, Remi Korchemny. They have worked on Donaire's speed rather than focusing on endurance.

"It's all muscle twitch," Donaire said, explaining the sprint work he does rather than the traditional roadwork that most boxers do. "If you look at the way I fight, it's all a burst, all a sprint. I'm not there to run six miles. It's a fast muscle twitch. It's similar to how I punch in the ring."

Perhaps that's why Donaire said he wants to end the fight with a knockout rather than go all 12 rounds with Montiel. "I don't think it will get that far," Donaire said.

His boxing trainer, Robert Garcia, said he has Donaire ready for 12 rounds in case he can't stop Montiel earlier.

"I know Nonito has the power to knock out Montiel," Garcia said. "But we want him to fight a smart fight. We want him to wear (Montiel) down, pick him apart, then finish him."

A win would give Donaire a third world title in three weight classes. But win or lose, he probably won't be a bantamweight for much longer. Donaire has expressed interest in moving up to featherweight, then super featherweight and perhaps as heavy as lightweight, much the way Manny Pacquiao did.

"My body's still growing, even though I'm 28," said Donaire, who made the 118-pound limit at Friday's weigh-in, as did Montiel. "I think I can be comfortable fighting at a higher weight."

But for now Donaire's focus is on being the best bantamweight tonight at Mandalay Bay.

"(Montiel) is the most complete fighter I have ever faced and the smartest fighter I have ever faced," Donaire said. "One mistake from me or one mistake from him, and it's going to be over."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.

Source: lvrj.com

The Teddy Atlas Curse? -- Eastside Boxing

By Joseph Herron, Eastside Boxing

Every Friday night, whether or not they consist of plans which include going out or entertaining friends and family, I must watch the best show on television: Friday Night Fights. If that means recording the beloved ESPN program or breaking an engagement just to view it, I must get my weekly fix of Joe and Teddy. As boxing fans, we collectively have been watching Teddy Atlas on television for at least ten years, and for my money, there is no one better at color commentary than the Staten Island native. He has true passion for the sport and is a credit to the fight game. Teddy’s fight analysis is second to none and his enthusiasm is truly infectious.

But, one factor of Teddy’s character has continued to perplex a legion of boxing fans. Countless boxing die-hards have scratched their heads in amazement wondering, “How can a person this knowledgeable continue to be so wrong about the outcome of these fights?”

Teddy Atlas’s ring advice is genius, and his way of relaying that valuable boxing knowledge is brilliant:

“If you want to slow a speedy fighter down, go to the body and take some of the air out of the tires.”

“It looks like he’s found a home for that right hand.” “Of course, to get home he had to walk through a bad neighborhood!!”

“If he’s willing to take his opponent to a place he’s never been, to go through deep waters, he could get the W.”

“He needs that jab to set the table for the main course, which in this case would be that right uppercut.”

“He’s not turning his opponent; he’s letting him walk right through the front door. He can’t let him walk in and sit down; he needs to put his hands up.”

The boxing knowledge of Teddy Atlas never ceases to amaze or entertain the collective boxing universe.

Last night, Teddy Atlas gave us his traditional “pre-fight” analysis of the much anticipated “Nonito Donaire versus Fernando Montiel” bout on HBO, which airs tonight at 9:45 EST. His breakdown of what should happen was spot on. He outlined, in a very specific way, what each fighter needed to do in order to be victorious on Saturday night. After he was finished explaining and defining the strategies for the scheduled bout, it was time…time for the dreaded “Atlas Fight Prediction”, or better known as the “Teddy Atlas Curse”.

Who would he choose? He had to choose Donaire, right? I mean, Nonito had looked unbeatable as of late…no way would he choose Montiel, right? But wait…Fernando Montiel was a natural Bantamweight who was used to beating his opponents down at 118. Donaire has never fought a puncher who is this crafty and athletic. Who? Who would Teddy pick on this night?!!

Donaire? Oh no, Donaire fans…he chose Nonito on this episode of FNF. Well, all isn’t lost…he has been right on occasion…hasn’t he?

Wait a minute how many fight predictions has Teddy Atlas chosen incorrectly? How bad can he be?

Teddy picked Margarito over Pacquiao…Cotto over Margo…Goldie over Mayweather …Mosley over Cotto…Austin over Wlad K…Thompson over Klitschko…Byrd over Wlad K, really?…Mayorga over DLH, no way!!…Kessler over Calzaghe…Margo over Mosley, a lot of us did…Taylor over Pavlik …Pavlik over Hopkins…Jones Jr over Calzaghe, he didn’t!!...oh yes…wait, it gets better…Zab Judah over Mayweather and Miguel Cotto…Kermit Cintron over Antonio Margarito…Marco Antonio Barrera over Manny Pacquiao…twice…“the Baby Bull” over JMM…and “Barney Rubble” over “The Steel Hammer”.

Wow, no boxing expert can be wrong this often, can they?

Exactly…hence, the “Teddy Curse”!! He has to be cursing these fighters somehow…does he have some sort of deep, hidden fascination with the dark arts? Does he construct a voodoo doll before the big fight?

The world may never find out the truth, but until then…Teddy, keep on doing what you do. The boxing universe loves every second of it!!

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Marco Antonio Barrera on Manny Pacquiao, Erik Morales, And More -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

LAS VEGAS -- On February 12, less than a month after his 37th birthday, five-time titlist Marco Antonio Barrera of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, scored a knockdown in each round on the way to a second-round stoppage of 43-year-old journeyman Jorge Arias of Providence, R.I.

The win represented the 44th knockout, and the 67th victory overall against seven losses for Barrera, who ended a nine-fight winning streak by Arias (15-2, nine KOs) that had included seven consecutive knockout wins for a man who was stopped for the first time in his career.

Barrera had ended a 15-month layoff with June's lightweight, unanimous decision over Brazil's Adailton De Jesus, his first opponent since losing a five-round, technical decision to current WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) titlist Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KOs) of England in March of 2009.

Barrera trailed Khan on all three cards when their fight was stopped -- this, after Barrera suffered a severe cut on the left side of his head following a clash of heads.

The Khan match would have been declared a no-contest if it had been stopped in the fourth round, automatically forcing a rematch. Barrera had been similarly cut following a clash of heads in his previous fight, a January, 2009, third-round disqualification victory over Freudis Rojas.

On Friday, Barrera was in attendance at the weigh-in at the Mandalay Bay Hotel for Saturday night's HBO televised bantamweight (118 pounds) championship clash featuring WBO and WBC titlist Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs), of Mexico, and, WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) king Nonito Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), who are being promoted by Top Rank Promotions.

The 31-year-old Montiel and Barrera are among five Mexican fighters to have won world titles over the course of three divisions -- the others being WBA and WBO lightweight (135 pounds) titlist Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 38 KOs), Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. (107-6-2, 86 KOs) and Erik Morales (51-6, 35 KOs).

Montiel is riding an 11-0-1 unbeaten streak that includes nine knockouts, four straight stoppages and a mark of 5-0-1, with five knockouts in his past six fights. The 28-year-old Donaire, of the Philippines, enters his second-ever and second straight bantamweight match up in pursuit of his 25th straight victory and his 10th stoppage in his past 12 fights.

In April, Montiel trailed on the cards when he scored a sensational fourth-round knockout over Hozumi Hasegawa (29-3, 12 KOs), a man who was in search of his sixth straight stoppage during a 25-fight winning streak that had included 11 knockouts.

Barrera is most known for winning two fights in his trilogy with Morales, one whose legendary status, for Mexicans, rivals the one between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. In addition, Barrera remains the only man to have defeated former WBO and IBF featherweight (126 pounds) King Prince Naseem Hamed of England, who was 35-0, with 31 knockouts before losing a unanimous decision to Barrera in April of 2001.

Always a warrior, Barrera has twice defeated Rocky Juarez, fallen by unanimous decision to Marquez, and lost, respectively, by 11th-round knockout and decision to eight-division king and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champion, Manny Pacquiao (53-2-1, 38 KOs).

Barrera spoke to FanHouse concerning his legacy as well as his future in this Q&A.

Translated by Jaime Motta, ESPN International and ESPN Deportes

FanHouse: In what order would you rank the five Mexican champions who have won titles over three divisions?

Marco Antonio Barrera: Because of the way that they won them, Julio Cesar Chavez would be No. 1. Erik Morales would be No. 2, I would be No. 3, Juan Manuel Marquez would be four, and Fernando Montiel, fifth.

What do all of those five guys have in common in terms of their internal fortitude?

We're all very different. All five of us. In this case, Fernando Montiel, what he's got is hunger, experience and he's got to show to this time around that he is made for this type of fight.

He will have to prove that he is of the upper level with this fight.

Were you concerned prior to the Naseem Hamed fight that your conversion from a puncher to being more of a boxer would not be received well by your Mexican fans?

I realized in 2001 that I needed to change my style. After the loss to Erik Morales [in February of 2000,] I knew that if I wanted to stay in boxing, that I had to change my style.

I couldn't continue to keep getting hit as much as I did in that fight, and I had to change a little more to be able to last a little longer.

I thought about my fans a lot when I was training for the Naseem Hamed fight. I thought that people might be against me because I was going to try and box more.

But as things turned out, people really appreciated that I was able to give Naseem Hamed a boxing lesson. I did it by boxing, and from then on, I realized that, 'You know what? The fans like that I could box as well.'

So, for the rest of my career, I have basically been able to do that. And the fans stuck with me because, not only could I fight, but I could box as well.

What are your thoughts on the nickname of Manny Pacquiao, 'The Mexecutioner,' for his domination of Mexican fighters such as yourself, Eric Morales, and, Juan Manuel Marquez?

It's obvious that, since Montiel is Mexican and Donaire is from the Philippines, that Mexicans are going to go with Montiel even more for that reason because of the rivalry that has developed between those countries.

Montiel is not only Mexican, but he is one of the best Mexican fighters that Mexico has out there right now. But the rivalry is mainly due to Manny Pacquiao.

As far as Pacquiao, obviously he's he has earned the right to be called the Mexicutioner or whatever he wants to be called. Because not only has he beaten all Mexicans, but he's beaten guys from wherever.

He's beaten Americans and he has done it at lightweight [135 pounds,] welterweight [147 pounds,] and, at super welterweight [154 pounds,] so, he's got the name that he deserves.

When can we expect to see you in the ring once again?

First of all, I'm retiring in December. Regardless of what happens, I'm going to call it quits in December because I've spoken to my family about it.

For health reasons, I don't want to stick around in the sport and allow anything to happen to me. So, as I've said, I have spoken to my family, and we have decided that this is it, no matter what happens.

I will fight again in April, and then, after that, I will look to fight the winner between [WBA lightweight champion] Miguel Acosta and Brandon Rios.

So that's fight, hopefully, will come off in September. I don't have an opponent yet for April, but I'm still waiting for my promoter, Fernando Beltran, of Zanfer Promotions and Bob Arum to pick an opponent.

What are your thoughts on the notion that Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales was a trilogy similar in stature to Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier for Mexicans, and, do you still have any animosity toward Erik Morales?

I am very grateful and honored that people all over believe that the trilogy with Morales is considered on par with Ali-Frazier and other great trilogies.

I feel that that was a great part of my career, and as far as Morales, I am very grateful to Morales for helping us to be able to produce that kind of an exciting trilogy.

I only wish that Morales would recognize, as I do, that they were great fights and that we were great rivals. But it does not seem that Morales, up to this point, is willing to extend a hand out to me and to say the same thing.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Pacquiao-Mosley bout delivers blow to HBO -- New York Post

By George Willis, New York Post

Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, confirmed he has no plans to put together a boxing card on his network to compete with the May 7 welterweight bout between Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley, distributed by rival Showtime.

"No, we're not going to do that," Greenburg told the Post recently.

The two premium cable networks have a history of staging fights on the same night. Whether it is a coincidence or intentional counter programming is up for debate.

In fact, both Showtime and HBO will televise boxing on March 12, when Showtime broadcasts Miguel Cotto's junior middleweight fight with Ricardo Mayorga from Las Vegas, while HBO counters with Sergio Martinez defending his linear middleweight title against Sergiy Dzinziruk from Foxwoods. But HBO won't have boxing on May 7, clearing the night for Showtime to distribute the biggest fight of the year thus far.


It's rare for HBO to be on the outside looking in of such a big fight. But the promoters of Pacquiao-Mosley, Top Rank Inc., took their business to Showtime, hoping to capitalize on its ties with CBS. Three episodes of a four-part documentary about the fight will be aired on CBS, with the debut being on Final Four weekend. The prospect of reaching 115 million homes is an opportunity Top Rank couldn't resist.

"I didn't make a decision based on anything else other than numbers," Top Rank president Todd duBoef said. "I looked at the opportunities I'd get on one platform as opposed to the other platform. It's was a business decision."

Nevertheless, losing a Pacquiao fight was like a punch to the gut for HBO, considering Pacquiao's bout with Antonio Margarito last November at Cowboys Stadium generated 1.1 million buys and $64 million in revenue. If this move to Showtime and CBS can produce substantially more, it could cut into HBO's dominance of boxing.

"It's a one fight deal," Greenburg said. "We're hopeful we can get back in the Pacquiao business. It was business decision on their part. So I have to hold them to their word that we're going to get an opportunity to show why we're still the place to go in terms of generating pay-per-view buys."

Greenburg said the decision to not offer another boxing card on May 7 is proof fights on both networks on the same night is more coincidence than calculated.

"The HBO schedule is so crowded with premier movies and a lot of other programming on Saturday night that we're only given a couple of dates for perspective fights," Greenburg said. "I don't love when the two networks collide, but we always manage to work it out. For the most part we stay out of each other's way. We try to."

HBO will have the spotlight to itself tonight when it televises a terrific matchup in the bantamweight division. Fernando Montiel of Mexico will put his WBO and WBC titles on the line against Filipino Nonito Donaire from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs) has been undefeated since 2006, while Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) has won eight of his last 10 fights by knockout. Their bout will follow a highly anticipated rematch between welterweights Mike Jones (23-0, 18 KOs) of Philadelphia and Jesus Soto-Karass (24-5-3, 16 KOs) of Mexico. The two waged a fierce battle last November at Cowboys Stadium with Jones winning a decision by one point.

Greenburg dispelled any notion he is unhappy with the performance of his boxing staff and considering changes.

"There's no contemplation of any changes at HBO," he said. "We're proud of our franchise and proud of our heritage. We'll continue to work hard to give the very best. I'm proud of my staff. They work very hard. It's a tough business, but we're up to the challenge on a day to day basis."

george.willis@nypost.com

Source: nypost.com

Montiel, Donaire battle for supremacy -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

LAS VEGAS -- The fight poster that adorns the light boxes throughout Mandalay Bay advertises the much-anticipated showdown between unified bantamweight titleholder Fernando Montiel and top-10 pound-for-pound fighter Nonito Donaire. Near the top, above their photos and under the words "World Championship," the poster reads, in big, bold letters: "Mexico vs. The Philippines."

Besides crowning the top bantamweight in the world, the fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday night (HBO, 9:45 ET/PT) is all about nationalistic pride in the latest installment of a growing rivalry between the boxing-mad countries.

"This fight between Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel -- everybody who follows boxing knows it will be a great fight, but the interesting thing for me about this fight [is] the countries where these fighters come from, the Philippines and Mexico," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said. "There is almost frenzy about this fight. I was informed that in the Philippines there are two one-hour [television] specials promoting the fight, and they are expecting a huge audience on Sunday morning, which is their time equivalent of when the fight will be aired.

"In Mexico, there is tremendous anticipation and great media coverage. It is my hope that the enthusiasm that is coming from the Philippines and Mexico permeates in the United States, that people that follow boxing and casual sports fans watch this fight on HBO because it truly will be a great fight for the sport of boxing."

In the co-feature, Philadelphia welterweight Mike Jones (23-0, 18 KOs) meets Mexico's Jesus Soto-Karass (24-5-3, 16 KOs) in a rematch of Jones' majority decision win on Nov. 13 on the pay-per-view undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

One of boxing's greatest rivalries has been Mexico-Puerto Rico, which has produced numerous classics in recent decades. But the Mexico-Philippines rivalry is newer. It has its roots in pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao's rise to the top of the sport over the past several years.

Although there have been recent title matches between Filipinos and Mexicans -- the Philippines' Gerry Penalosa against Jhonny Gonzalez and Daniel Ponce De Leon, for example -- it has been Pacquiao who has rolled over one Mexican after another, leading many to dub him "The Mexecutioner."

Just look at the list of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans whom Pacquiao has beaten, mostly in utterly dominant fashion: Antonio Margarito, Oscar De La Hoya, David Diaz, Marco Antonio Barrera (twice), Jorge Solis, Oscar Larios and Hector Velazquez. And Pacquiao is also 1-0-1 against Juan Manuel Marquez and 2-1 against Erik Morales.

Montiel is well-aware of Pacquiao's dominant record against his countrymen and is looking for a little get-back, even if it comes against a friend. Montiel and Donaire, who used to train together, are buddies outside the ring.

"Definitely, with Pacquiao fighting so many Mexicans, he created this rivalry," Montiel said through translator Ricardo Jimenez of Top Rank following Thursday's final news conference. "I look forward to fighting a good Filipino fighter. I want to get even for all the ones Pacquiao has beaten. So I want to get in there and get some wins for us."

Donaire, of course, hopes to continue the dominance of Pacquiao, his boxing idol.

"[The rivalry is] good news for boxing," Donaire said. "Me and Montiel are good friends, but in that ring we are proud of who we are, me being a Filipino and Montiel being a Mexican. We are proud of who we are. The rivalry is healthy for boxing. It's good for boxing. The Mexican fighters are our biggest rival."

Said Montiel: "I know the rivalry is getting better as [the Filipino] fighters are getting better. There is a little extra motivation there. I think both countries, the Philippines and Mexico, want to see their guys win. They are both behind their fighters, and a victory for either side would be important."

If Pacquiao is the No. 1 Filipino fighter -- and there is no doubt about that -- then Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), who moved to the San Francisco Bay area when he was 10, is clearly No. 2.

"The face of boxing today is Manny Pacquiao and he comes for the Philippines, 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," Arum said of Donaire.

Montiel (43-2-2, 33 KOs), one of five Mexican fighters to win world titles in three weight divisions, is Mexico's No. 2 active fighter behind lightweight champion Marquez.

Montiel would like to become the first Mexican to win a title in a fourth weight class. With a win against Donaire, he will consider looking to the junior featherweight division for the opportunity.

Montiel, 31, unified bantamweight belts last April when he went to Japan and, as the underdog, rallied for a fourth-round knockout of well-respected longtime titleholder Hozumi Hasegawa, who has since moved up in weight and claimed a featherweight belt.

But Donaire, 28, is another formidable opponent. The former flyweight titleholder lost his second pro fight in 2001 and hasn't lost since as he worked his way up the pound-for-pound list with several impressive victories, such as his flyweight title-winning knockout of Vic Darchinyan in 2007 and his fourth-round destruction of former bantamweight titlist Wladimir Sidorenko in December.

"He did impress me," Montiel said of Donaire's domination of Sidorenko. "He looked really great against Sidorenko, but I'm not Sidorenko. Sidorenko just stood there in front of him, and I think you have to take that into consideration too. I am not going to be standing in front of him. I'm going to be moving around and I'll be doing my job too. I think our styles match real well and it's going to be a good fight.

"He is obviously a fighter that has a lot of speed. He moves around the ring and is an intelligent fighter. 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."

While Montiel aspires to make Mexican boxing history by eventually winning a belt in a fourth weight class, Donaire aspires to the accomplishments of Pacquiao, who has won titles in a record eight weight classes.

Donaire won his first title at flyweight, the same division as Pacquiao.

"He is definitely an inspiration in my career -- an inspiration in boxing and how I want to be," Donaire said of Pacquiao. "I am inspired to see no impossibility. To get to 130 pounds or even more. To keep going. That's what he wants me to do, keep moving my feet to see how far I can go."

If Donaire wins, he said he also will probably move up in weight to try to get the most out of his ability and to continue his attempt at following in Pacquiao's footsteps.

He said he loves when he is mentioned along with Pacquiao.

"I embrace it. Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest in the history of boxing," Donaire said. "What he has accomplished is incredible and beyond a lot of people. For me to even be compared to him or be [ranked] behind him, that's a great thing. That's an achievement.

"I'm going to try my best to win as many titles as I can. Manny keeps me hungry, he keeps me going, and it keeps me motivated to keep fighting and seek the best out there and be the best."

And Donaire sure wouldn't mind if he fulfilled those goals against Mexican fighters.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Nonito Donaire: Manny Pacquiao's Pride Prohibits Being Tested -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

LAS VEGAS -WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao might have submitted to drug testing, no problem, for a mega bout against anyone but pound-for-pound rival Floyd Mayweather -- at least that is what Pacquiao's Filipino countryman, Nonito Donaire, believes.

"I think that that it was about pride. I think that it's just because it's Floyd Mayweather asking him to do it," said Donaire. "If other people had asked him beforehand, he probably would have done it."

A former WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) titlist, Donaire (25-1, 17 knockouts) made his comments following a Wednesday workout at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas, where Donaire was gearing up for Saturday night's HBO televised, Top Rank Promotions bantamweight (118 pounds) clash against WBO and WBC king Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs) of Mexico at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) became the source of speculation, by some, of alleged use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) resulting from his ability to rise in weight and retain power, a notion that was highlighted following the twice-failed negotiations to make a bout between him and Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) over the issue of Olympic style drug testing of both blood and urine.

Pacquiao refused to give in to the demands of Mayweather, who insisted on random testing all the way up to and after the fight, as opposed to Pacquiao's contending for testing based on a 14-day window prior to the fight.

"If it was Fernando Montiel who told me to take a test, I would think, 'Why would you want me to do it?'" said Donaire.

"I would think that he was just trying to play with my head," said Donaire. "I think that's how Manny sees it, like, 'Why would you tell me to do it?' I think that that's what it all comes down to. I think that a lot of it is pride."

In November, Pacquiao won a record eighth crown by unanimous decision over ex-champion Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs) for the WBC's junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt, and Donaire has indicated that he would like to pursue similar glory by climbing weight classes.

Donaire is coming off of December's fourth-round knockout of Volodymyr Sydorenko (22-2-2, seven KOs), a man who never had been stopped before suffering a broken nose and being floored three times by Donaire.

Donaire credited his new-found energy, speed, and, power, against Sydorenko to controversial former BALCO founder Victor Conte, who will be in his third fight as Donaire's nutritionist entering his fight with Montiel.

Conte was once committed to "helping athletes to circumvent" Olympic-style drug testing policies such as those executed by United States Anti-Doping Agency until BALCO was raided in 2003, causing him to be imprisoned for a short time.

Since then, however, Conte has made a new life of training and supplying athletes with legal supplements, one of those athletes being Donaire.

As a result of his association with Conte, Donaire said that he must be willing to voluntarily submit to drug-testing at any time.

"For me, that's just how I have to do it, and I would take the test because I work with Victor. That's why I'm so willing to take it," said Donaire.

"I have Victor with me. I have my name and his name, and I have to prove that we're legit," said Donaire. "But if I wasn't working with Victor, and my opponent tells me to take the test, I would be like, 'Screw you. I'm not going to take it. You take it.'"

Pacquiao has named Mayweather, his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather Sr. and both Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya -- the CEO and President, respectively, of Golden Boy Promotions -- in a suit which seeks compensatory and punitive damages for defamation of character for their alleged accusations of steroid use by Pacquiao.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Rival trainer outraged by Hatton fight -- ESPN

ESPN

The recently announced WBC light-middleweight title fight between Saul Alvarez and Matthew Hatton has come in for heavy criticism - being called 'boxing politics at its worst' by a rival trainer.

The fight between Alvarez and Hatton, brother of former light-welterweight champion Ricky, was upgraded to a title fight on Thursday after previous incumbent Manny Pacquiao decided to vacate his crown and turn his attentions to a welterweight clash with Shane Mosley.

But David Coldwell, trainer of No. 4 ranked light-middleweight contender Ryan Rhodes, believes it is disgraceful that the two fighters should be given a shot at the belt without having previously fought in the weight class.

"This is boxing politics at its worst," said Coldwell. "The WBC, one of the most well-regarded bodies in boxing, is doing the sport no favours.

"The public barely understands the way the sport is run, and when an organisation of their standing does this it just makes it a farce for boxers working their way towards the title."

Hatton and Alvarez have both traditionally fought at welterweight during their careers to date. While Alvarez has never previously competed at light-middleweight in his 36 professional fights to date, Hatton has recorded one such fight - but a number of years ago.

The fight is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, who wield significant influence in the United States - where the fight is being staged, and where both Alvarez and Hatton enjoy some recognition.

Rhodes, 34, has built up a formidable record of 45 wins and just four defeats in his professional career. Having hoped for a shot at the WBC belt prior to Pacquiao's defeat of Antonio Margarito, it seems he will now have to wait and hope he gets to fight the winner of the Hatton-Alvarez bout.

Source: espn.co.uk

Donaire hopes win vs. Montiel will be springboard to fame -- USA Today

By Bob Velin, USA TODAY

The best Filipino fighter this side of Manny Pacquiao takes to the ring Saturday night for what is expected to be the toughest challenge of his career.

Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) will try to take the WBO and WBC bantamweight title belts that belong to his opponent, Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs) of Mexico, in a scheduled 12-round bout at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas (HBO live, 9:45 p.m. ET).

Donaire, who is from the same city in the Philippines as Pacquiao —General Santos City— but moved to the USA when he was 10, has knockout power he has demonstrated on several occasions.

U.S. fans first witnessed that power in Donaire's shocking one-punch (left hook), fifth-round knockout of previously unbeaten Vic Darchinyan at 112 pounds (flyweight) in 2007.

Last December, in his most recent display, Donaire disposed of Ukrainian Wladimir Sidorenko in four rounds, dropping him twice before the final KO, a left-hook counterpunch that showed viewers why his nickname is "the Flash." Sidorenko never saw the punch coming, and it left his face a bloody mess.

Donaire, 28, who has not lost since his second professional fight a decade ago, says he thinks a victory in this fight will finally propel him to the stardom that has eluded him since the Darchinyan KO. He figures it didn't happen then because fans were skeptical and some thought it might have been a fluke.

"My marketability will skyrocket. My name will get bigger and I will get bigger fights," Donaire says. "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."

Montiel, 31, is a savvy veteran who has been fighting professionally since he was 16 and has not lost since 2006. He is coming off a second-round stoppage of Jovanny Soto last December.

Montiel acknowledges that he and Donaire are friends and says he was impressed by Donaire's win against Sidorenko.

"But I'm not Sidorenko," says Montiel. "Sidorenko just stood there in front of him. I am not going to be standing in front of him. I'm going to be moving around and I'll be doing my job, too. I think our styles match real well and it's going to be a good fight."

Like his friend Pacquiao, a champion in a record eight weight divisions, Donaire hopes to keep moving up in weight.

"Right now I am not even touching the weights and I am blowing up to 135 (pounds) if I don't take care of myself for even just a few days," says Donaire, who will fight Montiel at 118 pounds. "I think I can fight as heavy as 130 or 135 because of how much bigger I have become."

Montiel is not so sure Donaire will be as good or as quick at the heavier weights.

"He is a good fighter but I think he was better at either 112 or 115," says Montiel. "We'll see how good he is at 118 and that will show in the ring."

On the televised undercard is a rematch of one of the top fights of 2010 — welterweights Mike Jones (23-0, 18 KOs) of Philadelphia against Jesus Soto-Karass (24-5-3, 16 KOs). Jones scored a close and controversial majority decision against Soto-Karass last November on the Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito undercard.

Source: usatoday.com

Pacquiao a Traffic Stopper in D.C. -- NBC

By Associated Press / NBC Washington

Boxer Manny Pacquiao has caused plenty of damage inside the ring. Now he can brag about causing damage outside the ring.

During a tour of D.C., the superstar was crossing the street when several drivers caused a multicar pileup while trying to snap pictures of him.

Luckily, no one was hurt in the accident.

Pacquiao’s visit to the nation’s capital included meetings with President Obama and Nevada Senator Harry Reid.

It wasn’t all fun and games for the boxer -- he talked business with the president.

Pacquiao was elected representative of the Sarangani province in the Philippines and is currently exploring the possibility of building the area’s first provincial hospital.

The superstar boxer invited the president to his fight against "Sugar" Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Obama said he would be too busy to travel but promised to watch on television.

Pacquiao’s publicist, Fred Sternburg, said Pacquiao enjoyed his visit.

"Manny said it was very impressive being in the Oval Office, seeing it first hand," he said. "It was a great honor to meet the president. He is a very tall man."

Source: nbcwashington.com