Boxing News World
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Floyd Mayweather Jr. announces ring return on Facebook -- Examiner
By Joseph Bourelly, Examiner.com
Should the undefeated former five-division world champion mean what he posted, fans just may see the 34 year-old native of Grand Rapids, MI, ply his craft in the ring sometime again later in 2011. It would be his first match since dominating “Sugar” Shane Mosley via a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision on May 1, 2010.
The web post is significant in that Mayweather has given little hint as to when or if he would fight again over the last year, and has primarily used Facebook as a means for uploading party and vacation photos as well as announcing gambling winnings.
In terms of a possible opponent, there was widespread speculation all over the Internet not too long ago that undefeated former lightweight champion Paul Spadafora (45-0, 19 KOs) was in the sweepstakes. Should that match-up materialize, it would be considered nothing more than a tune-up fight despite Spadafora’s impressive record, due to a stint in jail and weak level of recent opposition for “The Pittsburgh Kid.”
Of course other possible opponents include Timothy Bradley, Victor Ortiz, Marcos Maidana and Miguel Cotto.
Then there is Manny Pacquiao who is scheduled to fight Shane Mosley next weekend in Las Vegas, NV. Should Pacquiao defeat Mosley as expected, the demand for a fall/winter showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. later in the year would be greater than ever.
Of course anyone who follows boxing knows the bad blood between the two and their multiple failed negotiations for a fight in the past, but as has always been speculated, perhaps enough money will be thrown their way to overcome their differences. Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum claimed Mayweather’s asking price to get him in the ring with the pound-for-pound great was an astounding $100 million in the most recent round of talks between the two camps.
A much easier fight to be made would be a rematch with Shane Mosley should he overcome steep odds and manage to defeat Manny Pacquiao next Saturday night. Also on the short list and possibly a much more lucrative fight than a Mosley rematch would be an encounter with British boxing star Amir Khan.
Although Khan does not appear to be ready for such a test as Mayweather, a combination of his vulnerability and mass marketing appeal could compel a match to be made. Also, the fact Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach also trains Khan would be a nice subplot and serve as a further build-up to an ultimate fight with the Filipino. Additionally, Mayweather has done good business in recent years with Golden Boy Promotions, which also happens to promote Amir Khan.
Like him or not, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is good for the sport of boxing, and any promotion including him is a huge event. His options in the ring are certainly plenty, so stay tuned for further details as they may develop.
Source: examiner.com
Earlier today, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
(41-0, 25 KOs) posted the following to friends and fans on his Facebook page.
(41-0, 25 KOs) posted the following to friends and fans on his Facebook page.“Back in the RING soon!”
Should the undefeated former five-division world champion mean what he posted, fans just may see the 34 year-old native of Grand Rapids, MI, ply his craft in the ring sometime again later in 2011. It would be his first match since dominating “Sugar” Shane Mosley via a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision on May 1, 2010.The web post is significant in that Mayweather has given little hint as to when or if he would fight again over the last year, and has primarily used Facebook as a means for uploading party and vacation photos as well as announcing gambling winnings.
In terms of a possible opponent, there was widespread speculation all over the Internet not too long ago that undefeated former lightweight champion Paul Spadafora (45-0, 19 KOs) was in the sweepstakes. Should that match-up materialize, it would be considered nothing more than a tune-up fight despite Spadafora’s impressive record, due to a stint in jail and weak level of recent opposition for “The Pittsburgh Kid.”
Of course other possible opponents include Timothy Bradley, Victor Ortiz, Marcos Maidana and Miguel Cotto.
Then there is Manny Pacquiao who is scheduled to fight Shane Mosley next weekend in Las Vegas, NV. Should Pacquiao defeat Mosley as expected, the demand for a fall/winter showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. later in the year would be greater than ever.
Of course anyone who follows boxing knows the bad blood between the two and their multiple failed negotiations for a fight in the past, but as has always been speculated, perhaps enough money will be thrown their way to overcome their differences. Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum claimed Mayweather’s asking price to get him in the ring with the pound-for-pound great was an astounding $100 million in the most recent round of talks between the two camps.
A much easier fight to be made would be a rematch with Shane Mosley should he overcome steep odds and manage to defeat Manny Pacquiao next Saturday night. Also on the short list and possibly a much more lucrative fight than a Mosley rematch would be an encounter with British boxing star Amir Khan.
Although Khan does not appear to be ready for such a test as Mayweather, a combination of his vulnerability and mass marketing appeal could compel a match to be made. Also, the fact Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach also trains Khan would be a nice subplot and serve as a further build-up to an ultimate fight with the Filipino. Additionally, Mayweather has done good business in recent years with Golden Boy Promotions, which also happens to promote Amir Khan.
Like him or not, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is good for the sport of boxing, and any promotion including him is a huge event. His options in the ring are certainly plenty, so stay tuned for further details as they may develop.
Source: examiner.com
Friday, 29 April 2011
Pacquiao looking to knock out Mosley and maybe Mayweather’s argument -- 15Rounds
By Norm Frauenheim, 15Rounds
“It would be incredible for Manny to be the first one to stop him and just prove to the world how much better he is than that guy that couldn’t stop him,’’ Roach said Wednesday during a conference call when asked about the chances at a knockout of the durable Mosley on May 7 at Las Vegas MGM Grand.
Not that anybody had to ask, but that guy, of course, is Mayweather, who on Thursday had a preliminary hearing on felony and misdemeanor charges from alleged domestic violence delayed in Las Vegas until July 29.
Translation: The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight isn’t any more likely today than it was a year ago when Mayweather was terrific and resourceful in surviving a rocky second round, yet characteristically cautious in settling for a one-sided decision over Mosley.
For now, Pacquiao has only the fights that can help him build his case while the prosecution for Nevada’s Clark County its own. Common opponents are poor comparisons, made unreliable by time, circumstances and styles. But Mayweather leaves the Filipino Congressman without options or even much of a clue as to what he intends to do.
“It’s hard to judge him,’’ Pacquiao said when asked if he thought Mayweather feared him. “I don’t know what the reason is. I really don’t have an idea. I can’t say something. We don’t know, so it’s hard to judge him.”
Instead, Pacquiao does what he always has done. He moves forward. There is a sense that he already is at work on the finishing touches to a legacy that would be incomplete without Mayweather, yet still as brilliant as any.
News broke in Mexico that Juan Manuel Marquez already has a Top Rank offer to fight Pacquiao for a third time sometime in the fall. Top Rank’s Bob Arum was annoyed at the Marquez questions. He dismissed them twice, first Tuesday in a conference call with Mosley and again on Wednesday.
But it only would be a surprise if Marquez had not been approached by Top Rank. Marquez, who has a draw with Pacquiao and a controversial loss by decision to the Filipino, represents a chance for Pacquiao to eliminate lingering doubts about his ability to beat the accomplished Mexican. It also is another opportunity to further build his case in the potential debate about whether he was better than Mayweather, who outweighed Marquez and dominated him for 12 rounds, yet again settled for a decision in September, 2009.
If Pacquiao could somehow be the first to knock out Mosley and the first to stop Marquez, he would win the debate no matter what Mayweather does or doesn’t do. It’s a risk, first and foremost in terms of the motivation it provides Mosley, who is a better bet to win by stoppage than Pacquiao, especially within the first three to four rounds.
Another cracking right in the early rounds might accomplish for Mosley what eluded him against Mayweather. It might finish Pacquiao in another spring stunner during boxing’s season of upsets, especially if the 39-year-old Mosley can summon up a will, way and maybe a big left hand. Against a stumbling Mayweather, Mosley was curiously unable to capitalize.
The guess here is that Mosley won’t squander that kind of an advantage again. If he does, Pacquiao will be on his way to a significant victory and perhaps a stoppage that could win an argument, which on Thursday looked more likely than a Mayweather fight.
NOTES, QUOTES
• Insightful Al Bernstein offered an intriguing possibility that could surprise Pacquiao. During a Showtime conference call Thursday, Bernstein said Mosley might unleash a potent left that has been dormant lately. “The left-hand,’’ Bernstein said. “I think that’s the secret.’’
• Boxing’s best, hidden on premium networks and pay-per-view for years, goes back to prime time for the first time in generations Saturday night when the third episode in Showtime’s Fight Camp 360, an inside look at Pacquiao-Mosley, will air on CBS at 8 p.m., Eastern and Pacific. There were mixed reviews for the first two episodes. The third figures to attract the biggest audience, meaning there is motivation for Showtime to make it the best of the four.
Source: 15rounds.com
Knockout talk is pretty standard stuff in the build-up for any fight, especially one that Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley have transformed into an event. But it has a different tone this time around, because Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach hopes a stoppage will either lure Floyd Mayweather Jr. into the ring or provide Pacquiao an edge in an argument for the ages if the much-discussed fight never happens.
“It would be incredible for Manny to be the first one to stop him and just prove to the world how much better he is than that guy that couldn’t stop him,’’ Roach said Wednesday during a conference call when asked about the chances at a knockout of the durable Mosley on May 7 at Las Vegas MGM Grand.
Not that anybody had to ask, but that guy, of course, is Mayweather, who on Thursday had a preliminary hearing on felony and misdemeanor charges from alleged domestic violence delayed in Las Vegas until July 29. For now, Pacquiao has only the fights that can help him build his case while the prosecution for Nevada’s Clark County its own. Common opponents are poor comparisons, made unreliable by time, circumstances and styles. But Mayweather leaves the Filipino Congressman without options or even much of a clue as to what he intends to do.
“It’s hard to judge him,’’ Pacquiao said when asked if he thought Mayweather feared him. “I don’t know what the reason is. I really don’t have an idea. I can’t say something. We don’t know, so it’s hard to judge him.”
Instead, Pacquiao does what he always has done. He moves forward. There is a sense that he already is at work on the finishing touches to a legacy that would be incomplete without Mayweather, yet still as brilliant as any.
News broke in Mexico that Juan Manuel Marquez already has a Top Rank offer to fight Pacquiao for a third time sometime in the fall. Top Rank’s Bob Arum was annoyed at the Marquez questions. He dismissed them twice, first Tuesday in a conference call with Mosley and again on Wednesday.
But it only would be a surprise if Marquez had not been approached by Top Rank. Marquez, who has a draw with Pacquiao and a controversial loss by decision to the Filipino, represents a chance for Pacquiao to eliminate lingering doubts about his ability to beat the accomplished Mexican. It also is another opportunity to further build his case in the potential debate about whether he was better than Mayweather, who outweighed Marquez and dominated him for 12 rounds, yet again settled for a decision in September, 2009.
If Pacquiao could somehow be the first to knock out Mosley and the first to stop Marquez, he would win the debate no matter what Mayweather does or doesn’t do. It’s a risk, first and foremost in terms of the motivation it provides Mosley, who is a better bet to win by stoppage than Pacquiao, especially within the first three to four rounds.
Another cracking right in the early rounds might accomplish for Mosley what eluded him against Mayweather. It might finish Pacquiao in another spring stunner during boxing’s season of upsets, especially if the 39-year-old Mosley can summon up a will, way and maybe a big left hand. Against a stumbling Mayweather, Mosley was curiously unable to capitalize.
The guess here is that Mosley won’t squander that kind of an advantage again. If he does, Pacquiao will be on his way to a significant victory and perhaps a stoppage that could win an argument, which on Thursday looked more likely than a Mayweather fight.
NOTES, QUOTES
• Insightful Al Bernstein offered an intriguing possibility that could surprise Pacquiao. During a Showtime conference call Thursday, Bernstein said Mosley might unleash a potent left that has been dormant lately. “The left-hand,’’ Bernstein said. “I think that’s the secret.’’
• Boxing’s best, hidden on premium networks and pay-per-view for years, goes back to prime time for the first time in generations Saturday night when the third episode in Showtime’s Fight Camp 360, an inside look at Pacquiao-Mosley, will air on CBS at 8 p.m., Eastern and Pacific. There were mixed reviews for the first two episodes. The third figures to attract the biggest audience, meaning there is motivation for Showtime to make it the best of the four.
Source: 15rounds.com
Mosley Admits He Got This Fight Because His Last Two Weren't Stellar Outings -- The Sweet Science
By Rick Folstad, The Sweet Science
“Sugar” Shane Mosley is pretty much the forgotten man in this media circus. After all, this is the Manny Pacquiao Hour, a one-man act that doesn’t have room for a sidekick. Mosley is just a little trimming, extra frosting, a guy left out in the cold peering through a greasy window at the celebration he never got invited to. It almost feels like he’s an afterthought in this fight, someone who was needed to fill an empty chair when they started snapping photos for the history books.
On a recent conference call promoting their May 7 WBO welterweight title fight at a sold-out MGM Grand in Las Vegas (Showtime PPV), Mosley sounded like someone in a funeral parlor talking about the deceased. It wasn’t what he said, it was how he said it. Quiet, soft-spoken, polite and deliberate, you kept wondering if he just woke up from a long nap.
Naw, it was just Mosley being Mosley.
Asked if being the underdog provided a little extra motivation for him in the fight, Mosley said he doesn’t read too much into it.
“I don’t care if people are seeing me as an underdog or not,“ he said. “What matters is what happens in the ring. The only thing that matters is May 7.”
While Mosley didn’t provide any deep insight into the fight and how he planned to win it, his faithful trainer, Naazim Richardson, didn’t hold much back. When Mosley’s age was brought up, Richardson sounded like he already had the answers written down somewhere.
“Most of you saw the Erik Morales fight,“ Richardson said, referring to the recent, fight between the 34-year-old Morales and the 27-year-old Marcos Maidana, won by Maidana on a majority decision. “And most of you saw the (Jean) Pascal-Bernard Hopkins (who is 46) fight. And we keep counting these guys out. These aren’t just old men who box. These are legendary fighters who have age on them now. There‘s a difference between a legendary fighter who has age and an old boxer. When these guys were in their prime, they were exceptional. Michael Jordan could probably still come out now and make the starting five on any team in the NBA. We discount these older guys but we forget they were special. When special gets old, you can still be extraordinary.“
But you can’t get back your prime, and Mosley is a few years passed his.
Still, he’s a big name and that‘s why Top Rank booked him. He’s never been stopped, and he still has some pop left in both hands.
“If Shane hits you solid, you’re going on the defensive,” Richardson said. “I don‘t care how much of a gladiator or how tough you were before. When Shane tags you, you’ll be a defensive fighter. No one has ever asked for their money back after watching a Shane Mosley fight.”
Bob Arum got right to the point on Mosley, saying the reason they picked him to fight Pacquiao is “because we’re in the entertainment business and we know that Manny Pacquiao against Shane Mosley will be one hellacious and entertaining fight.”
Arum says that’s why Top Rank picked Mosley to fight Miguel Cotto, and why they picked Mosley to fight Antonio Margarito in January 2009.
“Shane is an all-action fighter and when he’s in with a guy who is an all-action fighter as well, you’re going to see fireworks.“
But he is 39.
And then you look back at his last two fights - a decision loss to Floyd Mayweather a year ago and a draw to Sergio Mora in September - and say he’s on the downside. But Mosley has a different way of looking at it.
“I don’t think those fights have anything to do with what I do against Pacquiao, because styles make fights,“ said Mosley, who did some chasing against Mora and Mayweather. “But if it wasn’t for those two fights, I probably wouldn‘t be here today. So those fights were needed.”
This guy always thinks the glass is half full.
But so does Richardson, who said they have a comfortable game plan that Mosley has bought into.
“We look forward to this contest and to solving the Rubik’s Cube of boxing, which is Manny Pacquiao,” he said.
Tough puzzle to crack.
Source: thesweetscience.com
“Sugar” Shane Mosley is pretty much the forgotten man in this media circus. After all, this is the Manny Pacquiao Hour, a one-man act that doesn’t have room for a sidekick. Mosley is just a little trimming, extra frosting, a guy left out in the cold peering through a greasy window at the celebration he never got invited to. It almost feels like he’s an afterthought in this fight, someone who was needed to fill an empty chair when they started snapping photos for the history books.
On a recent conference call promoting their May 7 WBO welterweight title fight at a sold-out MGM Grand in Las Vegas (Showtime PPV), Mosley sounded like someone in a funeral parlor talking about the deceased. It wasn’t what he said, it was how he said it. Quiet, soft-spoken, polite and deliberate, you kept wondering if he just woke up from a long nap.Naw, it was just Mosley being Mosley.
Asked if being the underdog provided a little extra motivation for him in the fight, Mosley said he doesn’t read too much into it.
“I don’t care if people are seeing me as an underdog or not,“ he said. “What matters is what happens in the ring. The only thing that matters is May 7.”
While Mosley didn’t provide any deep insight into the fight and how he planned to win it, his faithful trainer, Naazim Richardson, didn’t hold much back. When Mosley’s age was brought up, Richardson sounded like he already had the answers written down somewhere.
“Most of you saw the Erik Morales fight,“ Richardson said, referring to the recent, fight between the 34-year-old Morales and the 27-year-old Marcos Maidana, won by Maidana on a majority decision. “And most of you saw the (Jean) Pascal-Bernard Hopkins (who is 46) fight. And we keep counting these guys out. These aren’t just old men who box. These are legendary fighters who have age on them now. There‘s a difference between a legendary fighter who has age and an old boxer. When these guys were in their prime, they were exceptional. Michael Jordan could probably still come out now and make the starting five on any team in the NBA. We discount these older guys but we forget they were special. When special gets old, you can still be extraordinary.“
But you can’t get back your prime, and Mosley is a few years passed his.
Still, he’s a big name and that‘s why Top Rank booked him. He’s never been stopped, and he still has some pop left in both hands.
“If Shane hits you solid, you’re going on the defensive,” Richardson said. “I don‘t care how much of a gladiator or how tough you were before. When Shane tags you, you’ll be a defensive fighter. No one has ever asked for their money back after watching a Shane Mosley fight.”
Bob Arum got right to the point on Mosley, saying the reason they picked him to fight Pacquiao is “because we’re in the entertainment business and we know that Manny Pacquiao against Shane Mosley will be one hellacious and entertaining fight.”
Arum says that’s why Top Rank picked Mosley to fight Miguel Cotto, and why they picked Mosley to fight Antonio Margarito in January 2009.
“Shane is an all-action fighter and when he’s in with a guy who is an all-action fighter as well, you’re going to see fireworks.“
But he is 39.
And then you look back at his last two fights - a decision loss to Floyd Mayweather a year ago and a draw to Sergio Mora in September - and say he’s on the downside. But Mosley has a different way of looking at it.
“I don’t think those fights have anything to do with what I do against Pacquiao, because styles make fights,“ said Mosley, who did some chasing against Mora and Mayweather. “But if it wasn’t for those two fights, I probably wouldn‘t be here today. So those fights were needed.”
This guy always thinks the glass is half full.
But so does Richardson, who said they have a comfortable game plan that Mosley has bought into.
“We look forward to this contest and to solving the Rubik’s Cube of boxing, which is Manny Pacquiao,” he said.
Tough puzzle to crack.
Source: thesweetscience.com
Pacquiao is 'killing himself in training' - Roach -- ESPN
ESPN.co.uk
Freddie Roach claims Manny Pacquiao is "on fire" ahead of his May 7 showdown with Shane Mosley in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao is on a 13-fight win streak and he is fully expected to beat Mosley in a little over a week's time. However, there are no signs that the Filipino is taking things easy, according to trainer Roach.
The WBO welterweight title is on the line at the MGM Grand, and Roach claims his charge may well be in the best shape that he has ever been before a fight.
"Manny is really motivated for Shane Mosley," said Roach. "We started in the mountains in the first day of training and he's been consistently trying to kill his body. He ran yesterday for an hour and 10 minutes. He's just in great shape and this may be his best training camp we've ever had.
"Usually it takes us a little while to get into the flow of training camp, but from day one he's been on fire. I mean we did eight rounds of mitts in the first day of training camp and he hadn't been in the gym since the last fight.
"We've just run out of room to go. He does 16 rounds a day on the mitts right now and I'm going to start holding him back a little bit. That's the hardest part of Manny Pacquiao - slowing him down."
Victory for Pacquiao would inevitably conjure up more talk about a showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jnr, but the Pacman has given up predicting the American's next move.
"It's hard to judge him. I really don't have an idea. We don't know so it's hard to judge him," said Pacquiao.
Source: espn.co.uk
Pacquiao is on a 13-fight win streak and he is fully expected to beat Mosley in a little over a week's time. However, there are no signs that the Filipino is taking things easy, according to trainer Roach.
The WBO welterweight title is on the line at the MGM Grand, and Roach claims his charge may well be in the best shape that he has ever been before a fight.
"Manny is really motivated for Shane Mosley," said Roach. "We started in the mountains in the first day of training and he's been consistently trying to kill his body. He ran yesterday for an hour and 10 minutes. He's just in great shape and this may be his best training camp we've ever had.
"Usually it takes us a little while to get into the flow of training camp, but from day one he's been on fire. I mean we did eight rounds of mitts in the first day of training camp and he hadn't been in the gym since the last fight.
"We've just run out of room to go. He does 16 rounds a day on the mitts right now and I'm going to start holding him back a little bit. That's the hardest part of Manny Pacquiao - slowing him down."
Victory for Pacquiao would inevitably conjure up more talk about a showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jnr, but the Pacman has given up predicting the American's next move.
"It's hard to judge him. I really don't have an idea. We don't know so it's hard to judge him," said Pacquiao.
Source: espn.co.uk
Pacquiao promotional blitz hits Hollywood, record stores -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
Manny Pacquiao has positioned his sold-out fight against Pomona's Shane Mosley on May 7 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas to touch nearly every American.
He visited President Obama at the White House on his first publicity tour earlier this year, and he'll star in part three of Showtime's "Pacquiao-Mosley Fight Camp 360" Saturday at 8 p.m. on CBS.
Thursday, the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world released his first single, a remake of the 1970s ballad "Sometimes When We Touch," by Dan Hill, generating big sales on Amazon.com, according to the boxer's publicist Fred Sternburg.
And tonight, he'll appear on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
"It's important to me to promote the fight and let people know it's coming," Pacquiao told The Times on Thursday in a telephone interview before his workout at Hollywood's Wild Card Gym.
Pacquiao enjoys the attention, such as when stars such as Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Mickey Rourke and Robert Duvall have stopped by Wild Card to watch his workouts.
He's also an unabashed karaoke singer, and I reminded him Thursday of the scheduled interview in his Hollywood apartment we once had. He'd finished dinner and moved quickly to grab a microphone in front of the television to bust out a karaoke tune.
When told he had to do the interview first, his shoulders slumped.
"I love singing," Pacquiao said, laughing. "I like you too."
In a promotional DVD released with "Sometimes When We Touch," original singer Hill sings along with Manny. Hill and producers Matthew McCauley and Fred Mollin have high praise for Pacquiao's vocal effort.
Pacquiao said although he's busy with boxing and his work as a congressman in the Philippines, he'd like to ultimately make a full album of songs, perhaps including his duet of John Lennon's "Imagine" he sang with Will Ferrell on Kimmel last year.
"It depends on my schedule, it's just the single right now," Pacquiao said. "Thank you."
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Manny Pacquiao has positioned his sold-out fight against Pomona's Shane Mosley on May 7 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas to touch nearly every American.
He visited President Obama at the White House on his first publicity tour earlier this year, and he'll star in part three of Showtime's "Pacquiao-Mosley Fight Camp 360" Saturday at 8 p.m. on CBS.
Thursday, the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world released his first single, a remake of the 1970s ballad "Sometimes When We Touch," by Dan Hill, generating big sales on Amazon.com, according to the boxer's publicist Fred Sternburg.And tonight, he'll appear on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
"It's important to me to promote the fight and let people know it's coming," Pacquiao told The Times on Thursday in a telephone interview before his workout at Hollywood's Wild Card Gym.
Pacquiao enjoys the attention, such as when stars such as Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Mickey Rourke and Robert Duvall have stopped by Wild Card to watch his workouts.
He's also an unabashed karaoke singer, and I reminded him Thursday of the scheduled interview in his Hollywood apartment we once had. He'd finished dinner and moved quickly to grab a microphone in front of the television to bust out a karaoke tune.
When told he had to do the interview first, his shoulders slumped.
"I love singing," Pacquiao said, laughing. "I like you too."
In a promotional DVD released with "Sometimes When We Touch," original singer Hill sings along with Manny. Hill and producers Matthew McCauley and Fred Mollin have high praise for Pacquiao's vocal effort.
Pacquiao said although he's busy with boxing and his work as a congressman in the Philippines, he'd like to ultimately make a full album of songs, perhaps including his duet of John Lennon's "Imagine" he sang with Will Ferrell on Kimmel last year.
"It depends on my schedule, it's just the single right now," Pacquiao said. "Thank you."
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Pacquiao seeks impressive win over Mosley -- Radio Netherlands
Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Filipino pugilist Manny Pacquiao, hungrier than ever to fight after serving as a congressman, wants a more impressive victory over American veteran Shane Mosley next week than unbeaten rival Floyd Mayweather managed a year ago.
Pacquiao, 52-3 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, will defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight title on May 7 against 39-year-old American Mosley, who is 46-6 with one drawn and 39 knockouts and has never been knocked out.
"If the knockout comes it comes," Pacquiao said Wednesday. "I'm very focused, not for knockout, but to work hard. We're prearing for 12 rounds. If I am looking for a knockout or underestimating my opponent, it could affect me."
Pacquiao, a 32-year-old southpaw who has won his past 13 fights over six years, said one of his goals is to produce a more impressive victory over Mosley than Mayweather's unanimous decision last May.
"That's what I want to do," Pacquiao said.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, says every fight should end with a knockout and he would love "Pac-Man" to produce his first early stoppage since flattening Britain's Ricky Hatton two years ago by dropping Mosley.
"If Manny can be the first one to stop him it would be a feather in his cap," Roach said. "It would be incredible. It would just prove how much better he is than that other guy that couldn't stop him (Mayweather)."
Mayweather has not fought since and Pacquiao said he would never take such a break without retiring from the sport. He said he thinks Mayweather wants age to weaken his punching power.
"I don't know if he wants to fight me or what the reason is, if he's waiting for me to get old," Pacquiao said. "I'm just waiting for that time."
Fight fans hope for such a showdown but Mayweather faces a hearing Thursday on a domestic battery case that could result in 34 years behind bars.
Roach said Pacquiao has had the best start of a training camp that he has seen from the Asian superstar.
"He is really motivated for Shane Mosley. This might be the best training camp we've ever had," Roach said. "He had some down time. He was hungry for boxing again.
"From day one he has been on fire. We ran out of anywhere to go. I've had to hold him back."
Pacquiao said duties as a congressman kept him from workouts and made him hungry for the gym while some pre-camp jabbing sessions jump-started his workout regimen.
"I was hungry, excited, motivated to train hard," Pacquiao said. "I'm ready for the fight. I'm excited for this fight because Mosley throws a lot of punches. He's a good fighter and a champion also."
Pacquiao is set to record a song and appear on US television this week, tasks he sees as enjoyable rather than distractions.
"I like to do a lot of things in my life, to motivate myself to train hard for this fight," Pacquiao said. "I'm happy with what I'm doing."
Asked about reports that he has already been offered a deal to fight Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez later this year, Pacquiao avoided a direct answer but said, "I can fight anyone in the ring."
Marquez's only loss since a split-decision defeat at the hands of Pacquiao in 2008 came to Mayweather in 2009.
Pacquiao is not taking Mosley lightly despite the US veteran being seven years older.
"Shane Mosley is still strong. He moves like he's 29, 30 years old," said Pacquiao. "He's the kind of fighter you cannot underestimate. He's bigger than me and stronger and pound for pound he is still good."
"Mosley he moves fast with footspeed and has power. It's what I want. It will be a good fight."
Source: rnw.nl
Filipino pugilist Manny Pacquiao, hungrier than ever to fight after serving as a congressman, wants a more impressive victory over American veteran Shane Mosley next week than unbeaten rival Floyd Mayweather managed a year ago.
Pacquiao, 52-3 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, will defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight title on May 7 against 39-year-old American Mosley, who is 46-6 with one drawn and 39 knockouts and has never been knocked out.
"If the knockout comes it comes," Pacquiao said Wednesday. "I'm very focused, not for knockout, but to work hard. We're prearing for 12 rounds. If I am looking for a knockout or underestimating my opponent, it could affect me."Pacquiao, a 32-year-old southpaw who has won his past 13 fights over six years, said one of his goals is to produce a more impressive victory over Mosley than Mayweather's unanimous decision last May.
"That's what I want to do," Pacquiao said.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, says every fight should end with a knockout and he would love "Pac-Man" to produce his first early stoppage since flattening Britain's Ricky Hatton two years ago by dropping Mosley.
"If Manny can be the first one to stop him it would be a feather in his cap," Roach said. "It would be incredible. It would just prove how much better he is than that other guy that couldn't stop him (Mayweather)."
Mayweather has not fought since and Pacquiao said he would never take such a break without retiring from the sport. He said he thinks Mayweather wants age to weaken his punching power.
"I don't know if he wants to fight me or what the reason is, if he's waiting for me to get old," Pacquiao said. "I'm just waiting for that time."
Fight fans hope for such a showdown but Mayweather faces a hearing Thursday on a domestic battery case that could result in 34 years behind bars.
Roach said Pacquiao has had the best start of a training camp that he has seen from the Asian superstar.
"He is really motivated for Shane Mosley. This might be the best training camp we've ever had," Roach said. "He had some down time. He was hungry for boxing again.
"From day one he has been on fire. We ran out of anywhere to go. I've had to hold him back."
Pacquiao said duties as a congressman kept him from workouts and made him hungry for the gym while some pre-camp jabbing sessions jump-started his workout regimen.
"I was hungry, excited, motivated to train hard," Pacquiao said. "I'm ready for the fight. I'm excited for this fight because Mosley throws a lot of punches. He's a good fighter and a champion also."
Pacquiao is set to record a song and appear on US television this week, tasks he sees as enjoyable rather than distractions.
"I like to do a lot of things in my life, to motivate myself to train hard for this fight," Pacquiao said. "I'm happy with what I'm doing."
Asked about reports that he has already been offered a deal to fight Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez later this year, Pacquiao avoided a direct answer but said, "I can fight anyone in the ring."
Marquez's only loss since a split-decision defeat at the hands of Pacquiao in 2008 came to Mayweather in 2009.
Pacquiao is not taking Mosley lightly despite the US veteran being seven years older.
"Shane Mosley is still strong. He moves like he's 29, 30 years old," said Pacquiao. "He's the kind of fighter you cannot underestimate. He's bigger than me and stronger and pound for pound he is still good."
"Mosley he moves fast with footspeed and has power. It's what I want. It will be a good fight."
Source: rnw.nl
Pacquiao and trainer sing different tune on a Mosley KO -- Reuters
By Mark Lamport-Stokes, Reuters
While Pacquiao said a knockout had not been a specific focus during their preparations over the last two months, Roach felt stopping an opponent was the perfect way to end a fight.
Mosley, 46-6-1 with 39 knockouts, has yet to be knocked out during his professional career and Roach has set his sights on Pacquiao becoming the first boxer to achieve the feat.
"I think all fights should end in knockouts so I am looking for a knockout," Roach said on a conference call with the Filipino southpaw.
"Shane is a tough guy and a very durable guy and it would be a feather in Manny's cap to be the first one to stop him. It would just prove to the world how much better he is than that other guy (Floyd Mayweather) that couldn't stop him."
Eleven months ago, Mayweather resisted a furious early onslaught by Mosley to preserve his unbeaten professional record with an unanimous points victory in a welterweight bout in Las Vegas.
Mayweather has not fought since and boxing fans would dearly love to see the American go into the ring against Pacquiao to decide the mythical title of the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.
For the time being, though, Pacquiao and his trainer are fully focused on the WBO welterweight title fight against veteran Mosley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 7.
"Manny will fight at a fast pace and I don't know if Shane is going to be prepared to fight at that pace," Roach said of the Filipino who has been installed as an odds-on favorite by Las Vegas bookmakers.
"But we are going to force the action and we are going to go for it (a knockout) this time. If it comes, it comes. I think Manny is definitely the guy to do it."
Pacquiao, already established as one of the best offensive fighters of all time with a career record of 52-3-2 with 38 knockouts, was reluctant to talk about his chances of stopping Mosley.
KNOCKOUT FOCUS
"We are not very focused on the knockout," the 32-year-old said. "If the knockout comes, it will come. We have prepared ourselves that we are fighting 12 rounds."
Asked how much it would mean to him to become the first fighter to stop Mosley, Pacquiao replied: "I would be excited for that. My concern right now is the fight that we can give to the people and to the fans. I want them to be happy."
Pacquiao will be fighting for the first time since November when he outclassed Mexican Antonio Margarito in Dallas to land an eighth world title in an unprecedented eighth weight class.
For all the talk that he should brush aside the threat posed by three-division world champion Mosley, the Filipino southpaw is not taking his 39-year-old opponent lightly.
"Shane Mosley is still strong and he moves like a 29-year-old or a 30-year-old," Pacquiao said. "He is the kind of fighter that you cannot underestimate. He is bigger than me and stronger and of course he is a former pound-for-pound champion. He is still good."
Mosley did not thrive in his last two bouts - dropping a unanimous decision to Mayweather in May and drawing with Sergio Mora in September -- but Roach believes the American suffered against opponents renowned for their ultra-defensive style.
"We are looking at his fight against Margarito, a guy that attacks and not those two runners that he (Mosley) had a little bit of difficulty with," said Roach.
In his third-last bout, Mosley claimed the WBA welterweight title with a stunning ninth round stoppage of Margarito at the Staples Center in Los Angees in January 2009.
"In the Margarito fight, he looked great and Margarito has an aggressive style like Manny," Roach added.
"And the way we are going to attack him (Mosley) is going to be a little more scientific of course. We are ready for the best Shane Mosley out there."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
Source: reuters.com
(Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao
and his trainer Freddie Roach expressed contrasting views on Wednesday when discussing the possibility of a knockout by the Filipino in his title bout next week with American Shane Mosley.
and his trainer Freddie Roach expressed contrasting views on Wednesday when discussing the possibility of a knockout by the Filipino in his title bout next week with American Shane Mosley.While Pacquiao said a knockout had not been a specific focus during their preparations over the last two months, Roach felt stopping an opponent was the perfect way to end a fight.Mosley, 46-6-1 with 39 knockouts, has yet to be knocked out during his professional career and Roach has set his sights on Pacquiao becoming the first boxer to achieve the feat.
"I think all fights should end in knockouts so I am looking for a knockout," Roach said on a conference call with the Filipino southpaw.
"Shane is a tough guy and a very durable guy and it would be a feather in Manny's cap to be the first one to stop him. It would just prove to the world how much better he is than that other guy (Floyd Mayweather) that couldn't stop him."
Eleven months ago, Mayweather resisted a furious early onslaught by Mosley to preserve his unbeaten professional record with an unanimous points victory in a welterweight bout in Las Vegas.
Mayweather has not fought since and boxing fans would dearly love to see the American go into the ring against Pacquiao to decide the mythical title of the world's best pound-for-pound fighter.
For the time being, though, Pacquiao and his trainer are fully focused on the WBO welterweight title fight against veteran Mosley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 7.
"Manny will fight at a fast pace and I don't know if Shane is going to be prepared to fight at that pace," Roach said of the Filipino who has been installed as an odds-on favorite by Las Vegas bookmakers.
"But we are going to force the action and we are going to go for it (a knockout) this time. If it comes, it comes. I think Manny is definitely the guy to do it."
Pacquiao, already established as one of the best offensive fighters of all time with a career record of 52-3-2 with 38 knockouts, was reluctant to talk about his chances of stopping Mosley.
KNOCKOUT FOCUS
"We are not very focused on the knockout," the 32-year-old said. "If the knockout comes, it will come. We have prepared ourselves that we are fighting 12 rounds."
Asked how much it would mean to him to become the first fighter to stop Mosley, Pacquiao replied: "I would be excited for that. My concern right now is the fight that we can give to the people and to the fans. I want them to be happy."
Pacquiao will be fighting for the first time since November when he outclassed Mexican Antonio Margarito in Dallas to land an eighth world title in an unprecedented eighth weight class.
For all the talk that he should brush aside the threat posed by three-division world champion Mosley, the Filipino southpaw is not taking his 39-year-old opponent lightly.
"Shane Mosley is still strong and he moves like a 29-year-old or a 30-year-old," Pacquiao said. "He is the kind of fighter that you cannot underestimate. He is bigger than me and stronger and of course he is a former pound-for-pound champion. He is still good."
Mosley did not thrive in his last two bouts - dropping a unanimous decision to Mayweather in May and drawing with Sergio Mora in September -- but Roach believes the American suffered against opponents renowned for their ultra-defensive style.
"We are looking at his fight against Margarito, a guy that attacks and not those two runners that he (Mosley) had a little bit of difficulty with," said Roach.
In his third-last bout, Mosley claimed the WBA welterweight title with a stunning ninth round stoppage of Margarito at the Staples Center in Los Angees in January 2009.
"In the Margarito fight, he looked great and Margarito has an aggressive style like Manny," Roach added.
"And the way we are going to attack him (Mosley) is going to be a little more scientific of course. We are ready for the best Shane Mosley out there."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
Source: reuters.com
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