Miguel Cotto to face Antonio Margarito -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, who waged a blistering -- and ultimately controversial -- slugfest in 2008, will meet in a rematch on Dec. 3, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com.

Arum said he has deals with both sides, although the paperwork is not complete. Representatives for both fighters also said that they have accepted the fight and are in the process of finalizing agreements with Arum.

"We're on board and moving forward," Sergio Diaz, Margarito's co-manager said. "We've met with Bob. We want the fight. Cotto wants the fight. We're just finishing everything."

When Arum was in Puerto Rico last week to announce the signing of junior lightweight Luis Cruz to a co-promotional deal between Top Rank and Cotto's promotional company, he met with Gaby Penagaricano, Cotto's attorney.

"In our meeting, we had the opportunity to discuss all aspects of the Cotto-Margarito II deal," Penagaricano said. "Although we no doubt made progress, there are some aspects that will require further discussion (but) Miguel is certainly happy and even looking forward to having the opportunity to avenge his first loss."

The fight, for Cotto's junior middleweight title, will take place either at New York's Madison Square Garden or the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Arum said.

"We need to hammer out the site and we're doing an analysis now of New York and Las Vegas," Arum said. "The costs are so high in New York. The unions will kill you in New York."

Margarito is lucky he is able to fight after suffering a severe injury to his right eye during his lopsided decision loss to Manny Pacquiao in November. In that bout, Margarito suffered a broken orbital bone and also developed a large cataract in the right eye as a result of Pacquiao's repeated blows.

Arum hoped to make the rematch first in July and then in September, but the date was pushed deeper into the year so Margarito, who had surgery to remove the cataract in mid-May, could continue his recovery. The orbital bone has healed, Diaz said.

Diaz said that Margarito was originally told he could continue to box only as long as he didn't have cataract surgery, but that the blurry vision in his right eye would not improve. Diaz said at that point, Margarito strongly considered surgery and retirement.

"(His vision) was pretty bad, really blurry," Diaz said.

But Arum suggested that Margarito visit an eye specialist he had once seen. So Margarito arranged to visit Dr. Alan Crandall in Salt Lake City about two months ago.

"He told us Antonio's problem was very fixable and not a career-ending injury," Diaz said. "Antonio had pretty much accepted the fact that he would have surgery and have to retire. But they did this different kind of surgery that day, a half-hour surgery. They removed the cataract and put in a new lens. His vision is a whole lot better and will continue to get better. We have to do a minor laser surgery in a couple of weeks, but Antonio is going to be fine. He has been released to continue his career."

Like the first fight, the sequel will be on pay-per-view, although the company that will handle the event -- HBO or Showtime -- has not been determined. HBO PPV produced and distributed the first fight (which generated approximately 450,000 buys), but Arum said the network that he makes a deal with for the rights to the Nov. 12 pay-per-view fight between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will also land Cotto-Margarito II.

The first fight was one of the most memorable battles of 2008 and one of best fights in the rich history of the Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry.

"Cotto and Margarito can't help but be a terrific fight because of their styles," Arum said. "Margarito knows how to fight only one way, and that is to come straight ahead. Cotto has to be more intelligent this time and have more gas in the tank. I talked to Cotto about that and he said, 'There's one big difference for me in this fight as opposed to the first fight, the smart old guy in my corner.'"

Puerto Rico's Cotto was referring to Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward, who has been with him for his past two fights.

In the first fight, Mexico's Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs) came on strong in the late rounds to stop Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) in the 11th round of a bloody battle and take his welterweight belt on July 26, 2008 at the MGM Grand.

Margarito, who has lost two of his three fights since, was given tremendous credit for the victory as he ended Cotto's undefeated run. However, the win was eventually tainted because before his next fight, against Shane Mosley, Margarito was caught in the dressing room trying to wear loaded hand wraps containing illegal pads coated in a plaster-like substance. Mosley eventually knocked Margarito out in the in the ninth round and Margarito subsequently had his license revoked.

Because Margarito had fought Cotto in his previous fight -- and administered significant facial damage to him late in the fight -- many suspected he had gotten away with wearing illegal hand wraps.

Margarito, 33, sat out for 16 months after the license revocation before moving up to junior middleweight. He returned in his native Mexico, where he was welcomed with open arms and won a decision against low-level opponent Robert Garcia.

The hand-wrap scandal continued to swirl around Margarito, who was not licensed to fight in the United States until Texas granted him one for a November bout against Pacquiao. In their fight for a vacant junior middleweight belt, Margarito lost a lopsided decision and suffered the injuries.

Diaz said Margarito was ready for the scrutiny that will accompany a rematch with Cotto and the questions about whether he cheated in the first fight.

"When I was sitting with Bob, we were talking about going to Puerto Rico on the press tour," Diaz said. "Antonio said he was prepared for anything. He said, 'I could go anywhere and people don't like me, but this is the business. I'm a fighter and I have to face people who don't like me. I love Puerto Rico and I have to be prepared for it.' When he told me that, I felt relieved. I've been with him since he was 18 and it bothers me, it hurts me (that many people believe he cheated against Cotto). But Antonio is a strong guy. He knows he didn't do anything wrong, but he also knows he has to answer the questions."

Cotto, 30, moved up to junior middleweight in June 2010 and stopped Yuri Foreman in the ninth round to win a 154-pound title, which he defended March 12 with a 12th-round TKO of former titleholder Ricardo Mayorga.

"I think the rematch will continue from the first fight," Diaz said. "Antonio is really excited about the fight. He knows it will be a war. Antonio knows it will be another exciting fight. Cotto is a tremendous fighter, a four-time world champion. Antonio's a three-time champion. There are a lot of skeptics out there to show that Antonio's win the first time was no fluke.

"If Antonio was questioning himself he wouldn't have taken this fight. A lot of fighters say, 'I beat him once why do I need to do it again?' But Antonio is ready to get back in the ring. The payday is always good and the thought of being retired, I could see in his face when hit him. He was like, 'I'm 32 (at the time) and I have to retire already?' He wasn't taking it good, so when he was told he could continue he said it was a blessing. This fight is a blessing."

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

Source: sports.espn.go.com

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

By James Slater, Eastside Boxing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Mosley sees shock win -- Manila Bulletin

By Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin

Manny Pacquiao might tweak his fighting style a bit by being a boxer but Shane Mosley said the Filipino will revert to his old ways of being a banger and that is when he is going to make his move.

"He might move a little more or try to give me angles more, but other than that, he’s still going to come and fight because he’s a fighter," Mosley told fighthype five weeks before they collide on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"I know I’m going to shock a lot of people. It’s going to shock people when they see that I’m able to do what I do," said the 39-year-old American, who is a huge 6-1 underdog.

Mosley is so confident of a win that when told about plans to see Pacquiao face Floyd Mayweather in what could be the richest fight in the history of the fight game, Mosley said he doesn’t see it taking place.

"That’s not going to happen," said Mosley from his high-altitude training camp in Big Bear, California. "He’s going to have to see me again. I’m sorry about that, but Floyd’s going to have to see me again."

Mosley said Pacquiao may have slowed down a bit and is no longer that hungry based on reports that the reigning pound-for-pound king is always jazzed up.

"Well, that shows what’s about to go down, you know. Remember when (Antonio) Margarito was like that? Margarito came in with his sunglasses and he was all Hollywood. Then he had the Harley Davidson given to him and all that stuff. And then we fought. He came in looking a different way than he went out."

Source: mb.com.ph

Manny Pacquiao: The Truth about his 8th World Title -- Ringside Report

By Brian Wilbur, Ringside Report

Manny Pacquiao defeated Antonio Margarito last November in a fight that was billed as Pacquiao attempting to win his eighth world title in as many weight classes. Manny already held the record with seven titles in seven weight classes and was attempting to push his record even farther. The two pugs fought for the vacant WBC light middleweight championship.

Having a claim as a world champion is much easier in today’s boxing scene than it was in the past. One only has to win one of the four alphabet soup belts, the WBC, IBF, WBA, or WBO, in order to boast to be a world champion. One could also win a claim to the historical title lineage or win the Ring Magazine belt to be considered a world champion even without holding an alphabet soup belt.

Manny Pacquiao thrashed Antonio Margarito, winning the WBC’s version of the title at that weight class. Thus, he successfully became the only boxer ever to hold eight titles in eight weight classes. Right? Technically I suppose so using the definition of a modern boxing champion in the previous paragraph. But let’s look at the recent history of that 154-pound WBC title to see how much credibility it has.

On July 25th, 2009, WBC Light Middleweight Champion Vernon Forrest was shot and killed by a group of low-life thugs during an armed robbery. The three men were arrested and are awaiting trial with the death penalty potentially in their future. The world needlessly and tragically lost a terrific boxer and an even better human being that day.

Vernon’s belt obviously became vacant and the WBC had the task of crowning a new champion. The most obvious candidate to fight for the title was the WBC’s interim champion at that weight class, Sergio Martinez. Martinez turned down the opportunity, instead opting to fight Paul Williams at middleweight for big money on HBO.

One would think that the next move for the WBC would have been to arrange a bout for the vacant title among some the boxers whom they rated highly within that division. At the time their top three were Alfredo Angulo, Ricardo Mayorga, and Julio Cesar Chavez JR., in that order.

No such bout ever occurred.

Instead, the WBC sanctioned a match between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito for their vacant 154-pound belt. Pacquiao had never fought at junior middleweight prior to that match. Margarito had fought once in the last five years at junior middleweight in a meaningless tune up fight.

Margarito’s story about getting suspended for trying to use loaded hand wraps against Shane Mosley is well documented. Inexplicably, the WBC instantly made Margarito the number one contender when he returned from his exile despite being a proven cheater, despite having done nothing of merit in his new weight class, and despite coming off of a one-sided knockout loss. WBC president Jose Sulaiman essentially commended Margarito for cheating through his actions and various public statements defending the Mexican boxer.

Margarito was, and still is, a disgrace to boxing with no right to fight for any title until he proves that he can fight without loaded hand wraps, especially not at junior middleweight. Margarito had very little experience or success at that higher weight, having found his championship success at welterweight.

How, or why, would these two be sanctioned to fight for the vacant WBC light middleweight title? I possibly see why Pacquiao would get a pass directly to the title shot at junior middleweight considering that he was a pound for pound champion and a reigning world champion one weight class down, but only if he was fighting an established champion at 154 pounds. That was not the case. Manny was fighting for the vacant title against someone (Margarito) who was also new to the weight class and had no business being ranked inside the top 10.

The sanctioning of Pacquiao and Margarito by the WBC stunk. The WBC obviously wanted to get a cut of Pacquiao’s massive purse in the form of a sanctioning fee and bent over backwards to make sure that their title was at stake.

After Pacquiao won he vacated his new belt because his appearance at junior middleweight was only intended to be a cameo and he had no intention of sticking around to defend the belt. What is happening to the belt now is further discrediting the WBC belt and tarnishing Pacquiao’s claim as an eight-division champion.

A young Mexican slugger named Saul “Canelo” Alvarez won the WBC silver junior middleweight championship last July. For those who don’t know, the WBC silver titles are in place of the old “interim” label. So, in the WBC there are no more interim champions but there are plenty of title claimants to the silver belts. Alvarez, despite being a largely unproven, green prospect was first in line for a shot at the real belt based on the fact that he held that division’s “silver” belt.

That part is fine even if I don’t agree with Alvarez being rated as the #1 contender at junior middleweight, at least the WBC is consistent with their own rules up to this point.

What blows my mind is that the WBC is allowing Saul Alvarez to fight Matthew Hatton for vacant WBC junior middleweight belt. Hatton is best known for being Ricky Hatton’s younger brother but has found moderate success in the European circuit’s welterweight division. Hatton has had no significant fights at 154 pounds and has never beaten anyone that the media would consider at top 15-ranked contender in any weight class or at any point in his career.

Matthew Hatton bypassed a long list of WBC junior middleweight contenders ready and willing to fight Alvarez for the vacant belt, including Ryan Rhodes, Alfredo Angulo, Sergio Mora, and Kermit Cintron among the notables. Hatton is not ranked in the WBC 154 rankings, though he is, perplexingly, ranked #5 in their welterweight rankings.

A vacant title should be awarded only when the clear #1 and clear #2 ranked contenders fight. The WBC is hand picking undeserving boxers from any nearby weight class for no logical reason.

In the first case (Margarito vs. Pacquiao) you had two name opponents who were foreign to the weight class, one of whom was coming off a loss and suspicion for cheating. The next case (Alvarez vs. Hatton) you have two guys who would not be on most people’s top ten list fighting for the vacant title.

This belt, the WBC junior middleweight championship, is completely meaningless based on their recent actions and their vast history of poor decision making. How can boxing historians put any weight on the belt of an organization that runs business is this manner? They are giving titles away willy nilly, sanctioning any bout if the money is right. Pacquiao’s accomplishment of eight titles in eight weight classes is in serious question.

If the WBC sanctioned a fight between Pacquiao and Eric Crumble (look him up on boxrec) for the 168-pound title would we consider that nine titles in nine weight classes for Pacman? Absolutely not, and nor should we accept his claim to eight titles either, until he fights and beats a legitimate champion at 154 pounds.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Antonio Margarito on His Recovery, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

LAS VEGAS -- Ex-champ Antonio Margarito, who underwent 75 minutes of surgery to repair a fractured right orbital bone suffered during November's HBO pay per view televised unanimous decision loss to Manny Pacquiao, spoke to FanHouse last Friday concerning his recovery and his anticipated return to the ring.

The 32-year-old Margarito (38-7, 27 knockouts) fought Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) for the vacant WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt, which Pacquiao has since vacated even as he defends his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title against Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) on May 7 in a Showtime pay per view televised bout that is being promoted by Top Rank Promotions.

Last Friday, Margarito was at the Mandalay Bay Hotel during the weigh in for last Saturday's HBO televised bout featuring WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) titlist, Nonito Donaire (26-1, 18 knockouts), of the Philippines, scoring a second-round knockout over WBO and WBC king, Fernando Montiel (44-3-2, 34 KOs), of Mexico, to earn Montiel's belts.

Margarito said that he already is in training for a potential June bout opposite WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs), assuming Cotto gets beyond a March 12, Showtime pay per view televised encounter with former world champion Ricardo Mayorga (29-7-1, 22 KOs).

Margarito dethroned Cotto as WBA welterweight king with an 11th-round knockout in July of 2008.


FanHouse: What is your prognosis of recovery from your injury?

Antonio Margarito: Well, thanks to God, everything has gone well. We have an appointment again next month with the doctors, and they will tell me more.

But so far, things are progressing very well.


FanHouse: What have you been able to do to begin to get into shape once again?

Since January 5, when the doctors cleared me to start working out, that's when I started. The only thing that I'm not doing is sparring. I'm doing everything else.

Running, push ups, sit ups, hitting the bags, and I'm doing that on my own. Sparring is the only thing that I haven't been doing.


When do you expect to be able to begin sparring?

We have an appointment for another examination next month, and, hopefully, by then, the doctor will give me the green light to begin sparring.


Can you clear the air for your fans and the media and the critics concerning whether or not you thought that your fight with Manny Pacquiao should have been stopped as a result of the damage that you were absorbing?

We wanted to finish on our feet. Every minute during the break between rounds, [trainer] Robert Garcia would ask me how I felt. My answer was always, 'I feel great.'

There was no reason to stop the fight. We always knew that one punch could make the difference and maybe turn the tide and the momentum of the fight.

We were looking to land that punch in the fight, but, unfortunately, we were never able to land that momentum-changing punch.


How did that fourth-round punch that opened the cut beneath your right eye affect the course of the fight?

That's what changed the fight. That punch. The uppercut from Manny Pacquiao in the fourth round is what changed the fight. Up until then, I thought we were fighting the right strategy.

We were going to break him down. But that punch changed everything. After that, all that I could see was blurry.


Why weren't you able to capitalize on that sixth-round body shot that hurt Manny Pacquiao?

I tried, but the bell ran. Plus, Manny Pacquiao is just an excellent fighter and he was able to maneuver away from me. I would have kept on trying if we had more time.

But the bell rang, so there was nothing that I could do.


What was said when Manny Pacquiao came to your dressing room after the fight?

Manny just came into the dressing room and gave me a nice hug we told each other that we both put forth a great effort in a great fight and that we should both be very proud.


When do you expect to be back in the ring and when do you want to fight Miguel Cotto?

When I get the green like from the doctor. But I think that Bob Arum is already talking about a rematch against Miguel Cotto. That's a fight that [Top Rank Promotions CEO] Bob Arum already has mentioned.

I would love to have that fight, but we have to get cleared by the doctor.


Do you anticipate taking a tuneup bout or do you want to go straight into a rematch with Miguel Cotto?

It all depends on Bob Arum. If Bob Arum feels that we might benefit from a tuneup and that we have enough time to do a fight in between the Cotto-Mayorga fight and my fight with Cotto, then we can do it.

But if not, then we'll go straight to Miguel Cotto. If it was my choice, then I would go straight into the Miguel Cotto fight. I would love to go right into that fight, probably in June.


What is your relationship with your trainer, Robert Garcia?

I am very happy with him. He's a very good friend and a great trainer.


How long will you continue fighting?

I'm going to allow my body to tell me when enough is enough. I think that if, when I fight Cotto, my body tells me that's enough, then that will be end.

But if I feel strong and I feel healthy during and after the fight, then I will continue fighting. I will continue in this game until my body tells me that that is enough.


When you say, 'Enough,' how do you mean that the state of having had 'Enough' will manifest itself?

Right now, my body responds well to hard training and it responds to all of the things that I do in the gym. The simple fact is, in my last fight, I lost to Manny Pacquiao.

Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter, but it was just another loss. I feel that I'm healthy enough to keep fighting right now, and that I can come back and do it again.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Manny Pacquiao causes a stir during visit to Capitol Hill -- Washington Post

By Gene Wang, Washington Post

Nothing creates a stir on stodgy Capitol Hill quite like a celebrity appearance, and at the center of the commotion on Tuesday was boxer Manny Pacquiao, a world champion in eight divisions and among the most highly regarded fighters of all time.

Recently elected to congress in his native Philippines, Pacquiao turned his inaugural visit to the District into a two-fold venture. First, as a guest of Sen. Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), he toured the Senate floor in the morning and later went to the White House for a private meeting with President Obama. Pacquiao had campaigned for Reid during the last round of elections, and the majority leader, himself a former boxer, went so far as to say that support pushed him to victory in a tight race.

But Pacquiao, 32, also used the short news conference to promote his bout against former WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley in Las Vegas on May 7. Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) is a 7-1 favorite over Mosley, who at 39 is in the twilight of his career and has gone 0-1-1 in his past two fights. The loss was to Floyd Mayweather, whose legal troubles have further complicated a potential fight against Pacquiao that would be one of the richest and most anticipated in the sport's history.

"The only other fighter that was capable of this was [Muhammad] Ali," longtime promoter Bob Arum, whose stable of fighters as head of Top Rank Boxing includes Pacquiao, said of the excitement surrounding his high-profile client's visit to Capitol Hill. "I remember years ago bringing [Sugar Ray] Leonard and [Tommy] Hearns to the Capitol . . . but nothing like this, nothing like this. The fact that the senator would walk Manny on the floor of the Senate, that's a great, great honor."

Inside the ring, Pacquiao's most lofty acclaim would come by beating Mayweather, 33, in a dream matchup that has hit one snag after another after an initial agreement early last year. Among those was the refusal on the part of Pacquiao's camp to consent to Olympic-style drug testing, as Mayweather's camp was insisting. Now comes a series of domestic violence allegations facing Mayweather, who is charged with multiple felonies stemming from an altercation with ex-girlfriend Josie Harris.

Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) has won nine world titles in five weight classes and also is considered among the greatest pound-for-pound fighters not only of his generation but in history. Pacquiao was in and out of Tuesday's news conference so quickly that he was able to escape questions about that possible fight, but he did address that topic on Thursday in Los Angeles, where he and Mosley appeared at the Beverly Hills Hotel for a promotional stop.

"For me, if the fight is to happen, it would be good for the fans," Pacquiao said. "It's what the fans want. For now though, I'm praying for [Mayweather] that it will be okay, you know, with his personal problems."

Pacquiao, meantime, is coming off a victory over Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex. Pacquiao won the vacant WBC super welterweight belt by unanimous decision despite giving up 17 pounds to Margarito, who immediately after the fight was transported to a hospital. Doctors determined Margarito had fractured his orbital bone and required surgery.

The District was to be Pacquiao's final stop on a press junket that began in Los Angeles and included appearances in Las Vegas and New York, where he and Mosley addressed the media at Chelsea Pier on Monday afternoon. Pacquiao and his entourage then traveled by train to Union Station that night.

Source: washingtonpost.com

Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley Field Fans' Questions in Las Vegas -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

This past Thursday, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum was enthused that a throng of 300 or so reporters was in attendance on at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where eight-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, was in Los Angeles for the first top in a four-city promotional tour gearing up for a May 7, Showtime pay per view televised defense of his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt against Shane Mosley that will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

This past Saturday, Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) and Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) were, yet again, greeted by a large contingent of media members during the second press stop in the tour, this time, at the MGM Grand. On Monday, the duo will be in New York, and, on Tuesday, in Washington, D.C.

But on Saturday, the two fighters -- who will be on Showtime for the first time along with its parent company's network, CBS, as opposed to HBO -- answered questions not only from the media, but also, from their fans in attendance at the event, which was open to the public.

An estimated a thousand plus fans were on hand, and one-by-one, a few of them were allowed to approach a microphone that was provided for their use to ask questions.

"Are you ready for Mosley's body punishment?" a boy who looked to be around 12 or 13 years old asked Pacquiao.

"Nice, kid. Thanks for that," Arum said, before Pacquiao addressed the boy.

"I have two months to prepare for this, so I know I will get stronger," said Pacquiao. "I'll be ready on May 7."

Each of the fighters spoke to the notion posed by a fan concerning what the difference will be fighting on Showtime as opposed to rival HBO.

"It's an honor to fight on Showtime and be covered by CBS. Pacquiao. A lot of people can watch the fight on TV. It's just a big privilege," said Pacquiao, who, along with Mosley, will be profiled on a four-fight, Fight Camp: 360 series that will appear in part on regular CBS network television.

"I've never fought on Showtime. There have been a lot of big fights in the past on Showtime," said Mosley. "Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez. A lot of guys have fought on that channel and I'm excited to make an impact on Showtime."

Still another query was posed by a young, female fan concerning the new hairstyle of Pacquiao, which has been likened to that of teenage heartthrob and pop star, Justin Bieber.

"Do you like Justin Bieber," she said, "Because of your new hairstyle?"

The audience laughed.

"I like him," said Pacquiao. "But Bruce Lee is my idol."

As for the fight, itself, both boxers predicted a good one, even though they were complimentary when speaking to and about each other.

"Manny and are I are a lot alike. We don't like to trash talk. Manny's a warrior, but he wants to take your heart out," said Mosley.

"I'm pretty sure I'll be able to land some shots on Manny. I think size will be the big difference in the fight," said Mosley. "I'm too fast and too big, and I have the height and reach advantage and I'm going to use it."

Pacquiao is coming off of November's unanimous decision over ex-champion, Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs), whom he defeated for the WBC's junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt, but has since vacated that title.

"I think Mosley is a different man than Margarito, and a good man," said Pacquiao. "That's what I love about this fight, because we don't talk trash."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Pacquiao gives up belt -- ESPN Star

ESPNStar.com

Manny Pacquiao has decided to relinquish the WBC super-welterweight crown that he won last year.

The Flilipino has marched through the divisions after winning his first world crown at flyweight in 1998, three years after turning professional at the age of 16.

The Pound-for-Pound king gave away 17 pounds in November when he battered Mexican hardman Antonio Margarito over 12 rounds at a catch weight of 150lbs.

However, his Canadian adviser Michael Koncz has announced the 32-year-old will no longer share a ring with any opponents heavier than welterweight.

"We learned from experience in the Margarito fight that giving away 10 to 15 pounds during fight night is very detrimental to the safety of Manny," said Koncz . "Because of those basic concerns, we have no intention for Manny to fight at 154. From this day forward the maximum weight would be 147 lb.

"Manny wants to free the belt so that others have the opportunity to proudly wear the WBC belt."

Source: espnstar.com

Mayorga peppers Cotto with verbal jabs -- Las Vegas Review Journal

By Steve Carp, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Ricardo Mayorga still talks a good game.

The former world welterweight champion, who retired from boxing in 2008 after being knocked out by Shane Mosley, returned to the ring last month and beat Michael Walker. The win led to an opportunity to fight WBA super welterweight champ Miguel Cotto on March 12 at the MGM Grand Garden.

How much Mayorga, 37, has left is debatable. But when it comes to talking trash, he showed this week he's still in his prime.

"That belt you are holding, polish it up for me because I will be taking it on March 12," Mayorga (29-7-1, 23 knockouts) told Cotto on Wednesday as the promotion for their fight began in New York. "I will make a promise here that I will knock you out in four rounds.

"I have been watching all of your fights the past two months. You are punch drunk. You can't take a punch anymore, and I will retire you. Like (Antonio) Margarito after the (Manny) Pacquiao fight, you will be thinking about retiring when I am done with you."

Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) responded: "I am a professional fighter, and I know what my job is. My job is to fight in the ring because nobody wins a fight with their mouth."

Mayorga kept going.

"This is the first time I will fight someone that is as small as a kid," he said. "I think my pants are taller than you."

Countered Cotto, "With those little pants, I beat Shane Mosley. Do you remember him?"

This promises to be one fight where the hype will be entertaining.

■ PACQUIAO ON SHOWTIME? -- Manny Pacquiao's May 7 fight with Mosley might be broadcast on Showtime pay per view instead of HBO, which has televised the majority of Pacquiao's fights in recent years.

ESPN.com reported that multiple sources indicated that Top Rank chairman Bob Arum cut a deal with Showtime, owned by CBS, in the hopes of using that network as a promotional vehicle for Pacquiao's fight. Pacquiao appeared on "60 Minutes," CBS' news magazine show, the week before he defeated Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13.

Arum and other Top Rank officials are not talking. But the company plans to make a major announcement Wednesday regarding the pay-per-view broadcast.

■ WINKY RETURNS -- Golden Boy's first Las Vegas fight card of the year is scheduled for April 9, and plans are being finalized to have two great Mexican champions -- Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales -- meet in the main event at the MGM Grand Garden.

As part of that card, former world junior middleweight champion Winky Wright will face European middleweight champ Matthew Macklin.

"He is still one of the big names in the sport," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said of Wright (51-5-1 25 KOs), who has not won a fight since 2006. "He's a future Hall of Famer who can still drive ratings and fan interest."

Schaefer met with Marquez on Thursday and hopes to finalize the Marquez-Morales main event, which will be televised on pay per view, this week.

"Marquez always wanted the opportunity to face Morales," Schaefer said. "We met with Marquez and made him an offer, and it wasn't quite what he expected. We'll talk again next week and see if we can get a deal done. But one way or the other, we will have a pay-per-view card at the MGM Grand on April 9."

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

Source: lvrj.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

Richard Schaefer: Floyd Mayweather will fight Manny Pacquiao 'when the time is right' -- Grand Rapids Press

By Josh Slagter, The Grand Rapids Press

Boxing fans hoping for a megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in May 2011 may have to wait while the Grand Rapids native sorts out his legal problems, according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

Schaefer, who has represented Mayweather in previous failed negotiations with Pacquiao, told The Ring's Michael Rosenthal that Mayweather's priority shouldn't be getting back in the ring.

“People should be smart enough to realize that he’s in the middle of legal proceedings. His focus and energy is on that, clearing his name, not on making a fight. That’s just common sense," Schaefer said.

“Anything else would be disrespectful to a judge or the legal system. … He could say, OK, let’s fight Pacquiao in May or whenever and make a deal. How would a judge feel about that? You just don’t do that.”

Mayweather is facing eight criminal charges, including four felonies, stemming from a September domestic incident with ex-girlfriend Josie Harris. He's next due in court Jan 24.

Schaefer said Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) isn't dodging Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), who's coming off a dominant victory over Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium.

“I believe that Floyd truly loves the sport, he loves to fight. He’s also a businessman, though. If you add these things up, why wouldn’t he want to fight Pacquiao? It just has to be the right deal at the right time," Schaefer said.

"I can assure you that when the time is right, he'll fight Pacquiao and beat Pacquiao."

Source: mlive.com

Meeting Manny Pacquiao -- BBC

BBC World Service

The BBC’s boxing correspondent Mike Costello describes his adventurous trip to the Philippines to secure a rare interview with national boxing and now political icon Manny Pacquiao.

Manny Pacquiao’s training camps are chaotic. He thrives on mayhem.

But, just as when he’s in the ring, he appears to see situations much more clearly than anyone else.

The promises made regarding how much time we could spend with him are getting lost in the bedlam. He is due to be best man at a friend’s wedding later that day, we are told, and he will have to dash off immediately after training.

We are in danger of missing out on the interview that would make or break our whole project.

Universal appeal

Our mission to interview Pacquiao began in the capital of the Philippines, Manila. Everywhere people were milling around, wanting to talk – and shout – about Manny Pacquiao.

At one point we were dragged into a police station close to a marketplace in the city. Were we causing a disturbance or perhaps not have permission to record here?

It turned out that even the officer on duty at the station front desk wanted to have his say on Pacquiao.

He endorses what all Filipinos have told us – that the country comes to a standstill when the man is fighting. And he confirms suggestion that, as Pacquiao trades punches, the crime rate in the Philippines drops. He appeals to everyone.

Multi-talented

In the history of sport, rarely has one man had such an effect on his country.

Now 31, “Pac-Man” has won world titles (or the equivalent) in eight weight divisions – a feat never before attempted, never mind achieved.

Earlier this year he became a Congressman, winning control of his local province of Sarangani.

There were fears among his closest aides – in boxing and politics – that he was spreading himself too thinly.

And yet, earlier this month, he produced one of the finest performances of his career to beat the much bigger Mexican boxer Antonio Margarito. The deification of Pacquiao multiplied.

Super typhoon

Pacquiao is a difficult man to pin down, especially in the build-up to a big fight. He could agree to conduct endless interviews throughout the day and still not meet the demand for his time and thoughts.

We arrived in Manila in late October, as his preparations for the fight against Margarito were reaching maximum intensity. And our arrival in Manila coincided with the onset of super typhoon Juan.

His training camp was set up in Baguio City, a five-hour drive high up in the mountains outside Manila – which was forecast to be in the typhoon’s path.

We began to worry whether we could get to him before, or even after, the storm.

Time pressure

As it happened, Pacquiao was trapped in Baguio City when Juan hit and, just as he couldn’t get out, we couldn’t get in.

Taking advice, the Red Cross told us not to travel, especially at night, while Billy, the Irish chef at our hotel maintained it was “only a few drops of rain”.

If we didn’t go, we didn’t get Pacquiao. The dilemma was, go too soon and we risked getting caught in the storm, delay too long and we ran out of time and budget.

Thankfully, fortune favoured us, we beat the weather and got to the training camp.

Personal journey

With the time pressure on and the training session coming to an end we decided, as Pacquiao left the ring, that it was time to pounce.

Expecting to be ushered away by his advisers, I stood at the foot of the stairs leading down from the ring and, as Pacquiao wiped streams of sweat from his brow, face and shoulders, I explained that we had travelled to interview him, based on promises from his team management.

At that point I thought he could have brushed me aside, his working day was done.

But instead he sat and spoke for 20 minutes about his personal journey, his faith and his country.

He told the others in the gym to be quiet. He was doing an interview and he would make sure it was done properly and respectfully.

Lives transformed

We had seen Pacquiao at work, throwing punches faster than the eye can see and the fingers can count, and now he was revealing what was under the shell.

He and his closest friend told us how, as kids, they slept in cardboard boxes. Now their beds stand on marble floors.

So much in their lives has changed and yet somehow Pacquiao hasn’t.

Memories of hardship still serve as the fuel that drives his boxing and his politics, and he wants to transform the lives of others too.

At times like this, I’ll admit it’s hard to separate the fan from the reporter.

You can hear Mike's interview with Manny Pacquiao in this week's Friday documentary on BBC World Service

Source: bbc.co.uk

Katsidis inspired by late brother in Marquez fight -- AFP

AFP

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Barely a month after the death of his older brother, Australian Michael Katsidis faces the biggest fight of his life on Saturday in a double world title showdown against Juan Manuel Marquez.

Katsidis decided to continue his Thailand-based training last month after the unexpected death of Stathi Katsidis, a 31-year-old Australian champion jockey from Brisbane.

"I will do this for Stathi, my family and myself," Katsidis said. "Stathi is inside me. We will fight this fight together. I know this is what he wants."

Katsidis, 27-2 with 22 knockouts, will face World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, 51-5 with one draw and 37 knockouts, in a possible launching pad fight for the Mexican.

Marquez and his promoters have talked up the possibility of a third fight against Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, who won a 2008 split decision over Marquez after the two had fought to a draw in 2004.

The Asian star has talked down the idea of a third fight with a man who has not beaten him, but with unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather facing legal charges and nixing an earlier fight bid, Marquez might be an attractive foe if he wins.

"This is going to be a very difficult fight," Marquez said. "I'm not taking anything for granted. I'm going to have to be at my best. We will give the fans a great show."

Marquez rebounded from moving up in weight and losing to Mayweather last year by decisioning former lightweight champion Juan Diaz last July.

"He?s one of the best in the world pound-for-pound," Katsidis said. "I?m ready for the challenge though. I don?t think he?ll be able to hold me off for 12 rounds."

Marquez, seven years older than his rival at age 37, has only three losses in the past 11 years, falling to Pacquiao, Mayweather and Indonesian unbeaten Chris John in 2006.

Katsidis suffered both career losses in 2008, being stopped by Cuban southpaw Joel Casamayor and losing a split decision to US veteran Diaz.

"Katsidis is a very aggressive fighter and has respectable power, but we're ready," Marquez said.

The card also includes undefeated American Andre Berto, 26-0 with 20 knockouts, defending his World Boxing Council welterweight title against Mexico's Freddy Hernandez, 29-1 with 20 knockouts.

It will be the fifth defense of the crown for Berto since claiming the vacant title by stopping Mexico's Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the seventh round in 2008. Hernandez has won 12 fights in a row over five years to set up his first world title bout.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

Pacquiao asserts himself as pay-per-view star -- USA Today

By Dave Skretta, The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Manny Pacquiao is not simply the best boxer in the world. He's also the sport's biggest box office attraction.

Pacquiao's comprehensive destruction of Antonio Margarito for a vacant junior middleweight title on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium generated at least 1.15 million buys and $64 million domestic revenue, according to figures announced Tuesday by HBO Sports.

Those numbers are expected to increase slightly once all the figures are counted, but Pacquiao already is assured of his third straight year with at least one fight breaking the 1 million mark.

"It wasn't even on the right-hand side of the computer spreadsheet," said HBO vice president Mark Taffet, whose job includes handling pay-per-view broadcasts, when asked whether the numbers exceeded his expectations. "It's an outstanding number."

Pacquiao's victory over Oscar De La Hoya in 2008 generated 1.25 million buys, and his knockout of Miguel Cotto last year did 1.2 million. Taffet said his last five fights combined have generated at least 5.1 million buys, putting Pacquiao on par with De La Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the biggest earners in pay-per-view history.

Of that group, the Filipino icon is the only non-American.

"He's become a world figure, that's what differentiates it from the superstars that preceded him," Taffet said. "And his coverage is not just in sports media. He's transcended sport, to the point where he's the first non-American to generate these kinds of numbers."

Pacquiao also generated 700,000 buys for a lopsided decision earlier this year over Joshua Clottey, a fighter who has virtually no name recognition beyond the most ardent boxing fans.

Those same fans are hoping the next fight for Pacquiao is against someone virtually everybody recognizes: Mayweather. The two sides have failed twice to reach an agreement on what could be the richest fight in boxing history, and now with Mayweather's legal trouble in Las Vegas, the matchup is looking increasingly unlikely for next year.

"Mayweather, it can't be compared to any other fight that can conceivably be made," said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, comparing the fight to the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight in 1971.

"That fight would be like the Ali-Frazier of our time. And you know, Ali-Frazier in 1971 was the biggest fight really of all time, at that point. The same thing would be said for Manny and Floyd this time, but you know, it takes two to make the fight."

Arum said he's flying to the Philippines in December to celebrate Pacquiao's birthday, and at that point plans to discuss potential opponents. But he conceded in a phone interview with The Associated Press late Tuesday that he's not optimistic about Mayweather for the spring.

"Manny is there, he wants to do the fight, and Floyd for whatever reason is not prepared to fight him, so we have to go on to the next best thing if Floyd remains unavailable," Arum said. "We'll see who's available and what the terms are and then we'll select an opponent. Hopefully it's Mayweather, but as the day goes by, it's not looking good."

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: usatoday.com

Underneath Pacman's crown lies a halo -- San Antonio Express

By John Whisler, San Antonio Express

The congressman delivered a beating so severe, it landed his opponent in the hospital. But in dominating Antonio Margarito last week at Cowboys Stadium, Manny Pacquiao also showed he has a compassionate side.

This is a well-known fact in the Philippines, where the beloved boxer and politician makes a habit of giving away much of his wealth in an effort to help the poor.

But until his taming of the Tijuana Tornado, many in America had not seen the kinder, gentler Pacquiao.

For most of their WBC super welterweight title fight, Pacquiao pounded the bigger but slower Margarito with astounding ease.

Then in the late rounds, the lion became a lamb.

After Margarito's eyes were nearly swollen shut and his face became a bloody mask, the champ began to fear for his opponent's safety.

“I try to get the referee to talk to the doctor,” Pacquiao said. “I didn't want to damage him permanently. That is not what boxing is about.”

That's not the end of it. Failing to get the fight stopped, Pacquiao took pity on the Mexican slugger, letting up in the final round so as to not inflict any more punishment.

“Manny's a very compassionate person,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer.

Filipinos worldwide have known this for years. Now the rest of the world knows, too. His treatment of Margarito at the end of their fight was a fascinating subplot in what otherwise was a lopsided — and vastly overhyped — bout.

More Manny: Pacquiao revealed another side in the fight. He's also a master showman. In the sixth round, already well ahead on points, Pacquiao lay on the ropes and let Margarito pound him with body shots.

It almost proved costly. Pacquiao was hurt and later had to be examined for possible rib injuries.

“I wanted to fight toe-to-toe and make the fight exciting for the fans,” Pacquiao said afterward.

Cole responds: Some have criticized referee Laurence Cole for not halting the fight after it became clear Margarito was taking a beating.

Cole says he looked for a way to do just that.

“I was trying to find a place to stop it,” the veteran referee said. “But he was still moving and punching strong.”

Cole held up two fingers and asked Margarito to count them. When he responded correctly, Cole let the fight continue.

He said ring doctors examined Margarito between the last several rounds and never asked him to stop the bout.

Margarito fine: Surgery to repair Margarito's fractured right orbital bone was deemed a success, and the fighter was released from Dallas' Methodist Hospital on Wednesday.

Paging Floyd: Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez appear to be the leading candidates as the next opponent for Pacquiao. However, the champ's camp wants Floyd Mayweather Jr., as does just about everyone else on the planet.

But given Mayweather's legal woes — he's facing charges of felony domestic battery — Money May might be tied up for a while.

jwhisler@express-news.net

Source: mysanantonio.com

Ref forces Manny Pacquiao to batter Antonio Margarito -- Boston Herald

By George Kimball, Boston Herald

When the Texas boxing commission confirmed its outlaw status by granting a license to the disgraced Antonio Margarito two months ago, we spoofed the news with a column for TheSweetScience.com purportedly announcing that another boxing pariah, Panama Lewis, would train Margarito for his fight with Manny Pacquiao, and augmented the joke by whimsically predicting that the Texas commission would appoint the notoriously incompetent Laurence Cole to referee the fight at Cowboys Stadium.

Turns out it was more than a joke. Cole was the third man in the ring last Saturday night.

That wasn’t the reason Pacquiao knelt in his corner to pray just before the opening bell. Pacquiao kneels in his corner before every fight, praying not for victory but for a good fight in which nobody gets hurt. That isn’t always achievable, particularly when Cole running the show, and Pacquiao spent the last two rounds vainly pleading with the referee to stop the fight and spare his opponent further punishment. Margarito was taken to the hospital after the beatdown, where he spent the next four days while doctors waited for the swelling to go down enough to allow surgery to repair a fractured orbital bone. When he was finally released on Wednesday, Margarito received a message from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who told him he had “made a friend for life.”

Between Pacquiao’s dominance of another much larger foe and the apparent intransigence of Floyd Mayweather Jr., much of the subsequent speculation had the world’s best fighter looking around for yet another Goliath - the winner of last night’s Sergio Martinez-Paul Williams fight, or even soon-to-be 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins, should he prevail in next month’s challenge to light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal.

But bigger isn’t necessarily better. Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach suggested that the novelty of taking on larger opponents may have run its course. The truth of the matter is that while he hasn’t fought there in nearly two years, 140 pounds probably remains Pacquiao’s optimal fighting weight, and upcoming bouts between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana (Dec. 11 in Las Vegas) and Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander (St. Louis on Jan. 29) could well produce the next Pac-Man foe.

Sanction junction

Beyond the obvious conflict of interest represented when a magazine owned by a boxing promoter starts handing out championship belts, our position on The Ring’s self-proclaimed “titles” has always been that the last thing the boxing world needed at this stage was yet another sanctioning body.

Last week, Larry Hazzard, the former chairman of the New Jersey boxing commission and, more recently, a championships official for the International Boxing Federation, announced, in conjunction with former IBF president Marian Muhammad, the formation of a new sanctioning body called the Combative Sports Federation. The organization proposes to rank boxers by weight class throughout the world, and to extend its umbrella to incorporate mixed martial arts as well. Former New York State Athletic Commission chairman Randy Gordon will serve as the head of the CSF’s ratings committee.

We’re no more eager than ever to see yet another set of increasingly meaningless championship belts tossed around, and it strikes us that the organization is probably doing itself no favors with its unqualified embrace of the cage-fighting set. Since MMA franchises operate independently of one another and their “champions” never meet, a valid rating system encompassing that mob would seem doomed from the outset (why not rank WWE wrestlers while they’re at it?), and the process will inevitably taint the CSF’s boxing ratings as well.

While we have our well-founded misgivings about the upstart sanctioning body, the credentials, stature and boxing experience of Hazzard, Muhammad and Gordon do lend it certain bona fides notably absent in the fly-by-night would-be sanctioning bodies. It might also be noted that two of today’s four generally recognized sanctioning bodies, the IBF and the WBO, originated as spinoffs created more or less from the rib of the WBA by disaffected former officials of that organization. Who is to say that the CSF might not achieve similar stature?

But if it does, it will most likely be at the expense of the IBF. Muhammad and, in recent years, Hazzard, have been as responsible as anyone for whatever credibility was restored to that body in the wake of the Bob Lee scandal and the era of federal receivership. Even without the CSF, their absence would have to be regarded as a body blow to the IBF, and if the new organization does come to enjoy widespread acceptance, it will more likely be regarded as a fourth, not a fifth, sanctioning body - one that has swallowed its predecessor whole in its climb to prominence.

Rodriguez logs OT

Worcester super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez, who ran his record to 17-0 with his TKO of James McGirt Jr. in Fargo, N.D., two weeks ago, didn’t have much time to savor the victory. A couple of days later he was on a plane to London, and has spent the past 10 days working as the principal sparring partner for Carl Froch, who faces Arthur Abraham in Helsinki Saturday in a fight for the WBC title that will also sort out the pecking order for Showtime’s “Super Six” semifinals.

Rodriguez, who stopped McGirt in nine, will face the son of yet another boxing legend in his next outing - Aaron Pryor Jr., who outpointed Dyah Davis on the Fargo card. Rodriguez-Pryor will be the co-feature of Lou DiBella’s Jan. 14 card in Key West, Fla., with another New Englander, Peter Manfredo Jr., in the main event, facing an opponent to be determined. . . .

Irish middleweight Andy Lee, who accompanied manager/trainer Emanuel Steward to Atlantic City, N.J., where Steward worked the telecast of last night’s Martinez-Williams fight, are headed to Austria, where Wladimir Klitschko is training for his Dec. 11 heavyweight title defense against Derek Chisora. Lee will fight on the undercard of the Mannheim, Germany, bout. . . .

In 1980, the first year we covered boxing for this newspaper, there were 20 fight cards in Massachusetts alone. Unless somebody rings in with a late entry, Mike Acri’s show at the Mohegan Sun last night will have been the 16th and last of 2010 in all of New England. Half of those took place at the Connecticut casinos (six at the Mohegan, two at Foxwoods). Rhode Island hosted five cards, all at the Twin River Events Center, Massachusetts two, New Hampshire one. . .

Happy birthday, Antonio Tarver.

Source: bostonherald.com

Manny Pacquiao would be perfect poetry in the hands of legendary boxing wordsmiths -- Los Angeles Times

By Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times

Red Smith, Jim Murray and Damon Runyon would find endless inspiration and poetry in the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Bob Arum and the rest of the characters in the sport today.

Boxing is the gift that keeps on giving.

It is why the great wordsmiths gravitated to it. It is why Red Smith could easily find poetry in its violence, why Jim Murray scoffed at anybody wishing for the departure of Mike Tyson.

"Lord, no," Murray would say. "He's 10 columns a year."

Damon Runyon painted such wonderful word pictures of boxing characters that, over time, his name was used as a category for those with special quirks.

It hasn't changed, only gotten better.

Smith, Murray and Runyon cry out from their graves for another day to write. Manny Pacquiao would have intrigued and inspired them to combinations of words worthy of plaques, headstones and literary immortality.

They would not only see him as this skinny, hungry child from the mean streets of General Santos City, Philippines, and later the meaner streets of Manila, but for what he has become and how beautifully he has handled it.

Like none others, they would articulate how an impoverished child from a third-world country had become a hero on the American sports scene, while maintaining dignity and perspective. They would make the contrast between how he shares fame and fortune and how so many of our homegrown heroes never have even an idle thought about giving back.

Even better, they would find, as they always did, the delightful wackiness of the people connected to Pacquiao and would quickly make the point that, of them all, he is the most stable.

They would be in full typist mode in the aftermath of Saturday's annihilation by Pacquiao of a slow, plodding, six-inches-taller Mexican named Antonio Margarito. It looked like Paul Bunyan being taken to the woodshed by his 10-year-old son.

They would find a way to, respectfully, point out to Mr. Margarito that a boxer who just made $5 million while having an orbital bone broken and jammed with pieces of eye muscle needs to take that $5 million, thank God daily, and retire to a life of bouncing his children on his knee.

They would have a field day with the never-ending maneuvers of Pacquiao's promoter, the veteran master of all angles, Bob Arum. Arum now calls Pacquiao the best fighter he has ever seen, even though he has seen, and promoted, Muhammad Ali and Oscar de la Hoya. Our writers would quickly make the translation for readers who might be a bit slow on boxing-promoter-speak. Best fighter also means biggest payday fighter.

Nor would they miss Arum moving immediately to what's next for Pacquiao (and him). As every boxing fan knows, the ultimate match is Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Arum was quoted a few days ago as saying that Pacquiao would have a birthday party Dec. 17 and they had better hear of Mayweather's interest by then.

Ah, the old birthday-party deadline trick.

Our beloved authors would find volumes of fascination in Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who, by his own admission, took five fights too many in his own career. Roach has Parkinson's disease, the likely result of punches absorbed in those last five fights. Yet while he struggles physically, Roach has more common sense about what will happen and what should happen next for Pacquiao than anybody.

When Roach said Pacquiao would handle a bigger, more famous Oscar de la Hoya, the boxing world laughed. Roach was right. He had a plan for his fighter to handle Miguel Cotto. It worked. Same with Joshua Clottey and Margarito. Four bigger trees, all becoming kindling.

Now Roach says his fighter, who also happens to be a congressman in the Philippines and who seems increasingly more interested in politics than punching, should consider retiring from the ring. Pacquiao has had 57 fights, and Roach knows what five too many means. Pacquiao already could be three-fifths there.

Our wordsmiths would find a wealth of material in the Mayweather family, which seems as destined to jail time as to ring time. The immediate future of the sport may have less to do with Arum and HBO and De La Hoya's Golden Boy and Pacquiao and Roach and panting fans than it does with the judges in Nevada who will rule in separate cases involving Floyd Jr. and uncle Roger, Floyd's trainer, in late January.

Then there is Shane Mosley, who is 39 and coming off a draw with Sergio Mora, in the Snore at Staples, seeking the next shot at Pacquiao. Also, Bernard Hopkins, telling the world that Pacquiao would lose to Mayweather because he couldn't deal with Mayweather's "black, street-fighter style."

These guys are a stitch, in several ways.

All this and even a real fight going on Saturday night in Atlantic City, N.J. — Sergio Martinez versus Paul Williams. That fight has been unfairly and incorrectly lost in the run-up to, and the aftermath of, Pacquiao-Margarito.

So many stories. So little time. And so sad that Smith, Murray and Runyon could not have lived forever.

bill.dwyre@latimes.com

Source: latimes.com

Manny Pacquiao, oblivious to our losing football team, brings a winner to Cowboys Stadium -- Dallas Observer

By Richie Whitt, Dallas Observer

On Sunday the Dallas Cowboys look for their first home win of the season.

Manny Pacquiao has already won twice in Cowboys Stadium in 2010.

In other words, it's time to adopt the eight-time boxing champion as our "team." After all, the bludgeoning he delivered upon the unfortunate noggin of Antonio Margarito last Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium was the most one-sided fight in Arlington since Nolan Ryan pummeled Robin Ventura back in 1993. Pacquiao over Margarito was a gritty bloodbath between guys long on passion and short on English, the kind of scrap usually reserved for Lowest Greenville around 2:30 a.m.

"This was not an easy fight," Pacquiao said after winning a unanimous decision before the deliriously entertained fans. "I can't believe I beat someone this big and strong."

Contrary to the football team's home games, Pacquiao-Margarito featured tons of hits, a raucous crowd and a popular winner. For one night, the metroplex's Bible Belt devotion gave way to a barbaric lust for a title belt. It's somehow reassuring that—at least every now and then—a populous built upon the cornerstones of cash and silicone can still crave gladiators and guts.

I'm not a big boxing fan. Muhammad Ali retired, Mike Tyson went nuts, I'm only guessing that Wladimir Klitschko is a heavyweight champ and sometimes I forget that Clubber Lang is just a character and George Foreman isn't just a chef. But there was plenty to appreciate in watching perhaps the greatest pound-for-pound fighter to ever step in the ring.

Pacquiao, 31, won his first championship as a 106-pound flyweight back in 1998. Last Saturday he fought at 5-foot-6 and 148 pounds, against an opponent four inches taller and 17 pounds heavier. It was no contest.

By the time the fighters made their dramatic entrances from locker room to ring, it was nearing 10:45 p.m. Fans—most of whom dressed up as if attending the Winspear Opera House or perhaps a party at Hotel ZaZa—not only found their seats, but some stood on them. HBO's Jim Lampley and Max Kellerman were yacking while bopping their heads to the music. The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders lined the red-carpeted paths for the boxers and infamously annoying ring announcer Michael Buffer awaited with his signature "Let's get ready to rummbbllllllle!"

Margarito entered the ring to mariachi music that oozed all the power and pizzazz of a bad Mexican food restaurant. Minutes later, the champ sauntered in to AC/DC's "Thunderstruck," providing the feel of a pivotal timeout during a Dallas Mavericks game.

Then the bell rang and, just like that, glitz and glamor melted to expose a raw, radically violent sport that had men in pinstripe suits and women in pearls using their own body language to duck punches and offer counters.

Exclaimed a man in the seventh row to no one in particular as Pacquiao landed the night's first punch, "This is the shiiiiit!"

Though much bigger—he weighed in at 150 on Friday afternoon but amazingly, apparently legally, ballooned to 165 by the first round—Margarito was ultimately no more than a human piñata. Time and again he attacked with a ballsy, straightforward approach, only to be peppered with a counter-attack by the quicker, faster, better Pacquiao. Margarito not only lost the war, he finished second in almost every battle. To his credit Margarito was valiantly relentless. But his strategy worked about as well as the ignorant bear reaching into the beehive for the honeycomb, resulting in hundreds of painful stings and only a few futile tastes of the sweet nectar.

"He's so very fast," Margarito said after the fight. "It's hard to land a punch on that guy, but there's no way I was going to quit in the fight. I am a Mexican and we fight to the end."

In the end, Pacquiao threw an astounding 1,069 punches in the 12 rounds and landed almost twice as many as Margarito's 229. By the fourth round it was a matter of how and when, not if, Pacquiao would win. With a disappointingly low crowd of just more than 43,000—promoter Bob Arum had hoped to push 65,000 and top the American indoor record set for Ali-Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in 1978—chanting "Man-NEEE! Man-NEEE!" Pacquiao so dominated that in the final round he was allowed the luxury of extending mercy. With Margarito's right eye bloodied and swollen almost shut but his corner and his will too stubborn to stop, Pacquiao looked at referee Laurence Cole to end the fight. Margarito defended himself and even fought back. With a commanding lead, Pacquiao spent the final round showing his opponent mercy.

"I didn't want to hurt him," Pacquiao said afterward. "Boxing isn't all about killing each other."

Said Margarito trainer Robert Garcia, "Toward the end, the punches were coming clean. But we have a warrior here and he would never let me stop the fight."

After the fight Margarito was taken to the hospital via ambulance. He suffered a fractured orbital bone around his right eye that required surgery this week.

While Margarito is lucky to be alive and, let's face it, lucky to be fighting after having his boxing license suspended in California and Nevada in the wake of illegally hardening his hand wraps with plaster during a 2009 fight, he also walks away with a $3 million payday. Pacquiao, meanwhile, will make more than $20 million after the pay-per-view totals but also leave Texas with something priceless—serious consideration as the best fighter in boxing history. With a record of 52-3-2, Pacquiao now has won eight championships at eight different weight classes. Most of us get worse with age, adding pounds and losing performance. Pacquiao somehow gets better, still winning 12 years and 42 pounds from his debut.

Pacquiao, who won his seventh title by beating Joshua Clottey in Arlington last March, slays his bigger opponents not with a powerful haymaker, but rather a million paper cuts. His flurry of fists during the exchanges of close in-fighting are legendary. During their convergences in Cowboys Stadium, it wasn't uncommon for Pacquiao to land three punches to Margarito's one.

"Manny's a freak, let's face it," his trainer, Freddie Roach, said during last Thursday's final pre-fight press conference. "We're not going to see another Manny Pacquiao in our lifetime. If you get four world titles it's a big deal. One is hard enough. To win eight is unheard of. He continues to amaze me."

Conceded Garcia, "Manny's the best fighter in the world."

Since he can't further his legacy by fighting Ali or Tyson or Sugar Ray Leonard or Rocky Marciano, Pacquiao will sit and wait on Floyd Mayweather Jr. That fight—pitting the world's two best pound-for-pound boxers—would attract record crowds and viewers and generate unfathomable revenue, but it's on hold while Mayweather deals with criminal charges stemming from a domestic dispute in September. Until then, Pacquiao will pour his pitter-pounding heart and soul into his life's other passions: Singing. And governing.

Next week he's off for a concert in Lake Tahoe. After that he'll head back to his native Philippines, where he serves as a member of Congress.

And to think, at one point we clamored at the thought of watching the other Pacman—failed cornerback Adam Jones—in Cowboys Stadium.

Source: dallasobserver.com