Mayweather Jr. insists Shane Mosley told him to get Manny Pacquiao tested -- Examiner

By Rick Rockwell, Examiner

The incredible soap opera between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao has taken another crazy turn as the undefeated boxer Floyd announced to the public that Shane Mosley has privately told him to get Manny Pacquiao tested. Apparently, after the May 7th fight between Mosley and Pacquiao, Floyd and Shane had a phone conversation about Manny. On Thursday, Floyd Jr. made the following comments about that conversation, according to Fighthype.com:

"Me and Shane talked and he told me the truth. These words that Shane told me: 'Floyd, if I was you, I'd make Pacquiao take the test'."

Floyd claims that Shane might have regretted not getting Manny tested before their fight on May 7th. Floyd has now thrown Mosley under the bus and it will be interesting to see how Shane responds. Last month, a bogus report came out that Pacquiao was taking PEDs all the way back to his fight with Hatton and De La Hoya. Shane retweeted the report, made a few comments, and then completely backed off of it when he was getting blasted in the media.

If Mosley really has a problem with Pacquiao, then he should publicly come out and say it. Unfortunately, we can't just go off the words of Floyd Jr. when it comes to allegations like this. I guess the $5 million pay day that Mosley received was good enough for him to publicly declare Manny was clean but privately question Pacquiao.

Source: examiner.com

Promoter: Pacquiao fight was boxer's largest pay-per-view yet -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Manny Pacquiao's lopsided unanimous decision triumph over Shane Mosley last month has been projected to net at least 1.3 million pay-per-view buys, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said Monday, making the bout the Filipino star's best-selling bout yet.

"It'll be something over 1.3 [million], as high as 1.4," Arum said. "Based on what we have and certain projections, we know it's over 1.3 million."

Pacquiao's previous best was his December 2008 victory over Oscar De La Hoya, which generated more than 1.25 million buys.

The victory over Mosley was televised by Showtime, which declined to comment on Arum's announcement.

Arum pulled Pacquiao off HBO for the bout, expressing confidence the added publicity given by CBS' airing of two of the four Showtime "Fight Camp 360" prefight reality episodes would make it Pacquiao's biggest draw.

"I'm delighted with the numbers, very pleased with how everyone did their jobs," Arum said.

Showtime's success will make for an interesting television battle for Pacquiao's next fight, Nov. 13 versus Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez. The pair previously fought to a 2004 draw and 2008 split-decision won by Pacquiao.

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Sugar Shame Mosley shocker: He tried to quit on stool in Manny Pacquiao fight -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

You don’t have to take my word for it on Sugar Shame Mosley and the putrid effort he rendered in his May 7 fight against Pinoy Idol Manny Pacquiao.

Everyone who watched the heavily-hyped up bout and forked over $55 for PPV TV or a pricey seat inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena knows that Mosley began fighting in a safety first, defensive manner as early as the second round of the scheduled 12-round WBO welterweight title bout. Mosley went almost totally into reverse gear after taking a hard Pacman shot in that round and then getting dropped in the third round.

Simply put, Mosley fought like a quitter.

But now, this Saturday night courtesy of Showtime Fight Camp 360 microphones, specifically a lavaliere mike worn by Mosely’s esteemed trainer Naazim Richardson, you’ll learn as will the entire world that either before or after the tenth round, Mosley actually begged his corner to halt the brutal mismatch.

Now the quotes herein are not verbatim but I can report the essence of what happened and what you’ll hear when Fight Camp 360 plays at 8:45 pm, EDT, right before what looks like a crackerjack super middleweight tournament bout between England’s Carl Froch and respected veteran Glen “Road Warrior” Johnson.

I spoke to one Showtime operative Wednesday who has heard Mosley’s words and the quick, sagacious response by The Naaz.

“Shane wanted the fight stopped, he said it in the corner,” this veteran TV man said. “Shane said he had bad blisters on his foot and wanted the bout to end.

“But Richardson wouldn’t hear of it, refusing to comply with his fighter’s request to quit on the stool. Naazim said something like, ‘No, no, you are not cut from that cloth.’ Richardson refused to call the ref or the doctor in to tell them his man had enough.”

I’m wondering what the first reaction of Pacman trainer Coach Freddie Roach, who so badly wanted to “outdo” Floyd Mayweather Jr. and have Manny KO the 39 year old Mosley, might be. You got “cheated” out of the TKO victory, Mr. Roach by Mosley’s wiseman of a trainer.

Showtime officials weren’t gloating about this discovery, a revelation not covered during the live telecast because the Fight Camp 360 mikes pickup weren’t being piped into the broadcast truck.

Producers of the pre and post fight series were saying they had “a bombshell” for their final Mosley-Pacquiao Fight Camp 360 show and they weren’t lying.

Sugar Shame Mosley indicts himself with his own words rolling off his own lips.

It’s more clear than ever now that, if Mosley fights again and I don’t think he should, he will fighting to redeem his previously unblemished reputation.

Maybe one bad fight doesn’t turn a Hall Of Famer into a Hall Of Famer (example, Roberto “No Mas” Duran) but this evidence is pretty damning.

Based on this verbal gem, how long will it before rival HBO goes back to covering its own big fights beyond the final bell like it did years back?

Not long, not long at all.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

New Pacquiao Mosley Video Shows Mosley Asking for Bout to Be Stopped -- ProBoxing Fans

ProBoxing Fans

The Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley bout took place almost a month ago, however there is an intriguing pieces of news that is just coming out now. In this special Fight Camp 360 sneak peek video, towards the end of the bout you can see a battered Mosley sitting in his corner telling trainer Naazim Richardson that the bout has to be stopped, and that he can't move. Richardson gives his charge some encouragement and sends him back out there, but in the corner, Mosley looks absolutely toast. That's no secret to anyone after watching the fight, but it is quite the revelation that Mosley wanted out, and if he had it his way during the contest, the fight would have been stopped early.



This Pacquiao Mosley video has been released as a special early look at the final episode of Fight Camp 360, which is going to air on Showtime this weekend. This is a rare and interesting opportunity, because these shows never follow up on how the fight turned out, and the aftermath of it all. So this is a great chance to see the highlights of the Pacquiao Mosley bout once again, see shocking new footage of Mosley asking for the fight to be stopped, and much more.

Enjoy the video above, and tune into Fight Camp 360 to see more Pacquiao vs. Mosley aftermath and followup this weekend before the Froch vs. Johnson telecast begins later in the evening.

Source: proboxing-fans.com

Pacquiao used steroids? Mosley denies saying that on Twitter -- Yahoo! Sports

By Steve Cofield, Yahoo! Sports

The crazy world of 140 characters. Sarcasm stinks on Twitter and it's very easy to get burned once what looks like a critical statement goes viral. Shane Mosley found that out after his comments about Manny Pacquiao, @sugarshanem, blossomed into what many were labeling a steroid allegation.



Mosley says his Tweet was misunderstood:

"There has been some media coverage recently, stating that I accused Manny Pacquiao of steroid use on Twitter. This is not true. I personally respond to my followers on Twitter, and there was an article sent to me which I Re-tweeted. I did not write the article and did not say that I agree with it. I have defended Manny Pacquiao publicly regarding these type of allegations, stating that they have never been proven true," Mosley told Yahoo! Sports through a P.R. person.


"In our post-fight press conference I told the world that Manny won because he was the better man that night. Manny and I have a mutual respect for one another as true warriors and gentlemen. We both strive to be the best we can be at boxing, as family men, and as humanitarians."

The initial reports were shocking considering the fact that Mosley is working a deal to have Pacquiao's promoter Top Rank Promotions assist him with his new promotion. Bob Arum and Mosley pledged their allegiance shortly after the Pacman fight at the MGM.

Source: sports.yahoo.com

"I couldn't bet on that fight"- Shane Mosley's quick take on Pacquiao-Mayweather -- Examiner

By Chris Robinson, Examiner.com



On May 7th Shane Mosley suffered what very well could have been his most humbling night as a professional when he was shut down over twelve dismal rounds by WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Outside of a third round knockdown by Pacquiao and a tenth round knockdown by Mosley that was later viewed to be a push, the fight was void of any real drama or intrigue as Shane looked every bit his 39 years of age.

But Mosley is far from a sorrowful soul, having just deposited $5 million plus in the bank for his outing against Pacquiao, and recently made an appearance on George Lopez's Lopez Tonight to discuss his loss to Pacquiao as well as what the future may hold for him. All smiles as is often the case with him, Mosley opened up his conversation with Lopez in boring fashion by answering why some athletes shave their chest as well as his time flying a personal jet owned by his friend that he flew into Las Vegas for the fight earlier this month.

Getting to the meat and potatoes of his recent life, Mosley went in-depth on his fight with Pacquiao, specifically the third round where he suffered that aforementioned knockdown.

"When he hit me the first time I said 'Wow, this little guy hits pretty hard'," Mosley said of the Filipino star. "I went down in the third round and it seemed like a little shot and when I went down I was thinking 'Wow, he didn't really hit me hard'. But later on when the bell rang I went back to my corner, got some water, and I looked up and I asked what round it was. It was the sixth round. I lost track of three rounds."

Lopez then brought up enigmatic superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr., whom defeated Mosley convincingly himself a year ago. Pacquiao and Mayweather have been linked together as possible opponents for a few years now and Mosley was asked to compare the two.

"Pacquiao hits harder," Shane said, giving a response that elicited some boos from the crowd. "But Mayweather's got him on the boxing skills. The thing with Pacquiao, he's a great fighter, he throws good punches and everything but its more of his punch. He doesn't throw from far back, but his punches are there. Mayweather is a good defensive fighter and it's kind of hard finding him in there."

As far as giving a prediction of an eventual meeting between the two, Mosley seemed at a loss.

"I really don't know. The reason why I say this is because I think Mayweather can outpoint him but it's a 50-50 chance that he won't get hit. If he gets hit there could be some problems. I couldn't bet on that fight. I wouldn't bet on it," an honest Mosley claimed.

Getting more serious, Mosley was asked just how much longer he intended on fighting. Shane's career has seen him win some memorable battles from 135 to 154 pounds while collecting multiple championships and facing a who's who of formidable opponents. But nothing lasts forever and Mosley seemed to hint that the end may just be around the corner.

"As I get closer, I used to look at the exit door and it was kind of blurry, now I look at the exit door and it's becoming more clear. So I may be looking towards that exit door. Maybe if there's a Margarito or a Cotto who wants to get in there and fight, maybe I'll take that fight, but other than that, I'll probably leave it alone."

Lopez almost made sure to bring up Mosley's head-turning girlfriend, Cuban model Bella Gonzalez. Lopez asked Shane just how hard it was to stay away from any intimacy with the 21-year old vixen prior to the bout and Mosley's response was candid as ever.

"I definitely have to stay away from that type of strenuous activity before the fight. But after the fight, we're good."

Source:

Manny Pacquiao laces up gloves in country's fight over birth control -- CNN

CNN

Manny Pacquaio's latest fight could be much tougher than pounding on “Sugar” Shane Mosley for 12 rounds.

Fresh off his trouncing of the American welterweight contender, Pacquiao, 32 – who also serves as a Sarangani representative in the Filipino Congress – has entered the ring again to denounce a reproductive health bill that he and his fellow lawmakers are considering.

The bill has several controversial provisions, such as the requirement that women experiencing problems after abortions, which would still be banned, must be treated humanely and compassionately.

Pacquiao and President Benigno Aquino III, a backer of the bill, agree abortion should be outlawed, The Manila Times reported. Where they part ways is on the issue of contraception, according to Filipino media.

Aquino believes couples should be educated on birth control and should be free to choose the method they deem most appropriate, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. Pacquiao, on the other glove, opposes contraception and paraphrased Genesis to defend his stance.

“God said, ‘Go forth and multiply.' He did not say, ‘Go and have just one or two children,’” the People’s Champ said, according the paper.

Source: religion.blogs.cnn.com

"Unless Pacquiao makes some changes he has problems" - Naazim Richardson -- Examiner

By Chris Robinson, Examiner.com

This weekend North Philadelphia's Naazim Richardson will again lead Bernard Hopkins into battle as the living legend looks to capture the WBC light heavyweight crown away from Jean Pascal. The fight is a rematch of their December encounter, a bout that saw Hopkins dropped in rounds one and three before storming back and appearing to do enough to win the fight despite settling for a majority draw.

During a recent media function to promote the fight, Richardson recently discussed Hopkins' chances at age 46 and analyzed what this fight means for his career during an interview with Marc Abrams of 15Rounds.com. Also on the agenda for Richardson was last weekend's Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley WBO welterweight title bout, as the respect coach was in Shane's corner in his losing effort to the Filipino star.

The Pacquiao-Mosley affair was pretty uneventful outside of a 3rd round knockdown by the General Santos City fighter, an action that saw Mosley go into retreat mode for the rest of the fight. Asked for his take on those dramatics, Richardson insists the knockdown changed the overall outlook of the fight.

"Listen, that little dude is a special cat," Richardson said of Pacquiao. "And what you see in these dudes, is when he hits these dudes, everything changes. Shane is a tough kid but Pacquiao is special."

At 39 years of age, Mosley has looked rather ordinary in his last three outings, with the Pacquiao fighting coming before a dreadful majority draw with Sergio Mora and a whitewashing at the hands of Floyd Mayweather last May. Mosley has a call from Canastota awaiting him but Richardson isn't the type of man to tell him that he should hang his gloves up.

"It's his call," Richardson retorted. "But if you are going to compete at that weight class, you've dealt with the best in that weight class and you see how you match up against them. This is a different era. If you see that's how you match up in that era, then maybe it's time for you to do something different. But the call lies on the man. We didn't tell him when to get started, how do we tell him when to finish?"

Richardson was then asked about the fight everyone has been fantasizing about for the past year and a half, a Pacquiao-Mayweather clash. Richardson is often one to prophesize and speak in riddles yet he seemed to hint that what he saw in Manny on May 7th leaves reasons for concern if a fight with Floyd ever comes off.

Pacquiao-Mosley image galleries: Massive gallery of Pacquiao's dominant victory Part 1 and Part 2 / Behind the scenes at the Pacquiao-Mosley weigh-in / Inside the Wild Card with Pacquiao, Ariza, Porter, Holloway, Concepcion and others

"I feel like, what we had in place in Shane, everybody is going to want to fight him now," Richardson continued. "After you seen the Shane Mosley fight, I exposed him. You know how to beat him now. I asked my guy after the fight, I said 'The way you got hit the first time, did you ever get hit like that again?' and he said 'No'. That why you heard me say 'Ok, the debate is over'."

Many have been forgiving to Pacquiao, putting full blame on Mosley's lack of enthusiasm for the tepid in action in last week's fight. Surely one fight does not make a fighter but Richardson seems to think some subtle changes from Pacquiao's end are needed at this point.

"Like I said, right now, I think people are going to watch that DVD and unless Pacquiao makes some changes, he has problems with certain things."

Source: examiner.com

Manny Pacquiao: Shane Mosley Down, Floyd Mayweather JR to Go? -- Ringside Report

By Manoj Bhat, Ringside Report

Apart from Paris Hilton, the whole world was disappointed by the fight we saw on Saturday night. Perhaps that’s why she is so unique. The start to the fight was cautious and that was understandable considering the fact the advantage Mosley had in the fight to start with. Manny did not rush out of the blocks as he normally would and there was a hint of respect for the person who has a good reputation to hit hard. Perhaps the slumping knees of Floyd Mayweather were behind that initial caution.

In the third round when Manny hit a hard left and followed it up with a right hand under the cheek bone, Mosley was trying hard to focus his eyes just like an auto focus camera trying to get an image in total darkness. It also indicated that the boxing was over. Athletics had just started and one wonders if steeple chase is what they had in mind. Detractors will always say that Mosley was old but when will these people actually rationalize that even an old retired man will fight if he feels he can win. The fact is that Mosley realized in his third round enlightenment what the future held for him. Unfortunately he wasn’t the first one to get enlightened. Floyd seems to have heard that divine voice long time ago.

In all fairness, this is the time one really feels like sounding harsh. Manny was not what fans expect him to be and that unfortunately is a fact. There is no justification, not even cramps, in the kind of actions we witnessed in the ring. For a change, I was impressed by the friendly gestures of fighters not only in the main draw but also on the undercard but Manny – Mosley touching gloves and hugging like long lost friends was a bit too much.

It’s true that in Asia we consider it an insult and bad manners beyond reprieve not to return a good gesture even if it comes from our enemies. It’s also true that Mosley seemed to offer a touch glove at the start and end of every round topping it with a hug to Manny at the beginning of 12th round. It looked as if Mosley was trying to make sure that one day he would have the story to tell to his grandchildren about how he hit the small Manny Pacquiao with his fists. It is surprising that the cards scored 82 punches for Mosley. I reviewed the tapes to see the generosity of the judges and honestly could not count 82 Mosley punches whereas one could easily count more than 820 back steps every round after the third.

Lighter side apart, Manny should not have reciprocated the friendly gestures. Boxing as a sport has civilized a lot since the pugilism of the Greeks where hand wraps were glued with stones and sharp shingles to inflict maximum pain and dying in the bout was an honor but it will cease to be the sport that it has become if the show of compassion like Manny – Mosley is visible in the ring. When will the fierce rivalry of Nadal and Federer combined by the respect for the other be visible in Boxing? Why should Amir Khan say that there will be no fight with Manny? Boxing needs to transcend the narrow mindset and develop as a sport. If Amir and Manny can hit each other in practice – why not for the championship? That would be better match up than any other fight that is out there for Manny.

Marquez trilogy is on the cards. Would it be worth it? Except for the interest in seeing Manny in action, hardly is there anything that would be pulsating in this fight. Marquez lost the first two fights and these looked too close only because of Manny’s benevolence. The third is going to be lights out for the Mexican who has dared to dream. Would it interest the fans – well unless of course we would want to see Marquez offer his gloves to Manny just like Mosley did? If that ever happens, one thing Manny needs to practice and root deep in his boxing muscle memory is the ring is not the place to show the richness of the orient culture. Boxing is not an oriental game like the martial arts where the opponents bow in front of their opponents at the start and the end of the fight.

Manny needs to realize that he need not be knocked down (even if it is an error) to be excited, he need not be hit to get hurt and aggressive. If we analyze his fights in last 4-5 years (the time when Manny has peaked physically), he has knocked out only those opponents who have shown their will and grit to hurt him bad. Ricky Hatton being on top of that list and facing the fastest KO. All others who have not hurt him including Marquez, have made Manny to lift the foot off the pedal and behave in the way where his compassionate inner self gets displayed even in the boxing ring. This strategy would be the only real threat for Manny’s supremacy as the pound for pound king. The way he sweats in his practice, the only person who can beat Manny is Manny Pacquiao. Floyd will only need to bring out the softer side of Manny in the first few rounds and rest will be easier than most of us expect.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Antonio Margarito Update -- Fight News

By Gabriel F. Cordero, FightNews.com

A proposed grudge rematch between Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto is on the shelf for the moment. In addition to the broken orbital socket Margarito suffered in his brutal loss to Manny Pacquiao last November, “The Tijuana Tornado” also suffered a detached retina in that fight. The injury could force Margarito to retire from the sport.

Source: fightnews.com

Pacquiao draws career-best PPV numbers -- Las Vegas Review-Journal

By Steve Carp, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

With the help of CBS, Manny Pacquiao's unanimous decision over Shane Mosley on May 7 attracted more pay-per-view buyers than any of his previous fights.

CBS's cross-promotion, which included three episodes of "Fight Camp 360" on the network, helped the Showtime pay-per-view card generate 1.3 million to 1.4 million buys. The final tally is expected this week.

"We're very happy with CBS and Showtime," said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao. "They were a great partner, and this is the biggest pay-per-view result in Manny's career."

The WBO welterweight champion's previous best was 1.25 million buys for his eighth-round technical knockout of Oscar De La Hoya in 2008.

"It was a very successful promotion," Arum said. "Manny doing 1.3, 1.4 million buys is outstanding."

The fight at the MGM Grand Garden had a live gate of $8,882,600, boxing's 14th-highest gross in state history. Officially, 15,422 tickets were sold.

Arum said he thinks boxing could return to prime-time network television on CBS this year. But if it happens, it will probably be without Pacquiao because he might be too expensive.

"Manny makes between $20 million to $30 million a fight," Arum said. "How are you going to leave that kind of money on the table to fight on free TV?

"I'm not ruling it out completely. But I don't know that you could make it work (economically)."

If not Pacquiao, Arum said, former world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik might be a candidate for a CBS bout.

Pavlik, 29, has a compelling life story, as he has battled alcoholism. Arum said he thinks there are enough worthy super middleweight opponents for Pavlik to create a good TV matchup.

"Lucien Bute is a possibility," Arum said. "Andre Ward. Carl Froch. There are lots of good fights for Kelly."

While Pavlik is a good story, it's debatable whether he could draw enough viewers to make the investment worthwhile for CBS or any other network.

■ PACQUIAO, MOSLEY PASS -- Pacquiao and Mosley passed their postfight drug tests, Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer said.

Both fighters tested negative for steroids, performance-enhancing drugs, recreational drugs and diuretics. Pacquiao, who has been accused of using PEDs -- most recently last week by a former sparring partner -- has never failed a drug test.

Kizer also said Jorge Arce and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. passed their drug tests. Arce defeated Vazquez by technical knockout to win the WBC super bantamweight title on the May 7 undercard.

■ TRIALS IN ALABAMA -- USA Boxing has announced that the Olympic trials will take place July 31 to Aug. 6 in Mobile, Ala.

Michael Hunter, a Las Vegan who recently won the gold medal at the national Golden Gloves championships, has qualified for the trials at 201 pounds. He won the U.S. trials at heavyweight in 2007 but lost in the AIBA world championships and did not qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

■ KIRKLAND, ADAMS SPLIT -- Las Vegas -based veteran trainer Kenny Adams said he is no longer working with James Kirkland.

The middleweight, stopped in the first round by Nobuhiro Ishida on April 9 at the MGM Grand, has reunited with trainer Ann Wolfe.

"It's nobody's fault," said Adams, who trained Kirkland (27-1, 24 knockouts) for three fights. "Sometimes things just don't work out. They're probably a better fit anyway."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com sscarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.

Source: lvrj.com

Pacquiao winning, but please, no more stiffs -- San Antonio Express-News

By John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News

Manny Pacquiao has won 14 fights in a row, many of them in dominating fashion. But eventually, even the Filipino superstar’s most rabid fans – the entire country of the Philippines – will begin to demand more.

Now would be a good time to start.

Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey - the last three opponents – allowed Pacman to showcase his iconic skills. But little else.

All were inferior foes, with little chance of winning. Two of the three, Mosley and Clottey, apparently didn’t understand why they were there.

Mosley, last weekend at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, seemed more interested in touching gloves and being Pacquiao’s pal than punching him in the face.

Clottey retreated into a tortoise-like shell when he opposed Pacquiao a year ago at Cowboys Stadium.

Neither Mosley or Clottey seemed to have any intention of fighting. Only surviving, and cashing a paycheck.

In truth, Pacquiao’s legion of fans likely would pay to see their hero fight a ghost, just for the chance to see him in the ring.

But enough is enough.

Greatness isn’t greatness unless it is tested against the best a sport has to offer.

Magic Johnson needed Larry Bird. Bill Russell needed Wilt Chamberlain. Muhammad Ali needed Joe Frazier.

Pacquiao is 32 and in his prime, a prime that shouldn’t be wasted on B-list fighters.

There is one guy out there who could solve all this. It could be argued that Pacquiao is merely biding his time until Floyd Mayweather Jr. wakes up and comes to his rapidly fading senses.

It would be the richest fight in history. Followed, in all likelihood, by the richest rematch in history.

But that scenario, sadly, seems less likely than ever.

So who should Pacquiao’s next opponent be?

A variety of names have come up, including Zab Judah, Timothy Bradley Juan Manuel Marquez.

Judah is a slick southpaw with power who is enjoying a career renaissance, but he has a history of meltdowns on the big stage.

Bradley is considered a star in the making. He doesn’t have great name recognition, but he’s young, hungry and talented – ample traits to build a promotion around generate pay-per-view sales.

Marquez appears to be the frontrunner and reportedly has already signed an offer sheet from Top Rank, Pacquiao’s promoter.

This would be the third fight between the two (the first ended in a draw, while Pacquiao won the second by split decision). The big hurdle here would be weight. Marquez, who typically fights at 135, fought Mayweather at 142 in 2009 and looked slow.



A catch weight of 144 of 145 reportedly is under consideration.

But Golden Boy Promotions still retains the rights to Marquez and can match any offer he receives. This could create problems, as Golden Boy and Top Rank have been feuding for some time.

Floyd returning? Don’t look now, but Mayweather apparently is making noise about a return to the ring. Not against Pacquiao, but Victor Ortiz.

Boxrec.com reported the fight would take place Sept. 17 at Cowboys Stadium. Mayweather is said to have met with Jerry Jones during Super Bowl XLV, but during negotiations for the Ortiz fight sources say Mayweather’s financial demands were too rich even for Jones’ blood.

Still, this has to be seen as good news. A Pacquiao- Mayweather fight is still a long way off, but the fact that Floyd is even pondering a comeback means there’s still hope.

jwhisler@express-news.net

Source: mysanantonio.com

Atlas slams Pacquiao, questions his legacy -- Boxing News 24

By Chris Williams, BoxingNews24.com

ESPN2 analyst Teddy Atlas was less than impressed with Manny Pacquiao with his recent win over the nearly 40-year-old Shane Mosley recently. During Friday’s ESPN 2 telecast of the Julio Diaz vs. Kendall Holt bout, Atlas took the opportunity to chime in with his thoughts about Pacquiao’s legacy in the fight game. Atlas isn’t impressed with what Pacquiao has done since 2008 starting with his win over Oscar De La Hoya. Atlas sees that fight and the ones since being a case where Pacquiao has beaten guys with a bit of a flaw in their game at the time he fought them.

Here is what Atlas had to say about Pacquiao:

“It [Pacquiao's legacy] a bit of a question mark. It [a win over 39-year-old Mosley] doesn’t do a lot for it. It’s either a neutral or a negative to be quite honest with you because it opens up the question. These last four or five fight that have made him [Pacquiao] an icon, who have they been with? One of them was with Oscar De La Hoya, who looked like a shot fighter, dead at the weight; Another was with [Miguel] Cotto, a fighter who was a damaged fighter psychologically and physically after [Antonio] Margarito did what he did to him. And then with [Joshua] Clottey, who didn’t fight and just covered up all night long. [Ricky] Hatton was made to order. Margarito looked like he had no strength. He was dead at the weight. It makes you think that. And, of course, Mosley, who was almost 40-years-old, came with no effort to try and win the fight, and looked like he was there to just get a paycheck. It makes you start to wonder about his [Pacquiao] legacy. Has he been built up with guys that have been perfectly picked, perfectly matched where they had problems and that’s why he was able to win so convincingly and that’s why he became such a star? I know he’s a terrific fighter with terrific talent, but it kind of asks that question. Has he been in with a bunch of set ups? People will say, [Floyd] Mayweather didn’t want to fight him, but Mayweather was ready to fight him but he wouldn’t give up a tube of blood and take Olympic type testing for performance enhancing drugs. So that fight isn’t being made. You got Tim Bradley out there. Some people will say Bradley isn’t big enough, but Bradley is quick, he’s undefeated, he’s a real game son of a gun. He will do much more than 40-year-old or close to 40-year-old Mosley. I’m saying the guys [Pacquiao] fights were perfectly set up for him. It’s not maybe his fault, but they were guys, one way or another, had a little bit of a flaw.”

I agree with much of what Atlas says here. Pacquiao has fought a lot of guys that had question marks about them at the time he fought them. Pacquiao hasn’t faced Bradley, Mayweather, Timothy Bradley, Paul Williams, Andre Berto, Sergio Martinez or Paul Williams. I would have picked all of them in the past three years rather than the guys that Pacquiao has been matched against.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Mosley, Mayweather quick to spread false Pacquiao steroid story -- Examiner

By Scott Heritage, Examiner.com

Initially the recent publication of a steroid use story concerning Manny Pacquiao, it which an anonymous supposed former sparring partner claims to have injected the star with steroids on a regular basis, seemed to rouse little public interest.

It was only in fact when the story was repeated by two of Pacquiao's fellow fighters that it began to gain momentum.

Before getting into why the story was spread and why, a little background on the article.

Many of the links given to the original story now appear to be dead, but it seems the article was first published on Value Sports Picks, a little known betting site.

Anything more than the briefest of glances at the article itself and it becomes clear that a number of things about the claims presented don't quite add up.

Firstly that even an anonymous source would decide to talk to a rather obscure gambling website rather than a respectable news outlet or even a just a boxing site is the first red flag.

Someone with potentially a front page news story, even wishing to hide their identity, would surely have gone to a known reporter. They would also probably have had the sense to produce some kind of evidence, an empty vial, a syringe with traces of Pacquiao's blood, or even just details such as the name of the specific drugs used or where they came from.

Instead we got:

”Once a week, right in the locker room of the Wild Card (Gym). Manny would drop his shorts and clench his teeth, and I would give him a jab in the upper outer quarter of his butt cheek. He hated every shot.”

The second is the fact that the source is claimed to be a Filipino former sparring mate of Pacquiao's from "his early years" up until he fought Miguel Cotto in 2009.

The story claims that the identity of the fighter in question, (a former pro, narrowing it down further) is withheld because of concerns over his safety.

The problem is that Pacquiao's sparring partners over the last few years have largely been American with a smattering of other nationalities thrown in. Since the early 00's at least he hasn't been known for sparring with a lot of Filipino fighters.

Even maintaining anonymity then wouldn't make it particularly hard for either Pacquiao, fellow professionals and even fans to work out who the sparring partner was, even broadening 'sparring partner' to any Filipino fighter ever to have worked with Pacquiao in the gym up until the Cotto fight.

Lastly, credibility of the story aside, even if a fighter as famous and well connected as Pacquiao were inclined to use steroids, would he really have a sparring partner inject him in a locker room?

A guy who gets punched for a living who presumably has no medical knowledge, instead of a doctor, or even a drugs expert of some kind less likely to leak the story to the press in the future?

The story in itself might not have attracted much more attention had it not been for the actions of recent Pacquiao opponent Shane Mosley and long time rival Floyd Mayweather, who both tweeted links to the story earlier today to their combined 1.24 million followers.

Mosley:

"Pacquiao ex-sparring partner came out a couple days ago stating that he would inject him w steroids - since Ricky fight look that up"


"These are not my words it comes from a article And his sparring partner but if it is true!!!! Than what do you say please google"

While Mayweather went with:

"Everyone has to read this RIGHT NOW:"

Followed by a link to one version of the story

While this kind of thing is to be expected from Mayweather, who has a long and storied history of attempting to undermine, offend and insult Pacquiao, Mosley in the past has always had a reputation of being a little more astute.

Given that Mosley is a former P.E.D user himself, albeit one who maintains that he never knew what he was taking, his willingness to believe the story without first reading a little more into it is surprising, and will no doubt be viewed by many as bitterness over his poor performance against Pacquiao earlier this month.

Also even after his shocking performance against Pacquiao, Mosley may well be in line for more bouts under the Top Rank banner in the future. Alienating the promotion's biggest star and likely boss Bob Arum as well isn't a good career move.

Source: examiner.com

Mayweather hits out at lack of American support -- ESPN

ESPN.co.uk

Floyd Mayweather Jnr has suggested that he is currently unwilling to fight Manny Pacquiao because he feels it would be a no-win situation for him.

The American, widely regarded as one of the sport's greatest ever boxers, has long been linked with a super-fight against Pacquiao - who is also a champion at multiple weight classes.

But negotiations for a bout have yet to reach fruition, as both sides have increasingly angered the other with demands ranging from the money involved to the drugs testing required.

And, in a candid interview with Fighthype.com, Mayweather hinted that he feels he lacks support from the American public, who are keen to criticise him in any way they can. As a result, he feels he would stand to lose everything - most notably his unbeaten record - and win nothing were he to step into the ring with Pacquiao, even if he won.

"I like the Filipino people. The reason why I like the Filipino people is because the Filipinos, they're going to stand behind him [Pacquiao] win, lose or draw. They're going to stand behind him," Mayweather said.

"If the fight ever does happen, once I beat him - as far as with the media, there's going to be a lot of excuses; there's always excuses - but his people will still love him unconditionally.

"The black American race, we don't have that."

The 34-year-old, whose last fight came over a year ago against Shane Mosley, believes he has been unfairly criticised by those who should be his biggest supporters - contrasting his own treatment with that of other sportsmen, including baseball star Barry Bonds, who admitted to steroid abuse during his record-setting career.

Mayweather is also keen to preserve his long-term health.

"They say Floyd Mayweather is scared of Manny Pacquiao, but I think my country - and even [television channel] HBO, who I stayed loyal to - should stand up and say 'Hey, you're not giving Barry Bonds a hard time for anything'," he said.

"My health, my well-being and my mind is more important than money. I'm not 21 any more. I'm older, I'm wiser. It's very important for me to spend time with my children."

One place Mayweather could end up meeting Pacquiao, however, is in the courts - as the Filipino sues his potential opponent for defamation over various drug-related claims he made while the pair were in serious negotiations over a contest.

"Not once did I say Manny was taking something," Mayweather said. "Then we tell them we got to take the [drugs] tests, and suddenly, he's suing us!

"But it is what it is. We're going to go to court and fight whatever we have to fight."

© ESPN EMEA Ltd

Source: espn.co.uk

Pac-Man Advisor Koncz Says: If They Fight A Third Fight, Pacquiao And Marquez Will Box At 145-Pounds -- Eastside Boxing

By James Slater, Eastside Boxing

As fans have no doubt read, the frontrunner to land the spot as the next challenger for superstar Manny Pacquiao is Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez. Both Bob Arum and Freddie Roach are reported to want this match-up to come next for Pac-Man and, unless Golden Boy can match the offer Top Rank have made to Marquez, this is the fight that will almost certainly happen (on November 5th or 12th).

The biggest question the fans have had when it comes to this prospective fight, is at what weight the fight - which will be the third clash between the two modern day legends - will go ahead at. In two sensational meetings, in 2004 and 2008, Pacquiao and Marquez fought at 126 and 130-pounds respectively. Since then, though, the incredible Filipino has marched through the lightweight, the light-welterweight, the welterweight, and even the light-middleweight divisions. As a result, the fans have asked aloud the question: can “Dinamita” compete with Pacquiao at 147, even 140-Pounds?

Well, according to Pac-Man advisor Michael Koncz, if and when the two warriors do meet again, it will be at 145-pounds and no lower.

According to a news piece on GMA News, Koncz said “It’s 145. We’ve had general discussions with Top Rank’s Bob Arum.”

Koncz informed the media that he and Manny “haven’t sat down and made a decision yet,” but that the 32-year-old global superstar will not fight under 145 as he himself understands it.

Arum has in mind a few alternative foes for Pac-Man just in case the Marquez fight falls through for whatever reason, but Marquez himself promised fans on Saturday (after the awful bore that was Pacquaio WU12 Mosley) how he would “give Pacquiao a real fight.” It seems the 37-year-old great is up for the trilogy.

But, in light of Koncz’ statement, will there be too many fans willing to give Marquez a chance in fight-three? Can Juan Manuel be effective at 145-pounds?

As fans will surely recall, Marquez weighed-in at a announced weight of 142 for his losing fight with Floyd Mayweather Junior in September of 2009, and the Mexican hero looked less than toned for that fight - after making the heavier weight with the assistance of a diet that consisted of quail eggs and piss (his own). How, then, can Marquez be expected to be able to fight to his usual standards at 145 - against Pacquiao at that?

Marquez, 52-5-1(38) has never been stopped in his illustrious pro career. I fear that if he faces Pacquiao at an agreed weight of 145-pounds, this will change. Why can’t Pac-Man, if he truly wants to prove who the better fighter is, make some effort at leveling the playing field by agreeing to take the fight at 138 or 139? I’m sure Manny could make such a weight without overly compromising his chances of winning. Can the same be said of Marquez if he agrees to fight at 145?

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Shane Mosley receives suspension after Pacquiao fight, Drug tests not back yet -- Examiner

By Rick Rockwell, Examiner.com

On Tuesday morning, Fight Sports Examiner was informed by a representative of the Nevada State Athletic Commission that Shane Mosley was suspended until June 22nd. By Tuesday afternoon, Fight Sports Examiner received further clarification on Mosley's suspension from the Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission Keith Kizer. According to Mr. Kizer, Mosley was suspended for precautionary reasons due to the minor injuries he sustained in the fight with Pacquiao on Saturday May 7th.

Mr. Kizer also shared some details on the drug testing. Although the results aren't "in yet", both Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley were tested the night of the fight and there are no indications or expectations of any problems with their results. The tests should be back within the next week or two.

Manny Pacquiao defeated Shane Mosley via Unanimous Decision in their WBO welterweight championship fight live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao retained the title as Mosley failed to win a single round on 2 of the judge's scorecards (119-108, 120-108, 120-107).

It's unclear as to what Mosley's next move will be. Many boxing pundits are calling for his retirement after his performance against Pacquiao. However, Mosley's camp has given no indications on retiring. As for Pacquiao he's expected to fight again in November against either Juan Manuel Marquez or Timothy Bradley.

Source: examiner.com

Marquez accepts terms for Pacquiao fight, Golden Boy to respond -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, said Tuesday that Juan Manuel Marquez has accepted a revised offer to fight Pacquiao in November. The hitch is that Marquez's promoter, Golden Boy, has the opoortunity to match the deal, and its chief executive says he plans to.

Golden Boy Chairman Richard Schaefer told The Times on Tuesday that it's his understanding Marquez has agreed to a Pacquiao fight at a lowered welterweight catch weight of 144 pounds, with $5 million guaranteed in what would be a third meeting between the fighters.

Pacquiao and Marquez battled to a 2004 draw, and Pacquiao won a split-decision in 2008.

Yet, through the end of this year, Golden Boy has the contractual ability to match any financial deal Marquez, the world lightweight champion, is offered. Schaefer said he has a date reserved for a boxing card on Sept. 17 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. One possibility is that Marquez would fight on that date against new world welterweight champion Victor Ortiz of Oxnard.

Ortiz has previously fought at 140 pounds, so he could fight at 144, too, Schaefer said.

Regarding the finances, Schaefer said he was confident Golden Boy could secure a $5-million payday for Marquez, saying, "I'm sure HBO would be on board," in helping to put the bout together.

Schaefer said there's a possibility newly crowned world super-welterweight Saul "Canelo" Alvarez could stage a title defense on the Sept. 17 card.

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Shane Mosley: He Couldn't Versus Mayweather And Wouldn't Versus Pacquiao -- The Sweet Science

By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science

When former three division champ Shane Mosley 46-7-1 (39) signed to fight WBO welterweight title holder Manny Pacquiao 53-3-2 (38), most observers were pretty confident that based on Mosley's recent history, he probably wouldn't win, but he'd at least push Pacquiao to fight and treat the fans to an exciting bout. Pacquiao represented another huge payday for Mosley and one last chance for him to redeem himself having coming off of two underwhelming showings against Floyd Mayweather and Sergio Mora in his last two bouts.

For Pacquiao, he wanted to beat Mosley more impressively than Mayweather did this time last year and make history by being the first fighter to stop Shane since he turned pro in 1993. So it was easy to see why the ballyhoo for the fight was huge. If nothing else the two warriors would deliver a thrilling fight for as long as it lasted. Only a funny thing happened once the two fighters stepped into the ring. Mosley came to grips with what mostly everyone was saying before the fight, that he was too old and civilized to mess with Manny and if he tried to push the issue on fight night, the reality would more than hurt, it would be embarrassing for the almost 40 year-old Pomona legend. And fighters fear being embarrassed more than they do losing or getting knocked out.

There's only two things that can make a fighter shut down and look to do just enough not to get knocked out or win. The first is the fight is a set up and the fighter who's not really taking any risk to win knows it - or he's afraid of what very well might happen to him physically if he dares to press the issue and fights with all he has to win. This past Saturday night we saw this from Shane Mosley during the course of the 12-rounds the fight went. Shane did all he could to prevent Pacquiao from getting the thing he wanted most, a stoppage win over him to add to his escalating legacy. So basically Mosley got what he wanted - he made a ton of money and wasn't stopped.

I have no doubt that walking to the ring that night Mosley's intent was to derail the Pacquiao express. No way the fight was a set up before the fighters exchanged blows at the bell for round one. However, that changed when Pacquiao asserted himself and had answers for everything Mosley thought he wanted to do. And after Manny dropped Shane for only the second time of his career in the third round,
Mosley accepted that he couldn't win the fight and the only thing he could do was try to keep Pacquiao from stopping him. And on the night of May 7th 2011, losing on his feet looked much better to Mosley than trying to win the fight and maybe getting stopped in the process.

See, those double and triple jabs that Shane threw were code in several ways. For starters, they were just enough to keep Pacquiao from really trying to take liberty with him because one of these times there just might be a big right hand behind one of them. And secondly they said "stay away from me." At first Manny was slightly fooled by them, but he soon caught on. And once he did it was as if Pacquiao said subconsciously that if you're not really trying to hurt me or win the fight, I won't try and kill you. I'll make a few runs and try to get the stoppage win, but it's not a matter of life and death and I respect your experience and reputation, so I'll be cool.

Again, forget about the official result and decision victory for Pacquiao. Just as he did with Joshua Clottey, Pacquiao showed Mosley enough that the thought of engaging him broke his will and forced him to fight to survive instead of to win. And doing that against even an old Mosley is impressive because of all the class fighters Mosley has fought no fighter ever made him submit in the ring. Not Oscar De La Hoya, Vernon Forrest, Winky Wright, Fernando Vargas, Ricardo Mayorga, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito or Floyd Mayweather. Sometimes when one fighter can force his opponent to give up before he knocks him out, it's more impressive than actually knocking him out. For Manny Pacquiao to show Shane Mosley enough in three rounds that Mosley basically says to himself, I know you can beat me and you don't have to stop me to prove it, is pretty spectacular.

No, Pacquiao didn't look like Sugar Ray Robinson's equal this past weekend, but he never was. In fact I don't think he's Sugar Ray Leonard or Roberto Duran's equal, but he's still the fighter of the decade based on what took place between 2000-2010. He's an all-time great but I think it's pretty clear he's turned the corner physically and if he really did injure his leg training, maybe that's another sign that he's beginning to decline ever so slightly.

Yes, we were duped and believed Shane would make it a fight. And in hindsight as it was stated here before the fight, Mosley's only shot was to empty his wagon early and try to catch lightning in a bottle and stop Pacquiao. But apparently Mosley and his trainer Naazim Richardson thought that it wasn't worth the risk and that's why they watched a lot of Pacquiao-Marquez II. Shane was never going to win the wait and react game, but it would enable him to navigate his way to the finish line in second place of a two man race, and it did.

So there you have it. Floyd Mayweather was too technically proficient and cerebral for a 38 year old Mosley - Manny Pacquiao was too physically brilliant for a 39 year old Mosley. In essence Mosley couldn't beat Mayweather and wouldn't try to beat Pacquiao. You be the judge of what's more impressive?

Personally, I'm more impressed with Pacquiao breaking Mosley's will than I am with Mayweather trumping his skill. But that doesn't necessarily translate into a Pacquiao victory over Mayweather. At the end of the day both fighters beat an empty package in Shane Mosley and all that he has remaining, or should I say had, was his name. In actuality, both Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto would be riskier fights for both Pacquiao and Mayweather than Shane Mosley circa 2010-2011.

Source: thesweetscience.com

A Fan’s View of Pacquiao – Mosley from Vegas -- Boxing Insider

By William Holmes, Boxing Insider

It started as soon as I got off the plane.

I’ve been waiting for this the past five months, a chance to see the world’s best fighter in the world’s fight capital. I’ve been to the World Series, the Stanley Cup, an NBA playoff game, an NFL playoff game, a UFC title fight, and I have seen Manny Pacquiao fight in Dallas, and Bernard Hopkins fight in Philadelphia. However, I have been told I cannot truly be considered a fight fan until I see a fight in Las Vegas, and that the excitement in Sin City is an experience every fight fan should experience. They were right.

As soon as I got off the plane you’re greeted the sight of slot machines, and tired travelers sleeping in the airport waiting for their planes to take them home. You’re then shooed into a longer than expected line to get a taxi to your hotel. On the way to your hotel you see the fight being hyped everywhere, on billboards, on the radio, even the taxi driver was talking about it. The hotel receptionist greets me in Tagalog, she recognized I was part Filipino. I simply replied mestizo while pointing at myself, indicating that I could not speak Tagalog. She smiles and states, “I hope he wins”, and then wishes me luck. She must have given me some luck, because dinner that night was paid for courtesy of a Phillies victory.

I awoke the next day excited and amped, weigh ins were today, and I was one day closer to the fight. The cab driver revealed that cheapest you could a scalped ticket for the fight was about $1,200, and that it’s been awhile since Las Vegas had a big name fight. I wanted to get good seats for the weigh in, so I arrived an hour and half early. I should’ve arrived earlier. The MGM Grand Garden Arena was draped off, exposing half of it for the diehard fans who wanted to catch a ten minute glimpse of the fighters as they weighed in. Eight thousand fans showed up to watch a weigh in, and I’d estimate 90% of them arrived an hour early. People were chanting, some were singing, some were waving flags, but all were excited. Manny Pacquiao fans greatly outnumbered Shane Mosley fans; it was obvious that he owned this city. Tracy McGrady, Floyd Mayweather Sr., and Lou DiBella were seen to be in attendance at the weigh ins. After the weigh ins, I heard people in the crowd mention that employeed at the MGM Grand had to turn away approximately 2,000 fans. I suddenly became glad I arrived an hour and a half early.

Some members of my family were in Las Vegas this weekend to watch the fight. We decided to meet at the Wok in the MGM Casino for dinner after the weigh ins. Luckily, right next to us was Jorge Arce and some of his friends and advisors. He had four bottles of water and multiple plates of sushi in front of him. He was fighting in his highest weight class ever, yet still evidently had to cut weight, and couldn’t wait to feast. After he was done eating and preparing to leave, I looked at him and said good luck Jorge. He started to speak to me in Spanish, another language that I did not know, but was kind enough to take a picture with me and thanked me for wishing him good luck. We shook hands and he simply stated “I’m going to need it.” I must have passed off the good luck from my hotel receptionist to him, because despite being a large underdog, he won the next night by TKO.

That night some friends of mine were in Vegas for a bachelor party, and I tagged along. There are beautiful women everywhere in Las Vegas, and I mean everywhere. At the first night club we went to bartenders, clubbers, and members of my own party expressed their jealousy when I mentioned I was here to watch the big fight live. Nearly everyone had mentioned they had bet on the fight, and many of them would wind up losing money the next night. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and that night was a blur. Let’s just say that when I left the last club I went to, the only star in the sky was the sun, and it was very, very, bright.

My last day in Las Vegas was the day to go see the fight. My brother and I originally attempted to buy three tickets so that we could sit together. We wanted to buy three because he was also buying a ticket for his wife. The fight sold out so fast that we couldn’t buy three tickets next to each other, so I bought a ticket and said I would sit by myself. It did not bother me one bit, I was happy just to go. I’ve always been a huge fight fan, and considering my heritage, Manny Pacquiao is my favorite athlete. They could’ve said my seat was on the roof with a hole cut out to peer down below and I would’ve been pleased with it.

The casino floor of the MGM Grand was a sea of people. How could I go to a title fight in Las Vegas and not bet on it? As I waited in line at the sports book, I noticed the guy in front of me bet $10.000 on the fight, and the guy to the right of me bet $2,000 on the fight. I meekly and humbly bet $20 on the fight, and the cashier seemed to laugh at me as he informed me that I’ll win $2 if Pacquiao wins. As I walked away I thought to myself, but my whole trip will also be validated if Pacquiao wins.

The first thing that stood out was how empty the arena was for the undercard fights. It dawned on me that most of the people in attendance were not here to watch a night of boxing, but here to watch one fight, Pacquiao vs. Mosley. Everyone who was there dressed in their absolute best. You could hear arguments in the bathroom about who would win between Pacquiao and Mayweather, and who was to blame for this fight not materializing. In the mezzanine you heard a lot of Tagalog and Spanish, mixed in with some English. The excitement was in the air, it was almost time for the big fight. The arena slowly filled up, and by the time Jorge Arce fought it was nearly packed. The Arce/Vazquez fight was action packed, and came to a thrilling conclusion as Vazquez’s corner threw in the towel. Arce did not win that fight because of good luck, he won that fight because of his heart and determination. It brought the crowd to its feet, and only helped build the anticipation for the main event.

I struck up conversation with two Mosley fans to the right of me before the main event. They both strongly felt that Mosley would win, and we broke down the strengths and weaknesses of both fighters. When they realized I was sitting by myself for the fight, they stated “you must be a big fight fan.” I explained that I couldn’t consider myself a fight fan until I saw a fight in Las Vegas, but I’ve always followed the sport of boxing.

Every big fight has celebrities singing the national anthem. Charice sung the Filipino National Anthem, Tyrese sung the United States’ National Anthem, and Jamie Foxx sung ‘America the Beautiful’. All three had members of the crowd singing. Top Rank had promotional video of past fights featuring Ali, Leonard, Hearns, and others that had the crowd screaming in anticipation. Mosley picked LL Cool J to sing ‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ for his walk out song. His walk out song selection was Mosley’s highlight of the night. Pacquiao came out smiling as Jimi Jamison sang ‘Eye of the Tiger’. By the time the crowd was in a frenzy, the reason for my trip had finally arrived.

Both fighters started cautiously, as they were trying to feel each other out. Mosley was the taller fighter with the reach, but that has become the standard for Manny Pacquiao fights. The crowd reacted with every punch, and erupted when Pacquiao knocked Mosley down in the third round. That apparently was all Pacquiao needed to do to win the fight, as he chased Mosley back pedaled from Pacquiao the rest of the match and clearly only wanted to survive. The biggest noise the crowd made for the rest of the fight was when a shove was incorrectly ruled a knockdown. It only angered the Filipino fighter, and for the last two rounds he appeared to step on the gas pedal in an attempt to finish Mosley. You could hear chants of “knock him out” from the crowd, and boos in between rounds as Mosley did nothing to try and win the fight. At the end of the night Pacquiao was announced the winner, but most of the crowd was not pleased. However, a Pacquiao victory was pleasing to me.

I have visited the Philippines once with my family, and I swear every bar in the Philippines has a karaoke machine. Music and singing is a big part of Filipino culture. My mother did not attend the fight, but she wanted to attend the after party when she heard that Pacquiao would be singing there. At the questionable price of $70 a ticket, my family and I went to the Mandalay Bay to see Pacquiao’s concert. It was nothing but Filipino’s, and I again wished I knew Tagalog as most of the performers spoke in my Mother’s native language. The opening acts performed for what appeared to be an eternity, and we grew impatient as we only wanted to see Pacquiao. Pacquiao is known to be notoriously late, and he of course was late to his own party. When he finally arrived, it was stunning to see a man who just fought a twelve round title fight, dressed in a suit and tie, with no marks on his face, smiling to sing at a concert for his fans. Perhaps he is so talented at boxing, that he was more nervous to sing in front of his fans than to fight in front of his fans. As he sang, the Filipino’s in the crowd danced and sang along. The songs were in Tagalog, and he spoke to the crowd in Tagalog, I had to ask my Mother to translate for me. The concert reminded me of my trip to the Philippines and being in front of the karaoke machine with my relatives who I just met. His fight may have failed to live up to expectations, but his concert did not. He performed until past 3AM, and finished with a lively rendition of La Bamba, in Spanish. Of course, I did not understand the words to that song either. I looked at my Mother and saw that this concert made her a very big Pacquiao fan, as she could care less about boxing. It was too violent for her, and there was more to her culture than just fighting.

When I arrived at my hotel it was past 4AM, and I had to be at the airport within two hours. The fight may not have lived up to expectations, but the pre-fight hype and activities in Las Vegas exceeded my expectations. A Pacquiao victory ensured that the trip was money well spent. I arrived at the airport an hour and a half before my flight, and I was extremely tired. I took a quick nap on the airport floor. Amazing how stories tend to come full circle.

William Holmes writes for our sister site MMAOnline.com

© 2011 BoxingInsider LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out written permission.

Source: boxinginsider.com