Mayweather-Pacquiao 'in jeopardy' because Pacquiao refuses Olympic-style drug testing -- The Grand Rapids Press

By David Mayo, The Grand Rapids Press

Floyd Mayweather's representatives sent a press release declaring the Manny Pacquiao fight is "in jeopardy" tonight after Pacquiao refused to comply with a contractual demand that he submit to Olympic-style random drug testing.

Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's adviser, said the fight would not happen March 13 at MGM Grand, unless Pacquiao complies.

"We're insisting this take place," Ellerbe told The Press. "We're refusing to put our guy in there without it."

Mayweather, in a statement, said he thinks it is the fighters' "responsibility" to comply with the demand his management has made.

"I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," Mayweather said in the statement. "But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.

"It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night. I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA."

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, who has represented Mayweather in the negotiations, said he received notice from Pacquiao's camp Tuesday afternoon that the fighter refused to comply with random drug testing administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

He said he received the notification from Todd duBoef, who has been handling negotiations for Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank Inc.

"It is unfortunate to hear this from Manny Pacquiao's representatives, particularly since, as of today, both parties had worked out all other issues related to this fight," Schaefer said in the statement. "Team Mayweather is certainly surprised that an elite athlete like Manny Pacquiao would refuse drug testing procedures which Floyd has already agreed to and have been agreed to by many other top athletes such as Lance Armstrong, and Olympians Michael Phelps, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant."

Ellerbe expressed shock that Pacquiao refused to comply.

The Filipino has been the subject of speculation about whether he has used performance-enhancing drugs since Floyd Mayweather Sr. first broached the issue to The Press in September.

Pacquiao has passed every drug test administered after his fights but others in the boxing community have expressed some doubts since Mayweather Sr.'s initial statements.

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Here is the September video in which Mayweather Sr. accused Pacquiao of being on performance-enhancing drugs:

Floyd Mayweather Sr.: Manny Pacquiao on supplements, steroids

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"We've been going back and forth over this," Ellerbe said. "We insisted on this. As a management team, this is something we insisted upon. The fans in the sport deserve a level playing field. The way to ensure that is through the premier anti-doping agency, and the USADA is the premier anti-doping agency. I just can't imagine him refusing to do this.

"We're an at impasse over the failure to agree to Olympic-style, random drug testing. I can't believe Manny Pacquiao would walk away from the biggest fight in the history of the sport. Maybe the information hasn't gotten back to Manny. I'm not accusing, I'm not speculating. I'm just stating facts."

E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo

Source: mlive.com

Drug test procedures being debated -- ESPN.com

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

The Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather welterweight title megafight, tentatively scheduled for March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is in jeopardy.

According to Golden Boy Promotions, which is representing Mayweather, Pacquiao refused Tuesday to agree to the Olympic-style drug testing procedures the sides had been negotiating.

Mayweather requested that the drug testing for the fight be in compliance with the United States Anti Doping Agency, which handles drug testing for Olympians, "to ensure fair play and sportsmanship by both fighters."

Olympic style testing is more rigorous than the drug testing performed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and other state commissions. It would involve random blood and urine testing before and after the fight. Nevada commission testing only tests urine for banned substances, once just before the fight and once immediately following the fight.

Floyd Mayweather Sr., the fighter's father, has repeatedly accused Pacquiao of taking illegal substances, even though Pacquiao denies it and he has never failed a drug test.

According to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who is negotiating the deal with Top Rank president Todd duBoef, Pacquiao refuses to have his blood drawn within 30 days of the bout based on his superstition of testing so close to a fight.

"Todd told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with taking blood and doesn't want to do it so close to the fight," Schaefer said. "He, Pacquiao, would only agree to have blood drawn before the kick-off press conference and after the fight."

Two weeks ago, Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, told ESPN.com that their side had no problem with Olympic style testing.

"I have no problem with the testing whatsoever," Roach said then. "They can do whatever kind of drug testing they want. They're scared of Manny and scared of his power. He'll pass any test in the world."

Schaefer said he hoped it was simply a "miscommunication" on the Pacquiao side.

"I do hope it is some sort of miscommunication and that Pacquiao is not even aware of what is going on and he will clear this up and say what is good enough for these great Olympic athletes is good enough for him and Floyd, and he agrees to do these drug tests.

"Team Mayweather is very surprised that an elite athlete like Manny Pacquiao would refuse drug testing procedures which Floyd has already agreed to and have been agreed to by many other top athletes. Why would Pacquiao refuse to have the same kind of testing that Lance Armstrong, Michael Phelps, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have had?"

Told of Pacquiao's reluctance to be tested, Mayweather said he should explain himself.

"I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken because, frankly, I don't know anyone who really does," Mayweather said in a statement. "But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same. It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night.

"I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA."

Said Leonard Ellerbe, a Mayweather adviser, in a statement, "We hope that Manny will do the right thing and agree to the testing as it is an egregious act to deny the testing and hence, deny the millions of fans the right to see this amazing fight. We just want to make sure there is a level playing field in a sport that is a man-to-man contest that relies on strength and ability.

"I still hope this decision is coming from someone in Pacquiao's camp and not Manny himself as it would be a shame that an athlete of his stature and who represents his whole country would not be able to show the public or his fellow athletes that he agrees to the highest standards in sports competition."

Top Rank spokesman Lee Samuels said the company declined to comment.

Schaefer said he and duBoef had "worked out all other issues related to the fight," disclosing to ESPN.com that the fight would be at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, if they can work out the drug testing issue.

"We have agreed on all terms, including the site," Schaefer said.

The MGM Grand beat out several other interested venues, including Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Team owner Jerry Jones had offered a $25 million site fee, the largest in boxing history, but the promoters took an offer from the MGM Grand, whose terms have not been disclosed.

In addition, Schaefer told ESPN.com that the sides had agreed on an unprecedented penalty if either fighter weighed in heavier than the contract limit of 147 pounds.

"We agreed to $10 million per pound, or fraction thereof," Schaefer said. "That's what the Pacquiao side wanted and we said OK to that. That's unheard of. We have agreed on everything except for this drug testing issue. I have to think Pacquiao is unaware of this. The drug testing had been part of the contract for a while and then they suddenly said no. I was informed of that [Tuesday] morning. Suddenly they changed course and I don't know why."

Pacquiao wanted a huge monetary penalty if Mayweather was overweight because he ignored the contract limit of 144 pounds for his September fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, coming in at 146 pounds and paying a $600,000 penalty for the extra advantage.

Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in jeopardy -- The Associated Press

By TIM DAHLBERG, The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — The proposed megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. was thrown into jeopardy Tuesday with a demand by Mayweather's camp that both fighters be subjected to Olympic-type drug testing in the weeks leading up to the bout.

Mayweather's manager said the fight would not go on if Pacquiao didn't agree to blood testing under standards followed by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

"There is no fight without Olympic-style random drug testing," Leonard Ellerbe said.

Mayweather's camp claims it was told Pacquiao would not agree to have his blood tested within 30 days of the fight because of personal superstitions. Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, declined comment about his fighter, who is in his native Philippines.

The fight, which promises to be the richest ever, had widely been expected to be formalized this week, with an official announcement Jan. 6. It was expected to be held at the MGM Grand hotel, with the biggest live gate ever.

But neither fighter has signed formal contracts and there have been disputes between representatives of the two fighters ever since Mayweather's promoter pulled out at the last minute of a trip to Texas, where Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was to make a proposal to host the bout.

But Mayweather's promoter, Richard Schaefer, said all other issues have been agreed upon.

"The good news is we have agreed on all the other points," Schaefer said. "Depending on what Manny Pacquiao decides to do we either have a fight or we don't have a fight."

Schaefer said he is still hopeful of the fight happening, based on the fact Pacquiao himself has not publicly said he would not accept blood testing.

"I am still hopeful because I really believe this decision didn't come from Manny Pacquiao, it came from somebody else," Schaefer said. "It's up to Manny Pacquiao to prove me right or wrong."

Pacquiao has never failed a post-fight urine test in Nevada, including his last fight when he stopped Miguel Cotto. Mayweather also has passed urine tests in the state after his fights.

Fighters, though, are not routinely tested before bouts for performance-enhancing drugs, and there are no blood tests done for those drugs.

Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr., said after the Cotto fight that he suspected Pacquiao was using performance-enhancing drugs to move up and win titles in so many weight classes. Ellerbe did not make that claim, but said that for a fight of such magnitude fans deserve to be confident neither fighter is cheating.

"If it's good enough for LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps and Lance Armstrong why isn't it good enough for Manny Pacquiao?" Ellerbe asked. "The fans and sports deserve a level playing field."

Travis Tygart, executive director of the USADA, said he had talked to representatives of both fighters about providing testing. Tygart said he welcomed the request as he would for any sport that does not have stringent Olympic-type testing.

"I think every sport that wants to have clean athletes it's a sign of a step forward to have out of competition testing," Tygart said. "It's an essential thing to do if you want to protect the integrity of the sport. Clean athletes want a level playing field."

Tygart noted Olympic athletes are tested often and without notice. He said less than a teaspoon of blood is removed out of an average of 380 teaspoons in the normal human and that it regenerates within an hour of being withdrawn.

Blood tests, he said, can find things urine tests can't, like the use of human growth hormone, synthetic hemoglobin or blood transfusions, all of which "certainly would aid in an endurance-type event."

Ellerbe said he couldn't imagine why Pacquiao wouldn't agree, especially considering both fighters would likely make more than $25 million for the bout.

"Only Manny Pacquiao can answer that question," Ellerbe said. "The ball is in his court."

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Source: Google News

Expert: Pacquiao could 'disjoint' Mayweather's shoulder roll -- ABS-CBN News

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines -- An orthopedic surgeon is claiming that 7-time world champ Manny Pacquiao can smash his way through Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s “shoulder roll” defense with his power punches.

In fact, boxing and martial arts enthusiast Dr. Art Lee said, Pacquiao could even “disarticulate” or disjoint Mayweather’s shoulder roll at 147 pounds.

"Pacquiao can break that defense and his power shots can disarticulate Mayweather's infamous shoulder-rolling defense," said Lee in a report by the MaharlikanTimes.com.

Mayweather, who remains unbeaten in 40 fights because of his exceptional defense, heavily relies on his shoulder rolls to repel punches during fights.

The shoulder roll defense involves dropping one’s front arm to protect the body while keeping the chin protected by the shoulder, which will be used to ward off the incoming punches to the head.

Lee, however, said that this might not work against Pacquiao, who agreed to fight Mayweather at 147-pounds.

"Pacquiao should be much stronger and devastating at the pre-fight weight of 147 than he was at a catch-weight of 145," said Lee.

And a stronger Pacquiao means bad news to Mayweather’s shoulder.

Pacquiao, who recently won a seventh title from Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto, has already compiled 50 wins against 3 losses and 2 draws. His 38-knockout record speaks much about his punching power.

"I believe he is too powerful, too fast and too sleek for Mayweather, Jr. at this stage of his improvement," said Lee.

Pacquiao-Mayweather is seen as a battle between two of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world today.

Although the fight has yet to be announced, promoters are looking at a March 13, 2010 fight date. The fight purse is reportedly $50 million up front, at a US venue yet to be decided.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Boxing review of 2009 -- Sky Sports

Rob Lancaster, Sky Sports

A year can certainly be a long time in boxing.

Back in December 2008, Floyd Mayweather was enjoying his retirement, Ricky Hatton was still hoping to be the pound-for-pound king and Amir Khan was facing a make-or-break year after his shock loss to Breidis Prescott.

Fast forward 12 months and Mayweather is back in the ring and set for the mother of all showdowns with Pac-Man, who hammered the poor Hitman.

Khan came through his acid test to become a world champion, while David Haye also got his hands on a major belt after overcoming the odds.

The future also looks bright on the home front, with the likes of Kell Brook, Kevin Mitchell, Rendall Munroe and Nathan Cleverly seemingly set to take the next step in 2010.

The past 12 months have once again provided plenty of highlights. Check out skysports.com's highs and lows of 2009 and share your thoughts on the past year using the feedback box below...

Fighter of the Year - Manny Pacquiao
What more can you say about the Filipino sensation? Having sent Oscar de la Hoya into retirement in 2008, Pacquiao has recorded victories over Ricky Hatton and Miguel Angel Cotto in the past 12 months. It seems to be a case of the bigger they come the harder they fall against Pac-Man, who became a champion at two more weights. The Hitman simply ended up getting hit, Pacquiao needing less than two rounds to KO the Brit, while Cotto was given a heavy beating before the fight was stopped. His blurring hand speed and high work rate has made him a modern-day legend of the sport and the only way his stock can rise any higher is by putting a first loss on Floyd Mayweather's unblemished record.

British Fighter of the Year - David Haye
Just as in the Bible, David managed to topple Goliath, albeit with a carefully thought-out plan rather than a slingshot of furious blows. Having missed out on the chance to fight Wladimir Klitschko due to injury, Haye turned his attentions to Nikolai Valuev, a 7ft Russian affectionately known as the 'Beast'. Many thought the size of the task was too much for the Londoner, who had spent almost his entire pro career at cruiserweight. But, following the wise words of trainer Adam Booth to the letter, Haye kept out of range of his giant opponent. At one point it looked like he might even stop the cumbersome Valuev in the last before settling for a points success that made him Britain's newest heavyweight champion of the world.

Fight of the Year - Rogan v Sexton I & II
Martin Rogan and Sam Sexton treated us to not one but two domestic classics in 2009. On both occasions it was Sexton who came out on top, though not before he had been pushed all the way by the cabbie from Belfast. Rogan went into the first bout as the Commonwealth champion and had the contender in trouble early on, only for some reason to let him off the hook rather than finish the job. He paid the price as Sexton recovered and eventually won in the eighth with the Irishman unable to see out of his left eye. The second bout saw Rogan hurt again, this time a nasty cut from an accidental clash of heads hampering his attempts to win back the belt. He was pulled out of the bout by the sixth after running out of steam.

Rising Star(s) - Kell Brook/Andre Ward
With an unbeaten 20-fight record at the age of 23, Brook seems to have the world at his feet. The latest boxing prodigy to emerge from Sheffield, the welterweight was named as Young British Boxer of the Year by the Boxing Writer's Club. Only injury hampered his progress in 2009, with his fight with Michael Jennings delayed. Brook will hope to make up for lost time when the two meet in February at Wembley Arena.

On the other side of the pond, Andre Ward went from national secret to internatonal star when he handed Mikkel Kessler just a second loss. The 25-year-old enjoyed a stellar amateur career - at one stage going unbeaten for six years - and looks set to translate that success as a pro. He's won all 21 of his contests so far and is seen as a serious contender to win the Super Six World Boxing Classic, a round-robin event for some of the world's best super-middleweights. Kessler will certainly vouch for the American's skills after losing on points in November.

KO of the year - Hatton laid out
If it does happen to be his last fight, a second-round KO at the hands of Pacquiao is hardly a fitting finale to Ricky Hatton's fine career. Returning to the scene of his only other defeat, the Mancunian was sensationally flattened by Pac-Man, laid out on the canvas at the MGM Grand Casino having felt the full force of a left hand which left him seeing stars. The measure of the impact had family and friends at ringside fearing for his health, let alone his boxing future. The dramatic finish left the Hitman pondering whether the time was right to call it quits. He still hasn't made up his mind yet.

Trainer of the year - Freddie Roach
For the second successive year Roach gets the honour, no real surprise considering the continued success of his fighters. Pacquiao is the star name in his stable but the American has also worked wonders with Amir Khan since the Brit's decision to become a member of the Wildcard Gym. Khan arrived with mental and technical issues following his stunning loss to Breidis Prescott. In the four fights since he started working with the 49-year-old, the Bolton boxer has managed to beat a ring legend in Marco Antonio Barrera and then become a world champion who defended his title in just 76 seconds.

Comeback of the Year - Floyd Mayweather Jnr
Pretty Boy will make no bones about the reason he returned to the ring - money. Mayweather Jnr ended a 21-month retirement from the sport this year to dismantle Juan Manuel Marquez over 12 rounds in Las Vegas. Many thought the lengthy lay-off and the calibre of his opponent would cause the former Olympic bronze medalist problems. Instead, Mayweather simply toyed with his Mexican rival, showing he had lost none of his skills in his time away. Next up is a mega fight with Pacquiao, one he is adamant he will win. Love him or loathe him, boxing is definitely better off with Mayweather in it.

Shock decision of the year - Fury for McDermott
It seems there were only two people who thought Tyson Fury had done enough to get the decision, and the English heavyweight title, from John McDermott - Tyson himself and referee Terry O'Connor. Those watching at ringside or live on Sky Sports must have believed the much-hyped Fury was about to suffer his first professional defeat when the final bell sounded. Instead official O'Connor not only gave him the verdict but scored it 98-92, making Fury the winner by six rounds. McDermott stated afterwards, "I'm a nice man. What did I do wrong?". It wasn't the first time he has suffered either, having been robbed of a win in his first bout with Danny Williams in 2008.

Gone but not forgotten
Arturo Gatti - Italan born but raised in Canada, 'Thunder' will always be remembered for his trilogy against Mickey Ward. An old-fashioned brawler, Gatti was loved by the crowds but lacked the defensive skills required to mix it with the very best. After a TKO loss in 2007 to Alfonso Gomez he retired in the dressing room having won 40 of his 49 fights. On July 11, 2009 Gatti was found dead in a hotel in Brazil.

Vernon Forrest - Forrest enjoyed a successful amateur and pro career, the highlight of which was a pair of wins over Shane Mosley. He was a world champion at welter and light-middleweight and having made his debut in 1992, didn't suffer his first loss until being stopped inside three rounds by Ricardo Mayorga 11 years later. After being beaten in the re-match, 'The Viper' took a break from the sport but returned to rule the world again, his last fight seeing him regain the WBC light-middleweight title. Tragically, at the age of 38, Forrest was shot dead after being robbed at gunpoint at a gas station.

Darren Sutherland - The Irishman seemed destined for a successful career as a professional having done so well as an amateur, including two gold medals at the EU Championships and a bronze at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where he lost to eventual winner James DeGale in the semi-finals. He was unbeaten after four pro fights - all won by KO - and was seen as a boxer with real potential. It came as a huge shock then when Sutherland was found dead in his flat in Bromley by his promoter Frank Maloney.

Ricky Hatton? The Hitman says he's getting the itch back, but will we really see him in the ring again? Having stepped up his work as a promoter since his second-round loss to Pacquiao, Hatton seemed to have donned the gloves for the last time. But, while his weight may have risen since, so too has the desire for at least one more fight, meaning one of the biggest names in the sport over the past decade could be set to return in 2010.

Source: skysports.com

Joe Gallagher's 2009 review -- Manchester Evening News

Manchester Evening News

SPARE a thought for me on Christmas Day. While you are tucking into your turkey I'll be down the gym.

Last year it was John Murray having his festivities interrupted by fight preparation and this year it's his brother, Joe, who is back in action in February.

It certainly proved worth the sacrifice for John, who's had an outstanding year, ending with that stunning British title victory against Jon Thaxton, which has now earned him a European title shot against Anthony Mezaache in 2010.

And I hope it will have the same effect on kid brother, Joe, who is one of my tips for the coming 12 months. I'm sure he will end it with a title.

That's for next year - but what about 2009?

We've seen David Haye, Carl Froch and Amir Khan all become world champions, while Manchester's favourite, Ricky Hatton, lost his title in incredible fashion against Manny Pacquiao and Junior Witter also saw his reign as world champion end.

FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

Undoubtedly Manny Pacquiao. He was awesome against Hatton and outstanding against Miguel Cotto.

HIGHLIGHTS

Matthew Macklin destroying Amin Asikainen to win the European middleweight title.

Amir Khan's victory over Andriy Kotelnik was very impressive as well as he became WBA light- welterweight champion, while John Murray was stunning in reclaiming his British title against Thaxton.

DISAPPOINTMENTS

Jamie Moore's defeat to Ryan Rhodes was a real blow. He could almost taste that world title shot and ended up losing on penalties. I am convinced he will come back stronger as a middleweight.

Matthew Hatton's draw with Lovemore N'Dou in their IBO welterweight title clash was a real let-down.

PREDICTIONS

I expect it to be a great year for our Olympians, Joe Murray, Frankie Gavin and Tony Jeffries, while I really like the look of Manchester's Karl Place.

Elsewhere I fancy John Murray, Macklin, Michael Jennings and Moore to make their names on the world stage.

But the big one is the return of Ricky Hatton. I fancy the Hitman to win another world title.

What do you think? Have your say.

Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Pacquiao: I had a talk with God -- Philippine Daily Inquirer

By Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—This is something that the Mexicans Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera, the American Oscar De La Hoya, the Briton Ricky Hatton and the Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto—proud warriors who have fallen before Manny Pacquiao’s fists—could not have prepared or trained for.

For the first time, the Philippines’ most famous athlete and the world’s pound-for-pound boxing king has revealed the secret of his success: He had a conversation with God who promised him “strength and power.”

“In my 31 years here on earth, God appeared to me once and told me to have unconditional faith in Him,” the seven-time ring champion said in the vernacular before 1,500 guests during his birthday bash on Thursday night at the KCC Convention Center here.

“That is true,” Pacquiao—named “Boxer of the Decade” by Reuters news agency Monday—quickly added after the audience burst with applause.

“I was not yet very popular and world champion when our God appeared to me and assured me of strength and power,” he said.

Pacquiao gave no hint about where or when the apparition occurred.

Like a politician

As Pacquiao spoke, the audience sat quietly. Their excitement picked up when he told them of the secret behind his ring exploits.

He said: “This is the first time I reveal this ... although I was asked many times what are the secrets that made me very popular and world champion.”

Sounding more like a politician than a prizefighter who lets his fists do the talking for him, Pacquiao asked the crowd: “Would you like to know where I get my strength and power?”

The crowd yelled, “Yes,” then fell silent to catch every word he was saying.

He said God told him: “Just trust me, I will not leave you, I will not abandon you.”

Win or lose

Every time Pacquiao said that he drew his strength from God, the audience responded by saying, “Amen.”

He said this was why in every fight he fought, he would kneel and pray in his corner—to seek Divine Guidance.

“Win or lose, I will pray at the corner to thank God for all the blessings” he said.

“What about you, did you count your blessings?” he asked the crowd. “Remember to thank God for all that He has done. He will give you your needs.”

With the help of his catering partner, Pacquiao fed some 2,000 street children while holding a concert at the mall. He performed with singer-composer Lito Camo, entertaining his local and international guests.

In an expression of gratitude, he also held raffle draws, the smallest prize being grocery items and the grand prize a car.

Dionisia, Pacquiao’s mother, said she was very proud of her son, noting that, despite his worldwide fame and the fortune he had earned in boxing, he “still remembers God as his creator, protector and inspiration.”

Dionisia does her number

“My son is very humble, he was like that while he was young, I am very proud of you, Manny,” Dionisia told her son.

“Thank you, ma,” he responded.

Dionisia performed a dance number despite what she said were her aching feet as a result of wearing high-heeled shoes.

Pacquiao said he had other secrets that helped bring him to where he was and this would be read in a book he was writing, which would be released once he retires.

Another accolade

As if the honors he has reaped were not enough, Pacquiao Monday won another title: Reuters named him Boxer of the Decade.

The accolade might have had Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s name written all over it after he stepped out of the ring at the end of 2007 with a 40-0 record and five titles in five different weight classes.

Instead, it went to the Filipino southpaw so popular that he is now running for the congressional seat of Sarangani province in Mindanao in the May elections—under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.

Two Mannys

Sen. Manny Villar, NP standard-bearer, on Monday said the entry of Pacquiao into the party emphasized its campaign slant that focuses on success through hard work.

“We have very similar backgrounds,” Villar said.

“We both struggled and succeeded... This is the start of a long partnership,” Villar said at a political party meeting held in Mandaluyong City. With reports from Cathy Yamsuan and Reuters

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

De La Hoya: Deal not signed yet -- ESPN.com

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

The deal is not done yet, but the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. welterweight title fight likely will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya told ESPN.com on Monday.

"It looks like it," said De La Hoya, whose company is promoting Mayweather for the fight, of the MGM hosting the much-anticipated March 13 showdown between boxing's top two fighters. "There is no other place you really want to do a big event. It has to be in Las Vegas. But there is nothing 100 percent yet. A done deal is a signed deal and there is no signed deal."

Various media reports over the weekend cited unnamed sources saying that a deal had been finalized for the March 13 HBO PPV fight to take place at the MGM Grand.

Leonard Ellerbe, one of Mayweather's advisers, also told ESPN.com that the MGM Grand was likely but that "talks are ongoing. We haven't signed anything. We don't have a deal yet."

Richard Sturm, who is negotiating the deal as president of entertainment and sports for MGM Mirage, said through a spokesman, "It is not an appropriate time to comment."

Since a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather first became a serious possibility, the MGM Grand was considered the frontrunner. Its Grand Garden Arena has played host to boxing's biggest Las Vegas fights for more than a decade. Pacquiao and Mayweather have both fought there several times, including in their most recent fights.

Also, Golden Boy and Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter, both have close ties to the casino.

There has been worldwide interest in hosting the fight from venues in such places as Dallas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami, Dubai and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, for instance, offered a $25 million site fee -- the biggest in boxing history -- to host the fight at the new 100,000-seat Cowboys Stadium.

However, the promoters and fighters apparently believe they can generate more money by going to the MGM Grand, which seats only about 17,000, and scaling the ticket prices to produce a record gate of more than $20 million in addition to selling roughly 40,000 closed circuit seats in the city for $100 apiece.

Many believe that wherever the fight takes place, it will break the all-time pay-per-view record of 2.44 million buys set by De La Hoya's 2007 fight with Mayweather, which was at the MGM Grand. That fight also holds the record for biggest gate, generating $18,419,200 from a paid attendance of 17,078.

"We really appreciate Jones' interest in such a mega fight," De La Hoya said about the Dallas offer. "There was interest all over the world. It looks very bright for Mayweather-Pacquiao to possibly be able to break the records that I hold with Mayweather. If we do it right, Golden Boy and Top Rank, we can really shatter the existing record by hundreds or thousands of pay-per-views. It's really exciting."

Official announcement of the fight is expected any day with kickoff news conferences being planned for the first week of January.

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Pacquiao’s trainer sued by friend of boxer -- Los Angeles Wave

Los Angeles Wave

A friend of Manny Pacquiao, who is suing the boxer’s trainer/coach for allegedly punching him from behind, wants a judge to keep out any evidence during trial of any alleged infidelity by the plaintiff.

Gregorio Asuncion along with his wife, Allyson, sued Freddie Roach and his Wild Card Gym Boxing Club in Los Angeles Superior Court in November 2008.
The suit’s allegations include assault, battery, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence, premises liability and loss of consortium.

Roach — denying Asuncion’s claim that he hit him in the back of the neck — maintains in his deposition that he put his hands “softly” on the plaintiff’s shoulders, calling it a “friendly gesture.”

A final status conference is set for Jan. 6, when Judge Kenneth Freeman is scheduled to hear several pretrial motions. Among them is a bid by Asuncion’s lawyer, Robert H. McNeill, to keep out any allegations that his client broke any of his marital vows.

“Specifically, [the Asuncions] anticipate that [Roach] will attempt to introduce evidence that ... Asuncion was involved in an extramarital affair and engaged in sexual relations with a prostitute at a motel in Hollywood,” McNeill’s court papers state.

During a deposition last August, Asuncion denied being unfaithful to his wife, according to McNeill’s court papers. In any event, McNeill argues, the allegations are not relevant to Asuncion’s case, which deals with an alleged assault.

But Roach’s lawyers maintain the subject is fair game and that they should be allowed to present related evidence to a jury. They say it is relevant to the Asuncions’ claim that their sexual intimacy has decreased as a result of the alleged injury.

“Based on [Asuncion’s] loss of consortium claim ... the probative value of ... Asuncion’s extramarital affairs and sexual relations with prostitutes is very high and outweighs any prejudice to [the couple],” the Roach court papers state.

Both sides also are at odds over whether some witnesses should be able to testify that they believe Asuncion was faking his injuries.

Meanwhile, Roach’s lawyers want to bar evidence of any prior violent conduct by their client, saying it would be prejudicial to his case.

But McNeill wants the information about Roach’s alleged hotheaded past to be allowed. The lawyer’s court papers state that Roach admitted he paid money to settle a man’s claims that the trainer assaulted him at a Kinko’s store about five years ago.

McNeill also argues that another of his clients, writer Alex Pantinos Vidal, alleges in a separate lawsuit that Roach assaulted and battered him in Las Vegas in July 2008 and threatened to kill him if he wrote another story about the trainer.

The plaintiffs’ complaint alleges Gregorio Asuncion had just picked up Pacquiao and dropped him off at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood on Oct. 20, 2008, when Roach and a number of his associates “intentionally, willfully, wantonly and maliciously threatened to harm him.”

“Because of [Roach’s] skill as a boxer and his occupation as a boxing trainer, a reasonable person in [Asuncion’s] situation would have been offended by the threat of violence by Roach,” the complaint states.

Roach allegedly asked the 52-year-old Asuncion to get out of the gym because he did not want too many people inside. When Asuncion was about to leave, Roach allegedly hit him at the back of the neck, causing him to fall face first on the floor.

Asuncion was treated at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital for a neck sprain and a contusion to the head, according to his court papers. He is known as “Sheriff” within Pacquiao’s circles because he has worked for more than 25 years with the Sheriff’s Department.

Source: wavenewspapers.com

Jimmie Johnson is no Manny Pacquiao -- BadLeftHook.com

Bad Left Hook

Today, it was announced that NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson was voted the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. It is the first time in the history of the award that a race car driver has walked away with the honor.

Johnson received 42 first place votes, followed in line by Roger Federer and Usain Bolt.

No offense to any of them. Federer is maybe the greatest men's tennis player of all time, and Bolt is unbelievable. Jimmie Johnson drives a car. I'm not saying there's no athletic prowess required. You have to be in shape (and in Johnson's case, he stays in great shape), have to do a lot of things I can't imagine doing with that much horsepower and that much speed. I don't have anything in the world against NASCAR.

But friends, from where I sit, Jimmie Johnson is no Manny Pacquiao, and for the Filipino boxing phenom to not even get any real recognition in this race is a bit of a travesty.

This is not about downplaying Johnson's stunning dominance in his field. He's already an all-time great, and he's so good at what he does that he, like Pacquiao, has crossed over into the mainstream.

But Manny Pacquiao has done so in a sport that the rubes, know-nothings, dolts and sportswriters insisted was dead. Insisted. It's not what it was because their paper doesn't cover it and ESPN couldn't care less.

Pacquiao sold about two million PPVs in two fights this year. He blew out the undisputed junior welterweight champion of the world in two rounds, and he later dominated a terrific welterweight in Miguel Cotto. He became a celebrity. HBO's "24/7" cameras caught the likes of Mickey Rourke and Mark Wahlberg going to the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles just to watch the diminutive destroyer work out.

If boxing was really dead or dying, Manny Pacquiao started taking it off of life support last December. (Of course, if you've been here, you know how I feel about the moronic notion that the sport was ever in any danger of "dying.") When Pacquiao dismantled Oscar de la Hoya, a lot of people who didn't know anything about boxing past Oscar took notice.

Who the hell was this guy? So he fought Ricky Hatton, who had gained a lot of international fame in recent years, particularly for a 2007 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., his only loss. Pacquiao took Hatton apart in scintillating, thrilling, jaw-dropping fashion.

And then came Cotto. And there went Cotto.

Now, Pacquiao has people who a year ago probably couldn't have named four active boxers salivating over the idea of a fight with Mayweather, boxing's other drawing card, who returned in September with a win over Juan Manuel Marquez. Manny and Floyd will fight on March 13 in Las Vegas, and the fight is being discussed as a potential blockbuster the likes of which the sport has never seen.

Who else has done something like that? Manny Pacquiao has changed the course of his entire sport. I'm not saying he did it single-handed, because there are a lot of other great fighters in the world. But he's clearly the new flag bearer for the sweet science, which is in the middle of a long-deserved renaissance.

Federer, Bolt, Johnson, and so many others are phenomenal at what they do. But if I could pick one guy in the world of sports that has transcended said world of sport in 2009, it's Manny Pacquiao. Nothing to do with being a massive boxing fan, even; Manny Pacquiao deserved the award.

But all congratulations to #48, too. He earned it and then some. All in all, with four guys out there like Pacquiao, Johnson, Bolt and Federer (among others), it's a pretty nice time to be a sports fan, isn't it?

Source: badlefthook.com