By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
Your weekly random thoughts …
As soon as Shane Mosley's welterweight unification fight with Andre Berto was canceled -- understandably, because Berto lost numerous family members in the Haiti earthquake and isn't prepared to go forward with the fight during this heartbreaking time -- the possibility of Mosley defending against Floyd Mayweather Jr. immediately came up.
It's the obvious fight. Mosley needs a dance partner, and Mayweather also needs one. Besides, it's a huge fight.
Let's just hope the sides can make it happen (probably for early May) and not get bogged down in the ego and stupidity that killed Mayweather's fight with Manny Pacquiao, which was supposed to be on March 13.
If you ask me, there are three superfights in boxing. One is Pacquiao-Mayweather, which is by far the biggest. The other two are Mosley-Mayweather and Pacquiao-Mosley.
So while Pacquiao moves on to face Joshua Clottey -- the next-best available welterweight for him to fight -- Mosley and Mayweather hopefully will come together.
Mosley-Mayweather is a fight I've wanted to see for many years, going back to the late 1990s when Mayweather was the junior lightweight champ and Mosley was the lightweight champ. But Mosley didn't stick around at 135 pounds waiting for Mayweather; he jumped all the way up to welterweight to lure a prime Oscar De La Hoya into the ring.
As much as I like Mosley-Mayweather, though, remember one thing: It's still second-best. Pacquiao-Mayweather was, and still is, the biggest fight out there.
• Not sure what to make of some phone calls I received Monday night: Informed sources said that even though Berto planned to withdraw from the fight because of his family situation, his adviser, Al Haymon, who also happens to handle Mayweather, made a deal for Berto to get paid (either by the Golden Boy/Mosley side or Mayweather or both) to step aside to allow for Mosley-Mayweather (a much bigger fight than Mosley-Berto) to be put together. One reason it sounded plausible is because, according to a source familiar with the Mosley-Berto contract, the deal had a rescheduling clause in it, in the event either guy had to delay the fight. That clause was not exercised. Perhaps a payment to Berto made that go away.
• With Mayweather off March 13, it should come as zero surprise that HBO PPV and Top Rank struck a deal for the network to produce and distribute the Pacquiao-Clottey card on March 13. There never was any way in the world that a Mayweather fight would have actually gone on the same night against another opponent, as had been insisted upon by Golden Boy, which is promoting Mayweather. HBO's Ross Greenburg and Mark Taffet had to let the craziness play out, and now it has. Pacquiao gets March 13. Mayweather will go some other time. All's well that ends well -- except for the fact that we still aren't getting Pacquiao-Mayweather. And don't think that I or millions of boxing fans are going to forget that any time soon.
• Example 5,879 on why boxing often leaves me scratching my head: Mosley slaughtered Antonio Margarito in January 2009 in a huge victory. Margarito later had his license revoked for at least a year for trying to load his gloves before the fight, yet he may wind up back in the ring before Mosley. Top Rank, which believes Margarito will be licensed in Texas, plans to put him on the Pacquiao-Clottey undercard. Mosley, meanwhile, hasn't fought since beating Margarito and probably won't fight until the spring now that his fight with Berto is off. Crazy.
• Promoter Don King always seems to wait until the last minute to secure sites for his cards. King, however, has found a home for the March 6 HBO show headlined by the Devon Alexander-Juan Urango junior welterweight unification fight. It will take place at the Mohegan Sun resort in Connecticut. He landed the site with about seven weeks before the fight. By King's standards, that's an eternity.
• You may not like watching John Ruiz fight/hold, but it made a lot of sense for Golden Boy to sign him because it also promotes David Haye, which means Golden Boy will control a piece of the heavyweight title regardless of who wins their April fight. And then Golden Boy can give the winner of Haye-Ruiz to Bernard Hopkins, assuming he beats Roy Jones Jr. (which he should). As long as HBO doesn't let Ruiz anywhere near one of Golden Boy's dates on the network, everything will be just fine.
• Regardless of whether he got a buyout, I'm glad Jermain Taylor withdrew from the Super Six tournament. Nobody wants to see the guy get hurt. But I found it pretty weak that while thanking everyone in his statement announcing his withdrawal that he left out promoter Lou DiBella, who had been an integral part of Taylor's career from day one. Although DiBella had resigned a couple of weeks earlier over concerns about Taylor's health, he deserved more from Taylor than to be ignored as though he never existed. Taylor won the undisputed middleweight championship and made many millions of dollars, and he has DiBella to thank for being a major reason it happened.
• Times may be tough for some promoters, but Top Rank keeps rolling along. Bob Arum's company will promote 11 cards in the next 10 weeks. The marathon begins with an excellent HBO card in New York on Saturday night when featherweight titlist Steven Luevano defends against junior featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Lopez in the main event, and runs nonstop through a Fox Sports Net card on March 27. In all, there is one HBO card, one combo "Latin Fury"/"Pinoy Power" pay-per-view card, eight FSN cards and the centerpiece of it all: the Pacquiao-Clotty HBO PPV card. Top Rank matchmaker Brad "Abdul" Goodman is going to be awfully busy for the next couple of months.
• I don't know about you, but between the return of ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights" a couple of weeks ago and the regularity of the new "Top Rank Live" series on FSN, I'm a pretty happy camper when it comes to the basic cable offerings. Unfortunately, it's a miserably slow start for HBO and Showtime. With regard to the new Top Rank series, I thought the debut card headlined by Vanes Martirosyan's extremely competitive fight with Kassim Ouma was excellent. Hopefully, shows like it will be the norm and not the exception.
Let's also hope that Top Rank won't be destroying another network's taste for boxing as it did when it got the keys to the castle from Versus and then burned it down. I think Arum understands, although you never know. At least he's saying the right things.
Here's what he had to say recently when I asked him about the FSN series and reminded him of the disaster he was responsible for at Versus: "We f---ed up Versus. If we don't learn from the mistakes we made at Versus, then this series will go down the drain. Versus was not something we are proud of. It just went off the tracks. We didn't pay attention to it. I admit that. This is different. Now we brought a guy on, Carl Moretti, whose first responsibility is that series."
• After the 2009 awards stories came out a few weeks ago, I was asked by several Fight Freaks to name my biggest robbery of the year. I'd have to go with two of them. Ali Funeka got absolutely hosed when he got a draw against Joan Guzman. Same goes for Sergio Martinez, who got an inconceivable draw against Kermit Cintron, who really had been knocked out earlier in the fight until referee Frank Santore made one of the worst calls I have ever seen and allowed the fight to continue.
• So Evander Holyfield's fight with Frans Botha in Uganda had been postponed from Jan. 16 to Feb. 20. Anyone shocked? Hopefully, the farce will wind up being canceled.
• Ron Scott Stevens, who was unceremoniously dumped as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission in July 2008 (even though he apparently had done a fine job) has always had interests outside boxing. One of them is theater. Stevens has written and produced an off-Broadway play called "The Cutting Den." Its three-week run opens Feb. 4 at the Soho Playhouse. Publicist Donald Tremblay described the play as being about a Brooklyn barbershop fronting for a gambling parlor. One of the interesting notes about the play is that former middleweight titlist Doug DeWitt, who has been acting since the end of his boxing career in 1992, has one of the lead roles.
• DVD pick of the week: I received some DVDs from a buddy of mine the other day. One fight he sent was one that I have on VHS but in crappy condition. The DVD of this original ABC broadcast, however, was in stunning condition, which made it all the more enjoyable watching one of the greatest heavyweight slugfests ever. It was George Foreman's epic five-round brawl with Ron Lyle from Jan. 24, 1976, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. It was Foreman's first sanctioned fight in more than a year (he had done some exhibitions) following his knockout loss to Muhammad Ali, and Foreman barely survived. Lyle hurt Foreman in the first round and dropped him twice in the fourth round. But Foreman also dropped Lyle in the incredible fourth before knocking him out in the fifth. It's a truly awesome fight.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Photos: Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey News Conference at Dallas Cowboys Stadium
Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, waves during a news conference about his March 13 bout against Joshua Clottey, a native of Ghana, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)
WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao (C) is surrounded by the media after a news conference announcing his upcoming World Welterweight Championship boxing match against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas January 19, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Sharp (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao (L) and his challenger Joshua Clottey (R) pose for photos with the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders after a news conference announcing the upcoming World Welterweight Championship boxing match at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, January 19, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Sharp (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
Boxers Manny Pacquiao, left, of the Philippines, and Joshua Clottey, of Ghana, right, pose with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders during a news conference announcing their fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. Pacquiao and Clottey will fight March 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)
WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao (C) poses with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (L) after a news conference announcing the upcoming World Welterweight Championship boxing match against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas January 19, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Sharp (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
Manny Pacquiao, left, of the Philippines, and Joshua Clottey, of Ghana, right, pose with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders during a news conference announcing their fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. Pacquiao and Clottey will fight March 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)
WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao poses for photos after a news conference announcing his upcoming World Welterweight Championship boxing match against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas January 19, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Sharp (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, left, and Joshua Clottey, of Ghana, right, pose with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at a news conference at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. Pacquiao and Clottey will fight March 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)
Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, left, and Joshua Clottey, of Ghana, right, pose with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, center, during a news conference at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. Pacquiao and Clottey will fight March 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)
Trainer Freddie Roach enters a news conference announcing the fight with Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. Pacquiao and Clottey will fight March 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, center, shows Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, right, his Cowboys jersey as Joshua Clottey, of Ghana, left, looks on during a news conference announcing their fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. Pacquiao and Clottey will fight March 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)
WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao (C) greets fans before a news conference announcing his upcoming World Welterweight Championship boxing match against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas January 19, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Sharp (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
WBO welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao addresses fans and the media during a news conference announcing his upcoming World Welterweight Championship boxing match against Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas January 19, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Sharp (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BOXING)
Source: Yahoo! News
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Clottey not going for a quick KO -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
Joshua Clottey of Ghana spoke modestly about his March 13 battle with Manny Pacquiao, telling the Philippine press on Monday that while he will be armed to the teeth, he won’t be rushing for a knockout win.
“You don’t force a knockout,” said Clottey upon his arrival at the Four Seasons Resort and Club as Texas-based Filipino ringside physician Allan Recto, an avid follower of Pacquiao, listened intently.
“If there’s a knockout, it will come,” said Clottey, who blew into town half-an-hour ahead of Pacquiao, who came in on board a private plane that took off from Los Angeles.
Clottey, looking robust and upbeat, said he currently weighs 162 lbs and that making the 147-lb limit won’t be a problem.
The African banger hasn’t fought since dropping a controversial 12-round split decision to Miguel Cotto in June last year in New York.
Despite the inactivity, Clottey, who is now based in the Bronx in New York, remained in fighting form, having spent most of his free time playing soccer.
A training camp in either Florida or Nevada is being eyed by Clottey’s camp.
Source: mb.com.ph
***
Joshua Clottey of Ghana spoke modestly about his March 13 battle with Manny Pacquiao, telling the Philippine press on Monday that while he will be armed to the teeth, he won’t be rushing for a knockout win.
“You don’t force a knockout,” said Clottey upon his arrival at the Four Seasons Resort and Club as Texas-based Filipino ringside physician Allan Recto, an avid follower of Pacquiao, listened intently.
“If there’s a knockout, it will come,” said Clottey, who blew into town half-an-hour ahead of Pacquiao, who came in on board a private plane that took off from Los Angeles.
Clottey, looking robust and upbeat, said he currently weighs 162 lbs and that making the 147-lb limit won’t be a problem.
The African banger hasn’t fought since dropping a controversial 12-round split decision to Miguel Cotto in June last year in New York.
Despite the inactivity, Clottey, who is now based in the Bronx in New York, remained in fighting form, having spent most of his free time playing soccer.
A training camp in either Florida or Nevada is being eyed by Clottey’s camp.
Source: mb.com.ph
***
Clottey big, but passive: Roach -- Tempo
By NICK GIONGCO, Tempo
Aboard the private plane that brought Manny Pacquiao and select members of his team here Monday night, it was the fighter’s trainer that provided the juiciest quotes to a visiting reporter who joined them on the trip that lasted for less than three hours.
Freddie Roach said that while he is not underestimating Joshua Clottey, who Pacquiao faces on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in the neighboring city of Arlington, the Ghanaian will find it hard to cope with the energy level that the Filipino brings to the ring.
“Clottey is passive,” said Roach, raising his two arms to mimic Clottey’s moves in an actual fight.
“Manny fights every second of every round and Clottey doesn’t do that. He just raises his arms,” he said.
Still, Roach believes “it is still going to be a hard fight because Clottey is big and strong.”
Roach is so wary of the remaining time available hat he wants Pacquiao to begin sparring by Tuesday or Thursday of next week.
Pacquiao, who slept most of the way, is due for his first day or training on Thursday at the conclusion of the press tour that actually kicks off with a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at the Cowboys Stadium
Top Rank chief Bob Arum swears the presentation on Tuesday will be unforgettable, noting that Texas billionaire Jerry Jones, worked hard in making sure the event will be something that is out of the ordinary.
Arum actually joined Pacquiao on the journey here, having sent a plane to pick up Pacquiao in Los Angeles before being fetched himself at Henderson Executive Airport just outside of Las Vegas.
Aboard the 13-seater jet, the travel time from Los Angeles to Henderson was a mere 35 minutes, while it took a little over two hours for the Henderson-Dallas leg to be completed.
Also on board were Arum’s stepson and Top Rank president Todd BuBoef and Carl Morreti, another Top Rank bigshot, as well as Pacquiao’s advisers Mike Koncz and Jeng Gacal, and ring announcer Michael Buffer.
Pacquiao and Clottey as well as the Top Rank crew are billeted at the ultra-expensive Four Seasons Resort and Club.
From here, Pacquiao will proceed to New York for another gig at Madison Square Garden.
Source: tempo.com.ph
***
Aboard the private plane that brought Manny Pacquiao and select members of his team here Monday night, it was the fighter’s trainer that provided the juiciest quotes to a visiting reporter who joined them on the trip that lasted for less than three hours.
Freddie Roach said that while he is not underestimating Joshua Clottey, who Pacquiao faces on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in the neighboring city of Arlington, the Ghanaian will find it hard to cope with the energy level that the Filipino brings to the ring.
“Clottey is passive,” said Roach, raising his two arms to mimic Clottey’s moves in an actual fight.
“Manny fights every second of every round and Clottey doesn’t do that. He just raises his arms,” he said.
Still, Roach believes “it is still going to be a hard fight because Clottey is big and strong.”
Roach is so wary of the remaining time available hat he wants Pacquiao to begin sparring by Tuesday or Thursday of next week.
Pacquiao, who slept most of the way, is due for his first day or training on Thursday at the conclusion of the press tour that actually kicks off with a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at the Cowboys Stadium
Top Rank chief Bob Arum swears the presentation on Tuesday will be unforgettable, noting that Texas billionaire Jerry Jones, worked hard in making sure the event will be something that is out of the ordinary.
Arum actually joined Pacquiao on the journey here, having sent a plane to pick up Pacquiao in Los Angeles before being fetched himself at Henderson Executive Airport just outside of Las Vegas.
Aboard the 13-seater jet, the travel time from Los Angeles to Henderson was a mere 35 minutes, while it took a little over two hours for the Henderson-Dallas leg to be completed.
Also on board were Arum’s stepson and Top Rank president Todd BuBoef and Carl Morreti, another Top Rank bigshot, as well as Pacquiao’s advisers Mike Koncz and Jeng Gacal, and ring announcer Michael Buffer.
Pacquiao and Clottey as well as the Top Rank crew are billeted at the ultra-expensive Four Seasons Resort and Club.
From here, Pacquiao will proceed to New York for another gig at Madison Square Garden.
Source: tempo.com.ph
***
Leonard Ellerbe: Floyd Mayweather will demand random blood and urine testing in all future fights -- Grand Rapids Press
By David Mayo, The Grand Rapids Press
Floyd Mayweather’s adviser today said that a familiar demand -- random blood and urine drug testing -- will be implemented in any future fight involving the boxing star.
Leonard Ellerbe said the negotiating point that stalled Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao talks also will become a central part of discussions to finalize a Mayweather-Shane Mosley bout this spring.
“Whoever fights Floyd Mayweather in the future, that person will be subjected to random blood and urine testing,” Ellerbe said. “I don’t care who he fights, that will be the case.
“Floyd is out front, championing this effort to change the way the sport is handled in the future.”
Mayweather-Pacquiao talks fell apart in December and January over that very issue. Mayweather demanded random blood testing -- which is not required in Nevada, where the fight would have taken place -- right up until the fight. Pacquiao proposed three tests, one in early January, a second no later than 30 days before the fight and a third after the fight.
Eventually, Mayweather yielded to a 14-day window before the fight when there would be no blood testing, while Pacquiao moved to a 24-day window. That is where the proposal wilted.
In the midst of their disagreements, Pacquiao sued Mayweather and several of the Grand Rapids native’s associates in a Nevada federal court, alleging they defamed him with claims that he used steroids.
While there is no proof Pacquiao ever used a performance-enhancing substance, that is not the case with Mosley, who used EPO and the steroids “the cream” and “the clear,” which he purchased from BALCO, the California laboratory that was the subject of a highly publicized federal investigation.
Mosley admitted his usage in leaked grand jury testimony related to the BALCO investigation in 2007.
Ellerbe refused to discuss how close Mayweather-Mosley is to completion, or even if talks have occurred. But he did acknowledge that any plan for Mayweather to fight March 13, on the same day Pacquiao fights Joshua Clottey, has been abandoned.
Ellerbe said throughout December that Mosley was Mayweather’s backup plan if the Pacquiao fight failed to materialize, and reiterated that Monday.
“If Shane Mosley is available, Floyd would like nothing more than to beat his ass,” Ellerbe said. “Floyd has been trying to make that fight for years.”
Mosley indeed became available Monday, when Andre Berto, his scheduled opponent for a fight next week, withdrew from that bout.
Berto pulled out of the scheduled Jan. 30 fight, citing a lack of focus in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake. Berto was raised in Florida but fought for Haiti in the 2004 Olympics and has several family members in the Caribbean island nation, including a sister who was displaced by the disaster.
“Everybody is trying to make a fight,” between Mayweather and Mosley, Ellerbe said, “but Floyd just feels awful about what has happened in Haiti, and our hearts and prayers go out to Andre Berto and his family.”
E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
Floyd Mayweather’s adviser today said that a familiar demand -- random blood and urine drug testing -- will be implemented in any future fight involving the boxing star.
Leonard Ellerbe said the negotiating point that stalled Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao talks also will become a central part of discussions to finalize a Mayweather-Shane Mosley bout this spring.
“Whoever fights Floyd Mayweather in the future, that person will be subjected to random blood and urine testing,” Ellerbe said. “I don’t care who he fights, that will be the case.
“Floyd is out front, championing this effort to change the way the sport is handled in the future.”
Mayweather-Pacquiao talks fell apart in December and January over that very issue. Mayweather demanded random blood testing -- which is not required in Nevada, where the fight would have taken place -- right up until the fight. Pacquiao proposed three tests, one in early January, a second no later than 30 days before the fight and a third after the fight.
Eventually, Mayweather yielded to a 14-day window before the fight when there would be no blood testing, while Pacquiao moved to a 24-day window. That is where the proposal wilted.
In the midst of their disagreements, Pacquiao sued Mayweather and several of the Grand Rapids native’s associates in a Nevada federal court, alleging they defamed him with claims that he used steroids.
While there is no proof Pacquiao ever used a performance-enhancing substance, that is not the case with Mosley, who used EPO and the steroids “the cream” and “the clear,” which he purchased from BALCO, the California laboratory that was the subject of a highly publicized federal investigation.
Mosley admitted his usage in leaked grand jury testimony related to the BALCO investigation in 2007.
Ellerbe refused to discuss how close Mayweather-Mosley is to completion, or even if talks have occurred. But he did acknowledge that any plan for Mayweather to fight March 13, on the same day Pacquiao fights Joshua Clottey, has been abandoned.
Ellerbe said throughout December that Mosley was Mayweather’s backup plan if the Pacquiao fight failed to materialize, and reiterated that Monday.
“If Shane Mosley is available, Floyd would like nothing more than to beat his ass,” Ellerbe said. “Floyd has been trying to make that fight for years.”
Mosley indeed became available Monday, when Andre Berto, his scheduled opponent for a fight next week, withdrew from that bout.
Berto pulled out of the scheduled Jan. 30 fight, citing a lack of focus in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake. Berto was raised in Florida but fought for Haiti in the 2004 Olympics and has several family members in the Caribbean island nation, including a sister who was displaced by the disaster.
“Everybody is trying to make a fight,” between Mayweather and Mosley, Ellerbe said, “but Floyd just feels awful about what has happened in Haiti, and our hearts and prayers go out to Andre Berto and his family.”
E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
Mayweather-Mosley Being Put Together -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Floyd Mayweather could face the WBC's welterweight (147 pounds) super champion, Shane Mosley, on May 1 or May 8, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Richard Schaefer, told FanHouse Monday evening.
"I've had conversations with Team Mayweather, and I'll be working in the coming hours and days toward a way that we can get this fight done. The fact is, in the sport of boxing, you may have maybe two or three true Super Fights, and this is one of those two Super Fights -- two Americans at the height of the sport's pound-for-pound list," said Schaefer.
"It would be a throw-back fight to the days when you had Sugar Ray Leonard against Thomas Hearns," said Schaefer. "This is truly at that level -- an event and a fight which will truly capture not just the boxing fans, but the general public. And I think that all of us involved in the sport of boxing feel that it's the medicine that is needed."
The 32-year-old, five-time champion, Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts), and the 38-year-old Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) could meet as a result of two, lucrative pay days that fell out.
Mayweather's scheduled March 13 megabout with Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) unraveled as a result of a drug-testing controversy, and Mosley's Jan. 30 matchup with Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) will not take place as a result of Berto's pulling out of the fight.
A Hatian American, Berto was devastated by the recent earthquake that rocked Haiti, killing untold numbers of people, including nine of his relatives.
"We are all very sorry for what Andre Berto has to go through, and I think that he's making the right decision. At this point, his place is not in the ring, it is with his people and his family," said Schaefer.
"I don't have any relatives in Haiti, but to see all the pictures and the number of people who are dead now, and what is going on, I can only imagine what Andre has had to go through," said Schaefer. "What a devastating blow. When I informed Shane Mosley about it, he very much echoed that sentiment."
After Mayweather's unanimous decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in September, Mosley jumped into the ring, interrupted Mayweather's post-fight interview with Max Kellerman, and challenged the unbeaten, five-time champion to make a deal to fight him.
When he discovered the fight with Berto would not take place, Mosley "made it clear to me to see if we could get" one with Mayweather, said Schaefer.
"I have May 1, and I have, May 8 on hold, and on one of the fights, I was planning to have Juan Manuel Marquez on," said Schaefer. "So, I have to see now if -- with the whole Berto situation happening -- I have to see if it's going to be possible to put together a Mayweather-Mosley fight."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Floyd Mayweather could face the WBC's welterweight (147 pounds) super champion, Shane Mosley, on May 1 or May 8, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Richard Schaefer, told FanHouse Monday evening.
"I've had conversations with Team Mayweather, and I'll be working in the coming hours and days toward a way that we can get this fight done. The fact is, in the sport of boxing, you may have maybe two or three true Super Fights, and this is one of those two Super Fights -- two Americans at the height of the sport's pound-for-pound list," said Schaefer.
"It would be a throw-back fight to the days when you had Sugar Ray Leonard against Thomas Hearns," said Schaefer. "This is truly at that level -- an event and a fight which will truly capture not just the boxing fans, but the general public. And I think that all of us involved in the sport of boxing feel that it's the medicine that is needed."
The 32-year-old, five-time champion, Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts), and the 38-year-old Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) could meet as a result of two, lucrative pay days that fell out.
Mayweather's scheduled March 13 megabout with Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) unraveled as a result of a drug-testing controversy, and Mosley's Jan. 30 matchup with Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) will not take place as a result of Berto's pulling out of the fight.
A Hatian American, Berto was devastated by the recent earthquake that rocked Haiti, killing untold numbers of people, including nine of his relatives.
"We are all very sorry for what Andre Berto has to go through, and I think that he's making the right decision. At this point, his place is not in the ring, it is with his people and his family," said Schaefer.
"I don't have any relatives in Haiti, but to see all the pictures and the number of people who are dead now, and what is going on, I can only imagine what Andre has had to go through," said Schaefer. "What a devastating blow. When I informed Shane Mosley about it, he very much echoed that sentiment."
After Mayweather's unanimous decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in September, Mosley jumped into the ring, interrupted Mayweather's post-fight interview with Max Kellerman, and challenged the unbeaten, five-time champion to make a deal to fight him.
When he discovered the fight with Berto would not take place, Mosley "made it clear to me to see if we could get" one with Mayweather, said Schaefer.
"I have May 1, and I have, May 8 on hold, and on one of the fights, I was planning to have Juan Manuel Marquez on," said Schaefer. "So, I have to see now if -- with the whole Berto situation happening -- I have to see if it's going to be possible to put together a Mayweather-Mosley fight."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Pacquiao hits LAX but never leaves his trail behind -- PhilBoxing
By Granville Ampong, PhilBoxing.com
LOS ANGELES, California, January 17, 2010 - Philippines' congressional candidate and Pound-for-Pound king Manny Pacquiao arrived at the Tom Bradley Los Angeles International Airport as the Philippine Airlines Flight 105 touched down at 4:27 p.m. on a chilly, rainy and much colder Sunday.
But, as Pacquiao and his entourage came out of the immigration and customs area, the temperature went its way up, warm and fast, as the crowd swelled to a majestic proportion. Hundreds welcomed him along with the media personalities.
Pacquiao prepares to kick off two-city promotional tour for his WBO Welterweight title defense against the "tough panther" of Ghana, Joshua Clottey, on March 13 at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In an exclusive telephone interview, Pacquiao's promoter and Top Rank Godfather Bob Arum said Pacquiao is scheduled to attend the news conference this Tuesday in Dallas and on Wednesday at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City.
According to Arum, Pacquiao will leave Los Angeles Monday on a private plane near LAX that will take a brief stop in Las Vegas to pick him up and his stepson Todd DuBoef for the continuation of the full flight to Dallas.
Arlington is said to be rolling the red carpet for Pacquiao when it hosts the kickoff press conference on Tuesday and the entire cheerleading squad will be provided as well, that is said to begin at 1 p.m.
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboy Stadium, and Arum are joining hands in staging the bout dubbed "The Event' , the first boxing event to be held at the $ 1.2 - billion facility.
After the promotional tour, Pacquiao, along with his entourage, is said to fly back to Los Angeles, to start his training this weekend at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California.
Meanwhile, as Pacquiao hits LAX and prepares to galvanize his boxing fans with his bid to bring pride and joy, his trail rekindles his heart out for the Philippines' 2010 National Elections this May 10. An impressive win over Clottey could mean a "big thing" for his electoral votes. He is vying for the congressional post in the lone district of Sarragani against Roy Chongbian, the younger brother of the incumbent Congressman Erwin Chongbian, whose dynasty has been reigning over 20 years to this date.
Note: You may send your message to granvilleampong@aol.com.
Source: philboxing.com
***
LOS ANGELES, California, January 17, 2010 - Philippines' congressional candidate and Pound-for-Pound king Manny Pacquiao arrived at the Tom Bradley Los Angeles International Airport as the Philippine Airlines Flight 105 touched down at 4:27 p.m. on a chilly, rainy and much colder Sunday.
But, as Pacquiao and his entourage came out of the immigration and customs area, the temperature went its way up, warm and fast, as the crowd swelled to a majestic proportion. Hundreds welcomed him along with the media personalities.
Pacquiao prepares to kick off two-city promotional tour for his WBO Welterweight title defense against the "tough panther" of Ghana, Joshua Clottey, on March 13 at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In an exclusive telephone interview, Pacquiao's promoter and Top Rank Godfather Bob Arum said Pacquiao is scheduled to attend the news conference this Tuesday in Dallas and on Wednesday at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City.
According to Arum, Pacquiao will leave Los Angeles Monday on a private plane near LAX that will take a brief stop in Las Vegas to pick him up and his stepson Todd DuBoef for the continuation of the full flight to Dallas.
Arlington is said to be rolling the red carpet for Pacquiao when it hosts the kickoff press conference on Tuesday and the entire cheerleading squad will be provided as well, that is said to begin at 1 p.m.
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboy Stadium, and Arum are joining hands in staging the bout dubbed "The Event' , the first boxing event to be held at the $ 1.2 - billion facility.
After the promotional tour, Pacquiao, along with his entourage, is said to fly back to Los Angeles, to start his training this weekend at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California.
Meanwhile, as Pacquiao hits LAX and prepares to galvanize his boxing fans with his bid to bring pride and joy, his trail rekindles his heart out for the Philippines' 2010 National Elections this May 10. An impressive win over Clottey could mean a "big thing" for his electoral votes. He is vying for the congressional post in the lone district of Sarragani against Roy Chongbian, the younger brother of the incumbent Congressman Erwin Chongbian, whose dynasty has been reigning over 20 years to this date.
Note: You may send your message to granvilleampong@aol.com.
Source: philboxing.com
***
Door opened for Mosley-Mayweather -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
Overwhelmed by family loss in the Haiti earthquake, welterweight titleholder Andre Berto withdrew on Monday from his scheduled unification fight with Shane Mosley on Jan. 30 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The cancellation of the fight could lead to Mosley instead defending his title against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the spring.
"Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood," Berto said in a statement. "I lost several family members to the earthquake and, after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi, and her daughter, Jessica, survived, but were left homeless. I have seen the pain in my parents' eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home.
"As a result of this disaster, I am mentally and physically exhausted and, therefore, I have no choice but to withdraw from my bout on January 30."
Berto lost at least eight family members in the disaster.
Berto's parents were born in Haiti before immigrating in 1980 to Winter Haven, Fla., where Berto grew up and still lives. Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) also represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games and has done charitable work there for the past several years.
"Throughout the past six days, I have received an incredible outpouring of support, and I sincerely appreciate everyone's prayers for the people of Haiti," Berto said. "I hope that everyone will continue to keep the Haitian people in their thoughts and prayers as we work to rebuild this proud nation. The rebuilding of Haiti is not something that will happen overnight, but I am fully dedicated to helping the Haitian people recover from this catastrophic event."
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who promotes Mosley, said he told Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) about the cancellation of the fight, and he was understanding.
"It's just a very unfortunate situation," Schaefer said. "This is unbelievable. Everyone has seen the pictures from Haiti and followed this devastating situation. We all feel very bad for Andre. We know where his focus needs to be and that is with his family and his people. I talked to Shane. Obviously, he shares the sentiment. He feels bad for Andre and understands. But at the same time he is disappointed because he is in amazing shape with two weeks to go, and now this fight fell out. He is not happy about it, but he fully understands the situation. We just wish the best for Andre Berto."
The cancellation of the fight may open another door for Mosley. With the Manny Pacquiao-Mayweather fight falling apart and Pacquiao moving on to face Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium on March 13, the date Pacquiao-Mayweather was supposed to take place on, it left Mayweather without an opponent.
Schaefer, who promotes Mosley and is working with Mayweather, had announced that Mayweather would also fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on a pay-per-view that would compete with Pacquiao-Clottey.
However, behind the scenes, plans were being made for Mayweather to go on an alternative date. Now, Mayweather could wind up challenging Mosley for his title on May 1, a date Golden Boy has been holding for a pay-per-view event at the MGM Grand.
"That is a super fight, and now my next order of business -- to see if we can put [Mosley-Mayweather] together," Schaefer said. "That is what I am going to be doing in the coming hours. The sooner the better if we can get this potential fight done. With Shane now being available and Floyd being available, that's a fight all fight fans and sports fans would embrace. This would be a huge showdown. Shane has wanted that fight for awhile. That's what I am going to try to do."
Berto's schedule will remain up in the air while he deals with his family loss. He had stormed through his professional career to win a vacant 147-pound title via seventh-round knockout of Miguel Angel Rodriguez in 2008 and has made three defenses against Steve Forbes, former titleholder Luis Collazo and junior welterweight titlist Juan Urango. But the showdown with Mosley was by far the most significant bout of his career and a way to stamp himself as a star with a victory.
But the family tragedy was too much for him to continue training for the bout.
"I think he made a correct decision for himself," said Lou DiBella, Berto's promoter throughout his professional career. "Your mental health and physically health are more important than one fight. I know that Andre has been in agony since this happened. He has been really struggling. He is mentally and physically exhausted and I don't think he's been sleeping. He's been torn about whether to fight and had to make this decision. I think he's going to go to Haiti next week.
"It's the right decision. It's impossible to watch those pictures from Haiti even if you're not Haitian. But he and his family and his parents are suffering. It hits very close to home. How could any human being focus under those circumstances? I'm glad for Andre that he made this decision for himself."
The entire Jan. 30 card has been called off. The undercard included several notable bouts, including Glen Johnson against Yusaf Mack in a light heavyweight title eliminator, former junior welterweight titlist Vivian Harris facing Lucas Matthysse and former junior middleweight titleholder Sergio Mora ending a year-plus layoff to fight Jason Naugler in his first fight since signing with Golden Boy Promotions.
Schaefer said he would huddle with matchmaker Eric Gomez to notify the fighters that the card was off and to discuss alternatives.
DiBella said everyone involved in the show, from his staff to Golden Boy to HBO, which was to launch the 2010 season of "World Championship Boxing" with the fight, was supportive of Berto's decision.
"Not one person involved in the promotion had any negative response to this decision," DiBella said. "Everyone empathizes with Andre and his whole family. The young man's well-being outweighs any one fight."
HBO's Kery Davis echoed DiBella.
"Andre Berto is a terrific athlete and an even better person," Davis said. "We can only imagine the pain the earthquake has caused the entire Berto family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Andre and we hope to have him back on HBO when he is ready to return to the ring."
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Overwhelmed by family loss in the Haiti earthquake, welterweight titleholder Andre Berto withdrew on Monday from his scheduled unification fight with Shane Mosley on Jan. 30 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The cancellation of the fight could lead to Mosley instead defending his title against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the spring.
"Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood," Berto said in a statement. "I lost several family members to the earthquake and, after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi, and her daughter, Jessica, survived, but were left homeless. I have seen the pain in my parents' eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home.
"As a result of this disaster, I am mentally and physically exhausted and, therefore, I have no choice but to withdraw from my bout on January 30."
Berto lost at least eight family members in the disaster.
Berto's parents were born in Haiti before immigrating in 1980 to Winter Haven, Fla., where Berto grew up and still lives. Berto (25-0, 19 KOs) also represented Haiti in the 2004 Olympic Games and has done charitable work there for the past several years.
"Throughout the past six days, I have received an incredible outpouring of support, and I sincerely appreciate everyone's prayers for the people of Haiti," Berto said. "I hope that everyone will continue to keep the Haitian people in their thoughts and prayers as we work to rebuild this proud nation. The rebuilding of Haiti is not something that will happen overnight, but I am fully dedicated to helping the Haitian people recover from this catastrophic event."
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who promotes Mosley, said he told Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) about the cancellation of the fight, and he was understanding.
"It's just a very unfortunate situation," Schaefer said. "This is unbelievable. Everyone has seen the pictures from Haiti and followed this devastating situation. We all feel very bad for Andre. We know where his focus needs to be and that is with his family and his people. I talked to Shane. Obviously, he shares the sentiment. He feels bad for Andre and understands. But at the same time he is disappointed because he is in amazing shape with two weeks to go, and now this fight fell out. He is not happy about it, but he fully understands the situation. We just wish the best for Andre Berto."
The cancellation of the fight may open another door for Mosley. With the Manny Pacquiao-Mayweather fight falling apart and Pacquiao moving on to face Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium on March 13, the date Pacquiao-Mayweather was supposed to take place on, it left Mayweather without an opponent.
Schaefer, who promotes Mosley and is working with Mayweather, had announced that Mayweather would also fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on a pay-per-view that would compete with Pacquiao-Clottey.
However, behind the scenes, plans were being made for Mayweather to go on an alternative date. Now, Mayweather could wind up challenging Mosley for his title on May 1, a date Golden Boy has been holding for a pay-per-view event at the MGM Grand.
"That is a super fight, and now my next order of business -- to see if we can put [Mosley-Mayweather] together," Schaefer said. "That is what I am going to be doing in the coming hours. The sooner the better if we can get this potential fight done. With Shane now being available and Floyd being available, that's a fight all fight fans and sports fans would embrace. This would be a huge showdown. Shane has wanted that fight for awhile. That's what I am going to try to do."
Berto's schedule will remain up in the air while he deals with his family loss. He had stormed through his professional career to win a vacant 147-pound title via seventh-round knockout of Miguel Angel Rodriguez in 2008 and has made three defenses against Steve Forbes, former titleholder Luis Collazo and junior welterweight titlist Juan Urango. But the showdown with Mosley was by far the most significant bout of his career and a way to stamp himself as a star with a victory.
But the family tragedy was too much for him to continue training for the bout.
"I think he made a correct decision for himself," said Lou DiBella, Berto's promoter throughout his professional career. "Your mental health and physically health are more important than one fight. I know that Andre has been in agony since this happened. He has been really struggling. He is mentally and physically exhausted and I don't think he's been sleeping. He's been torn about whether to fight and had to make this decision. I think he's going to go to Haiti next week.
"It's the right decision. It's impossible to watch those pictures from Haiti even if you're not Haitian. But he and his family and his parents are suffering. It hits very close to home. How could any human being focus under those circumstances? I'm glad for Andre that he made this decision for himself."
The entire Jan. 30 card has been called off. The undercard included several notable bouts, including Glen Johnson against Yusaf Mack in a light heavyweight title eliminator, former junior welterweight titlist Vivian Harris facing Lucas Matthysse and former junior middleweight titleholder Sergio Mora ending a year-plus layoff to fight Jason Naugler in his first fight since signing with Golden Boy Promotions.
Schaefer said he would huddle with matchmaker Eric Gomez to notify the fighters that the card was off and to discuss alternatives.
DiBella said everyone involved in the show, from his staff to Golden Boy to HBO, which was to launch the 2010 season of "World Championship Boxing" with the fight, was supportive of Berto's decision.
"Not one person involved in the promotion had any negative response to this decision," DiBella said. "Everyone empathizes with Andre and his whole family. The young man's well-being outweighs any one fight."
HBO's Kery Davis echoed DiBella.
"Andre Berto is a terrific athlete and an even better person," Davis said. "We can only imagine the pain the earthquake has caused the entire Berto family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Andre and we hope to have him back on HBO when he is ready to return to the ring."
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Devastated Andre Berto Pulls Out of Fight With Mosley -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Emotionally distraught Andre Berto is pulling out of his scheduled Jan. 30 title matchup opposite Shane Mosley, as a result of having lost several family members during last week's earthquake in Haiti.
The 26-year-old Berto (25-0, 19 knockouts) "has not slept in about six days, and he's not physically well, and he's not mentally well," said Berto's promoter, Lou DiBella. "I made it clear to Andre a while ago that he didn't have to be a hero, and that he had to do what was right for himself and his family."
"Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood," said Berto in a statement released on Monday.
"I lost several family members to the earthquake, and after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi, and her daughter, Jessica, survived, but were left homeless," Berto said.
"I have seen the pain in my parents' eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home," said Berto. "As a result of this disaster, I am mentally and physically exhausted and therefore I have no choice but to withdraw from my bout on January 30."
Berto's oldest sibling, Naomi, and her 12-year-old daughter were missing until Thursday -- two days after the earthquake struck -- when they were found wandering Haiti's rubble-filled streets.
But by then, Berto told FanHouse that he already had discovered "about eight or nine relatives in all who we know are dead right now."
"Mentally, I've been trying to get my workouts in, regardless, but my mind has definitely been on this [Haiti] situation," said Berto, a Hatian-American who represented the island nation in the 2004 Olympics and whose parents, Diuseul and Wilnise, were born in Haiti.
"This fight is the biggest fight of my life," said Berto. "But Haiti -- and the people of Haiti -- they are my life."
On Sunday night, FanHouse learned that the 38-year-old Mosley, who is the WBC's super champ, will meet Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) on May 1 at a site and location to be determined.
"This is a young man going through a horrible, horrible horror. Just watch the pictures on CNN if you're not Hatian. But if you've lost family, and if your parents are born there, then the horrors are immeasurable," said DiBella, a New York native and resident who "was a mess for months after 9-11, but I didn't lose any family members."
"Literally, an entire city has collapsed, and placed people in jeopardy. And those people are Andre Berto's people. Andre has a long career ahead of him, and this is a personal decision, and, obviously, the right decision for him," said DiBella.
"There's no second-guessing here. Everyone from HBO, to Golden Boy Promotions, to everyone we've talked to -- the reaction has all been about empathy and humanity because that's what it should be."
Berto is assisting Hatians through his Web site, andreberto.com, as well as another, carmafoundation.org.
"Throughout the past six days, I have received an incredible outpouring of support, and I sincerely appreciate everyone's prayers for the people of Haiti," said Berto.
"I hope that everyone will continue to keep the Haitian people in their thoughts and prayers as we work to rebuild this proud nation," said Berto. "The rebuilding of Haiti is not something that will happen overnight, but I am fully dedicated to helping the Haitian people recover from this catastrophic event."
(Note: The Red Cross has set up a donation texting system wherein texting "HAITI," followed by, "90999," sends $10 per text to the Haitian Relief Fund. In addition, the U.S. government has designated a telephone number -- 1-888-407-4747 -- for people seeking information about friends and relatives in the country.)
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Emotionally distraught Andre Berto is pulling out of his scheduled Jan. 30 title matchup opposite Shane Mosley, as a result of having lost several family members during last week's earthquake in Haiti.
The 26-year-old Berto (25-0, 19 knockouts) "has not slept in about six days, and he's not physically well, and he's not mentally well," said Berto's promoter, Lou DiBella. "I made it clear to Andre a while ago that he didn't have to be a hero, and that he had to do what was right for himself and his family."
"Since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening, I have been focusing on my family and the Haitian people who are facing an inconceivable battle for survival while still trying to continue to prepare for an opportunity I have dreamt of since childhood," said Berto in a statement released on Monday.
"I lost several family members to the earthquake, and after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi, and her daughter, Jessica, survived, but were left homeless," Berto said.
"I have seen the pain in my parents' eyes as they attempt to understand what has happened to our homeland and recognize a place they once called home," said Berto. "As a result of this disaster, I am mentally and physically exhausted and therefore I have no choice but to withdraw from my bout on January 30."
Berto's oldest sibling, Naomi, and her 12-year-old daughter were missing until Thursday -- two days after the earthquake struck -- when they were found wandering Haiti's rubble-filled streets.
But by then, Berto told FanHouse that he already had discovered "about eight or nine relatives in all who we know are dead right now."
"Mentally, I've been trying to get my workouts in, regardless, but my mind has definitely been on this [Haiti] situation," said Berto, a Hatian-American who represented the island nation in the 2004 Olympics and whose parents, Diuseul and Wilnise, were born in Haiti.
"This fight is the biggest fight of my life," said Berto. "But Haiti -- and the people of Haiti -- they are my life."
On Sunday night, FanHouse learned that the 38-year-old Mosley, who is the WBC's super champ, will meet Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) on May 1 at a site and location to be determined.
"This is a young man going through a horrible, horrible horror. Just watch the pictures on CNN if you're not Hatian. But if you've lost family, and if your parents are born there, then the horrors are immeasurable," said DiBella, a New York native and resident who "was a mess for months after 9-11, but I didn't lose any family members."
"Literally, an entire city has collapsed, and placed people in jeopardy. And those people are Andre Berto's people. Andre has a long career ahead of him, and this is a personal decision, and, obviously, the right decision for him," said DiBella.
"There's no second-guessing here. Everyone from HBO, to Golden Boy Promotions, to everyone we've talked to -- the reaction has all been about empathy and humanity because that's what it should be."
Berto is assisting Hatians through his Web site, andreberto.com, as well as another, carmafoundation.org.
"Throughout the past six days, I have received an incredible outpouring of support, and I sincerely appreciate everyone's prayers for the people of Haiti," said Berto.
"I hope that everyone will continue to keep the Haitian people in their thoughts and prayers as we work to rebuild this proud nation," said Berto. "The rebuilding of Haiti is not something that will happen overnight, but I am fully dedicated to helping the Haitian people recover from this catastrophic event."
(Note: The Red Cross has set up a donation texting system wherein texting "HAITI," followed by, "90999," sends $10 per text to the Haitian Relief Fund. In addition, the U.S. government has designated a telephone number -- 1-888-407-4747 -- for people seeking information about friends and relatives in the country.)
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Mayweather Jr. facing Mosley is a Laughable Hypocrisy -- Now Boxing
By Knoxville, Now Boxing
Rumor has it that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Golden Boy Promotions are bypassing their March 13th date to avoid going head to head with Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey at Dallas Cowboys stadium on the same date and instead fight Shane Mosley on May 1st.
The March 13 date was originally set for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada but you know how that went Floyd Mayweather Jr. wouldn’t go through with the fight unless Manny Pacquiao took multiple blood tests pre-fight because Team Mayweather believed Pacquiao was a juicer(steroid user).
Don’t get me wrong I would love to see Floyd Mayweather Jr. finally face Sugar Shane Mosley but what makes me laugh is how Mayweather Jr. is willing to face 38 year old Shane Mosley who is a known former steroid and EPO user but not Manny Pacquiao.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has a new nickname El Hipócrita (The Hypocrite)
Face Mosley who has used steroids and performance enhancing drugs in the past but avoid fighting a prime Pacquiao for the most money ever in a single boxing event because you assume he is unreal and enhanced with no proof.
(This week it was revealed that Pacquiao and Mayweather both passed their NSAC urine tests and tested negative for steroids.)
How do we know if Mosley will beat Andre Berto? Why not say I will fight the winner of Andre Berto vs. Shane Mosley instead?
This could be a Zab Judah vs. Carlos Baldomir type of situation all over again.
WBC welterweight champion, Andre Berto, the Haitian sensation is no push over. And right now with the disastrous earthquake that ravaged the country of Haiti, I am sure Berto will go into his Jan. 30th HBO fight with Shane Mosley with even more to prove. Berto will have his country on his back and we seen what happens when a man fights for his country with pride just look at Manny Pacquiao it gives these guys extra motivation.
Of all the guys involved I feel badly for Shane Mosley because his name has been thrown out as a pawn for negotiations in the past just for posturing. It seems like no one really wanted to fight him, I think Mosley should of just left Golden Boy and went with some other promoter because since he signed with Golden Boy he hasn’t really gotten many fights. All Mosley got was a bunch of broken promises.
I have a strong feeling Mayweather Jr. is hoping for Shane Mosley to lose his fight with Berto, or Mosley looking his age against Andre Berto.
Everything just seems odd with Golden Boy Promotions. In the past they denied Zab Judah’s request that Shane Mosley take random blood tests, but Golden Boy insisted that Pacquiao take them against Mayweather.
At the end of the day it seems like Mayweather Jr. is banking on an aging Shane Mosley come Jan. 30, 2010 win or lose.
If Mosley does get the fight with Mayweather Jr. I am definitely rooting for Mosley in that fight.
Source: nowboxing.com
Rumor has it that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Golden Boy Promotions are bypassing their March 13th date to avoid going head to head with Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey at Dallas Cowboys stadium on the same date and instead fight Shane Mosley on May 1st.
The March 13 date was originally set for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada but you know how that went Floyd Mayweather Jr. wouldn’t go through with the fight unless Manny Pacquiao took multiple blood tests pre-fight because Team Mayweather believed Pacquiao was a juicer(steroid user).
Don’t get me wrong I would love to see Floyd Mayweather Jr. finally face Sugar Shane Mosley but what makes me laugh is how Mayweather Jr. is willing to face 38 year old Shane Mosley who is a known former steroid and EPO user but not Manny Pacquiao.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has a new nickname El Hipócrita (The Hypocrite)
Face Mosley who has used steroids and performance enhancing drugs in the past but avoid fighting a prime Pacquiao for the most money ever in a single boxing event because you assume he is unreal and enhanced with no proof.
(This week it was revealed that Pacquiao and Mayweather both passed their NSAC urine tests and tested negative for steroids.)
How do we know if Mosley will beat Andre Berto? Why not say I will fight the winner of Andre Berto vs. Shane Mosley instead?
This could be a Zab Judah vs. Carlos Baldomir type of situation all over again.
WBC welterweight champion, Andre Berto, the Haitian sensation is no push over. And right now with the disastrous earthquake that ravaged the country of Haiti, I am sure Berto will go into his Jan. 30th HBO fight with Shane Mosley with even more to prove. Berto will have his country on his back and we seen what happens when a man fights for his country with pride just look at Manny Pacquiao it gives these guys extra motivation.
Of all the guys involved I feel badly for Shane Mosley because his name has been thrown out as a pawn for negotiations in the past just for posturing. It seems like no one really wanted to fight him, I think Mosley should of just left Golden Boy and went with some other promoter because since he signed with Golden Boy he hasn’t really gotten many fights. All Mosley got was a bunch of broken promises.
I have a strong feeling Mayweather Jr. is hoping for Shane Mosley to lose his fight with Berto, or Mosley looking his age against Andre Berto.
Everything just seems odd with Golden Boy Promotions. In the past they denied Zab Judah’s request that Shane Mosley take random blood tests, but Golden Boy insisted that Pacquiao take them against Mayweather.
At the end of the day it seems like Mayweather Jr. is banking on an aging Shane Mosley come Jan. 30, 2010 win or lose.
If Mosley does get the fight with Mayweather Jr. I am definitely rooting for Mosley in that fight.
Source: nowboxing.com
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