Tuesday, 22 June 2010

Floyd Mayweather Sr: “Pacquiao didn’t want to fight Shane Mosley and my son f*cking destroyed him!” -- Eastside Boxing

By Geoffrey Ciani, Eastside Boxing

This week’s edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured an exclusive interview Floyd Mayweather Senior whose son recently scored an impressive one-sided victory against Sugar Shane Mosley. Rumors have recently been in circulation about a potential showdown in the fight everyone wants to see, and that of course is a fight between Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather Senior discussed this possibility and here is some of what he had to say:

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On Manny Pacquiao being named ‘Fighter of the Decade’ by the BWAA:
“That’s bullsh*t. It ain’t nothing but bullsh*t, that’s all it is. Like I said, that’s why boxing is going bad because of sh*t like that. Everybody knows this man isn’t f*cking boxer of the decade. He got his ass whopped by two fighters that nobody even knows the fighters that whopped his ass. Nobody even knows who whopped it. The couple of guys who whopped it, nobody even knows who the hell they are. How the hell can he be ‘Fighter of the Decade’? My son’s been fighting top class fighters and beat all their asses. He beat every one of them, and he got two or three losses on his record and he’s ‘Fighter of the Decade? How the hell can that be? It’s impossible. Whoever said that, they got to be dumb, stupid, and crazy. I don’t give a damn what writer, reporter, or whoever it may be—they’re dumb, stupid, and crazy as far as I’m concerned..”

On why he thinks Pacquiao was named ‘Fighter of the Decade’:
“It ain’t nothing but bullsh*t. Like I’m telling you, it ain’t nothing. It’s just some stuff they put in. Whoever they want to get in, that’s who they put in. They figure they are gonna make him big. One thing about it, they can’t downplay my son because my son’s the biggest fighter in boxing today. It ain’t even Pacquiao, so they can forget about it. How can it not be my son when my son beats all the top fighters and plus, he was ready to fight Pacquiao and Pacquiao evidently don’t want to fight him because he ain’t taking no tests. Now that’s the problem right there.”

On whether he thinks his son has to fight Pacquiao just to silence his critics:
“He ain’t got nothing to prove! What does he got to prove? He whopped somebody Pacquiao didn’t want to fight. Pacquiao didn’t want to fight Shane Mosley and my son f*cking destroyed him! There really ain’t even nothing to talk about because my son has shut them all down and shut all their mouths, and their mouths should be shut because everything they said he can’t do he went and did. So that’s the ‘Fighter of the Decade’ right there.”

On rumors that a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather will happen:
“It ain’t nothing but rumors. It ain’t nothing but rumors. Pacquiao don’t want to fight him. I know he don’t want to fight him. How’s he going to beat him? With his coach?”

On the Olympic style drug testing in a fight between his son and Pacquiao:
“ With Shane Mosley, Shane Mosley came clean. He did everything he was supposed to do just like my son asked. He did everything he was supposed to do, my son did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the sh*t out of Shane. That’s all we’re asking Pacquiao to do—come clean, and then we can do it. Come clean. Whatever it’s about, just come clean whatever it is. As long as you come clean, guess what? Everybody knows what’s going to happen”

On whether a fourteen day cutoff on the random Olympic style drug testing would be good enough:
“No, that ain’t good enough. No. It should be done random. When it’s done random, whenever they want to test Floyd they can test him; whenever they want to test Pacquiao, they can test him. Anybody can put something in their body and it’s going to work way before fourteen days. So that ain’t nothing but a bunch of garbage. What they’re doing, I know what happens—the whole thing is he really puts the stuff in him and turns into an animal and maybe pull something off with little Floyd where everybody goes, ‘Whoa! Pacquiao! Pacquiao!’ No, no, no, no. I wouldn’t even go for that, not at all. My son would be a fool if he does, and I don’t think he’s going to go for it, either, and he shouldn’t go for it.”

On claims made by his son that he might take another one or two years off from the sport:
“Oh hell no. It’s just talk, that’s all it is. No, that right there is not going to work right there and he knows that.”

On the claim he made last July that Shane Mosley posed the biggest threat to his son at that time:
“Like I told you, I didn’t change my mind. That was the biggest one I was telling you about then that I thought. The only thing he proposed is he hit my son in the second round. That’s the only thing he proposed and after that it was all downhill for him. Like I said before, then at that time, that was back awhile. That was before we knew about Pacquiao. That was before Pacquiao was coming up big like this. It was before Pacquiao came up beating up all these big guys in bigger weight classes—way bigger weight classes then him. That’s before Pacquiao started coming up and doing that—how did a guy do that, man? To beat all these big guys when other guys in the same division can’t beat them but little Pacquiao comes up there and beats them, and stops them and makes them quit, and makes them retreat, and give up, and make them say ‘No mas’, and all that. I don’t know how that is. How is that? How is that done?”

On who he believes poses the toughest challenge for his son right now:
“I can’t even tell you man, to be honest because my thing is, I really think to be honest that my son is the best fighter out there today. I don’t even see any threats no more.”

On why the fight between Pacquiao and his son could not happen the first time they entered negotiations:
“It didn’t not happen because of my son, though. My son was willing to fight him under the proper conditions on what they’re talking about making legal today. They’re talking about making that legal, that Olympic testing—and they should make it legal to stop all of this BS and this nonsense man, because boxing is going way, way in the opposite direction.”

On whether he believes boxing will suffer if a fight between Pacquiao and his son is not made:
“It’s going to suffer. Yes, it will suffer because of that because there ain’t no more name fighters, other than my son, to really even talk about to be for real. After my son lets the boxing game go, the game’s pretty much sliding unless they find someone real, real quick. It ain’t looking good for boxing.”

On why he thinks his son has looked more impressive in his last two outings:
“You know, it’s his skills and of course, his Daddy being around. Everything has something to do with it. It all had something to do with it. You saw that he did much better when I was there. So I’m just telling you that there’s a reason for it. There’s a reason for everything that happens. It’s really not hard to figure out. His Daddy was training him in the beginning. His Daddy was training him before he went to the Olympics. I’m the one who taught him how to fight, period. So why do you think he got better?”

On what fighters out there he believes he can improve as a trainer:
“Yes, I could make a lot of fighters. As a matter of fact, one I could make better is Pacquiao. Not that I necessarily want to train him, but I’m just saying that’s another one that I can make better. Just look at him. I can make him better with him just being Pacquiao by itself. With no nothing special just making him better—with him as a fighter himself and me. I’m just saying he could be a much better fighter. You got a lot of fighters out there who could be better fighters. They just don’t have the right people in the background. Some guys are fighting, they just don’t got the right teachers. Some guys can’t fight, and they got the right teachers. The right teachers just can’t get to them. So yes, a fighter you got to teach your fighter. There’s a difference between teaching and training. You have to teach. Teach is where you catch on. When you’re teaching a fighter, you teach him to jab first, right hand, hook, and after that everything else accumulates behind that. Once you get the fundamentals right, everything else follows.”

On who he believes are some of the other good boxing trainers in the sport today:
“A lot of these fighters, I don’t know. I can only say what I see and I will say one thing---Freddie Roach, they got him in the Hall of Fame and he should be in the ‘Hall of Shame’. You all know that. There’s so many other fighters. All the Mayweathers are the better trainers, anyway, then all the other fighters. We do have a few other trainers there that can train, but overall, the Mayweathers are the top of the line when it comes to trainers. You got me, Roger, and Jeff.”

On who he sees his son fighting next if the Pacquiao fight does not happen:
“Well you know, right now the only kind of person I can see fight with Floyd right now and give him some type of fight—but he won’t beat little Floyd—is that would be probably Paul Williams. Paul Williams is tall, lanky, but I haven’t really kept up with Paul Williams to be honest. I know little Floyd is faster, is smarter and that’s all you maybe need. It ain’t about how tall you are, you got to be smart. When you’re smart, those are the things that pay the bills. I don’t really think that Paul Williams will cause a major threat, but he’s the only one that I could see now. I thought Shane would do something before, but I guess as you see if he ain’t got nothing in him, if he ain’t got the enhancements and stuff in him, guess what? They can’t win. They can’t beat no damn body.”

On whether he believes Miguel Cotto would pose a challenge to Floyd Junior:
“As a matter of fact, when Cotto first started off last time I already thought the new Cotto was going to win so I didn’t really get into it because I felt Cotto was going to beat him anyway. It happened just like I thought. I think Cotto’s a good fighter as well. I think he needs to be tightened up more. I think Cotto could be a good fighter. Thing about all these guys, you got a kid coming up, Andre Berto, but he’s not at that level yet and probably never will be at that level because of the trainer that he has. A fighter’s got to have something, a trainer’s got to have something, but when you’re like a father and a son who both got it, that’s it.”

On whether he believes Floyd Junior has anything left to prove:
“There’s nothing else to prove. As a matter of fact, I hope he just goes and quits. For what? If you’re going to fight Pacquiao, fight Pacquiao and leave it alone. That should be the end of it. There’s nothing left to prove, he’s proved everything. You know what, and I can say this right here—my son is a hell of a fighter, he’s the best fighter today right now as we stand. As it continues, you could get your ass whopped just like Ali. You could end up being whopped by a Leon Spinks. All these people end up getting whopped by nobodies and my son’s only human. He’s the best fighter today but hey, the best fighter today could be the wrong fighter tomorrow. So what I’m trying to say is that what you’re doing now, take it and run because he’s not going to stay in there like that because boxing is not like that. It’s a short game. It’s a good ten or fifteen years, period, and then you have to get out of it. You have to leave it alone. Little Floyd did very, very good and I think that right now he has nothing to prove to nobody. If you keep trying to prove yourself to somebody, all you’re going to prove is disaster for yourself. See as long as you keep fighting, there’s always going to be somebody out there who says he’s going to beat you. So the public will know that until you finally get your ass whopped and then, there it is. They ain’t gonna remember none of the fights that you won. They ain’t gonna remember nothing about the Pacquiaos, they ain’t gonna know nothing about Shane Mosley, they ain’t gonna know nothing about Genaro Hernandez, they ain’t going to know nothing about none of these fights. The only fight they’re going to remember is you got your ass kicked by so and so. That’s all they’re going to remember, believe me. At the end of the day, even though you’re a Hall of Famer they’re going to be a Hall of Shamer. That’s what it is. They force you into that by keep telling you. It’s time to get out and then just quit. The last fighter I think he should deal with right now with fighting is Pacquiao. Get it, and get out, and go out clean. Go out clean and nobody can say nothing. They can say what they want to say. It’s over. Ain’t nobody whopped me, it’s over. So I’m the best, and he can keep saying he’s the best by saying he’s better than Muhammad Ali, that he’s better than Sugar Ray Robinson, that he’s better than whoever. He has a right to say that because this is his era and his time and he’s beat everybody you put in front of him. So can’t nobody say, nobody can whop you unless they get in there and do that and there ain’t nobody who did that. So as far as I’m concerned, he’s the best and he should feel the same way.”

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Pacquiao: Floyd is afraid to fight -- ABS CBN News

abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – Although Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao has confirmed that talks for his anticipated fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. are ongoing, he said details of the negotiations “are not yet clear”.

Coward (Criminal, Vol. 1)“Right now, it’s not year clear. He’s afraid to fight me,” Pacquiao told The Freeman in an exclusive interview last Sunday.

The Filipino boxing icon, however, declined to provide details of the talks for his Mayweather fight. He said he has yet to get feedback from Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.

Pacquiao said he is still ready to face the undefeated Mayweather in November.

Fears of another breakdown in talks for the Pacquiao-Mayweather face-off came after the American boxer asked for a bigger purse in the earnings of the most anticipated fight of the year.

The Filipino boxing superstar, however, reportedly thumbed down the demand, stressing that he will not climb into ring against the outspoken Mayweather if the split over fight revenues is not settled.

“If it’s going to be a 50/50 split, the fight will definitely push through,” said Pacquiao.

Pacquiao earlier said that his decision to agree to a blood test 14 days before the fight would be the last demand from the Mayweather camp that he would grant.

He said that another demand from Mayweather would mean that the American fighter does not really want to face him in the ring.

Rex “Wakee” Salud, Pacquiao’s advisor, said it is unfair for the Mayweather camp to ask for more.

“That is too much for Mayweather to ask. Besides, that’s unfair to Pacquiao because he’s the main draw, being the current pound-for-pound king,” he said. -- With a report from The Freeman

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather will define an era -- Examiner

By Lorne Scoggins, Examiner.com

It's a rare occurrence in boxing. The two best pound-for-pound fighters are currently fighting in the same weight class, and it's arguable as to who is truly the best.

The RingYahoo says it's Mayweather. The Ring Magazine says it's Pacquiao.

Floyd fans say Manny's no match for Floyd's quick, slick, defensive genius, and that the former's aggressiveness will play right into Floyd's technically skilled hands.

Manny fans say that Floyd's defense will prove to be penetrable for the 'Pacific Hurricane's' work-rate and by sheer volume of punches, the undefeated pugilist will eventually kiss the canvas for the 10-count.

Let's face it. Both fighters are brilliant in their own right. If they get in the ring together, there will be a sense of the unknown, an anticipation, and a certain tension and excitement the likes of which that only these two particular men can bring to the ring.

There's only one way to solve the riddle; one way to hush the critics, fanatics, and idolizers of both fighters who light up the boxing forums and comments sections of articles with heated debate of why their guy is the best.

Joe Frazier was a great fighter, but unfortunately for him, he was a contemporary of Muhammad Ali. Ali didn't take away from Frazier's greatness, but he overshadowed it by two very hard-earned victories. The fact that Frazier won the first fight of their trilogy, is overshadowed by the fact that Ali won the last two. The greatness of both fighters lies in the blood, sweat, and tears they invested in each match. To the delight of boxing fans, both men left everything they had in the ring.

In a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, somebody must win and somebody must lose. Somebody will prove to be the best, and the other will have to settle for second.

So many people have invested so much of themselves in the match that multitudes of fans of one pugilist or the other will be heartbroken, while fans of the winner will surely gloat and mock.

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr didn't get where they are by being slackers. There is no lack of heart, no lack of desire, and no lack of discipline to be noted. Like Ali and Frazier, Pacquiao and Mayweather will give 101% of themselves.

Dale Pippin of Seligman said, "No matter who wins, there's no shame in either of these fighters losing to the other. They're the best boxers in the sport."

This is what it's all about.

This is boxing at its best.

Send questions and comments to lscoggins@8countnews.com

Source: examiner.com

Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather, JR Waiting on Signatures to Finalized Contract -- Ringside Report

By “Bad” Brad Berkwitt, Ringside Report

On Wednesday, June 16th, RSR broke a major news story that the “Mega Fight” between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, JR. was a “Done Deal” with only signatures being needed on a finalized contract which was related by an inside source close to Team Mayweather. Since that time, Oscar De La Hoya has back pedaled on statements he made which backed up RSR’s inside source close to Team Mayweather along with, Bob Arum going on record giving ground about indications the fight is close to being made.
I must admit, this is brilliant on both Boxing Promoters to talk around the topic to add to the fervor our breaking story started in the boxing world last week. RSR was contacted yesterday from our source close to Team Mayweather who said, “This fight is just that, a “Done Deal” and within a few weeks or less, the signatures will be on the contract.”

Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent DesignAs I have said from day one, this is a fight that really needs no more hype and will break all records to date for a live boxing match. The fighters make a mint, their promoters make a mint, and the boxing fans, walk away from a fight that has the potential to be one of the best matches in boxing history, with two fighters, still in their prime with outstanding skills to back up their claim to fame. No matter how you rate them at number one or number two, make no mistake, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, JR., are the two best fighters in boxing today!

Source: ringsidereport.com

Floyd Sr. says his son will clobber Pacquiao -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

While both camps are still trying their best to strike a deal for a November 13 fight, Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s father bragged that Manny Pacquiao “will be eating not just any leather but the leather on the end of my son’s fists.”

Manny Pacquiao Undisputed Men's Tee, L, BKFloyd Sr., who has trouble keeping his mouth shut, told CBS Radio recently that there is not even a speck of doubt in his mind that his son would teach the Filipino a nasty lesson in the event they agree to face each other.

“Let me tell you something, my son is the most accurate puncher in the sport of boxing today. If you go into the ring with my son with no defense, there is only going to be one outcome,” said Floyd Sr.

The people of Pacquiao and Mayweather have been engaging in talks the past several weeks to bring about the welterweight super fight that could take place either at the 19,000-seat Thomas and Mack Center or the slightly smaller MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

A gag order is in effect and this is the reason why Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum and Mayweather’s handpicked outfit to represent him in the negotiations, the Oscar De La Hoya-owned Golden Boy Promotions, have been very stingy about their comment to the media.

The issue of revenue-sharing and random drug-testing are the main talking points in the negotiations.

Two weeks ago, De La Hoya told the Spanish-language TV station Univision that a deal is “very, very close (to being made).”

Later on, De La Hoya, through his right-hand man Richard Schaefer, issued a statement, saying the Golden Boy had just been “misquoted.”

Last month, Pacquiao made a bold move so a fight can be made by agreeing to be tested as close to 14 days before the fight.

Source: mb.com.ph

Monday, 21 June 2010

Pinoy wins WBC title in Mexico -- Manila Bulletin

By BEN O. TESIORNA, Manila Bulletin

TEPIC CITY, Mexico – A Pacman in the making, the Philippines' Edren "The Sting" Dapudong, a farmer's son from M'lang, North Cotabato, demolished Mexico's pound-for-pound boxer Jesus "The Destroyer" Jimenez to become the newest Silver Flyweight champion of the World Boxing Council.

Defeating his opponent in less than two minutes of the first round of a scheduled 12-round world championship, the 23-year-old former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Junior Flyweight champion who was fighting as a flyweight for the first time, initiated the action right at the start of the bell connecting with crisp jabs to the face of the left-handed Jimenez and heavy blows to the midsection.

At 1:20 minutes of the round, Dapudong connected with a right straight to Jimenez's breadbasket and followed this with a crackling left hook that sent the Mexican crumbling to the canvas. Jimenez beat the count.

As American referee Gerald Ritter signalled the continuation of the fight, Dapudong came rushing in pummelling the 26-year-old Latino champion with thunderous body punches before connecting with another powerful left hook that dropped Jimenez face first to the canvas for the full count at 1:55 of the first.

The knockout victory by Dapudong stunned the Mexican crowd who came expecting an easy fight for Jimenez who is also known as "El Torito" and considered as Mexico's next prospect for a world title. Jimenez is rated No. 1 by both the WBC and the WBO.

Dapudong, who now has a record of 23 wins, against 2 losses and 11 KOs, was not expected to prevail over the high-touted Jimenez. He was informed of the fight only two weeks ago and had to queue up at the US Embassy for a transit visa to Mexico which he got three days before the fight.

Braveheart Boxing Club's chief trainer Noli Pinol, younger brother of Braveheart Boxing Club head former North Cotabato Governor Manny Pinol, however, said that Dapudong had been undergoing light training prior to the news that he will fight for the WBC Silver Flyweight title.

"He was able to adjust easily, especially so since he did not have to lose weight as he will be fighting as a flyweight," Noli said.

Last minute pointers on conditioning shared by Justin Fortune, Manny Pacquiao's former conditioning coach, also helped as Dapudong was able to recover from fatigue and acclimatize easily.

Pinol’s Braveheart Boxing Club was instrumental in the rise to fame of world’s pound-for-pound champ Manny Pacquiao.

Source: mb.com.ph

Sunday, 20 June 2010

Exclusive interview: Jeff Mayweather "pessimistic" on the making of Pacquiao - Mayweather -- Examiner

By Lorne Scoggins, Examiner.com

I recently had the pleasure of talking with Jeff Mayweather about his nephew, Floyd Jr, Manny Pacquiao, and more. Jeff expressed why he has doubts that the mega-fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather will ever come to fruition.

LS: The biggest buzz in boxing right now is the possibility of a matchup between Floyd Jr and Pacquiao. Do you feel optimistic that the fight will take place?

Titanium Muscle Gain TM 3 Months Supply, Professional and Recreational Muscle Building, body buildingJM: Nope. I'm very pessimistic.

LS: You're very pessimistic?

JM: Yep. And I think that it's one of those situations, that when and if it doesn't happen, everyone's going to point the finger at Floyd, when the finger shouldn't be pointed at Floyd. It should be pointed at Pacquiao because Pacquiao is the reason why the fight didn't happen in the first place, and it'll be that same reason why the fight don't happen this time. It has nothing to do with Floyd. I mean, this guy went into all these demands on Floyd, what he wanted.

You know, [Pacquiao] said, 'Ok. Every pound you're over, that's going to cost you 10 million dollars'. Floyd said, 'Ok'. Then he said, 'I want to wear these kind of gloves'. Floyd said, 'Ok'.

[Floyd said], 'Now, I want you to take the drug tests, random drug testing.' See, Manny's still trying to get around that whole issue. Recently, now he's trying to say, 'Ok. Well, I'll do it up until 14 days'. But that's not random then, because you know when they're going to stop testing you. Random is actually...that's what the word "random" means--that they can test you at any point, at any given time.

LS: I understand that with Floyd and Shane Mosley, they stopped testing at 18 and 19 days, but they didn't know when they were going to stop. As far as they knew, they might have still tested them at any time, right?

JM: Right. I mean, don't get me wrong. That's important, I think. Actually, I think that's a very, very important stand to take in boxing, with the state of boxing now and so many fighters using these performance enhancing drugs. This is boxing. It's already bad enough.

You know, I'm not saying that Pacquiao's using them, but if he's not using them, he should have no problem at all taking the tests. To be honest, this is my logic, and I think this is the logic of almost every person that's sane; If I haven't done anything, I'm going to be bold to prove myself.

This is the example that I always use: I've never drank alcohol in my life. Of course, I can be driving my car and be very sleepy, but being sleepy and being drunk are two different things. Since I know for a fact that I've never drank alcohol, I'm going to be bold about being tested. I'm going to be like, 'Hey, you can test me any way you want to'. There's no chance that I'm not going to pass.

LS: Right. I see your point.

JM: And that's what you do when you don't have nothing to hide. When you have something to hide, you create so many different diversions, so many different smokescreens. The strength trainer, he wants to be the fall-guy, in case anything happens. He comes out and says, 'Well, Manny doesn't know what I give him'. Well, I don't think anybody's going to just take something, and not know what it is, and not going to ask. That was the first excuse. Then the next excuse was, 'Oh. I'm afraid of needles'. You're afraid of needles, but you have tattoos everywhere.

LS: I think Pacquiao actually came out and said that he feels like it weakens him. He said that before the Morales fight, the last fight that he lost, they took blood from him on the day of the fight. He feels that it weakened him, and that's the reason that he lost.

JM: Well, it seems to me that it's just another excuse. If they did the same thing to Erik Morales, the playing field was even. That's all Floyd's trying to do. He's trying to make the playing field even. I mean, you have a guy that started at 106 pounds, got knocked out at 106 pounds (Note: Pacquiao was knocked out at 113, and 110 pounds), moved up 41 pounds, and until the Clottey fight, had a 100% knockout ratio. That's never happened before in boxing. Never.

I mean, can you imagine Michael Carbajal, who was 112 pounds, can you imagine him beating Ray Leonard, Donald Curry, Lloyd Honeyghan, Tommy Hearns, you know, guys on this level? These are questions that, when you ask someone who knows about boxing, and has been around long enough to see Michael Carbajal, and the other names that I put out there, the first thing he's going to say is, 'No. He has no chance'.

Well if he don't have a chance, how does Pacquiao have a chance? He came from a smaller weight class, and he's not just beating guys, he's knocking them out.

JM: When [Pacquiao] went to 130, his knockout ratio was 50%. How all of the sudden did he move 17 pounds north of that and his knockout percentage was 100%, like I said, until the Clottey fight?

Like I said, can you conceive of Michael Carbajal beating Donald Curry? Most people are going to say you're out of your mind. Well, Manny Pacquiao beating De La Hoya is the exact same thing. It's no different.

LS: Well, I just hope that somehow Floyd and Manny can work everything out, and that the fight can happen. It's such an exciting possibility. Since Floyd came back from his layoff, he totally dominated Marquez, and I'll be honest with you, I've been critical of Floyd, but he took on Shane Mosley, a guy that a lot of people thought he was scared of, and he totally dominated him too.

JM: I mean, it's like this: Are you going to turn down $40 or $50 million? They ain't doing anything but taking blood. It's not going to kill you. Most fighters have to take blood 2 or 3 days before the fight anyway. That's part of the sport. Floyd's not afraid of Pacquiao at all, but at the same time, if I have suspicion about someone who is doing things that I can't believe, and I've given the most power to him, I'm going to use my power as well.

I mean, at the end of all this, no matter how good Floyd does as a fighter, you know, he might be one of the greatest fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves, but even if he don't, this will be a part of his legacy: Maybe, he might be the guy that cleaned up boxing on that higher level. It may become mandatory in championship fights to do Olympic style drug testing. On that level, those guys can afford it. It's not a big deal, and the promoters can pay for it.

That might be the biggest significance of Floyd's career, whether he goes on to beat Pacquiao, and does whatever else beyond that.

He will probably be more remembered if he changes boxing on that level, where for championship fights, these guys have to be tested in that way. That will be more powerful than anything that he can achieve in the ring.

LS: Let's say they do manage to make the fight. The way that Floyd has dominated almost everybody he's fought, do you think that Pacquiao has the tools to make it a good, close fight?

JM: Well, Pacquiao has good hand-speed himself, so that makes him dangerous. But If Pacquiao agrees to the random testing, I think he will get knocked out. I would say, probably within 5 rounds, Pacquiao will get knocked out, because he can't get out of the way of anything.

One thing that Floyd has always shown; once they start saying that somone's going to beat him, Floyd don't just beat them, he dominates them. He shows that they don't even belong in the same ring with him. He did it with Mosley, he did it with Marquez, and everybody else they've said that about.

Floyd's got a gift. Once he figures you out, check, and checkmate. He's mastered that probably better than any fighter I've ever seen, and I'm not saying that because he's my nephew. I'm saying that because I've seen it.

LS: And he does that in the ring, during the fight.

JM: Yeah. He makes those adjustments. I mean just like with Zab Judah. Zab Judah started out like he could just run through Floyd, but the second Floyd figured him out, game over. Now he's being dissected. He's like a science project. And it didn't just happen with him. It happened with all the guys that were supposed to give Floyd a challenge. Once he figured them out, it was over.

LS: In the Mosley fight, what was running through your mind in round 2? Did it worry you when Floyd got stumbled? That looked pretty serious for a while.

JM: It's funny because when I was there, I had a good seat, but I wasn't ring-side. From the seat where I was at, it didn't look like Floyd was as hurt as he was when I seen it on TV. I would have probably been more panicked if I'd seen it on TV.

LS: (laughing)

JM: It didn't look like Floyd was really hurt that bad, but when I saw it on TV, I got a chance to see it for myself. Sometimes when you watch a fight and you're actually there, you get so caught up and involved that you actually miss things.

LS: Floyd came out of that and fought aggressively. He was backing Mosley up. It was kind of a different style for Floyd. I thought he was going to knock Mosley out in the latter rounds.

JM: I think he would have knocked Mosley out if Mosley wasn't doing so much holding. I've never seen Mosley do that. Have you ever seen him hold like that?

LS: I've never seen him perform anything like that. He seemed so tense and scared. Floyd would feint and Mosley would nearly do a back-flip.

JM: Yeah, and this was the same guy who was supposed to be fearless. He's supposed to be a fierce puncher and super strong, but yet, Floyd was pushing him around. Floyd's supposed to be a boxer, and supposed to be the one running, but Floyd was fighting his fight. Floyd was coming at him.

LS: The way that Floyd fought that fight led Freddie Roach to say that he thinks Floyd's legs are gone. I don't think Roach really believes that. I think he's just playing mind-games.

JM: (laughing) His legs are gone because he got hit in one fight? How can he say that when Floyd thoroughly dominated Mosley after being hurt in that round? I don't even understand that comment. And this is the same guy where they got a video where Shane asked, 'Why won't you let me fight Pacquiao', and he said, 'Oh no. You're too dangerous'. If you think Shane's too dangerous, what the hell do you think Floyd's going to do to him?

LS: I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me, Jeff. I hope we can talk again some time.

JM: Likewise. Thank you.

Source: examiner.com

Antonio Tarver to Make Ring Return As a Heavyweight -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Tarver, Antonio - Signed 8x10Former light heavyweight (175 pounds) world champion, Antonio Tarver, said that he plans to return to the ring soon -- but as a heavyweight.

"I definitely wanted to move up to cruiserweight [200 pounds,] where there was one guy in particular that I wanted to fight. So I feel that if I'm going to stay in the game of boxing and give it my all, then I've got to set big goals for myself. And as you see, I'm looking a little full right now," said Tarver, a 6-foot-2 southpaw who will turn 42 in November.

"So I'm going to put on some muscle and the champ is going heavyweight," said Tarver, who will target the Klitschko brothers, WBO and IBF king Wladimir (54-3, 48 KOs), WBC champ, Vitali (39-2, 37 KOs), and, WBA titlist, David Haye (24-1, 22 KOs). "So, to the Klitschkos and to David Haye, be on the look out, because I'm coming."

The 41-year-old Tarver (27-6, 19 knockouts) made his announcement following Saturday night's unanimous decision by WBA super middleweight (168 pounds) champion, Andre Ward (22-0, 13 KOs) over Allan Green (29-2, 20 KOs) that was televised on Showtime from The Oracle Arena, in Oakland, Calif.

A Showtime boxing color commentator, Tarver has lost his last two bouts, respectively, to Chad Dawson by unanimous decision in October of 2008, and, May of 2009.

Among the biggest victories for Tarver are those over Roy Jones, against whom he is 2-1, with one second-round knockout victory.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Andre Ward Wins Unanimous Decision Over Allan Green -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

His challenger, Allan Green, bore the alternate nickname, "Ghost Dog," but it was WBA super middleweight (168 pounds) champion Andre Ward who set out to prove there was more bite in his own bark than there was in that of his opponent.

Making the first defense of the crown he won by 11th-round technical decision over current WBC king Mikkel Kessler (43-2-2, 32 KOs) in November, Ward simply outclassed Green and beat him literally from one side of the ring to the other throughout the fight.

Judges Glenn Feldman, Marty Sammon and Alfredo Polanco all had it for Ward, 120-108, meaning that he won every round.

FanHouse had it for Ward, 120-106, giving him two 10-8 rounds.

The 26-year-old Ward rose to 22-0 with 13 knockouts while the 30-year-old Green dropped to 29-2 with 20 KOs as part of group stage No. 2 of Showtime's Super Six Super Middleweight World Boxing Classic before Ward's hometown fans at The Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.

Ward out-landed Green, 267-to-148 in total punches, including 214-to-131 in power punches, 53-17, in jabs, and, 43-6, in combinations.

In victory, Ward locked up a position in the early 2011 semifinals of the tournament, even as his next opponent in the round-robin prior to the semis is slated to be his switch-hitting, 26-year-old former Olympic teammate and bronze medalist, Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs), of Flint, Mich, on Sept. 25.

"It will be difficult. I've been putting it off saying that we'll cross that bridge when we get there. But we're here, so we'll have to deal with it and do what we've got to do," Ward said of Dirrell, whom he considers to be a personal friend. "I'm going to take a rest and then we'll go back to the drawing board. I don't like giving away too much of what I'm going to do. It was a long training camp, I just want to rest and regroup, and then we'll come back and figure out how we're going to get through the next round."

Ward-Green was originally scheduled for April 17, and then on April 24, before Ward suffered a knee injury that forced their bout's postponement yet again.

At the time of the last postponement, however, an angry Green openly questioned the legitimacy of Ward's injury, saying, "I hope it's valid," as well as, "I honestly don't think he will ever get in the ring with me," and, "I don't think this is a fight Andre Ward and his people ever wanted."

"I feel like Kobe Bryant did the other night, I don't know how we got it done," said Ward. "We just worked hard, we prepared for Green, and he's a hard puncher. We couldn't tell him that we thought that before the fight, but he's a hard puncher. He's very skilled, and I'm happy to come away with the victory.

"His demeanor coming in just motivated me because I don't pick fights and I don't mess with anybody. But when I feel like I'm backed into a corner, I want to defend myself."

But it was Green who was constantly fighting in retreat from the opening bell, taking right crosses, uppercuts and overhand lefts and rights -- all from behind Ward's jabs and lead left hands.

"Last week of training, that wasn't the game plan. We planned on going inside against him, but not as much as we did. But after the second round, he obliged me, and so I said, 'Man, okay,'" said Ward.

"I said, if he wants to fight inside, let's fight inside, and I thought that he did a good job. He hung in there longer than I thought that he would. I did expect a little tougher fight, but every fight is tough. I don't care what it looks like. This guy is to be respected, and you've got to be mentally alert. That takes a lot of energy out of you, but we were just well-prepared, and I take my hat off to him, and I hope that he does well in the second round of the Super Six."

Ending was a six-bout winning streak that included four knockouts for Green, who was in his first fight of the tournament, having replaced former middleweight (160 pounds) champion Jermain Taylor (28-4-1, 17 KOs) in January. Taylor pulled out following a 12th-round knockout loss to Germany's Arthur Abraham (31-1, 25 KOs) in October.

Green's presence in the championship bout marks the first time since Tommy Morrison in 1993 that a fighter from Oklahoma has been involved in a world championship bout.

Green was coming off of October's unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten southpaw Tarvis Simms (25-1-1, 11 KOs).

Green had not lost since March of 2007, when he was beaten by unanimous decision over 10 rounds by Edison Miranda, whom Green floored in the eighth round before himself hitting the canvas twice in the 10th.

"You know what? Andre Ward fought a helluva a fight," said Green, who must next face Kessler at a site and on a date to be determined. "I don't want to harp on what he did too much, but the three training camps that I've done really sat me, and I had a hard way in training camp.

"I feel a little worn out. I came down to 166, which is a little lower than I expected, so by the time I got into the ring, I felt dead. You've got to understand that I've had three training camps since December. So that kind of really, really, really made me feel weak."

"You can ask my trainer. I had to stop running a few weeks ago because I felt so weak. I wasn't feeling right and I knew coming into this fight that I wasn't feeling my best," said Green. "Andre Ward showed me a lot of things, and a lot of experience. There were a lot of things that I couldn't deal with or react to."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Mayol loses fight, crown to Mexican Romero -- GMA News

By Ryan Songalia, GMANews.TV

For the second time, Filipino boxer Rodel Mayol couldn’t get the job done against Mexican rival Omar Nino Romero.

His first match ended in a technical decision, Mayol lost a more painful setback, this time via a controversial unanimous decision against the Mexican slugger Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in San Juan del Rio, Queretaro, Mexico.

The first of their two bouts saw Mayol ending up in stretcher after he received a low blow from Romero. The second bout had the Filipino dominating, but fading down the stretch.

As a result, Mayol lost his World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight championship to Romero, who won in all three judges scorecards, 115-112, 117-109 and 115-111.

It was the second time Romero won a world championship and the second against a Filipino.

Romero was the conqueror of former Filipino world champion, Brian Viloria. The Mexican had to relinquish the crown after testing positive for amphetamines in the rematch.

Mayol, who is promoted by Manny Pacquiao Promotions, began the fight in a disciplined manner, taking full use of his height and reach advantage.

Romero circled and tried to land wildly from the outside, but missed a lot of them.

The first meaningful punch of the fight landed in the third when a counter left hook from Mayol opened up a cut on Romero's right eye. Looking to capitalize, Mayol began to bull Romero to the ropes and land to the body and head.

Head butts began to mar the fight in the fourth as both men started to lunge from the outside with their heads low.

Romero seemed to get the worse of the clashes and appeared to be distracted momentarily by the butts.

The head butts continued into the fifth and opened up a bad cut on Romero's left eye. As per Mexican rules, the combatant that wasn't cut (Mayol) had a point deducted despite the absence of intent. A ringside doctor was summoned to check out Romero but deemed the challenger fit to continue.

Shortly before the end of the round, Romero was warned for head butting as well.

The action became less of a boxing match and more of a brawl in the sixth as both men began trading in close quarters.

Mayol's uppercuts, which were his most effective weapons in the first fight, began to find their target and so did Romero's body assault. Head clashes reappeared in the seventh as the ring doctor was once more summoned to examine Romero.

The tide turned big time for Romero in the eighth as he began to make the fight more physical.

In what was a near flashback of the first fight. Mayol reacted to a punch south of the border from Romero and found himself on the receiving end of a torrent of blows from the hungry challenger. Romero landed several unanswered blows as Mayol struggled to compose himself.

In the ninth round, Romero continued to seize the initiative and land cleaner counter hooks from the outside.

Mayol's accuracy and confidence seemed to disappear by the second as the partisan crowd continued to chant "Nino!"

Needing a big finish, Mayol's accuracy returned in the form of his right crosses that knocked some sweat off Romero in the opening moments of the final stanza and pushed him back to the ropes.

Romero closed the round stronger with left hooks and both men raised their hands in anticipation of victory at the final bell.

Romero raised his record to 29-3-2 (11 KO). Mayol is now 26-5-2 (20 KO) and 1-4-2 (1 KO) in world title matches.

Source: GMANews.TV