By Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times
One of the funnier moments of the year in sports occurred last week. Presiding was that master of high comedy, Bob Arum.
His day job is that of boxing promoter, but he may be missing his true calling. Jay Leno, beware.
Arum scheduled a conference call for the media at midnight PDT Friday. It was the old news-at-midnight drama.
He said this was the end of a so-called "exclusivity period" in which he had refrained from negotiating with any other fighter on behalf of his client Manny Pacquiao, so that an HBO representative could work with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was given first shot to fight Pacquiao on the date of Nov. 13.
Then Arum went on to sound like a diplomat at a United Nations committee meeting, dealing delicately with complicated issues and choosing words carefully to make sure nobody's feelings got hurt. Henry Kissinger would be proud.
The thing is, there are no complicated issues and this is boxing, where hurting the other side's feelings is standard procedure. But instead of calling the other guys lowlifes and creeps — the usual way to incite a similar response and justify high ticket prices — Arum became Mother Teresa.
Keep in mind that Arum is fond of Mayweather's business manager, Al Haymon — not to mention Mayweather himself — like a cobra is fond of a mongoose. Also keep in mind the old story about Arum, who, when challenged by a reporter over an inconsistency in information, said, "Yesterday, I was lying. Today, I'm telling the truth."
Arum's leverage for making Mayweather hurry up and agree to a fight is that, if he doesn't, Arum will have Pacquiao fight either Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto.
How silly.
Pacquiao destroyed Cotto once and there is little public push for Pacquiao-Cotto II. And Margarito doesn't even have a license to fight in the United States. He was suspended after that night at Staples Center a year and a half ago, when they peeled off his gloves before he fought Shane Mosley and found residue of plaster of Paris. Plus, Margarito's fight in Mexico in May was spectacularly unimpressive.
Maybe they could do a doubleheader, six rounds each: Manny Fights the Retreads.
You can just imagine Mayweather's camp, sitting around in full sweat, knowing of the availability of Cotto and Margarito. Remember, Arum promotes both fighters, so either deal would take minutes. Would Cotto or Margarito even twitch before accepting a chance to fight Pacquiao, whose stature brings with it another chance for whatever opponent to bank a few million more?
Of course not.
Yet Arum played this as if he were George Mitchell in the Middle East. Words were chosen carefully. Praise and understanding for the other side, and its dilemma, were forthcoming. It was masterfully done, a true belly laugh.
Some Arum samples:
—"I don't blame Al Haymon. . . . He really tried."
—"I don't think any of you should be too harsh on Floyd."
But intermingled with the warm and fuzzy stuff were the real gems. Arum is paraphrased here:
—The reason we should not be so harsh on Mayweather is that his trainer and uncle, Roger Mayweather, faces an August trial (he is accused of battery and strangulation of a female boxer), and Floyd might not want to fight without his uncle in his corner.
—The reason scheduling is so important is that Arum's fighter, Pacquiao, is an elected congressman in the Philippines, busy performing his civic duties.
The not-so-subtle juxtaposition is inescapable. Arum's fighter is a lawmaker. The other guy's trainer may be a lawbreaker. The good corner and the bad corner for this fight are clearly defined — they were a long time ago — and Arum merely reiterated it for that portion of the public that hadn't been paying attention.
Not clear is whether Arum really wants this fight, or knows there is no chance it will ever happen and has decided to get mileage out of it, anyway. He has, as he is the best at doing, worked himself and his Top Rank Promotions into a win-win situation in the public's eye.
If the Mayweather camp succumbs to this most recent tongue-in-cheek gesture, either out of fury or the inevitability that Pacquiao is its only remaining huge payday, then Arum has his biggest promotion ever. If it doesn't, the public will have heard Arum try his best to be nice to these people who ended up costing boxing its biggest moment because part of their team is accused of felonies.
As a bonus, he gets to string along the public with thoughts of maybe next year, which usually pumps up ticket sales and pay-per-view prospects.
Truly masterful.
bill.dwyre@latimes.com
Source: latimes.com
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Mayweather adviser: No talks took place -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
Leonard Ellerbe, one of Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s closest advisers, denied Monday that negotiations for a super fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao had ever taken place.
That is contrary to what Top Rank's Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, has been saying for the past three weeks, and he's sticking by his story.
Arum said June 30 that he had concluded talks and was waiting for a decision from the Mayweather camp on whether he wanted to fight this year. Then, Arum gave Mayweather until 3 a.m. ET Saturday to accept the terms of an agreement, or he would move on and look to make a deal for Pacquiao to either fight Antonio Margarito or have a rematch with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 13.
There was even a clock on Top Rank's website counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the deadline, a deadline Arum said was the window in which he would exclusively negotiate the Mayweather fight.Arum set a teleconference with boxing reporters at the deadline's expiration. On the teleconference, Arum said he had worked out the agreement with Al Haymon, Mayweather's top adviser, using Ross Greenburg, the president of HBO Sports, as a go-between without ever speaking directly to Haymon.
Now, Ellerbe denies any of that ever happened.
"Here are the facts," Ellerbe said in Monday's statement. "Al Haymon, [Golden Boy Promotions CEO] Richard Schaefer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis, and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place, nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13. Either Ross Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth, but history tells us who is lying."
Ellerbe was clearly taking a shot at Arum, who is famous for playing fast and loose with the truth after having uttered the famous quote years ago, "Yesterday I was lying; today I am telling the truth."
When asked for his response to Ellerbe's surprising statement, Greenburg said in an e-mail to ESPN.com, "As always we have no comment."
Arum sounded utterly perplexed when reached for comment about the statement.
"This is like absurd unreality," Arum said when reached at his Los Angeles vacation home. "I'm not going to be party to this [expletive]. When I heard about [the statement] I thought it was a joke. Ross said he was talking to Haymon. He certainly wasn't making it up. And Haymon was relaying conversations to Ross allegedly that Floyd had with him. At least that is what Ross says."
Throughout May and June, when the negotiations were supposedly taking place, Arum refused to speak about them. He would cite a "gag order," which he said everyone involved had agreed to. Schaefer did the same thing and would sometimes say "no comment" when called before even being asked a question because the "gag order" had become such a joke in boxing circles.
Oscar De La Hoya, the founder and president of Golden Boy Promotions, acknowledged negotiations during an early June appearance on a talk show on Spanish-language network Univision. During his appearance, in which he spoke Spanish, De La Hoya said the deal for the fight was very close.
When the camps negotiated the bout in December and January in anticipation of it happening in March, both sides spoke freely to the media, and their comments, they said, contributed to the fight blowing up over an inability to finalize the drug testing protocol.
This time, both sides said, they would keep things private.
"If there is no negotiation, who imposed the gag order," Arum said. "Why they're doing this is absurd. What is motivating them to put something like this out? I'm not going to speculate, but what are they doing? Schaefer said there was a gag order. Who could there be a gag order from if there were no negotiations? From the sky?
"What they said was absurd, but why did they say this? They could say a lot of other things. My feeling is that this is rapidly becoming one of the most bizarre things ever."
On Sunday, Mayweather, who was in Miami as a coach at a charity basketball game hosted by Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning, told The Associated Press regarding the Pacquiao fight, "I'm not interested in rushing to do anything. I'm not really thinking about boxing right now. I'm just relaxing. I fought about 60 days ago, so I'm just enjoying myself, enjoying life, enjoying my family and enjoying my vacation."
With Mayweather, who beat Shane Mosley on May 1, clearly not interested in fighting again this year, Arum said he will try to close a fight with Margarito or Cotto in the next 10 days or so.
But there remains a hearty appetite from the public for Pacquiao-Mayweather, a fight between the sport's two best fighters. It's a fight that many believe will shatter all boxing revenue records.
Top Rank streamed Saturday morning's teleconference live on its website, and spokesman Lee Samuels said more than 30,000 tuned in despite the timing. He added that Top Rank's website spiked to 50,000 hits on Saturday. Both, he said, are records for the site.
So Ellerbe's denial of the talks and Arum's insistence that they took place add another chapter to the saga of the biggest fight in the sport, one that seems a long way from taking place.
"The kid [Mayweather] said he doesn't want to fight. OK, good," Arum said. "But this makes everybody look crazy."
Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Team Mayweather breaks its silence -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
The public silence has broken in Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s camp, following a midnight Friday announcement by Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, that other opponents would be sought instead of waiting to hear from Mayweather.
Arum said he had dealt with HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg as a mediator in talks to stage a Nov. 13 super-fight that would be expected to become the most lucrative event in the sport's history. However, Arum said Greenburg stopped receiving communication from Team Mayweather.
Monday, Mayweather's lead advisor, Leonard Ellerbe, released this statement under the headline, "Someone's Lying":
"Here are the facts: Al Haymon [Mayweather's manager], [Mayweather advisor] Richard Schaefer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao on November 13. Either Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth, but history tells us who is lying."
There was no other information released about what Mayweather plans to do next, or if he'll attempt to make a deal to fight Pacquiao before the Filipino superstar opts to fight either Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto, both of whom are also promoted by Arum.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
The public silence has broken in Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s camp, following a midnight Friday announcement by Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, that other opponents would be sought instead of waiting to hear from Mayweather.
Arum said he had dealt with HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg as a mediator in talks to stage a Nov. 13 super-fight that would be expected to become the most lucrative event in the sport's history. However, Arum said Greenburg stopped receiving communication from Team Mayweather.
Monday, Mayweather's lead advisor, Leonard Ellerbe, released this statement under the headline, "Someone's Lying":
"Here are the facts: Al Haymon [Mayweather's manager], [Mayweather advisor] Richard Schaefer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao on November 13. Either Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth, but history tells us who is lying."
There was no other information released about what Mayweather plans to do next, or if he'll attempt to make a deal to fight Pacquiao before the Filipino superstar opts to fight either Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto, both of whom are also promoted by Arum.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Floyd Mayweather’s camp says it never agreed to details of Manny Pacquiao fight -- Las Vegas Sun
By Brett Okamoto, Las Vegas Sun
Floyd Mayweather's camp issued a statement Monday afternoon regarding recent comments made by Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum.
At 11:59 p.m. on July 16, Arum held a conference call to inform media members that although both sides of the potential megafight had basically agreed on all points of a contract to meet Nov. 13, Mayweather's hesitancy to sign off on the deal had forced Top Rank to seek a new opponent for Pacquiao.
In a statement released Monday, Mayweather's advisor Leonard Ellerbe said that a deal between the two sides never was made as Arum had suggested.
"Here are the facts," the statement said. "(Mayweather's manager) Al Haymon, (Golden Boy Promotions CEO) Richard Schafer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis, and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place, nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao Nov. 13."
It was the first statement made by anyone on Mayweather's side since negotiations reportedly began following Mayweather's latest win over Shane Mosley on May 1. If it happens, the Pacquiao fight is expected to be the richest in boxing history with each fighter making as much as $60 million.
Both sides were put under a gag order by HBO during negotiations, a request that ended when Arum leaked to certain news sites that the deal was close in late June.
In his July 16 conference call, Arum admitted he hadn't been in direct contact with Mayweather's camp and that all negotiations were being relayed through HBO president Ross Greenburg.
Ellerbe's statement verified as much, saying that either Greenburg or Arum was lying about the negotiations. Not surprisingly, Ellerbe hinted that Arum, who once promoted Mayweather before the two had a falling out, was the culprit
"Either Ross Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth," Ellerbe said. "But history tells us who is lying."
Pacquiao is expected to now face either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13. According to Arum, a deal with either of those two could be made as quickly as next week.
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.
Source: lasvegassun.com
Floyd Mayweather's camp issued a statement Monday afternoon regarding recent comments made by Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum.
At 11:59 p.m. on July 16, Arum held a conference call to inform media members that although both sides of the potential megafight had basically agreed on all points of a contract to meet Nov. 13, Mayweather's hesitancy to sign off on the deal had forced Top Rank to seek a new opponent for Pacquiao.
In a statement released Monday, Mayweather's advisor Leonard Ellerbe said that a deal between the two sides never was made as Arum had suggested.
"Here are the facts," the statement said. "(Mayweather's manager) Al Haymon, (Golden Boy Promotions CEO) Richard Schafer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis, and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place, nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao Nov. 13."
It was the first statement made by anyone on Mayweather's side since negotiations reportedly began following Mayweather's latest win over Shane Mosley on May 1. If it happens, the Pacquiao fight is expected to be the richest in boxing history with each fighter making as much as $60 million.
Both sides were put under a gag order by HBO during negotiations, a request that ended when Arum leaked to certain news sites that the deal was close in late June.
In his July 16 conference call, Arum admitted he hadn't been in direct contact with Mayweather's camp and that all negotiations were being relayed through HBO president Ross Greenburg.
Ellerbe's statement verified as much, saying that either Greenburg or Arum was lying about the negotiations. Not surprisingly, Ellerbe hinted that Arum, who once promoted Mayweather before the two had a falling out, was the culprit
"Either Ross Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth," Ellerbe said. "But history tells us who is lying."
Pacquiao is expected to now face either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13. According to Arum, a deal with either of those two could be made as quickly as next week.
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.
Source: lasvegassun.com
Question of the day: Will there ever be a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight? [Updated] -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
This is an unknown for now, requiring the ability to read a mind. The mind needing to be read is Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s, a skill that borders on impossible, even for those close to the unbeaten boxer.
For now, we’ve been told Mayweather is in vacation mode, enjoying the lifestyle he earned by pummeling Shane Mosley on May 1 and earning $25 million, which we hear he is happily spending.
Mayweather clearly wasn’t compelled to act by the Friday midnight deadline set by Manny Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, to express interest in the proposed mega-fight, and now Arum is moving his Filipino star toward an alternate fight Nov. 13 against Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto.
Of course, the money that Mayweather and Pacquiao will generate by fighting each other will one day prove too impossible to reject. Mayweather’s spending habits will force him to recognize this, Pacquiao’s fear of a blood test will mysteriously vanish, and the super-fight will have more than a year of crazed fan anxiety to maximize pay-per-view dollars and ensure a live-gate sellout no matter how much tickets cost.
Check back early next year, with a fight date in place by the end of May 2011.
George Diaz, Orlando Sentinel
Floyd Mayweather’s la-di-da attitude about facing Manny Pacquiao in the mother of all super-fights is the reason pro boxing is getting it’s butt kicked by MMA. The sport is on a suicidal run, all of the major players apparently not interested in saving themselves.
But even the drunk eventually wake up sober. The fight is going to happen.
It will happen because the pile of money the fighters could have split is staggering. Each guy stands to make between $25 million to $40 million.
Somebody twists little Floyd’s arm to make him understand the consequences of his actions. Free choice, you ask? I suppose it’s OK to turn down $40 million. But in the macho-man sport world of pro boxing, maybe Little Floyd has some other concerns.
Like having Pac Man slap his arrogant face around, knocking off the invincibility of the man who professes to be the toughest pound-for-pound hombre on the planet.
Take off your diapers and come out and play, Floyd.
[Updated at 1:50 p.m.:
Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant
The Fight of the Year will apparently not happen in 2010.
With Bob Arum’s deadline passing and Floyd Mayweather Jr. more interested in hobnobbing with his celebrity friends than training for a Manny Pacquiao fight, the Nov. 13 mega-bout is off. It’s just what a sport careening toward irrelevance needs: The bout fans want is on hold because overpaid egos can’t iron out details.
So the calendar will turn without the Super Fight. We’ll hear lots more bickering from both camps as deadlines pass and demands rise.
And, eventually, we’ll see Pac Man and Mayweather touch gloves. Someone will finally get through to Mayweather and persuade him to leave the hot tub and start training for a bout that will define his career.
Or someone will convince him that he can’t pass on a $30-million to $40-million pay day. We know this about big-time sports – ultimately, money talks louder than words. With so much cash at stake, Mayweather and Pacquiao will inevitably meet.
Maybe it’ll be the Fight of 2011. Be patient, fight fans.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
This is an unknown for now, requiring the ability to read a mind. The mind needing to be read is Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s, a skill that borders on impossible, even for those close to the unbeaten boxer.
For now, we’ve been told Mayweather is in vacation mode, enjoying the lifestyle he earned by pummeling Shane Mosley on May 1 and earning $25 million, which we hear he is happily spending.
Mayweather clearly wasn’t compelled to act by the Friday midnight deadline set by Manny Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, to express interest in the proposed mega-fight, and now Arum is moving his Filipino star toward an alternate fight Nov. 13 against Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto.
Of course, the money that Mayweather and Pacquiao will generate by fighting each other will one day prove too impossible to reject. Mayweather’s spending habits will force him to recognize this, Pacquiao’s fear of a blood test will mysteriously vanish, and the super-fight will have more than a year of crazed fan anxiety to maximize pay-per-view dollars and ensure a live-gate sellout no matter how much tickets cost.
Check back early next year, with a fight date in place by the end of May 2011.
George Diaz, Orlando Sentinel
Floyd Mayweather’s la-di-da attitude about facing Manny Pacquiao in the mother of all super-fights is the reason pro boxing is getting it’s butt kicked by MMA. The sport is on a suicidal run, all of the major players apparently not interested in saving themselves.
But even the drunk eventually wake up sober. The fight is going to happen.
It will happen because the pile of money the fighters could have split is staggering. Each guy stands to make between $25 million to $40 million.
Somebody twists little Floyd’s arm to make him understand the consequences of his actions. Free choice, you ask? I suppose it’s OK to turn down $40 million. But in the macho-man sport world of pro boxing, maybe Little Floyd has some other concerns.
Like having Pac Man slap his arrogant face around, knocking off the invincibility of the man who professes to be the toughest pound-for-pound hombre on the planet.
Take off your diapers and come out and play, Floyd.
[Updated at 1:50 p.m.:
Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant
The Fight of the Year will apparently not happen in 2010.
With Bob Arum’s deadline passing and Floyd Mayweather Jr. more interested in hobnobbing with his celebrity friends than training for a Manny Pacquiao fight, the Nov. 13 mega-bout is off. It’s just what a sport careening toward irrelevance needs: The bout fans want is on hold because overpaid egos can’t iron out details.
So the calendar will turn without the Super Fight. We’ll hear lots more bickering from both camps as deadlines pass and demands rise.
And, eventually, we’ll see Pac Man and Mayweather touch gloves. Someone will finally get through to Mayweather and persuade him to leave the hot tub and start training for a bout that will define his career.
Or someone will convince him that he can’t pass on a $30-million to $40-million pay day. We know this about big-time sports – ultimately, money talks louder than words. With so much cash at stake, Mayweather and Pacquiao will inevitably meet.
Maybe it’ll be the Fight of 2011. Be patient, fight fans.
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Amir Khan, Devon Alexander Answer Tim Bradley -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
During his post-fight interview following Saturday night's 12-round, unanimous victory decision over previously unbeaten welterweight (147 pounds), Luis Carlos Abregu, WBO junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion, Tim Bradley (pictured above, at left), stared into the HBO television cameras and called out several potential opponents.
"I'm making the challenge right now," said Bradley, who rose to 26-0 with 11 knockouts at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif., near his hometown of Palm Springs, Calif. "Manny Pacquiao, come break down this wall, baby. Manny, come break down this wall."
The 26-year-old Bradley is considered the premiere fighter in a deep and talented 140-pound weight class that includes Missouri's 23-year-old southpaw WBC and IBF champion Devon Alexander (20-0, 13 KOs), England's 23-year-old WBA king Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs), and, Argentina's 26-year-old WBA interim champ Marcos Rene Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs).
And he left few of them out.
"Anybody. Any of the top guys out there. Especially you, Devon Alexander," said Bradley, who dropped the hard-hitting Abregu of Salta, Salta,
Argentina to 29-1 with 23 KOs. "If everything is alright, and the money's right, everything is lined up, I'll fight you next. You, Devon, Maidana, and Khan. I'll fight all of them. I'm a throwback fighter, baby, I'll fight all of them."
On Sunday, Alexander answered his challenge. And on Monday, Khan did the same.
"The time has come. You have pretended to be the best at 140 while everyone knows, Alexander is the true king of the division," Team Alexander wrote in a statement. "The difference between Alexander and Bradley is, Bradley wants to beg for an opportunity with the great fighters; Devon wants to beat the best fighters in his division and earn the right to fight the great fighters."
Bradley is hoping for an HBO-televised Jan. 29 bout opposite Alexander, which would take place the day before the NFL's 2011 Super Bowl. But Alexander has an HBO-televised Aug. 7, second defense of his WBC title -- and the first of his IBF crown -- against former WBA titlist Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KOs) before his hometown fans in St. Louis, Mo.
Alexander intends to defeat Kotelnik
"Boxing fans want to see the best fight the best, and the two fights they want most are Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, and Devon Alexander vs. Tim Bradley," Team Alexander's statement read.
"HBO wants to make the fight, so Team Bradley, stop making cowardly moves stand up and fight," read the statement. "Your own fans are tired of your excuses.On Aug. 7, Devon will put on an explosive performance against Kotelnik, and then, Bradley will have nowhere to hide."
Coming off of a May 15, 11th-round knockout of Paulie Malignaggi (27-5, five KOs), Khan also publicly demanded a shot at Bradley -- "Next."
Khan issued a statement on his Twitter page challenging Bradley perhaps in the fall, and said that he would speak to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, about the prospect of doing so. Golden Boy CEO, Richard Schaefer, has told FanHouse that HBO has reserved the date of Dec. 11 for Khan's potential return.
"I'll fight Tim Bradley. It's the first time he's called me out. I'm going to Vegas and I'll talk to Golden Boy. I would love the fight," said Khan, who could fight in England or the United States in the fall. "Good style for me. I'm fighting Timothy Bradley next. I'm gonna tell Golden Boy. Let's see if they want it for real. Talk is cheap."
Khan will be at ringside for a July 31 bout between WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 knockouts) and Juan Diaz (35-3, 17 KOs) in a rematch of their February, 2009, Fight of The Year won by Marquez via ninth-round knockout. Khan is a consideration for Marquez if Marquez wins.
Bradley's promoter,Gary Shaw, likes both the Khan and the Alexander fights, but would also throw in Maidana, and, contender, Victor Ortiz (27-2-1, 21 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif.
"Personally, I would rather fight Khan (pictured at right) first, and here is my reasoning. Khan has a loss, Maidana has a loss, Ortiz has a loss. And two of the three are from outside of the United States. Devon Alexander is an American fighter with an unblemished record. Tim Bradley is an American fighter with an unblemished record. So, I say, let Timmy fight Khan or Maidana, and let Devon Alexander fight Khan or Maidana, and then let the two winners meet, which was my idea all along," said Shaw.
"I was called by a radio station about Khan's Twitter message, and I immediately e-mailed Richard Schaefer and said, this is what you're fighter is saying," said Shaw. "I sent an e-mail not only to Richard, but to [HBO's president of sports] Ross Greenburg as well. I got back an e-mail from Richard saying, 'I will talk to Amir.'"
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
During his post-fight interview following Saturday night's 12-round, unanimous victory decision over previously unbeaten welterweight (147 pounds), Luis Carlos Abregu, WBO junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion, Tim Bradley (pictured above, at left), stared into the HBO television cameras and called out several potential opponents.
"I'm making the challenge right now," said Bradley, who rose to 26-0 with 11 knockouts at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, Calif., near his hometown of Palm Springs, Calif. "Manny Pacquiao, come break down this wall, baby. Manny, come break down this wall."
The 26-year-old Bradley is considered the premiere fighter in a deep and talented 140-pound weight class that includes Missouri's 23-year-old southpaw WBC and IBF champion Devon Alexander (20-0, 13 KOs), England's 23-year-old WBA king Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs), and, Argentina's 26-year-old WBA interim champ Marcos Rene Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs).
And he left few of them out.
"Anybody. Any of the top guys out there. Especially you, Devon Alexander," said Bradley, who dropped the hard-hitting Abregu of Salta, Salta,
Argentina to 29-1 with 23 KOs. "If everything is alright, and the money's right, everything is lined up, I'll fight you next. You, Devon, Maidana, and Khan. I'll fight all of them. I'm a throwback fighter, baby, I'll fight all of them."
On Sunday, Alexander answered his challenge. And on Monday, Khan did the same.
"The time has come. You have pretended to be the best at 140 while everyone knows, Alexander is the true king of the division," Team Alexander wrote in a statement. "The difference between Alexander and Bradley is, Bradley wants to beg for an opportunity with the great fighters; Devon wants to beat the best fighters in his division and earn the right to fight the great fighters."
Bradley is hoping for an HBO-televised Jan. 29 bout opposite Alexander, which would take place the day before the NFL's 2011 Super Bowl. But Alexander has an HBO-televised Aug. 7, second defense of his WBC title -- and the first of his IBF crown -- against former WBA titlist Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KOs) before his hometown fans in St. Louis, Mo.
Alexander intends to defeat Kotelnik
"Boxing fans want to see the best fight the best, and the two fights they want most are Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, and Devon Alexander vs. Tim Bradley," Team Alexander's statement read.
"HBO wants to make the fight, so Team Bradley, stop making cowardly moves stand up and fight," read the statement. "Your own fans are tired of your excuses.On Aug. 7, Devon will put on an explosive performance against Kotelnik, and then, Bradley will have nowhere to hide."
Coming off of a May 15, 11th-round knockout of Paulie Malignaggi (27-5, five KOs), Khan also publicly demanded a shot at Bradley -- "Next."
Khan issued a statement on his Twitter page challenging Bradley perhaps in the fall, and said that he would speak to his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, about the prospect of doing so. Golden Boy CEO, Richard Schaefer, has told FanHouse that HBO has reserved the date of Dec. 11 for Khan's potential return.
"I'll fight Tim Bradley. It's the first time he's called me out. I'm going to Vegas and I'll talk to Golden Boy. I would love the fight," said Khan, who could fight in England or the United States in the fall. "Good style for me. I'm fighting Timothy Bradley next. I'm gonna tell Golden Boy. Let's see if they want it for real. Talk is cheap."
Khan will be at ringside for a July 31 bout between WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 knockouts) and Juan Diaz (35-3, 17 KOs) in a rematch of their February, 2009, Fight of The Year won by Marquez via ninth-round knockout. Khan is a consideration for Marquez if Marquez wins.
Bradley's promoter,Gary Shaw, likes both the Khan and the Alexander fights, but would also throw in Maidana, and, contender, Victor Ortiz (27-2-1, 21 KOs) of Oxnard, Calif.
"Personally, I would rather fight Khan (pictured at right) first, and here is my reasoning. Khan has a loss, Maidana has a loss, Ortiz has a loss. And two of the three are from outside of the United States. Devon Alexander is an American fighter with an unblemished record. Tim Bradley is an American fighter with an unblemished record. So, I say, let Timmy fight Khan or Maidana, and let Devon Alexander fight Khan or Maidana, and then let the two winners meet, which was my idea all along," said Shaw.
"I was called by a radio station about Khan's Twitter message, and I immediately e-mailed Richard Schaefer and said, this is what you're fighter is saying," said Shaw. "I sent an e-mail not only to Richard, but to [HBO's president of sports] Ross Greenburg as well. I got back an e-mail from Richard saying, 'I will talk to Amir.'"
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Monday, 19 July 2010
Manny Pacquiao's Adviser: 'We'll Move On' -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouseA day after allowing an imposed midnight deadline to pass requiring his signature to make a fight with seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, unbeaten Floyd Mayweather told The Associated Press that he's "just relaxing," and, "not really thinking about boxing right now."
"It's his prerogative. It's great that Floyd is spending time with his family. We encourage Manny to do that all of the time with his wife and kids, and if that's what Floyd chooses to do, that's his choice," said Michael Koncz, an adviser to Pacquiao, who has agreed in principle to a megabout with Mayweather that would take place on Nov. 13, including terms that involve extensive drug-testing and reportedly an equitable or 50-50 split of the purse."I'm glad that he is spending time with his family and enjoying his life. It's a dangerous sport that he and Manny are involved in, and you never know when something tragic could happen," said Koncz. "If that's what he is doing right now with his time and with his career, that's fine with us. We'll move on."
Koncz said that Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) will go ahead with plans to pursue a record eighth crown in as many different weight classes against either WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs), or ex-world titlist Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs), the latter of whom is the No. 1 contender for the WBC junior middleweight crown.
Margarito and Pacquiao would fight for the WBC title vacated by Sergio Martinez.
It appears that either The Dallas Cowboys' Stadium or the MGM Grand in Las Vegas would be more suitable for a bout between Pacquiao and Cotto, while the MGM and Monterrey, Mexico, would be more appropriate for a Margarito fight, according to Top Rank Promotions' CEO, Bob Arum. Abu Dhabi could host either bout if the money is right.
Mayweather's response to the Associated Press was on Sunday while acting as a coach during at a charity basketball game hosted by Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning.
"I'm not interested in rushing to do anything. I'm not really thinking about boxing right now. I'm just relaxing. I fought about 60 days ago, so I'm just enjoying myself, enjoying life, enjoying my family and enjoying my vacation," said Mayweather. "I'm supporting all basketball players because I'm a fan of basketball. Like I said, I'm just supporting my family and relaxing. That's what I'm doing right now."
Arum speculated that Mayweather could return to negotiate a potential May bout, believing that the legal troubles involving the fighter's uncle and long-time trainer, Roger Mayweather, could be among his reasons for balking at a fall match up.
Roger Mayweather goes on trial in Clark County District Court in Nevada on Aug. 2 on an assault charge stemming from his allegedly choking and assaulting female boxer Melissa St. Vil last year, and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted -- meaning that he might not be available for a November fight.
"We're not going to disrespect Floyd for spending time with his family," said Koncz. "And we're in appreciation that he's not making any sort of sarcastic comments toward us."
According to Forbes' list of richest athletes, Mayweather was the second highest-earning athlete during a recent 12-month period.
David Mayo, of the Grand Rapids' Press out of Mayweather's home state of Michigan, reported that Mayweather made $68 million over that time compared with Tiger Woods' list-toping $105 million.
The other sports figures earning in excess of $40 million were Michael Jordan ($55 million), Kobe Bryant ($48 million), David Beckham ($44 million), Roger Federer ($43 million), Pacquiao ($42 million) and Lionel Messi ($40 million).
Mayweather is coming off of a May 1, lopsided unanimous decision victory over then-WBA welterweight (147 pounds) champion Shane Mosley, for which he earned a non-heavyweight record and career-high guaranteed $22.5 millionn purse, and cleared a career-high $40 million with upside and pay per view.
Mayweather's pay-per-view average revenue -- a total of $48 million for six fights -- ranks as the highest all-time. Mayweather generated a record 2.4 million viewers for his victory over Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.
Last week, Mayweaher was named the 2010 ESPY Award winner for "Best Fighter" during ESPN's 18th annual event. The 33-year-old Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts) also won the award in 2007 and 2008.
In 2009, the 31-year-old Pacquiao was named the recipient of the award, whose winner is determined by online balloting from the public, and whose nominees are chosen by fans, sportswriters, broadcasters, sports executives and personalities.
For this year's honor, Mayweather surpassed Pacquiao and UFC and MMA fighter George St. Pierre.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Floyd Mayweather doesn't fear Manny Pacquiao, but he does fear negotiations -- Grand Rapids Press
By David Mayo, The Grand Rapids Press
I think Floyd Mayweather is scared.
Oh, he’s not scared of Manny Pacquiao. I think he whips Pacquiao flat if they ever find themselves in a prize ring together. One false whirlwind move and, presto, Pacquiao pancake.
Of course, if someone like me expresses such an opinion, I’m just a homer in the Mayweather camp’s pocket to some bloggers who couldn’t get 10 seconds with either fighter, unless they had a Sharpie in one hand and something to autograph in the other.
But that’s how pathetic the discussions have come between packs of blindedly loyal fans that have developed derogatory-but-familiar nicknames for each other: Pacquiao loyalists who think anyone who picks against their man is a racist “Floyd-iot,” and Mayweather groupies who think the other side is filled with “Pac-tards.”
They’ll be at each other hard now after it all fell apart again in the wee hours Saturday -- with an asterisk -- when Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, conducted a 3 a.m. EST conference call to announce the deadline for negotiating exclusivity had ended and Pacquiao should have an agreement within 10 days to fight either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito -- unless Mayweather pops up and agrees to their terms before then.
That won’t happen.
That’s where Mayweather’s fear comes in.
It isn’t fear of the fighter, it’s fear the negotiation goes against him. It’s fear his ego won’t get fed by the fiscal measure of the professional athlete, because when you punch for pay, only two things matter: money and championships.
Mayweather has plenty of the latter.
What the Grand Rapids native wants to make sure of is that he doesn’t get hoodwinked at the negotiating table, because the measure of a fighter at this stage of his career is predicated just as much on who holds the upper hand before the fight as it does on what happens after the bell rings.
Mayweather is a walking ATM. According to Forbes’ list of richest athletes, he made $68 million in the recently concluded 12-month period, making him the second-highest-earning person in sports during that time. Tiger Woods topped the list at $105 million.
The other sports figures earning in excess of $40 million were Michael Jordan ($55 million), Kobe Bryant ($48 million), David Beckham ($44 million), Roger Federer ($43 million), Pacquiao ($42 million) and Lionel Messi ($40 million).
When Mayweather defeated Oscar De La Hoya in the fight that propelled him into astronomical, difficult-to-calculate earnings, the final tally had Mayweather earning about $25 million, while De La Hoya made the biggest one-night windfall in sports history, about $53 million. Give or take a couple million, that is.
Mayweather won the fight. De La Hoya won the negotiation.
In no way does Mayweather want to leave boxing knowing Pacquiao can make the same claim.
Would Mayweather leave $50 million-plus on the table on principle, walk away from boxing without making the biggest possible fight and tarnish his legacy with people who think he’s fearful of Pacquiao defeating him?
One might think the obvious answer is no.
One very well could be wrong.
I still think the fight gets put together for May 2011 and that Mayweather, who made $40 million for beating Shane Mosley two months ago, would just as soon take some time off and defer his biggest career payday until a new tax year.
But anyone who thinks that’s a certainty probably thought the talks for the proposed March and November fights were certainties, too.
Arum never specified the terms proposed to Mayweather, although it was interesting he never had direct contact with the Mayweather camp. All talks when through HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, which was a stunning break in negotiating protocol.
My best guess is drug testing isn’t the issue but that Pacquiao sought a 50-50 financial split, which is why Mayweather never even responded to the proposal.
Not getting the negotiating advantage after a 41-0 career, against his rival promoter and an opponent with five non-victories, is Mayweather’s true fear.
He just might be willing to walk away from the richest fight in history if an equitable split is the financial term.
The question, at some point, could be whether Pacquiao is willing to bend or play hardball to the same bitter conclusion.
E-mail David Mayo: dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
I think Floyd Mayweather is scared.
Oh, he’s not scared of Manny Pacquiao. I think he whips Pacquiao flat if they ever find themselves in a prize ring together. One false whirlwind move and, presto, Pacquiao pancake.
Of course, if someone like me expresses such an opinion, I’m just a homer in the Mayweather camp’s pocket to some bloggers who couldn’t get 10 seconds with either fighter, unless they had a Sharpie in one hand and something to autograph in the other.
But that’s how pathetic the discussions have come between packs of blindedly loyal fans that have developed derogatory-but-familiar nicknames for each other: Pacquiao loyalists who think anyone who picks against their man is a racist “Floyd-iot,” and Mayweather groupies who think the other side is filled with “Pac-tards.”
They’ll be at each other hard now after it all fell apart again in the wee hours Saturday -- with an asterisk -- when Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, conducted a 3 a.m. EST conference call to announce the deadline for negotiating exclusivity had ended and Pacquiao should have an agreement within 10 days to fight either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito -- unless Mayweather pops up and agrees to their terms before then.
That won’t happen.
That’s where Mayweather’s fear comes in.
It isn’t fear of the fighter, it’s fear the negotiation goes against him. It’s fear his ego won’t get fed by the fiscal measure of the professional athlete, because when you punch for pay, only two things matter: money and championships.
Mayweather has plenty of the latter.
What the Grand Rapids native wants to make sure of is that he doesn’t get hoodwinked at the negotiating table, because the measure of a fighter at this stage of his career is predicated just as much on who holds the upper hand before the fight as it does on what happens after the bell rings.
Mayweather is a walking ATM. According to Forbes’ list of richest athletes, he made $68 million in the recently concluded 12-month period, making him the second-highest-earning person in sports during that time. Tiger Woods topped the list at $105 million.
The other sports figures earning in excess of $40 million were Michael Jordan ($55 million), Kobe Bryant ($48 million), David Beckham ($44 million), Roger Federer ($43 million), Pacquiao ($42 million) and Lionel Messi ($40 million).
When Mayweather defeated Oscar De La Hoya in the fight that propelled him into astronomical, difficult-to-calculate earnings, the final tally had Mayweather earning about $25 million, while De La Hoya made the biggest one-night windfall in sports history, about $53 million. Give or take a couple million, that is.
Mayweather won the fight. De La Hoya won the negotiation.
In no way does Mayweather want to leave boxing knowing Pacquiao can make the same claim.
Would Mayweather leave $50 million-plus on the table on principle, walk away from boxing without making the biggest possible fight and tarnish his legacy with people who think he’s fearful of Pacquiao defeating him?
One might think the obvious answer is no.
One very well could be wrong.
I still think the fight gets put together for May 2011 and that Mayweather, who made $40 million for beating Shane Mosley two months ago, would just as soon take some time off and defer his biggest career payday until a new tax year.
But anyone who thinks that’s a certainty probably thought the talks for the proposed March and November fights were certainties, too.
Arum never specified the terms proposed to Mayweather, although it was interesting he never had direct contact with the Mayweather camp. All talks when through HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg, which was a stunning break in negotiating protocol.
My best guess is drug testing isn’t the issue but that Pacquiao sought a 50-50 financial split, which is why Mayweather never even responded to the proposal.
Not getting the negotiating advantage after a 41-0 career, against his rival promoter and an opponent with five non-victories, is Mayweather’s true fear.
He just might be willing to walk away from the richest fight in history if an equitable split is the financial term.
The question, at some point, could be whether Pacquiao is willing to bend or play hardball to the same bitter conclusion.
E-mail David Mayo: dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
No one can beat Pacquiao – Roach -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
Regardless of who it’s going to be for Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 – Mexican Antonio Margarito or Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto – top trainer Freddie Roach believes the Filipino star will win hands-down.
“A hundred percent,” Roach told The Ring magazine’s on-line edition when staffer Michael Rosenthal suggested that the Mexican warrior charging into Pacquiao “would be as if Margarito would be walking into a meat grinder.”
Roach prefers to pit Pacquiao against Margarito simply because Cotto had already tasted the fury of Pacquiao’s punches last year.
“I just think Manny has his (Cotto) number,” said Roach, who guided Pacquiao to a smashing 12th-round stoppage over the Puerto Rican.
“I think Margarito would be more interesting for the fans. They’ve already seen Cotto,” he said. “Cotto was in the fight for about four rounds and that was about it. Margarito has been a pretty dominant fighter, except for the (Shane) Mosley fight. Cotto is at a higher weight now. And maybe there’s some interest because of the world title. And, who knows, maybe having Emanuel Steward in his corner will make a difference. That might add some interest.”
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is looking at either Cotto or Margarito as Pacquiao’s next foe after efforts to tap Floyd Mayweather the last several weeks proved futile.
Arum, however, said Saturday that Mayweather has another 10 days or so to make a contact while he talks with other fighters.
Arum said the Mayweather fight is not dead but now he must start making plans for the Asian superstar's next bout.
Source: mb.com.ph
“A hundred percent,” Roach told The Ring magazine’s on-line edition when staffer Michael Rosenthal suggested that the Mexican warrior charging into Pacquiao “would be as if Margarito would be walking into a meat grinder.”
Roach prefers to pit Pacquiao against Margarito simply because Cotto had already tasted the fury of Pacquiao’s punches last year.
“I just think Manny has his (Cotto) number,” said Roach, who guided Pacquiao to a smashing 12th-round stoppage over the Puerto Rican.
“I think Margarito would be more interesting for the fans. They’ve already seen Cotto,” he said. “Cotto was in the fight for about four rounds and that was about it. Margarito has been a pretty dominant fighter, except for the (Shane) Mosley fight. Cotto is at a higher weight now. And maybe there’s some interest because of the world title. And, who knows, maybe having Emanuel Steward in his corner will make a difference. That might add some interest.”
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is looking at either Cotto or Margarito as Pacquiao’s next foe after efforts to tap Floyd Mayweather the last several weeks proved futile.
Arum, however, said Saturday that Mayweather has another 10 days or so to make a contact while he talks with other fighters.
Arum said the Mayweather fight is not dead but now he must start making plans for the Asian superstar's next bout.
Source: mb.com.ph
Mayweather disappoints Pacquiao -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
It was not as if the world was about to come to an end when Manny Pacquiao learned that Floyd Mayweather Jr. had opted to ignore a deadline set by promoter Bob Arum for him to make a statement regarding a proposed November 13 fight.
“I am very disappointed but we have no choice but to move on,” said Pacquiao when Arum told him the bad news.
“I have always wanted to please the (boxing) fans. That’s why I badly wanted to fight Mayweather. This is what the whole world wants to see,” said Pacquiao, who has to settle for a fight either with Mexican Antonio Margarito or Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
A deal can de made within the next seven or ten days, according to Arum, and this was not contested by Pacquiao’s consigliore, Mike Koncz, who is in the US attending to very important matters concerning the pound-for-pound king’s needs.
“It wouldn’t take long before we get a deal made,” said Koncz, who expects to return to Manila on Thursday with a deal in hand.
Koncz has been in constant touch with Arum as they work on the finalization of an agreement.
Four cities are bidding to host a Pacquiao fight: Abu Dhabi (in the United Arab Emirates), Dallas, Las Vegas and Monterrey (in Mexico).
If Pacquiao decides to meet Margarito, Las Vegas and Monterrey will slug it out to stage it and if it’s Cotto, it’ll be a tossup between Dallas and Abu Dhabi.
Koncz said fighting outside the US has a distinct allure since Mexico doesn’t collect taxes on purses.
“It’ll save Manny millions in taxes if he ends up fighting outside the US,” stressed Koncz, noting that 30 percent of earnings goes to the IRS.
Still, Koncz is hopeful that Pacquiao and Mayweather would eventually find each other on opposite corners.
“Maybe next year (in May 2011),” said Koncz.
Meanwhile, Top Rank is dying to know the schedule of Pacquiao, who also has a new role being Sarangani congressman, so it could map out the promotional activities being lined up.
“We have to see what the congressman’s schedule looks like (before we plan anything),” said Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez. “We have a boxer (who is) like no other,” said Jimenez.
Source: mb.com.ph
It was not as if the world was about to come to an end when Manny Pacquiao learned that Floyd Mayweather Jr. had opted to ignore a deadline set by promoter Bob Arum for him to make a statement regarding a proposed November 13 fight.
“I am very disappointed but we have no choice but to move on,” said Pacquiao when Arum told him the bad news.
“I have always wanted to please the (boxing) fans. That’s why I badly wanted to fight Mayweather. This is what the whole world wants to see,” said Pacquiao, who has to settle for a fight either with Mexican Antonio Margarito or Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
A deal can de made within the next seven or ten days, according to Arum, and this was not contested by Pacquiao’s consigliore, Mike Koncz, who is in the US attending to very important matters concerning the pound-for-pound king’s needs.
“It wouldn’t take long before we get a deal made,” said Koncz, who expects to return to Manila on Thursday with a deal in hand.
Koncz has been in constant touch with Arum as they work on the finalization of an agreement.
Four cities are bidding to host a Pacquiao fight: Abu Dhabi (in the United Arab Emirates), Dallas, Las Vegas and Monterrey (in Mexico).
If Pacquiao decides to meet Margarito, Las Vegas and Monterrey will slug it out to stage it and if it’s Cotto, it’ll be a tossup between Dallas and Abu Dhabi.
Koncz said fighting outside the US has a distinct allure since Mexico doesn’t collect taxes on purses.
“It’ll save Manny millions in taxes if he ends up fighting outside the US,” stressed Koncz, noting that 30 percent of earnings goes to the IRS.
Still, Koncz is hopeful that Pacquiao and Mayweather would eventually find each other on opposite corners.
“Maybe next year (in May 2011),” said Koncz.
Meanwhile, Top Rank is dying to know the schedule of Pacquiao, who also has a new role being Sarangani congressman, so it could map out the promotional activities being lined up.
“We have to see what the congressman’s schedule looks like (before we plan anything),” said Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez. “We have a boxer (who is) like no other,” said Jimenez.
Source: mb.com.ph
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