By Scoop Jackson, ESPN.com
Ride or die.
The phrase is the 'hood equivalent to "for better or for worse." A vow. It means if your person's ship is going down, you are going down with it and them. As the great Bernie Mac would say, it signifies "Who You Wit."
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has always been one of my ride-or-die cats. Regardless of how thick the hate got, I was ridin' with him. 'Til death do us part. Except now I've come to a part in his boxing career where faith begins to fade.
And not just my faith, but the faith of millions of others.
See, the predestined, prematurely determined "Fight of the Century" against Manny Pacquiao is off again. Not going to happen this year. If ever. And this time the reason that there will be no fight -- unlike the last time where the two sides didn't agree on a drug-testing arrangement Mayweather and his camp wanted -- seems to be Floyd.
He's refusing to fight. He's refusing to make a statement (outside of his adviser/promoter Leonard Ellerbe saying that "no negotiations have ever taken place nor was there ever a deal agreed upon ... to fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13.") in defense of why Pacquiao is fighting Antonio Margarito instead on that date.
He's refusing to do anything more than let live the statement he made last month claiming he's "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, enjoying my vacation."
How long does a vacation last when the other world-dominating-pound-for-pound title holder puts the ball in your court, throws down the gauntlet in your corner? How long do you enjoy life when philosophically the "other side" is publicly putting your manhood out there to be questioned?
When Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, basically called Mayweather out, claiming not only that Pacquiao's camp was willing to accept the terms of the drug testing provisions but also that there was a deal and deadline in place that Mayweather never responded to, the landscape of blame shifted.
And because Floyd's chosen to stay "on vacation" and remain silent while the most important story in boxing orbits him, for the first time in his career, to me, the greatest boxer of this generation seems scared.
And that's the last thing I want to have to accept from someone I ride or die with.
The last true ride-or-die boxer whose legacy was always in question because of the fights he seemed to be avoiding was Roy Jones Jr. Regardless of who he fought, Jones was one of the greatest fighters anyone had ever seen. He made fans fall in love with him in the ring, even when there were piles of questions and contradictions that lived outside of the ring.
Then he just stopped fighting. He stopped fighting while he was in the ring.
No one in recent boxing history let his fanbase down the way Roy did. Ask Roy Jones Jr. fans; they'll tell you about the emptiness they still feel in their guts about how Roy went out. They'll tell stories of betrayal.
And this is what scares so many of the same people (including me) about Mayweather. We don't want to go through being let down by another boxer who has attained a special place in our hearts. We can't endure or afford going through that kind of pain. Not again.
In boxing we leave ourselves vulnerable. We purposely disregard anything we don't want to hear about the fighters we love. We ignore the peripheral. By Floyd Mayweather Jr. being so non-responsive, saying nothing in return to the allegations of avoidance being thrown at him, he is forcing his fans to do what we hate doing in times like this: Notice the peripheral.
Mayweather is making it seem like he is more concerned about protecting the "zero" on the right side of his record than he is proving that he is what he's said he is: Better than Sugar Ray Robinson. Better than Muhammad Ali. That he's the "best" fighter "ever."
Which, if we are being honest, is the biggest mistake he could ever make.
There are legitimate reasons not to go through with the fight this year from Mayweather's standpoint: 1. The pending trial of Roger Mayweather for battery against a female fighter he once trained. (Mayweather Jr. could say that he doesn't want to go into the biggest fight of his career without knowing whether his uncle will be in his corner during the fight.) 2. The new lawsuit by TDF Investments LLC against Mayweather Promotions LLC for breach of contract and unpaid rent. (He could say that he needs to get this legal matter straight before he commits to another fight.) 3. The seemingly ongoing battle with the federal government over income tax issues. (He could say that although the issue seems settled, he doesn't want to risk his 2010 income exceeding $100M to avoid any future tax problems.) 4. The split of the purse isn't right or fair. (He could argue that he's a bigger draw than Pacquiao and the purse shouldn't be split 50/50.) 5. All of the above ... and then some.
And all he has to do is say just one of them. But by totally avoiding the issue staring him in the face, he is making some of us believe something about him we've heard but never wanted to believe. To fans of his, fans of what he stands for in boxing, fans who care and are more concerned about him proving he is the best fighter alive than we are him staying undefeated, this silence is worse than him getting in the ring and getting carried out on his back.
(There's also apparently information coming from those close to Mayweather's camp claiming that a large part of the hold-up on the fight is because technology isn't ready to air the fight in 3D. Seriously?)
Ellerbe said prior to the Shane Mosley fight, "At this level, for Floyd, it's not about belts. It's about fighting for his legacy and it's about money."
Right now, we can't tell. No one can.
All our hero is leaving us with is the unavoidable question he's forcing us to face about him: What happens when a reason becomes an excuse?
Every morning when I enter my office I walk past an 11-inch by 14-inch framed image of a boxer. He's throwing a low jab into the midsection of another opponent he was supposed to lose to. Adjacent to the photo are the words "Better Than Ever." The fighters in the pic? Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley, circa May 2010. I'm sure you can figure out whom the words refer to.
To me, Mayweather is one of the greatest who's ever stepped in the ring. And he will still be that whether he ever fights Pacquiao or not. But much like the LeBron James saga, it's not about the decision made, it's more about how the situation was handled.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is losing people -- fans, admirers, loyalists -- because of the way he's going about not making this fight happen. To those of us (yes, I unbiasedly include myself) who hold him down, losing to Pacquiao is secondary. We couldn't care less. With the exception of Rocky Marciano, no true warrior in the history of the fight game has exited without an "L." Talk to any true Floyd fan and they will tell you: Getting in the ring and losing to Pacquiao would be more courageous than allowing the situation to play out the way he is allowing it to play out now.
We just had Jones deceive us. We'd hate to have put our faith in another incredible boxer and have almost the same thing happen. Then we'd be the fools.
From his days as a super featherweight to his addictive quasi-seasonal performances on "24/7" that have made HBO more money than his largest purse, we roll with PBF (Pretty Boy Floyd). But by not saying anything, by not publicly giving a concrete reason why he's not making this fight happen -- by not attempting to make Arum and Pacquiao's people out to be liars -- The Pretty One is making it hard, damn near impossible, to honor him the way so many of us have throughout his career. Even at times when we knew he didn't deserve it.
There's a Roots lyric that gets to the root of where fans think Floyd's mind should be right now. It goes, "I'm inspired by the challenge that I find myself standing eye-to-eye with/To move like a wise warrior, not a coward/You can't escape/the history that you (were) meant to make/that's why the highest victory is what I'm in to take/You came to celebrate, I came to cerebrate/I hate losing, I refuse to make the same mistakes."
But there's no fight scheduled. Maybe my reference above to "scared" is an over-exaggeration. Let's say apprehensive. Or worried, concerned, backed into a corner, a little shook. Whatever.
Whatever the word, Mayweather is coming off looking like he's afraid to make this fight with Pacquiao happen. Not scared that he's going to lose, but scared that he might not win. So worried about a first loss on his spotless record that he's forgetting what champions are made of.
With this strategy of silence, it seems like the excuse has been thrown into the ring as opposed to giving a solid reason why he won't fight.
Which makes it seem like for the first time ever Floyd Mayweather Jr. -- my ride-or-die dude for life -- has run out of reasons. For himself and for those of us that loved him.
Scoop Jackson is a columnist for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Monday, 9 August 2010
Frank Warren on Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather saga says US fighter stalling -- Telegraph
By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
However, Warren believes the match-up, estimated to be worth 200 million US dollars, will take place.
“There will be a lot of posturing, there are times I’ve felt Floyd Mayweather was doing his best not to make the fight.” That view come from Warren’s stance that Mayweather “has picked and chosen who he wants to fight over the years.”
“He never fought Shane Mosley when he should have fought him. He just didn’t do it. There have been a few times like that. Roy Jones Jnr did a similar thing. He didn’t fight the best guys at the best times, in my opinion. This one is [Mayweather-Pacquiao] is a huge fight, a huge money fight that could do 3 million pay per view buys on television. I think it will outdo [Floyd and Oscar De La Hoya at 2.25 million ppv buys].”
“It’s a huge money fight and it has to happen and in the tens we are into, it is the biggest fight out there for a long long time, a megafight.”
Does it compare, in Warren’s eyes, with other fights defining a generation, such as Sugar Ray Leonard versus Marvellous Marvin Hagler ? “It is as big as all those fights, even though it is one only American involved. But the fact of the matter is that this is what the business needs. The thing that will hold it up is, though, is Mayweather thinking he is worth more than the 50-50 split.”
Warren is preparing for his own mega-event at the LG Arena in Birmingham on September 18, with nine title fights on the card. His entire top tier stable is on show. Among the fighters is Matthew Macklin, who is now trained by Pacquiao’s overseer Freddie Roach.
Macklin fights Londoner Darren Barker for the British, European and Commonwealth middleweight titles. It is a contest bristling with bragging rights.
Warren believes Mayweather was playing mind games with the drug-testing in round one of negotiations. “I’m sure it was. But at the end of the day, Bob Arum had other places to go. And he did it – he went off and sold 50,000 tickets in Texas [for Pacquiao versus Joshua Clottey]. ”
“Bob Arum is a proper promoter, and I very much admire him. The very first world title fight I ever did was Colin Jones against Don Curry, working with Bob, 25…26 years ago, and I have the utmost respect for him.”
“The fact is he is a real, quality promoter. He, in fact, is the one who will make this fight happen, but he won’t sell his fighter short. He will not sell him short. And this is a tough fight [for both men]. If you asked me to pick a winner I would favour Mayweather.”
“I think Mayweather is a natural counter puncher, although Pacquiao is a tremendous puncher, very fast, but…he can be hit. It’s an interesting fight. If I was a bookmaker, I would make Mayweather the favourite.”
Then again…”You see Mayweather clipped a couple of times in that second round by a 38-year-old Mosley, and you wonder if it was the other fella [Pacquiao] throwing the punches, could it have been different. So…it’s interesting.”
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Frank Warren
, Europe’s foremost boxing promoter for the last 30 years, has weighed in with his views on the anticipated welterweight showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr, which has become an on-off saga. It threatens to be the richest boxing fight in history, never to happen.
, Europe’s foremost boxing promoter for the last 30 years, has weighed in with his views on the anticipated welterweight showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr, which has become an on-off saga. It threatens to be the richest boxing fight in history, never to happen.However, Warren believes the match-up, estimated to be worth 200 million US dollars, will take place.
Warren, speaking exclusively to Telegraph Sport, explained: “It is the fight that must happen for boxing. As fighters, I think they are the best of their generation, I think it’s a natural match. And it will happen.”
“There will be a lot of posturing, there are times I’ve felt Floyd Mayweather was doing his best not to make the fight.” That view come from Warren’s stance that Mayweather “has picked and chosen who he wants to fight over the years.”“He never fought Shane Mosley when he should have fought him. He just didn’t do it. There have been a few times like that. Roy Jones Jnr did a similar thing. He didn’t fight the best guys at the best times, in my opinion. This one is [Mayweather-Pacquiao] is a huge fight, a huge money fight that could do 3 million pay per view buys on television. I think it will outdo [Floyd and Oscar De La Hoya at 2.25 million ppv buys].”
“It’s a huge money fight and it has to happen and in the tens we are into, it is the biggest fight out there for a long long time, a megafight.”
Does it compare, in Warren’s eyes, with other fights defining a generation, such as Sugar Ray Leonard versus Marvellous Marvin Hagler ? “It is as big as all those fights, even though it is one only American involved. But the fact of the matter is that this is what the business needs. The thing that will hold it up is, though, is Mayweather thinking he is worth more than the 50-50 split.”
Warren is preparing for his own mega-event at the LG Arena in Birmingham on September 18, with nine title fights on the card. His entire top tier stable is on show. Among the fighters is Matthew Macklin, who is now trained by Pacquiao’s overseer Freddie Roach.
Macklin fights Londoner Darren Barker for the British, European and Commonwealth middleweight titles. It is a contest bristling with bragging rights.
Warren believes Mayweather was playing mind games with the drug-testing in round one of negotiations. “I’m sure it was. But at the end of the day, Bob Arum had other places to go. And he did it – he went off and sold 50,000 tickets in Texas [for Pacquiao versus Joshua Clottey]. ”
“Bob Arum is a proper promoter, and I very much admire him. The very first world title fight I ever did was Colin Jones against Don Curry, working with Bob, 25…26 years ago, and I have the utmost respect for him.”
“The fact is he is a real, quality promoter. He, in fact, is the one who will make this fight happen, but he won’t sell his fighter short. He will not sell him short. And this is a tough fight [for both men]. If you asked me to pick a winner I would favour Mayweather.”
“I think Mayweather is a natural counter puncher, although Pacquiao is a tremendous puncher, very fast, but…he can be hit. It’s an interesting fight. If I was a bookmaker, I would make Mayweather the favourite.”
Then again…”You see Mayweather clipped a couple of times in that second round by a 38-year-old Mosley, and you wonder if it was the other fella [Pacquiao] throwing the punches, could it have been different. So…it’s interesting.”
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Don King Understands, Speaks Floyd Mayweather's Language -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
The subject: King's wooing of five-time titlist Floyd Mayweather with the goal of matching him against seven-division king Manny Pacquiao, perhaps in the spring. In order to do so, King invited the unbeaten fighter to his Florida home last week, and has also brought in Mayweather to be a ringside guest for Alexander-Kotelnik.
In this Q&A, the 78-year-old King shed light on why he believes himself to be better suited toward working out a deal with longtime rival and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter than Mayweather's present handlers, Golden Boy Promotions and adviser, Al Haymon, who have twice failed to bring Mayweather-Pacquiao to fruition.
Warning: the interview below is transcribed verbatim, and includes some profane language.
FanHouse: So I understand that Floyd Mayweather is in St. Louis to be your guest at ringside for tonight's fight?
Don King: Yes he is. I just got off of the telephone with him two seconds ago. He's going to call me right back again. If he wants me, he knows that I'm there for him. Everything is everything. He can't lose if he comes to see me, because the price goes up from where he's at. If he comes with me, the price soars, because, with him, he and I can generate more capital than anyone alive.
Can you shed light on the notion that some time in the spring of 2009 that you and Floyd almost hooked up a few months before his comeback victory over Juan Manuel Marquez?
Yes, so this time, it's going to be like a family reunion. The last time that he was here I had $45 million on the table for him. That was the last time when he came to see me at my house. I made arrangements with him and his aide, Tommy Smalls. They brought him to me, and he stayed at my house.
And he said, "Help me out, man." So I went to work. He wanted $15 million, and then I found a way to supplement him with another $30 million. So we had made a deal, man. We had a handshake deal and I had already told Bob Arum that before their guys had nixed it, that we would be getting the sh** on [with Pacquiao].
This was before he fought Juan Manuel Marquez. He would have signed with me and I would have had him. He could have fought anybody he wanted to fight because Floyd Mayweather is the best in the world, man. So Manny Pacquiao would certainly be a part of the pie and would definitely be in there.
And then, the last day, after the deal was done, he stayed with something that they [his previous promoters] had him going on. And Floyd lost the opportunity of a lifetime. But I just smiled, because you know what. If Floyd wants me, then he's got me. And if he don't want me, then I still love him because it's more than about me and him and some prize fight.
Floyd is a generous guy, and a lovable guy. They don't understand that. They make him look like a piece of s**t, but he ain't no piece of s**t. So this weekend, wherever I'll be, he'll be there also.
So how much have you and Floyd spoken about a potential matchup with Manny Pacquiao?
You know what? I'm not interested in just the Manny Pacquiao fight. I'm interested in Floyd Mayweather. What I try to do is to get him. And when I get him, everything else is included. That's why they made the mistakes. They're all into the greed. I'm not in for the greed business, I'm in for the need business.
When you get the man, then you've got everything. And I've got the man with the plan. Me and Bob Arum can pull this Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao s**t off in two seconds, you know what I'm saying. I'm talking in two shakes of a lamb's tail. It would be fitting and proper for Bob and I to work on this because we're used to what it means.
Rather than think about what it seems to be. You've got to be able deal with what is real. You've got to be able to deal with the hypocrisy in a manner that you understand. If you don't understand, then you're apprehensive. They [Mayweather's promoters] don't speak ghetto-ese like Floyd Mayweather does, do you understand? I mean, that's like hieroglyphics to them. So they may talk to the man like they're talking down to the man. Talking around the man. Or looking at the man in a condescending manner, you know what I mean? They look at him like he's an indentured servant when in actuality he's the hottest thing on the planet.
That's what it is. It's a disrespect of cultures. You must be able to respect people's cultures and to be able to know what they're thinking and feeling. You've got to be able to stand in their shoes. You've got to be able to look out of their eyeballs. Other than that, if you try to convince a man against his will, then he'll be of the same opinion still.
So you're saying that you speak Floyd's language more than Golden Boy Promotions and his adviser, Al Haymon?
I happen to speak ghetto-ese because I'm one of them. Because you know what? We understand. Many people can't speak hieroglyphics, because that's what ghetto-ese is to them. They can't speak it. If you can't communicate, relate and identify, how are you going to make a deal?
You going to bombard him over the head saying you're going to make him $40 million? For that kind of money, most motherf**kers would turn a trick. But it didn't work with Floyd Mayweather. So people were like, "Floyd's got to be a goddamn fool," and, "Floyd's got to be insane."
But your manhood is worth more than $40 million. I don't talk trash, I talk cash. I understand that because I've been without. If I've learned one thing, then that's that the power of your human nature and your pride and your self-worth is worth more than money. Money is a supporter of power, and power is a creator of money.
I mean, his promoters didn't understand. They already had Bob Arum on one side with Manny Pacquiao, and they say that they're with him, but at the same time, they don't defend him. Look how he's getting beaten up in the press. Look how he's being castigated and vilified. Nobody knows how to defend him.
Everybody's looking at him with a jaundiced eye. They're saying he's a coward, and he's a this and he's a that. They're finding all kinds of ways to make him out to be like he's the most selfish individual who has ever existed on the planet Earth when in actuality he's got a blessing from God that he has the skill and the talent that he can rise above the fray with the creme de la creme.
Floyd Mayweather has the ability to self-promote to the point where they would offer him $40 million. But if he was with me, it would be $100 million. That's the difference. In addition, he would keep his dignity and his pride intact. They treat him like he's a cow or a horse, and like he's property. But you've got to get that s**t out the way.
Are you confident that you can sign Floyd Mayweather this time?
No. That's going to be his prerogative and his decision. But I'm confident of this: I'm confident that I'm available for him. All of them are pursuing what they can do with a Manny Pacquiao fight. I'm pursuing what I can do with a young African-American who has the skill and abilities to be able to help others.
My job is to help other people and not just be able to help him. I can help him to help himself, and then, he has the ability of spreading community unity by being able to say, 'Yes I can,' when everyone else says, 'No you can't.' My objective is all together different.
He has to ask me, I can not ask him. Then I'll become a mercenary and reduce myself to the same standard. I'm not the same standard. So if he came with me, then we could fight anybody in the world without fighting Manny Pacquiao and I would still make him a lot of money.
Whoever makes Mayweather-Pacquiao, it's going to be worth x amount of money. But when I make it, it's going to be triple that x amount. And remember this: Floyd called me, I didn't call him. I did not seek him out the last time, and I did not seek him out this time.
Remember that he came to me. Now, if he can do himself and the world a favor, then I would be the most honored and appreciative guy in the world to have another brother that I can promote as a free man. Nothing would please me more.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Legendary promoter Don King
spoke to FanHouse just hours before playing host to Saturday night's HBO-televised main event between WBC and IBF junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion Devon Alexander and former WBA king Andriy Kotelnik at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
spoke to FanHouse just hours before playing host to Saturday night's HBO-televised main event between WBC and IBF junior welterweight (140 pounds) champion Devon Alexander and former WBA king Andriy Kotelnik at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.The subject: King's wooing of five-time titlist Floyd Mayweather with the goal of matching him against seven-division king Manny Pacquiao, perhaps in the spring. In order to do so, King invited the unbeaten fighter to his Florida home last week, and has also brought in Mayweather to be a ringside guest for Alexander-Kotelnik.In this Q&A, the 78-year-old King shed light on why he believes himself to be better suited toward working out a deal with longtime rival and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter than Mayweather's present handlers, Golden Boy Promotions and adviser, Al Haymon, who have twice failed to bring Mayweather-Pacquiao to fruition.
Warning: the interview below is transcribed verbatim, and includes some profane language.
FanHouse: So I understand that Floyd Mayweather is in St. Louis to be your guest at ringside for tonight's fight?
Don King: Yes he is. I just got off of the telephone with him two seconds ago. He's going to call me right back again. If he wants me, he knows that I'm there for him. Everything is everything. He can't lose if he comes to see me, because the price goes up from where he's at. If he comes with me, the price soars, because, with him, he and I can generate more capital than anyone alive.
Can you shed light on the notion that some time in the spring of 2009 that you and Floyd almost hooked up a few months before his comeback victory over Juan Manuel Marquez?
Yes, so this time, it's going to be like a family reunion. The last time that he was here I had $45 million on the table for him. That was the last time when he came to see me at my house. I made arrangements with him and his aide, Tommy Smalls. They brought him to me, and he stayed at my house.
And he said, "Help me out, man." So I went to work. He wanted $15 million, and then I found a way to supplement him with another $30 million. So we had made a deal, man. We had a handshake deal and I had already told Bob Arum that before their guys had nixed it, that we would be getting the sh** on [with Pacquiao].
This was before he fought Juan Manuel Marquez. He would have signed with me and I would have had him. He could have fought anybody he wanted to fight because Floyd Mayweather is the best in the world, man. So Manny Pacquiao would certainly be a part of the pie and would definitely be in there.
And then, the last day, after the deal was done, he stayed with something that they [his previous promoters] had him going on. And Floyd lost the opportunity of a lifetime. But I just smiled, because you know what. If Floyd wants me, then he's got me. And if he don't want me, then I still love him because it's more than about me and him and some prize fight.
Floyd is a generous guy, and a lovable guy. They don't understand that. They make him look like a piece of s**t, but he ain't no piece of s**t. So this weekend, wherever I'll be, he'll be there also.
So how much have you and Floyd spoken about a potential matchup with Manny Pacquiao?
You know what? I'm not interested in just the Manny Pacquiao fight. I'm interested in Floyd Mayweather. What I try to do is to get him. And when I get him, everything else is included. That's why they made the mistakes. They're all into the greed. I'm not in for the greed business, I'm in for the need business.
When you get the man, then you've got everything. And I've got the man with the plan. Me and Bob Arum can pull this Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao s**t off in two seconds, you know what I'm saying. I'm talking in two shakes of a lamb's tail. It would be fitting and proper for Bob and I to work on this because we're used to what it means.
Rather than think about what it seems to be. You've got to be able deal with what is real. You've got to be able to deal with the hypocrisy in a manner that you understand. If you don't understand, then you're apprehensive. They [Mayweather's promoters] don't speak ghetto-ese like Floyd Mayweather does, do you understand? I mean, that's like hieroglyphics to them. So they may talk to the man like they're talking down to the man. Talking around the man. Or looking at the man in a condescending manner, you know what I mean? They look at him like he's an indentured servant when in actuality he's the hottest thing on the planet.
That's what it is. It's a disrespect of cultures. You must be able to respect people's cultures and to be able to know what they're thinking and feeling. You've got to be able to stand in their shoes. You've got to be able to look out of their eyeballs. Other than that, if you try to convince a man against his will, then he'll be of the same opinion still.
So you're saying that you speak Floyd's language more than Golden Boy Promotions and his adviser, Al Haymon?
I happen to speak ghetto-ese because I'm one of them. Because you know what? We understand. Many people can't speak hieroglyphics, because that's what ghetto-ese is to them. They can't speak it. If you can't communicate, relate and identify, how are you going to make a deal?
You going to bombard him over the head saying you're going to make him $40 million? For that kind of money, most motherf**kers would turn a trick. But it didn't work with Floyd Mayweather. So people were like, "Floyd's got to be a goddamn fool," and, "Floyd's got to be insane."
But your manhood is worth more than $40 million. I don't talk trash, I talk cash. I understand that because I've been without. If I've learned one thing, then that's that the power of your human nature and your pride and your self-worth is worth more than money. Money is a supporter of power, and power is a creator of money.
I mean, his promoters didn't understand. They already had Bob Arum on one side with Manny Pacquiao, and they say that they're with him, but at the same time, they don't defend him. Look how he's getting beaten up in the press. Look how he's being castigated and vilified. Nobody knows how to defend him.
Everybody's looking at him with a jaundiced eye. They're saying he's a coward, and he's a this and he's a that. They're finding all kinds of ways to make him out to be like he's the most selfish individual who has ever existed on the planet Earth when in actuality he's got a blessing from God that he has the skill and the talent that he can rise above the fray with the creme de la creme.
Floyd Mayweather has the ability to self-promote to the point where they would offer him $40 million. But if he was with me, it would be $100 million. That's the difference. In addition, he would keep his dignity and his pride intact. They treat him like he's a cow or a horse, and like he's property. But you've got to get that s**t out the way.
Are you confident that you can sign Floyd Mayweather this time?
No. That's going to be his prerogative and his decision. But I'm confident of this: I'm confident that I'm available for him. All of them are pursuing what they can do with a Manny Pacquiao fight. I'm pursuing what I can do with a young African-American who has the skill and abilities to be able to help others.
My job is to help other people and not just be able to help him. I can help him to help himself, and then, he has the ability of spreading community unity by being able to say, 'Yes I can,' when everyone else says, 'No you can't.' My objective is all together different.
He has to ask me, I can not ask him. Then I'll become a mercenary and reduce myself to the same standard. I'm not the same standard. So if he came with me, then we could fight anybody in the world without fighting Manny Pacquiao and I would still make him a lot of money.
Whoever makes Mayweather-Pacquiao, it's going to be worth x amount of money. But when I make it, it's going to be triple that x amount. And remember this: Floyd called me, I didn't call him. I did not seek him out the last time, and I did not seek him out this time.
Remember that he came to me. Now, if he can do himself and the world a favor, then I would be the most honored and appreciative guy in the world to have another brother that I can promote as a free man. Nothing would please me more.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Does Don King hold key to Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather? -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
ST. LOUIS -- When Floyd Mayweather was preparing to end his brief retirement last year and asked adviser Al Haymon to field offers for fights, Mayweather did a little fielding of his own.
He spent several days in South Florida hanging at promoter Don King's mansion.
King was not shy about his interest in signing Mayweather, but even though they barbecued and relaxed, nothing came of it.
Mayweather returned to Haymon and Golden Boy Promotions, which eventually put on his comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez last fall, followed by his win against Shane Mosley in May.
Now the High-Haired One's courtship /pursuit/seduction of Mayweather is in high gear again. They spent several days together again last week in South Florida, feasting on lobster and making no secret about their dance.
King still hopes to sign Mayweather and believes if he does, fight fans will get what they want -- the mother of all fights between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
King expects Mayweather ringside as his guest Saturday night at the Scottrade Center to watch junior welterweight titlist Devon Alexander -- the fighter with the most Mayweather-like potential in the sport -- defend against former titlist Andreas Kotelnik. If Mayweather shows up, HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg told me the network will endeavor to interview him during the telecast.
While King, who turns 79 this month, has been all over St. Louis promoting his rear end off, Mayweather has also been on his mind.
With so much swirling about their positional pairing, I sat down with King at our hotel Friday to talk about it.
At one point, King's phone rang. He said it was Mayweather, spoke to him for a couple of minutes and told me he said he was in town and would be at the fight. Then King turned his attention back to our discussion.
"I love Floyd. Floyd's my man," said King, who was holding his cadre of flags and smiling ear to ear. "He'll get the soup to nuts treatment [if he signs]. He was down there with me for a week in Florida. He's buyin' him a nice place down there. And so it's no downside with me with Floyd because the people that have him, they gonna give him more money to keep him away from me if he stays with them. If he comes with me, he'll have a whole new vista, a whole new arena that he can play on. I can get more money than anyone out there. They can't stop that."
King said he when he tried wooing him last year, Mayweather ultimately went back to Haymon and Golden Boy because they gave him more money.
"He profited from me. He got more money for the Marquez fight," King said. "He wouldn't have got what he had. He can use me. I don't mind being used because I understand Golden Boy, Al Haymon."
King's point of view is that Haymon and Golden Boy do not understand Mayweather or know how to treat him.
King said he'd make Mayweather "a people's champion and be able to create and generate more money than he's ever had before with dignity, pride and stature. Like it is now, he's being degraded, vilified, accusations, you know. Some of it goes for the hype, but when it gets to the substance of the man, the substance is not there. And they don't understand because they can't communicate with him because Floyd speaks Ghetto-ese and they don't understand because it's hieroglyphics.
"They look down on him and put him in disrepute and disregard, the people who's with him. And they don't defend him. He goes out and says, 'Money, money, money,' and that don't win it. That don't give you what you need as a human being."
King said his pursuit is not a hard one as he has done with so many fighters in the past. He said he hasn't presented him with a duffel bag of money -- one of King's favorite moves -- to get him to sign. He didn't jet off to be at Mayweather's side. No, King is playing it cooler than that.
"Never made him an offer. If he wants me, he come and get me. I'm there for him all the time, either way," King said. "It doesn't matter whether he comes or he don't come. I love him, I understand him because I'm one of him. I am one of the masses, not the classes. I'm from the hood too and I also speak Ghetto-ese. I can relate, communicate and identify. And that's something [Haymon and Golden Boy] don't do."
King insisted that if he and Mayweather were together, the Pacquiao fight would be made quickly. Sure, he said he and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum -- King's longtime adversary -- would argue and fight like crazy over deal points, but it would be made quickly because they are dealmakers.
"Me and Bob would get that fight done in two shakes of a lamb's tail," King said. "If I was there working with Bob Arum, this fight would have been history. It'd be ready now and we'd be talking about how we gonna promote. It wouldn't be nothing put a piece of cake. But even then it would be so much bigger that what it would be if he were to make with Golden Boy or Al. They cannot make the fight as big as Arum and I can make it. They are not in the class of a Bob Arum."
Indeed a co-promotion between the sport's most famous (some would say notorious) promoters would add another dimension to what is already the biggest potential fight in the sport. After years of promotional warfare, King and Arum, both in their late 70s, have mellowed toward each other. Fight they will for every dime, but they respect each other.
King once told me that he was glad to have Arum around as his competition because if he didn't have Arum, "I wouldn't know how good I really was."
King wants to see Pacquiao and Mayweather fight but said if or when they do, he wants to see it be the "biggest fight in the universe."
Naturally, that means co-promoting it with Arum, Mayweather's former promoter, who has openly said he's rooting for King to sign Mayweather so they can make the fight.
"This will be a good fight, and I think Bob Arum and I would make it the biggest fight in the universe," King said. "No matter who makes it, it will be the biggest fight in the world. Without me and without Bob [doing it together], it would be a good fight, Pacquiao and Mayweather, but it would not carry the same impetus."
King threw around the number $200 million as to what he thinks it could generate.
"You can generate that kind of revenue when you have the creative imagination that I have," he said.
So the King-Mayweather dalliance presumably will continue through this weekend, at least. I would never count King out.
"Floyd keeps telling me he's free," King said. "I keep hearing from Golden Boy and other people that he ain't free. So who knows? They may have done tricked him and he thinks he's free. They promise you everything and give you nothing and he finds himself in a quagmire. That's what happened to him last time.
"So now he's back saying he got it straightened out, and 'me and you gonna talk; me and you gonna do this and that.' I say, 'OK, OK.' I never ever disagree because he's the man. So whatever he says, that's what it is. But I would be delighted. It would be an honor and privilege for me to be with Mayweather.
"He has done a tremendous job of self-promotion. He's done a tremendous job of fighting and winning. I love Floyd."
Source: espn.go.com
ST. LOUIS -- When Floyd Mayweather was preparing to end his brief retirement last year and asked adviser Al Haymon to field offers for fights, Mayweather did a little fielding of his own.
He spent several days in South Florida hanging at promoter Don King's mansion.
King was not shy about his interest in signing Mayweather, but even though they barbecued and relaxed, nothing came of it.
Mayweather returned to Haymon and Golden Boy Promotions, which eventually put on his comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez last fall, followed by his win against Shane Mosley in May.
Now the High-Haired One's courtship /pursuit/seduction of Mayweather is in high gear again. They spent several days together again last week in South Florida, feasting on lobster and making no secret about their dance.
King still hopes to sign Mayweather and believes if he does, fight fans will get what they want -- the mother of all fights between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
King expects Mayweather ringside as his guest Saturday night at the Scottrade Center to watch junior welterweight titlist Devon Alexander -- the fighter with the most Mayweather-like potential in the sport -- defend against former titlist Andreas Kotelnik. If Mayweather shows up, HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg told me the network will endeavor to interview him during the telecast.
While King, who turns 79 this month, has been all over St. Louis promoting his rear end off, Mayweather has also been on his mind.
With so much swirling about their positional pairing, I sat down with King at our hotel Friday to talk about it.
At one point, King's phone rang. He said it was Mayweather, spoke to him for a couple of minutes and told me he said he was in town and would be at the fight. Then King turned his attention back to our discussion.
"I love Floyd. Floyd's my man," said King, who was holding his cadre of flags and smiling ear to ear. "He'll get the soup to nuts treatment [if he signs]. He was down there with me for a week in Florida. He's buyin' him a nice place down there. And so it's no downside with me with Floyd because the people that have him, they gonna give him more money to keep him away from me if he stays with them. If he comes with me, he'll have a whole new vista, a whole new arena that he can play on. I can get more money than anyone out there. They can't stop that."
King said he when he tried wooing him last year, Mayweather ultimately went back to Haymon and Golden Boy because they gave him more money.
"He profited from me. He got more money for the Marquez fight," King said. "He wouldn't have got what he had. He can use me. I don't mind being used because I understand Golden Boy, Al Haymon."
King's point of view is that Haymon and Golden Boy do not understand Mayweather or know how to treat him.
King said he'd make Mayweather "a people's champion and be able to create and generate more money than he's ever had before with dignity, pride and stature. Like it is now, he's being degraded, vilified, accusations, you know. Some of it goes for the hype, but when it gets to the substance of the man, the substance is not there. And they don't understand because they can't communicate with him because Floyd speaks Ghetto-ese and they don't understand because it's hieroglyphics.
"They look down on him and put him in disrepute and disregard, the people who's with him. And they don't defend him. He goes out and says, 'Money, money, money,' and that don't win it. That don't give you what you need as a human being."
King said his pursuit is not a hard one as he has done with so many fighters in the past. He said he hasn't presented him with a duffel bag of money -- one of King's favorite moves -- to get him to sign. He didn't jet off to be at Mayweather's side. No, King is playing it cooler than that.
"Never made him an offer. If he wants me, he come and get me. I'm there for him all the time, either way," King said. "It doesn't matter whether he comes or he don't come. I love him, I understand him because I'm one of him. I am one of the masses, not the classes. I'm from the hood too and I also speak Ghetto-ese. I can relate, communicate and identify. And that's something [Haymon and Golden Boy] don't do."
King insisted that if he and Mayweather were together, the Pacquiao fight would be made quickly. Sure, he said he and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum -- King's longtime adversary -- would argue and fight like crazy over deal points, but it would be made quickly because they are dealmakers.
"Me and Bob would get that fight done in two shakes of a lamb's tail," King said. "If I was there working with Bob Arum, this fight would have been history. It'd be ready now and we'd be talking about how we gonna promote. It wouldn't be nothing put a piece of cake. But even then it would be so much bigger that what it would be if he were to make with Golden Boy or Al. They cannot make the fight as big as Arum and I can make it. They are not in the class of a Bob Arum."
Indeed a co-promotion between the sport's most famous (some would say notorious) promoters would add another dimension to what is already the biggest potential fight in the sport. After years of promotional warfare, King and Arum, both in their late 70s, have mellowed toward each other. Fight they will for every dime, but they respect each other.
King once told me that he was glad to have Arum around as his competition because if he didn't have Arum, "I wouldn't know how good I really was."
King wants to see Pacquiao and Mayweather fight but said if or when they do, he wants to see it be the "biggest fight in the universe."
Naturally, that means co-promoting it with Arum, Mayweather's former promoter, who has openly said he's rooting for King to sign Mayweather so they can make the fight.
"This will be a good fight, and I think Bob Arum and I would make it the biggest fight in the universe," King said. "No matter who makes it, it will be the biggest fight in the world. Without me and without Bob [doing it together], it would be a good fight, Pacquiao and Mayweather, but it would not carry the same impetus."
King threw around the number $200 million as to what he thinks it could generate.
"You can generate that kind of revenue when you have the creative imagination that I have," he said.
So the King-Mayweather dalliance presumably will continue through this weekend, at least. I would never count King out.
"Floyd keeps telling me he's free," King said. "I keep hearing from Golden Boy and other people that he ain't free. So who knows? They may have done tricked him and he thinks he's free. They promise you everything and give you nothing and he finds himself in a quagmire. That's what happened to him last time.
"So now he's back saying he got it straightened out, and 'me and you gonna talk; me and you gonna do this and that.' I say, 'OK, OK.' I never ever disagree because he's the man. So whatever he says, that's what it is. But I would be delighted. It would be an honor and privilege for me to be with Mayweather.
"He has done a tremendous job of self-promotion. He's done a tremendous job of fighting and winning. I love Floyd."
Source: espn.go.com
Don King could hold key to Pacquiao-Mayweather fight -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
There is a new major player in the bold bid to put together what could be the richest fight of all time.
Don King
, the out-of-this-world promoter sporting an electric-shock hairdo, told the Los Angeles Times a few days ago that he has what it takes to make the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight happen.
Of course, King said he will have to join hands with another power broker, his long-time nemesis Bob Arum, who promotes the Filipino star.
“King’s the most persuasive guy I've ever met. With enough time, he’ll get this kid [Mayweather] to come over. Don’s no fool. He knows how to make a fight,” said Arum.
“If King were ever involved, it would give a real impetus to make this fight happen. All those little details that have stopped us before, King doesn’t give [a thing] about. All he cares about is the end result, making the most money possible,” said Arum, who had teamed up with King in the 1975 epic Thrilla in Manila.
Last week in Florida, King and Mayweather spent some time together and both discussed what lies ahead.
King denied they had already discussed a particular fight but hinted of a possible tieup in the event a Pacquiao fight is made sometime in 2011.
“I’m just happy to be seeing [Mayweather], he came out last week [to Florida] because he said he wanted to talk, and I'm hoping we'll get it together,” said King.
“He’ll say it to me on his own when he wants, ‘Everybody’s talking about this Pacquiao fight,’ and I’ll tell him, ‘Yes, we can do this, that and the other.’” He can bring it up himself. I’m just waiting, being very patient. The power of understanding people is important. I believe he can make the most money with me, because we’ll show his dignity and pride, and stop people from throwing stones at him.”
"If anybody can do it, it's Don King."I know my man Don,” added Arum.
Pacquiao and Mayweather were supposed to face each other on November 13 but a deal was not reached between the two parties, prompting Arum to tap Antonio Margarito of Mexico as Pacquiao’s next foe.
Source: mb.com.ph
There is a new major player in the bold bid to put together what could be the richest fight of all time.
Don King
, the out-of-this-world promoter sporting an electric-shock hairdo, told the Los Angeles Times a few days ago that he has what it takes to make the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight happen.Of course, King said he will have to join hands with another power broker, his long-time nemesis Bob Arum, who promotes the Filipino star.“Me and Arum can do this fight with Pacquiao in a flash,” King told Lance Pugmire of the Times.
Arum was obviously tickled pink by King’s remarks especially after the Top Rank chief had a very nasty experience with the Oscar De La Hoya-owned Golden Boy Promotions (GBP). GBP has been representing Mayweather the past couple of years.
“King’s the most persuasive guy I've ever met. With enough time, he’ll get this kid [Mayweather] to come over. Don’s no fool. He knows how to make a fight,” said Arum.
“If King were ever involved, it would give a real impetus to make this fight happen. All those little details that have stopped us before, King doesn’t give [a thing] about. All he cares about is the end result, making the most money possible,” said Arum, who had teamed up with King in the 1975 epic Thrilla in Manila.
Last week in Florida, King and Mayweather spent some time together and both discussed what lies ahead.
King denied they had already discussed a particular fight but hinted of a possible tieup in the event a Pacquiao fight is made sometime in 2011.
“I’m just happy to be seeing [Mayweather], he came out last week [to Florida] because he said he wanted to talk, and I'm hoping we'll get it together,” said King.
“He’ll say it to me on his own when he wants, ‘Everybody’s talking about this Pacquiao fight,’ and I’ll tell him, ‘Yes, we can do this, that and the other.’” He can bring it up himself. I’m just waiting, being very patient. The power of understanding people is important. I believe he can make the most money with me, because we’ll show his dignity and pride, and stop people from throwing stones at him.”
"If anybody can do it, it's Don King."I know my man Don,” added Arum.
Pacquiao and Mayweather were supposed to face each other on November 13 but a deal was not reached between the two parties, prompting Arum to tap Antonio Margarito of Mexico as Pacquiao’s next foe.
Source: mb.com.ph
King card fills Pacquiao-Mayweather void -- New York Post
By George Willis, New York Post
There was a time when Don King was mostly high hair and hot air. But after listening to the boxing promoters from Top Rank and Golden Boy fuss and feud over Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in recent months, King has emerged as a breath of fresh air as he drums up support for tonight's world championship triple-header in St. Louis.
HBO will televise two of the title fights from the Scottrade Center. In the main event, Devon Alexander of St. Louis defends his IBF/WBC junior welterweight belts against Ukrainian Andriy Kotelnik. In the other televised bout, IBF light heavyweight champ Tavoris Cloud of Tallahassee, Fla., faces former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson of Miami. Also on the card, St. Louis native Cory Spinks defends his IBF junior middleweight title against Cornelius "K9" Bundrage.
King hasn't been involved in many high profile bouts recently, as Bob Arum's Top Rank and Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions have shared most of the superstar matchups. But King, who turns 79 this month, has been in rare form while promoting tonight's event, using his tried and true tactics of making everyone from the governor to the custodian feel involved.
Say what you want about King, but his fight cards almost always are loaded with competitive bouts giving boxing fans their money's worth, something that hasn't always been the case in the sport recently.
"We're going to create something provocatively beautiful, a wonderful boxing card from top to bottom," King said. "This is the Show-Me State, and in St. Louis you get the opportunity to do just that, to show it to the world. I'm a promoter of the people for the people and by the people, and my magic lies in my people ties."
It's typical King rhetoric, but welcomed after all the misinformation surrounding the inability to get Mayweather and Pacquiao to agree to a fight. King is doing the most with what he has. Alexander (20-0, 13 KOs) is one of the young stars of a loaded 140-pound division that may need to carry boxing until Mayweather and Pacquiao decide to get in the ring.
Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) and Marcos Rene Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs) also hold titles in the division and there is talk of a tournament of sorts to decide the last man standing.
"I know if I take care of [Kotelnik] there will be bigger and bigger opportunities," Alexander said.
Kotelnik (31-3, 13 KOs) is no pushover. He is a former junior welterweight champion, who handed Maidana his only loss by split decision in February 2009. He also won a silver medal for Ukraine in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"He's a great fighter and everybody is going to be shocked and amazed by his will," King said of Kotelnik. "He's not coming in to be an accommodation. He's coming into win."
Mayweather spent some time with King a few weeks ago, fueling speculation whether Money May might start doing business with King.
*
Congrats to Brooklyn's Maureen Shea for capturing the NABF female featherweight title with a third round TKO over Liliana Martinez last week in Saratoga. ... Getting knocked out in his middleweight title fight against Dmitry Pirog last week might be the best thing to happen to Brooklyn's Danny Jacobs. Being matched with inferior opponents didn't help his development and gave everyone around him a false sense of his readiness for a title shot. A little humbling all around should help Jacobs in the long run. ... UFC 117 tonight is headlined by Anderson Silva defending his middleweight championship against Chael Sonnen from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.
george.willis@nypost.com
Source: nypost.com
There was a time when Don King was mostly high hair and hot air. But after listening to the boxing promoters from Top Rank and Golden Boy fuss and feud over Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in recent months, King has emerged as a breath of fresh air as he drums up support for tonight's world championship triple-header in St. Louis.
HBO will televise two of the title fights from the Scottrade Center. In the main event, Devon Alexander of St. Louis defends his IBF/WBC junior welterweight belts against Ukrainian Andriy Kotelnik. In the other televised bout, IBF light heavyweight champ Tavoris Cloud of Tallahassee, Fla., faces former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson of Miami. Also on the card, St. Louis native Cory Spinks defends his IBF junior middleweight title against Cornelius "K9" Bundrage.
King hasn't been involved in many high profile bouts recently, as Bob Arum's Top Rank and Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions have shared most of the superstar matchups. But King, who turns 79 this month, has been in rare form while promoting tonight's event, using his tried and true tactics of making everyone from the governor to the custodian feel involved.
Say what you want about King, but his fight cards almost always are loaded with competitive bouts giving boxing fans their money's worth, something that hasn't always been the case in the sport recently.
"We're going to create something provocatively beautiful, a wonderful boxing card from top to bottom," King said. "This is the Show-Me State, and in St. Louis you get the opportunity to do just that, to show it to the world. I'm a promoter of the people for the people and by the people, and my magic lies in my people ties."
It's typical King rhetoric, but welcomed after all the misinformation surrounding the inability to get Mayweather and Pacquiao to agree to a fight. King is doing the most with what he has. Alexander (20-0, 13 KOs) is one of the young stars of a loaded 140-pound division that may need to carry boxing until Mayweather and Pacquiao decide to get in the ring.
Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs), Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) and Marcos Rene Maidana (28-1, 27 KOs) also hold titles in the division and there is talk of a tournament of sorts to decide the last man standing.
"I know if I take care of [Kotelnik] there will be bigger and bigger opportunities," Alexander said.
Kotelnik (31-3, 13 KOs) is no pushover. He is a former junior welterweight champion, who handed Maidana his only loss by split decision in February 2009. He also won a silver medal for Ukraine in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"He's a great fighter and everybody is going to be shocked and amazed by his will," King said of Kotelnik. "He's not coming in to be an accommodation. He's coming into win."
Mayweather spent some time with King a few weeks ago, fueling speculation whether Money May might start doing business with King.
*
Congrats to Brooklyn's Maureen Shea for capturing the NABF female featherweight title with a third round TKO over Liliana Martinez last week in Saratoga. ... Getting knocked out in his middleweight title fight against Dmitry Pirog last week might be the best thing to happen to Brooklyn's Danny Jacobs. Being matched with inferior opponents didn't help his development and gave everyone around him a false sense of his readiness for a title shot. A little humbling all around should help Jacobs in the long run. ... UFC 117 tonight is headlined by Anderson Silva defending his middleweight championship against Chael Sonnen from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.
george.willis@nypost.com
Source: nypost.com
Friday, 6 August 2010
Michael Koncz: Abu Dhabi blockbuster deal for Pacquiao-Margarito no snow job -- Examiner
By Michael Marley, Examiner.comManny Pacquiao agent Michael Koncz is not bowling in Beirut.
The Canadian is also not boating on the Nile, checking out the pyramids of ancient Egypt. He knows the story of Cleopatra, he won't make an asp out of himself.
Certainly, he's not shussing the days away at the huge indoor ski facility in glittering Abu Dhabi.Pacman's loyal liege surfaced late Wednesday night from his luxury bunker in Abu Dhabi with an update on what could be a lucrative deal for Pacquiao to go to the United Arab Emirates to fight Mexican desperado Antonio on Nov. 13, a deal with a package which will make offers from Jerry Jones in Dallas and possibly one from Las Vegas look like camel feed.
Or so MK, as he is known in diplomatic circles, told me in an email as follows:
“I am not missing in action. I am in Abu Dhabi trying to put a multmillion dollar deal together that is not in or relevant to Top Rank or mine but in the best interests of my boss Manny Pacquiao.
“ The Royal Family members and the Abu Dhabi Sports authority that I am dealing with are not hungry for publicity at the present time.
“When and if an agreement is reached to hold Manny 11-23 bout here is reached then a press conference release will be issued.
“There is no desire nor need to put each and every little move or detail of discussions in the media at this time as here in the U.N.E there are no egos to feed.
“If the fight deal is completed the publicity will come.
Mike
Personally, I got a laugh and half out of Uncle Bob Arum saying Wednesday that the UAE deal is no laughing matter.
I think Arum's just trying to break our humps on this as he is the one doing all the camel shtick.
As in don't step in the camel shtick, pal.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Minimumweight Division Update: Heavyweights in a Small Package -- Ringside Report
By Mike “Rubber Warrior” Plunkett, Ringside Report
Over the last couple of years I have gone out of my way to acquaint myself with this oft-ignored weight class. Minimumweight, sometimes also referred to as Strawweight (WBC) or Mini Flyweight (IBF/WBO) is the lightest of all weight classes where its diminutive warriors weigh no more than 105lbs. It is a relatively new weight category for professionals, first inaugurated by the sanctioning bodies between the years 1987 and 1990.
Forget the fact that many of the fighters barely exceed the dimensions of most twelve year-olds, or that a few of them look better suited for duty as an paper weight or horse racing jockey, it’s a division chalk-full of focus, skill, marked athleticism, fire and talent. Having searched the web for hardcore fans that were willing to share some of their fight videos featuring today’s talent pool at 105lbs, I came away with the realization that not only were the vast majority of North American and European fans not paying attention to this weight class, more than a handful of the fans that I dealt with weren’t even clear on its existence. If anything, the minimumweight division enjoys its greatest following among those from the lower Asian basin with a sprinkling of followers from South Africa, Mexico and Central America.
After having reviewed no less than a couple dozen token matches, all of which occurred within the last five years, I was amazed at the talent level and willingness of each of these diminutive warriors. Nobody came in fat. The term “listless” never once applied and the description “pedestrian” at no time factored into the mix. Another point to be considered; none of these fighters are overpaid PPV stars or tied to the interests of a high powered promoter or cable network. They fight often for relatively reasonable money and they almost always give fans cluck for their buck. Here is brief overview of the current titlists and a few division notables, adding color to a weight class chalk full of talent, ready to explode, if quietly and virtually unnoticed, somewhere on the other side of the globe in a dark and most probably packed, smoky arena.
Oleydong Sithsamerchai (Thailand) – 34-0, 12 KO’s
The Thai is smooth boxing southpaw stylist that won the WBC minimumweight title back in November 2007. To date he has successfully defended that title five times, his most recent bout being a close and tenuous close call against the former OPBF minimumweight titlist and world-rated Yasutaka Kuroki. Struggled with the tactically sound and stronger Kuroki, suggesting that his shortage of punching power may be an insurmountable deficit at the highest levels. What he lacks in power he makes up for in boxing acumen and volume punching. His next scheduled defense is set for September 25th against the 17-1 Juan Hernandez, a volatile if somewhat raw orthodox power puncher who poses a distinct threat to his current reign.
Roman Gonzalez (Nicaragua) – 25-0, 21 KO’s
Arguably the most marketable and compelling fighter currently staking a claim in the division, the orthodox “El Chocolatito” won the WBA World minimumweight title in September 2008 and has made three successful defenses to date. Has two-fisted punching power as evidenced by his high knockout ratio including seven first-round stoppages but is known best for his vaunted left hook. Has at-times struggled in bouts with slick stylists but to date has effectively pressured past such tense situations. He gained international prominence with an explosive 1st round knockout over rated Jose Luis Varela. Stopped the normally durable Eriberto Gejon in one round with a single shot to the body. May be outgrowing the division as evidenced in his struggle with the aging Rosas. His next scheduled title defense is penciled in for October against an opponent yet to be announced. Beyond that a high-stakes unification bout with WBC titlist Oleydong Sithsamerchai or a potentially thrilling title defense against the next man on this list would be a magnificent, high octane match-up.
Raul Garcia (Mexico) – 27-1-1, 16 KO’s
The southpaw “Rayito” edged the complicated and durable Florante Condes by split twelve-round decision in his hometown for the IBF minimumweight title in June 2008. He kept a busy schedule and successfully defended that title four times. His most recent bout saw him comprehensively outpointed by Nkosinathi Joyi, a complicated southpaw stylist. A busy right jab and thudding hook compliment his go-forward, all action style. Outside of a rematch with Joyi, a potentially explosive challenge of the undefeated Roman Gonzalez for the WBA World title or an intriguing second go-round with Condes in a neutral locale would go a long way towards keeping his name at the forefront of the division as well as erasing any lingering questions about their first encounter.
Nkosinathi Joyi (South Africa) – 21-0, 15 KO’s
Southpaw “Mabere” won the IBO minimumweight title back in November 2007. He successfully defended that title twice before scoring a shutout twelve-round unanimous decision over Florante Condes, the all encompassing division gatekeeper and the former IBF minimumweight champion in an IBF title eliminator. This past March he won the IBF minimumweight title with yet another shut-out unanimous decision, in the process handing the then undefeated Raul Garcia his first official career defeat.
Donnie Nietes (Philippines) – 26-1-3, 15 KO’s
His nickname “Ahas” which is Tagalog for “snake” comes from the way he approaches the ring with a python around his neck. Fighting out of the orthodox stance, “Ahas” annexed the WBO minimumweight title way back in September 2007. He has made only three successful defenses of that title to date having experienced foe pull-outs on three separate occasions. His most recent win was an impressive 10th round stoppage of Jesus Silvestre in a non-title tiff. Before that he struggled to hold onto his title posting a curious split decision over the experienced and world-rated Manuel Vargas in a bout he looked to be in complete control of. He is expected to prevail against journeyman Mario Rodriguez in his next scheduled title defense.
Florante Condes (Philippines) – 23-5-1, 20 KO’s
“Little Pacquiao”, an alias that speaks to Condes’ crowd pleasing fighting style, stance and considerable punching power, is the former IBF minimumweight champion, having lost his title to Raul Garcia back in June 2008. Lost a wide unanimous decision to Nkosinathi Joyi in an IBF title eliminator back in June 2009 and has since somewhat fallen off the radar. He is currently scheduled to return on August 28th against tune-up foe Sofyan Effendi. Undoubtedly the division gatekeeper and the man to get by if one wishes to move forward towards an eliminator or title shot. He is wildly popular in the Philippines and another title run is not out of the question given his experience and time-proven resilience.
I cannot help but think of minimumweight as being in a state much like the cruiserweight division in that nobody or almost nobody talks about it. It is in fact a weight class with a lot of potentially explosive and entertaining match-ups, sporting an array of talented warriors from all around the globe. Take the time to catch a few of these fighters the next time you have the opportunity to watch them in action. I am certain you will come away impressed, entertained and infinitely more satisfied than if you had watched any of the big names today at heavyweight. Remember, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but rather, the realization that sheer skill and sometimes dynamite often comes in small packages.
Source: ringsidereport.com
Over the last couple of years I have gone out of my way to acquaint myself with this oft-ignored weight class. Minimumweight, sometimes also referred to as Strawweight (WBC) or Mini Flyweight (IBF/WBO) is the lightest of all weight classes where its diminutive warriors weigh no more than 105lbs. It is a relatively new weight category for professionals, first inaugurated by the sanctioning bodies between the years 1987 and 1990.
Forget the fact that many of the fighters barely exceed the dimensions of most twelve year-olds, or that a few of them look better suited for duty as an paper weight or horse racing jockey, it’s a division chalk-full of focus, skill, marked athleticism, fire and talent. Having searched the web for hardcore fans that were willing to share some of their fight videos featuring today’s talent pool at 105lbs, I came away with the realization that not only were the vast majority of North American and European fans not paying attention to this weight class, more than a handful of the fans that I dealt with weren’t even clear on its existence. If anything, the minimumweight division enjoys its greatest following among those from the lower Asian basin with a sprinkling of followers from South Africa, Mexico and Central America.
After having reviewed no less than a couple dozen token matches, all of which occurred within the last five years, I was amazed at the talent level and willingness of each of these diminutive warriors. Nobody came in fat. The term “listless” never once applied and the description “pedestrian” at no time factored into the mix. Another point to be considered; none of these fighters are overpaid PPV stars or tied to the interests of a high powered promoter or cable network. They fight often for relatively reasonable money and they almost always give fans cluck for their buck. Here is brief overview of the current titlists and a few division notables, adding color to a weight class chalk full of talent, ready to explode, if quietly and virtually unnoticed, somewhere on the other side of the globe in a dark and most probably packed, smoky arena.Oleydong Sithsamerchai (Thailand) – 34-0, 12 KO’s
The Thai is smooth boxing southpaw stylist that won the WBC minimumweight title back in November 2007. To date he has successfully defended that title five times, his most recent bout being a close and tenuous close call against the former OPBF minimumweight titlist and world-rated Yasutaka Kuroki. Struggled with the tactically sound and stronger Kuroki, suggesting that his shortage of punching power may be an insurmountable deficit at the highest levels. What he lacks in power he makes up for in boxing acumen and volume punching. His next scheduled defense is set for September 25th against the 17-1 Juan Hernandez, a volatile if somewhat raw orthodox power puncher who poses a distinct threat to his current reign.
Roman Gonzalez (Nicaragua) – 25-0, 21 KO’s
Arguably the most marketable and compelling fighter currently staking a claim in the division, the orthodox “El Chocolatito” won the WBA World minimumweight title in September 2008 and has made three successful defenses to date. Has two-fisted punching power as evidenced by his high knockout ratio including seven first-round stoppages but is known best for his vaunted left hook. Has at-times struggled in bouts with slick stylists but to date has effectively pressured past such tense situations. He gained international prominence with an explosive 1st round knockout over rated Jose Luis Varela. Stopped the normally durable Eriberto Gejon in one round with a single shot to the body. May be outgrowing the division as evidenced in his struggle with the aging Rosas. His next scheduled title defense is penciled in for October against an opponent yet to be announced. Beyond that a high-stakes unification bout with WBC titlist Oleydong Sithsamerchai or a potentially thrilling title defense against the next man on this list would be a magnificent, high octane match-up.
Raul Garcia (Mexico) – 27-1-1, 16 KO’s
The southpaw “Rayito” edged the complicated and durable Florante Condes by split twelve-round decision in his hometown for the IBF minimumweight title in June 2008. He kept a busy schedule and successfully defended that title four times. His most recent bout saw him comprehensively outpointed by Nkosinathi Joyi, a complicated southpaw stylist. A busy right jab and thudding hook compliment his go-forward, all action style. Outside of a rematch with Joyi, a potentially explosive challenge of the undefeated Roman Gonzalez for the WBA World title or an intriguing second go-round with Condes in a neutral locale would go a long way towards keeping his name at the forefront of the division as well as erasing any lingering questions about their first encounter.
Nkosinathi Joyi (South Africa) – 21-0, 15 KO’s
Southpaw “Mabere” won the IBO minimumweight title back in November 2007. He successfully defended that title twice before scoring a shutout twelve-round unanimous decision over Florante Condes, the all encompassing division gatekeeper and the former IBF minimumweight champion in an IBF title eliminator. This past March he won the IBF minimumweight title with yet another shut-out unanimous decision, in the process handing the then undefeated Raul Garcia his first official career defeat.
Donnie Nietes (Philippines) – 26-1-3, 15 KO’s
His nickname “Ahas” which is Tagalog for “snake” comes from the way he approaches the ring with a python around his neck. Fighting out of the orthodox stance, “Ahas” annexed the WBO minimumweight title way back in September 2007. He has made only three successful defenses of that title to date having experienced foe pull-outs on three separate occasions. His most recent win was an impressive 10th round stoppage of Jesus Silvestre in a non-title tiff. Before that he struggled to hold onto his title posting a curious split decision over the experienced and world-rated Manuel Vargas in a bout he looked to be in complete control of. He is expected to prevail against journeyman Mario Rodriguez in his next scheduled title defense.
Florante Condes (Philippines) – 23-5-1, 20 KO’s
“Little Pacquiao”, an alias that speaks to Condes’ crowd pleasing fighting style, stance and considerable punching power, is the former IBF minimumweight champion, having lost his title to Raul Garcia back in June 2008. Lost a wide unanimous decision to Nkosinathi Joyi in an IBF title eliminator back in June 2009 and has since somewhat fallen off the radar. He is currently scheduled to return on August 28th against tune-up foe Sofyan Effendi. Undoubtedly the division gatekeeper and the man to get by if one wishes to move forward towards an eliminator or title shot. He is wildly popular in the Philippines and another title run is not out of the question given his experience and time-proven resilience.
I cannot help but think of minimumweight as being in a state much like the cruiserweight division in that nobody or almost nobody talks about it. It is in fact a weight class with a lot of potentially explosive and entertaining match-ups, sporting an array of talented warriors from all around the globe. Take the time to catch a few of these fighters the next time you have the opportunity to watch them in action. I am certain you will come away impressed, entertained and infinitely more satisfied than if you had watched any of the big names today at heavyweight. Remember, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight that counts, but rather, the realization that sheer skill and sometimes dynamite often comes in small packages.
Source: ringsidereport.com
Promoters' silent treatment bad for boxing -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
The two most powerful promoters in boxing haven't spoken personally to each other since January.
Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum was angered that Golden Boy Promotions Chief Executive Richard Schaefer allowed implications to continue that Arum's prized fighter Manny Pacquiao had possibly used performance-enhancing drugs in the past. The implications originated from the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr., whom Schaefer has previously assisted in fight negotiations.
Just after the first of two failed negotiations to make a Mayweather-Pacquiao super-fight collapsed in January, Arum said his final conversation with Schaefer revolved around a pitch to make a third Pacquiao fight against Schaefer's Juan Manuel Marquez.
"Schaefer told me he wanted a 50-50 split of the purse, and that Manny had to go through random drug testing," Arum said. "There was no way."
Schaefer, who was lamenting his split with Arum after a news conference Tuesday and cracked, "Bring down this wall, Bob," said his original suggestion of terms for a Pacquiao-Marquez bout was just a starting point, nothing intended to offend. "That's called negotiation, that's the business," Schaefer said. "Make me another offer."
Both men suggested they're willing to make fights pitting boxers from their opposing stables, but the fact is that hasn't happened since January, and there's nothing on the future schedule of main events co-promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy.
"We've extended not just a few branches, but olive trees, I'm just not going to [do it] anymore," Schaefer said. "After awhile, you say, 'Let this guy be miserable,' and life goes on. I don't lose a minute of sleep over it."
Arum said Wednesday, "It's not the end of the world that I won't talk to him."
Arum said Schaefer owes Pacquiao "a sincere apology," but Schaefer, whose company retains a small percentage of rights to Pacquiao's purses, counters, "I never said [Pacuiao] is using performance-enhancing drugs." Pacquiao filed a pending defamation lawsuit against Mayweather and Schaefer's business partner, Oscar De La Hoya, for the alleged drug-use implications.
This strain has happened before, weakening the sport before a mediator repaired a 2007 Top Rank-Golden Boy dispute over Pacquiao's rights and bridged a co-promoted Pacquiao bout against Golden Boy's Marco Antonio Barrera.
Now, there's been an uproar, including one post-fight vent last month by HBO boxing analyst Max Kellerman, to stop the in-house promotions like last Saturday's Marquez-Juan Diaz Golden Boy show, a Sept. 18 Golden Boy card headlined by Shane Mosley and Sergio Mora, or plans for the Top Rank Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito card on Nov. 13.
Arum insists, "Nobody is saying we won't do business with them," contending Top Rank executives Todd duBoef or Carl Moretti could capably handle co-promotion talks with Schaefer. Arum dared a questioner to "give me one fight" boxing has been deprived because of the absence of dialogue between the promotional heads.
How about Pacquiao-Marquez III, or a later Miguel Cotto-Mosley II? And how much did it hurt attempts to stage Mayweather-Pacquiao that Arum and Schaefer aren't on speaking terms?
Yet, Arum dismissed Marquez as an immediate opponent and said Mosley "was sort of pathetic" in a May loss to Mayweather.
"If I have to do a fight with them, I will," Schaefer said. "I won't let childish behavior hurt the sport. I'm the CEO of this company, though. I make the deals. Top Rank can have anyone they want -- Todd or their secretary -- but they have to talk to me."
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
The two most powerful promoters in boxing haven't spoken personally to each other since January.
Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum was angered that Golden Boy Promotions Chief Executive Richard Schaefer allowed implications to continue that Arum's prized fighter Manny Pacquiao had possibly used performance-enhancing drugs in the past. The implications originated from the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr., whom Schaefer has previously assisted in fight negotiations.
Just after the first of two failed negotiations to make a Mayweather-Pacquiao super-fight collapsed in January, Arum said his final conversation with Schaefer revolved around a pitch to make a third Pacquiao fight against Schaefer's Juan Manuel Marquez.
"Schaefer told me he wanted a 50-50 split of the purse, and that Manny had to go through random drug testing," Arum said. "There was no way."Both men suggested they're willing to make fights pitting boxers from their opposing stables, but the fact is that hasn't happened since January, and there's nothing on the future schedule of main events co-promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy.
"We've extended not just a few branches, but olive trees, I'm just not going to [do it] anymore," Schaefer said. "After awhile, you say, 'Let this guy be miserable,' and life goes on. I don't lose a minute of sleep over it."
Arum said Wednesday, "It's not the end of the world that I won't talk to him."
Arum said Schaefer owes Pacquiao "a sincere apology," but Schaefer, whose company retains a small percentage of rights to Pacquiao's purses, counters, "I never said [Pacuiao] is using performance-enhancing drugs." Pacquiao filed a pending defamation lawsuit against Mayweather and Schaefer's business partner, Oscar De La Hoya, for the alleged drug-use implications.
This strain has happened before, weakening the sport before a mediator repaired a 2007 Top Rank-Golden Boy dispute over Pacquiao's rights and bridged a co-promoted Pacquiao bout against Golden Boy's Marco Antonio Barrera.
Now, there's been an uproar, including one post-fight vent last month by HBO boxing analyst Max Kellerman, to stop the in-house promotions like last Saturday's Marquez-Juan Diaz Golden Boy show, a Sept. 18 Golden Boy card headlined by Shane Mosley and Sergio Mora, or plans for the Top Rank Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito card on Nov. 13.
Arum insists, "Nobody is saying we won't do business with them," contending Top Rank executives Todd duBoef or Carl Moretti could capably handle co-promotion talks with Schaefer. Arum dared a questioner to "give me one fight" boxing has been deprived because of the absence of dialogue between the promotional heads.
How about Pacquiao-Marquez III, or a later Miguel Cotto-Mosley II? And how much did it hurt attempts to stage Mayweather-Pacquiao that Arum and Schaefer aren't on speaking terms?
Yet, Arum dismissed Marquez as an immediate opponent and said Mosley "was sort of pathetic" in a May loss to Mayweather.
"If I have to do a fight with them, I will," Schaefer said. "I won't let childish behavior hurt the sport. I'm the CEO of this company, though. I make the deals. Top Rank can have anyone they want -- Todd or their secretary -- but they have to talk to me."
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Pacquiao is huge betting favorite -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
Manny Pacquiao has been installed the huge favorite going into his November 13 clash with Antonio Margarito of Mexico.
Oddsmakers have installed Pacquiao as -525, meaning a $525 bet would only win $100.
In contrast, Margarito is a heavy underdog at +325 that a mere $100 bet would balloon to as much as $325 in case he wins.
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is in the process of wrapping up all the pertinent details, waiting word from a party in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, is it is indeed serious in bringing Pacquiao there.
Arum said Mike Koncz, who is Pacquiao’s adviser, has been in Abu Dhabi since Monday and will continue to do so until Wednesday or Thursday.
“Michael (Koncz) told me the talks turned out very good and he’s going to meet one or two more guys to determine if the fight is going to happen there,” said Arum on Tuesday from Los Angeles.
In the meantime, Arum has Dallas, Monterrey in Mexico and Las Vegas on standby.
Last March, Cowboys Stadium played host to Pacquiao’s fight with Joshua Clottey watched by over 51,000.
Arum has already penciled August 31 as the kickoff press conference for the Pacquiao fight.
Dallas, New York and Los Angeles will make up the itinerary of the press tour, said Arum, in the event a deal can’t be reached in Abu Dhabi.
Source: mb.com.ph
Manny Pacquiao has been installed the huge favorite going into his November 13 clash with Antonio Margarito of Mexico.
Oddsmakers have installed Pacquiao as -525, meaning a $525 bet would only win $100.
In contrast, Margarito is a heavy underdog at +325 that a mere $100 bet would balloon to as much as $325 in case he wins.
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is in the process of wrapping up all the pertinent details, waiting word from a party in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, is it is indeed serious in bringing Pacquiao there.
Arum said Mike Koncz, who is Pacquiao’s adviser, has been in Abu Dhabi since Monday and will continue to do so until Wednesday or Thursday.
“Michael (Koncz) told me the talks turned out very good and he’s going to meet one or two more guys to determine if the fight is going to happen there,” said Arum on Tuesday from Los Angeles.
In the meantime, Arum has Dallas, Monterrey in Mexico and Las Vegas on standby.
Last March, Cowboys Stadium played host to Pacquiao’s fight with Joshua Clottey watched by over 51,000.
Arum has already penciled August 31 as the kickoff press conference for the Pacquiao fight.
Dallas, New York and Los Angeles will make up the itinerary of the press tour, said Arum, in the event a deal can’t be reached in Abu Dhabi.
Source: mb.com.ph
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