Forty wishes on my 40th birthday -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

I turn 40 today. No need for cards or candles. But in the spirit of the day, here are 40 things I want in the sport of boxing:

1. Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. -- and no more excuses from either side.

2. For David Haye to shut his piehole and fight either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko.

3. Fewer titles.

4. And fewer sanctioning bodies, including the elimination of the WBC and WBA as presently constructed.

5. For the deal to make Devon Alexander against Timothy Bradley Jr. on Jan. 29 to get done ASAP.

6. Amir Khan against Marcos Maidana, with the winner to fight the Alexander-Bradley winner next.

7. To head to Montreal to see a showdown between Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute. Great ring entrances, for sure, and hopefully an even better fight. And, hopefully, one that doesn't take 16 months to get.

8. For networks to make fights that fans want to see every single time, instead of making some fights because of relationships with certain promoters or advisers.

9. A bigger budget for "Friday Night Fights."

10. An American amateur program that produces Olympic medalists and professional prospects.

11. Fifty Tomasz Adameks to fill up arenas around the country, even if the fights aren't on HBO.

12. For state commissions to have more uniform rules.

13. When HBO and Showtime put on fights, that we get at least two live bouts every time. No more single-fight telecasts.

14. For fighters to stop turning down big paydays. I'm talking to you, Alfredo Angulo and Alexander Povetkin, among others.

15. Angulo versus Miguel Cotto.

16. For people to stop asking me if Joe Calzaghe is going to unretire. I don't know and, frankly, I don't care. If he does, I'll think about it then.

17. For Evander Holyfield to call it a day. Ditto for Roy Jones Jr.

18. The abolition of rematch clauses.

19. An end to the pointless and boring boxing-versus-MMA debate.

20. To be able to go to the store and buy a fresh pack of boxing cards.

21. A Super Six-style tournament at featherweight involving Juan Manuel Lopez, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Chris John, Rafael Marquez, Celestino Caballero and Elio Rojas.

22. A legitimate fight of the year candidate, already.

23. Sergio Martinez-Paul Williams II. At 160 pounds and a 50-50 deal. Enough with the nonsense.

24. More Dmitry Pirog, please.

25. The return of HBO's countdown shows for big fights.

26. Andre Berto in a serious fight.

27. Zab Judah to stay serious about his return to junior welterweight. He'll do some damage if he's focused.

28. For folks to quit crying robbery after a legitimately close fight.

29. Juan Manuel Marquez against Michael Katsidis.

30. A dollar for every time a promoter, TV exec, manager or fighter has lied to me.

31. Nonito Donaire against either Fernando Montiel or Vic Darchinyan.

32. Peace between Golden Boy and Top Rank. Do it for the fans -- and also for guys like me who get caught in the middle.

33. The truth about how it all really went down with Antonio Margarito's hand wraps.

34. For Javier Capetillo to get what he deserves.

35. Another Yankee Stadium fight.

36. An American heavyweight who: a) can punch; b) can take a punch; c) has a personality; d) is in shape; e) who can sell tickets.

37. A satisfying conclusion to Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic, even with Mikkel Kessler having to pull out because of an eye injury.

38. To complete my collection of DVDs of every HBO and Showtime boxing telecast.

39. On a regular basis, quality pay-per-view undercards instead of the usual junk we get.

40. For a fighter to use this as his ring entrance music just once.

Source: espn.go.com

Margarito's license request greeted by Texas hospitality -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Antonio Margarito's request to have his boxing license reinstated by the California commission that originally revoked it when it was found he had plaster-caked inserts inside both of his hand wraps before a title fight last year was denied last week, with commissioners telling him they wouldn't consider his request again until next year.

Unlike California, Texas has the opportunity to profit from Margarito's next fight, to the likely tune of 75,000 people in Cowboys Stadium in a Nov. 13 super-welterweight title fight against the world's most popular boxer, Manny Pacquiao.

So although California didn't hesitate to give Margarito grief over a bundle of reasons, down to his lack of a sparring permit (a misstep the state doesn't enforce in other cases), Texas is poised to loosely reinstate Margarito without a hearing by the end of the week.

According to sources close to the negotiation, Texas authorities have all the information they need to reinstate Margarito in the form of a letter the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's head of combat sports requested from the Assn. of Boxing Commissions.

In the four-paragraph letter, ABC President Timothy Lueckenhoff and other board members advised to state commissions that "Margarito has fulfilled his obligations" to appear before California before seeking a license elsewhere "and thus he is now free to pursue licensure with any ABC member commission. There is nothing under the federal law that would prohibit consideration for licensure."

Dickie Cole, Texas' program manager of combat sports, told The Times this week that in his personal opinion, "If a man serves his time for his crime, he's served his time and needs to be released."

Cole won't personally decide Margarito's fate, but he has worked behind the scenes to assist Margarito promoter Bob Arum and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in their effort to place the fight in Texas.

Cole, 79, went further in defending Margarito's reinstatement, assessing that though Margarito broke rules forbidding the presence of foreign material in hand wraps, the tainted knuckle pads might have been there only to protect Margarito's hands.

"My personal opinion is what he had on his hands doesn't give you any advantage over an opponent," Cole said. "Do I personally think it'd help his hands or be detrimental to his opponent? No. It'd have no effect on his punching power. I wonder how many of those [California] commissioners ever had a hand wrapped before."

Cole noted that "the only gentleman on that committee who's been involved in boxing [John Frierson] voted to give [Margarito] the license. The others are just political appointees who don't really know the sport."

Cole's point is that Margarito would've gotten "spanked" in Texas too, but that he's been sufficiently punished by being held out of fighting in the U.S. for more than 17 months, "has a family to care for," and deserves to be reinstated because he's denied knowing the plaster inserts were inside his wraps in the first place.

"I'm not a policeman," Cole said, "but it appeared the evidence against him was weak. I don't think the kid is a bad person. Now, technically, he's legally able to fight here."

Margarito's team hasn''t sent a similar license request to Nevada. But for the sake of maintaining a positive relationship, Pacquiao's manager, Michael Koncz, had discussions Tuesday with MGM/Mirage officials and Keith Kizer, executive officer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, to let them know Pacquiao is deeply appreciative of their past involvement in his fights.

"He told me Manny wants to fight in Las Vegas, and nowhere else," Kizer said.

Koncz said he realizes the fight against Margarito appears bound for Texas, but he wanted to express that, "Manny likes the city of Las Vegas, how they've always treated him well there, especially Mandalay Bay bending over backward for him. I can't force Margarito to apply here, but I've expressed Manny's thoughts, of how, if we had a choice, we'd fight here. But we have no complaints over Dallas."

Continuing the theme of this fight, Koncz was just playing politics.

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Exclusive Interview With UFC President Dana White - "Couture-Toney Is A FIGHT And Anything Can Happen In A Fight!" -- Eastside Boxing

By James Slater, Eastside Boxing

Dana White, the president of The UFC, is, like many of us, looking ahead with intrigue towards this Saturday's James Toney-Randy Couture "Boxing Vs. MMA" contest. White was literally hounded by Toney, and he finally granted "Lights Out" his wish, and got him a big MMA fight.

Now, with some other great match-ups also set for the card in Boston, Dana hopes for a good action bout between the men who are legends in their respective sports.

Very kindly taking the time to call me up so as to get his opinions on UFC, MMA and boxing on a boxing website, Dana had the following things to say earlier today:

James Slater: How are you, sir? It's great to be able to speak with you..

Dana White: I'm good, how are you? It's good that we got top speak with a boxing web site, to get you guys' take on the Couture-Toney fight.

J.S: It's our pleasure. First of all, are you looking forward to Saturday's "Boxing Vs. MMA" fight?

D.W: Yes I am. I was with James Toney, we just did a video blog, and he is in the best shape I think I've seen him in years; he's been doing his training. The thing about this fight - even though I fully expect Randy Couture to win, probably by double-legging him and putting him down near the fence and submitting him, something like that - is it is a FIGHT! Anything can happen when two guys are throwing punches at each other. And the reason this fight is happening is because Toney's nuts! He's crazy. He chased me around and then asked for this fight and now he's got it - and now he has to fight!

J.S: You are expecting a good fight then, not a farce as some people have been concerned about?

D.W: Yes. As far as a farce, Randy Couture is a legend, he's been around forever, and the same thing with James Toney. As I say, this is a fight! Anything can happen. But what I did was, I built a great card around it. We have Frankie Edgar-B.J Penn-two, and we have guys like Nate Diaz, Marcus Davis and Kerry Florian in action. So even if Couture does put Toney down and submits him in half a minute, there are still those great fight to see.

J.S: Do you have any regrets at having signed Toney?

D.W: No, not at all. He chased after me, he picked this fight and now he's gotta fight. I'm a fight fan, and I respect James Toney; he's a real guy.

J.S: The fight sure has got a lot of people talking. I am hugely intrigued by it, I must say. I'm not sure how many buys big UFC cards get on pay-per-view, but is it out of the question that Saturday's card gets a million buys?

D.W: It's not out of the question at all. Listen, if you are a fight fan, whether it's boxing or MMA - and I'm a huge fight fan, a boxing fan and historian myself - you will love this card. The thing is, even though I think Couture will win, I don't know for sure. When people say things like, 'oh, who would've won, Ali or Tyson?' no-one can say; the only way to find out is to put 'em in the ring and see. You can break down stats and if you do, Randy Couture will come out on top because he has more tools. But who knows for sure? Saturday night we'll find out!

J.S: Just talking about the Penn-Edgar rematch. Was Penn ill back when he lost in that upset?

D.W: Who knows if he was ill? Many guys have fought in the past when they were ill and had an off night. But Frankie Edgar is one bad little dude, and B.J Penn is one of the best ever. They both have something to prove.

J.S: With the Toney-Couture fight; whoever wins, it won't prove which is the superior sport, boxing or MMA, will it?

D.W: No, it won't. But that started [the debate about which sport was superior] with James Toney. He said Dana White had been shooting his mouth off about MMA being superior, and he said he was the only one who had the balls to try MMA. So that's how that started. I'm not going to tell you that MMA is the most superior fighting sport on earth. Toney said a boxer would beat an MMA fighter in boxing, and I don't dispute that. But boxing is just one tiny piece of MMA, and he challenged us at our sport.

J.S: What would it mean to you if Toney did win on Saturday? Would you try and make a rematch?

D.W: No, there wouldn't be a rematch. We'd put Toney in with another MMA guy, to see how far he can go. And Toney is 42, Couture is 47, so Toney does have the advantage in age. I think the boxing world would love it if Toney won!

J.S: Do you also feel, Dana, that IF Toney won, or even if he put on a great show, that more boxers would "invade" UFC?

D.W: Yeah, I think there probably would be a few more boxers coming out of the woodwork if that happened - and why not?

J.S: Are there any boxers out there now who you think would make the crossover to MMA well?

D.W: I think it would have to be guys with a wrestling background. But let's get past Saturday and see what happens.

J.S: Am I right in saying Boston is your hometown?

D.W: That's right.

J.S: And this is the first big card to take place there since you've been UFC president?

D.W: Yeah, it is. I'm real excited.

J.S: Are there any other boxing or MMA fights that you are looking forward to in the coming months?

D.W: We have a bunch of great fights in MMA. With boxing, I'm looking forward to the one fight the whole world wants to see, which is Mayweather-Pacquiao.

J.S: This is one of the things some boxing fans have talked about; how the big fights get made so much easier in MMA compared to boxing. Is that why people have/are making the switch do you feel?

D.W: Well, the big fights do get made in MMA - and also, you get a bunch of great fights on one card, not just one big fight. The big fights do still get made in boxing, but only once in a blue moon. That said, there really is no reason to switch. If you're a fight fan, you'll love UFC, but there is no reason you cannot go back and watch the big boxing matches when they take place.

J.S: Just talking about Pacquiao-Mayweather; do you think it will ever happen?

D.W: I don't know, man. I don't think Floyd wants that fight. In my opinion, he just doesn't look like he wants that fight.

J.S: Well, it's been great speaking with you, Dana. Can I ask you, whoever wins, is there any chance Toney-Couture goes the distance, or do you see a definite stoppage?

D.W: There's no way in hell this fight goes the distance! (laughs).

J.S: As you say, Toney asked for this fight and now he's got it. We'll all be tuning in, I just hope he doesn't get hurt! Also, I hope this article gets some good intelligent comments from the fans. Some boxing fans seem to see UFC as a threat!

D.W: Well, as long as they're interested in us. Thanks for having an open mind and putting us on a boxing site. There's no reason for the two sports to rival one another.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Freddie Roach: Ban was too lenient on Manny Pacquiao opponent Antonio Margarito -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

Freddie Roach has hinted that he believes Antonio Margarito, Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent, was treated leniently, and could have been banned for life.

Margarito was banned for a year by the California State Athletic Commission for illegal hand wraps. The Mexican has just re-applied for his boxing license.

How does Roach feel about Margarito’s ban ? Speaking exclusively to Telegraph Sport, Roach explained: “Well, you know, I guess he did his time, I guess everyone deserves a second chance but they can’t get away with that against us. It won’t happen in this fight, I can tell you. The Commission gave him a one-year suspension, but deep down, you know, I’m the kind of person who thinks that if you do something like that, you should be suspended for life.”

“Panama Lewis was suspended for life. I thought the sentence [for Margarito] was light.”

Roach leaves for the first half of Pacquiao’s next training camp ten days into September. “I’ll be out in The Philippines from Sept 11. We’ll train out there and have four weeks here in Los Angeles, and the last five days if it ends up in Texas. He [Margarito] is a big, strong guy. I’m not overly worried about him. I’m not a big Margarito fan. Manny will have too much for him. It’s just the size I’m concerned about, and what weight we have it at. I’d like it at 147lbs, but it will most likely be at catch weight between welter[weight] and junior middleweight.”

“You know what kind of size Manny is. He’ll come in at 149 lbs in the ring. He can’t come in too much heavier than that, and anyway, any extra weight would not help him. Manny will start fast with this guy, and we will finish with him fast.”

Roach is in regular contact with Pacquiao, immersed in politics for the present. “He’s really really enjoying trying to make things better in his country. He told me the time was going quickly, and that it was a lot of hard work. He wants to change people’s perceptions and their ambitions in life.”

“I’m really looking forward to working with him again because his boxing is going to be a break from politics. The Congress will give him enough time to get ready for boxing, because everyone in The Philippines wishes him well in the ring.”

Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

King Can Work With Mayweather's Handlers to Make Pacquiao Fight -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Legendary promoter, Don King, told FanHouse on Sunday that in order to sign Floyd Mayweather, he would be willing to work with both the fighter's adviser, Al Haymon, and Golden Boy Promotions, the organization that has handled the unbeaten, six-time titlist's past four bouts.

King said that he has worked with Haymon in the past, such as with former heavyweight world champion, Lamon Brewster, that he has attempted to contact Haymon and that he would do so again on Sunday.

"I tried to contact him about two weeks ago. I've been trying. I'm going to make another attempt to contact Al Haymon today. It shouldn't be a question," said King. "That's the strange part about this situation. This is is the strangest thing that I've ever seen that we can't pick up a phone and grab each other and say, 'hey, man, let's go.'"

The 79-year-old King has been wooing Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts) recently for the chance to make a mega bout with seven-division champion and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king Manny Pacquiao, something that Haymon and Golden Boy Promotions were not able to accomplish twice during failed negotiations with Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank Promotions.

Golden Boy Promotions has had a hand in Mayweather's past four victories comprised of those over Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley, for which the boxer "has made over $120 million," according to Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions.

"I don't know about replacing Golden Boy Promotions. 'Replacing' would be the wrong word. But I believe that I could work in addition to," said King.

"You got a nice banker in [Golden Boy CEO,] Richard Schaefer, who has done a nice job in his capacity and working with the fighters that he has had. And [president] Oscar De La Hoya, you can't knock that," said King. "I can work with anybody, it don't matter who they are, where they come from, what color their skin is, I can work with anybody. We don't have to like each other, it's about working together to accomplish a goal."

King said that he spoke to Mayweather when the fighter called to wish him a happy birthday on his 79th birthday on Aug. 20, and that he is expecting to speak with the fighter again over the next few days.

"Floyd is okay. Floyd is doing good," King said from his his Florida home, adding that Mayweather "will be down here," and, "I'll be talking to him again," in addition to, "I can make the Pacquiao fight with [Top Rank Promotions CEO] Bob Arum in a blink of an eye."

In the meantime, Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) is scheduled to pursue his eighth title in as many different weight classes on Nov. 13 against ex-titlist Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KOs) at the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in their clash for the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt.

"There shouldn't even be a question of what we can do with Floyd if everybody means to do the right thing. It shouldn't be a case of you have to leave somebody to come to somebody. It should be that we should be able to work together," said King.

"It's indicative that you know that I'm the best promoter out there, and I say that humbly and with humility and not bragging. It's just a fact," said King. "But here we are with two guys -- one a fighter and one an adviser that I'm trying to transcend earthly bounds with. The other one [Haymon] should just jump on board and, say, 'Okay, let's do it,' especially since we know each other."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Marco Huck Stops Matt Godrey in Fifth Round -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Serbian-born, WBO cruiser weight (200 pounds) champion Marco "Captain" Huck of Germany earned his 11th straight win, and his ninth knockout during that span as well as his fourth straight stoppage victory with Saturday night's fifth round knockout of Rhode Island's Matt Godfrey in the fourth defense of his title before his hometown fans in Erfurt, Thüringen, Germany.

The 25-year-old Huck (30-1, 23 knockouts) has not lost since December of 2007, when promotional stablemate and present IBF king, Steve Cunningham (23-2, 12 KOs), stopped him in the 12th round.

Huck was coming off of May's ninth-round knockout of American Brian Minto, whom he floored in the previous round under a barrage of blows and dropped in the third, and, the fifth rounds, as well.

Huck floored the 29-year-old Godfrey (20-2, 10 KOs), of Providence, once each in the second and third rounds, and twice in the fifth and final round before referee Genaro Rodriguez ended it.

Godfrey had won four straight since suffering his lone defeat by 12-round, unanimous decision at the hands of Rudolf Kraj (14-1, 10 KOs) in March of 2008.

In his next bout, in Aug. of 2008, Godfrey got off the canvas in the third round of an eventual fourth-round knockout of Emmanuel Nwodo, and he was coming off of September's 10-round split-decision victory over Michael Simms.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Floyd Mayweather JR Vs Manny Pacquiao: Don King Saving the Super Fight -- Ringside Report

By Joe Wilson, Ringside Report

It’s a no-brainer, when you put two of the biggest attractions in boxing together and add Don King to the equation; what you get is a “mega fight.” King is king when it comes to something this big! I must admit, that I am not one to bet much on any sport, but I would go out on a limb and say that I would bet the farm, if you placed Floyd Mayweather, JR., 41-0, 25 KO’s vs. Manny Pacquiao, 51-3-2, 38 KO’s, and add Don King to the equation, it would be a “Done Deal.”

King would not let a fight of this magnitude, get away. Say what you want about his past and the outcome of some of his fights, which some have been very questionable with the judges and how they scored rounds, he still has what it takes to promote a big fight. There is no doubt that if Don King would have been involved in the negotiations of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao from the beginning, by now we would be getting ready to watch them fight for a second time, in other words—we would be preparing ourselves for the big rematch!

Just recently, King and Mayweather, JR., have been seen hanging out together on a few occasions. There has been a rumor that Mayweather, JR., was not pleased with the way Golden Boy Promotions handled his business regarding the Manny Pacquiao negotiations. That breakdown in communications or lack there of, has lead Mayweather, JR., to look elsewhere for a promoter. Of course, there is only one available that is capable of handling a fight of this magnitude and that person is Don King.

Top Rank Promotions, Bob Arum did not hesitate to place Pacquiao against one of his other fighters as soon as the fight with Mayweather, JR., fell through. It was as if, he had this all planned from the beginning. Arum’s intentions were not to spend much time, if any trying to put a fight together with Team Mayweather. Instead Arum had Antonio Margarito 38-6, 27 KO’s, sitting in the dark trenches waiting. However, in the dark trenches is where he should stay, after been caught using “Plaster of Paris” in his gloves before the fight against Shane Mosley.

Many fight fans felt that Margarito should have been banned from the sport of boxing for life. Just recently one of my colleagues and Ringside Report’s very own, Geno McGahee wrote a dynamic piece regarding Bob Arum, Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao and what this fight says about boxing. That article sums up the character of all three. It’s sad to see how far one would go for money, but it does not get much clearer than that article.

It seems with these three, reputation means nothing. Out of all people, Manny Pacquiao would be the last that comes to mind when it comes to something like this. He has carried himself very well climbing the ladder of success and his reign to be the best boxer on the planet. I must admit, this fight tampers with his legacy. No way should Margarito get the opportunity to receive a payday this big. No way! There are a lot of young competitors in this weight class that deserve a shot at Manny, but Bob Arum will not allow that. He wants all of Manny’s fights to stay in-house.

Again, if Floyd Mayweather, JR., had Don King onboard from the beginning, we would probably be approaching this fight for a second time. King and his experience in promoting a fight would have put Bob Arum’s feet to the fire. No way would Arum be able to walk away from a fight of this magnitude a second time without losing a leg or an arm, “well not exactly,” but close. King would not have made this easy for Arum to replace Mayweather, JR., with one of his other two fighters (Margarito or Cotto) to face Pacquiao, without fighting Mayweather, JR., at least once.

Don King has a good track record when faced with a challenge like this. The two fighters may not agree on everything in the contract, but King has a way of tying up the loose ends. Even though a tough battle will go on behind close doors with King and Arum, which could last for a few days, but you can rest assure once that door opened and the two of them walked out, they would definitely be announcing the “big fight.”

King has made it known that he is very interested in handling this fight for Team Mayweather. He has also said that not every promoter has what it takes to promote a fighter like Floyd. King believes that Floyd is the baddest dude on the planet, and should be treated as such. King blames Golden Boy Promotions for not representing Mayweather, JR., the way he deserves to be represented and because of that, the media has looked at Mayweather, JR., as being afraid of Pacquiao. In reality that is far from the truth, says King.

It’s no secret that nothing in boxing comes close to the size of this event. King has also made it known, that he would do something special for this fight, if Mayweather, JR., decides to sign with him. As we all know, King has not been the center of attention since his days with Mike Tyson. Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank Promotions have been in the center of the biggest fights for several years now here in United States. King has had to travel abroad to promote big fights with fighters who are lesser known here in the States.

This would be just the fight that would place King right back in spot light that he once enjoyed. This fight offers him everything. This would be a big lost for Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer and their Golden Boy label, if Floyd jumps ship. It seems that the relationship between Schaefer and Arum is not on the level people think it is. This fight should have happened already. It really doesn’t need much marketing. Like I mentioned in one of my past articles “if it was a fruit, it would have fallen off the tree already, it can only get so ripe.”

Don King is like a wizard holding a wand, when it comes to promoting a big fight. If he signs Floyd Mayweather, JR., there is no doubt in my mind that this fight will be prolonged any longer than it has. King will make it happen. He will call a meeting with Bob Arum and seal the deal quick! Arum knows he has to hurry up and make as much money as he can with his in-house fighters, because when King signs Floyd he is coming right after Manny.

King will stop at nothing to get this fight. He knows this fight can help him rebuild his reputation as the promoter he once was. He knows this will be one way to win over fight fans that he seems to have lost over the past years. When it comes to this fight, it will be like giving a kid some candy. King will make negotiations look easy, even if he has to give away some of his profit, to make it happen. I do believe that he would. King would go into this fight looking at the big picture. That would be—giving the fans what they want.

Don King wants back in. This is definitely the fight that will give him that break. I can see the headlines now. “After hours of negotiations “Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is finally signed, thanks to Don King Promotions. Even if I’m daydreaming a little, I do believe King, has all the witty skills to make this fight happen. What ever it is that he does behind close doors; rather in trouble with the law or winning lawsuits placed against him, he seems to always come out as dapper as we were going in.

Would Don King be good for this fight? Without hesitation I would say, yes! This fight needs a savior. Knowing the history of Floyd and Don, they wouldn’t just be hanging out with each other, because they have run out of friends to hang out with. These two guys need each other like no other time before, and I would be willing to bet they have big plans for the near future.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Texas Must Stop Antonio Margarito from Fighting Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse

By David Whitley, FanHouse

Boxing and respectability have never been close friends. So you'd think a fine, upstanding NFL owner wouldn't want to mess with a fight that will be dipped in sleaze.

Unless the owner is Jerry Jones, of course.

The Cowboys' boss never met a bum he wouldn't sign or a dollar he wouldn't chase. So in the tradition of Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson and Terrell Owens, we bring you Antonio Margarito vs. Manny Pacquiao.

It's not official yet. But don't be surprised if the shady planets align and Cowboys Stadium plays host to the fight on Nov. 13.

As to why the image-conscious NFL should care, Margarito (above) is a combination of Pacman, Spygate and an intentional crackback block. Society doesn't expect much out of boxing, but Margarito pulled a stunt in January 2009 that would have embarrassed Mike Tyson.

His fists were taped with plaster of Paris before fighting Shane Mosley, essentially turning them into loaded weapons. Mosley's camp discovered the ploy before the bell, which was lucky for both fighters.

Mosley could have been maimed, and Margarito could have been sent to jail. As it was, he merely had his boxing license suspended for a year.

Now he wants to fight again, but the California State Athletic Commission voted 5-1 on Wednesday to deny his application for reinstatement. It apparently was not impressed by Margarito's attitude over the past 19 months.

He sparred in a gym without getting the required license. He never apologized for the near-crime. In his one bout (held in Mexico, which didn't recognize the U.S. ban), Margarito grinned and twirled his fists at the TV cameras, seemingly laughing the whole thing off.

He maintains that he had no idea his trainer put the plaster mixture on the tape. Yes, and Pacman had no idea who shot the bouncer at the strip club.

"This was a sordid incident in California history," deputy attorney general Karen Chappelle told the California commission. "It strains credulity that he didn't know anything about the illegal hand wraps."

How strained was it? Even David Letterman weighed in after the fight with "Top Ten Reasons Antonio Margarito Used Plaster of Paris." Among my favorites:

10. I thought I was in LA to get my hands cemented for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

7. I was only commemorating the 26th anniversary of the Luis Resto incident.

That last one really isn't funny. Resto removed padding from his gloves and taped his fists with plaster before a bout against Billy Collins Jr. He was caught and served 2 1/2 years for assault, conspiracy and criminal possession of a deadly weapon.

Collins' vision was permanently damaged. He couldn't fight again, became depressed and eventually drove his car off a cliff.

So why are Jones, Pacquiao and promoter Bob Arum associating with him?

Money is in the air, and they're scrambling like the strippers after Pacman made it rain.

(Please forgive me for conjuring the image of Jones in a G-string).

Everything was pretty much set, then those meddling Californians denied Margarito a license. The only alternative now is to try to get reinstated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Boxing commissions usually honor the rulings of other states, but why do I get the feeling the boys down in Austin will decide poor Margarito has suffered enough?

Jones is still jazzed over the 50,944 fans who showed up at Cowboys Stadium for the Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight in March. He figures the Bad Boy from Mexico will be an irresistible draw to Texas' Hispanic community.

Of course, he also figured Johnson would solidify the defensive line once he got out of house arrest. And T.O. would be the unifying force that would bring Dallas a Super Bowl. And Pacman would be a great addition to the Cowboys' secondary.

He wasn't, even before he got into a fight with the babysitter who had been assigned to keep him out of trouble.

I don't expect much of a social conscience out of Jones, much less Arum. Pacquiao, however, is a revered lawmaker in the Philippines. He shouldn't be dragged down to this level, but this Pacman seems willing to do anything to get another title.

Then there's Margarito, who probably cheated his way into a marquee fight against Mosley. He could have killed Mosley if he hadn't been caught. He's shown no remorse. Now he's in line for a multi-million dollar payday.

I'd say it could only happen in boxing, but you know Jerry Jones. If the fight falls through he'll probably sign Margarito as a defensive back.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

De La Hoya sells Marquez as Pacquiao's next fight -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Oscar De La Hoya has railed against the possible reinstatement of Antonio Margarito, who was re-denied a license Wednesday by the California State Athletic Commission.

Even though Margarito has now taken his case for reinstatement to Texas, where he's poised to fight Manny Pacquiao Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas, De La Hoya said in a Thursday conference call that Margarito should be kept out of the ring for nearly taking gloves loaded with plaster inserts into his failed January 2009 welterweight title defense against Shane Mosley.

Former world champion De La Hoya insisted that fighters know if there's something amiss inside their hand wraps, like the presence of plaster inserts.

Promoter De La Hoya, of course, has another reason for saying that, starting with the fact that he wants his fighter, Juan Manuel Marquez, to fight Pacquiao for a third time instead.

"The case I want to make is that Marquez is right there, already licensed," De La Hoya said.

Marquez fought Pacquiao to a stirring draw in 2004, then was defeated by the Filipino superstar in a narrow split decision in 2008.

In July, Marquez made a strong case for getting another shot at Pacquiao by defending his lightweight title impressively against Juan Diaz.

But Pacquiao and Margarito are promoted by Bob Arum of Top Rank, and Arum hasn't spoken to the chief executive of De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, Richard Scahefer, since January, when they first failed to make a Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super-fight.

"We feel if Golden Boy and Top Rank can make big fights, it's a win-win situation for everyone -- the fighters and the fans," De La Hoya said. "We're going to do what's best for the fans."

A Marquez-Pacquiao bout would face intense negotiation over which weight it would be fought at -- with Marquez weighing 135 pounds for his July bout and Pacquiao planning to fight Margarito at 154 -- along with the purse-split questions.

A Top Rank representative told The Times on Thursday that a Golden Boy representative has yet to contact Top Rank about making the fight.

So Pacquiao is moving full steam ahead toward plans to fight Margarito, hopeful that Texas buys Margarito's account that he had no idea his since-fired trainer Javier Capetillo had put the inserts atop both of his hands.

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

Manny Pacquiao's Lawsuit Ongoing Vs. Floyd Mayweather, Golden Boy -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

A lawsuit filed in late December by seven-division champion and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) titlist Manny Pacquiao, which sought compensatory and punitive damages for defamation of character, and named six-time, five-division titlist Floyd Mayweather Jr., officials from Golden Boy Promotions and others, still is ongoing, according to the lead attorney whose firm is handling the case.

At the time of the suit, which lists Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya, CEO and president, respectively, of Golden Boy Promotions, as well as Floyd Mayweather Sr., his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, Pacquiao and Mayweather had been tentatively slated for a March 13 bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, having agreed on a 50-50 split of the revenue, as well as eight-ounce gloves and a clash at the welterweight limit rather than a catch weight.

"The Pacquiao case is still going on. The court has motions in front of it and it hasn't made a ruling on any of them yet," said senior attorney Daniel Petrocelli, of Los Angeles-based O'Melveny and Myers law firm.

"Oscar De La Hoya's deposition was taken, and Richard Schaefer's deposition was taken limited to the motions that they filed," said Petrocelli, who gained a wrongful death civil conviction against O.J. Simpson in 1997.

"Their testimony was presented to the court in relative part and in relation to the motions that are in front of the judge right now," said Petrocelli. "We think that it will go to trial, but given how the process works, it won't be anytime this year, but probably sometime next year. There is no schedule set."

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 knockouts) is slated to face 32-year-old Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 knockouts) on Nov. 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, where Pacquiao would pursue his record eighth crown in as many different weight classes with the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) crown being on the line.

Floyd Mayweather Sr.: Manny Pacquiao on supplements, steroids

On Wednesday, Petrocelli represented Margarito during a hearing with the California State Athletic Commission and his failed attempt to regain a license that was revoked in February of 2009 stemming from a hand-wrapping scandal in relation to his ninth-round knockout loss to Shane Mosley in January of 2009. Margarito has applied for a license in Texas.

"We're involved in all aspects, but we don't know what the next step is," said Petrocelli. "We're going to be getting together with [Top Rank Promotions' CEO] Bob Arum and [Top Rank president] Todd duBoef and work all of that out. We really need to sit down and analyze what happened [Wednesday] and figure out what our next step is."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com