Pacquiao asserts himself as pay-per-view star -- USA Today

By Dave Skretta, The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Manny Pacquiao is not simply the best boxer in the world. He's also the sport's biggest box office attraction.

Pacquiao's comprehensive destruction of Antonio Margarito for a vacant junior middleweight title on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium generated at least 1.15 million buys and $64 million domestic revenue, according to figures announced Tuesday by HBO Sports.

Those numbers are expected to increase slightly once all the figures are counted, but Pacquiao already is assured of his third straight year with at least one fight breaking the 1 million mark.

"It wasn't even on the right-hand side of the computer spreadsheet," said HBO vice president Mark Taffet, whose job includes handling pay-per-view broadcasts, when asked whether the numbers exceeded his expectations. "It's an outstanding number."

Pacquiao's victory over Oscar De La Hoya in 2008 generated 1.25 million buys, and his knockout of Miguel Cotto last year did 1.2 million. Taffet said his last five fights combined have generated at least 5.1 million buys, putting Pacquiao on par with De La Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the biggest earners in pay-per-view history.

Of that group, the Filipino icon is the only non-American.

"He's become a world figure, that's what differentiates it from the superstars that preceded him," Taffet said. "And his coverage is not just in sports media. He's transcended sport, to the point where he's the first non-American to generate these kinds of numbers."

Pacquiao also generated 700,000 buys for a lopsided decision earlier this year over Joshua Clottey, a fighter who has virtually no name recognition beyond the most ardent boxing fans.

Those same fans are hoping the next fight for Pacquiao is against someone virtually everybody recognizes: Mayweather. The two sides have failed twice to reach an agreement on what could be the richest fight in boxing history, and now with Mayweather's legal trouble in Las Vegas, the matchup is looking increasingly unlikely for next year.

"Mayweather, it can't be compared to any other fight that can conceivably be made," said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, comparing the fight to the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight in 1971.

"That fight would be like the Ali-Frazier of our time. And you know, Ali-Frazier in 1971 was the biggest fight really of all time, at that point. The same thing would be said for Manny and Floyd this time, but you know, it takes two to make the fight."

Arum said he's flying to the Philippines in December to celebrate Pacquiao's birthday, and at that point plans to discuss potential opponents. But he conceded in a phone interview with The Associated Press late Tuesday that he's not optimistic about Mayweather for the spring.

"Manny is there, he wants to do the fight, and Floyd for whatever reason is not prepared to fight him, so we have to go on to the next best thing if Floyd remains unavailable," Arum said. "We'll see who's available and what the terms are and then we'll select an opponent. Hopefully it's Mayweather, but as the day goes by, it's not looking good."

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: usatoday.com

Pacquiao willing to take on Martinez, Mayweather -- ABS-CBN News

abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines - People's Champ Manny Pacquiao is returning to a hero's welcome at the House of Representatives on Monday after winning a historic 8th boxing world title in as many divisions.

It will be the first time that Pacquiao will be feted by Congress as one of its own. The fighting congressman of Sarangani will receive the Congressional Medal of Distinction from his own peers later today.

In an interview, Pacquiao said he is excited to meet his fellow congressmen and share the joy of bringing honor to the country.

"Naghahanda na daw sila, naghanda daw ang Congress para sa akin, so excited ako," he said he said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda.

The Sarangani congressman said he also wants to resume his legislative duties and apply the same discipline he applies in training to his new role as congressman. He downplayed criticism that he is doing too much balancing his responsibilities as a boxer and a lawmaker.

"Kapag mahal mo ang trabaho mo, gusto mo...Some people work 3-4 hours and say, 'That's it. That's my whole day. I need to take a rest.' For me, I will train 3-4 hours and then I still have a lot of time. Ang isang araw para sa akin ay 12 hours," "

Pacquiao said paperwork has piled up in his office after he started training for his fight against the "Tijuana Tornado" Antonio Margarito. The People's Champ defeated Margarito via unanimous decision last November 13.

Pacquiao said he is backing the passage of an anti-human trafficking law as well as building a provincial hospital in Sarangani.

"We really need to wipe out human trafficking because it is so prevalent and victimizes a lot of people. I also want to put up a hospital in our province as well as livelihood programs for the people in my district. These are the projects closest to my heart," he said.

Mayweather, Mosley, Martinez

Pacquiao reiterated that he is not hanging up his boxing gloves and is good for another fight after 6 months.

Asked which boxer he would like to take on, he said he would take on anybody in the ring including World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. The Argentinean Martinez retained his WBC middleweight belt after knocking out American Paul Williams with an impressive second-round punch on Saturday.

Pacquiao said he would most likely fight Martinez below 150 pounds.

He said he is also willing to take on Shane Mosley "since he's a good fighter and a champion."

He also said he will not hesitate to fight the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. if the latter agrees to fight him. "No problem. That would be a good fight."

He thumbed down a rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez "because no one would watch it."

He said fighting Marquez would be easy but that he is unsure if there would be enough people who would watch it on pay-per-view. He also said he wanted a guaranteed price if his promoter decides that he should fight Marquez.

"OK naman ako kapag Marquez. Usually kasi involve ako sa promotion and also the Top Rank, kung gusto nila ng Marquez, mas madali. Madali lang sa akin yun, mas madaling laban kaya lang sila ang magpo-promote. Solohin nila ang promotion bigyan nila kami ng guaranteed price, walang problema, kung malugi man, walang problema," he said.

Pacquiao said he continues to improve in the ring and could easily do 1-2 fights before he retires.

Asked if he wants an "easy or hard fight" next time, he said: "It depends. Depends if it's going to be an easy fight. Sometimes it's a hard fight. Maybe there are no more easy fights."

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Underneath Pacman's crown lies a halo -- San Antonio Express

By John Whisler, San Antonio Express

The congressman delivered a beating so severe, it landed his opponent in the hospital. But in dominating Antonio Margarito last week at Cowboys Stadium, Manny Pacquiao also showed he has a compassionate side.

This is a well-known fact in the Philippines, where the beloved boxer and politician makes a habit of giving away much of his wealth in an effort to help the poor.

But until his taming of the Tijuana Tornado, many in America had not seen the kinder, gentler Pacquiao.

For most of their WBC super welterweight title fight, Pacquiao pounded the bigger but slower Margarito with astounding ease.

Then in the late rounds, the lion became a lamb.

After Margarito's eyes were nearly swollen shut and his face became a bloody mask, the champ began to fear for his opponent's safety.

“I try to get the referee to talk to the doctor,” Pacquiao said. “I didn't want to damage him permanently. That is not what boxing is about.”

That's not the end of it. Failing to get the fight stopped, Pacquiao took pity on the Mexican slugger, letting up in the final round so as to not inflict any more punishment.

“Manny's a very compassionate person,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer.

Filipinos worldwide have known this for years. Now the rest of the world knows, too. His treatment of Margarito at the end of their fight was a fascinating subplot in what otherwise was a lopsided — and vastly overhyped — bout.

More Manny: Pacquiao revealed another side in the fight. He's also a master showman. In the sixth round, already well ahead on points, Pacquiao lay on the ropes and let Margarito pound him with body shots.

It almost proved costly. Pacquiao was hurt and later had to be examined for possible rib injuries.

“I wanted to fight toe-to-toe and make the fight exciting for the fans,” Pacquiao said afterward.

Cole responds: Some have criticized referee Laurence Cole for not halting the fight after it became clear Margarito was taking a beating.

Cole says he looked for a way to do just that.

“I was trying to find a place to stop it,” the veteran referee said. “But he was still moving and punching strong.”

Cole held up two fingers and asked Margarito to count them. When he responded correctly, Cole let the fight continue.

He said ring doctors examined Margarito between the last several rounds and never asked him to stop the bout.

Margarito fine: Surgery to repair Margarito's fractured right orbital bone was deemed a success, and the fighter was released from Dallas' Methodist Hospital on Wednesday.

Paging Floyd: Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez appear to be the leading candidates as the next opponent for Pacquiao. However, the champ's camp wants Floyd Mayweather Jr., as does just about everyone else on the planet.

But given Mayweather's legal woes — he's facing charges of felony domestic battery — Money May might be tied up for a while.

jwhisler@express-news.net

Source: mysanantonio.com

Ref forces Manny Pacquiao to batter Antonio Margarito -- Boston Herald

By George Kimball, Boston Herald

When the Texas boxing commission confirmed its outlaw status by granting a license to the disgraced Antonio Margarito two months ago, we spoofed the news with a column for TheSweetScience.com purportedly announcing that another boxing pariah, Panama Lewis, would train Margarito for his fight with Manny Pacquiao, and augmented the joke by whimsically predicting that the Texas commission would appoint the notoriously incompetent Laurence Cole to referee the fight at Cowboys Stadium.

Turns out it was more than a joke. Cole was the third man in the ring last Saturday night.

That wasn’t the reason Pacquiao knelt in his corner to pray just before the opening bell. Pacquiao kneels in his corner before every fight, praying not for victory but for a good fight in which nobody gets hurt. That isn’t always achievable, particularly when Cole running the show, and Pacquiao spent the last two rounds vainly pleading with the referee to stop the fight and spare his opponent further punishment. Margarito was taken to the hospital after the beatdown, where he spent the next four days while doctors waited for the swelling to go down enough to allow surgery to repair a fractured orbital bone. When he was finally released on Wednesday, Margarito received a message from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who told him he had “made a friend for life.”

Between Pacquiao’s dominance of another much larger foe and the apparent intransigence of Floyd Mayweather Jr., much of the subsequent speculation had the world’s best fighter looking around for yet another Goliath - the winner of last night’s Sergio Martinez-Paul Williams fight, or even soon-to-be 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins, should he prevail in next month’s challenge to light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal.

But bigger isn’t necessarily better. Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach suggested that the novelty of taking on larger opponents may have run its course. The truth of the matter is that while he hasn’t fought there in nearly two years, 140 pounds probably remains Pacquiao’s optimal fighting weight, and upcoming bouts between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana (Dec. 11 in Las Vegas) and Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander (St. Louis on Jan. 29) could well produce the next Pac-Man foe.

Sanction junction

Beyond the obvious conflict of interest represented when a magazine owned by a boxing promoter starts handing out championship belts, our position on The Ring’s self-proclaimed “titles” has always been that the last thing the boxing world needed at this stage was yet another sanctioning body.

Last week, Larry Hazzard, the former chairman of the New Jersey boxing commission and, more recently, a championships official for the International Boxing Federation, announced, in conjunction with former IBF president Marian Muhammad, the formation of a new sanctioning body called the Combative Sports Federation. The organization proposes to rank boxers by weight class throughout the world, and to extend its umbrella to incorporate mixed martial arts as well. Former New York State Athletic Commission chairman Randy Gordon will serve as the head of the CSF’s ratings committee.

We’re no more eager than ever to see yet another set of increasingly meaningless championship belts tossed around, and it strikes us that the organization is probably doing itself no favors with its unqualified embrace of the cage-fighting set. Since MMA franchises operate independently of one another and their “champions” never meet, a valid rating system encompassing that mob would seem doomed from the outset (why not rank WWE wrestlers while they’re at it?), and the process will inevitably taint the CSF’s boxing ratings as well.

While we have our well-founded misgivings about the upstart sanctioning body, the credentials, stature and boxing experience of Hazzard, Muhammad and Gordon do lend it certain bona fides notably absent in the fly-by-night would-be sanctioning bodies. It might also be noted that two of today’s four generally recognized sanctioning bodies, the IBF and the WBO, originated as spinoffs created more or less from the rib of the WBA by disaffected former officials of that organization. Who is to say that the CSF might not achieve similar stature?

But if it does, it will most likely be at the expense of the IBF. Muhammad and, in recent years, Hazzard, have been as responsible as anyone for whatever credibility was restored to that body in the wake of the Bob Lee scandal and the era of federal receivership. Even without the CSF, their absence would have to be regarded as a body blow to the IBF, and if the new organization does come to enjoy widespread acceptance, it will more likely be regarded as a fourth, not a fifth, sanctioning body - one that has swallowed its predecessor whole in its climb to prominence.

Rodriguez logs OT

Worcester super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez, who ran his record to 17-0 with his TKO of James McGirt Jr. in Fargo, N.D., two weeks ago, didn’t have much time to savor the victory. A couple of days later he was on a plane to London, and has spent the past 10 days working as the principal sparring partner for Carl Froch, who faces Arthur Abraham in Helsinki Saturday in a fight for the WBC title that will also sort out the pecking order for Showtime’s “Super Six” semifinals.

Rodriguez, who stopped McGirt in nine, will face the son of yet another boxing legend in his next outing - Aaron Pryor Jr., who outpointed Dyah Davis on the Fargo card. Rodriguez-Pryor will be the co-feature of Lou DiBella’s Jan. 14 card in Key West, Fla., with another New Englander, Peter Manfredo Jr., in the main event, facing an opponent to be determined. . . .

Irish middleweight Andy Lee, who accompanied manager/trainer Emanuel Steward to Atlantic City, N.J., where Steward worked the telecast of last night’s Martinez-Williams fight, are headed to Austria, where Wladimir Klitschko is training for his Dec. 11 heavyweight title defense against Derek Chisora. Lee will fight on the undercard of the Mannheim, Germany, bout. . . .

In 1980, the first year we covered boxing for this newspaper, there were 20 fight cards in Massachusetts alone. Unless somebody rings in with a late entry, Mike Acri’s show at the Mohegan Sun last night will have been the 16th and last of 2010 in all of New England. Half of those took place at the Connecticut casinos (six at the Mohegan, two at Foxwoods). Rhode Island hosted five cards, all at the Twin River Events Center, Massachusetts two, New Hampshire one. . .

Happy birthday, Antonio Tarver.

Source: bostonherald.com

Martinez Delivers Crushing Knockout of Williams -- ABC News

By DAVE SKRETTA, The Associated Press

Sergio Martinez landed a devastating left hook early in the second round Saturday night, knocking out feared puncher Paul Williams and retaining his middleweight title in emphatic fashion at Boardwalk Hall.

Williams was looking to land his own hook and instead walked right into the punch, which landed flush on the chin and sent the challenger face-down onto the canvas. Martinez immediately ran across the ring to celebrate while doctors rushed into the ring to tend to Williams.

It took several minutes before he finally got to his feet.

By that point, ring announcer Michael Buffer was announcing the end at 1:10 of the second round, and Martinez was wearing an actual plastic crown — perhaps a fitting way for the native of Argentina to show his newfound dominance on the 160-pound division.

The fight was a rematch of one of last year's exceptional bouts, when Martinez and Williams traded knockdowns in the first round before trading blows for 11 more. Williams ultimately won the fight in a close and somewhat controversial majority decision, and Martinez had been saying all along that he planned to make sure this one didn't end up in the judges' hands.

He sure accomplished that.

While the fight was considered by many fans to be a legitimate candidate for Fight of the Year, the man nicknamed "Maravilla" instead may have delivered the knockout of the year.

The only real drama in this one came before the fighters made their way to the ring, when Martinez promoter Lou DiBella was furious that his guy as the champion was forced to work out of the blue corner. That side of the ring had not delivered a winner all night.

Despite their first fight becoming an instant classic, the rematch took plenty of time and patience to put together. Martinez upped the ante by claiming the middleweight title from Kelly Pavlik, while Williams held out hope of landing a big payday at welterweight against the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley.

When it become apparent that those fights would never happen, promoter Dan Goossen agreed to the rematch with Martinez, getting his fighter back in the spotlight on an HBO telecast.

No wonder he was reluctant to make the rematch.

While neither Martinez nor Williams is fond of the other, there was more acrimony than usual in the lead-up to this one because Williams insisted on a catch weight of 158 pounds — two under the middleweight limit — since he'd been training to fight at 147 pounds. Martinez countered by saying he'd be "ashamed" to ask for a catch weight if he was challenging for a world title.

The two pounds sure didn't seem to make much difference.

Martinez looked faster and smoother than Williams, and landed several crisp punches in the opening round, including a flurry on the ropes that gave him the round. Then he came out the next round and almost seemed to bait Williams into throwing a punch wide.

When it came, Martinez was ready, and the end happened without the referee bothering to count.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: abcnews.go.com

Martinez Promised Kayo, And Delivered: Williams Counted Out In 2nd Rd -- The Sweet Science

By Michael Woods, The Sweet Science

He'd been telling all who would listen the last few months that he'd render Long Tall Paul Williams horizontal in their rematch. Most of the time, one need not take such a promise seriously. It's often bluster, a salvo of psychological warfare. But damned if Sergio Martinez didn't deliver on Saturday night, in his Atlantic City rematch with Williams. An overhand left, delivered as Williams was tossing his own left hand, sent Williams to the floor, his marbles scattered on the mat.

The ref counted, but it was clear that Williams, who went splat on the canvas, face first, would need at least 30 seconds, or more, to stand up.

The KO, which will get the TSS vote for knockout of the year, takes Martinez, or should take Martinez, to the head of the line in the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes.

The Argentine, who many thought deserved the nod in the first tussle a year ago, goes to 46-2, with 25 KOs. He exulted, as the ringside docs took a hard look at Williams, who happily stood up, with clear eyes after a short spell.

The end came at 1:10 of the second. Martinez retains the WBC middleweight title, though the record will show that the fight was fought at a catchweight of 158 pounds. Williams drops to 39-2, and this is the first time he has been stopped.

Max Kellerman asked what comes next. He said Martinez is No. 3 pound for pound. The fighter said he wants to hear offers, and will see what comes his way. He stated that he wants to rest, and then hugged Williams. How about Mayweather or Pacquiao, at a catchweight? "We have to hear offers. 156 would be fine, but I have to hear offers," he said.

Williams said, "I just got caught with a punch." He said this one really worked, because he didn't see it coming.

Come back for George Kimball's ringside report.

Source: thesweetscience.com

Manny Pacquiao would be perfect poetry in the hands of legendary boxing wordsmiths -- Los Angeles Times

By Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times

Red Smith, Jim Murray and Damon Runyon would find endless inspiration and poetry in the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Bob Arum and the rest of the characters in the sport today.

Boxing is the gift that keeps on giving.

It is why the great wordsmiths gravitated to it. It is why Red Smith could easily find poetry in its violence, why Jim Murray scoffed at anybody wishing for the departure of Mike Tyson.

"Lord, no," Murray would say. "He's 10 columns a year."

Damon Runyon painted such wonderful word pictures of boxing characters that, over time, his name was used as a category for those with special quirks.

It hasn't changed, only gotten better.

Smith, Murray and Runyon cry out from their graves for another day to write. Manny Pacquiao would have intrigued and inspired them to combinations of words worthy of plaques, headstones and literary immortality.

They would not only see him as this skinny, hungry child from the mean streets of General Santos City, Philippines, and later the meaner streets of Manila, but for what he has become and how beautifully he has handled it.

Like none others, they would articulate how an impoverished child from a third-world country had become a hero on the American sports scene, while maintaining dignity and perspective. They would make the contrast between how he shares fame and fortune and how so many of our homegrown heroes never have even an idle thought about giving back.

Even better, they would find, as they always did, the delightful wackiness of the people connected to Pacquiao and would quickly make the point that, of them all, he is the most stable.

They would be in full typist mode in the aftermath of Saturday's annihilation by Pacquiao of a slow, plodding, six-inches-taller Mexican named Antonio Margarito. It looked like Paul Bunyan being taken to the woodshed by his 10-year-old son.

They would find a way to, respectfully, point out to Mr. Margarito that a boxer who just made $5 million while having an orbital bone broken and jammed with pieces of eye muscle needs to take that $5 million, thank God daily, and retire to a life of bouncing his children on his knee.

They would have a field day with the never-ending maneuvers of Pacquiao's promoter, the veteran master of all angles, Bob Arum. Arum now calls Pacquiao the best fighter he has ever seen, even though he has seen, and promoted, Muhammad Ali and Oscar de la Hoya. Our writers would quickly make the translation for readers who might be a bit slow on boxing-promoter-speak. Best fighter also means biggest payday fighter.

Nor would they miss Arum moving immediately to what's next for Pacquiao (and him). As every boxing fan knows, the ultimate match is Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Arum was quoted a few days ago as saying that Pacquiao would have a birthday party Dec. 17 and they had better hear of Mayweather's interest by then.

Ah, the old birthday-party deadline trick.

Our beloved authors would find volumes of fascination in Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who, by his own admission, took five fights too many in his own career. Roach has Parkinson's disease, the likely result of punches absorbed in those last five fights. Yet while he struggles physically, Roach has more common sense about what will happen and what should happen next for Pacquiao than anybody.

When Roach said Pacquiao would handle a bigger, more famous Oscar de la Hoya, the boxing world laughed. Roach was right. He had a plan for his fighter to handle Miguel Cotto. It worked. Same with Joshua Clottey and Margarito. Four bigger trees, all becoming kindling.

Now Roach says his fighter, who also happens to be a congressman in the Philippines and who seems increasingly more interested in politics than punching, should consider retiring from the ring. Pacquiao has had 57 fights, and Roach knows what five too many means. Pacquiao already could be three-fifths there.

Our wordsmiths would find a wealth of material in the Mayweather family, which seems as destined to jail time as to ring time. The immediate future of the sport may have less to do with Arum and HBO and De La Hoya's Golden Boy and Pacquiao and Roach and panting fans than it does with the judges in Nevada who will rule in separate cases involving Floyd Jr. and uncle Roger, Floyd's trainer, in late January.

Then there is Shane Mosley, who is 39 and coming off a draw with Sergio Mora, in the Snore at Staples, seeking the next shot at Pacquiao. Also, Bernard Hopkins, telling the world that Pacquiao would lose to Mayweather because he couldn't deal with Mayweather's "black, street-fighter style."

These guys are a stitch, in several ways.

All this and even a real fight going on Saturday night in Atlantic City, N.J. — Sergio Martinez versus Paul Williams. That fight has been unfairly and incorrectly lost in the run-up to, and the aftermath of, Pacquiao-Margarito.

So many stories. So little time. And so sad that Smith, Murray and Runyon could not have lived forever.

bill.dwyre@latimes.com

Source: latimes.com

Manny Pacquiao, oblivious to our losing football team, brings a winner to Cowboys Stadium -- Dallas Observer

By Richie Whitt, Dallas Observer

On Sunday the Dallas Cowboys look for their first home win of the season.

Manny Pacquiao has already won twice in Cowboys Stadium in 2010.

In other words, it's time to adopt the eight-time boxing champion as our "team." After all, the bludgeoning he delivered upon the unfortunate noggin of Antonio Margarito last Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium was the most one-sided fight in Arlington since Nolan Ryan pummeled Robin Ventura back in 1993. Pacquiao over Margarito was a gritty bloodbath between guys long on passion and short on English, the kind of scrap usually reserved for Lowest Greenville around 2:30 a.m.

"This was not an easy fight," Pacquiao said after winning a unanimous decision before the deliriously entertained fans. "I can't believe I beat someone this big and strong."

Contrary to the football team's home games, Pacquiao-Margarito featured tons of hits, a raucous crowd and a popular winner. For one night, the metroplex's Bible Belt devotion gave way to a barbaric lust for a title belt. It's somehow reassuring that—at least every now and then—a populous built upon the cornerstones of cash and silicone can still crave gladiators and guts.

I'm not a big boxing fan. Muhammad Ali retired, Mike Tyson went nuts, I'm only guessing that Wladimir Klitschko is a heavyweight champ and sometimes I forget that Clubber Lang is just a character and George Foreman isn't just a chef. But there was plenty to appreciate in watching perhaps the greatest pound-for-pound fighter to ever step in the ring.

Pacquiao, 31, won his first championship as a 106-pound flyweight back in 1998. Last Saturday he fought at 5-foot-6 and 148 pounds, against an opponent four inches taller and 17 pounds heavier. It was no contest.

By the time the fighters made their dramatic entrances from locker room to ring, it was nearing 10:45 p.m. Fans—most of whom dressed up as if attending the Winspear Opera House or perhaps a party at Hotel ZaZa—not only found their seats, but some stood on them. HBO's Jim Lampley and Max Kellerman were yacking while bopping their heads to the music. The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders lined the red-carpeted paths for the boxers and infamously annoying ring announcer Michael Buffer awaited with his signature "Let's get ready to rummbbllllllle!"

Margarito entered the ring to mariachi music that oozed all the power and pizzazz of a bad Mexican food restaurant. Minutes later, the champ sauntered in to AC/DC's "Thunderstruck," providing the feel of a pivotal timeout during a Dallas Mavericks game.

Then the bell rang and, just like that, glitz and glamor melted to expose a raw, radically violent sport that had men in pinstripe suits and women in pearls using their own body language to duck punches and offer counters.

Exclaimed a man in the seventh row to no one in particular as Pacquiao landed the night's first punch, "This is the shiiiiit!"

Though much bigger—he weighed in at 150 on Friday afternoon but amazingly, apparently legally, ballooned to 165 by the first round—Margarito was ultimately no more than a human piñata. Time and again he attacked with a ballsy, straightforward approach, only to be peppered with a counter-attack by the quicker, faster, better Pacquiao. Margarito not only lost the war, he finished second in almost every battle. To his credit Margarito was valiantly relentless. But his strategy worked about as well as the ignorant bear reaching into the beehive for the honeycomb, resulting in hundreds of painful stings and only a few futile tastes of the sweet nectar.

"He's so very fast," Margarito said after the fight. "It's hard to land a punch on that guy, but there's no way I was going to quit in the fight. I am a Mexican and we fight to the end."

In the end, Pacquiao threw an astounding 1,069 punches in the 12 rounds and landed almost twice as many as Margarito's 229. By the fourth round it was a matter of how and when, not if, Pacquiao would win. With a disappointingly low crowd of just more than 43,000—promoter Bob Arum had hoped to push 65,000 and top the American indoor record set for Ali-Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in 1978—chanting "Man-NEEE! Man-NEEE!" Pacquiao so dominated that in the final round he was allowed the luxury of extending mercy. With Margarito's right eye bloodied and swollen almost shut but his corner and his will too stubborn to stop, Pacquiao looked at referee Laurence Cole to end the fight. Margarito defended himself and even fought back. With a commanding lead, Pacquiao spent the final round showing his opponent mercy.

"I didn't want to hurt him," Pacquiao said afterward. "Boxing isn't all about killing each other."

Said Margarito trainer Robert Garcia, "Toward the end, the punches were coming clean. But we have a warrior here and he would never let me stop the fight."

After the fight Margarito was taken to the hospital via ambulance. He suffered a fractured orbital bone around his right eye that required surgery this week.

While Margarito is lucky to be alive and, let's face it, lucky to be fighting after having his boxing license suspended in California and Nevada in the wake of illegally hardening his hand wraps with plaster during a 2009 fight, he also walks away with a $3 million payday. Pacquiao, meanwhile, will make more than $20 million after the pay-per-view totals but also leave Texas with something priceless—serious consideration as the best fighter in boxing history. With a record of 52-3-2, Pacquiao now has won eight championships at eight different weight classes. Most of us get worse with age, adding pounds and losing performance. Pacquiao somehow gets better, still winning 12 years and 42 pounds from his debut.

Pacquiao, who won his seventh title by beating Joshua Clottey in Arlington last March, slays his bigger opponents not with a powerful haymaker, but rather a million paper cuts. His flurry of fists during the exchanges of close in-fighting are legendary. During their convergences in Cowboys Stadium, it wasn't uncommon for Pacquiao to land three punches to Margarito's one.

"Manny's a freak, let's face it," his trainer, Freddie Roach, said during last Thursday's final pre-fight press conference. "We're not going to see another Manny Pacquiao in our lifetime. If you get four world titles it's a big deal. One is hard enough. To win eight is unheard of. He continues to amaze me."

Conceded Garcia, "Manny's the best fighter in the world."

Since he can't further his legacy by fighting Ali or Tyson or Sugar Ray Leonard or Rocky Marciano, Pacquiao will sit and wait on Floyd Mayweather Jr. That fight—pitting the world's two best pound-for-pound boxers—would attract record crowds and viewers and generate unfathomable revenue, but it's on hold while Mayweather deals with criminal charges stemming from a domestic dispute in September. Until then, Pacquiao will pour his pitter-pounding heart and soul into his life's other passions: Singing. And governing.

Next week he's off for a concert in Lake Tahoe. After that he'll head back to his native Philippines, where he serves as a member of Congress.

And to think, at one point we clamored at the thought of watching the other Pacman—failed cornerback Adam Jones—in Cowboys Stadium.

Source: dallasobserver.com

Green Machine gets the points after major overhaul from Flores -- Sydney Morning Herald

By Paul Zalunardo, Sydney Morning Herald

DANNY GREEN was pushed all the way but defended his IBO cruiserweight world title with a unanimous points win over rugged American BJ Flores in Perth last night.

The action intensified as the fight wore on with the final round among the best of the night.

After Green started the last round with a flurry of punches, Flores replied in the dying seconds with a valiant final effort.

A raucous crowd let their feelings be known, a mood that was shared by the three judges. Steve Scott (117-112), David Moretti (118-110) and Andre Van Grootenbruel (118-111) all opted for Green, who lifted his career record to 31 wins and three losses.

"This one's for all of you," Green told the 5000-strong crowd. "Every person that's given me a pat on the back after the last affair, I can't thank you enough. You don't know how much it means to me. I love all of you guys."

Earlier in the fight, Flores let Green know he meant business by pushing the Australian onto the ropes on several occasions.

The eighth round was one of the best, with the final 30 seconds containing plenty of action. After Flores delivered a left jab and right hook, Green fought back, landing a crisp hook of his own on the American's cheek.

The pro-Green home crowd grew anxious over the final rounds, hoping their hero would secure another win.

After his previous fight against Paul Briggs ended in farce and was later declared a sham, Green was eager to not only beat Flores but to provide his loyal Perth fans with a genuine contest.

The defeat was the first of Flores's career.

Meanwhile, Antonio Margarito underwent successful facial surgery in Dallas on Tuesday, three days after taking a punishing beating at the hands of Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao.

Margarito had the operation to his right orbital bone after losing the World Boxing Council super-welterweight title bout last weekend.

Pacquiao won a unanimous 12-round decision over Margarito in nearby Arlington, punishing his larger rival so badly that surgery to repair the bone around his eye had to be delayed so facial swelling could ease.

"The doctor told us everything went perfect – no complications of any kind," said Margarito's manager, Sergio Diaz.

"Antonio is such a warrior. The first thing he asked was, 'When can I start running?' and we told him he has to relax for a while," Diaz said.

Source: smh.com.au

Pacquiao’s Lake Tahoe concert a hit -- ABS-CBN News

By Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

LAKE TAHOE, Nevada – Three hours from San Francisco is the popular tourist destination of Lake Tahoe, known for its gorgeous lake, snow-capped mountains and huge pine trees.

The talk of the town on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) was the arrival of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao

Three days after an impressive victory against Antonio Margarito, Pacquiao focused on getting ready for his concert in Tahoe.

Bruises didn’t stop him from practicing. Pacquiao wanted to do a full rehearsal with his group before the show.

Fans waited early in the hallways to catch the Filipino boxer.

Even the president of the Harrah’s Hotel is a huge fan!

"We're very honored to have you here," said John Koster, president of Harrah's Nevada.

"I'm very happy to be here," said Pacquiao.

"Well, we hope this won't be your last," Koster replied.

Pacquiao went through every song in their line-up, together with Lito Camo, Madonna Decena and the MP Band.

His work ethic in boxing training is the same for singing.

His wife, Jinkee, enjoyed watching Pacquiao working on his other passion.

"I'm his number 1 fan," she said.

Not long after, the Pacman got into his show clothes and was ready to go.

Backstage, he was relaxed but very excited to give his fans another kind of performance.

The show was a hit from the opening song, people were on their feet taking pictures and shouting out for their idol.

Pacquiao sang his favorite Filipino and English songs. Fans loved it when he pulled wife Jinkee up on stage.

He thrilled them even more as he walked around the venue to get closer to the people.

The venue was sold out, and the Pacman went all out, singing 20 songs straight without a break.

His favorite part of the show, the song dedicated to Jinkee.

"First time ko dito sa Lake Tahoe, nakita nila ko. At least, nakapag-hello ako sa kanila (It's my first time here at Lake Tahoe. At least, I met and greeted my fans)," said Pacquiao.

On Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), Pacquiao’s group will travel to Vallejo near San Francisco for another meet and greet with Filipinos.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com