Marquez stops Katsidis in bruising fight -- Miami Herald

By Sports Network

Juan Manuel Marquez retained his WBA and WBO lightweight titles with a bruising ninth-round technical knockout of Michael Katsidis on Saturday night.

Marquez bided his time in the decisive round before hitting Katsidis with a flurry of punches -- a series of uppercuts and straight rights that had the challenger backing away.

Finally, referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight at 2 minutes and 14 seconds, giving Marquez (52-5-1, 37 KO) a TKO over the rugged Katsidis.

"We knew it was going to be a difficult bout. It was so difficult he even surprised me," Marquez said afterward through a translator.

The surprise? Katsidis (27-3) knocked Marquez to the mat with a left hook in the third round after the champ left himself wide-open.

Not surprising? This was one heck of a fight.

The boxers landed a ton of throws in the punch-a-second action, with neither one backing down. They fought inside through eight and a half rounds -- one count had them landing a combined 82 punches in the seventh. Slow rounds saw them land 50 or 60.

Marquez looked like he was beginning to back off in the ninth round, slowing the fight down as he gained clear control over Katsidis. But he picked it up, perhaps sensing weakness from an opponent that had begun to stagger, and landed the decisive series of punches in quick succession.

Marquez, a 37-year-old veteran from Mexico, is angling to remain in the race to meet Manny Pacquiao again after losing their last bout in 2008 (he earned a draw in 2004).

He offered a simple explanation on Saturday for why a third fight hasn't happened already.

"Pacquiao has been avoiding us," Marquez said.

The MGM Grand crowd saw a much shorter fight before the headliners.

Andre Berto retained his WBC welterweight title with a first-round TKO of Freddy Hernandez, landing a right cross that sent the challenger to the mat.

Berto (27-0, 21 KO) stepped into the punch and snuck it through Hernandez's hands, which were up. It was only the ninth punch he landed in the bout.

After dropping quickly, Hernandez (29-2) got off the mat, but referee Russell Mora stopped the fight after just 2 minutes and 7 seconds.

"I just jabbed to the stomach and came up top with that right," Berto said after barely breaking a sweat in his first fight since a TKO of Carlos Quintana in April.

Source: miamiherald.com

Andre Berto Scores First-Round KO, Wants Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBC welterweight (147 pounds) titlist Andre Berto of Winter Haven, Fla., nailed Freddy Hernandez , of Mexico City, with a head-swiveling, right cross that was set up by a left hook to the other side of his face, dropping his rival for a first-round knockout in Saturday's HBO televised triple-header from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The end came at two minutes, seven seconds of the first round as Berto, in victory, rose to 27-0, with his 21st knockout, dropping Hernandez to 29-2, with 20 KOs.

"I was just trying to throw the jab, because I got to him with the jab a couple of times. So I was trying to jab him to the stomach, and then I came right back up to the head with that right hand," said Berto. "I believe that it was a left hand, and then I just came right over the top with that right hand. It was a left hook, actually, and then, I just came right up over the top and he fell straight back."

Berto ended a 12-fight winning streak that included six knockouts for Hernandez, who had last suffered defeat by split-decision to Golden Johnson in February of 2005.

Berto also staked his claim as a candidate for potential bouts with eight-division champion and WBO welterweight and WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt-holder, Manny Pacquiao' (52-3-2, 38 KOs), WBA junior middleweight king Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) or five-time titlist Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs).

"Right now, it doesn't matter who I fight. I've already eaten all of my appetizers, so I'm ready for the main courses of the division. So Shane Mosley, we have some unfinished business if he wants it. Or Miguel Cotto, or definitely Manny Pacquiao," said Berto of Pacquiao, who, like Cotto, is promoted by Top Rank Promotions while Mosley has been promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.

"I think that I would be the best fighter out there for Pacquiao," said Berto. "I think that he definitely needs to fight someone who has speed who is strong and who is young, and so let's see what happens."
In another bout, WBA super bantamweight (122 pounds) king Celestino Caballero (34-3, 23 KOs) of Panama rose to super featherweight (130 pounds), where he suffered a mild, upset loss to Jason Litzau (28-2, 21 KOs), the NABF titlist from St. Paul, Minn.

Litzau earned a split-decision victory, winning, 97-93, and, 96-94, repsectively, on the cards of judges Glenn Trowbridge and Dave Moretti, with Al Lefkowitz calling it for Caballero, 96-94.

The two fights took place on the under card of a main event featuring WBO interim lightweight (135 pounds) king Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KOs) of Australia challenging WBO and WBA champion Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KOs) of Mexico despite the recent death of his 31-year-old brother, Stathi Katsidis, a top thoroughbred horse jockey in Australia who was found dead in mid-October in his Brisbane, Australia, home.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Marquez wary of emotional Katisidis -- Sydney Morning Herald

AAP

Juan Manuel Marquez has fought almost 60 professional bouts including wars against Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, but the Mexican boxing great admits he has never faced anyone like Australia's Michael Katsidis.

When the 37-year-old from Mexico City, rated the No.4 pound-for-pound boxer in the world by The Ring Magazine, will step into the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas just after midday on Sunday (AEDT) to defend his WBA and WBO belts against the Queenslander.

And the Mexican is expecting to face a dangerous and explosive Katsidis driven by emotion.

Advertisement: Story continues below The Toowoomba-born Katsidis has dedicated the biggest bout of his life to his brother, top Australian jockey Stathi Katsidis, who died suddenly last month aged 31.

Katsidis contemplated abandoning the fight, but instead picked up his heavy heart and plans to honour Stathi by defying bookmakers and upsetting Marquez.

"Michael Katsidis is a very dangerous fighter," Marquez told AAP.

"He's different from any other fight I've had.

"He's strong, is a true warrior and throws many, many punches so I had to prepare myself very well."

That preparation included two sets of sparring partners for Marquez - strong boxers and fast boxers - with the two styles blending what Katsidis, who has knocked out 22 of his 27 victims, will bring to the MGM.

Katsidis mourned the loss of his brother by engaging in a tortuous training regime with long-time trainer Brendon Smith in a primitive Muay Thai fight camp hidden away in a jungle area of Thailand.

The secluded camp has become Katsidis' pre-fight base, helping him to four straight victories since back-back losses in 2008 against elite fighters Juan Diaz and Joel Casamayor.

Katsidis, 30, has been tight-lipped about his brother's death and fronted a press conference at the MGM on Tuesday with a publicist from his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, by his side.

The publicist warned journalists not to quiz Katsidis about Stathi.

When a question came close, Katsidis was as intimidating as he is in the ring.

"I'm here to talk about the fight only," he told an American reporter.

"Anything to do with any of that, please respect me and my family."

Marquez, a world champion at three different weight divisions, showing the class that has made him one of Mexico's favourite sportsmen offered his sincere condolences to Katsidis instead of probing it for a weakness.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry for him and his family and that life continues," Marquez, who has a 51 win, 37 knockout, five loss, one draw professional record, said.

Marquez is tipped to be Pacquiao's next opponent, with the boxing stars engaging in two thrillers.

The first was a controversial split-decision win to the Filipino in 2008 and the second a draw in 2004 when Marquez rebounded from being knocked down three times in the first round to almost pulling off a victory.

When reporters peppered Marquez about a possible Marquez-Pacquiao III, the Mexican did not need a publicist by his side to fend off irritating questions.

"It's all about Katsidis, not Pacquiao" Marquez told reporters.

"Nobody else."

© 2010 AAP

Source: news.smh.com.au

Beyonce becomes a Pacman convert -- Manila Bulletin

By KAYE VILLAGOMEZ, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines – More and more mainstream Hollywood celebrities are being converted into Manny Pacquiao admirers. Beyonce Knowles found herself belonging to the Hollywood elite fan club alongside Mark Wahlberg, Daniel Radcliffe and Ron Perlman.

Mrs. Jay-Z---whose on-again, off-again pregnancy rumors have hogged the entertainment headlines of late---named Pacman one of her favorite athletes. Others that Beyonce admires are Kobe Bryant and Serena Williams.

“I love him (Manny) because I really relate to people who were born to do something and gets lost in the moment,” the “Single Ladies” hit-maker raved of Pacquiao in a Nov. 25 interview aired over sports channel ESPN.

“When he gets in the ring, he’s a beast! I love it! And he shows you can have humility and be a calm person and also be driven when it’s time and be a fighter,” Beyonce further said obviously referring to Pacman’s gallant efforts during his eight-division-title-clinching bout versus Mexican Antonio Margarito.

The LA Lakers fan also had grand words for the next Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant. She noted how much she relates with the NBA superstar. “I definitely identify with Kobe Bryant as far as his work ethic... I can always see that he's focused, he works harder than I could ever imagine. It is like he's in the zone. He's just undeniable as far as his talent and his gift.”

Regarding Serena Williams, Beyonce spoke of the gentle character behind the fierce tennis player. “Definitely, Serena. She just transforms because when you speak to her and she's not working, she's a most lovely, gentle, sweet, beautiful woman, and she is ferocious when she gets out there... I love it! You cannot talk to her. She’s in the zone!”

Recall that Wahlberg took time out to visit Pacquiao while he was training for his 2008 fight against Oscar dela Hoya. The “Departed” actor who is about to star in his own boxer flick soon told HBO’s “Dela Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7” that he (Walhberg) had to visit “the man” (Pacquiao).

Wahlberg confessed to being a big fan of Pacquiao when he said, “I’ve come to see the man. Freddie's (Roach) been a friend of mine for a long time, and I’m a big fan of Pacquiao. It’s nice to see him in person. I’ve seen him fight a couple times, but to see him this up close and personal is worth the trip. I’m going to bring my son down. I have a ring in my house because I've been training to do the Irish Micky Ward story for a couple of years. My son's always beating me up, and he calls himself Pacquiao.”

When Pacquiao was training for his fight against Joshua Clottey early this year, “Hellboy” lead star Ron Perlman also went for a glimpse of Pacman’s “greatness.” The actor said of the Filipino pride, “Anytime you can have a brush with greatness and see someone like Pacquiao, you should do it. He’s one of a kind.”

Ironically, Pacquiao credits the Filipino people as a big part of his recent victory. In an interview with Bulletin Entertainment last Sunday, Pacquiao humbly gushed that the victory is not only his alone but the entire nation's as well.

Source: mb.com.ph

Richard Schaefer: Floyd Mayweather will fight Manny Pacquiao 'when the time is right' -- Grand Rapids Press

By Josh Slagter, The Grand Rapids Press

Boxing fans hoping for a megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in May 2011 may have to wait while the Grand Rapids native sorts out his legal problems, according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

Schaefer, who has represented Mayweather in previous failed negotiations with Pacquiao, told The Ring's Michael Rosenthal that Mayweather's priority shouldn't be getting back in the ring.

“People should be smart enough to realize that he’s in the middle of legal proceedings. His focus and energy is on that, clearing his name, not on making a fight. That’s just common sense," Schaefer said.

“Anything else would be disrespectful to a judge or the legal system. … He could say, OK, let’s fight Pacquiao in May or whenever and make a deal. How would a judge feel about that? You just don’t do that.”

Mayweather is facing eight criminal charges, including four felonies, stemming from a September domestic incident with ex-girlfriend Josie Harris. He's next due in court Jan 24.

Schaefer said Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) isn't dodging Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), who's coming off a dominant victory over Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium.

“I believe that Floyd truly loves the sport, he loves to fight. He’s also a businessman, though. If you add these things up, why wouldn’t he want to fight Pacquiao? It just has to be the right deal at the right time," Schaefer said.

"I can assure you that when the time is right, he'll fight Pacquiao and beat Pacquiao."

Source: mlive.com

Meeting Manny Pacquiao -- BBC

BBC World Service

The BBC’s boxing correspondent Mike Costello describes his adventurous trip to the Philippines to secure a rare interview with national boxing and now political icon Manny Pacquiao.

Manny Pacquiao’s training camps are chaotic. He thrives on mayhem.

But, just as when he’s in the ring, he appears to see situations much more clearly than anyone else.

The promises made regarding how much time we could spend with him are getting lost in the bedlam. He is due to be best man at a friend’s wedding later that day, we are told, and he will have to dash off immediately after training.

We are in danger of missing out on the interview that would make or break our whole project.

Universal appeal

Our mission to interview Pacquiao began in the capital of the Philippines, Manila. Everywhere people were milling around, wanting to talk – and shout – about Manny Pacquiao.

At one point we were dragged into a police station close to a marketplace in the city. Were we causing a disturbance or perhaps not have permission to record here?

It turned out that even the officer on duty at the station front desk wanted to have his say on Pacquiao.

He endorses what all Filipinos have told us – that the country comes to a standstill when the man is fighting. And he confirms suggestion that, as Pacquiao trades punches, the crime rate in the Philippines drops. He appeals to everyone.

Multi-talented

In the history of sport, rarely has one man had such an effect on his country.

Now 31, “Pac-Man” has won world titles (or the equivalent) in eight weight divisions – a feat never before attempted, never mind achieved.

Earlier this year he became a Congressman, winning control of his local province of Sarangani.

There were fears among his closest aides – in boxing and politics – that he was spreading himself too thinly.

And yet, earlier this month, he produced one of the finest performances of his career to beat the much bigger Mexican boxer Antonio Margarito. The deification of Pacquiao multiplied.

Super typhoon

Pacquiao is a difficult man to pin down, especially in the build-up to a big fight. He could agree to conduct endless interviews throughout the day and still not meet the demand for his time and thoughts.

We arrived in Manila in late October, as his preparations for the fight against Margarito were reaching maximum intensity. And our arrival in Manila coincided with the onset of super typhoon Juan.

His training camp was set up in Baguio City, a five-hour drive high up in the mountains outside Manila – which was forecast to be in the typhoon’s path.

We began to worry whether we could get to him before, or even after, the storm.

Time pressure

As it happened, Pacquiao was trapped in Baguio City when Juan hit and, just as he couldn’t get out, we couldn’t get in.

Taking advice, the Red Cross told us not to travel, especially at night, while Billy, the Irish chef at our hotel maintained it was “only a few drops of rain”.

If we didn’t go, we didn’t get Pacquiao. The dilemma was, go too soon and we risked getting caught in the storm, delay too long and we ran out of time and budget.

Thankfully, fortune favoured us, we beat the weather and got to the training camp.

Personal journey

With the time pressure on and the training session coming to an end we decided, as Pacquiao left the ring, that it was time to pounce.

Expecting to be ushered away by his advisers, I stood at the foot of the stairs leading down from the ring and, as Pacquiao wiped streams of sweat from his brow, face and shoulders, I explained that we had travelled to interview him, based on promises from his team management.

At that point I thought he could have brushed me aside, his working day was done.

But instead he sat and spoke for 20 minutes about his personal journey, his faith and his country.

He told the others in the gym to be quiet. He was doing an interview and he would make sure it was done properly and respectfully.

Lives transformed

We had seen Pacquiao at work, throwing punches faster than the eye can see and the fingers can count, and now he was revealing what was under the shell.

He and his closest friend told us how, as kids, they slept in cardboard boxes. Now their beds stand on marble floors.

So much in their lives has changed and yet somehow Pacquiao hasn’t.

Memories of hardship still serve as the fuel that drives his boxing and his politics, and he wants to transform the lives of others too.

At times like this, I’ll admit it’s hard to separate the fan from the reporter.

You can hear Mike's interview with Manny Pacquiao in this week's Friday documentary on BBC World Service

Source: bbc.co.uk

Sergio Martinez Would Drop Weight For Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBC middleweight (160 pounds) titlist Sergio Martinez is willing to drop weight if it means a shot at six-time champ Floyd Mayweather or eight-division champion, Manny Pacquiao's, WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt in a clash of southpaws, the Argentinian-born fighter said on Wednesday.

"If Manny is willing to defend his WBC super welterweight title, I would come down to 154 pounds to challenge him for it as well as allow him to challenge me for my WBC middleweight title," said the 35-year-old Martinez, who is 46-2-2, with 25 knockouts. "

"It would be the opportunity of a lifetime," said Martinez in a prepared statement. "But I'm a realist, and if he feels that he is physically too small to fight me, I certainly understand that too."

On Nov. 13, the 31-year-old Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) scored a lopsided, unanimous decision victory over ex-titlist Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs) for the junior middleweight crown that was vacated by Martinez at Cowboys Stadium, earning his eighth crown over as many different weight classes, and his 13th straight win with eight knockouts during that run.
A week later in an HBO-televised clash of southpaws on Nov. 20, Martinez scored a shocking, second-round knockout over challenger Paul Williams (39-2, 27 knockouts), who was ranked No. 3 on most lists among the best fighters pound-for-pound in the sport behind Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) and Pacquiao, who is also the holder of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown.

Martinez had become the WBC middleweight champion by dethroning Kelly Pavlik with April's unanimous decision.

Martinez, his promoter, Lou DiBella, and his manager, Sampson Lewkowicz, believe that a Pacquiao-Martinez fight would be a mismatch, with Lewkowicz saying that Martinez would win by knockout.

Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum, disagreed, saying that he believed that Pacquaio would win.

DiBella said that he would like to see Martinez against either Pacquiao or Mayweather to decide which fighter is the sport's best, pound-for-pound.

"In my opinion, a valid argument can be made for all three, so let's just number them 1A, 1B and 1C. But I sure would like to see them prove who the best is inside the ring, and Sergio is ready to concede his weight advantage to do it," said DiBella. "Sergio is willing to fight next at 154 pounds -- defending his WBC middleweight title as well as fighting for the WBC super welterweight title."

As for Mayweather?

"Sergio is ready, willing and able. There is a lot of confidence behind his matinee looks. The fans deserve Martinez vs. Mayweather, and boxing needs it to continue its growth into the mainstream," said DiBella. "I can work with any promoter to make the best fight with Sergio. It's business – good business – and common sense."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Freddie Roach: 'It Has Nothing to do With [Skin] Color' -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Four-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach took time from his busy schedule to speak with FanHouse concerning recent comments by Bernard Hopkins that Manny Pacquiao has not faced a top African American fighter, his busy schedule and other things.

From his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., Roach also discussed Pacquiao's prospects of facing WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 knockouts), WBC welterweight (147 pounds) belt-holder Andre Berto (26-0, 20 KOs), six-time titlist Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), five-time champion Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs), or the winner of a Jan. 29 junior welterweight (140 pounds) clash between southpaw WBC champ Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs) and WBO counter part Tim Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs).

On Nov. 13, Roach was at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in the corner of WBO welterweight and WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) for his HBO pay per view televised, Top Rank Promotions unanimous decision victory over ex-titlist Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs). Pacquiao earned the vacant junior middleweight belt, his eighth title over as many different weight classes, and his 13th straight win with eight knockouts during that time.

On Dec. 3, Roach will work with NABF and NABO cruiserweight (200 pounds) titlist Lateef Kayode (14-0, 13 KOs) against Ed Perry (18-4-2, 11 KOs), in Santa Yunez, Calif. On Dec. 4, Roach will be in Anaheim, Calif., working the corner of junior middleweight and middleweight (160 pounds) prospect Julio Cesar Chavez (40-0-1, 30 KOs) opposite Alfonso Gomez (22-4-2, 11 KOs).

Roach had to pull out of the corner of Ukrainian WBA bantamweight champion Voldymyr Sydorenko (22-2-2, seven KOs), who is on the Chavez-Gomez under card against WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) titlist Nonito Donaire (24-1, 16 KOs). On Dec. 11, Roach will be in Las Vegas working with junior welterweight (140 pounds) king Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOs) against WBA interim belt-holder Marcos Rene Maidana (29-1, 27 KOs) that is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.


FanHouse: What are your thoughts concerning Bernard Hopkins' assertions?

Freddie Roach: We've fought everyone out there. We've ducked nobody. Shane Mosley [who is African American] is another guy out there right now. I know that he hasn't looked that good in his last couple of fights, but he's still a very good fighter.

He's a very good possibility to be Manny's next opponent. I don't think that Bernard Hopkins has beaten any Canadians lately [reference to Hopkins' upcoming bout with WBC light heavyweight (175 pounds) champ Jean Pascal on Dec. 18.] And Bernard's never beaten an English guy [lost to Joe Calzaghe] because he's only fought one.

But Bernard, you know, he's my friend, and so forth, because I've worked with him in the past. But I don't know why people make racist statements like that. We don't need that stuff in the world of boxing. I think Bernard knows that it's all about business and that it has nothing to do with color.

It's all about the best deals, the best fight that makes the most economic sense. It has nothing to do with [skin] color. We won the title from [Lehlohonolo] Ledwaba, a South African, and we beat Joshua Clottey, who, I'm not sure what Clottey is. He came from England by way of Ghana, I think.

So, with those two, we've beaten two black guys. But this is a sport, so lets get on with the sport.


Would you see a potential fight with an Andre Berto, Devon Alexander, Tim Bradley or even his stablemate, Amir Khan, for Manny Pacquiao?

Of course. All of those guys. Especially Andre Berto. Bob recently asked me who I wanted to fight next and I said [Juan Manuel] Marquez, Berto or Mosley. I said 'we would fight any of them, no problem.'


Why Andre Berto all of a sudden?

Because some of the other guys are 140-pounders who already have fights scheduled. After this weekend, I don't think that Andre Berto has anything scheduled right now. And he's not a 140-pounder, he's a 147-pounder.


Given that Manny Pacquiao has not faced a youthful fighter in quite a while, would Andre Berto's youth be more of a challenge?

Yes. He's youthful, he's fast, and he's strong. He's not a big puncher I don't think, but he's definitely a challenge. Bradley looked terrible when he fought at 147 [unanimous decision over Carlos Luis Abregu,] but he's a much better fighter at 140 of course.

There's Amir, and Amir and Manny have sparred quite a bit. There have been days where he's gotten the best of Manny, and days where Manny has gotten the best of Amir. There's Devon Alexander, who is another southpaw like Manny. Manny loves fighting southpaws.

So they're all credible opponents, of course. We just want to make the fight that makes the most business sense, and that's what Bob will find out. We have to make the fights that bring the most dollars to Manny's pocket, and so we're looking at the business side of this.


How big would a fight be between Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao?

I think that actually, Marquez brings more money to the table. Amir is a good draw. Bradley's coming on a little bit. He's had some good fights. Alexander's not that well-known yet. But we definitely could fight the winner of Alexander-Bradley, and, Amir's got a big fight coming up with Marcos Maidana.

We're in great shape for the fight with Maidana. I believe that we'll knock Maidana out somewhere along the line. But Maidana is a big puncher and a dangerous guy. The winners of those fights could definitely be Manny's next opponent.


Andre Berto, notwithstanding, would you fight any of the other guys that you mentioned at a catch weight?

Nope. We would have to fight at 147, or else, those fights won't happen. I'm not going to let Manny fight below welterweight. It's 147, we found that when Manny can eat, he's comfortable and doesn't have to worry about making weight. Manny weighed in at [144.6] for his fight with Margarito, and I know that.

But I'm not going to have him struggle to make any weight. So he's going to fight at 147, that's now his natural weight, and that's where we're going to campaign at.


So you wouldn't entertain a catch weight for any of the lower weight guys coming up to face Manny?

Nope.


Why do you believe that a third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez would be the most marketable?

Because they have history between them. You know, they've fought twice, and they were close fights. They were very good fights for boxing and very competitive. Manny beat him and fought him to a draw, and Marquez knows Manny and knows what gives Manny trouble.

Marquez has proven that in two fights. Both fights went the distance. Marquez has been down four times in the two fights, but he's gotten up and made the fight. Marquez is a very durable guy and he's got an audience and a fan base behind him. So he's marketable.


Are you still working the corners of both Voldymyr Sydorenko and Julio Cesar Chavez?

No, I'm no longer working the corner of Sydorenko, no. I had to turn that down because of the Chavez fight being on the same night. Sydorenko knew that this was going to happen two months ago. But Sydorenko still comes in three times a week for sparring.

Right now, I'm still training Chavez and Amir Khan. I train Khan at 1 in the afternoon and Chavez comes in at 3 p.m. That's back-to-back, yep, 100 percent.

I had also been doing Manny as well as those two. So I was doing all three of them until Manny's fight with Margarto. I'm in the gym 12 hours a day, so it's been no problem.


Dare I ask which corner you would be in if Manny Pacquiao fought Amir Khan?

Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao's my guy.

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Katsidis inspired by late brother in Marquez fight -- AFP

AFP

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Barely a month after the death of his older brother, Australian Michael Katsidis faces the biggest fight of his life on Saturday in a double world title showdown against Juan Manuel Marquez.

Katsidis decided to continue his Thailand-based training last month after the unexpected death of Stathi Katsidis, a 31-year-old Australian champion jockey from Brisbane.

"I will do this for Stathi, my family and myself," Katsidis said. "Stathi is inside me. We will fight this fight together. I know this is what he wants."

Katsidis, 27-2 with 22 knockouts, will face World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, 51-5 with one draw and 37 knockouts, in a possible launching pad fight for the Mexican.

Marquez and his promoters have talked up the possibility of a third fight against Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, who won a 2008 split decision over Marquez after the two had fought to a draw in 2004.

The Asian star has talked down the idea of a third fight with a man who has not beaten him, but with unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather facing legal charges and nixing an earlier fight bid, Marquez might be an attractive foe if he wins.

"This is going to be a very difficult fight," Marquez said. "I'm not taking anything for granted. I'm going to have to be at my best. We will give the fans a great show."

Marquez rebounded from moving up in weight and losing to Mayweather last year by decisioning former lightweight champion Juan Diaz last July.

"He?s one of the best in the world pound-for-pound," Katsidis said. "I?m ready for the challenge though. I don?t think he?ll be able to hold me off for 12 rounds."

Marquez, seven years older than his rival at age 37, has only three losses in the past 11 years, falling to Pacquiao, Mayweather and Indonesian unbeaten Chris John in 2006.

Katsidis suffered both career losses in 2008, being stopped by Cuban southpaw Joel Casamayor and losing a split decision to US veteran Diaz.

"Katsidis is a very aggressive fighter and has respectable power, but we're ready," Marquez said.

The card also includes undefeated American Andre Berto, 26-0 with 20 knockouts, defending his World Boxing Council welterweight title against Mexico's Freddy Hernandez, 29-1 with 20 knockouts.

It will be the fifth defense of the crown for Berto since claiming the vacant title by stopping Mexico's Miguel Angel Rodriguez in the seventh round in 2008. Hernandez has won 12 fights in a row over five years to set up his first world title bout.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

Source: google.com

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."

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Source: usatoday.com