B.J. Penn learning how to box correctly, according to Floyd Mayweather Sr. -- Yahoo! Sports

By Steve Cofield, Yahoo! Sports

B.J. Penn is on a mission. After two straight losses to current UFC lightweight champ Frank Edgar, Penn scrapped most of his old trainers and began seeking out new voices and experts. The latest he worked with was Floyd Mayweather Sr.

Big Floyd has a solid reputation as a boxing trainer and a very high opinion of his work outside the ring.

Mayweather Sr. told FightHype he wasn't impressed when he first began to work with "The Prodigy."

"I’ll be honest, at first, it didn’t seem like he could fight that good. I mean, I don’t know about his ground game and all of that stuff, but he’s got some pop and in just the three days I’ve been working with him, he has improved, man."

Penn is a quick learner. Mayweather continued:

"In his words, man, he told me, ‘I ain’t never seen some of this stuff you’re showing me, man.’ And that’s only after three days. BJ is learning fast, man. He's a good guy."

Mayweather looks forward to helping more MMA fighters, and thinks he's given Penn an edge for his fight against the taller Jon Fitch in February at UFC 127.

"I work with a couple now and I'm all for it. I don't know [expletive] about that ground stuff, but I can get their defense tight and get them throwing their shots right. I got B.J. working something just for a taller opponent. I don't know what B.J.'s ground game is like at all, but if he uses what I'm showing, he won't need it."

This isn't the first time Penn reached out to a top boxing trainer. In the past, he worked with Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach. Roach once told me that Penn was the best MMA fighter he'd worked with as far as straight boxing. Said Mayweather:

"I bet he ain't going back to [Freddie Roach] either. He worked with Freddie 'The Joke Coach' Roach, and he telling me he has never see the stuff I'm showing him. So what does that tell you? Man, the only thing Freddie Roach can do better than me is wash my car."

Expect more of this crossover work in the future. MMA fighters like Penn are smart to seek out the experts from the world of boxing.

Source: sports.yahoo.com

Floyd "Maynever", Jr. was easily the Fighter of the Decade -- Examiner

By Stephen Johnson, Examiner.com

There should be no doubt as to who the most dominant fighter in the last ten years was in the sport of boxing as Floyd "Maynever", Jr. (41-0, 25 KO's) was, and still is, the "brass ring" for all competitiors from 147 pounds and under.

Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KO's) was recently given an award from WBC President Jose Sulaiman as it's Fighter of the Decade, which would have to span from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2010 to be accurate, that just doesn't pass the "smell test".

One should not cloud the achievements of "Maynever", Jr. inside the ring, with his weird and dangerous antics outside of it as his displayed abilities over the last ten years are second-to-none.

If there a new award given for Fighter of the Last Several Years, Pacquiao would face stiff resistance for even that from "Maynever", Jr., as the two are the best at what they do.

When Manny Pacquiao stopped Marco Antonio Barrera on November 15, 2003, he effectively made his presence known on the feather/super featherweight scene where he followed that victory with his first win over Juan Manuel Marquez on May 8, 2004, and suffered his third career defeat at the hands of Erik Morales on March 19, 2005.

Pacquiao avenged the Morales loss on January 21, 2006 with a brilliant tenth round TKO win and to end the trilogy, on November 18, 2006, Morales was destroyed in a brilliant third round KO performance by Pacquiao.

If you really want to get into specifics, Manny Pacquiao has had an outstanding last two years where he defeated the likes of David Diaz (June of '08), Oscar de la Hoya (December of '08), Ricky Hatton (May '09), Miguel Angel Cotto (November of '09), Joshua Clottey (March of '10), and Antonio Margarito (November of '10).

In the years from 2003-2010 Manny Pacquiao has fought Erik Morales three times, Marco Antonio Barrera twice, and Juan Manuel Marquez twice, (totalling seven) which were the biggest fights out there at the time.

Prior to the Barrera bout in November of 2003, Manny Pacquiao fought the bulk of his career in the Phillipines against fighters you would know the names of, only if you followed the bantamweight and flyweight divisions in that country.

This is taking nothing from the Congressman from the Phillipines, just stating fact.

During the ten year stretch associated with what is termed a "decade", Floyd "Maynever", Jr. was mixing it up with the likes of Emanuel Augustus (October of 2000), Diego Corrales (January of '01), Jesus Chavez (November of '01), Jose Luis Castillo twice (April and December of '02), Phillip N'dou (November of '03), DeMarcus Corley (May of '04), Arturo Gatti (June of '05), Sharmba Mitchell (November of '05). Zab Judah (April of '06), Oscar de la Hoya (May of '07), Ricky Hatton (December of '07), Juan Manuel Marquez (September of '09), and Shane Mosley (May of 2010).

"Maynever", Jr.'s decision to take a brief retirement allowed the name of Manny Pacquiao to take the spotlight when, at the time of his departure, there were no real opponents that could motivate either "Maynever, Jr., or the boxing public.

Manny Pacquiao is a tremendous talent and his respect shown for opponents in and outside of the ring is what the sporting world desperately needs more of, but when you compare the opponents of the two pound-for-pound recognized best fighters in the world, over the last ten years (what comprises a decade), it's really not even close.

Sportsman of the Decade, Ambassador of Boxing in the last decade, and almost any other award you would like to see given to Manny Pacquiao, he would be a most deserving recipient for what he has brought to the sport.

But the title of Fighter of the Decade clearly belongs to Floyd "Maynever", Jr.

This coming from someone who clearly sees the vast, and now seemingly dangerous, number of character flaws exhibited by "Maynever", Jr. that should take away from his marketability, not his talent in the ring.

This is taking nothing from the pride of Grand Rapids, Michigan, just stating fact.

Sheila Frazier (Denver): "Pacquiao is great for the sport and my personal favorite, but the record you just showed me would question whether he has been the best in the last decade".

Don Fullbright (Denver): "Floyd has to clean up his act for me to give him any award. Domestic issues, roughing up security guards and the like make him ineligible for awards outside of the ring".

Eric Dowell (Aurora): "Pacquiao had seven total fights with Morales, Barrera, and Marquez during the last seven years. That was the best information I've seen as a direct reflection on the undefeated resume of Mayweather".

Source: examiner.com

WBC PRESIDENT HURT BY PACQUIAO’S DECISION TO FIGHT MOSLEY -- PhilBoxing

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com

World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman has indicated he is personally hurt by the decision of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao to defend his WBO welterweight title against Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand on May 7.

The WBC president learned that the fight had been finalized on the same day that the premier world professional boxing organization named Pacquiao as its “Fighter of the Decade.”

Sulaiman told the Inquirer in an overseas telephone conversation from his home in Mexico that Pacquiao and his people “were fooling around with the WBC and the others. ”

While Sulaiman stressed “He (Pacquiao) is a hero and I like him very much he is not paying any respect to the WBC and myself at all. He has never mentioned anything favorable to the WBC.”

Sulaiman said that “at this time of his life he doesn’t care about anything, he only cares about making money I guess.”

The WBC president said that if Pacquiao doesn’t “respect the WBC rules then we have to do something about it” although he admitted “it would make us very unpopular.”

Sulaiman blasted the choice of Mosley saying “he is completely over the hill. He looked very, very bad and very slow in his last fight against a bum (Sergio Mora)” even as he joined a chorus of growing numbers who have condemned the fight and claimed that Pacquiao is only in it for the money.

WBC founding secretary general Rudy Salud earlier said that while Pacquiao had a right to make money after all he has given the country, he “cannot claim that he is fighting Mosley for the country and people. He is fighting for the money.”

Source: philboxing.com

Manny Pacquiao: Is He Still Good for Boxing? -- Ringside Report

By “Bad” Brad Berkwitt, Ringside Report

On May 7th, in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand P4P Best Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, 52-3-2, 38 KO’s is taking on another no hoper in Sugar Shane Mosley, 46-6-1, 39 KO’s for Pacquiao’s WBO Welterweight Title. This will mark the second fight in just six months that promoter Bob Arum has matched Pacquiao extremely soft. As we all know, back in November of last year, he matched his other Top Rank fighter Antonio “Hands of Plaster” Margarito, 38-7, 27 KO’s against Manny. The fight was a complete mismatch that saw Margarito sent to the hospital at the conclusion of the match.

With that said, a great like Shane Mosley once was, will be carried out on a stretcher before the end of this match. In fact, how did Shane even get this title shot? In May of 2010, he lost a wide unanimous decision to Floyd Mayweather, JR., 41-0, 25 KO’s and then in September of 2010, he fought a boring draw against feather fisted Sergio Mora, 22-1-1, 6 KO’s. So now six months after the Mora snooze fest, Mosley hit the Golden Ticket to fight Pacquiao. This is what is wrong with boxing today!

Here are the top 15 rankings by the WBO for the Welterweight Division. RSR readers, do you see Shane Mosley anywhere? In fact, I have only seen in action or at least heard of numbers 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, and 15.

Manny Pacquiao (Champion)


1. Kell Brook
2. Mike Jones
3. Saul Alvarez
4.Vitaliy Demyanenko
5. Joshua Clottey
6. Diego G. Chaves
7. Ed Paredes
8. Samuel Columban
9. Bethuel Ushona
10. Shawn Porter
11. Paul Malignaggi
12. Rafal Jackiewicz
13. Valeriy Brazhnyk
14. Gumersindo L. Carrasco
15. Jesus Soto Karass

So why is the title of this article Manny Pacquiao: Is He Still Good for Boxing? Manny is the face of boxing today. His name generates more press than any other fighter or three fighters combined who are still active in the sport. Manny is a warrior. A man that from all accounts, who wants to see his people of the PI through his work as a Congressman flourish. But his role as the face of boxing is questionable. RSR called for Pacquiao to turn the Margarito fight down because he was a convicted cheater no matter if a very small contingent wanted to claim they thought towards fight time, he was innocent. It didn’t matter because the masses of boxing pundits squashed any type of ridiculous notions that Margarito was not in fact, a cheater!

Now Bob Arum puts Shane Mosley in front of Manny a fighter who is not only completely shot, but is not even ranked in the top 15 of the WBO. Shane is a sure pick for induction into the IBHOF once he retires and meets the five year rule, but for certain, he is going to be retired after this fight and it’s going to be sad to see.

Manny Pacquiao needs to stand up and tell his Promoter Bob Arum enough is enough. Either get me a live body to fight, or I am going to call it a career. Sadly, we know that is not going to happen – and I for one, will take the $60.00 dollar price tag as I did for Manny’s last fight we boycotted and buy some more Frank Sinatra CD’s.

On May 7th, tune out and keep your $60.00 bones and use it on something better than a one sided mismatch.

Source: ringsidereport.com

No rest for Mayweather until he fights Pacquiao -- Examiner

By Scott Heritage, Examiner.com

As if Floyd Mayweather isn't having enough of a rough time of it lately, it now appears that even a peaceful shopping trip surrounded by his entourage and team of enormous bodyguards is beyond him.

Out and about on New Year's day Mayweather faced chants of "Pacquiao, Pacquiao!" from several fans, and even taunts about his height, something he not so long ago mocked Pacquiao for.

Keeping his composure and going about his business, Mayweather didn't outwardly seem to be that bothered, but judging from his recent outbursts, from his profanity laced racial tirade on Ustream to his recent berating of a security guard outside his mansion with little provocation, the lack of respect he gets from fans is getting to him.

Mayweather likes to think himself an untouchable figure to both opponents in the ring and the growing number of fans opposed to either his antics or lack of activity. Indeed one of his favorite comebacks to interviewers who ask about the people who want to see him lose is usually something along the lines of not caring what people say so long as they are all talking about him.

But paradoxically often he seems to crave the adulation heaped upon his rivals and seems to believe rightly or wrongly that he should be celebrated for his past achievements instead of being harangued for his recent underachieving.

The chanting might only have been down to a few Pacquiao fans on this occasion, but in all honesty, there aren't many places Floyd could go even in the United States without at least one or two these days, and until he addresses his future plans this is probably what Mayweather can look forward to whenever he goes out in public.

Should he announce either his next fight, retirement, or intention to fight Pacquiao after the Filipino takes on Shane Mosley, the fans would probably give him a break. If not at the very least he would have a riposte, something to counteract the accusations of him ducking the best competition and protecting his perfect 41-0 record.

The fact that Pacquiao is once again taking on a former opponent of his that he beat easily should be all the motivation he needs to start firing off quotes to the media and laying the groundwork for a fight later this year, and would have been just a few years ago.

Equally, if he were to take on and beat Pacquiao as the bookmakers still favor he would, even those repulsed by his mercurial personality would respect his skills and never question his mettle again. Likewise few would begrudge him a few easy paydays to end his career should he take on Pacquiao win or lose.

Of course, even if he does want to fight Pacquiao at some point, for the time being Mayweather can't really fight anyone. With a court case pending over alleged domestic abuse and ludicrous incidents happening almost by the week, Mayweather might eventually find himself unable to ever fight again.

Until he addresses some of the questions surrounding him though, fans chanting the name of his biggest rival to him is to be expected, as are the regular appearances in TMZ reports and brushes with the Las Vegas police department.

Tim George, Pitt: "Not surprising he does all this stupid stuff when he gets abuse from fans whenever he leaves the house. if he just took the fight it would stop, and most experts think he would win anyway"

Franz Peterson, Las Vegas: "Floyd only bullies people if they're alone, he's known for it around here. He wouldn't do anything in public because he can't outnumber people"

Source: examiner.com

Minus Manny Paquiao III, Juan Manuel Marquez Considers Options -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBA and WBO lightweight (135 pounds) titlist Juan Manuel Marquez may have lost out on a third bout with eight-division king, Manny Pacquiao, but the 37-year-old, three-division champion still has plenty of options, according to Golden Boy Promotions head matchmaker, Eric Gomez.

"We'll be getting together some time this month with Marquez. We'll go over numbers and go over the opponents," said Gomez on Monday.

"Marquez has expressed some interest in going up to 140 and perhaps maybe fighting Amir Khan," said Gomez. "Amir Khan is of interest, and we have tried making that fight before. So there is some interest."

In facing the 24-year-old Khan (24-1, 17 knockouts), Marquez (51-5-1, 38 knockouts) would be pursuing the WBA junior welterweight (140 pounds) king and an opportunity to become the first Mexican fighter to earn a fourth crown over as many weight classes.

But Khan already is being considered for an HBO televised, April 16 date in his native England, potentially against Lamont Peterson (28-1-1, 14 KOs), of Washington, D.C., who is coming off of a Dec. 11 draw with southpaw Victor Ortiz (28-2-2, 22 KOs) that was on the under card of Khan's unanimous decision win over Marcos Rene Maidana (29-2, 27 KOs).

"We are looking at that [Khan] and working on that as well, and the date is set on his return for April 16. We are going to be working on the financial situation and the opponent and so on," said Golden Boy Promotions' CEO, Richard Schaefer.

"But the Khan fight will definitely be in the United Kingdom," said Schaefer. "There are different names that are being discussed, and one of the names which has been discussed is Lamont Peterson."

So in what is the most likely of scenarios, Gomez and Schaefer said that Marquez could be matched against 34-year-old Erik Morales (51-6, 35 KOs) in a clash of Mexican, three-division titlists likely on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"We are going to see if we can get that fight done," said Schaefer of Marquez-Morales. "That's one of the fights that we will be working on in the next couple of days and weeks."

In November, Marquez rose from a third-round knockdown to stop WBO interim king, Michael Katsidis (27-3, 22 KOs), in the ninth.

Marquez has twice battled a disputed draw, and, a disputed, split-decision loss, respectively, against Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), despite rising from a combined total of four knockdowns.

Marquez had been considered as an opponent for Pacquiao until last month, when FanHouse first reported that Pacquiao had chosen to make a defense of his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt against three-division, five-time champion Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao is coming off of a Nov. 13 unanimous decision over Antonio Margarito that earned him the WBC's vacant junior middleweight (154 pounds) title.

"We're going to present to Marquez different opportunities and different fights and different ideas. It's very preliminary right now, but, yes, Morales is being considered," said Gomez.

"But Morales is a consideration along with one of three or four guys who are being considered," said Gomez. "So we would have to sit down with Juan Manuel Marquez because he's the champ and he's our guy and we'll let him decide for himself what he wants to do."

In March of 2005, Morales scored a unanimous decision over Pacquiao, who has since gone 13-0, with eight knockouts -- including stoppages of Morales in the 10th, and, third rounds, respectively.

A winner of three straight fights, Morales is coming off of December's unanimous decision victory over Dominican-born Francisco Lorenzo , of Irvington, N.J., for the WBC's silver light welterweight title at Caliente Racetrack, in Tijuana, Baja, California, Mex.

Prior to Lorenzo, Morales earned September's welterweight, sixth-round knockout of Scottland's Willie Limond that was fought at a catch weight of 143 pounds.

Limond was the second straight win for Morales, who, in March, earned a 12-round, unanimous decision over Jose "Jicaras" Alfaro (23-6, 20 KOs) in Monterrey, Nuevo, Leon, Mex.

Alfaro ended a 31-month absence from the ring for Morales and a four-match losing streak that was part of five losses in his previous six fights. Morales-Alfaro was the Mexican's for fight since 2007, when he lost a decision to David Diaz for the WBC lightweight crown.

Morales is most known for losing two of three bouts in his trilogy with Mexico City's 36-year-old, five-time, three-division champion, Marco Antonio Barrera (66-7, 43 KOs). Barrera-Morales was the Mexican equivalent of Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier.

Marquez owns a July of 2007, unanimous decision victory over Barrera, but never has faced Morales.

"We feel that Marquez-Morales would be a big seller in the Mexican community, and it's a fight that the Mexican community has always wanted but it was never done," said Gomez. "Marquez wants to fight in Las Vegas, so there is a good possibility that it will be in Las Vegas either in March or April around there."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Boxing needs another big face like Pacquiao -- Gulf News

By Ashley Hammond, Gulf News

Dubai: After 67 bouts, 63 wins, 52 of which were knockouts, Marvelous Marvin Hagler only lost three times and drew twice in his 14-year boxing career without ever getting kayoed.

Having retained the WBC Middleweight title for seven years until a controversial defeat in 1987 to Sugar Ray Leonard, Hagler retired because Leonard wouldn't offer him a rematch. The fight went down in history because while Hagler slugged it out and hit hard, Leonard tapped his way to a narrow victory on points.

Hagler, 32 at the age of retirement, was a southpaw eyeing a bout with a former retiree, both out to cement a legacy in the fight everyone wanted (re)decided — these are almost exactly the same variables that exist today among 32-year-old southpaw Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, except the latter haven't met previously.

Hagler spoke to Gulf News recently about ‘that' fight, Pacquiao's predicament (from his almost identical experience) and what the sport needs to do to save itself, as well as growing up amid poverty and being bottled upon his belt-winning.

Following are the excerpts:

GULF NEWS: Is boxing on the decline?

MARVIN HAGLER: Boxing will never die. It just needs another big face like Manny Pacquiao, since a lot of other sports have begun taking over like UFC and wrestling. What's hurting boxing more is that there's too many organisations and five different world champions in the same weight division. It needs a box-off to determine one winner. That would spark interest back into boxing. They have this ace in the hole but as usual there's too much money and politics involved.

Did growing in poverty amid the Newark riots spark the fight in you?

The riot changed things that I didn't understand. It was racial between black and white. I only remember my mother having us all sleep on the floor because of gunfire and rocks coming through the window. I imitated all kinds of athletes growing up like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Walt Fraser to Mohammad Ali. As a kid you have to dream to get yourself away from the reality that surrounds you. That was my escapism pretending I was someone else but then I saw others pretending to be me.

Did getting bottled off mar your World Championship celebrations?

I was very happy I finally got my gift. I didn't notice all the bottles and things (against Alan Minter at Wembley in 1980, which ended in a riot after a third round stoppage). I never even saw that, I was so happy. My manager and trainers protected me and covered me up. You could have been hit on the head with one of those. I did say I would never go back to England after that fight, but now I realise it was just a handful of people that really made the whole country look bad.

Were you robbed of victory in the Sugar Ray Leonard fight?

I wouldn't say running, but he just was moving so fast. I don't think he wanted to win the title because if you want to win you know you've got to take it. He was just flash-dancing. I can't remember his punches, usually when a guy hits you, you know about it. They were pitty-patty taps, those were like amateur days. I fought like the challenger even though I was the champion. I still feel I won the fight and I believe he knows it too.

Do you regret ending your career on that low-point?

I feel I accomplished everything I wanted to do. I gave everyone the opportunity to dethrone me and showed the world I was the best. I'm very contented and everything, that fight there don't bother me no more. I hung around for a year after hoping that he'd [Leonard] give me the same opportunity I gave him, but I just knew the guy didn't want to fight. I don't blame him, I wasn't going to hang around and get grey hair. I got to get on with my life.

Is the way in which you were denied a re-fight to cement your legacy similar to how Floyd Mayweather now won't fight Manny Pacquiao?

Pacquiao's legacy will probably be the same as mine in a sense that he waited around for this guy. But if this guy doesn't want to fight hey well. I think Pacquiao will just wipe it off and say well I offered it to you and you didn't want to come out. I'm not hanging around in this game too long so caio. Don't wait for a Leonard or someone like that to dictate to you. He won't get that big legacy until the fight with Floyd Mayweather but in time everything fades away and people tend to forget that.

What's up with this fight?

Something's a little nervous about that fight I think its more Mayweather. If he wants to fight he could make it happen tomorrow. You can't say he's scared because no fighter is scared. He's playing games hoping Pacquiao loses so he can come out the woodwork and say now I'll fight you. But as long as Pacquiao is winning, knocking people out Mayweather is going to stand back because he's waiting for the weakness — it's like I used to tell fighters ‘beat me at my best', don't wait around getting old or crippled like a couple of fighters I know who were waiting for me to lose.

Pacquiao only had to agree to Mayweather's condition of a drugs test.

[Imagining he's Pacquiao] yeah but who are you to dictate to me what I got to do? If I've got to take it, you've got to take it. You're not going to tell me what I have to do in order to get a fight with you. Who are you? Come on man.

But that's exactly what you did with Leonard. You agreed to his conditions of a 24x24 foot ring, 12oz gloves and 12 rounds.

A lot of people felt that I shouldn't do it but I felt as though it didn't mean anything to me — the outcome would have been the same anyway. Basically I just wanted to get the guy in the ring it was for mega bucks. He [Leonard] was doing the same kind of thing Mayweather is doing. I would have fought the guy in his house he just forgot to give me his address. They should both take the drugs test. Let's get this thing on you know? That's what real fighters are all about.

Source: gulfnews.com

Bob Arum: Shane Mosley Can Hurt Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

For Shane Mosley, there is nothing quite as motivating as being underestimated.

Take, for example, the conditions the five-time titlist faced during what had to be among the worst periods of his life heading into his January, 2009, bout with then-WBA welterweight (147 pounds) king Antonio Margarito.

Mosley's marriage to the mother of three of his four children, was in disarray, and, ultimately, would end in a nasty and costly divorce.

The three-division champion was under scrutiny after having admitted during leaked grand jury testimony that he had unknowingly used designer steroids that he received from BALCO Founder, Victor Conte, before defeating Oscar De La Hoya in September 2003.

In addition, Mosley was entering his first fight under a new trainer, Naazim Richardson, after having fired his father, Jack Mosley.

But Mosley wound up blasting and battering down the hard-punching Margarito over the course of a ninth-round knockout victory, stopping the Mexican-born fighter for the first time in his career before the largest crowd ever to witness an athletic event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Mosley was in a similarly dubious situation as an underdog heading into a September, 2008, junior middleweight (154 pounds) bout against former titlist Ricardo Mayorga, this, after having lost a bid for the WBA welterweight crown in a November, 2007 loss to Miguel Cotto.

A Managua, Nicaragua, resident, Mayorga's past had included dethroning previously unbeaten WBA welterweight king, Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis, by fifth-round knockout, in March of 2002, unifying the belts with a January, 2003, third-round stoppage of previously unbeaten WBC king Vernon Forrest, and winning his return bout with Forrest by majority decision in July of 2003.

At 35-0 with 26 knockouts entering his first bout with Mayorga, Forrest had scored consecutive decisions over the previously unbeaten Mosley after Mosley had twice defeated De La Hoya.

The result? Mosley stopped Mayorga in the 12th round.

"I mean, when I fought Mayorga, I think that they thought that I was past my prime and that Mayorga was just going to come in there and get in the ring and destroy me, but it didn't happen," said Mosley.

"That's the same thing that happened with Margarito," said Mosley. "I mean, when I fought Margarito, and when I've fought some other fighters, it's like they think that they have the upper hand."

Three fights later, the 39-year-old Mosley (46-6-1, 39 knockouts) is being counted out of a May 7, WBO welterweight clash opposite 32-year-old Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), whose WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt will not be on the line when they enter the ring for their HBO pay per view televised match up at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao is coming off of a Nov. 13 unanimous decision over Margarito that earned him the WBC belt, his eighth crown in as many different weight classes, and his 13th straight win.

Pacquiao's last loss was by a unanimous decision to Erik Morales in March of 2005, but the Filipino super star has since stopped eight opponents, including four consecutively -- a spree comprised knockouts over David Diaz, De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Cotto, respectively, in nine, eight, two, and, 12 rounds.

Pacquaio's winning streak also includes having twice avenged the loss to Morales, whom he stopped in 10, and, three rounds, in January and November 2006. The run also boasts 12-round triumphs over Mexican legends Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera, as well as an eighth-round knockout of previously unbeaten Jorge Solis.

Meanwhile, Mosley has not looked good in his past two fights.

In May, Mosley dropped a lopsided, unanimous decision loss to six-time champion Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), whom he staggered with a second-round right hand but was unable to finish. In September, Mosley struggled through a disputed, split-decision, junior middleweight draw against light-hitting, ex-champion Sergio Mora (21-1-1, six KOs).

"This is boxing. This is about two people getting into the ring and finding out who is the better fighter that night. I mean, that's what the fight game is all about. A lot can happen, and nobody really knows what is going to happen," said Mosley.

"But for this fight against Manny Pacquiao, it's up to me to make sure that that he doesn't have the upper hand and that that isn't the case," said Mosley. "I'm coming into this fight knowing that that is not the case."

Mosley told FanHouse that his purse, up front, will be a guarateed $5 million against Pacquiao with escalators that will make it surpass the career-best of $7 million that he pocketed against Mayweather, who received a non-heavyweight record guarantee of $22.5 million.

Pacquiao, Top Rank Promotions CEO, Bob Arum, and, Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, chose Mosley over 37-year-old WBO and WBA lightweight (135 pounds) king Marquez (51-5-1, 38 KOs) and 27-year-old WBC welterweight belt-holder Andre Berto (27-0, 21 KOs).

Berto had scored two straight knockouts, respectively, over southpaw former world champion Carlos Quintana (27-3, 22 KOs) in April and hard-punching Freddy Hernandez (29-1, 20 KOs) last month in the eighth and first rounds.

Pacquiao's four-time Trainer of the Year, Freddie Roach, called Berto a dangerous opponent, adding, "he's the young guy coming up, and his last, one-punch knockout win was impressive."

Marquez battled Pacquiao to a disputed draw, and lost a controversial, split-decision, respectively, in May of 2004, and, March, 2008, being knocked down a combined four times over the course of the two bouts.

Last month, Marquez rose from a third-round knockdown to win by an HBO televised, ninth-round knockout over former WBO interim champ Michael Katsidis (27-3, 22 KOs).

"The old fights at the lower weights, where Manny knocked Marquez down four times are not relevant because that was before he really learned how to fight, and before his body developed into that of a welterweight," said Arum.

"Can you imagine what he would do to Marquez now if he knocked him down the same way?" said Arum. "Manny would wipe the floor with him in one or two rounds. And then what the f**k do I do? How would I sell Manny's next fight?"

Arum also said that Golden Boy Promotions, on behalf of Marquez "overpriced" the Mexican, three-division champion Marquez, who reportedly asked for a $5 million guarantee, while making $5 per pay-per-view buy above 500,000, for $8.5 million total if the fight generated 1.2 million buys.

"People are like, 'Well, what about Mosley's last two fights?' Well, what about his last two fights? Mosley fought Mayweather, and he's the only guy in Mayweather's whole career to really hurt Mayweather and to really have him in trouble. So Mosley is capable of hurting Manny," said Arum.

"But, then, you take the Mora fight. Anybody who made that match should be shot. To put Mosley, an older fighter, in with a guy who is completely defensive and just stinks you out is not doing Mosley any favors," said Arum. "So, as far as I'm concerned, the most competitive guy of the three for Manny is Mosley. And I mean, that's after looking at Mosley's whole track record."

A former IBF lightweight champion, Mosley has fought at welterweight or higher exclusively since relinquishing his lightweight belt in 1999, including seven bouts at junior middleweight and one other at 148 pounds -- an April, 2005 decision over David Estrada.

At junior middleweight, Mosley has twice stopped former world champion, Fernando Vargas, knocked out Mayorga, and earned his second win over former world champ, De La Hoya -- the latter for the WBC and WBA crowns in September of 2003.

Mosley also dispatched of De La Hoya by split-decision in June of 2000 for the WBC welterweight crown, but twice lost to former world titlist Winky Wright at 154 pounds.

"Mosley is vulnerable to defensive fighters," said Arum, referring to Mosley's loss to Mayweather the two each to Forrest and Wright. "The only fighter he lost to that wasn't defensive was Cotto, and that was life and death."

"So maybe if you put Mosley in there with a defensive fighter at his age, you know, Mosley runs out of gas because he can no longer handle it if you run from him," said Arum. "But if he's in there with someone who comes forward like Pacquiao does, then Mosley still has the bullets and the counter-punching ability and he's a strong guy who can give anybody like that trouble."

Mosley agreed.

"Pacquiao's defense is not as good as Floyd Mayweather's defense. I think I can probably win a decision, but I'm pretty much looking to try and go in there knock Pacquiao out," said Mosley.

"I'm pretty sure that Manny's going to get in there and try to knock me out, and I'm going to get in there and try to knock him out," said Mosley. "That's why it's going to be a great fight. These are two guys who are willing to fight."

Mosley watched last Saturday's Showtime televised, WBC light heavyweight (175 pounds) bout with interest, as 45-year-old Bernard Hopkins (51-5-2, 32 KOs) appeared to have successfully negated knockdowns in the first and third rounds to defeat 28-year-old Jean Pascal (261-1, 16 KOs) before Pascal's partisan fans at the Pepsi Colesium in Quebec City, Canada.

"They thought that Bernard Hopkins was over the hill, but I knew that he would work hard to win the fight. Pascal had called him out, thinking that it was the right time to get Bernard Hopkins," said Mosley.

"But it turned out that that was not true," said Mosley "I figured that Bernard would win, and, I figured that he would win by knockout because of his experience and because I know the type of person that he is. I'm definitely encouraged by that."

Asked if he believes that Pacquiao feels similarly about him as Pascal did Hopkins, Mosley answered affirmatively.

"I'm sure that that's how Manny Pacquiao feels about me. People do what they think that they need to do to have the advantage," said Mosley.

"They think that they have the upper hand with me, so, why not take it?" said Mosley. "But I know that I'm tricking them, you know? Because I have something up my sleeve too."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Mosley fight will earn Pacquiao record sum -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Promoter Bob Arum said on Wednesday that Manny Pacquiao will earn the biggest paycheck of his career when he battles Shane Mosley on May 7, 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"Manny's going to get his biggest payday," said Arum in a high-pitched tone from Las Vegas shortly after Pacquiao and Mosley formally agreed to slug it out in a welterweight 12-rounder.

Arum politely declined to provide even a ballpark figure but made the assurance the Filipino pound-for-pound king will be a very happy man after taking on Mosley before an expected capacity crowd at the 17,157-seat Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao has grossed at least $20 million each in his last few fights and the showdown with Mosley is another of those big-money bouts that has made the 32-year-old southpaw one of the richest sportsmen today.

Arum's optimism over the revenue that his promotional company and Pacquiao would receive from the Mosley fight stems from an incident that happened at the Top Rank offices minutes after Mosley reached out to boxing writers to say that the Pacquiao fight is indeed on.

"The phones just kept on ringing," Arum said excitedly, pointing to his stepdaughter Dena DuBoef's experience in the office.

"Dena received a lot of inquiries and I think once tickets are made available to the public, it will sell out quickly."

Arum said the priciest seat will be retailed at $1,000, while the cheapest will be at $150. Other prices include $700, $500 and $350.

Arum, who finalized the details of the Mosley fight when he spent almost a week in the Philippines, said a press conference in the US will be held in January followed by a four-city press tour sometime in February.

"Mosley is very excited and I am very excited as well. This will be a great fight," added Arum, who revealed that tickets would become available next month.

Pacquiao last fought on Nov. 13 in Texas where he beat up Antonio Margarito to a bloody pulp.

Mosley was held to a draw by Sergio Mora in his last outing last September.

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacquiao vs. Mosley is on, but who really cares? -- Examiner

By Earney White, Examiner.com

HOUSTON, Texas -- It’s official, Manny Pacquiao will face Shane Mosley on May 7th 2011 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This is obviously a fight geared toward the casual or mainstream boxing fan. The hardcore followers of the sweet science are demanding a rubber match with Marquez to settle the score once and for all.

Bob Arum is a businessman, and the decision to fight Mosley was quite easy for both he and Pacquiao to make.

Mosley will be nearly 40 when the fight happens, and he is also coming off two straight disappointing performances against Mayweather and Sergio Mora.

However, Mosley is still a formidable name, and will probably bring more money to the table than Juan Manuel Marquez, Andre Berto, or anyone else not named Floyd Mayweather.

Although fighting Mosley is a cash grab for Pacquiao, you really can’t blame him for going for the money. Sadly, everyone knows that he will destroy Shane Mosley fairly easily when they meet.

You can now add Mosley to the laundry list of fighters who were either on the decline or were damaged goods by the time Pacquiao faced them. (De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto, Morales, Barerra, Margarito)

Looking on the bright side, this fight will undoubtedly pump new life into the struggling Las Vegas economy.

MARQUEZ PURSE DEMANDS

In the press release announcing the fight, it was stated that Mosley would earn a minimum of $5 million with a potential to make $7 million due to incentives.

Coming off a two marquee wins, Marquez asked for five million for a third Pacquiao fight, but was told that his asking price was too high.

Mosley, after two horrible fights will get Marquez’s asking price plus more on the back end.

Sounds fishy.

POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER LOOMS

If Mosley somehow pulls off the upset, the sport of boxing will be dealt a huge blow. It doesn’t feel good to know that we are one punch away from being robbed of witnessing the richest fight in history.

With every fight that Pacquiao and Mayweather without one another, they’re at risk of losing out on a guaranteed $50 million payday.

Mosley, who trains frequently here in the city of Houston, will definitely have his hands full on the night of May 7th.

Will he shock the world?

Highly unlikely.

Contact Earney: pvamuboxing@gmail.com

Source: examiner.com