Arum optimistic, De La Hoya says it's almost done, but Ariza believes Mayweather won't fight Pacquiao

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com

While Top Rank promoter Bob Arum remains optimistic and Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya claims a mega-buck fight between pound-for-pound king and “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr is almost done, Pacquiao’s conditioning expert Alex Ariza believes it won’t happen because Mayweather doesn’t want to lose.

Ariza said the report that Mayweather was going to take “a little bit of time off ” and the fact that the Nevada State Athletic Commission “slammed the door on the US Anti Doping Agency” by indicating that random drug testing is not going to be a part of the pre and post-fight procedure is certain to make it more difficult to arrive at an agreement.

Ariza stressed what he’s always said and that Mayweather “is afraid to fight Pacquiao.” He said a defeat at the hands of Pacquiao would mean that “for the rest of his life Mayweather will always be associated with the biggest fight in boxing history as the loser of that fight. He wouldn’t be able to deal with that.”

The conditioning guru said “I don’t think you can put a price on that and I think Mayweather is afraid of that (losing) because being undefeated is the only thing that validates Mayweather in his heart and in the sport.”

Given this possibility Ariza said a rematch with newly crowned WBA light middleweight champion Miguel Cotto “is very likely” stating that Pacquiao can win his eighth title in eight different divisions and solidify his position as the greatest fighter. He said fighting Antonio Margarito was also an option and “would be a good fight for us” even as he mentioned Juan Manuel Marquez as another possible opponent.

Asked whether fighting Cotto at 154 pounds would be difficult for Pacquiao, Ariza replied “I don’t think so. I think Manny can knockout Cotto at 154.”

Pacquiao scored a dominating 12th round TKO over Cotto to win the Puerto Rican’s WBO welterweight title and the WBC “Diamond Belt” last November and Ariza feels the extra weight won’t make a difference.

Arum who has been quietly striving to reach and agreement with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer on a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight said the other day he was still “optimistic” that it could be done.

Oscar De La Hoya on the other hand was far more direct saying "I can't talk right now in detail about the negotiations but I can say that we are very close.

Up until now, it's been a very difficult negotiation process for various reasons but right now we're very close.”

De La Hoya added "I think right now we are very, very close in finalizing the contracts.

"It's going to be a big, big fight!"

Source: philboxing.com

It's not Manny Pacquiao's BWAA awards that hurts Boxing, it's the Mayweathers that hurt boxing -- Examiner

By Rick Rockwell, Examiner.com

The latest comments by Floyd Mayweather Sr have officially cemented his status as "mentally insane" in my opinion. You'd think that we'd be used to the personal attacks toward Manny Pacquiao, but it seems that these Mayweathers keep outdoing their previous comments. In Floyd Sr's latest illogical rant, he says that not only doesn't Manny deserve to be fighter of the decade, but his winning of this prestigious award is what hurts boxing. Let's examine Floyd Sr's comments further:

The following Floyd Mayweather Sr quotes are from an interview with Fighthype.com:

'What award they gonna give my son when he whoops Pacquiao'

First of all, we're not even sure if Floyd Mayweather Jr will fight Manny Pacquiao. Last we heard, Floyd Jr was taking 1-2 years off. Personally, I wish Floyd Mayweather Sr would take 1-2 years off from talking to the media. But, if Floyd Jr does win, the he would deserve pound-for-pound best fighter and potentially the BWAA's 'Fighter of the Year" award.

Once again insults Manny

Floyd Mayweahter Sr, doesn't just believe Manny shouldn't have won the award, he goes onto publicly insult the man:

"Pacquiao ain't no fu*king fighter of the decade. He is a pu*sy,"
I would love for Floyd Mayweather Sr to back up this comment with something logical. Manny has fought tougher fights throughout his career than any member of the Mayweather family.

Comparing Records

"Pacquiao has 2 draws and a loss in this decade. Lil Floyd is undefeated in this decade and in his career. On top of that, Pacquiao beat 2 guys Lil Floyd already beat and struggled twice with a guy Floyd blanked out 12 rounds to nothing," Mayweather Sr.

Floyd fought 7 less fights, won less titles, and retired for over 1 year in the decade. How does that justify "Fighter of the Decade" honors. Also, Floyd Jr fought an older and much smaller Juan Manuel Marquez last year. How about we actually compare what the Floyd Jr and Manny did against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton since Floyd Sr brought it up?

Manny Pacquiao thoroughly dominated both fighters and sent both Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton into permanent retirement. Mayweahter Jr had to go into the late rounds just to get a victory. If you look at the performances from these fights, they clearly favor Pacquiao. It's a foolish argument from a foolish man.

Hurting Boxing

"That's the kind of sh*t that hurts boxing. It makes no sense. Too many people in the sport don't know what the fu*k's going on. That kind of sh*t right there is why boxing stays on the ropes" Mayweather Sr, Fighthype.com

What actually hurts boxing is having people like the Mayweathers publicly bashing another fighter. What actually hurts boxing is having people like Floyd Mayweather Jr only care about "money" and publicly denying his interest in the fans. What actually hurts boxing is having the Mayweathers falsely accuse Manny Pacquiao of taking PEDs.

I can keep going. What hurts boxing is how the Mayweathers discriminate and make racial comments toward Manny Pacquiao and Filipinos. What hurts boxing is having people like the Mayweathers commit felony crimes like assaulting women and drug possession.

What hurts boxing is people like the Mayweathers who tell the public that they're going to clean up the sport of boxing from cheaters and drug usage, but once they collect their paycheck they run back to their holes and forget all about their supposed "drug crusade".

Conclusion

For the life of me, I don't understand how these individuals can continue to bash Manny Pacquiao without any legal repercussions. They have no regard for the lawsuit hanging over their heads. The constant attacks are becoming increasingly disturbing with each foul-mouthed comment. Whatever logical or legitimate concern that they might have had has been destroyed by ignorant and discriminating attacks.

Source: examiner.com

Bob Arum sees megafight happening -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

In the run-up to the epic 1985 brawl between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum spoke about jumping in and out of airplanes for 14 straight days covering 25 US cities.

If negotiations bear fruit to stage a November 13 super showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, there is no doubt in Arum’s mind that the build-up to such a mouth-watering bout would set a new standard in pre-fight hype.

“Absolutely,” Arum said on Tuesday from his home in Las Vegas as the conversation veered towards the talks to stage the Pacquiao-Mayweather match in Las Vegas.

With the proposed event less than five months away, Arum remains cool as a cat that everything is going right on schedule.

“There is no rush,” said Arum in his classic New York drawl. “We still have time (to put together the fight).”

If the fight is made – and that should happen not later than the end of July – Arum will spearhead a cross-country tour of major US cities like the time in 1985 when he accompanied Hagler and Hearns.

It is estimated that the Pacquiao-Mayweather faceoff will break all existing attendance and box-office records.

Pacquiao has participated in four publicity tours and the largest scale were the fights involving Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto.

Source: mb.com.ph

Manny open to rematch with Hatton -- Philippine Star

By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao wouldn’t mind facing Ricky Hatton a second time, just in case any of the other fights being lined up for the Filipino superstar doesn’t shape up.

“He can have a rematch,” said Pacquiao in a television interview upon his return from the United States, where he received the Boxer of the Decade award from the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America.

Pacquiao also took a couple of days off in Mexico with his family, including his wife and kids, and looked fresh when he said a rematch with Hatton or even Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto remains a possibility.

“I’m ready to fight anytime. I’m not choosy on whom to fight,” he said.

Negotiations for the superfight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are on, and a couple of days ago, Oscar dela Hoya leaked to the press that all’s well between the two camps.

“We’re very close in finalizing the contracts that were once very complicated. The two fighters now realize that this fight must be made. It has to be made because the boxing fans want to see it happen and right now it’s the biggest fight that can be made in the world,” he said.

All’s well despite the perceived disagreements on the blood-testing procedure and purse split. Another thing hanging over the heads of those making the fight happen is the lawsuit filed by Pacquiao against the Mayweathers, and Dela Hoya himself.

But just in case nothing comes out anew, Pacquiao had already expressed his willingness to fight Hatton, whom he demolished inside two rounds in May last year, or Cotto, who lasted longer but still was knocked out by the Filipino last November.

Cotto defeated Yuri Foreman for the WBA light-middleweight crown last week, and would be more than willing to stake his title against Pacquiao.

But there may be concerns if Pacquiao can face Cotto at 154 lb or may seek a catchweight at 150 lb.

Pacquiao said during the ABS-CBN interview that anything is possible.

“Negotiations are on with Mayweather. But (I heard) Cotto also wants a rematch,” he said.

Pacquiao hurled Mayweather and company to court after the camp of the undefeated American insisted that the 31-year-old pound-for-pound champion and newly elected congressman is into performance-enhancing drugs.

And also last week, Hatton made some noise when he said his biggest mistake against Pacquiao was his failure to demand a blood-testing procedure the way Mayweather now wants it to happen.

“I could have had those rules, but I wasn’t bothered. Maybe in hindsight, I should have done. I must admit, I fancied my chances against Manny,” Hatton was quoted as saying.

Source: philstar.com

Manny Pacquiao should give 'Doctor No' combat pay, catcher's mask -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

Manny Pacquaio should give two things to his loyal liege, the Canadian agent named Michael Koncz.

Given his penchant for getting involved in onesided fights, "Doctor No" as I refer to Koncz could use combat pay and a catcher's mask to protect his face.

You'll recall the infamous Baguio training camp incident where conditioning coach Alex Ariza repeatedly slapped Koncz's face in Pacman's hotel suite. Ariza was incensed at what he viewed as a plot by Koncz to move him out of working Manny's corner on fight night.

Recently, I reported the admittedly gossipy item, which turned out to totally accurate, that well known Pinoy actor Phillip Salvador, an action movie hero who is 57 years old, blasted Koncz in the face with a right hand.

Koncz turned up, in his Pacquiao shadow role, at the Boxing Writers Dinner in New York last weekend. Koncz had a blackened eye and a bruise on one arm.

"Doctor No" confirmed the dustup to me but said the actor's blow was "a cheap shot."

Now we can put this story to bed with the story behind the story of Salvador's anger.

Salvador asked Pacman if he could 250,000 Philippine pesos (about $5,388 US Dollars).

The Pinoy Idol, as he is wont to do to nearly all requests for time or money, said surely, my good man, no problem.

The actor wanted to replenish a pocket emptied by casino gambling.

It seemed he wanted to give Lady Luck another go.

Koncz rejected the request.

His loyalty to Pacman seems unquestionable and the main part of his gig, besides shadowing the fighter, is saying no way, Jose, after Manny has said, hey, no problem.

I'm thinking one of those old Yogi Berra catcher masks might work for Mr. Koncz.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Expert opinions vary at drug-testing forum -- Las Vegas Review-Journal

By STEVE CARP, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

It didn't have the drama or trappings of a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill, but the Nevada Athletic Commission's forum on drug testing Wednesday provided frank discussion about the effectiveness of catching cheaters inside the ring.

If you believe Dr. David Watson, the NAC has its act together. Travis Tygart, chief executive officer of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, said he thinks the commission can do a lot more to beef up its protocols. Dr. Robert Voy, a former chief medical officer for the United States Olympic Committee, said he thinks the NAC is doing an adequate job given its resources but that it has room to improve.

"(Nevada) can do better," Tygart said. "Frankly, it's inadequate. You deserve better. Your athletes deserve better."

Watson, who works for the NAC as a ringside physician, said: "I think the commission is doing an outstanding job of staying on top of this issue."

Said Voy: "The commission should be congratulated for testing (for steroids). However, the protocol is troubling to me. You have to have a very tight process. The athlete has to be assured there are safeguards in place to protect the athlete from tampering."

NAC executive director Keith Kizer said the purpose of the forum was to give the commissioners an opportunity to learn from experts in the testing field and stay ahead of the curve.

"We rely on the experts," Kizer said. "We were able to have a nice, open discussion, and this commission has never been afraid to change its rules. The commission wants to make the best regulations to ensure the safety of the fighters and the integrity of the sport."

Tygart recommended the use of more blood testing for performance-enhancing drugs such as human growth hormone and other designer steroids. He also suggested the NAC consider changing labs, using USADA's testing facilities in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. The commission currently sends its drug tests through Quest Diagnostics, with facilities in Las Vegas.

"Blood testing is something the commission wants to look into," Kizer said. "But you just want to make sure the tests are accurate and you don't put the fighter at risk."

Voy said that anytime blood is drawn from a person, the potential for risk exists.

"Taking blood is an evasive procedure," he said. "There's always risk. It can be dangerous. However, I don't think taking blood close to a competition puts the athlete at risk."

That was Manny Pacquiao's contention when he refused to submit to random blood testing to make a proposed fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in March. Pacquiao since has said he would be willing to have his blood drawn within 14 days of a fight.

But Tygart said that still creates a window of opportunity for potential cheating.

"If you're going to have a window, keep it as short as you can," he said.

When Mayweather fought Shane Mosley on May 1, both fighters agreed to Olympic-style random drug testing, which included taking blood and urine samples. USADA oversaw the protocols for the drug testing, and the last blood tests administered to the fighters came 18 days before they entered the ring.

However, Tygart said the threat of testing the fighters remained in place during that period, which served as a sufficient deterrent had either considered cheating. Both fighters were tested eight times, and each tested clean on every occasion.

Kizer said any changes the commission makes to its protocols for drug testing will come with the fighters' best interest in mind. "You don't do drug testing for public relations," he said. "You do it for health and safety."

■ FUNEKA SUSPENDED -- Lightweight Ali Funeka took a banned substance to reduce swelling in his legs from his long flight from South Africa to Las Vegas in March. But that didn't get him off the hook with the NAC, which suspended him for nine months, fined him $35,000 and ordered him to pay back an additional $15,625 he received from his opponent, Joan Guzman, who failed to make weight when they fought March 27 at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Funeka took hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic, which is banned in Nevada. The drug was given to him by his physician, Dr. Mark Blumberg, who admitted he didn't know its use was against NAC rules.

Funeka lost a 12-round split decision to Guzman, and his record remains 30-3-3.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.

Source: lvrj.com

Tony Martin reflects on training Mark Melligen, memories from the Philippines, and life in Las Vegas -- Examiner

By Chris Robinson, Examiner.com

A few days ago Welterweight hopeful Mark Melligen was spotted training rigorously at Floyd Mayweather’s personal gym in Las Vegas. The Bacolod City native is getting ready for a do or die rematch against Michel Rosales, the same man who beat him last November, and his preparation for the contest spoke of the importance of the clash.

What should be noted is that Melligen’s trainer Tony Martin is taking the contest just as personal for a variety of reasons. The mild-mannered Martin has put a lot of time into bringing out the best in young Melligen and only in getting to know his full story does everything start to fall into place.

“I can’t divulge too much but I was born in London in the East end of London,” Martin said of his childhood. “It was quite a tough area. I was always getting into problems when I was young. I was getting into forms of street fights and it was eventually a policeman who got a hold of me and said ‘If you keep this up son you are gonna spend your life behind bars’.”

Despite being apparently rough around the edges, Martin would take the officer’s advice and set foot into a boxing gym for the first time. Little did he know how much that move would impact his life on many fronts as he would soon begin immersing himself in a completely new world, one full of growth, discovery, and much travel.

“He told me that I had so much aggression and that I had to take it in the ring,” Martin reflected. “Of course I took it in the ring and boxed amateur but my mother didn’t like it. I had to finish my studies and graduated as an engineer and I went around the world. I met my wife 25 years ago and we decided to get married and later moved to the Philippines. I never left there. My first involvement in the boxing world was when I worked with the Governor and I started training fighters. I remember approaching Antonio Aldeguer at the ALA gym and we started working together and became good friends.”

Martin notes that he spent about twenty years in the Philippines and it is obvious that he wouldn’t trade his experiences for the world. His relationship with ALA continued to flourish and he is now the director of overseas operations as well as serving as their chief trainer in Las Vegas. Looking back on those years in the Philippines Martin can’t help but to crack a smile and reminisce.

“Fantastic,” Martin claimed. “I can’t explain it. It’s like telling people who look at a third world country and say ‘I wouldn’t want to be there’. But until you go there you have to actually be there to realize what it’s all about. There is a different culture there and they are very kind people. They are very nice and they will give you everything they have. After my time here, maybe in another five years I may go back there.”

When asked for his thoughts on the evolution of boxing in the country Martin reveals that there has always been an abundance of talent in the Philippines but that the fighters from the country never had the right platform to display their skills. That all changed, however, once Manny Pacquiao broke onto the scene, as fellow pugilists soon had a path to follow.

“At one time in the world there was a lot of dirty promoters and managers in the Philippines who were short selling boxers and sending them overseas to places like Japan and Thailand,” Martin said. “They were getting beaten badly. Over the years people have come up like Antonio Aldeguer’s gym, ALA Promotions, Rudy Salud, and lots of others in the outside regions of the Philippines. Understand that sometime ago Americans used to think that Philippines boxers were useless and they have nothing to offer. Now that Manny has come up and others have followed him, they have realized these guys can fight. They have been given the right chance to prove everything.”

One of the brighter spots for the country as far as the boxing world is concerned is 24-year old Melligen, who sports a 18-2 record with 13 knockouts while fighting six of his last seven bouts in the States. Looking back on his union with the southpaw fighter Martin speaks of the steps that were taken to help bring the fighter along.

“Well this goes back to the ALA gym,” Martin claimed. “I’ve been training boxers in the ALA gym for so many years and Mark came to my attention two years ago. Tony Aldeguer told me this guy had a prospect and he would like for him to have more experience so he decided to bring him out here. So the first fight we had was in Colorado and after that fight we approached Top Rank and we asked Mr. Arum if he would be interested and he said ‘yeah’.”

Based in Las Vegas primarily for the last four years, Martin found it fitting to bring Melligen into town to further hone his skills. After touching base with a former champion in the area everything was lined up for the fighter to ply his craft in one of the most sought after gyms in the area where top level sparring is never hard to find.

“I knew the Mayweather Gym and I asked [Cornelius Boza Edwards] if we could train and Mark started training here,” Martin noted. “He sparred with Floyd a couple of times. Then he sparred with Devon Alexander, [Marcos] Maidana, in preparation for his fights. Floyd is a master and he is hard to hit but sometimes Mark is elusive as well. Maidana is strong as a bull and if you get punched by him you know it. Devon Alexander is a nice kid and we enjoyed sparring him for two weeks.”

What hasn’t’ been covered is the fact that Melligen wasn’t in the right frame of mind prior to his first bout with Rosales. Just moments before entering the ring Mark was shook after seeing his good friend Z Gorres collapse in the ring after his win over Luis Melendez. Gorres would be rushed to the hospital to have surgery performed to remove swelling of the brain and his career is now over. When Melligen meets Rosales for the second time Martin feels we will be seeing a completely different man in the ring.

“After the last fight with Gonzalez we approached the matchmaker Brad Goodman with Top Rank and asked him if we could have a return against Rosales to redeem ourselves. To prove to everyone that he was lucky that night and also the fact that it won’t be the same Melligen that Rosales met last year. He is totally focused now and he knows Rosales’ moves and he has the capabilities of stopping Rosales. We’re really looking to make a statement.”

Source: examiner.com

Dela Hoya: "Megafight is almost a done deal" -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

In a shocking revelation, Oscar De La Hoya, whose promotional outfit represents Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the negotiations to stage a November 13 fight with Manny Pacquiao, told the Spanish TV station Univision that the superfight is close to being done.

"Up until now, it’s been a very difficult negotiation process for various reasons but right now we’re very close,” De La Hoya said in Spanish and translated by fight scribe John Chavez of boxingtruth.com.

The interview took place before the Game Four of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles and De La Hoya, who heads Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), added that “we’re very close in finalizing the contracts that were once very complicated.”

Since there is no other fight to make but pit Pacquiao and Mayweather together, De La Hoya said “the two fighters now realize that this fight must be made.”

“It has to be made because the boxing fans want to see it happen and right now it’s the biggest fight that can be made in the world,” said De La Hoya, who lost to Mayweather by decision in 2007 and to Pacquiao when he quit on his stool in 2008.

“I think right now we are very, very close in finalizing the contracts. I can’t talk right now in detail about the negotiations but I will say that we are very close,” added De La Hoya.

The past several weeks, the camps of Pacquiao and Mayweather have been mum about the status of talks regarding the fight.

The issue of random drug-testing and purse split are the talking points in the negotiations.

Source: mb.com.ph

Q & A with Rodel Mayol -- 15Rounds

By Anson Wainwright, 15Rounds.com

In the last year Rodel Mayol 26-4-2(20) has been involved in a career’s worth of controversial endings. His last four fights to be exact all World title fights have had unsatisfactory conclusions. First he fought Ivan Calderon for the WBO 108 crown it was his third attempt at a world title, the fight was stopped due to a terrible cut on Calderon’s forehead. It went to the scorecards and after six completed rounds it was declared a draw. Mayol’s gutsy display earned him a straight rematch, incredibly the same cut was again opened up on Calderon’s forehead. With the fight stopped in the seventh it was again it was in the hands of the judges who scored it narrowly for Calderon. Finally things went in Mayol’s favour last November when he beat long reigning WBC Light Flyweight champion Edgar Sosa. Midway through the second stanza the two fighters clashed heads violently, Sosa was badly hurt and dropped. He was ultimately stopped and left with a broken cheek bone. While many believed it should of been declared a No Contest the referee missed it and declared Mayol the victor. Last time out he fought another Mexican Omar Nino. In the third round when they were separated from a clinch and Nino cold cocked Mayol knocking him out, with the fight declared a technical draw. On 19 June they will have a rematch again in Mexico, here’s to hoping we can have a conclusive result without a hint of controversy this time.

Hello Rodel, welcome to 15rounds.com

Hi Anson, thank you for taking time to interview me. I appreciate it.

Anson Wainwright - Firstly your scheduled to make the second defence of your WBC Light Flyweight title against Omar Nino on 19 June in Mexico. You fought in February but the fight was called a no contest after you were hit late. What is your take on what happened?

Rodel Mayol - Regarding the decision on my last defence against Nino, I would sincerely would want it a disqualification for Nino if it was me to decide. Since it was what WBC has decided- I fully respect and accept it.

Anson Wainwright - Your last 4 fights have ended strangely the two with Calderon had unsatisfactory ending due to cuts and so did the Edgar Sosa fight. What are your thoughts on both Calderon fights and then the Sosa fight?

Rodel Mayol - Strange as it maybe, but these bouts are the only bouts I have ever encountered headbutts in my list of bouts. I guess it is due to clash of boxing styles between them and me. But I would like to stress out that all of these headbutts have been unintentional.

Anson Wainwright - Who is in your team. Who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?

Rodel Mayol - My coach is Jesus Arevalo. He is Freddie Roach’s assistant coach in WILDCARD GYM. Jeremiah Quijano my long-time and trusted friend is also my assistant coach. My cutman is Dr. Edgardo dela Vega. My team is small but they are very loyal and supportive to me in any way I could ask for. My manager is Mr. Manny Pacquiao and I am under MP Promotions and Top Rank.

Anson Wainwright - Could you tell us how things were for you when you were young growing up in The Philippines and how it took you into Boxing?

Rodel Mayol - It all started with my love of basketball. I never knew that I be a boxer out of it and become who I am right now.

I had a fight with a fellow player that made a bully out of me. I was beaten since I am a small boy. I lived very close by a neighbouring boxing gym, so I trained to take revenge and beat the guy in the future when we meet again. I never had the chance to beat him-I ended up being busy in boxing.

Anson Wainwright - You turned pro in 2000 and for several years looked like you may not win a World title coming up short against Eagle Kyowa & Ulises Solis & then the two fights with Ivan Calderon. How did it feel to finally win the title against Sosa?

Rodel Mayol - Every boxer wants to be a champion. I think that is the ultimate goal you need to achieve to be successful and happy in this career. I have been on a very long journey. But perseverance, hard work, love of the sport and having the heart of a champion is what it takes to bring you into this position. Sosa fight maybe the perfect timing for me- and I have been very patient and I never gave up. The defeats and heartbreaks I encountered in the shortcoming of my previous world title bouts made me stronger.

Anson Wainwright - You have fought many very talented fighters who do you feel was your toughest opponent?

Rodel Mayol - It would be Ulises Solis.

Anson Wainwright - What do you consider your best performance and why?

Rodel Mayol - I would say it was my fight with Edgar Sosa. Nobody believed me at that time any longer. I guess just got tired believing. It was the perfect timing, I was in the best condition in my entire career, and i shocked everybody.

Anson Wainwright - If you could fight anyone who would it be? What goals do you still have in Boxing?

Rodel Mayol - I do not have preference on who. But I would love to fight big names in my weight division. I intend to keep the WBC belt and defend it whatever it takes. And if God gives me more blessings, I would love to collect other belts as well.

Anson Wainwright - What do you like to do with time when your not Boxing? what are your hobbies?

Rodel Mayol - I love to go fishing. It gives me a lot of time to relax, enjoy and time to think. It has also helped me build patience and perseverance. Other than that, I spend my time with my family and friends.

Anson Wainwright - Recently Manny Pacquiao won the race to congress in The Philippines. That is a fantastic achievement. What are your thoughts on that?

Rodel Mayol - I am very happy for his success. He deserves all of it. Because of Manny, boxers especially in the Philippines has been given a higher elevation in society. Boxers are intelligent - -not mere brawlers in the ring.

Anson Wainwright - Do you have a message for Omar Nino?

Rodel Mayol - I am excited to defend my WBC belt against him the 2nd time around and I have no plan in letting anyone borrow my belt (LOL!)

Thanks for your time Rodel, good luck in your upcoming fight.

Source: 15rounds.com

Former Eminem protege disses Manny Pacquiao in lyrics -- Examiner

By Marv Dumon, Examiner.com

Detroit rapper Royce da 5'9", otherwise known as Ryan Montgomery, recently dissed boxing king Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2) on the rapper's just released Bar Exam 3 Mixtape.

In one of his lyrics from the mixtape:

I've got a hustler flow
For $50 mil [million]
I will drink Manny Pacquiao's blood
And watch my muscles grow
You b****!

The lyrics imply Pacquiao's blood contains steroids.

The rapper, known for his earlier association with Grammy Award-winning Eminem, also dissed rising hip hop star Drake in the same song.

Eminem, otherwise known as Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is the best selling recording artist of the decade of the 2000s, having sold over 80 million albums worldwide.

Eminem, who is also from Detroit, took Royce da 5'9" earlier in the decade as a protege, but the latter never broke into mainstream awareness.

Pacquiao has never failed any drug tests, and filed a defamation lawsuit against Golden Boy Promotions and the camp of his main rival Floyd Mayweather, Jr alleging false accusations of performance enhancing drug use.

Pacquiao's spotless medical record, however, have seen recent fighters such as Puerto Rican Kermit Cintron, Britain's Ricky Hatton and David Haye, and Americans Paulie Malignaggi and Nate Campbell as either doubting the Filipino's recent phenomenal ring success and / or calling for more stringent drug tests prior to fights.

Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr (41-0) was recently interviewed by MTV, together with rapper 50 Cent.

Mayweather expressed his concerns over 50 Cent's recent extreme weight loss in which the latter reportedly lost about 56 lbs in nine weeks. The rapper's weight loss was aimed for a role in an upcoming movie "Things Fall Apart" in which 50 Cent plays a cancer-stricken football player.

Additionally, Mayweather disclosed that it is better to execute running routines in the streets as opposed to doing it on a treadmill.

50 Cent went from around 220 lbs to about 160 lbs in a little over two months by going on a strict liquid diet. According to fellow rapper Lloyd Banks, 50 Cent stored and consumed dozens of Icee drinks as food substitute.

Additionally, Mayweather disclosed that it is better to execute running routines in the streets as opposed to doing it on a treadmill.

50 Cent went from around 220 lbs to about 160 lbs in a little over two months by going on a strict liquid diet. According to fellow rapper Lloyd Banks, 50 Cent stored and consumed dozens of Icee drinks as food substitute.

Sugar Ray Leonard visits Montreal

Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard visited Montreal and signed memorabilia for fans. Montreal was the site of Leonard's historic showdown with Panamanian Roberto Duran, which Leonard lost by a 15th round decision. Leonard entered the fight at 27-0 while Duran sported a 71-1 record.

Asked by a reporter what Leonard thought of Floyd Mayweather, Jr, the boxing legend replied "I already knocked out his father."

Source: examiner.com