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
Thursday, 25 November 2010
Freddie Roach: 'It Has Nothing to do With [Skin] Color' -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
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
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.
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
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
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
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."
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: usatoday.com
Pacquiao's comprehensive destruction of Antonio Margarito for a vacant junior middleweight title on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium generated at least 1.15 million buys and $64 million domestic revenue, according to figures announced Tuesday by HBO Sports.
Those numbers are expected to increase slightly once all the figures are counted, but Pacquiao already is assured of his third straight year with at least one fight breaking the 1 million mark.
"It wasn't even on the right-hand side of the computer spreadsheet," said HBO vice president Mark Taffet, whose job includes handling pay-per-view broadcasts, when asked whether the numbers exceeded his expectations. "It's an outstanding number."
Pacquiao's victory over Oscar De La Hoya in 2008 generated 1.25 million buys, and his knockout of Miguel Cotto last year did 1.2 million. Taffet said his last five fights combined have generated at least 5.1 million buys, putting Pacquiao on par with De La Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the biggest earners in pay-per-view history.
Of that group, the Filipino icon is the only non-American.
"He's become a world figure, that's what differentiates it from the superstars that preceded him," Taffet said. "And his coverage is not just in sports media. He's transcended sport, to the point where he's the first non-American to generate these kinds of numbers."
Pacquiao also generated 700,000 buys for a lopsided decision earlier this year over Joshua Clottey, a fighter who has virtually no name recognition beyond the most ardent boxing fans.
Those same fans are hoping the next fight for Pacquiao is against someone virtually everybody recognizes: Mayweather. The two sides have failed twice to reach an agreement on what could be the richest fight in boxing history, and now with Mayweather's legal trouble in Las Vegas, the matchup is looking increasingly unlikely for next year.
"Mayweather, it can't be compared to any other fight that can conceivably be made," said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, comparing the fight to the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight in 1971.
"That fight would be like the Ali-Frazier of our time. And you know, Ali-Frazier in 1971 was the biggest fight really of all time, at that point. The same thing would be said for Manny and Floyd this time, but you know, it takes two to make the fight."
Arum said he's flying to the Philippines in December to celebrate Pacquiao's birthday, and at that point plans to discuss potential opponents. But he conceded in a phone interview with The Associated Press late Tuesday that he's not optimistic about Mayweather for the spring.
"Manny is there, he wants to do the fight, and Floyd for whatever reason is not prepared to fight him, so we have to go on to the next best thing if Floyd remains unavailable," Arum said. "We'll see who's available and what the terms are and then we'll select an opponent. Hopefully it's Mayweather, but as the day goes by, it's not looking good."
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: usatoday.com
Monday, 22 November 2010
Pacquiao willing to take on Martinez, Mayweather -- ABS-CBN News
abs-cbnNEWS.com
MANILA, Philippines - People's Champ Manny Pacquiao is returning to a hero's welcome at the House of Representatives on Monday after winning a historic 8th boxing world title in as many divisions.
It will be the first time that Pacquiao will be feted by Congress as one of its own. The fighting congressman of Sarangani will receive the Congressional Medal of Distinction from his own peers later today.
In an interview, Pacquiao said he is excited to meet his fellow congressmen and share the joy of bringing honor to the country.
"Naghahanda na daw sila, naghanda daw ang Congress para sa akin, so excited ako," he said he said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda.
The Sarangani congressman said he also wants to resume his legislative duties and apply the same discipline he applies in training to his new role as congressman. He downplayed criticism that he is doing too much balancing his responsibilities as a boxer and a lawmaker.
"Kapag mahal mo ang trabaho mo, gusto mo...Some people work 3-4 hours and say, 'That's it. That's my whole day. I need to take a rest.' For me, I will train 3-4 hours and then I still have a lot of time. Ang isang araw para sa akin ay 12 hours," "
Pacquiao said paperwork has piled up in his office after he started training for his fight against the "Tijuana Tornado" Antonio Margarito. The People's Champ defeated Margarito via unanimous decision last November 13.
Pacquiao said he is backing the passage of an anti-human trafficking law as well as building a provincial hospital in Sarangani.
"We really need to wipe out human trafficking because it is so prevalent and victimizes a lot of people. I also want to put up a hospital in our province as well as livelihood programs for the people in my district. These are the projects closest to my heart," he said.
Mayweather, Mosley, Martinez
Pacquiao reiterated that he is not hanging up his boxing gloves and is good for another fight after 6 months.
Asked which boxer he would like to take on, he said he would take on anybody in the ring including World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. The Argentinean Martinez retained his WBC middleweight belt after knocking out American Paul Williams with an impressive second-round punch on Saturday.
Pacquiao said he would most likely fight Martinez below 150 pounds.
He said he is also willing to take on Shane Mosley "since he's a good fighter and a champion."
He also said he will not hesitate to fight the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. if the latter agrees to fight him. "No problem. That would be a good fight."
He thumbed down a rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez "because no one would watch it."
He said fighting Marquez would be easy but that he is unsure if there would be enough people who would watch it on pay-per-view. He also said he wanted a guaranteed price if his promoter decides that he should fight Marquez.
"OK naman ako kapag Marquez. Usually kasi involve ako sa promotion and also the Top Rank, kung gusto nila ng Marquez, mas madali. Madali lang sa akin yun, mas madaling laban kaya lang sila ang magpo-promote. Solohin nila ang promotion bigyan nila kami ng guaranteed price, walang problema, kung malugi man, walang problema," he said.
Pacquiao said he continues to improve in the ring and could easily do 1-2 fights before he retires.
Asked if he wants an "easy or hard fight" next time, he said: "It depends. Depends if it's going to be an easy fight. Sometimes it's a hard fight. Maybe there are no more easy fights."
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
MANILA, Philippines - People's Champ Manny Pacquiao is returning to a hero's welcome at the House of Representatives on Monday after winning a historic 8th boxing world title in as many divisions.
It will be the first time that Pacquiao will be feted by Congress as one of its own. The fighting congressman of Sarangani will receive the Congressional Medal of Distinction from his own peers later today.
In an interview, Pacquiao said he is excited to meet his fellow congressmen and share the joy of bringing honor to the country.
"Naghahanda na daw sila, naghanda daw ang Congress para sa akin, so excited ako," he said he said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda.
The Sarangani congressman said he also wants to resume his legislative duties and apply the same discipline he applies in training to his new role as congressman. He downplayed criticism that he is doing too much balancing his responsibilities as a boxer and a lawmaker.
"Kapag mahal mo ang trabaho mo, gusto mo...Some people work 3-4 hours and say, 'That's it. That's my whole day. I need to take a rest.' For me, I will train 3-4 hours and then I still have a lot of time. Ang isang araw para sa akin ay 12 hours," "
Pacquiao said paperwork has piled up in his office after he started training for his fight against the "Tijuana Tornado" Antonio Margarito. The People's Champ defeated Margarito via unanimous decision last November 13.
Pacquiao said he is backing the passage of an anti-human trafficking law as well as building a provincial hospital in Sarangani.
"We really need to wipe out human trafficking because it is so prevalent and victimizes a lot of people. I also want to put up a hospital in our province as well as livelihood programs for the people in my district. These are the projects closest to my heart," he said.
Mayweather, Mosley, Martinez
Pacquiao reiterated that he is not hanging up his boxing gloves and is good for another fight after 6 months.
Asked which boxer he would like to take on, he said he would take on anybody in the ring including World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. The Argentinean Martinez retained his WBC middleweight belt after knocking out American Paul Williams with an impressive second-round punch on Saturday.
Pacquiao said he would most likely fight Martinez below 150 pounds.
He said he is also willing to take on Shane Mosley "since he's a good fighter and a champion."
He also said he will not hesitate to fight the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. if the latter agrees to fight him. "No problem. That would be a good fight."
He thumbed down a rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez "because no one would watch it."
He said fighting Marquez would be easy but that he is unsure if there would be enough people who would watch it on pay-per-view. He also said he wanted a guaranteed price if his promoter decides that he should fight Marquez.
"OK naman ako kapag Marquez. Usually kasi involve ako sa promotion and also the Top Rank, kung gusto nila ng Marquez, mas madali. Madali lang sa akin yun, mas madaling laban kaya lang sila ang magpo-promote. Solohin nila ang promotion bigyan nila kami ng guaranteed price, walang problema, kung malugi man, walang problema," he said.
Pacquiao said he continues to improve in the ring and could easily do 1-2 fights before he retires.
Asked if he wants an "easy or hard fight" next time, he said: "It depends. Depends if it's going to be an easy fight. Sometimes it's a hard fight. Maybe there are no more easy fights."
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Underneath Pacman's crown lies a halo -- San Antonio Express
By John Whisler, San Antonio Express
The congressman delivered a beating so severe, it landed his opponent in the hospital. But in dominating Antonio Margarito last week at Cowboys Stadium, Manny Pacquiao also showed he has a compassionate side.
This is a well-known fact in the Philippines, where the beloved boxer and politician makes a habit of giving away much of his wealth in an effort to help the poor.
But until his taming of the Tijuana Tornado, many in America had not seen the kinder, gentler Pacquiao.
For most of their WBC super welterweight title fight, Pacquiao pounded the bigger but slower Margarito with astounding ease.
Then in the late rounds, the lion became a lamb.
After Margarito's eyes were nearly swollen shut and his face became a bloody mask, the champ began to fear for his opponent's safety.
“I try to get the referee to talk to the doctor,” Pacquiao said. “I didn't want to damage him permanently. That is not what boxing is about.”
That's not the end of it. Failing to get the fight stopped, Pacquiao took pity on the Mexican slugger, letting up in the final round so as to not inflict any more punishment.
“Manny's a very compassionate person,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer.
Filipinos worldwide have known this for years. Now the rest of the world knows, too. His treatment of Margarito at the end of their fight was a fascinating subplot in what otherwise was a lopsided — and vastly overhyped — bout.
More Manny: Pacquiao revealed another side in the fight. He's also a master showman. In the sixth round, already well ahead on points, Pacquiao lay on the ropes and let Margarito pound him with body shots.
It almost proved costly. Pacquiao was hurt and later had to be examined for possible rib injuries.
“I wanted to fight toe-to-toe and make the fight exciting for the fans,” Pacquiao said afterward.
Cole responds: Some have criticized referee Laurence Cole for not halting the fight after it became clear Margarito was taking a beating.
Cole says he looked for a way to do just that.
“I was trying to find a place to stop it,” the veteran referee said. “But he was still moving and punching strong.”
Cole held up two fingers and asked Margarito to count them. When he responded correctly, Cole let the fight continue.
He said ring doctors examined Margarito between the last several rounds and never asked him to stop the bout.
Margarito fine: Surgery to repair Margarito's fractured right orbital bone was deemed a success, and the fighter was released from Dallas' Methodist Hospital on Wednesday.
Paging Floyd: Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez appear to be the leading candidates as the next opponent for Pacquiao. However, the champ's camp wants Floyd Mayweather Jr., as does just about everyone else on the planet.
But given Mayweather's legal woes — he's facing charges of felony domestic battery — Money May might be tied up for a while.
jwhisler@express-news.net
Source: mysanantonio.com
This is a well-known fact in the Philippines, where the beloved boxer and politician makes a habit of giving away much of his wealth in an effort to help the poor.
But until his taming of the Tijuana Tornado, many in America had not seen the kinder, gentler Pacquiao.
For most of their WBC super welterweight title fight, Pacquiao pounded the bigger but slower Margarito with astounding ease.
Then in the late rounds, the lion became a lamb.
After Margarito's eyes were nearly swollen shut and his face became a bloody mask, the champ began to fear for his opponent's safety.
“I try to get the referee to talk to the doctor,” Pacquiao said. “I didn't want to damage him permanently. That is not what boxing is about.”
That's not the end of it. Failing to get the fight stopped, Pacquiao took pity on the Mexican slugger, letting up in the final round so as to not inflict any more punishment.
“Manny's a very compassionate person,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer.
Filipinos worldwide have known this for years. Now the rest of the world knows, too. His treatment of Margarito at the end of their fight was a fascinating subplot in what otherwise was a lopsided — and vastly overhyped — bout.
More Manny: Pacquiao revealed another side in the fight. He's also a master showman. In the sixth round, already well ahead on points, Pacquiao lay on the ropes and let Margarito pound him with body shots.
It almost proved costly. Pacquiao was hurt and later had to be examined for possible rib injuries.
“I wanted to fight toe-to-toe and make the fight exciting for the fans,” Pacquiao said afterward.
Cole responds: Some have criticized referee Laurence Cole for not halting the fight after it became clear Margarito was taking a beating.
Cole says he looked for a way to do just that.
“I was trying to find a place to stop it,” the veteran referee said. “But he was still moving and punching strong.”
Cole held up two fingers and asked Margarito to count them. When he responded correctly, Cole let the fight continue.
He said ring doctors examined Margarito between the last several rounds and never asked him to stop the bout.
Margarito fine: Surgery to repair Margarito's fractured right orbital bone was deemed a success, and the fighter was released from Dallas' Methodist Hospital on Wednesday.
Paging Floyd: Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez appear to be the leading candidates as the next opponent for Pacquiao. However, the champ's camp wants Floyd Mayweather Jr., as does just about everyone else on the planet.
But given Mayweather's legal woes — he's facing charges of felony domestic battery — Money May might be tied up for a while.
jwhisler@express-news.net
Source: mysanantonio.com
Ref forces Manny Pacquiao to batter Antonio Margarito -- Boston Herald
By George Kimball, Boston Herald
When the Texas boxing commission confirmed its outlaw status by granting a license to the disgraced Antonio Margarito two months ago, we spoofed the news with a column for TheSweetScience.com purportedly announcing that another boxing pariah, Panama Lewis, would train Margarito for his fight with Manny Pacquiao, and augmented the joke by whimsically predicting that the Texas commission would appoint the notoriously incompetent Laurence Cole to referee the fight at Cowboys Stadium.
That wasn’t the reason Pacquiao knelt in his corner to pray just before the opening bell. Pacquiao kneels in his corner before every fight, praying not for victory but for a good fight in which nobody gets hurt. That isn’t always achievable, particularly when Cole running the show, and Pacquiao spent the last two rounds vainly pleading with the referee to stop the fight and spare his opponent further punishment. Margarito was taken to the hospital after the beatdown, where he spent the next four days while doctors waited for the swelling to go down enough to allow surgery to repair a fractured orbital bone. When he was finally released on Wednesday, Margarito received a message from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who told him he had “made a friend for life.”
Between Pacquiao’s dominance of another much larger foe and the apparent intransigence of Floyd Mayweather Jr., much of the subsequent speculation had the world’s best fighter looking around for yet another Goliath - the winner of last night’s Sergio Martinez-Paul Williams fight, or even soon-to-be 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins, should he prevail in next month’s challenge to light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal.
But bigger isn’t necessarily better. Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach suggested that the novelty of taking on larger opponents may have run its course. The truth of the matter is that while he hasn’t fought there in nearly two years, 140 pounds probably remains Pacquiao’s optimal fighting weight, and upcoming bouts between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana (Dec. 11 in Las Vegas) and Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander (St. Louis on Jan. 29) could well produce the next Pac-Man foe.
Sanction junction
Beyond the obvious conflict of interest represented when a magazine owned by a boxing promoter starts handing out championship belts, our position on The Ring’s self-proclaimed “titles” has always been that the last thing the boxing world needed at this stage was yet another sanctioning body.
Last week, Larry Hazzard, the former chairman of the New Jersey boxing commission and, more recently, a championships official for the International Boxing Federation, announced, in conjunction with former IBF president Marian Muhammad, the formation of a new sanctioning body called the Combative Sports Federation. The organization proposes to rank boxers by weight class throughout the world, and to extend its umbrella to incorporate mixed martial arts as well. Former New York State Athletic Commission chairman Randy Gordon will serve as the head of the CSF’s ratings committee.
We’re no more eager than ever to see yet another set of increasingly meaningless championship belts tossed around, and it strikes us that the organization is probably doing itself no favors with its unqualified embrace of the cage-fighting set. Since MMA franchises operate independently of one another and their “champions” never meet, a valid rating system encompassing that mob would seem doomed from the outset (why not rank WWE wrestlers while they’re at it?), and the process will inevitably taint the CSF’s boxing ratings as well.
While we have our well-founded misgivings about the upstart sanctioning body, the credentials, stature and boxing experience of Hazzard, Muhammad and Gordon do lend it certain bona fides notably absent in the fly-by-night would-be sanctioning bodies. It might also be noted that two of today’s four generally recognized sanctioning bodies, the IBF and the WBO, originated as spinoffs created more or less from the rib of the WBA by disaffected former officials of that organization. Who is to say that the CSF might not achieve similar stature?
But if it does, it will most likely be at the expense of the IBF. Muhammad and, in recent years, Hazzard, have been as responsible as anyone for whatever credibility was restored to that body in the wake of the Bob Lee scandal and the era of federal receivership. Even without the CSF, their absence would have to be regarded as a body blow to the IBF, and if the new organization does come to enjoy widespread acceptance, it will more likely be regarded as a fourth, not a fifth, sanctioning body - one that has swallowed its predecessor whole in its climb to prominence.
Rodriguez logs OT
Worcester super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez, who ran his record to 17-0 with his TKO of James McGirt Jr. in Fargo, N.D., two weeks ago, didn’t have much time to savor the victory. A couple of days later he was on a plane to London, and has spent the past 10 days working as the principal sparring partner for Carl Froch, who faces Arthur Abraham in Helsinki Saturday in a fight for the WBC title that will also sort out the pecking order for Showtime’s “Super Six” semifinals.
Rodriguez, who stopped McGirt in nine, will face the son of yet another boxing legend in his next outing - Aaron Pryor Jr., who outpointed Dyah Davis on the Fargo card. Rodriguez-Pryor will be the co-feature of Lou DiBella’s Jan. 14 card in Key West, Fla., with another New Englander, Peter Manfredo Jr., in the main event, facing an opponent to be determined. . . .
Irish middleweight Andy Lee, who accompanied manager/trainer Emanuel Steward to Atlantic City, N.J., where Steward worked the telecast of last night’s Martinez-Williams fight, are headed to Austria, where Wladimir Klitschko is training for his Dec. 11 heavyweight title defense against Derek Chisora. Lee will fight on the undercard of the Mannheim, Germany, bout. . . .
In 1980, the first year we covered boxing for this newspaper, there were 20 fight cards in Massachusetts alone. Unless somebody rings in with a late entry, Mike Acri’s show at the Mohegan Sun last night will have been the 16th and last of 2010 in all of New England. Half of those took place at the Connecticut casinos (six at the Mohegan, two at Foxwoods). Rhode Island hosted five cards, all at the Twin River Events Center, Massachusetts two, New Hampshire one. . .
Happy birthday, Antonio Tarver.
Source: bostonherald.com
When the Texas boxing commission confirmed its outlaw status by granting a license to the disgraced Antonio Margarito two months ago, we spoofed the news with a column for TheSweetScience.com purportedly announcing that another boxing pariah, Panama Lewis, would train Margarito for his fight with Manny Pacquiao, and augmented the joke by whimsically predicting that the Texas commission would appoint the notoriously incompetent Laurence Cole to referee the fight at Cowboys Stadium.Turns out it was more than a joke. Cole was the third man in the ring last Saturday night.
Between Pacquiao’s dominance of another much larger foe and the apparent intransigence of Floyd Mayweather Jr., much of the subsequent speculation had the world’s best fighter looking around for yet another Goliath - the winner of last night’s Sergio Martinez-Paul Williams fight, or even soon-to-be 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins, should he prevail in next month’s challenge to light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal.
But bigger isn’t necessarily better. Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach suggested that the novelty of taking on larger opponents may have run its course. The truth of the matter is that while he hasn’t fought there in nearly two years, 140 pounds probably remains Pacquiao’s optimal fighting weight, and upcoming bouts between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana (Dec. 11 in Las Vegas) and Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander (St. Louis on Jan. 29) could well produce the next Pac-Man foe.
Sanction junction
Beyond the obvious conflict of interest represented when a magazine owned by a boxing promoter starts handing out championship belts, our position on The Ring’s self-proclaimed “titles” has always been that the last thing the boxing world needed at this stage was yet another sanctioning body.
Last week, Larry Hazzard, the former chairman of the New Jersey boxing commission and, more recently, a championships official for the International Boxing Federation, announced, in conjunction with former IBF president Marian Muhammad, the formation of a new sanctioning body called the Combative Sports Federation. The organization proposes to rank boxers by weight class throughout the world, and to extend its umbrella to incorporate mixed martial arts as well. Former New York State Athletic Commission chairman Randy Gordon will serve as the head of the CSF’s ratings committee.
We’re no more eager than ever to see yet another set of increasingly meaningless championship belts tossed around, and it strikes us that the organization is probably doing itself no favors with its unqualified embrace of the cage-fighting set. Since MMA franchises operate independently of one another and their “champions” never meet, a valid rating system encompassing that mob would seem doomed from the outset (why not rank WWE wrestlers while they’re at it?), and the process will inevitably taint the CSF’s boxing ratings as well.
While we have our well-founded misgivings about the upstart sanctioning body, the credentials, stature and boxing experience of Hazzard, Muhammad and Gordon do lend it certain bona fides notably absent in the fly-by-night would-be sanctioning bodies. It might also be noted that two of today’s four generally recognized sanctioning bodies, the IBF and the WBO, originated as spinoffs created more or less from the rib of the WBA by disaffected former officials of that organization. Who is to say that the CSF might not achieve similar stature?
But if it does, it will most likely be at the expense of the IBF. Muhammad and, in recent years, Hazzard, have been as responsible as anyone for whatever credibility was restored to that body in the wake of the Bob Lee scandal and the era of federal receivership. Even without the CSF, their absence would have to be regarded as a body blow to the IBF, and if the new organization does come to enjoy widespread acceptance, it will more likely be regarded as a fourth, not a fifth, sanctioning body - one that has swallowed its predecessor whole in its climb to prominence.
Rodriguez logs OT
Worcester super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez, who ran his record to 17-0 with his TKO of James McGirt Jr. in Fargo, N.D., two weeks ago, didn’t have much time to savor the victory. A couple of days later he was on a plane to London, and has spent the past 10 days working as the principal sparring partner for Carl Froch, who faces Arthur Abraham in Helsinki Saturday in a fight for the WBC title that will also sort out the pecking order for Showtime’s “Super Six” semifinals.
Rodriguez, who stopped McGirt in nine, will face the son of yet another boxing legend in his next outing - Aaron Pryor Jr., who outpointed Dyah Davis on the Fargo card. Rodriguez-Pryor will be the co-feature of Lou DiBella’s Jan. 14 card in Key West, Fla., with another New Englander, Peter Manfredo Jr., in the main event, facing an opponent to be determined. . . .
Irish middleweight Andy Lee, who accompanied manager/trainer Emanuel Steward to Atlantic City, N.J., where Steward worked the telecast of last night’s Martinez-Williams fight, are headed to Austria, where Wladimir Klitschko is training for his Dec. 11 heavyweight title defense against Derek Chisora. Lee will fight on the undercard of the Mannheim, Germany, bout. . . .
In 1980, the first year we covered boxing for this newspaper, there were 20 fight cards in Massachusetts alone. Unless somebody rings in with a late entry, Mike Acri’s show at the Mohegan Sun last night will have been the 16th and last of 2010 in all of New England. Half of those took place at the Connecticut casinos (six at the Mohegan, two at Foxwoods). Rhode Island hosted five cards, all at the Twin River Events Center, Massachusetts two, New Hampshire one. . .
Happy birthday, Antonio Tarver.
Source: bostonherald.com
Martinez Delivers Crushing Knockout of Williams -- ABC News
By DAVE SKRETTA, The Associated Press
Sergio Martinez landed a devastating left hook early in the second round Saturday night, knocking out feared puncher Paul Williams and retaining his middleweight title in emphatic fashion at Boardwalk Hall.
Williams was looking to land his own hook and instead walked right into the punch, which landed flush on the chin and sent the challenger face-down onto the canvas. Martinez immediately ran across the ring to celebrate while doctors rushed into the ring to tend to Williams.
It took several minutes before he finally got to his feet.
By that point, ring announcer Michael Buffer was announcing the end at 1:10 of the second round, and Martinez was wearing an actual plastic crown — perhaps a fitting way for the native of Argentina to show his newfound dominance on the 160-pound division.
The fight was a rematch of one of last year's exceptional bouts, when Martinez and Williams traded knockdowns in the first round before trading blows for 11 more. Williams ultimately won the fight in a close and somewhat controversial majority decision, and Martinez had been saying all along that he planned to make sure this one didn't end up in the judges' hands.
He sure accomplished that.
While the fight was considered by many fans to be a legitimate candidate for Fight of the Year, the man nicknamed "Maravilla" instead may have delivered the knockout of the year.
The only real drama in this one came before the fighters made their way to the ring, when Martinez promoter Lou DiBella was furious that his guy as the champion was forced to work out of the blue corner. That side of the ring had not delivered a winner all night.
Despite their first fight becoming an instant classic, the rematch took plenty of time and patience to put together. Martinez upped the ante by claiming the middleweight title from Kelly Pavlik, while Williams held out hope of landing a big payday at welterweight against the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley.
When it become apparent that those fights would never happen, promoter Dan Goossen agreed to the rematch with Martinez, getting his fighter back in the spotlight on an HBO telecast.
No wonder he was reluctant to make the rematch.
While neither Martinez nor Williams is fond of the other, there was more acrimony than usual in the lead-up to this one because Williams insisted on a catch weight of 158 pounds — two under the middleweight limit — since he'd been training to fight at 147 pounds. Martinez countered by saying he'd be "ashamed" to ask for a catch weight if he was challenging for a world title.
The two pounds sure didn't seem to make much difference.
Martinez looked faster and smoother than Williams, and landed several crisp punches in the opening round, including a flurry on the ropes that gave him the round. Then he came out the next round and almost seemed to bait Williams into throwing a punch wide.
When it came, Martinez was ready, and the end happened without the referee bothering to count.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Source: abcnews.go.com
Sergio Martinez landed a devastating left hook early in the second round Saturday night, knocking out feared puncher Paul Williams and retaining his middleweight title in emphatic fashion at Boardwalk Hall.
Williams was looking to land his own hook and instead walked right into the punch, which landed flush on the chin and sent the challenger face-down onto the canvas. Martinez immediately ran across the ring to celebrate while doctors rushed into the ring to tend to Williams.
It took several minutes before he finally got to his feet.The fight was a rematch of one of last year's exceptional bouts, when Martinez and Williams traded knockdowns in the first round before trading blows for 11 more. Williams ultimately won the fight in a close and somewhat controversial majority decision, and Martinez had been saying all along that he planned to make sure this one didn't end up in the judges' hands.
He sure accomplished that.
While the fight was considered by many fans to be a legitimate candidate for Fight of the Year, the man nicknamed "Maravilla" instead may have delivered the knockout of the year.
The only real drama in this one came before the fighters made their way to the ring, when Martinez promoter Lou DiBella was furious that his guy as the champion was forced to work out of the blue corner. That side of the ring had not delivered a winner all night.
Despite their first fight becoming an instant classic, the rematch took plenty of time and patience to put together. Martinez upped the ante by claiming the middleweight title from Kelly Pavlik, while Williams held out hope of landing a big payday at welterweight against the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley.
When it become apparent that those fights would never happen, promoter Dan Goossen agreed to the rematch with Martinez, getting his fighter back in the spotlight on an HBO telecast.
No wonder he was reluctant to make the rematch.
While neither Martinez nor Williams is fond of the other, there was more acrimony than usual in the lead-up to this one because Williams insisted on a catch weight of 158 pounds — two under the middleweight limit — since he'd been training to fight at 147 pounds. Martinez countered by saying he'd be "ashamed" to ask for a catch weight if he was challenging for a world title.
The two pounds sure didn't seem to make much difference.
Martinez looked faster and smoother than Williams, and landed several crisp punches in the opening round, including a flurry on the ropes that gave him the round. Then he came out the next round and almost seemed to bait Williams into throwing a punch wide.
When it came, Martinez was ready, and the end happened without the referee bothering to count.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Source: abcnews.go.com
Martinez Promised Kayo, And Delivered: Williams Counted Out In 2nd Rd -- The Sweet Science
By Michael Woods, The Sweet Science
He'd been telling all who would listen the last few months that he'd render Long Tall Paul Williams horizontal in their rematch. Most of the time, one need not take such a promise seriously. It's often bluster, a salvo of psychological warfare. But damned if Sergio Martinez didn't deliver on Saturday night, in his Atlantic City rematch with Williams. An overhand left, delivered as Williams was tossing his own left hand, sent Williams to the floor, his marbles scattered on the mat.
The ref counted, but it was clear that Williams, who went splat on the canvas, face first, would need at least 30 seconds, or more, to stand up.
The KO, which will get the TSS vote for knockout of the year, takes Martinez, or should take Martinez, to the head of the line in the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes.
The Argentine, who many thought deserved the nod in the first tussle a year ago, goes to 46-2, with 25 KOs. He exulted, as the ringside docs took a hard look at Williams, who happily stood up, with clear eyes after a short spell.
The end came at 1:10 of the second. Martinez retains the WBC middleweight title, though the record will show that the fight was fought at a catchweight of 158 pounds. Williams drops to 39-2, and this is the first time he has been stopped.
Max Kellerman asked what comes next. He said Martinez is No. 3 pound for pound. The fighter said he wants to hear offers, and will see what comes his way. He stated that he wants to rest, and then hugged Williams. How about Mayweather or Pacquiao, at a catchweight? "We have to hear offers. 156 would be fine, but I have to hear offers," he said.
Williams said, "I just got caught with a punch." He said this one really worked, because he didn't see it coming.
Come back for George Kimball's ringside report.
Source: thesweetscience.com
He'd been telling all who would listen the last few months that he'd render Long Tall Paul Williams horizontal in their rematch. Most of the time, one need not take such a promise seriously. It's often bluster, a salvo of psychological warfare. But damned if Sergio Martinez didn't deliver on Saturday night, in his Atlantic City rematch with Williams. An overhand left, delivered as Williams was tossing his own left hand, sent Williams to the floor, his marbles scattered on the mat.
The ref counted, but it was clear that Williams, who went splat on the canvas, face first, would need at least 30 seconds, or more, to stand up.The KO, which will get the TSS vote for knockout of the year, takes Martinez, or should take Martinez, to the head of the line in the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes.
The Argentine, who many thought deserved the nod in the first tussle a year ago, goes to 46-2, with 25 KOs. He exulted, as the ringside docs took a hard look at Williams, who happily stood up, with clear eyes after a short spell.
The end came at 1:10 of the second. Martinez retains the WBC middleweight title, though the record will show that the fight was fought at a catchweight of 158 pounds. Williams drops to 39-2, and this is the first time he has been stopped.
Max Kellerman asked what comes next. He said Martinez is No. 3 pound for pound. The fighter said he wants to hear offers, and will see what comes his way. He stated that he wants to rest, and then hugged Williams. How about Mayweather or Pacquiao, at a catchweight? "We have to hear offers. 156 would be fine, but I have to hear offers," he said.
Williams said, "I just got caught with a punch." He said this one really worked, because he didn't see it coming.
Come back for George Kimball's ringside report.
Source: thesweetscience.com
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Manny Pacquiao would be perfect poetry in the hands of legendary boxing wordsmiths -- Los Angeles Times
By Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times
Red Smith, Jim Murray and Damon Runyon would find endless inspiration and poetry in the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Bob Arum and the rest of the characters in the sport today.
Boxing is the gift that keeps on giving.
It is why the great wordsmiths gravitated to it. It is why Red Smith could easily find poetry in its violence, why Jim Murray scoffed at anybody wishing for the departure of Mike Tyson.
"Lord, no," Murray would say. "He's 10 columns a year."
Damon Runyon painted such wonderful word pictures of boxing characters that, over time, his name was used as a category for those with special quirks.
It hasn't changed, only gotten better.
Smith, Murray and Runyon cry out from their graves for another day to write. Manny Pacquiao would have intrigued and inspired them to combinations of words worthy of plaques, headstones and literary immortality.
They would not only see him as this skinny, hungry child from the mean streets of General Santos City, Philippines, and later the meaner streets of Manila, but for what he has become and how beautifully he has handled it.
Like none others, they would articulate how an impoverished child from a third-world country had become a hero on the American sports scene, while maintaining dignity and perspective. They would make the contrast between how he shares fame and fortune and how so many of our homegrown heroes never have even an idle thought about giving back.
Even better, they would find, as they always did, the delightful wackiness of the people connected to Pacquiao and would quickly make the point that, of them all, he is the most stable.
They would be in full typist mode in the aftermath of Saturday's annihilation by Pacquiao of a slow, plodding, six-inches-taller Mexican named Antonio Margarito. It looked like Paul Bunyan being taken to the woodshed by his 10-year-old son.
They would find a way to, respectfully, point out to Mr. Margarito that a boxer who just made $5 million while having an orbital bone broken and jammed with pieces of eye muscle needs to take that $5 million, thank God daily, and retire to a life of bouncing his children on his knee.
They would have a field day with the never-ending maneuvers of Pacquiao's promoter, the veteran master of all angles, Bob Arum. Arum now calls Pacquiao the best fighter he has ever seen, even though he has seen, and promoted, Muhammad Ali and Oscar de la Hoya. Our writers would quickly make the translation for readers who might be a bit slow on boxing-promoter-speak. Best fighter also means biggest payday fighter.
Nor would they miss Arum moving immediately to what's next for Pacquiao (and him). As every boxing fan knows, the ultimate match is Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Arum was quoted a few days ago as saying that Pacquiao would have a birthday party Dec. 17 and they had better hear of Mayweather's interest by then.
Ah, the old birthday-party deadline trick.
Our beloved authors would find volumes of fascination in Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who, by his own admission, took five fights too many in his own career. Roach has Parkinson's disease, the likely result of punches absorbed in those last five fights. Yet while he struggles physically, Roach has more common sense about what will happen and what should happen next for Pacquiao than anybody.
When Roach said Pacquiao would handle a bigger, more famous Oscar de la Hoya, the boxing world laughed. Roach was right. He had a plan for his fighter to handle Miguel Cotto. It worked. Same with Joshua Clottey and Margarito. Four bigger trees, all becoming kindling.
Source: latimes.com
Red Smith, Jim Murray and Damon Runyon would find endless inspiration and poetry in the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Bob Arum and the rest of the characters in the sport today.
Boxing is the gift that keeps on giving.
It is why the great wordsmiths gravitated to it. It is why Red Smith could easily find poetry in its violence, why Jim Murray scoffed at anybody wishing for the departure of Mike Tyson.
"Lord, no," Murray would say. "He's 10 columns a year."
Damon Runyon painted such wonderful word pictures of boxing characters that, over time, his name was used as a category for those with special quirks.
It hasn't changed, only gotten better.
Smith, Murray and Runyon cry out from their graves for another day to write. Manny Pacquiao would have intrigued and inspired them to combinations of words worthy of plaques, headstones and literary immortality.
They would not only see him as this skinny, hungry child from the mean streets of General Santos City, Philippines, and later the meaner streets of Manila, but for what he has become and how beautifully he has handled it.
Like none others, they would articulate how an impoverished child from a third-world country had become a hero on the American sports scene, while maintaining dignity and perspective. They would make the contrast between how he shares fame and fortune and how so many of our homegrown heroes never have even an idle thought about giving back.
Even better, they would find, as they always did, the delightful wackiness of the people connected to Pacquiao and would quickly make the point that, of them all, he is the most stable.
They would be in full typist mode in the aftermath of Saturday's annihilation by Pacquiao of a slow, plodding, six-inches-taller Mexican named Antonio Margarito. It looked like Paul Bunyan being taken to the woodshed by his 10-year-old son.
They would find a way to, respectfully, point out to Mr. Margarito that a boxer who just made $5 million while having an orbital bone broken and jammed with pieces of eye muscle needs to take that $5 million, thank God daily, and retire to a life of bouncing his children on his knee.
They would have a field day with the never-ending maneuvers of Pacquiao's promoter, the veteran master of all angles, Bob Arum. Arum now calls Pacquiao the best fighter he has ever seen, even though he has seen, and promoted, Muhammad Ali and Oscar de la Hoya. Our writers would quickly make the translation for readers who might be a bit slow on boxing-promoter-speak. Best fighter also means biggest payday fighter.
Nor would they miss Arum moving immediately to what's next for Pacquiao (and him). As every boxing fan knows, the ultimate match is Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Arum was quoted a few days ago as saying that Pacquiao would have a birthday party Dec. 17 and they had better hear of Mayweather's interest by then.
Ah, the old birthday-party deadline trick.
Our beloved authors would find volumes of fascination in Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who, by his own admission, took five fights too many in his own career. Roach has Parkinson's disease, the likely result of punches absorbed in those last five fights. Yet while he struggles physically, Roach has more common sense about what will happen and what should happen next for Pacquiao than anybody.
When Roach said Pacquiao would handle a bigger, more famous Oscar de la Hoya, the boxing world laughed. Roach was right. He had a plan for his fighter to handle Miguel Cotto. It worked. Same with Joshua Clottey and Margarito. Four bigger trees, all becoming kindling.
Now Roach says his fighter, who also happens to be a congressman in the Philippines and who seems increasingly more interested in politics than punching, should consider retiring from the ring. Pacquiao has had 57 fights, and Roach knows what five too many means. Pacquiao already could be three-fifths there.
Our wordsmiths would find a wealth of material in the Mayweather family, which seems as destined to jail time as to ring time. The immediate future of the sport may have less to do with Arum and HBO and De La Hoya's Golden Boy and Pacquiao and Roach and panting fans than it does with the judges in Nevada who will rule in separate cases involving Floyd Jr. and uncle Roger, Floyd's trainer, in late January.
Then there is Shane Mosley, who is 39 and coming off a draw with Sergio Mora, in the Snore at Staples, seeking the next shot at Pacquiao. Also, Bernard Hopkins, telling the world that Pacquiao would lose to Mayweather because he couldn't deal with Mayweather's "black, street-fighter style."
These guys are a stitch, in several ways.
All this and even a real fight going on Saturday night in Atlantic City, N.J. — Sergio Martinez versus Paul Williams. That fight has been unfairly and incorrectly lost in the run-up to, and the aftermath of, Pacquiao-Margarito.
So many stories. So little time. And so sad that Smith, Murray and Runyon could not have lived forever.
bill.dwyre@latimes.com
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