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

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Boxing needs another big face like Pacquiao -- Gulf News

By Ashley Hammond, Gulf News

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

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

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

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

Following are the excerpts:

GULF NEWS: Is boxing on the decline?

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

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

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

Did getting bottled off mar your World Championship celebrations?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What's up with this fight?

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

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

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

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

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

Source: gulfnews.com

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

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mosley agreed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Mosley fight will earn Pacquiao record sum -- Manila Bulletin

By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: mb.com.ph

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

By Earney White, Examiner.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MARQUEZ PURSE DEMANDS

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

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

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

Sounds fishy.

POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER LOOMS

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

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

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

Will he shock the world?

Highly unlikely.

Contact Earney: pvamuboxing@gmail.com

Source: examiner.com

Shane Mosley: Advisor scheduled to meet with Pacquiao promoter Tuesday -- Los Angeles Times

By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

Former three-division world champion Shane Mosley said Monday his adviser has a Tuesday meeting scheduled with Manny Pacquiao's promoter to "go over the particulars and maybe sign" a contract for a May 7 Pacquiao-Mosley fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"We've already discussed the fight about three-four weeks ago, so now we'll go over it again," Mosley said in a telephone interview. "Both sides just need to commit to what we've talked about and then I think we're done."

Mosley said he's fine with the proposed site and date, and is waiting to hear what weight Pacquiao wants to fight -- be it a welterweight bout at 147 pounds or a catch-weight (perhaps 148) for Pacquiao's World Boxing Council junior-middleweight belt.

There was a report in the Philippines Monday that Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach wanted Mosley to submit to drug testing, given the Pomona fighter's 2003 involvement with the steroid-distributing Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative.

Mosley said he'd submit to any testing, even the stringent U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's methods he was subjected to before his May 1 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr., as long as Pacquiao did the same.

Roach, however, said Monday he's never asked for Mosley to undergo any testing stronger than what's required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission -- pre- and post-fight urine tests.

"I'm a clean guy," said Mosley, 39.

Mosley called discussions about dollars "little things."

Another aspiring Pacquiao opponent, Juan Manuel Marquez, proposed receiving a $5-million guarantee, while making $5 per pay-per-view buy above 500,000, for $8.5 million total if the fight generated 1.2 million buys.

Mosley wouldn't discuss specifics of his offer that adviser James Prince is expected to make to Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, but added he's confident it will be well-received because "they don't want to deal with Marquez."

Arum's company, Top Rank, and Marquez's promoter, Golden Boy Promotions in Los Angeles, are currently involved in a lawsuit over Pacquiao profits and they haven't made a fight together in more than a year.

Marquez's promoter, Richard Schaefer, said he hasn't received any similar overture from Top Rank to more intimately discuss the world lightweight champion's proposal to fight Pacquiao for a third time.

Mosley is a stake-holder in Golden Boy, but he left the company to express interest in a Pacquiao deal and says he's prepared to finalize that departure by signing to fight Pacquiao.

"I'm not sure I want to be involved with that company any more, and receive the treatment they've given me over the last few weeks," Mosley said. "Golden Boy showed me a lot what they think of me."

Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com

The 2010 Hauser Awards -- The Sweet Science

By Thomas Hauser, The Sweet Science

The holidays are a time for reflection. They’re also the time of year when awards are handed out. Thus, the 2010 Hauser Awards:

MOST EMBARRASSING HIGH-PROFILE MISMATCH OF THE YEAR: Vitali Klitschko vs. Albert Sosnowski for the WBC heavyweight “championship.” Sosnowski had never fought, let alone beaten, a world-class fighter. Last year, he fought to a draw against Francesco Pianeta. Eight months before that, he lost an 80-72, 80-72, 80-72 decision to journeyman Zuri Lawrence. Lawrence has fifteen losses on his record and has been knocked out eight times.

WORST STOPPAGE OF THE YEAR: Referee Gelasio Perez Huerta's fourth round stoppage of Lucas Matthysse vs. Vivian Harris in Mexico City. One punch, not very hard, and the referee stepped in. How bad was the call? So bad that there wasn’t any controversy over it Everyone with a brain agreed that it was just plain wrong.

SILLIEST CLAIM BY A FIGHTER'S REPRESENTATIVE: The assertion by Leonard Ellerbe (Floyd Mayweather’s business representative) that there had been no negotiations for a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.

THE “THIS WILL MAKE THE ANTITRUST LAWYERS HAPPY” QUOTE OF THE YEAR: To Oscar De La Hoya, who told Ben Grossman of Broadcasting and Cable magazine, “I commend UFC for what they have done in such a short period of time. They are the only real player in their category, the mixed martial arts world. We [Golden Boy] need to sign all the talent and get all the TV dates. Then you can have your own agenda. You can do a monthly PPV, a bi-weekly HBO fight. When you have five or six promoters, it's very difficult.”

BRAVEST CORNERMAN OF THE YEAR: Herman Caicedo, chief second for Shannon Briggs, when Briggs fought Vitali Klitschko. Honorable mention to Robert Garcia for his work with Antonio Margarito in Pacquiao-Margarito.

HEADLINE OF THE YEAR: “Sulaiman Urges Calzaghe to Confront Cocaine Problem” (Headline we wanted to see in response: “Calzaghe Urges Sulaiman to Confront Obesity Problem”).

THE NATO AWARD (No Action, Talk Only): To David Haye, for talking big and offering nothing but gobbledy-gook as an explanation for why he was ducking the Klitschko brothers.

MOST ILL-CONSIDERED DECISION BY A REFEREE: Arthur Mercante’s handling of Cotto-Foreman.

IRONIC STATEMENT OF THE YEAR: Jose Sulaiman (at the March 11th press conference in Dallas for the Pacquiao-Clottey undercard): “Whoever knows me knows that I speak the truth or I don’t speak at all.” – It was duly noted by those in attendance that Sulaiman’s remarks were brief.

AWARDS OF THE YEAR: To the NABF, which bestowed the following honors for the reasons quoted herein: (1) Promoter of the Year – “Square Ring kept the career of the legendary Roy Jones Jr. alive. Promoting fights between Jones and Omar Sheika and Jeff Lacy led to much bigger bouts for Jones against local hero Danny Green in Australia and a long-awaited grudge match against Bernard Hopkins.” (2) President’s Award: “Gale Van Hoy’s long and meritorious contributions to the organization are tremendous. Each year he runs a memorabilia auction that raises funds for the NABF treasury. Van Hoy is quick to assist in any endeavor that will enhance the reputation of boxing in general and the NABF in particular.”

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD AWARD: To Bernard Hopkins, for suggesting that Manny Pacquiao is reluctant to fight “a top-notch black fighter" because the styles that African-American fighters bring “from the streets” would be successful against boxing’s reigning pound-for-pound king. Hopkins is already fondly remembered for declaring “I would never let a white boy beat me” before losing to Joe Calzaghe.

THE "DO YOU REALLY EXPECT US TO BELIEVE THAT" STATEMENT OF THE YEAR: To Wladimir Klitschko. When every network in the United States passed on Wladimir’s title defense against American Eddie Chambers, Team Klitschko arranged for a pay-per-view webcast on Klitschko.com, and Wladimir issued a press release that read, "I enjoy working on the computer and I am very interested in new technologies. I like the idea that we are pioneers with this new technology.”

THE IL PAPA DOC AWARD: To Jose Sulaiman, who was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as “the longest-serving president of a world sports organization.” Sulaiman’s reign as WBC president (thirty-five years and counting) is well behind the benchmark for monarchs set by Ngwenyama Sobhuza II of Swaziland, whose reign dated from 1899 to 1982. King Sobhuza had seventy wives and 210 children. However, none of the children is believed to be as charming as Jose’s son, Mauricio.

ADVICE OF THE YEAR AWARD: To whoever tells Emma Bowe that, if she wants to “help” Ricky Hatton, she should shut her big fat mouth.

Thomas Hauser can be reached by email at thauser@rcn.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . His most recent book (“Waiting For Carver Boyd”) was published by JR Books and can be purchased at http://www.amazon.co.uk/ or http://www.abebooks.com.
Hauser says that Waiting for Carver Boyd is “the best pure boxing writing I’ve ever done.”

Source: thesweetscience.com

Pacquiao named for 'Boxer of Decade' award -- Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao heads a cast of champions nominated by the World Boxing Council (WBC) for the coveted Boxer of the Decade (2001-2010) award.

Also vying for the award are Americans Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko, Mexican Erik Morales and Thai Pongsaklek Wonjongkam.

Pacquiao was also nominated for the Boxer of the Year award, alongside Argentinian Sergio Martinez and Canadian Jean Pascal.

The WBC, headed by Jose Sulaiman, said the winners of the awards will be announced by the end of the year.

The past ten years have been amazing and memorable for Pacquiao, who fought a total of 19 times on US soil, winning 16 (12 by KOs), drawing twice and losing only once.

Since his electrifying American debut in June 2001, Pacquiao has been in the ring with the crème dela crème of prizefighting, racking up victories over the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

This year alone, Pacquiao chalked up two impressive wins over much bigger men: Joshua Clottey of Ghana and Antonio Margarito of Mexico.

In 2011, Pacquiao is booked to surface possibly against Shane Mosley in a welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas after a year-long absence.

Through the years, Pacquiao has received award from almost every award-giving body.

The 32-year-old Pacquiao, regarded as the current pound-for-pound king, has won the Fighter of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) three times, the same number of times The Ring magazine also named him for the same award.

The BWAA also named Pacquiao The Fighter of the Decade aside from being recognized by sports publications as the world’s premier puncher.

Source: mb.com.ph

INSIDE SPORTS: REFLECTIONS ON PACQUIAO'S 32nd BIRTHDAY -- PhilBoxing

By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com

Manny Pacquiao whose incredible achievements in the ring and his humility and remarkable sense of compassion for his vanquished foes plus his concern for the poorest of the poor has made him a crossover star and a quintessential Filipino sports hero, celebrated his 32nd birthday on Friday.

Such a milestone is often a time for reflection when an individual looks back at the year gone by and discovers what he did and what he had failed to do and vows to do things in a better and more organized fashion in the year ahead. Manny Pacquiao can do no less because he has been placed on a pedestal by millions of his countrymen and needs to live up to their faith in him.

With indications that Shane Mosley is next on Manny’s hit list the eminent lawyer and World Boxing Council founding secretary general Rudy Salud has said there is no way Manny can claim he is fighting Mosley for his country and people because there is nothing to be gained from such a fight except monetary rewards unlike if he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. But the fact that he is not fighting Mayweather is clearly not the fault of Pacquiao or Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. There is nobody else to blame but Mayweather himself.

While Salud and many others including ourselves question a fight against Mosley, we have to admit that given the present roster of possible opponents there is nobody outstanding or competitive enough to face off with Pacquiao at 147 pounds which is his chosen weight.

Andre Berto is young and has a reasonably strong right hand but not much else. He would be a comparatively easy fight for Pacquiao. Besides, he is not a draw and no promoter in his right mind – and despite his 79 summers Bob Arum is certainly in his right mind and astute as hell – would put up the guaranteed purse that Manny would want for such a fight because it won’t get the pay-per-view numbers needed to make it a worthwhile business proposition.

We ourselves had wanted Juan Manuel Marquez who battled Pacquiao twice with distinction even though he was dropped four times in the two fights. The reason being we wanted Pacquiao to shut him up once and for all over his claims that he beat Manny twice. This was echoed by Oscar De La Hoya who despite his skill and charisma as a fighter regrettably hasn’t translated his skill in the ring into a meaningful business sense and sadly lacks a proper appreciation of what this sport is all about today.

Marquez who was ripped apart by Mayweather in a welterweight bout where Mayweather came in at 149 and was tolerated by Golden Boy to the huge disadvantage of Marquez, wants twice as much as he received in the Mayweather fight. Here is the spectacle of a badly beaten fighter and someone who drew less than 5,000 fans in his last fight against Michael Katsidis asking for a ridiculously high purse.

In fairness to Arum, he openly admitted that Mosley was the biggest money fight available for Pacquiao at this point and that this is prizefighting which means men fight for a prize which essentially is the business of boxing as it has evolved in this day and age.

While we all enjoy the right to disagree, it is obvious that its Pacquiao’s call and if Arum wishes to give him an advance birthday gift in the form of Shane Mosley and a chance to earn $15-$20 million who are we to begrudge him that right especially if Manny needs the money for his many projects.

Boxing apart, our fervent wish on this auspicious day is for Pacquiao to look around him and to realize that an individual is often judged, sometimes unfairly we might add, by the company he keeps. It is high time that he isolates himself from leeches and miscellaneous characters who are there not because they truly care but only because they can get something out of a generous and kind human being as well as public mileage for themselves.

Manny also needs to look after his finances and invest his earnings wisely because whether he likes it or not his boxing career is winding down and he has far more important challenges to meet in his desire to serve his people. He must learn not to trust just about everybody who pushes a contract in front of him and tells him to sign promising he could earn well by recording songs or engaging in meet and greet gatherings. These often result in troublesome lawsuits that diminish his image and which cost money to defend and get out of.

We have known Manny from the time he was a 16 year old kid carving a name for himself on the weekly boxing show “Blow by Blow” which we produced and often anchored. He impressed us with his indomitable courage, his aggressive fighting style and his charisma. But most of all he touched us deeply when he told his late manager and father-figure Rod Nazario and myself some ten years ago that he wanted to enter public service to help the poor. That was not just the heart of a champion but the soul of a genuinely caring Filipino. God Bless you Manny.

Source: philboxing.com

Golden Boy: Pacquiao-Marquez logical -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

Since Manny Pacquiao hammered Antonio Margarito over 12 lopsided rounds on Nov. 13, there has been anticipation regarding who the pound-for-pound king would face in the spring.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer has been pushing hard for lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez to get a shot at Pacquiao's welterweight title. Marquez, after all, is highly ranked on the pound-for-pound list -- just a few spots away from top-ranked Pacquiao. Marquez is also Mexico's most significant active fighter and has had two sensational and controversial battles against Pacquiao, who got a draw in their 2004 featherweight championship fight and a split decision win in their 2008 junior lightweight title fight.

Fans have clamored for a third fight since, but Shane Mosley -- who is 0-1-1 in a pair of poor performances against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Sergio Mora in his last two fights -- has emerged as the favorite. Mosley is in the midst of a nasty breakup with Golden Boy, leaving the company to negotiate the Pacquiao fight on his own with Top Rank's Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter.

Arum has said that Marquez and welterweight titlist Andre Berto are also on the short list and he has gotten term sheets from both. Arum is in the Philippines this week meeting with Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), who is expected to announce his next opponent on Friday -- his 32nd birthday.

Giving Schaefer more ammunition to push for Marquez was the disclosure Tuesday by Arum that Pacquiao's next fight will take place on May 7 -- the weekend of the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, which traditionally includes a major fight involving a Mexican star.

Golden Boy is already holding that date for a fight card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a likely location of Pacquiao's next fight. But Schaefer said he has no interest in going to battle with Arum over the date.

"We are holding May 7 at the MGM but, of course, if Pacquiao is going to fight, I would step aside and give the date to Pacquiao and switch to April 16 [the original Pacquiao date] for what we were planning on doing," Schaefer said. "I really think if Pacquiao is going to fight May 7, on Cinco de Mayo weekend, you have to do Marquez on the Mexican holiday. Do you know how big that would be? It's a big fight no matter when it would be, but it would be even bigger on the Mexican holiday in Las Vegas."

Schaefer said he has kept an open dialogue with Top Rank president Todd duBoef through e-mails and said he sent him a note Wednesday morning in the hopes that they could come to an agreement for Pacquiao-Marquez, especially because of the date of the fight.

"I told Todd that I thought it was the right thing to do and that Marquez makes more sense on the Mexican holiday," Schaefer said. "I asked Todd to please get back to me with a deal which would be acceptable for Pacquiao and I will get it done. Just tell me what Pacquiao is willing to do and let me go to Marquez with the deal. If Marquez doesn't want it, or doesn't like the deal and turns it down, so be it. But that's the fight the public wants to see and now more so being on Cinco de Mayo weekend. Marquez is the logical choice."

Schaefer has already agreed to let Top Rank buy out Golden Boy on the fight rather than have it be a co-promotion where both sides share in the revenue.

Arum said Tuesday that Marquez's term sheet was being considered but that "the problem with Marquez is the number he wants is so damn high and he hasn't moved off it, and that's preventing the Marquez fight."

Arum, who has a clear preference to make the Mosley fight, claimed that Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KOs) had asked for double what he made to fight Mayweather, which was a guarantee of $3.2 million. Schaefer disputed that.

"That's not correct," he said. "But this deal would be a buyout, so whatever Marquez's side gets has to include Golden Boy. So you can't compare it with what Marquez got paid against Mayweather because we have to get paid too. For the Mayweather fight, we were the promoter. This fight would be Top Rank, so they asked us for a number to buy us out. Hey, if they want to do a percentage deal I'm willing to do that and the guarantee would be much lower.

"So you want to buy me out, there's a number for Marquez and a number for Golden Boy. Or let's do a percentage deal and we'll also take the risk. But either way, I had a nice e-mail exchange with Todd. I told Todd get me what you're willing to do. Just tell me what it takes to get the fight done."

Schaefer said if Marquez does not get the fight -- and he is prepared for that likelihood -- then Marquez would headline the April 16 pay-per-view card. Schaefer said Marquez would defend the lightweight championship against Erik Morales, the former three-division champ (and former Top Rank star) who wants to become the first Mexican fighter to win titles in four weight divisions. A win over Marquez would do the job.

But Morales, who is past his prime, would have to win his fight on Saturday in Tijuana, Mexico, against late replacement Francisco Lorenzo, who took the fight Tuesday when former junior lightweight titlist Jorge Barrios dropped out because he was unable to secure the proper paperwork to travel from Argentina to Mexico for the fight.

"If Marquez doesn't get the fight with Pacquiao, we would consider doing the fight with Morales on April 16 in Las Vegas, although Mexico is interested as well," Schaefer said. "[Mexican network] Televisa talked to us about doing it at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City as part of a big, daylong event."

The Mexican trio of Marquez, Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, along with Pacquiao, dominated the featherweight and junior lightweight divisions for years and they all fought each other with the lone exception being that Marquez and Morales have yet to fight.

Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter.

Source: sports.espn.go.com