By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao and his sparring partners were supposed to take it nice and easy as one would on the driver’s seat of a car that just rolled out of the showroom.
But while there was not enough time for Pacquiao and sparmates Shawn Porter and David Rodela to go full throttle, it was a four-round session that had all the trappings of a Pacquiao workout.
“Manny did what he always does,” said Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz from Baguio City, site of the Filipino’s preparation for the May 7 clash with Shane Mosley.
“It was good considering that it’s just the first day (of sparring),” said Koncz.
“They really went at it.”
Pacquiao will rack up more rounds with sessions set for Thursday and Saturday, just before Team Pacquiao leaves for the US to resume the buildup at the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Porter and Rodela are old hands in Pacquiao’s training camp but always put up their best whenever they share the ring with the pound-for-pound king.
Source: mb.com.ph
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
The Time Has Come To Put Up, Or Shut Up -- The Sweet Science
By Ron Borges, The Sweet Science
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has not become irrelevant, despite his best efforts to do so. What he has become is the B side of a fight in which he should be the A side.
While Manny Pacquiao simply keeps training, fighting, cashing large checks and enhancing his worldwide popularity, Mayweather makes what money he can at gambling parlors that have broken richer men than him and more and more sounds like a guy who talks a great fight but no longer wants to be involved in a great fight.
Recently Mayweather went on a rambling dissertation on a Chicago radio station
about how he’s an American and hence…well, it beats me.
“The thing is this, I’m an America citizen and I represent this country with the red, white and blue,’’ he told ESPN Chicago. “The only thing I want is the people in my country to stand behind me. I’m in my own country and I have a lot of people against me.
“Our country is a great country, it’s a clean country, and all I ask him (Pacquiao) to do is take the test. That’s it. He takes the test and we got a fight.’’
Mayweather is referring to random blood testing for performance enhancing drugs, which he’s made a requirement for a fight with Pacquiao. It is not an unreasonable request and although he balked at it for a time, Pacquiao claims he’s since agreed to do it in the same manner Shane Mosley did when he fought Mayweather. If he has, someone needs to tell Mayweather it’s time to go back to work.
The fact that one of the few boxing matches general sports fans actually want to see can’t be made points to the reason why the sport has marginalized itself in this country. Hate to say it but if Mayweather and Pacquiao were UFC fighters they would have been inside the Octagon three times by now. That’s why UFC is flourishing while boxing’s relevance in America is approaching horse racing’s.
It doesn’t have to be that way nor is it inevitable that boxing here cannot again flourish as it is in Europe and from time to time does in the United States. All the fighters have to do is fight each other, starting with Mayweather and Pacquiao.
When the interviewer suggested Mayweather-Pacquiao might “save boxing’’ (which is more than a bit of hyperbole because the sport doesn’t need to be saved, it needs to be managed like a proper business), he said. “My job is to keep my family close and take care of my family. My job is not to fight for everybody else. My job is to fight for Floyd Mayweather.’’
Agreed. So fight already.
The odd thing about listening to Mayweather when the subject of Manny Pacquiao comes up is eventually he is drawn inexorably – no matter what the real subject of the conversation is – into pointing out that he’s undefeated and Pacquiao is not.
So what? The truest measure of a fighter is not that he’s undefeated. If it was it would make Joe Mesi bigger than Joe Louis.
An unblemished record may mean you’re great or it may mean you did your best to avoid your most dangerous challenger, which Pacquiao surely is for Mayweather. If that’s the case, then what does it mean to be undefeated?
Frankly, for Floyd, it means less every day.
“You guys must realize about Pacquiao, that’s just a media creation,’’ Mayweather said. “That’s somebody who just came around. For someone to beat me would be abnormal. For someone to beat him is normal because he’s already been beaten three times and knocked out twice. It’s nothing new.’’
Sadly, neither are his words. This has become an old song and a boring one. Although he has always had a fair point about the need for more stringent drug testing in a blood sport like boxing, he seems to have won it but still wants to fight over it.
If he hasn’t, than that would be quickly revealed in any negotiation with Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, and turn the eye of suspicion back on the most popular fighter in the world. And that is what Manny Pacquiao is, a fact that surely grates on a former Dancing With The Stars entrant.
As for Pacquiao’s record, if it’s so normal to beat him then why doesn’t Mayweather just agree to go do it himself and be done with it? If he thinks he can add a fourth blemish to Pacquiao’s record, what’s the hold up?
For a time, Floyd Mayweather had a point in his demands and still does if Pacquiao tries to dodge the issue of blood testing for performance enhancing drugs. But absent that issue, the time has come to put up or shut up.
Boxing is a simple sport in some regards. You’re either a fighter or you’re not.
Source: thesweetscience.com
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has not become irrelevant, despite his best efforts to do so. What he has become is the B side of a fight in which he should be the A side.
While Manny Pacquiao simply keeps training, fighting, cashing large checks and enhancing his worldwide popularity, Mayweather makes what money he can at gambling parlors that have broken richer men than him and more and more sounds like a guy who talks a great fight but no longer wants to be involved in a great fight.
Recently Mayweather went on a rambling dissertation on a Chicago radio station about how he’s an American and hence…well, it beats me.“The thing is this, I’m an America citizen and I represent this country with the red, white and blue,’’ he told ESPN Chicago. “The only thing I want is the people in my country to stand behind me. I’m in my own country and I have a lot of people against me.
“Our country is a great country, it’s a clean country, and all I ask him (Pacquiao) to do is take the test. That’s it. He takes the test and we got a fight.’’
Mayweather is referring to random blood testing for performance enhancing drugs, which he’s made a requirement for a fight with Pacquiao. It is not an unreasonable request and although he balked at it for a time, Pacquiao claims he’s since agreed to do it in the same manner Shane Mosley did when he fought Mayweather. If he has, someone needs to tell Mayweather it’s time to go back to work.
The fact that one of the few boxing matches general sports fans actually want to see can’t be made points to the reason why the sport has marginalized itself in this country. Hate to say it but if Mayweather and Pacquiao were UFC fighters they would have been inside the Octagon three times by now. That’s why UFC is flourishing while boxing’s relevance in America is approaching horse racing’s.
It doesn’t have to be that way nor is it inevitable that boxing here cannot again flourish as it is in Europe and from time to time does in the United States. All the fighters have to do is fight each other, starting with Mayweather and Pacquiao.
When the interviewer suggested Mayweather-Pacquiao might “save boxing’’ (which is more than a bit of hyperbole because the sport doesn’t need to be saved, it needs to be managed like a proper business), he said. “My job is to keep my family close and take care of my family. My job is not to fight for everybody else. My job is to fight for Floyd Mayweather.’’
Agreed. So fight already.
The odd thing about listening to Mayweather when the subject of Manny Pacquiao comes up is eventually he is drawn inexorably – no matter what the real subject of the conversation is – into pointing out that he’s undefeated and Pacquiao is not.
So what? The truest measure of a fighter is not that he’s undefeated. If it was it would make Joe Mesi bigger than Joe Louis.
An unblemished record may mean you’re great or it may mean you did your best to avoid your most dangerous challenger, which Pacquiao surely is for Mayweather. If that’s the case, then what does it mean to be undefeated?
Frankly, for Floyd, it means less every day.
“You guys must realize about Pacquiao, that’s just a media creation,’’ Mayweather said. “That’s somebody who just came around. For someone to beat me would be abnormal. For someone to beat him is normal because he’s already been beaten three times and knocked out twice. It’s nothing new.’’
Sadly, neither are his words. This has become an old song and a boring one. Although he has always had a fair point about the need for more stringent drug testing in a blood sport like boxing, he seems to have won it but still wants to fight over it.
If he hasn’t, than that would be quickly revealed in any negotiation with Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, and turn the eye of suspicion back on the most popular fighter in the world. And that is what Manny Pacquiao is, a fact that surely grates on a former Dancing With The Stars entrant.
As for Pacquiao’s record, if it’s so normal to beat him then why doesn’t Mayweather just agree to go do it himself and be done with it? If he thinks he can add a fourth blemish to Pacquiao’s record, what’s the hold up?
For a time, Floyd Mayweather had a point in his demands and still does if Pacquiao tries to dodge the issue of blood testing for performance enhancing drugs. But absent that issue, the time has come to put up or shut up.
Boxing is a simple sport in some regards. You’re either a fighter or you’re not.
Source: thesweetscience.com
Monday, 28 March 2011
Manny Pacquiao's Rise in Stardom Envies Floyd Mayweather -- Bleacher Report
By Troy Sparks, Bleacher Report
Floyd Mayweather won't stop running his mouth against Manny Pacquiao. In a phone interview on the "Carmen, Jurko and Harry" radio show on ESPN Chicago, he was asked if a fight with Manny Pacquiao was in his future plans.
"I'm an American citizen," he said, ducking the question, "and I represent the red, white and blue. And the only thing I want is for the people in America to stand behind me."
As usual, Mayweather didn't give a straight answer. The guys on the show wanted a simple answer, which he couldn't give.
Then Mayweather said, "It's so crazy that I'm in my own country, and I have a lot of people against me. Our country is a great country, it's a clean country, and all I ask him to do is to take the test."
I think Pacquiao was ready to take the blood test. Floyd is very naive if he thinks that all professional boxers in America avoid taking some kind of performance-enhancing drugs. The stuff that was injected into Mayweather's hands was a drug, wasn't it? It eased the pain in his hands, but it was a drug.
Mayweather is jealous because Pacquiao is now the face of boxing and the No. 1 pound-for-pound king. He also accuses Pacquiao of being a copycat by fighting the same opponents that he did, and I think that's true.
"When you sit back and think about it," Mayweather said, "I beat (Oscar) De La Hoya at a weight that De La Hoya wanted to fight at. (Pacquiao) beat De La Hoya at a catchweight, where De La Hoya killed himself to make a certain weight class.
"I beat Ricky Hatton and he followed right behind me. He goes and fight Ricky Hatton a year later. The list goes on. I just beat Shane Mosley. Now he wants to fight Shane Mosley. When Shane Mosley beat Antonio Margarito, then he goes to fight Antonio Margarito. Antonio Margarito beats Miguel Cotto, then he goes to fight Miguel Cotto. I'm just saying. That's how it goes."
Boy, there's a lot of pent-up frustration in the undefeated and idle boxer's voice. Mayweather also mentioned that Pacquiao is just a creation of the media, who built him up and created this marketing image for boxing that he is now.
Mayweather said on the show that it would be abnormal for him to lose a fight but normal for Pacquiao because he lost three fights in his career and has been knocked out twice.
"Money" is just wondering why Pacquiao gets all the attention and why he's being ignored. People are getting tired of him ducking the Filipino. What is Pacquiao to do when he's ready to fight Mayweather but the Vegas chicken sits back clucking on a Chicago sports radio show?
Pacquiao is training right now and Mayweather is sitting at home flapping his gums.
Take the test, Mayweather says, and there will be a fight. Pacquiao can take the blood test and still be suckered by Mayweather.
We want Mayweather to stop talking trash and fight Pacquiao. And if he beats the Pac Man, then he can pick the Filipino up off the canvas—assuming that Floyd knocks him out—and take him out the back door with the rest of the trash.
Source: bleacherreport.com
Floyd Mayweather won't stop running his mouth against Manny Pacquiao. In a phone interview on the "Carmen, Jurko and Harry" radio show on ESPN Chicago, he was asked if a fight with Manny Pacquiao was in his future plans.
"I'm an American citizen," he said, ducking the question, "and I represent the red, white and blue. And the only thing I want is for the people in America to stand behind me."
As usual, Mayweather didn't give a straight answer. The guys on the show wanted a simple answer, which he couldn't give.
Then Mayweather said, "It's so crazy that I'm in my own country, and I have a lot of people against me. Our country is a great country, it's a clean country, and all I ask him to do is to take the test."
I think Pacquiao was ready to take the blood test. Floyd is very naive if he thinks that all professional boxers in America avoid taking some kind of performance-enhancing drugs. The stuff that was injected into Mayweather's hands was a drug, wasn't it? It eased the pain in his hands, but it was a drug.
Mayweather is jealous because Pacquiao is now the face of boxing and the No. 1 pound-for-pound king. He also accuses Pacquiao of being a copycat by fighting the same opponents that he did, and I think that's true.
"When you sit back and think about it," Mayweather said, "I beat (Oscar) De La Hoya at a weight that De La Hoya wanted to fight at. (Pacquiao) beat De La Hoya at a catchweight, where De La Hoya killed himself to make a certain weight class.
"I beat Ricky Hatton and he followed right behind me. He goes and fight Ricky Hatton a year later. The list goes on. I just beat Shane Mosley. Now he wants to fight Shane Mosley. When Shane Mosley beat Antonio Margarito, then he goes to fight Antonio Margarito. Antonio Margarito beats Miguel Cotto, then he goes to fight Miguel Cotto. I'm just saying. That's how it goes."
Boy, there's a lot of pent-up frustration in the undefeated and idle boxer's voice. Mayweather also mentioned that Pacquiao is just a creation of the media, who built him up and created this marketing image for boxing that he is now.
Mayweather said on the show that it would be abnormal for him to lose a fight but normal for Pacquiao because he lost three fights in his career and has been knocked out twice.
"Money" is just wondering why Pacquiao gets all the attention and why he's being ignored. People are getting tired of him ducking the Filipino. What is Pacquiao to do when he's ready to fight Mayweather but the Vegas chicken sits back clucking on a Chicago sports radio show?
Pacquiao is training right now and Mayweather is sitting at home flapping his gums.
Take the test, Mayweather says, and there will be a fight. Pacquiao can take the blood test and still be suckered by Mayweather.
We want Mayweather to stop talking trash and fight Pacquiao. And if he beats the Pac Man, then he can pick the Filipino up off the canvas—assuming that Floyd knocks him out—and take him out the back door with the rest of the trash.
Source: bleacherreport.com
Gamboa uses power, speed to KO Solis -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The speed is simply devastating.
And the power ain't bad either.
Yuriorkis Gamboa used both in a smashing performance as he knocked out Jorge Solis -- a bigger man with an interim title at junior lightweight coming down in weight -- in the fourth round to retain his featherweight title on Saturday night at the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall.
It was a scintillating performance from Gamboa, one of the most explosive fighters in boxing. The 2004 Cuban Olympic gold medalist showed why yet again and, hopefully, moved a step closer to the showdown most fans really want to see in the division: Gamboa against fellow titleholder Juan Manuel Lopez.
Gamboa dismissed Mexico's Solis in nasty fashion while Lopez watched at ringside. Then they both angled for the division's super fight, one that promoter Top Rank has been reluctant to put together.
The fighters are athletically ready, but Top Rank's Bob Arum, who could not attend the show, has resisted making the match in an effort to make it bigger commercially.
It has been building for more than a year as Top Rank has twice put Gamboa on Lopez's undercards.
With a big Puerto Rican fan base, Lopez is already an attraction, but Gamboa lags behind him. The sellout crowd of 2,913 at Saturday's fight card was there mainly in support of the Teon Kennedy-Jorge Diaz and NFL player Tommy Zbikowski undercard fights.
But after his four-knockdown blitz of Solis, Gamboa figured to have made some new fans. Afterward, he called for the fight against Lopez.
"Top Rank is going to keep 'Juanma' at a distance because they know he is not ready for me," Gamboa said. "Maybe [titlist] Chris John [next]. If I have to move up to 130 pounds to get the best fights, that's what I will do.
"The package is complete. I am completely different from [last year]."
Standing next to Gamboa in the ring after the fight was Lopez, who broke camp for a look at his rival. Lopez is training for an April 16 fight with former titlist Orlando Salido -- who gave Gamboa a very tough fight and knocked him down in the eighth round of a September loss in Las Vegas.
When asked about fighting Gamboa, Lopez said bring it on.
"Yes, after I finish Salido, I'd fight him," Lopez said. "I've never said no. He's never said no. We have to negotiate it. We're the best in the division. We have to do it."
Solis is a quality fighter who once gave pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao a tough junior lightweight fight in 2007. Against Gamboa, he was merely a tall speed bump.
He simply could not deal with Gamboa's overwhelming hand and foot speed.
Gamboa dropped him with a right and a left in the second round. A flurry had Solis holding on and in trouble after the knockdown. He went down for the second time in the round when Gamboa caught him with an overhand right that appeared to be behind the head, although referee David Fields did not call a foul.
Gamboa (20-0, 16 KOs) toyed with Solis in the third round until landing a left hook just before the end of the round. Solis went down hard to his back as Gamboa turned and raised his fist in victory. But Solis (40-3-2, 29 KOs) was not done just yet. He was a round later.
In the fourth round, Gamboa, 29, landed a flush right hand in the middle of the ring and Solis, 31, went skidding on his rear end. Moments later, Gamboa ripped off a flurry of roughly a dozen unanswered blows as he pounded Solis into the canvas, causing Fields to call it off at 1 minute, 31 seconds.
Gamboa landed 78 of 194 punches (40 percent), according to CompuBox statistics while Solis was limited to landing just 29 of 107 blows (27 percent). Sixty-eight of Gamboa's landed shots were power punches.
"That's the real Gamboa," Tony Gonzalez, his manager, said. "That's the Gamboa we've been wanting to see. It all came together tonight. He wanted to make a statement and he made a statement."
Gamboa held a pair of 126-pound world titles. However, he he did not show up at the IBF's morning weight check on the day of the fight and only had his WBA belt carried into the ring, so it is unclear if he still holds the IBF's belt. Typically, if a fighter does not take part in the morning of weight check, the title is vacated.
"It's going to get into legalities," Gonzalez said. "Our bout agreement only said he was defending the WBA title."
Whatever belts Gamboa has, Solis gave him a big compliment when asked to compare him to the great Pacquiao.
"Gamboa is a great fighter," Solis said. "Pacquiao throws a lot of punches, but he doesn't hit as hard at Gamboa."
Maybe, hopefully, Lopez will be able to find out just how hard Gamboa hits, and vice versa.
"It's a business. We have promoters," Lopez said of the inevitable showdown with Gamboa. "We are the best in the division. Let's do it."
Please?
Source: sports.espn.go.com
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- The speed is simply devastating.
And the power ain't bad either.
Yuriorkis Gamboa used both in a smashing performance as he knocked out Jorge Solis -- a bigger man with an interim title at junior lightweight coming down in weight -- in the fourth round to retain his featherweight title on Saturday night at the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall.
It was a scintillating performance from Gamboa, one of the most explosive fighters in boxing. The 2004 Cuban Olympic gold medalist showed why yet again and, hopefully, moved a step closer to the showdown most fans really want to see in the division: Gamboa against fellow titleholder Juan Manuel Lopez.
Gamboa dismissed Mexico's Solis in nasty fashion while Lopez watched at ringside. Then they both angled for the division's super fight, one that promoter Top Rank has been reluctant to put together.
The fighters are athletically ready, but Top Rank's Bob Arum, who could not attend the show, has resisted making the match in an effort to make it bigger commercially.
It has been building for more than a year as Top Rank has twice put Gamboa on Lopez's undercards.
With a big Puerto Rican fan base, Lopez is already an attraction, but Gamboa lags behind him. The sellout crowd of 2,913 at Saturday's fight card was there mainly in support of the Teon Kennedy-Jorge Diaz and NFL player Tommy Zbikowski undercard fights.
But after his four-knockdown blitz of Solis, Gamboa figured to have made some new fans. Afterward, he called for the fight against Lopez.
"Top Rank is going to keep 'Juanma' at a distance because they know he is not ready for me," Gamboa said. "Maybe [titlist] Chris John [next]. If I have to move up to 130 pounds to get the best fights, that's what I will do.
"The package is complete. I am completely different from [last year]."
Standing next to Gamboa in the ring after the fight was Lopez, who broke camp for a look at his rival. Lopez is training for an April 16 fight with former titlist Orlando Salido -- who gave Gamboa a very tough fight and knocked him down in the eighth round of a September loss in Las Vegas.
When asked about fighting Gamboa, Lopez said bring it on.
"Yes, after I finish Salido, I'd fight him," Lopez said. "I've never said no. He's never said no. We have to negotiate it. We're the best in the division. We have to do it."
Solis is a quality fighter who once gave pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao a tough junior lightweight fight in 2007. Against Gamboa, he was merely a tall speed bump.
He simply could not deal with Gamboa's overwhelming hand and foot speed.
Gamboa dropped him with a right and a left in the second round. A flurry had Solis holding on and in trouble after the knockdown. He went down for the second time in the round when Gamboa caught him with an overhand right that appeared to be behind the head, although referee David Fields did not call a foul.
Gamboa (20-0, 16 KOs) toyed with Solis in the third round until landing a left hook just before the end of the round. Solis went down hard to his back as Gamboa turned and raised his fist in victory. But Solis (40-3-2, 29 KOs) was not done just yet. He was a round later.
In the fourth round, Gamboa, 29, landed a flush right hand in the middle of the ring and Solis, 31, went skidding on his rear end. Moments later, Gamboa ripped off a flurry of roughly a dozen unanswered blows as he pounded Solis into the canvas, causing Fields to call it off at 1 minute, 31 seconds.
Gamboa landed 78 of 194 punches (40 percent), according to CompuBox statistics while Solis was limited to landing just 29 of 107 blows (27 percent). Sixty-eight of Gamboa's landed shots were power punches.
"That's the real Gamboa," Tony Gonzalez, his manager, said. "That's the Gamboa we've been wanting to see. It all came together tonight. He wanted to make a statement and he made a statement."
Gamboa held a pair of 126-pound world titles. However, he he did not show up at the IBF's morning weight check on the day of the fight and only had his WBA belt carried into the ring, so it is unclear if he still holds the IBF's belt. Typically, if a fighter does not take part in the morning of weight check, the title is vacated.
"It's going to get into legalities," Gonzalez said. "Our bout agreement only said he was defending the WBA title."
Whatever belts Gamboa has, Solis gave him a big compliment when asked to compare him to the great Pacquiao.
"Gamboa is a great fighter," Solis said. "Pacquiao throws a lot of punches, but he doesn't hit as hard at Gamboa."
Maybe, hopefully, Lopez will be able to find out just how hard Gamboa hits, and vice versa.
"It's a business. We have promoters," Lopez said of the inevitable showdown with Gamboa. "We are the best in the division. Let's do it."
Please?
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Mayweather says 100 million things, but one bet says he’ll have to fight Pacquiao -- 15Rounds
By Norm Frauenheim, 15Rounds.com
It’s hard to know what Manny Pacquiao thinks about all the mixed signals coming from Floyd Mayweather Jr. these days.
First, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum tells the Filipino media that Mayweather wanted $100 million in undisclosed talks for the biggest fight nobody has yet to see.
Then, Mayweather brags on twitter by displaying a winning ticket for $37,272.75 on a bet that the Atlanta Hawks wouldn’t outscore the Chicago Bulls by six or more points in the second half.
If accurate, Arum is 100 million times right in interpreting Mayweather’s demand as just another way of saying — no, hell no — he won’t fight.
But the winning ticket from Las Vegas’ M Resort looks like another good bet that Mayweather is going to need more than a nickname to pay his bills. He calls himself Money, but he won’t have much of it if gambling is a habit and criminal lawyers are a necessity.
Let’s just say that it’s safe to assume Mayweather isn’t tweeting anything that ever looks like a losing ticket. For anybody who has invested part of a paycheck at a Vegas’ book, it is also a good bet that the losers outnumber the winners.
Does Pacquiao even care? If he doesn’t, then there are 100 million more reasons to believe the long-awaited showdown will happen only in a video game. Pacquiao already is well into his second career as a politician. As the public and media grow weary of the continuing speculation, Pacquiao appears to already have moved on and beyond.
Sometimes, however, money – or the urgent need for some – creates big fights. There continues to be talk that Shane Mosley, who faces Pacquiao on May 7 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, has to fight to pay for his divorce. That price is as cynical as it is steep. It is also dangerous. But it has always been there.
Mayweather, who faces eight criminal charges for an alleged incident involving a former girlfriend, has countless ways of saying he won’t do this and he might do that. It’d be no surprise if he soon denies that Arum’s latest story about negotiations that heretofore had gone unreported. It would be a lot harder for him to deny that he wants $100 million.
But Mayweather’s words don’t really matter. It’s what he shows us. The latest offering is several zeroes short of what his nickname claims and one reason to think that Pacquiao-Mayweather will happen.
NOTES, QUOTES
· The best hope for a resurrected heavyweight division is an NFL work stoppage that lasts, say, a couple of years. Baltimore Ravens safety Tommy Zbikowski, who fights Saturday night in Atlantic City on the Yuriorkis Gamboa-Jorge Solis undercard, is as skilled and athletic a prospect as there is on the side of the world that does not include a Klitschko. Zbikowski is evidence that America’s best heavyweights are in the NFL. “Yeah, it might be true,’’ said Zbikowski, who says Ravens defensive lineman Haloti Ngata could be a great one. “The Klitschkos are the best right now and they’ve been the best for a long time. Just because they’re in Europe doesn’t mean there are not great heavyweights. I think a lot of the American heavyweights right now are playing football. Boxing is honestly one of the most athletic things you can do. To be a good boxer, you have to be very athletic. Right now, you’re seeing the top athletes go to college to get an education. I think if you have boxing back at the collegiate level, you might have some more American heavyweights.”
· And another shot in the Golden Boy-Top Rank feud could be fired next week. Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said Wednesday that he is planning to meet with Juan Manuel Marquez. There is rampant speculation that Marquez will jump from Golden Boy to Top Rank. That might be the only way he gets a second rematch with Pacquiao. “We don’t know what Márquez’s plan or plans are,’’ Schaefer said during a conference call for an April 9 card topped by Erik Morales-Marcos Maidana and will include Robert Guerrero, Michael Katsidis and James Kirkland at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. “I am actually scheduled to meet with him next week in Mexico and see what he is planning on doing.’’
Source: 15rounds.com
It’s hard to know what Manny Pacquiao thinks about all the mixed signals coming from Floyd Mayweather Jr. these days.
First, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum tells the Filipino media that Mayweather wanted $100 million in undisclosed talks for the biggest fight nobody has yet to see.
Then, Mayweather brags on twitter by displaying a winning ticket for $37,272.75 on a bet that the Atlanta Hawks wouldn’t outscore the Chicago Bulls by six or more points in the second half. If accurate, Arum is 100 million times right in interpreting Mayweather’s demand as just another way of saying — no, hell no — he won’t fight.
But the winning ticket from Las Vegas’ M Resort looks like another good bet that Mayweather is going to need more than a nickname to pay his bills. He calls himself Money, but he won’t have much of it if gambling is a habit and criminal lawyers are a necessity.
Let’s just say that it’s safe to assume Mayweather isn’t tweeting anything that ever looks like a losing ticket. For anybody who has invested part of a paycheck at a Vegas’ book, it is also a good bet that the losers outnumber the winners.
Does Pacquiao even care? If he doesn’t, then there are 100 million more reasons to believe the long-awaited showdown will happen only in a video game. Pacquiao already is well into his second career as a politician. As the public and media grow weary of the continuing speculation, Pacquiao appears to already have moved on and beyond.
Sometimes, however, money – or the urgent need for some – creates big fights. There continues to be talk that Shane Mosley, who faces Pacquiao on May 7 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, has to fight to pay for his divorce. That price is as cynical as it is steep. It is also dangerous. But it has always been there.
Mayweather, who faces eight criminal charges for an alleged incident involving a former girlfriend, has countless ways of saying he won’t do this and he might do that. It’d be no surprise if he soon denies that Arum’s latest story about negotiations that heretofore had gone unreported. It would be a lot harder for him to deny that he wants $100 million.
But Mayweather’s words don’t really matter. It’s what he shows us. The latest offering is several zeroes short of what his nickname claims and one reason to think that Pacquiao-Mayweather will happen.
NOTES, QUOTES
· The best hope for a resurrected heavyweight division is an NFL work stoppage that lasts, say, a couple of years. Baltimore Ravens safety Tommy Zbikowski, who fights Saturday night in Atlantic City on the Yuriorkis Gamboa-Jorge Solis undercard, is as skilled and athletic a prospect as there is on the side of the world that does not include a Klitschko. Zbikowski is evidence that America’s best heavyweights are in the NFL. “Yeah, it might be true,’’ said Zbikowski, who says Ravens defensive lineman Haloti Ngata could be a great one. “The Klitschkos are the best right now and they’ve been the best for a long time. Just because they’re in Europe doesn’t mean there are not great heavyweights. I think a lot of the American heavyweights right now are playing football. Boxing is honestly one of the most athletic things you can do. To be a good boxer, you have to be very athletic. Right now, you’re seeing the top athletes go to college to get an education. I think if you have boxing back at the collegiate level, you might have some more American heavyweights.”
· And another shot in the Golden Boy-Top Rank feud could be fired next week. Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said Wednesday that he is planning to meet with Juan Manuel Marquez. There is rampant speculation that Marquez will jump from Golden Boy to Top Rank. That might be the only way he gets a second rematch with Pacquiao. “We don’t know what Márquez’s plan or plans are,’’ Schaefer said during a conference call for an April 9 card topped by Erik Morales-Marcos Maidana and will include Robert Guerrero, Michael Katsidis and James Kirkland at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. “I am actually scheduled to meet with him next week in Mexico and see what he is planning on doing.’’
Source: 15rounds.com
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Judge denies bid to dismiss Manny Pacquiao’s defamation lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather Jr. -- Washington Post
By Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — A federal judge in Nevada says a lawsuit filed by Manny Pacquiao against longtime boxing rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. over allegations that Pacquiao used performance-enhancing drugs can continue.
U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks said in a court order filed Monday that he would not dismiss the case as requested by Mayweather and others named in the defamation lawsuit filed by Pacquiao in 2009.
Pacquiao claimed in the suit that he has never tested positive for any performance-enhancing drugs. He said Mayweather, Mayweather’s father and uncle, Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions chief Richard Schaefer embarked on a campaign to make people think he used drugs.
Attorneys representing the defendants have said the statements made by Mayweather and others were not defamatory.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: washingtonpost.com
LAS VEGAS — A federal judge in Nevada says a lawsuit filed by Manny Pacquiao against longtime boxing rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. over allegations that Pacquiao used performance-enhancing drugs can continue.
U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks said in a court order filed Monday that he would not dismiss the case as requested by Mayweather and others named in the defamation lawsuit filed by Pacquiao in 2009.Pacquiao claimed in the suit that he has never tested positive for any performance-enhancing drugs. He said Mayweather, Mayweather’s father and uncle, Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions chief Richard Schaefer embarked on a campaign to make people think he used drugs.Attorneys representing the defendants have said the statements made by Mayweather and others were not defamatory.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: washingtonpost.com
Pacquiao impresses Arum -- PhilBoxing
By Eddie Alinea, PhilBoxing.com
BAGUIO CITY – “Manny can fight next week.”Promoter Bob Arum declared after witnessing the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao work out at the Shape Up Gym at the Cooyeesan his Hotel here.
Pacquiao had so impressed Top Rank big boss with the way trainer Freddie Roach 
and condition coach Alex Ariza conducted the day’s training that the Hall of Fame promoter pronounced his ward ready to fight challenger Shane Mosley even next week.
Pacquiao and Mosley fight on May 7 in Las Vegas.
“He’s incredible, I’m amazed how Freddie and Alex have been working on him for only a week,” the Harvard law graduate told sportswriters after the three-hour workout that also served as the only media day scheduled in Pacquiao’s training stint in the country.
“And to think that he only had one week in the gym. Unlike last year when I visited him in his final week here in Baguio when he looked out of shape,” he said.
Arum was referring to his visit here last year during the World Boxing Organization champion’s preparations for his fight with Mexican Antonio Margarito when the Pacman looked sluggish and seemingly out of sync.
He even predicted then that if the fight would have been held the following week, Pacquiao would have lost unless drastic changes in his regimen were done.
“This year he’s different. He looks relaxed, happy and enjoying what he and his handlers were doing,” Arum observed. “Well, Freddie is Freddie and Manny is Manny. They’ve been working together for a decade so they should know each other very well.”
Arum said that Pacquiao was fantastic with his right hand, which he said could be his main weapon against Mosley who he expects to come out fighting and engage the Filipino ring icon in a toe-to-toe battle.
“His right is terrific. He’s using it very well which augurs well against Mosley, who I’m sure is preparing to defend against what he knows is Manny’s main arsenal, his left,” Arum said.
Arum added Pacquiao is fast regaining his power and his speed, weapons, he added, that will further mesmerized his Californian crown pretender. Arum though said Team Pacquiao should be in Los Angeles by April 2 so he can concentrate more on his preparations.
Looking at the crowd, most of them onlookers and autograph hunters that almost filled the gym despite the day was billed as media day, Arum said this is the kind of distraction that should be not be interfering in his training.
“Distractions like these are the least Manny needs because of the kind of fight and the kind of fighter he will be facing. As I have been saying, Mosley is no pushover. He is a strong fighter hungry for a victory to prepare him for future money fights,” he reasoned out.
“Manny should not underestimate Mosley, who has his own agenda in challenging Manny. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this fight. So I want Manny to prepare well in order to win,” he cautioned.
Source: philboxing.com
BAGUIO CITY – “Manny can fight next week.”Promoter Bob Arum declared after witnessing the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao work out at the Shape Up Gym at the Cooyeesan his Hotel here.
Pacquiao had so impressed Top Rank big boss with the way trainer Freddie Roach and condition coach Alex Ariza conducted the day’s training that the Hall of Fame promoter pronounced his ward ready to fight challenger Shane Mosley even next week.Pacquiao and Mosley fight on May 7 in Las Vegas.
“He’s incredible, I’m amazed how Freddie and Alex have been working on him for only a week,” the Harvard law graduate told sportswriters after the three-hour workout that also served as the only media day scheduled in Pacquiao’s training stint in the country.
“And to think that he only had one week in the gym. Unlike last year when I visited him in his final week here in Baguio when he looked out of shape,” he said.
Arum was referring to his visit here last year during the World Boxing Organization champion’s preparations for his fight with Mexican Antonio Margarito when the Pacman looked sluggish and seemingly out of sync.
He even predicted then that if the fight would have been held the following week, Pacquiao would have lost unless drastic changes in his regimen were done.
“This year he’s different. He looks relaxed, happy and enjoying what he and his handlers were doing,” Arum observed. “Well, Freddie is Freddie and Manny is Manny. They’ve been working together for a decade so they should know each other very well.”
Arum said that Pacquiao was fantastic with his right hand, which he said could be his main weapon against Mosley who he expects to come out fighting and engage the Filipino ring icon in a toe-to-toe battle.
“His right is terrific. He’s using it very well which augurs well against Mosley, who I’m sure is preparing to defend against what he knows is Manny’s main arsenal, his left,” Arum said.
Arum added Pacquiao is fast regaining his power and his speed, weapons, he added, that will further mesmerized his Californian crown pretender. Arum though said Team Pacquiao should be in Los Angeles by April 2 so he can concentrate more on his preparations.
Looking at the crowd, most of them onlookers and autograph hunters that almost filled the gym despite the day was billed as media day, Arum said this is the kind of distraction that should be not be interfering in his training.
“Distractions like these are the least Manny needs because of the kind of fight and the kind of fighter he will be facing. As I have been saying, Mosley is no pushover. He is a strong fighter hungry for a victory to prepare him for future money fights,” he reasoned out.
“Manny should not underestimate Mosley, who has his own agenda in challenging Manny. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain in this fight. So I want Manny to prepare well in order to win,” he cautioned.
Source: philboxing.com
Pacquiao's Winning Streak Continues; This W Is In Court -- The Sweet Science
The Sweet Science
Today, a Nevada federal district court denied a bid to dismiss Manny Pacquiao's defamation lawsuit. Pacquiao sued Oscar de la Hoya, Golden Boy's CEO Richard Schaefer, and Floyd Mayweather, and others for falsely accusing him of taking performance enhancing drugs. The defendants responded to the lawsuit by asking the judge to dismiss it, saying their statements were merely opinions. A federal judge disagreed, and the case will now go forward.
Pacquiao is represented by Daniel Petrocelli and David Marroso of Los Angeles-based O'Melveny & Myers. Petrocelli said, ""We are extremely pleased with the Court's decision. Manny is looking forward to his day in court and to put an end to these irresponsible accusations."
Source: thesweetscience.com
Today, a Nevada federal district court denied a bid to dismiss Manny Pacquiao's defamation lawsuit. Pacquiao sued Oscar de la Hoya, Golden Boy's CEO Richard Schaefer, and Floyd Mayweather, and others for falsely accusing him of taking performance enhancing drugs. The defendants responded to the lawsuit by asking the judge to dismiss it, saying their statements were merely opinions. A federal judge disagreed, and the case will now go forward. Pacquiao is represented by Daniel Petrocelli and David Marroso of Los Angeles-based O'Melveny & Myers. Petrocelli said, ""We are extremely pleased with the Court's decision. Manny is looking forward to his day in court and to put an end to these irresponsible accusations."Source: thesweetscience.com
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Donaire latest boxer to get caught in middle of De La Hoya-Arum rivalry -- Los Angeles Daily News
By Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News
Golden Boy Promotions on Wednesday sent out a news release announcing it had just signed bantamweight world champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire to a long-term promotional contract.
Considering Donaire is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, it was a joyous day for Oscar De La Hoya's company.
"Nonito Donaire is one of the top boxers in the world today and we're going to make sure he gets the chance to defend his world titles and stays as active as possible," De La Hoya said in a statement. "The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and we look forward to promoting Nonito in great fights in the coming years."
Donaire was equally stoked.
"I'm honored to be joining so many great fighters and champions on the Golden Boy Promotions team," said Donaire, 28, of San Leandro via the Philippines. "I'm going to fight my heart out every time in the ring and will give fans the fights they want to see."
If only it were that simple.
It's not, because Bob Arum - De La Hoya's hated enemy and rival promoter - insists Donaire is still under contract to his Top Rank Inc. Consequently, Arum on Thursday lashed out. He said he will take legal action, and he partly blamed Donaire's wife, Rachel, for her husband wanting to find employment elsewhere.
According to Arum, he still has plenty of time left on his contract with Donaire because it extended when injuries Donaire sustained did not allow him to fight three times a year, as per the language of the contract.
"That is what the contract says, in case of injury or suspension, the contract is extended," Arum said of the contract Donaire signed in 2008.
Arum said when Donaire fractured his hand in a November 2008 fight against Moruti Mthalane in Las Vegas, he was put on 180-day suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"When a guy's hand is bad, how the hell do you book him in a fight?" Arum said.
Arum said Donaire had his hand X-rayed two months after it was fractured, "and it had apparently healed, but he didn't tell anyone. In any event, when he has a bad hand, that is what the contract calls for. When that takes effect, indisputably, then we're certainly in compliance."
Donaire had just that one fight in 2008. Eleven months earlier, he hurt his hand during an eighth-round stoppage of Luis Maldonado in December 2007. Donaire fought twice in 2009 and three times in 2010.
He started off 2011 with a booming second-round knockout of bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel.
That most recent win was looked upon as perhaps a career best for Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs). Before Arum knew it, Golden Boy had snatched him away.
"We knew they were sniffing around Nonito, but we were surprised they would act in the face of what they had to know was a valid contract," Arum said via telephone from Las Vegas. "But nothing they do really surprises me."
Donaire is managed by Cameron Dunkin, but Rachel Donaire takes an active role in her husband's career. Arum said she's the one stirring the pot.
"The problem is not with Nonito, the problem is with Rachel," Arum said. "She has (Manny) Pacquiao envy. `Why wasn't Nonito promoted like Pacquiao?' It was ludicrous kind of stuff. She was jealous."
Arum promotes Pacquiao.
During an interview last month prior to the fight with Montiel, both Nonito and Rachel Donaire expressed disappointment that Nonito had not been able to appear on one of his countryman Pacquiao's pay-per-view cards. They said Michael Koncz, who helps Pacquiao run MP Promotions, didn't want Donaire on any Pacquiao undercards because he refused to sign with the Philippines-based company. (Many foreign-born fighters have American and home-land based promoters).
Arum last month confirmed Koncz had asked him to keep Donaire off Pacquiao's cards.
Arum is planning a lawsuit against Donaire. He also said that he could see himself ending up in arbitration with Golden Boy. One thing's for sure, Arum said this definitely makes the relationship with Golden Boy even worse. And that's saying something.
"Absolutely," Arum said. "My feeling is, if we never do business again, it's too soon."
The Donaires did not return two phone calls left for them. Dunkin answered his phone Friday morning but couldn't say anything, as per instructions given by Donaire's Las Vegas- based attorney, John Bailey.
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy, wouldn't say much, either. "We are happy to have Nonito and we have big plans for him," Schaefer said Friday afternoon. "As it relates to the legal issues, I'm not going to comment on that."
Source: dailynews.com
Golden Boy Promotions on Wednesday sent out a news release announcing it had just signed bantamweight world champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire to a long-term promotional contract.
Considering Donaire is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, it was a joyous day for Oscar De La Hoya's company.
"Nonito Donaire is one of the top boxers in the world today and we're going to make sure he gets the chance to defend his world titles and stays as active as possible," De La Hoya said in a statement. "The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and we look forward to promoting Nonito in great fights in the coming years."
Donaire was equally stoked.
"I'm honored to be joining so many great fighters and champions on the Golden Boy Promotions team," said Donaire, 28, of San Leandro via the Philippines. "I'm going to fight my heart out every time in the ring and will give fans the fights they want to see."
If only it were that simple.
It's not, because Bob Arum - De La Hoya's hated enemy and rival promoter - insists Donaire is still under contract to his Top Rank Inc. Consequently, Arum on Thursday lashed out. He said he will take legal action, and he partly blamed Donaire's wife, Rachel, for her husband wanting to find employment elsewhere.
According to Arum, he still has plenty of time left on his contract with Donaire because it extended when injuries Donaire sustained did not allow him to fight three times a year, as per the language of the contract.
"That is what the contract says, in case of injury or suspension, the contract is extended," Arum said of the contract Donaire signed in 2008.
Arum said when Donaire fractured his hand in a November 2008 fight against Moruti Mthalane in Las Vegas, he was put on 180-day suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"When a guy's hand is bad, how the hell do you book him in a fight?" Arum said.
Arum said Donaire had his hand X-rayed two months after it was fractured, "and it had apparently healed, but he didn't tell anyone. In any event, when he has a bad hand, that is what the contract calls for. When that takes effect, indisputably, then we're certainly in compliance."
Donaire had just that one fight in 2008. Eleven months earlier, he hurt his hand during an eighth-round stoppage of Luis Maldonado in December 2007. Donaire fought twice in 2009 and three times in 2010.
He started off 2011 with a booming second-round knockout of bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel.
That most recent win was looked upon as perhaps a career best for Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs). Before Arum knew it, Golden Boy had snatched him away.
"We knew they were sniffing around Nonito, but we were surprised they would act in the face of what they had to know was a valid contract," Arum said via telephone from Las Vegas. "But nothing they do really surprises me."
Donaire is managed by Cameron Dunkin, but Rachel Donaire takes an active role in her husband's career. Arum said she's the one stirring the pot.
"The problem is not with Nonito, the problem is with Rachel," Arum said. "She has (Manny) Pacquiao envy. `Why wasn't Nonito promoted like Pacquiao?' It was ludicrous kind of stuff. She was jealous."
Arum promotes Pacquiao.
During an interview last month prior to the fight with Montiel, both Nonito and Rachel Donaire expressed disappointment that Nonito had not been able to appear on one of his countryman Pacquiao's pay-per-view cards. They said Michael Koncz, who helps Pacquiao run MP Promotions, didn't want Donaire on any Pacquiao undercards because he refused to sign with the Philippines-based company. (Many foreign-born fighters have American and home-land based promoters).
Arum last month confirmed Koncz had asked him to keep Donaire off Pacquiao's cards.
Arum is planning a lawsuit against Donaire. He also said that he could see himself ending up in arbitration with Golden Boy. One thing's for sure, Arum said this definitely makes the relationship with Golden Boy even worse. And that's saying something.
"Absolutely," Arum said. "My feeling is, if we never do business again, it's too soon."
The Donaires did not return two phone calls left for them. Dunkin answered his phone Friday morning but couldn't say anything, as per instructions given by Donaire's Las Vegas- based attorney, John Bailey.
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy, wouldn't say much, either. "We are happy to have Nonito and we have big plans for him," Schaefer said Friday afternoon. "As it relates to the legal issues, I'm not going to comment on that."
Source: dailynews.com
ARUM WARNS, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO PAY FOR THIS -- PhilBoxing
By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com
After a bitter family feud that took some of the luster out of Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire’s spectacular 2nd round knockout of Fernando “KO-Chulito” Montiel last February 19 when the classy Filipino won the WBC and WBO bantamweight belts, the pound-for-pound No. 4 now faces a bitter legal battle with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
![Bad Influence [VHS]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vswq0OwDQf6fKA-LWwBO--LOxolep74JcOXESSKCcWfPM-9pYY6kc1eIlGX91PIyUkqH9JTXwCDJgDfOuVv2rCfeTaVhd3vSRkdt7u1tKDzgv04gNBQDCEMVMhpxXb3enhre0vcqt0Eh9qIoNNFp1-bSKZUmB7mWy_twPeV8HYpA5xboDfDBNzwQiEMLKOU7OVdu4ypjV7sCX83lKy31gN9VWHKB-9iDykuko=s0-d)
Arum, in a telephone conversation with the Inquirer after Golden Boy Promotions announced that Donaire had signed a multi-year deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional outfit warned, “Somebody is going to pay for this.”
The astute promoter said there were two steps he would take to protect what he insisted is a valid contract with Donaire,
The first would be to “file a legal complaint with arbiter (former judge Daniel Weinstein) against the actions of Golden Boy Promotions in signing up Donaire in the face of an existing contract with Top Rank. Judge Weinstein mediated the Top Rank – Golden Boy battle over pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao some years ago when a tug-of-war developed after Pacquiao signed with both promotional outfits but eventually went to Arum.
Arum also said he would take legal action to protect what he described as “a completely valid contract” with Donaire.
He described Donaire’s action in signing up with Golden Boy Promotions as “absolutely stupid” and blamed Donaire’s wife Rachael for the mess claiming she was a bad influence. At the same time Arum posed the question “How desperate can Golden Boy get?”
Arum claimed that Donaire had “medical suspensions of six months, twice” which effectively pushed back the validity of his contract. However, Rachael Donaire said the fighter’s hand was not hurt but “ was only swollen” after his fights.
Boxingscene.com quoted De La Hoya who said, "Nonito Donaire is one of the top boxers in the world today and we're going to make sure he gets the chance to defend his world titles and stays as active as possible."
De La Hoya noted that "The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and we look forward to promoting Nonito in great fights in the coming years."
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer was quoted by USA Today as saying “It’s a big signing for us. He’s on most people’ pound for pound lists and is ranked right there with (Floyd) Mayweather, (Manny) Pacquiao and Sergio Martinez. From an excitement point of view, I think he's right on top of that list now. He's a young, exciting fighter and we're really happy to have him with Golden Boy."
Donaire’s wife Rachael two days ago hinted that they would be signing up with Golden Boy for “a lot more money” than Arum had offered Donaire to face WBA champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno is a unification bout on May 28.
Arum had reportedly offered Donaire a purse of $500,000 but the Inquirer understands that Golden Boy had upped the amount to $750,000.
For his part Donaire said he was “honored to be joining so many great fighters and champions on the Golden Boy Promotions team. I'm going to fight my heart out every time I'm in the ring and will give fans the fights they want to see."
Donaire’s first big win was his sensational 5th round knockout of cocky Vic Darchinyan to win the IBF/IBO flyweight titles on July 7, 2007. His next big wins were back-to-back demolitions of former world champion Wladimir Sidorenko in four bloody rounds and Montiel, the WBC/WBO champion in two.
Source: philboxing.com
After a bitter family feud that took some of the luster out of Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire’s spectacular 2nd round knockout of Fernando “KO-Chulito” Montiel last February 19 when the classy Filipino won the WBC and WBO bantamweight belts, the pound-for-pound No. 4 now faces a bitter legal battle with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
Arum, in a telephone conversation with the Inquirer after Golden Boy Promotions announced that Donaire had signed a multi-year deal with Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional outfit warned, “Somebody is going to pay for this.” The astute promoter said there were two steps he would take to protect what he insisted is a valid contract with Donaire,
The first would be to “file a legal complaint with arbiter (former judge Daniel Weinstein) against the actions of Golden Boy Promotions in signing up Donaire in the face of an existing contract with Top Rank. Judge Weinstein mediated the Top Rank – Golden Boy battle over pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao some years ago when a tug-of-war developed after Pacquiao signed with both promotional outfits but eventually went to Arum.
Arum also said he would take legal action to protect what he described as “a completely valid contract” with Donaire.
He described Donaire’s action in signing up with Golden Boy Promotions as “absolutely stupid” and blamed Donaire’s wife Rachael for the mess claiming she was a bad influence. At the same time Arum posed the question “How desperate can Golden Boy get?”
Arum claimed that Donaire had “medical suspensions of six months, twice” which effectively pushed back the validity of his contract. However, Rachael Donaire said the fighter’s hand was not hurt but “ was only swollen” after his fights.
Boxingscene.com quoted De La Hoya who said, "Nonito Donaire is one of the top boxers in the world today and we're going to make sure he gets the chance to defend his world titles and stays as active as possible."
De La Hoya noted that "The bantamweight division is becoming one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in boxing and we look forward to promoting Nonito in great fights in the coming years."
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer was quoted by USA Today as saying “It’s a big signing for us. He’s on most people’ pound for pound lists and is ranked right there with (Floyd) Mayweather, (Manny) Pacquiao and Sergio Martinez. From an excitement point of view, I think he's right on top of that list now. He's a young, exciting fighter and we're really happy to have him with Golden Boy."
Donaire’s wife Rachael two days ago hinted that they would be signing up with Golden Boy for “a lot more money” than Arum had offered Donaire to face WBA champion Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno is a unification bout on May 28.
Arum had reportedly offered Donaire a purse of $500,000 but the Inquirer understands that Golden Boy had upped the amount to $750,000.
For his part Donaire said he was “honored to be joining so many great fighters and champions on the Golden Boy Promotions team. I'm going to fight my heart out every time I'm in the ring and will give fans the fights they want to see."
Donaire’s first big win was his sensational 5th round knockout of cocky Vic Darchinyan to win the IBF/IBO flyweight titles on July 7, 2007. His next big wins were back-to-back demolitions of former world champion Wladimir Sidorenko in four bloody rounds and Montiel, the WBC/WBO champion in two.
Source: philboxing.com
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