Americans direct Floyd Mayweather Jr.: You must fight Manny Pacquiao -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

MASHANTUCKET, Connecticut—You place a world title fight between a Mexican American lad who grew up in Garden City, Kansas, and then moved to Oxnard, California, and a Haitian American boxer from smallish Winter Haven, Florida, here in the woods not far from the Rhode Island border you should expect tickets to move like coldcakes.

New England did not have to choose between Vicious Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto. Instead, those from Hartford to Boston and from Worcester to Providence did not know who they are.

They set up the Theater at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods for a mere 2,300 fans Saturday night and the empty seats were legion.

But one late arriving spectator, who did not take his ringside pew until the main event, which turned out to be a scorcher and the shocking Ortiz ring redemption/upset that I boldly predicted, had already started made it all worthwhile for many spectators.

Not only did the crowd see a serious “Fight of the Year” candidate which concluded with Berto going to a local hospital for a hand injury and to have someone look at bumps on the back of his head, they also got to jeer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather and bosom buddy, the rapper Fifty Cent, took their first row ringside seats just in time to see a wild war as Berto foolishly slugged it out with the harder-hitting southpaw Ortiz.

Yep, the same Ortiz who so many branded a quitter after his desultory loss to Marcos Maidana.

As for Mayweather, he heard a steady but seemingly good-natured chant of “Fight Manny, Fight Manny” which began up in the rafter and came cascading down to ringside.

So what did Mayweather's cameo tell us?

I thought you would never ask.

What We Learned From Mayweather's Visit:

1.He remains the villain, the fighter people most love to hate and the visceral reaction he provokes reminds us this is why he and Pacman will eventually have to fight (I hope). As Lou DiBella aide Ron Rizzo said, “The fans care enough to boo him and how many other fighters can you say that about?

2.Mayweather has no plans to wander away from either HBO, the broadcast home abandoned for one bout anyway by Pacman/Bob Arum in favor of rival Showtime/CBS.

3. We can finally pull the plug on all the “Floyd is working with Don King” rumors and reports. Mayweather remains firmly in the clutches of his adviser Al Haymon because that is who he and Fitty sat with at ringside.

4. Mayweather got a reminder of how he can lose his prized unbeaten status as Berto fell from the privileged ranks of the unbeaten. Mayweather's 0 may have to go against the sheer force and will of Pacquiao.

5. Mayweather still causes a serious buzz when he appears in public. Some fans in the higher elevations could not see him until they flashed his smiling face on two huge TV screens but, when that happened, a real roar went up from those in attendance followed by the jeers and a few cheers.

6. Mayweather learned again that Pacquiao is omnipresent. In the ring, Victorious Victor told Larry Merchant how he got a fight day phone call with some ring advice from a sagacious acquaintance named Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao. They were connected over the phone by regular Pacman sparring partner David Rodela.

If Mayweather did not understand America's message, then he is deaf and dumb.

Source: examiner.com

Victor Ortiz thanks Manny Pacquiao for his advice in victory over Andre Berto -- PhilBoxing

By Rich Mazon, PhilBoxing.com

Mashantucket, Connecticut -- Victor Ortiz has a lot to be thankful for Saturday in the biggest night of his boxing career. There is his coach, Danny Garcia and his entire team, his manager and promoter, his fans and Manny Pacquiao.

The newly crowned W.B.C. welterweight champion thanked the pound for pound king and fellow welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao after his tough fight with Andre Berto here in the Foxwoods MGM. In the post fight interview H.B.O.’s Larry Merchant asked him “Do you want now into the Pacquiao sweepstakes?” Ortiz replied “Yes sir, definitely. I actually talked to Manny Pacquiao earlier and Manny, thank you very much for your advice man, thank you.“

Merchant asked what Pacquiao’s advice was and Ortiz replied “He (Pacquiao) said that I’m more powerful than he is, I’m as quick if not quicker than he is, so I (should) just stick to my game plan and listen to my coaches.“ He ended by thanking Pacquiao as well as his trainer Freddy Roach.

The apparent link between the two was lightweight boxer David Rodela. Rodela was a friend of Ortiz and one of Pacquiao’s main sparring partner at the Wild Card gym. “David Rodela had me talked with Manny Pacquiao today. Thank you Manny for your kind words. He is a great guy and nowadays we are in the same weight class,“ he replied when asked about it during the post fight conference where he was in great spirits after being crowned a champion Saturday night here in Connecticut.

“He just told me to stick to the game plan and that I’m a very strong fighter and (I should)just keep going for it. Don’t take anybody’s negativity, so I just did as he said and listened to my coaches and here we are with the green belt,” he added blissfully.

The advice clearly delighted and inspired the young Ortiz who comes in blazing right from the opening bell. He attacked Berto early in the first round as he landed a flurry of punches on the stunned champion. Berto tasted the canvass early with a right hook from Ortiz followed by a set of uppercuts. Ortiz also showed the character that was doubted of him by many when he himself got up from two knockdowns that Berto inflicted on him in the second and the sixth round.

“I wasn’t hurt, it was a flash knockdown,“ he remarked when asked of it. It was an exciting fight that the crowd appreciated for most of the night. It drew cheers and chants of each fighter‘s name as they exchange heatedly in the ring. “I knew that it was going to be a full blown war. As a matter of fact, I pictured my eyes both closed at the end of this fight,“ Ortiz described of the fight.

Richard Schaeffer of Golden Boy Promotions acknowledged that Ortiz was “really happy and thrilled when he got that call from Manny Pacquiao. “A simple phone call from a champion that might have added extra motivation for Victor Ortiz to be a champion himself. For in boxing as in life, words of encouragement does help everybody go the extra mile."

Source: philboxing.com

AMIR KHAN IS CUT OUT FOR TILT AT TIM BRADLEY -- UK Express

By Niall Hickman, express.co.uk

AMIR KHAN can sail serenely towards a showdown with his hero Manny Pacquiao and ignore the spurious calls for a rematch from Paul McCloskey’s camp.

Boxing’s authorities may have shot themselves in the foot for a second time only a few months after the Audley Harrison-David Haye fiasco by calling a premature halt to McCloskey’s challenge, but the Ulsterman was never in danger of taking Khan’s WBA world light- welterweight title.

After a clash of heads in the sixth round, the ring doctor ruled that McCloskey’s cut was too severe to continue. McCloskey has probably cut himself worse in the shaving mirror, so to take away his stab at stardom was wrong and cruel.

British Boxing Board of Control secretary Robert Smith said: “I have absolutely no problem with the competence of the doctor. Fraser Pinkney is very experienced, has worked with the board for many years and it was his judgment call. He felt there would be a considerable amount of blood getting into McCloskey’s eye.”

The fact that Khan had bossed each round by an increasing margin means calls for a rematch should be ignored and McCloskey’s cut, requiring just seven stitches, cannot cloud the simple truth that he would not beat the champion in a month of Sundays. McCloskey does not have the tools to beat a global talent like Khan.

It was not vintage Khan – he took two or three rounds to find his range against an elusive opponent – but it was enough to prove that under Freddie Roach’s tutelage he is now ready for the step up to Tim Bradley. They are close to securing a fight in Las Vegas on July 23.

Roach said: “I know Tim Bradley well and he is one hell of a fighter, but would I put Amir in with him in the ring tomorrow and expect my boxer to win? Yes I would.

“Their fight will determine who is the best at 140lbs and then the winner should go up to 147lbs and take on Manny Pacquiao. That is my feeling.”

Khan admits he is desperate to unify the titles as the Californian holds the WBC and WBO belts.


“Bradley and me belong in the same class, world class, whereas I have proven that McCloskey does not,” said Khan.

“Bradley is a good fighter but that’s just going to push me and motivate me.

“Bradley is quick, fast on his feet and he can punch. He is a proven world champion.

“When I go back to LA for my training camp, knowing it is Bradley I’m fighting is going to push me even more.

“I have to go over to America and take his world titles but I am very willing to do that.

“I want to be in with Tim Bradley next. What would be the point of a rematch with McCloskey? It was an easy fight for me.”

Khan showed in glimpses some of the lightning hand speed which has made him such a marketable talent and although he will be facing a far more formidable opponent in Bradley, he has the tools to win Stateside.

Khan may not have liked to beat McCloskey this way, but compared to Harrison v Haye, this was at least a contest.

Source: express.co.uk

Manny Pacquiao: Headed to the UFC? -- Ringside Report

By Sean Farrell, Ringside Report

Manny Pacquiao, considered by many to be the best pound for pound boxer in the world uttered the wrong words in an interview when he said, “I want to (fight in MMA), but they (his management) don’t want me to,” when asked about fighting in mixed martial arts.

Now, before anyone jumps to any conclusions, he isn’t coming to MMA. Just think about what it would cost to get him into the Octagon for a way below average performance. Pacquiao was guaranteed $12 million for his fight against Joshua Clottey, and at this time, there is no MMA organization who could guarantee that kind of money or be dumb enough to do so, let alone the rumored $40 million Pacquiao would earn in a fight with Floyd Mayweather, JR.

To even think he would sign with either Ultimate Fighting Championship or Strikeforce for a fight is beyond stupid, because no promotion would pay that much for one fighter to not succeed.

Pacquiao is wildly popular and it turns my stomach as he isn’t anything special just a great boxer and has no need for the UFC. Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, could easily put together an MMA card that would feature Manny against a fighter that would suit Manny’s skill set and make him look good, but even then Arum has been racist on his stance towards MMA stating:

“For me, I look at the UFC audience and the boxing audience as being two different audiences entirely. Our audience in boxing is ethnic. Hispanic, Filipino, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and the hardcore boxing fan who can’t watch … like me … can’t watch UFC. UFC are a bunch of skinhead white guys watching people in the ring who also look like skinhead white guys. And you don’t have any tattoos. Ninety percent of the people in the audience wear tattoos. I don’t care. That’s up to them. But those aren’t people that would have any interest, at any time, in boxing. For me, and people like me, it is not something they ever care to see. They’ve watched it. It’s horrible. Guys rolling around like homosexuals on the ground. It is not a sport that shows great, great talent.”

That statement is everything wrong with the way boxing fans view MMA, MMA is predominantly minorities with very rich history’s just look at two countries in particular, Brazil and Japan and case closed.

An MMA match such as this would be a total sideshow, but in the end would it be any different from the recent Randy Couture-James Toney fight? Toney and his skill set yet alone physique, had no business being in the Octagon with a former UFC champ who was 47 years old by the way. Yet there he was, not even knowing how to properly tap out to a Couture arm triangle within minutes of their fight.

If Arum promoted a fight with Pacquiao and a clearly overmatched MMA fighter with limited skills would there be a significant difference? Simply put, the answer is no, not much of one anyway.

In three to five years if Mayweather still hasn’t been convinced to get into the ring with Pacquiao, or does and is beaten by him (Which IMO is ridiculous to even comprehend). I wouldn’t think MMA would be completely outside the realm of plausible for Pacquiao to have at least one MMA fight. If the UFC wanted to really break some gate records and Pay-Per-View buy records or make a big splash in the Philippines(Which is where the first international edition of Ultimate Fighter is taking place), booking a Pacquiao-MMA fight would be a sure fire ticket to do so.

If I were Manny and Arum, I’d want at least 18 months to train for MMA and a couple of buildup fights against guys with limited grappling abilities before facing anyone really relevant. But even in the best case scenario, I don’t see Manny ever being an MMA champion in any major promotion and any losses he took in the cage would damage his “brand” value and that of boxing as a whole significantly, which is why it’s not plausible and just him talking.

But if boxing can’t provide the epic matchups worthy of such a popular fighter, maybe it’s his time to seek a real challenge and not fight a bunch of over the hill or past their prime fighters, but in all honesty Manny is milking the system and doing a phenomenal job of doing so.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Maidana beats Morales in dramatic bout -- ESPN

By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com

LAS VEGAS -- When a fight between Erik Morales and lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez wound up not being finalized because Marquez decided to sit out, waiting for a possible fight with Manny Pacquiao, Morales had an idea.

He and Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Eric Gomez were on the phone going over possible opponents and, one by one, they were either not available or not to Morales' liking.

Finally, Morales told Gomez he had an idea. He wanted to fight "that guy from Argentina, that good puncher. I know how to beat him."

Morales was talking about brawler Marcos Maidana, who had knocked out Victor Ortiz in 2009 in a big upset and pushed junior welterweight titlist Amir Khan to the brink in a decision loss in a fantastic December slugfest that was named the Boxing Writers Association of America fight of the year in 2010.

Gomez thought Morales was crazy. The staff at Golden Boy thought the same. But Morales insisted. He wanted the fight.

Maidana was a willing participant and that is what they did. There were cries in some quarters that it was a slaughter, that Maidana would crush the once-great former three-division champion and Mexican icon.

Morales, after all, retired in 2007 after four consecutive losses. And when he came out of retirement in 2010, he fought three times, won three times, but did not overly impress anyone.

But he sure impressed on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where 7,154 fans (mostly of Morales) watched him turn back the clock -- despite losing a majority decision in a clear fight of the year candidate that lived up to the HBO PPV card's "Action Heroes" billing. (The fight, along with the Robert Guerrero-Michael Katsidis and Nobuhiro Ishida-James Kirkland undercard bouts, will be replayed on HBO Latino at 10 p.m. ET Friday.)

Morales lived up to that old boxing adage that is not always true, but was on this night: Every great champion has one more big performance left in him.

"A lot of people said this was a mismatch and a wipeout, but Morales said he saw something in Maidana and he was right even though he didn't get the decision," Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer said. "It was a great fight."

The drama began immediately because Morales had to fight virtually the entire bout with a badly swollen right eye, which blew up after getting nailed with an uppercut in the opening minute of combat.

But Morales, a former champion at junior featherweight, featherweight and junior lightweight, has always been a warrior.

He was undeterred.

"I fought with my heart and with Mexico," Morales said.

"This was my toughest fight ever," Maidana said. "But I knew it would be, so I prepared for that."

There was outstanding action throughout the bout. There was great ebb and flow. Maidana won the early rounds, but Morales got into a rhythm as the fight wore on. He opened up big-time in the fifth round, when he got Maidana in serious trouble along the ropes as he snapped his head back.

As they traded fierce shots, the crowd was on its feet and chanting "Mexico! Mexico! Mexico" as Morales (51-7, 35 KOs) peppered Maidana (30-2, 27 KOs) with hard right hands. He also hurt Maidana with an uppercut at the end of the sixth round and had him in trouble again.

If you did not know it was 2011, you could swear you were watching the Morales of old, the one who waged a sensational trilogy with Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao -- whose last loss was to Morales in 2005.

"He turned back the clock and he showed what he still has," Schaefer said. "He went toe-to-toe with one of the hardest punchers in the sport. We saw the old Erik Morales tonight, no question about it."

The upset seemed to be brewing and the crowd seemed to be able to sense it. Morales wobbled Maidana in the eighth round, but Maidana, despite breathing heavily, continued to press forward as he closed out the fight winning the final two rounds on all three official scorecards, which read 116-112, 116-112 and 114-114. ESPN.com also had it 114-114.

The crowd was not happy with the decision, raining boos down, but Maidana, who earned $500,000, was overjoyed as he picked up a vacant interim junior welterweight title for the second time in his career.

"I wanted a strong fight, but I trained to fight," Maidana said.



"Morales is a good, strong fighter. He should continue to fight. The fight was close, but I came out strong at the end. He had a lot of technique."

Morales, who made $250,000 in base purse but will make more from Mexican television revenue and a percentage of the American pay-per-view profits, did not sound like a fighter headed back to retirement after such a spirited performance.

"I'm gonna do what the people want me to do -- a rematch," Morales said.

Maidana, standing next to him in the ring, was open to the idea.

"I'll give you a rematch," he said. "Any time. Tomorrow."

But Maidana also said he wanted a fight with Marquez, who put the kibosh on his trainer, Nacho Beristain, training Maidana. That forced Maidana to find a new trainer in Rudy Perez, another of Mexico's top cornermen, just as he was supposed to open training camp in Mexico.

Morales thought he should have won.

"I'm a good fighter from Tijuana," he boasted. "I think it was a close fight, but to give him a clean win is ridiculous. What did you see? I think I won the fight. My punches were crisper and they were better. I threw better punches."

So what the heck did Morales see that made him want to fight Maidana?

"I still have speed and velocity and, more importantly, dignity and heart," he said of his decision. "I thought I was better than him."

It could have gone either way.

"Some have Morales winning, some have Maidana," Schaefer said. "But it was definitely a fight of the year candidate. The people who saw this were treated to something special."

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Mosley wants to KO Pacquiao -- Eastside Boxing

By John Martinez, Eastside Boxing

On May 7, SHOWTIME PPV will feature two future Hall of Fame combatants that boast a combined KO ratio average of 70 percent over their opponents as they collide for the WBO welterweight title.

Many people believe the conclusion is forgone as to whom the victor will be when "Sugar" Shane Mosley (46-6-1 with 39KO's) climbs through the ropes to face one of the most daunting fighters of this, if not ever, era when he trades fisticuffs with the eight time world champion and current boss of the WBO welterweight belt, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao (52-3-2 with 37KO's).

In fact, ESPN.com's Dan Rafael went on record saying that Shane Mosley has “little chance of winning" at all.

Mosley begs to differ.

"Dan Rafael is a puppet. That's all he is and all he'll ever be, is a puppet for GBP (Golden Boy Promotions) and HBO."

While I do agree that Mosley definitely has his work cut out for him in Las Vegas on May 7th, I give him a better chance than most; in dethroning the Filipino bomber come fight night.

The reason? Manny is a great fighter. He has power in every punch he throws; he possess hand and foot speed that most of his opponents dream of owning themselves, but the fact is simple, Manny has been hit by slower punchers (a lot) and has been crowded by those that are less than stellar in their footwork.

Say what you will about Shane, but Mosley is not like most of Pacquiao's previous foes.

"John, look at the facts. I am bigger than Manny, have more speed than anyone he has faced before, I hit harder than people give me credit for. I am a true boxer, but I am also a banger." The Pomona native continued, "I know that I will win on May 7th. I know that he will try (to) in box for the first couple of rounds, but then, he will get brave and go for me and that's when he will fall."

"I know how to box. I know how to move my head and set up shots. Look at my defense and compare it to his. He (Pacquiao) is too easy to hit and can't handle when someone throws a steady jab and fights off angles," he said, "he is a great fighter, but he is not a boxer."

I agree. Manny can break an opponent down with punches from angles few would anticipate punches to come from.

But it is true, in his battles with Erik Morales (the first one), Marco Antonio Barrera, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito and more importantly, the two fights with Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao seemed out of sync and off balance too often.

Repeatedly caught by stiff jabs and sneaky rights, "Pacman" was forced to alter the tempo by enticing an all-out brawl in the middle of the ring.

Once this was done, Manny would find himself in the driver's seat while his passenger was left holding on for a torturous ride on a highway to hell.

If one was to further examine what Mosley said about Manny being a human piñata you would have to say he is right. Margarito and Cotto landed a high volume of punches on Manny and furthermore, threw and landed more jabs than Manny was able to score on them.

That being said, Shane should be able to capitalize on the swiftness and delivery of his jab.

To Shane, it is not a matter of IF a fight will break out, it is a matter of WHEN the boxing match turns into an old fashion scrap in the schoolyard.

Something Mosley is eagerly anticipating.

"I want him (Pacquiao) to come and get me. I dare him to come in and try and knock me out like Freddie says they are going to do."

"Margarito tried this too. You saw what happened to him. Cotto tried to push into me too, he found himself in a fight that many people thought I won."

"I will tell you now, John, I'm not looking for a victory by decision. That is not a win for me. I do not want to chance a decision being left in the hands of the judges. They won't see it fairly. The only thing a decision does is guarantee a rematch and I'm looking at taking care of business now."

"I can honestly tell you that he and I are going to explode and things are going to happen in that ring and in the end, I will take Pacquiao down."

If Mosley's synopsis of the clash is true, then fight fans around the world are in for a rebirth of a "once great fighter" (as Dan Rafael has dubbed Mosley) and a new king of the welterweight division.

Listen. There is a reason why Shane Mosley was picked by the Pacquiao camp over Juan Manuel Marquez and it’s not because of promotion company rivalry either.

There is a reason why people are labeling this fight a tune up for something greater down the road for the 'Mexican Assassin' in Manny Pacquiao.

Whatever the reasons are, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that two men will enter the squared circle at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel on May 7th to see who will reign supreme as the WBO welter weight king.

Only one man will have his hand raised at the end of the contest.

On this, Mosley has something to say, "Sugar Ray Leonard said it best. He said all I have to do to win is be 'Sugar' Shane Mosley. That's it. All Shane has to do is be Shane."

"Manny Pacquiao and I are fighters. We are warriors born to fight. He will come at me and I will make him fall. I will knock him out."

So the only question left is this....

Is the current "Sugar" Shane Mosley still sweet as the former "Sugar"?

We will know in a matter of weeks.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Manny Pacquiao: “I consider this one of my toughest opponents because Mosley is not that slow” -- Eastside Boxing

By Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani, Eastside Boxing

This week’s 119th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with the reigning Pound-for-Pound King Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) who is scheduled to face former three division champion Sugar Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KOs) on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao spoke about his upcoming fight with Mosley and other aspects of his career and the current boxing landscape. Here is a complete transcript from that interview:

JENNA J: We are proud to introduce a man who really doesn’t need any introduction at all. He is an eight division world champion. He is the one and only Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao! Hey Manny! Are you on the line with us right now?

MANNY PACQUIAO: Yeah, hi.

JENNA: Well you’re a man who’s always in high demand. How’s your day been going so far?

PACQUIAO: Good, good, good! I just finished my training.

JENNA: Excellent. Well you have a very big fight against Sugar Shane Mosley on May 7. How have your preparations been going?

PACQUIAO: I’m excited for the fight and my preparation is good. You know my training is good and I’m excited.

JENNA: Now Shane Mosley is a terrific puncher. Do you believe he is the most dangerous fighter that you have ever been set to step in the ring with and do you think with so many people heavily favoring you that you can at all underestimate him? ?

PACQUIAO: Well I consider this one of my toughest opponents because Mosley is not that slow. He can move fast and he has good hand speed and foot speed and he’s a former pound-for-pound so I never underestimate Mosley.

JENNA: Alright now you’ll be defending your WBO welterweight belt for the second time. Do you think welterweight is your natural division?

PACQUIAO: Actually my natural division is 140. I’m weighing right now 143-144 without reducing and our without limited eating, but I can fight at 147.

JENNA: Now is Freddie Roach working on anything different in this camp to fight someone with the speed that Shane Mosley has?

PACQUIAO: Yeah, we’re focusing on speed and head movement side-to-side for this fight because we know Mosley is not that slow so that’s why we’ll apply some techniques that we can use in the fight.

JENNA: Okay well Manny, moving away from boxing for a second, back in February you actually had a chance to meet President Barack Obama. What was that whole experience like for you and what did you two guys talk about?

PACQUIAO: Well it was a big honor for me to meet with the President of the United States and to go to the White House. We just talked about the basketball thing and boxing. He’s a good guy. He’s nice.

JENNA: Alright now Manny, when your boxing career is over do you think you can have as big of an impact in the political arena as you did in the boxing arena?

PACQUIAO: I can tell you right now after my boxing career I’m going to focus on my political career because I love to serve people.

JENNA: Well Manny we’re on the phone with my Co-Host and Producer Geoff Ciani.

GEOFFREY CIANI: Hi Manny, it’s a pleasure to speak with you?

PACQUIAO: Hi. How are you?

CIANI: I’m great, thanks. Manny, I wanted to ask you when you first made it big on the scene when you beat Barrera you were known as just a fighter with a big left hand but you also developed a strong right hand around the time of the second Morales fight. How did you go about making your right hand as good?

PACQUIAO: Yeah, that’s a good question. You know before I was only focusing on my left hand and I was wondering what I could do to improve my right hand.

CIANI: Okay, now the last guy to beat you is Morales and he has a fight coming up this weekend against Marcos Maidana. I was wondering what you think of that fight and I was also wondering what you think or Morales coming back?

PACQUIAO: Oh? He’s comeback? He’s comeback to fight?

CIANI: Yes, this will be his fourth comeback fight this weekend.

PACQUIAO: Oh! Good luck to him. I hope he can win.

CIANI: Now Manny most people know you as a professional boxer and a congressman but what are some of the other things you most enjoy doing?

PACQUIAO: Acting and playing basketball.

CIANI: Manny, because you are fighting Sugar Shane Mosley, people are bound to compare the way you performed against him with the way that Mayweather did. Do you feel any extra pressure to outdo Mayweather’s performance?

PACQUIAO: I’m not comparing my abilities to anybody, but I trained hard for this fight to make people happy and to give a good show May 7. I will do my best.

JENNA: Manny we just have a few more questions before we let you off the line. In this fight with Shane Mosley what things do you think he does in the ring that can pose you the biggest threat?

PACQUIAO: Well he’s throwing a lot of punches and he fights on his toes and it’s going to be an exciting fight.

JENNA: Okay Manny, people often wonder how long you can balance your boxing career with y our political obligations. In your honest opinion, how long do you think that you can continue to fight?

PACQUIAO: A couple of more years and then I will focus on serving the people.

JENNA: Speaking of the people, you have millions of fans from all around the world especially in the Philippines. Is there anything you want to say to those people?

PACQUIAO: I want to thank everybody. I want to thank all the fans, the boxing fans, and all of the different Filipino people and all who are supporting me. I just wanted to say thank you and I hope you still pray for me on May 7 and I would like to dedicate this fight to the Filipino people and all of the victims of the tsunami in Japan.

JENNA: Alright Manny, well it’s been fantastic finally having a chance to speak to you. I wish you all the best of luck in your upcoming fight on May 7.

PACQUIAO: Alright thank you, have a nice day.

CIANI: Thanks Manny. Good luck.

PACQUIAO: Alright thank you.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Manny Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz claims Floyd Mayweather turned down $50 million offer -- Telegraph

By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk

Manny Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz has claimed that Floyd Mayweather Jnr refused a US $50 million offer to step into the ring with his Filipino rival later this year. The fight was expected to generate in the regiom of $200 million, one of the richest fights in boxing history, to rival Mike Tyson’s heavyweight battle with Evander Holyfield.

Negotiations between two of the world’s leading boxers have hit obstacles at every turn, with the duo falling out over the timing of blood tests taken before a possible showdown last year.

Last month Pacquiao’s team claimed that Mayweather would only consider fighting the WBO welterweight champion if he was guaranteed to earn $100 million dollars – a request which would led Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum claiming the eight-weight world champion from the Philippines would have to “fight for nothing”.

Koncz, Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser, revealed yesterday that $50 million was offered to Mayweather but the American declined the proposal. “A country that I won’t name offered us $100 million to bring the Mayweather fight there,” he told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

“So we, in turn, offered $50 million to Mayweather as a guarantee. If the pay-per-view comes in higher, Manny and Mayweather would make more. He refused the $50 million… It means he doesn’t want to fight Manny at this point in his career. Very simple.”

Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Shaw pushes Bradley for Mayweather matchup, jabs Donaire's loyalty level -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

When a bulldog like Big Gary Shaw is not barking, there has to be a reason for it.

Which is why I called the fesity promoter Wednesday night, to see what's been keeping him off the airwaves so much lately.

"Everything is good," Shaw said. "I'm working on some big things."

Shaw is obviously keen on having Timothy Bradley, who he co-promotes, get a chance to fight Manny Pacquiao with the attendant rich paynight.

"Pacquiao is great but he only fights twice a year. I'd like to see Tim fight either Floyd Mayweather or Pacquiao or both of them, really. Tim is a natural opponent for either or both of them. And fighting at 147 pounds is not an issue."

I didn't interject that the mercurial "Money" fights once a year...if we're so lucky.

Like most boxing insiders, Shaw isn't sure when Mayweather will make a move to return to the ring.

"I think you can see that Floyd is his own man," Shaw said. "He'll decide when he will come back and fight again and nobody else will tell him when.

"Nobody tells Floyd what to do."

Shaw was dumped by Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire Jr., whose plan to dump Bob Arum and Top Rank, has been gummed up by arbitrator and former California State Superior Judge Daniel Weinstein.

It was Weinstein, man in the middle of the Top Rank-Golden Boy Manny Pacquiao dispute, who has enjoined GBP from promoting the red-hot bantamweight king Donaire until he's finished contractual obligations for Arum's troupe.

First, Shaw assessed Donaire's ability.

"I think that Nonito's a terrrific fighter. I think he is a terrific asset. But loyalty is not his strong suit, let's put it that way," Shaw said. "His loyalty does not rise to the 100 percent level."

Donaire left Shaw claiming that the New Jersey-based promoter did not deliver him the major bouts he desired.
This was after Donaire stopped Vic Darchinyan in five rounds in one of the biggest upsets of 2007.

When he signed with Top Rank, Donaire said: "I’m a very ambitious person,” Donaire said. “I’m never the kind who’s going to be satisfied with anything. I want to fight the best out there. Bring them, whoever they are. I’m not backing out on anyone Mr. Arum wants to put in front of me.”

Source: examiner.com

Floyd “Pretty Boy” “Money” Mayweather Jr. “The Master of the Ring” -- Eastside Boxing

By Eugene Martinez, Eastside Boxing

“ Money”

Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. is the most paradoxical and enigmatic personality in the professional sport of boxing. There is something about him that is inexplicable. He can be described as rare, remarkable, phenomenal, and at the same time he is baffling, disturbing, and outlandish. Floyd may be suffering from “ Jekyll Hyde Syndrome” “Pretty Boy” is the young man with that boyish smiling face from Grand Rapids, Michigan and “Money” is the personification of the “Root of all Evil”

Why does “Money want 100 million dollars to fight Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao? Why has he taken time off during the prime of his boxing career? Why legal problems of eight felony counts from grand larceny to coercion, which can end his illustrious career if he is found guilty, and 28 years in the Nevada State Prison.

There is also the ongoing defamation of character lawsuit that was filed by Manny Pacquiao’s attorneys. Furthermore for the second time in 3 years “Money” is in trouble once again with the IRS for unpaid taxes of 3.4 million dollars for the year 2009. This mega-million earning machine has set PPV television viewing records and has co-produced the HBO 7/24, featuring footage of a series of countdowns of fighters in preparation for their upcoming bouts, gaining them national exposure on HBO. “Money” also possesses promoting skills that generate earnings for Mayweather Promotions LLC. With that cash flow “Money” lives a lavish lifestyle, betting on sports, going on vacations, and puchasing luxury cars. They say “Money Can’t Buy You Love”. This is a commodity that “Money” has a dire need for these days. How will “Money” overcome these monstrous hurdles and come out on top of the game? The only answer to this question is; “this is something only “Money” can do, or maybe he will hire his consultant “Pretty Boy” Who knows?

“Pretty Boy”

Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather is one of the most gifted and prodigious boxers to ever lace up the gloves. This is marked by a stupendous record of ( 41-0-0-25 KO’s) his style of fighting is a true force of nature. From the orthodox stance he hold his right hand high, the left hand at waist level, his chin is tucked under his left shoulder, and he rolls his shoulders in a rhythmic fashion. His ability to adjust to any style is an art to behold. The 34 year old veteran continues to display that his skills in the ring are still in tacked. He demonstrated those skills in his latest match over 12 month ago against Sugar Shane Mosley ( 46-6-1-39 KO’s) “Pretty Boy” won by a unanimous decision on May 5th 2010 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. “Pretty Boy” has only fought 3 times since May 5th 2007, defeating Oscar “ Golden Boy” De La Hoya by a split decision and won the WBC Junior Middleweight Title , in Las Vegas. Once again on December 8th 2007, he then retained his title with an impressive 10 round TKO of Ricky “Hitman Hatton (45-2-0-32 KO’s) considering his 7 moth layoff, he wanted to prove that he was still on top of his game, by demonstrating a masterful display described by “Pretty Boy” as his “Check Punch” This technique is done by bouncing off the ropes, and simultaneously moving to the left and throwing a left hook, or in the opposite direction and throwing a right hook.

After his retirement 21 months later “Pretty Boy” came back to meet Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-0-38 KO’s) at a 144 pound catch weight. The scene was set at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas Nevada. It was the weekend that coincided with Mexican Independence Day. The Mexican fans flocked into the arena to cheer on their Mexican boxing idol. Unfortunately it was a lopsided win in favor of “Pretty Boy”

This is a microcosm profile of a boxer that is a 5 time World Champion, where he has won 9 World Titles, in five different weight classes. In addition to that he is the #1 ranked Welter Weight, and is considered by many the #1 pound per pound boxer in the world, according to BoxRec, Fox Sports, and BBC Sports. It is only a matter of time before “Pretty Boy” comes back out of retirement or vacation, or whatever seems fitting.

“Pretty boy is awakened by a genetic inclination, like a bear coming out after his winter hibernation, hungry and ready to devour his prey. So it is likewise with “Pretty Boy” when he is up at 2:00 AM, and starts his road work. While his opponents are still slumbering, he is gaining momentum to administer his crunching blow. This is the true essence of the one we call “Pretty Boy”

“The Master of the Ring”

Floyd “ Pretty Boy” “Money” Mayweather Jr, is in his own right “ Master of the Ring” He controls and dictates the direction of all his fights. Like a true General in the squared circle. He has masterminded clinical and strategic wins against World Champions such as; Super Featherweight Champion Genaro “ Chicanito” Hernandez, Lightweight Champion Jose Luis “ El Temible” Castillo, Junior Welterweight Champion Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, Welterweight Champion Zab “Super” Judah and Junior Middleweight Champion Oscar “Golden Boy” De La Hoya. “ the Master of the Ring” has compiled 13 title defenses in all five weight divisions put together. Surely he has earned the title of being a “Mexican Assassin” Like his uncle and trainer Former WBC Junior Middleweight Champion Roger “Black Mamba” Mayweather. This Master comes from a pedigree of fighters, and started his tutelage under his father Floyd Mayweather Sr, not long after he started walking. When his father was sent to prison on drug charges, his uncle Roger took hold of the reins of his successful boxing career.

Though the “Master of the Rings” future may seem unsure, and somewhat obscure. What will happen when he emerges from his own isolation back into the sport that has raised him from childhood? Who do you think will appear for the next showdown? Will it be “Money” “Pretty Boy” or “The Master of theRing?

Source: eastsideboxing.com