an interesting article about the pacquiao-mayweather fight. Read on...
Before Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and became one of the best-known owners in the NFL, he dabbled in boxing promotion, putting on a card in Little Rock, Ark., in the mid-1980s.
Now, 20-plus years later, Jones has his sights set on one a bit bigger -- the March 13 HBO PPV megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., the nearly finalized and much-anticipated showdown that many expect to shatter the numerous revenue and pay-per-view records set by Mayweather's 2007 fight with Oscar De La Hoya.
Jones wants to be part of it. He is pushing promoters Bob Arum of Top Rank and Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy hard to bring the fight to Cowboys Stadium, the new $1.2 billion state-of-the-art facility.
“
To use my football experience, 99 percent of your time is spent striving for something and being disappointed. But it's events like this that you strive for. You take all the hard knocks and that makes it all worth it, and that's how I feel about the fight.
”
-- Jerry Jones
Jones has been interested in boxing since he was a boy, and boxed for fun at the North Little Rock Boys Club.
"I'm a longtime boxing fan," Jones told ESPN.com during a half-hour interview Thursday, the first time he has publicly discussed his desire to host boxing's biggest event.
Jones made it clear he wants the bout.
"It would be a spectacle," he said. "It would be one that would really put the eyes of this country on boxing."
Jones is not halfhearted in his attempt to land the fight. He's putting his money where his mouth is, offering a $25 million site fee, the largest guarantee ever put up for a fight.
"I don't know that there's been a decision made yet as we speak, but I know that we have put our hat in the ring with a significant financial commitment. I don't want to give the numbers, but it's as credible as you could imagine. You won't be wrong," he said when asked about the widely reported $25 million figure. "But I don't want to get into something that would impact fragile negotiations."
Top Rank and Golden Boy have received inquiries and offers from venues around the world, including the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, which has hosted numerous Pacquiao and Mayweather bouts and appears to be the front-runner. But there has also been interest from venues in New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dubai and a $20 million offer from Staples Center in Los Angeles.
One by one, they have fallen by the wayside for one reason or another, except for Las Vegas and Dallas, whose bid Jones has kept alive with that big offer and persistence.
"To use my football experience, 99 percent of your time is spent striving for something and being disappointed," Jones said. "[But] it's events like this that you strive for. You take all the hard knocks and that makes it all worth it, and that's how I feel about the fight."
Mayweather
Pacquiao
When Jones built the stadium, using about $450 million in public funds, with the rest coming from his personal fortune, he wanted to host major fights as part of its offerings. Besides Cowboys games, the stadium is scheduled to host the annual AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, the 2011 Super Bowl and the 2014 NCAA men's basketball Final Four, as well as high school and college football games, concerts and other events. Pacquiao-Mayweather is one of the events he covets.
"From the get-go we envisioned in our planning about potentially having significant fights," Jones said. "We have a huge Hispanic sports interest in this area, for instance, and I am well aware of their love for boxing. I do envision having significant fights of the quality and magnitude of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao."
One of the reasons is the capacity. While the MGM Grand seats roughly 16,500 for a fight, with an additional 40,000 closed-circuit seats potentially available in Las Vegas, Cowboys Stadium could hold 100,000-plus, and Jones believes he could pack the place.
Jones said his promotions department would work along with the promoters and HBO to generate an enormous crowd.
"Look at the capacity of the stadium," he said. "We could create tremendous numbers for the fight. We think that the visibility of the venue, the fact that our venue is going to be home to a Super Bowl and many big events in the future would add an element of interest to fans across the country and world that are looking at the pay-per-view and feeling vicariously what it must be like to be there with 90,000 or 100,000 people watching a fight.
"I know the NFL can't be just a studio game. It has to have the pageantry. [The viewers] have to know that there are thousands of people there creating an atmosphere. I think our stadium can add an element to the promotion. I know firsthand that HBO thinks so."
Besides drawing one of the biggest crowds in boxing history, Jones believes the stadium will add to the pay-per-view numbers.
"I think our stadium would increase public interest in the fight," he said. "We know firsthand that events can be enhanced by people wanting to come and see the venue, but I think it will also create interest in viewing the fight on pay-per-view."
Because the stadium is home to the world's largest (and, at $40 million, the most expensive) HD video board, Jones said every fan, whether they're seated in one of the hundreds of luxury suites, at ringside or in the upper deck, would have a good view of the action.
“
Here's the thing -- I know that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao would love to be part of the most-attended modern fight in American history. It would be quite a feather in their cap to be the substance behind that. We have the ability to make that happen.
”
-- Jerry Jones
The video board is 72 feet high and 160 feet wide, and would be lowered to about 65 feet above the ring.
"You'll see the action in real time with the eight Sony digital cameras," Jones said. "You'll be able to see a sweat bead from any place. More important, you can see it from every angle. Wherever you're sitting, you'll see the action from the angle where you are sitting. The boxers will be [72]-feet tall. It's a dramatic way to watch any event. It will be an experience for 100,000 people."
Jones said it would also be historic for the fighters.
"Here's the thing -- I know that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao would love to be part of the most-attended modern fight in American history," Jones said. "It would be quite a feather in their cap to be the substance behind that. We have the ability to make that happen. I have such respect for fighters and people who compete. Just think how it would feel for the greatest fight ever to draw the biggest crowd in modern America? That's something you tell your grandchildren about."
Jones said he talked with the promoters during the weekend and believes he has a good chance to land the fight.
"You have multiple constituencies so you don't know if you have a deal until it's agreed to, but yes, I think we are [still in the hunt]," he said. "There's tremendous value here. I think the fight has the ability to transcend boxing and the size of the crowd and facility is part of that. You build brands with brands. When you have an association with successful brands like the Cowboys and the NFL, it lifts all boats. I don't want to be presumptuous, but boxing has a chance to elevate itself. Shouldn't you look at what you can gain in your association with a brand like NFL football? When they throw the first punch in Cowboys Stadium it will inextricably be associated with the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys."
Schaefer, Arum and HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg were supposed to visit the stadium and meet with Jones last Tuesday. However, Schaefer canceled the night before, forcing the visit to be called off.
The reason, according to sources, was not because the Mayweather side didn't want the fight in Dallas, but rather because it felt the deal for the bout was not close enough to being done to warrant a visit to a potential site if the fight might collapse.
Jones said whatever the reason was, he didn't take it personally.
"Not a bit," Jones said. "I was disappointed and I had changed plans to see them, but I'll use a football analogy: You just keep plugging. We want to do this fight. I didn't pout. But I sure want them to see the venue. It's important they see the venue. I saw Pacquiao's last fight [against Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14] and that was something, and Mayweather I have seen fight. In the last 10 years there hasn't been a more competitive, interesting fight.
"It would be magical when that first bell rings. It would be something to have that fight here."
see more from here: http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/news/story?id=4752110
Monday, December 28, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Manny Pacquiao still undisputed
read this article about the fighter of the year nominations...
The final list of nominations won’t go out to members of the Boxing Writers Association of America until this week, but when the ballots are counted it’s hard to imagine that the 2009 Fighter of the Year won’t be the same guy who was honored as the 2008 Fighter of the Year.
The only defensible logic for not voting for Manny Pacquiao might come from those who want to hedge their bets on his next fight, as his scheduled March 13 encounter with Floyd Mayweather Jr. will precede the presentation of the award at the annual BWAA dinner.
Should they cover next year’s event again, let’s hope the folks at Time get it right this time. Last month’s cover story on “Pac-Man” included the rather startling information that Pacquiao attended June’s BWAA dinner in New York “to receive his second Fighter of the Year award from The Ring magazine.”
What is even more absurd than misidentifying the voting body - if the story itself is to be believed - is that its authors supposedly attended that same dinner. Perhaps Howard Chua-Eoan and Ishaan Tharoor had one too many cocktails that night, but what ever happened to Time’s legendary team of fact-checkers? . . .
File this under the category, That’s Why They Call Them Yahoos: Mayweather, who has fought five times in the last five years, was nominated last week for “Athlete of the Decade” by Yahoo! [YHOO] Sports.
All five of those fights, incidentally, took place in Las Vegas, where the transplanted Michigander now resides. Pacquiao’s last six bouts have also been in Vegas, but no one would confuse him with a resident, which is one reason Pacquiao and promoter Bob Arum would prefer a more neutral venue for their welterweight title fight in March.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly has a $25 million offer on the table to host the bout at his new palace, Cowboys Stadium, and Texas, like Nevada, has no state income tax. Arum, HBO sports president Ross Greenburg and Golden Boy promotions CEO Richard Schaefer were supposed to fly to Dallas to confer with Jones a couple of weeks ago, but when Schaefer (presumably at Mayweather’s behest) canceled at the last minute, everyone else did, too.
Jones, who has already locked up the Cotton Bowl, an NCAA Final Four and a Super Bowl for his new venue, envisions the largest live audience in the history of American boxing - if he can land Pacquiao-Mayweather.
It’s hard to see how Jones can think on such a grand scale, even in Texas, but then again the oil bidness ain’t what it used to be. Still, even with an expanded capacity that would seat 110,000 for boxing, to recoup his investment Jones would need to price tickets, including those up in the nosebleed sections, at an average of more than $250.cw0cw0
Zbikowski punches in
This week’s other NFL/boxing connection concerns heavyweight Tommy Zbikowski, who made his pro debut three years ago when he knocked out Robert Bell on the Miguel Cotto-Paulie Malignaggi undercard at Madison Square Garden. Now a Baltimore Ravens safety, Zbikowski’s name is on the Pro Bowl ballot as a special teams performer, and following an injury to Ed Reed, has been in the Ravens’ starting lineup for the last few games. Although he hasn’t fought since his MSG pro debut, Zbikowski says he works out in a boxing gym on Tuesdays, the team’s off-day. . . .
Don’t be surprised, by the way, if Nate Campbell and Sergio Mora start moving up in The Ring’s ratings. Campbell, the former three-belt lightweight champion, has fought just three rounds since February (his head-butt fight vs. Tim Bradley, later changed to No Contest) and the “Latin Snake” not at all in 2009, but both signed promotional contracts with Golden Boy last week.
Rigondeaux reax
Hours before Guillermo Rigondeaux made his New York debut at B.B. King’s Wednesday night, an arbitration hearing issued a permanent injunction upholding the managerial contract Irishman Gary Hyde signed with the Cuban featherweight in 2007 - two years prior to Rigondeaux’ defection. Hyde’s investment was somewhat devalued hours later by the boxer’s lackluster performance against Ghanain journeyman Lantey Addy. Fighting beyond the fourth round for the first time in nearly 400 amateur and pro fights, Rigondeaux, who had knocked out each of his first three pro opponents, was extended the distance when Addy opted to fight in survival mode.
“I’d rather have seen him in there with someone who was actually trying to win a fight,” trainer Freddie Roach said.
Last night’s Kelly Pavlik-Miguel Espino card may have been HBO’s last pay-per-view of the year, but it won’t be the end of televised boxing for 2009. Beginning on Dec. 26, Boxing Day, HBO will reprise its top fights of the year nightly at 11: Mayweather-Raul Marquez on Dec. 26, Shane Mosley-Antonio Margarito on Dec. 27, Andre Berto-Luis Collazo on Dec. 28, Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz on Dec. 29, and Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto on Dec. 30. As a bonus, there will be a midnight showing of Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez following the Pacquiao-Cotto fight.
more from here:
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/boxing/view.bg?articleid=1220088
The final list of nominations won’t go out to members of the Boxing Writers Association of America until this week, but when the ballots are counted it’s hard to imagine that the 2009 Fighter of the Year won’t be the same guy who was honored as the 2008 Fighter of the Year.
The only defensible logic for not voting for Manny Pacquiao might come from those who want to hedge their bets on his next fight, as his scheduled March 13 encounter with Floyd Mayweather Jr. will precede the presentation of the award at the annual BWAA dinner.
Should they cover next year’s event again, let’s hope the folks at Time get it right this time. Last month’s cover story on “Pac-Man” included the rather startling information that Pacquiao attended June’s BWAA dinner in New York “to receive his second Fighter of the Year award from The Ring magazine.”
What is even more absurd than misidentifying the voting body - if the story itself is to be believed - is that its authors supposedly attended that same dinner. Perhaps Howard Chua-Eoan and Ishaan Tharoor had one too many cocktails that night, but what ever happened to Time’s legendary team of fact-checkers? . . .
File this under the category, That’s Why They Call Them Yahoos: Mayweather, who has fought five times in the last five years, was nominated last week for “Athlete of the Decade” by Yahoo! [YHOO] Sports.
All five of those fights, incidentally, took place in Las Vegas, where the transplanted Michigander now resides. Pacquiao’s last six bouts have also been in Vegas, but no one would confuse him with a resident, which is one reason Pacquiao and promoter Bob Arum would prefer a more neutral venue for their welterweight title fight in March.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly has a $25 million offer on the table to host the bout at his new palace, Cowboys Stadium, and Texas, like Nevada, has no state income tax. Arum, HBO sports president Ross Greenburg and Golden Boy promotions CEO Richard Schaefer were supposed to fly to Dallas to confer with Jones a couple of weeks ago, but when Schaefer (presumably at Mayweather’s behest) canceled at the last minute, everyone else did, too.
Jones, who has already locked up the Cotton Bowl, an NCAA Final Four and a Super Bowl for his new venue, envisions the largest live audience in the history of American boxing - if he can land Pacquiao-Mayweather.
It’s hard to see how Jones can think on such a grand scale, even in Texas, but then again the oil bidness ain’t what it used to be. Still, even with an expanded capacity that would seat 110,000 for boxing, to recoup his investment Jones would need to price tickets, including those up in the nosebleed sections, at an average of more than $250.cw0cw0
Zbikowski punches in
This week’s other NFL/boxing connection concerns heavyweight Tommy Zbikowski, who made his pro debut three years ago when he knocked out Robert Bell on the Miguel Cotto-Paulie Malignaggi undercard at Madison Square Garden. Now a Baltimore Ravens safety, Zbikowski’s name is on the Pro Bowl ballot as a special teams performer, and following an injury to Ed Reed, has been in the Ravens’ starting lineup for the last few games. Although he hasn’t fought since his MSG pro debut, Zbikowski says he works out in a boxing gym on Tuesdays, the team’s off-day. . . .
Don’t be surprised, by the way, if Nate Campbell and Sergio Mora start moving up in The Ring’s ratings. Campbell, the former three-belt lightweight champion, has fought just three rounds since February (his head-butt fight vs. Tim Bradley, later changed to No Contest) and the “Latin Snake” not at all in 2009, but both signed promotional contracts with Golden Boy last week.
Rigondeaux reax
Hours before Guillermo Rigondeaux made his New York debut at B.B. King’s Wednesday night, an arbitration hearing issued a permanent injunction upholding the managerial contract Irishman Gary Hyde signed with the Cuban featherweight in 2007 - two years prior to Rigondeaux’ defection. Hyde’s investment was somewhat devalued hours later by the boxer’s lackluster performance against Ghanain journeyman Lantey Addy. Fighting beyond the fourth round for the first time in nearly 400 amateur and pro fights, Rigondeaux, who had knocked out each of his first three pro opponents, was extended the distance when Addy opted to fight in survival mode.
“I’d rather have seen him in there with someone who was actually trying to win a fight,” trainer Freddie Roach said.
Last night’s Kelly Pavlik-Miguel Espino card may have been HBO’s last pay-per-view of the year, but it won’t be the end of televised boxing for 2009. Beginning on Dec. 26, Boxing Day, HBO will reprise its top fights of the year nightly at 11: Mayweather-Raul Marquez on Dec. 26, Shane Mosley-Antonio Margarito on Dec. 27, Andre Berto-Luis Collazo on Dec. 28, Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz on Dec. 29, and Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto on Dec. 30. As a bonus, there will be a midnight showing of Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez following the Pacquiao-Cotto fight.
more from here:
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/boxing/view.bg?articleid=1220088
Friday, November 13, 2009
Critics: Cotto mentally unprepared for fight with Pacquiao
An interesting article on Cotto's condition before the fight:
Barely a week before Miguel Cotto climbs into the ring to face Manny Pacquiao in their "Firepower" match on Nov. 14, in Las Vegas, boxing critics say the Puerto Rican boxer is unprepared for the biggest fight in his boxing career.
WBO Champion Miguel Cotto seems unprepared for his Nov. 14 date with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Nevada, critics say. Barely a week before fight night, Cotto is struggling with a number of major distractions while his handlers are doing the finishing touches for his last leg of training before he collides with the pound for-pound king. The latest of these distractions is a report by popular sportswriter Joaquin Henson of Philstar.com regarding the case filed in court by Evangelista Cotto, the boxer's uncle and former trainer, for damages amounting to $7.5 million. Tempers flared when Cotto wanted to move his training camp from Caguas to Tampa, Florida, against Evangelista’s wishes. They scuffled, leaving Cotto’s uncle with a broken nose and busted ribs. Evangelista said he was “brutally attacked” and suffered “serious injuries.” He filed a $7.5 million suit for damages, mainly for breach of contract, secondarily for injuries and “emotional stress” from the brawl.The case stemmed from a near-violent encounter between Miguel Cotto and his uncle Evangelista which led to a bloody ending. It was reported that trouble started when Cotto started to move his training to Tampa Florida against the wishes of his uncle Evangelista. Cotto's actions led to the termination of the services of his uncle. Another distraction which made boxing fans believe Cotto is ill-prepared for the Nov. 14 encounter with Pacquiao is recurring news Cotto has become a damaged fighter after his brutal defeat against Antonio Margarito of Mexico who inflicted so much punishment on the Puerto Rican boxer. A former member of Team Cotto who is now working in Team Pacquiao was quoted to have said, "Cotto is a damaged fighter." Cotto is denying that his devastating loss to Margarito badly affected his performance as a boxer. The handlers of Margarito were reported to have allegedly inserted illegal wraps into the gloves of the Mexican boxer, which caused his devastating loss. There are also persistent reports Cotto is struggling with his Tampa team led by Joe Santiago who took over from his uncle Evangelista as trainer and coach. And still another distraction concerning the boxers ex-wife (now reconciled) and children appeared to be affecting the psychological preparedness of the Puerto Rican boxer. It was earlier reported that Cotto's uncle resented the boxer's way of handling his family affairs. Cotto has a daughter by another woman. Miguel Cotto has fought twice since his devastating loss to Margarito and won both fights. He was sluggish in his fight with Joshua Clottey of Ghana and nearly lost the fight, prompting critics to say that he is no longer the same powerful puncher that he was before his fight with Margarito. Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines will collide in their "Firepower" match on Nov. 14 at the GM Grand garden arena in Las Vegas Nevada.
see more from here http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/281833
Hollywood celebs weigh in on Pacman's upcoming fight
An article about Manny's fame...
CEBU, Philippines - Obviously, boxing champ Manny Pacquiao’s star has grown bigger and brighter in Hollywood. First, there was the guesting on the hit primetime program, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, with a song number as an extra treat. Celebrities also continue dropping in and watching him getting ready at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles. Expect more A-listers to come out on his fight night against Miguel Cotto on November 14.
Hollywood celebs also weighed in their thoughts on the upcoming fight in HBO’s The Buzz. For controversial heavy weight champion of the world “Iron” Mike Tyson, “It’s PacMan.” Rap mogul P. Diddy, for his part, said, “If Cotto can reconnect to the way he was three years ago, he may give Pacquiao problems. Soap star Mark Consuelos is also rooting for the Pacman, “I’m sorry, the Filipino is going to win.”
Welter weight champion Shane Mosley said, “It’s going to be an interesting fight, and I think Pacquiao better take him seriously.” WWE Super Star Triple H, on the other hand, said, “Not that Cotto’s going to be an easy win, but I think Pacquiao’s going to beat him. “True Blood” actor Sam Trammel opined: “I’m going to have to go with Pacquiao man. I saw his last fight, and he’s just out of control.” For Oscar nominee, Mickey Rourke, “I don’t think Cotto would be a walk in the park. He’s gonna be strong. Cotto is the bigger fighter and a very good fighter.”
see more from here: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=521749&publicationSubCategoryId=51
CEBU, Philippines - Obviously, boxing champ Manny Pacquiao’s star has grown bigger and brighter in Hollywood. First, there was the guesting on the hit primetime program, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, with a song number as an extra treat. Celebrities also continue dropping in and watching him getting ready at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles. Expect more A-listers to come out on his fight night against Miguel Cotto on November 14.
Hollywood celebs also weighed in their thoughts on the upcoming fight in HBO’s The Buzz. For controversial heavy weight champion of the world “Iron” Mike Tyson, “It’s PacMan.” Rap mogul P. Diddy, for his part, said, “If Cotto can reconnect to the way he was three years ago, he may give Pacquiao problems. Soap star Mark Consuelos is also rooting for the Pacman, “I’m sorry, the Filipino is going to win.”
Welter weight champion Shane Mosley said, “It’s going to be an interesting fight, and I think Pacquiao better take him seriously.” WWE Super Star Triple H, on the other hand, said, “Not that Cotto’s going to be an easy win, but I think Pacquiao’s going to beat him. “True Blood” actor Sam Trammel opined: “I’m going to have to go with Pacquiao man. I saw his last fight, and he’s just out of control.” For Oscar nominee, Mickey Rourke, “I don’t think Cotto would be a walk in the park. He’s gonna be strong. Cotto is the bigger fighter and a very good fighter.”
see more from here: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=521749&publicationSubCategoryId=51
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Message to Manny Pacquiao: Out of the pool, you fool
a rather strong criticism on Manny's pool training:
Jim Lampley (screaming): “What is Manny Pacquiao doing? I have never, in all my years at ringside, seen anything like this. Miguel Cotto is completely befuddled…”
Larry Merchant (quizzical): “I don’t know, Jim, this is something new from Pacman. I can’t really figure it out. It looks like…it looks like…
Emanuel Steward: “It looks like…well, guys, it looks like a combination of the backstroke and the Australian crawl…Cotto is stunned at what Manny is doing, the way he is moving his hands in a breaststroke type maneuver…
Harold Lederman: “This is unusual ring generalship, something my eyes have never seen, either, guys…Pacquiao is moving his feet as though he was wearing flippers, as though he was swimming against the current…”
Lampley again: “Fellas, I’ve got to say this...but taking a dive used to a pejorative accusation in boxing but Manny Pacquiao has stunned us, the crowd and opponent Miguel Cotto with this strange technique...Manny is moving like a dolphin now!..."
Go ahead, you Baguio backers.
SEE DIGITAL JOURNAL ON HOW EXPERTS (that's me blushing), FANS WANT PACMAN TO RELOCATE HIS CAMP FROM BAGUIO NOW, IMMEDIATELY AND ASAP.
Go ahead, you Manny is always right guys.
Go ahead, you people who think Pacman is above and beyond even the mildest form of criticism
Tell me that Coach Freddie Roach having to substitute work in the pool for a boxer’s daily regimen of roadwork is a good thing and not detrimental to his training.
Tell me that having the three roads from Manila to Baguio shut down due to landslides and having to use Chavit Singson's private plane to airlift new sparmates Jose Luis Castillo and Danny Escobar to the training site, the Shape Up Gym, isn't absurd.
Even Roach admits that Manny is no stellar swimmer, that he gulped down some chlorine in the hotel pool. Is this a new training technique like Juan Ma Marquez's urine ingestion?
Still, word is Pacman and crew won't leave for California until Oct. 24.
There's no mule like a stubborn mule, I suppose.
My question is why isn’t Team Pacquiao at the airport in Manila right now, even as you read this, for a flight to Los Angeles or, if the US tax regulations remain problematic, to somewhere like Vancouver or Tijuana?
Leave the swim fins behind, Manny. Drop your pool googles.
Get thee to the Wild Card Gym or to one in Canada or Mexico if need be.
These aquatic exercises are a sorry substitute for roadwork, for running outdoors.
I keep repeating myself, bag it Baguio, brother, bag it.
I don’t think you will be able to use a flotation device in the ring against Cotto.
Get three to the Wild Card or somewhere the sun is shining and the roads are not flooded.
Home, sweet home at the Wild Card would be perfect because, as the old song goes, “It Never Rains In Southern California.”
Bedsides, Coach Roach is right as well, right as rain, when he says fighting the prideful Puerto Rican is not going to be any day at Boracay Beach.
more from here: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Message-tohttp://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Message-to-Manny-Pacquiao-Out-of-the-pool-you-fool-Manny-Pacquiao-Out-of-the-pool-you-fool
Jim Lampley (screaming): “What is Manny Pacquiao doing? I have never, in all my years at ringside, seen anything like this. Miguel Cotto is completely befuddled…”
Larry Merchant (quizzical): “I don’t know, Jim, this is something new from Pacman. I can’t really figure it out. It looks like…it looks like…
Emanuel Steward: “It looks like…well, guys, it looks like a combination of the backstroke and the Australian crawl…Cotto is stunned at what Manny is doing, the way he is moving his hands in a breaststroke type maneuver…
Harold Lederman: “This is unusual ring generalship, something my eyes have never seen, either, guys…Pacquiao is moving his feet as though he was wearing flippers, as though he was swimming against the current…”
Lampley again: “Fellas, I’ve got to say this...but taking a dive used to a pejorative accusation in boxing but Manny Pacquiao has stunned us, the crowd and opponent Miguel Cotto with this strange technique...Manny is moving like a dolphin now!..."
Go ahead, you Baguio backers.
SEE DIGITAL JOURNAL ON HOW EXPERTS (that's me blushing), FANS WANT PACMAN TO RELOCATE HIS CAMP FROM BAGUIO NOW, IMMEDIATELY AND ASAP.
Go ahead, you Manny is always right guys.
Go ahead, you people who think Pacman is above and beyond even the mildest form of criticism
Tell me that Coach Freddie Roach having to substitute work in the pool for a boxer’s daily regimen of roadwork is a good thing and not detrimental to his training.
Tell me that having the three roads from Manila to Baguio shut down due to landslides and having to use Chavit Singson's private plane to airlift new sparmates Jose Luis Castillo and Danny Escobar to the training site, the Shape Up Gym, isn't absurd.
Even Roach admits that Manny is no stellar swimmer, that he gulped down some chlorine in the hotel pool. Is this a new training technique like Juan Ma Marquez's urine ingestion?
Still, word is Pacman and crew won't leave for California until Oct. 24.
There's no mule like a stubborn mule, I suppose.
My question is why isn’t Team Pacquiao at the airport in Manila right now, even as you read this, for a flight to Los Angeles or, if the US tax regulations remain problematic, to somewhere like Vancouver or Tijuana?
Leave the swim fins behind, Manny. Drop your pool googles.
Get thee to the Wild Card Gym or to one in Canada or Mexico if need be.
These aquatic exercises are a sorry substitute for roadwork, for running outdoors.
I keep repeating myself, bag it Baguio, brother, bag it.
I don’t think you will be able to use a flotation device in the ring against Cotto.
Get three to the Wild Card or somewhere the sun is shining and the roads are not flooded.
Home, sweet home at the Wild Card would be perfect because, as the old song goes, “It Never Rains In Southern California.”
Bedsides, Coach Roach is right as well, right as rain, when he says fighting the prideful Puerto Rican is not going to be any day at Boracay Beach.
more from here: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Message-tohttp://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Message-to-Manny-Pacquiao-Out-of-the-pool-you-fool-Manny-Pacquiao-Out-of-the-pool-you-fool
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Exclusive Interview: Shane Mosley
an interesting interview on Shane Mosley and his comments about Mayweather...
by Geoffrey Ciani - Sugar Shane Mosley is currently the top dog in the welterweight division. His impressive destruction of Antonio Margarito earlier this year left no doubts about it. In recent weeks and months, Mosley has made his intentions clear—he still wants to take on the best in the division, whether it is a fight with Floyd Mayweather, a fight with Manny Pacquiao, a rematch with Miguel Cotto, or a battle with any of the other top contenders in the 147 pound weight class. I was recently afforded the opportunity to have a nice chat with the welter weight champion. Here is what he had to say:
Audio:
Q: You were in attendance for the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez bout. What is your evaluation of Mayweather’s performance?
A: Well, I really couldn’t evaluate it because he fought a junior lightweight and the lightweight champion. I couldn’t tell if he actually improved or anything because he was so much bigger than the guy, but from what I had seen he looked like he has his speed back, he looked pretty sharp, but look at the opponent he was facing..
Q: After the fight you actually challenged Floyd Mayweather and many observers, according to what I have read, noted that Mayweather appeared intimidated by you. Did you get that impression at the time?
A: Well, I’ve always known that Floyd is intimidated by me. I mean, I see him out at different places and he’s intimidated, he doesn’t really want to fight me. He would much rather fight guys that he could handpick and get victories from and basically just get money. He can make money fighting Marquez, make money fighting (Manny) Pacquiao, and make money fighting the Ricky Hattons of the world, but when is he going to get in there with a welterweight again? With a real welterweight? I mean, there’s myself—the number one welterweight—and there’s (Miguel) Cotto,(Joshua) Clottey, and (Andre) Berto. We have four welterweights that he hasn’t fought.
Q: After you challenged him, a week later, Mayweather wished you good luck in your career which seemed to indicate he’s not interested in fighting you. He also mentioned that he challenged you twice, and he claims that you turned him down back in 1999 and again in 2006. Did you really turn him down?
A: Like I said, he’s really a liar. He likes to lie a lot. In 1999 there’s a film where he’s fighting in Michigan when he was fighting at 130 and I was fighting at 135, and I asked him, like when HBO does the prefight analysts talk to the fighters before they fight. I talked to him, and hopefully it’s recorded somewhere—I think it was on FX—I asked him, “Are you planning on coming up to lightweight to fight me?” And he said, “No,” He had no intention of coming to lightweight to fight me, he wanted t beat Carlos Monzon’s record. He didn’t want to come to lightweight. That’s when I jumped from lightweight to welterweight to fight Oscar De La Hoya. That was the first incident that he’s talking about, so he turned me down in 1999.
Now, the other time he’s talking about is when I fought three times—one, two, three, back-to-back-to-back—and they tried to rush me to fight him right away, like two or three months later. I said, give me a month, and we’ll do it like, I think it was in January—I said, “We’ll do it in January”. They wanted to do it in like November or December, and I said, “Give me a month and we’ll do it in January or February.” They didn’t want to do that. So they chose to fight Oscar De La Hoya. I said, “Go ahead and fight Oscar, and if you beat Oscar, then let’s get busy. Let’s do this.” He beat Oscar—he didn’t want to fight me.
He’s been turning me down. I hate when he continues to say, “Oh, he turned me down because of a tooth ache”. Yeah. I got head butted in that fight that and my tooth was loose that night. They asked me to fight Mayweather and I said, “Give me an extra month, and I’ll fight him.” He didn’t want to fight me, which was cool. He could go and fight Oscar because that’s more money. Okay. That’s cool, but after that fight if you win—fight me. He didn’t want to do that. He chose to retire or fight somebody else. I’m getting tired of that lie! They need to wipe that lie out of there. The reporters and stuff, they keep saying it, so that lie needs to be talked about.
Q: Now Shane, on a recent edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio, I actually had a chance to speak with Floyd Mayweather Senior and I asked him who he thought would pose the toughest challenge to his son from 147 down, and he said, “Shane Mosley”. Style-wise, why do you think Floyd Senior views you as the biggest threat to his son?
I’m the biggest threat to anybody at the welterweight division. Nobody can beat me. He knows that. All the fighters know that. It’s just the writers and some of the fans that don’t really know. They’re undecided. I’m really pound for pound the best. I am the best, right now. They can’t beat me. Floyd can’t beat me, Manny Pacquiao can’t be me—I am the best at welterweight. That’s why I have to go up to junior middleweight and fight people up there because welterweight is my division. They can’t beat me. I’m the King of that division.
Q: Now changing things up a little bit, I’m just curious, what are your thoughts on the upcoming fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto?
A: I think that’s going to be a lot better than the fight with Mayweather and Marquez. I know that Manny Pacquiao is real fast with movement, but I think Cotto tells a lot of the truth in this matter, that he is a real welterweight. He’s a real welterweight, he’s fought real welterweights, he’s been in the ring and he knows how to fight. He knows how to fight smaller guys better. He beat Zab Judah, who was a good southpaw, and he beat Carlos Quintana who is a southpaw and he beat them down. He knows how to fight smaller southpaws, so I think it’s going to be a good fight. It should be interesting.
Q: If a fight between you and Floyd does not materialize, would you be interested in taking on the winner of Pacquiao-Cotto?
A: Of course. Right now I gave Richard Shaffer the instructions to find somebody that wants to fight, and that’s sad because I’m the welterweight champion. I’m the number one guy. I told him just let me know what date I have, and I’ll show up, and let me know who is going to be in the ring so I can prepare. I don’t care.
Q: In your last fight, you looked spectacular in your winning effort against Antonio Margarito in a fight a lot of people thought you were going to lose. This was the first time you ever worked with Nazeem Richardson in your corner. Can you tell us a little bit about your experiences working with Richardson and what he was able to bring to the table in terms of helping your prepare for that fight?
A: Well me and Nazeem share the same views about boxing and the fight game. He’s truly a student of the sport, just like I am, so we clicked very well. We’ll go over different things and it’s like me watching myself outside the ring. It’s a perfect match for me and I really like everything he does.
Q: What are your thoughts on the entire controversy with the plaster of Paris found in Margarito’s gloves, and do you think this has overshadowed your victory in any way?
A: I think it definitely overshadowed the victory. Not to mention that, everybody that fought Margarito, Larry Merchant and others have said that he has an iron chin, never been knocked out, never really been knocked down or anything, and he walks through everybody. He walked through Cotto, he walked through Clottey and those guys were hitting him. In the first round, I hit him, and he backs up. Everybody knew my punching power. I have good punching power. They say, okay well he was hitting guys and stopping these different guys, but they couldn’t hit him and stop him, which I did. I should get credit for that.
Q: Throughout most of your career, you were trained by your father and you two obviously had a very close relationship.
A: We still do.
Q: That’s good. That’s great to hear, but do you think in some ways, though, that sticking with your father as a trainer for so long may have limited your growth as a fighter?
A: No. I think that sometimes people get a little stale. Sometimes in the fight game, you need someone to remind you. Both of us could be stale. I got stale, he got stale, and mentally, we were doing the same routines over and over again, but if you bring somebody else in that taught the game, too, it kind of makes you remember different things. Like, oh yeah, I remember, I used to do that and I used to do this, and it brings you back to life. That’s what’s happening to me, I’ve been brought back to life.
Q: Your fight with Margarito was almost a year ago now. Do you regret not having taken a “stay busy” fight now that so much time has passed since then?
A: I don’t know what “stay busy” fight was out there for me.
Q: Fair enough. Now you’re one of the few modern fighters who always dared to be great by wanting to prove yourself against the very best. When fighters like Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright were both stuck on the outside looking in, you gave them opportunities and you also demanded immediate rematches after each of those losses. What keeps you so driven to want to continue fighting the best, even now?
A: I love to fight. I think what’s been driving me is the doubt—the doubt of people thinking that I’m not the best, the doubt that different people have when discussing legendary fighters and I’m not put out there on that plateau like I was one of the best. I want the world to know that I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to clean the whole division out—all of the division! Until it is recognized that I am the best in this era, this is my era.
Q: To date, what would you consider the proudest moment of your career?
A: The proudest moment was winning my first title against Philip Holiday. Even though I was sick that night, I still won. That was one of the proudest days of my life, because it was something I accomplished that I wanted to accomplish as a kid, as a boy—being the lightweight champion of the world.
Q: I recently had a chance to speak with Sugar Ray Leonard, and I asked him about how he first started using the “Sugar” moniker and asked him what he thought of other fighters, like Ray Robinson and yourself, who also shared the same nickname. Ray Leonard said of you, “Shane carries the torch well”. I was wondering if you could tell the fans how you first started using the “Sugar” name, and perhaps you could also share your thoughts on fighters like Leonard and Robinson?
A: Well, the name was given to me. I never chose the name and said, “I’m going to be Sugar Shane”. It was given to me in the gym when I was younger. I think I was ten years old when I got the name. They used to call me “Little Sugar” because they said I fought like “Sugar Ray”. Sugar Ray Leonard, I fought like Sugar Ray Robinson, I was on my toes, moving, I was a classic fighter even back then. So when they announced me—even when I fought Oscar when I was twelve or thirteen—they announced me as “Sugar Shane Mosley”.
All through my whole life, that’s been my name. Sugar Ray told me yes, when I fought Margarito I carried the name very well and lived up to the moniker, and he was very proud of me. I met Sugar Ray Robinson a couple of times before he passed away, and talked to his wife. This was back, I was probably fourteen, and I said, “Yeah, my name is Sugar, too. I’m Sugar Shane”. His wife said, “Well you got to be good to be a ‘Sugar’. You got to train hard”, and I said, “Well I am”, and it went on from there even back then.
Both of these fighters had a great impact on my career. Sugar Ray Leonard, definitely. Sugar Ray Robinson with the movement, the charisma, the hidden power, and the speed, the flashiness of Sugar Ray Leonard, the movement and the charisma, as well. Sugar Ray Leonard, I probably followed a little more because that was more my era. I started boxing around 1979-1980, and Sugar Ray Leonard was in there fighting with guys like Roberto Duran at that time. I just loved—loved, loved, loved—the movement, the style, and the charisma of these guys.
Q: Shane, do you have any major regrets in your career, and if so what are they?
A: No regrets. I love what happened in my career, and I’m very happy and fortunate that there’s a lot of people in this world who were probably as good as I was and just didn’t get the proper break or the right break. I didn’t get my break until I fought for the world title when I was 23-0 with 22 knockouts. Some people never get that chance to showcase their skills. I’m just happy and fortunate that I’m still fighting right now, I’m still world champion. I’ve been fighting for thirty years now, and I’m still a threat and still the best in this era.
Q: One of the questions I have to ask you is, if you weren’t a boxer what do you think you would be?
A: If I wasn’t a boxer, there’s one thing that I wanted to do, but I knew I was too short, and that was be a basketball player. I love to play basketball. The other thing probably would have been an accountant, because I love dealing with numbers and math. I guess also anything dealing with outside work. I’m an outside/outdoors type of person.
Q: Shane, before all is said and done and you ultimately retire from professional boxing, what is it you would like to accomplish?
A: Well, I want to beat everybody in the division. I want to be proclaimed the best. I want to win the ‘pound-for-pound’ belt. After I finish that, then I would like to raise my son to be the next world champion and have the name live on. That would be my next goal: Training him and giving him all the tools that I have.
Q: Off topic, I am curious what your thoughts are on the fact that the long awaited rematch between Roy Jones Junior and Bernard Hopkins has finally been signed and how you see this fight going down?
A: I think it’s great for the sport. I mean, Roy Jones was definitely one of the best in this era and some consider him the best. Throughout the mid-90s, Roy Jones and Bernard, as well, were two of the best. They are two Hall of Fame fighters. It will be a great fight, and hopefully these guys can get what they want to out of this rematch.
Q: Now Shane, before I let you go, is there anything else you would like to say to all of your fans out at East Side Boxing?
A: Thanks for being great fans. Continue to watch, I’m only getting better and better in my older age. I think I’m getting younger, so stay tuned. I’m going to have three fights next year, scheduled, and I’m going to take care of business. Hopefully, in January, April, and November I’ll be fighting, and maybe Mayweather will be one of them.
see more from here http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=21429&more=1
by Geoffrey Ciani - Sugar Shane Mosley is currently the top dog in the welterweight division. His impressive destruction of Antonio Margarito earlier this year left no doubts about it. In recent weeks and months, Mosley has made his intentions clear—he still wants to take on the best in the division, whether it is a fight with Floyd Mayweather, a fight with Manny Pacquiao, a rematch with Miguel Cotto, or a battle with any of the other top contenders in the 147 pound weight class. I was recently afforded the opportunity to have a nice chat with the welter weight champion. Here is what he had to say:
Audio:
Q: You were in attendance for the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez bout. What is your evaluation of Mayweather’s performance?
A: Well, I really couldn’t evaluate it because he fought a junior lightweight and the lightweight champion. I couldn’t tell if he actually improved or anything because he was so much bigger than the guy, but from what I had seen he looked like he has his speed back, he looked pretty sharp, but look at the opponent he was facing..
Q: After the fight you actually challenged Floyd Mayweather and many observers, according to what I have read, noted that Mayweather appeared intimidated by you. Did you get that impression at the time?
A: Well, I’ve always known that Floyd is intimidated by me. I mean, I see him out at different places and he’s intimidated, he doesn’t really want to fight me. He would much rather fight guys that he could handpick and get victories from and basically just get money. He can make money fighting Marquez, make money fighting (Manny) Pacquiao, and make money fighting the Ricky Hattons of the world, but when is he going to get in there with a welterweight again? With a real welterweight? I mean, there’s myself—the number one welterweight—and there’s (Miguel) Cotto,(Joshua) Clottey, and (Andre) Berto. We have four welterweights that he hasn’t fought.
Q: After you challenged him, a week later, Mayweather wished you good luck in your career which seemed to indicate he’s not interested in fighting you. He also mentioned that he challenged you twice, and he claims that you turned him down back in 1999 and again in 2006. Did you really turn him down?
A: Like I said, he’s really a liar. He likes to lie a lot. In 1999 there’s a film where he’s fighting in Michigan when he was fighting at 130 and I was fighting at 135, and I asked him, like when HBO does the prefight analysts talk to the fighters before they fight. I talked to him, and hopefully it’s recorded somewhere—I think it was on FX—I asked him, “Are you planning on coming up to lightweight to fight me?” And he said, “No,” He had no intention of coming to lightweight to fight me, he wanted t beat Carlos Monzon’s record. He didn’t want to come to lightweight. That’s when I jumped from lightweight to welterweight to fight Oscar De La Hoya. That was the first incident that he’s talking about, so he turned me down in 1999.
Now, the other time he’s talking about is when I fought three times—one, two, three, back-to-back-to-back—and they tried to rush me to fight him right away, like two or three months later. I said, give me a month, and we’ll do it like, I think it was in January—I said, “We’ll do it in January”. They wanted to do it in like November or December, and I said, “Give me a month and we’ll do it in January or February.” They didn’t want to do that. So they chose to fight Oscar De La Hoya. I said, “Go ahead and fight Oscar, and if you beat Oscar, then let’s get busy. Let’s do this.” He beat Oscar—he didn’t want to fight me.
He’s been turning me down. I hate when he continues to say, “Oh, he turned me down because of a tooth ache”. Yeah. I got head butted in that fight that and my tooth was loose that night. They asked me to fight Mayweather and I said, “Give me an extra month, and I’ll fight him.” He didn’t want to fight me, which was cool. He could go and fight Oscar because that’s more money. Okay. That’s cool, but after that fight if you win—fight me. He didn’t want to do that. He chose to retire or fight somebody else. I’m getting tired of that lie! They need to wipe that lie out of there. The reporters and stuff, they keep saying it, so that lie needs to be talked about.
Q: Now Shane, on a recent edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio, I actually had a chance to speak with Floyd Mayweather Senior and I asked him who he thought would pose the toughest challenge to his son from 147 down, and he said, “Shane Mosley”. Style-wise, why do you think Floyd Senior views you as the biggest threat to his son?
I’m the biggest threat to anybody at the welterweight division. Nobody can beat me. He knows that. All the fighters know that. It’s just the writers and some of the fans that don’t really know. They’re undecided. I’m really pound for pound the best. I am the best, right now. They can’t beat me. Floyd can’t beat me, Manny Pacquiao can’t be me—I am the best at welterweight. That’s why I have to go up to junior middleweight and fight people up there because welterweight is my division. They can’t beat me. I’m the King of that division.
Q: Now changing things up a little bit, I’m just curious, what are your thoughts on the upcoming fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto?
A: I think that’s going to be a lot better than the fight with Mayweather and Marquez. I know that Manny Pacquiao is real fast with movement, but I think Cotto tells a lot of the truth in this matter, that he is a real welterweight. He’s a real welterweight, he’s fought real welterweights, he’s been in the ring and he knows how to fight. He knows how to fight smaller guys better. He beat Zab Judah, who was a good southpaw, and he beat Carlos Quintana who is a southpaw and he beat them down. He knows how to fight smaller southpaws, so I think it’s going to be a good fight. It should be interesting.
Q: If a fight between you and Floyd does not materialize, would you be interested in taking on the winner of Pacquiao-Cotto?
A: Of course. Right now I gave Richard Shaffer the instructions to find somebody that wants to fight, and that’s sad because I’m the welterweight champion. I’m the number one guy. I told him just let me know what date I have, and I’ll show up, and let me know who is going to be in the ring so I can prepare. I don’t care.
Q: In your last fight, you looked spectacular in your winning effort against Antonio Margarito in a fight a lot of people thought you were going to lose. This was the first time you ever worked with Nazeem Richardson in your corner. Can you tell us a little bit about your experiences working with Richardson and what he was able to bring to the table in terms of helping your prepare for that fight?
A: Well me and Nazeem share the same views about boxing and the fight game. He’s truly a student of the sport, just like I am, so we clicked very well. We’ll go over different things and it’s like me watching myself outside the ring. It’s a perfect match for me and I really like everything he does.
Q: What are your thoughts on the entire controversy with the plaster of Paris found in Margarito’s gloves, and do you think this has overshadowed your victory in any way?
A: I think it definitely overshadowed the victory. Not to mention that, everybody that fought Margarito, Larry Merchant and others have said that he has an iron chin, never been knocked out, never really been knocked down or anything, and he walks through everybody. He walked through Cotto, he walked through Clottey and those guys were hitting him. In the first round, I hit him, and he backs up. Everybody knew my punching power. I have good punching power. They say, okay well he was hitting guys and stopping these different guys, but they couldn’t hit him and stop him, which I did. I should get credit for that.
Q: Throughout most of your career, you were trained by your father and you two obviously had a very close relationship.
A: We still do.
Q: That’s good. That’s great to hear, but do you think in some ways, though, that sticking with your father as a trainer for so long may have limited your growth as a fighter?
A: No. I think that sometimes people get a little stale. Sometimes in the fight game, you need someone to remind you. Both of us could be stale. I got stale, he got stale, and mentally, we were doing the same routines over and over again, but if you bring somebody else in that taught the game, too, it kind of makes you remember different things. Like, oh yeah, I remember, I used to do that and I used to do this, and it brings you back to life. That’s what’s happening to me, I’ve been brought back to life.
Q: Your fight with Margarito was almost a year ago now. Do you regret not having taken a “stay busy” fight now that so much time has passed since then?
A: I don’t know what “stay busy” fight was out there for me.
Q: Fair enough. Now you’re one of the few modern fighters who always dared to be great by wanting to prove yourself against the very best. When fighters like Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright were both stuck on the outside looking in, you gave them opportunities and you also demanded immediate rematches after each of those losses. What keeps you so driven to want to continue fighting the best, even now?
A: I love to fight. I think what’s been driving me is the doubt—the doubt of people thinking that I’m not the best, the doubt that different people have when discussing legendary fighters and I’m not put out there on that plateau like I was one of the best. I want the world to know that I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to clean the whole division out—all of the division! Until it is recognized that I am the best in this era, this is my era.
Q: To date, what would you consider the proudest moment of your career?
A: The proudest moment was winning my first title against Philip Holiday. Even though I was sick that night, I still won. That was one of the proudest days of my life, because it was something I accomplished that I wanted to accomplish as a kid, as a boy—being the lightweight champion of the world.
Q: I recently had a chance to speak with Sugar Ray Leonard, and I asked him about how he first started using the “Sugar” moniker and asked him what he thought of other fighters, like Ray Robinson and yourself, who also shared the same nickname. Ray Leonard said of you, “Shane carries the torch well”. I was wondering if you could tell the fans how you first started using the “Sugar” name, and perhaps you could also share your thoughts on fighters like Leonard and Robinson?
A: Well, the name was given to me. I never chose the name and said, “I’m going to be Sugar Shane”. It was given to me in the gym when I was younger. I think I was ten years old when I got the name. They used to call me “Little Sugar” because they said I fought like “Sugar Ray”. Sugar Ray Leonard, I fought like Sugar Ray Robinson, I was on my toes, moving, I was a classic fighter even back then. So when they announced me—even when I fought Oscar when I was twelve or thirteen—they announced me as “Sugar Shane Mosley”.
All through my whole life, that’s been my name. Sugar Ray told me yes, when I fought Margarito I carried the name very well and lived up to the moniker, and he was very proud of me. I met Sugar Ray Robinson a couple of times before he passed away, and talked to his wife. This was back, I was probably fourteen, and I said, “Yeah, my name is Sugar, too. I’m Sugar Shane”. His wife said, “Well you got to be good to be a ‘Sugar’. You got to train hard”, and I said, “Well I am”, and it went on from there even back then.
Both of these fighters had a great impact on my career. Sugar Ray Leonard, definitely. Sugar Ray Robinson with the movement, the charisma, the hidden power, and the speed, the flashiness of Sugar Ray Leonard, the movement and the charisma, as well. Sugar Ray Leonard, I probably followed a little more because that was more my era. I started boxing around 1979-1980, and Sugar Ray Leonard was in there fighting with guys like Roberto Duran at that time. I just loved—loved, loved, loved—the movement, the style, and the charisma of these guys.
Q: Shane, do you have any major regrets in your career, and if so what are they?
A: No regrets. I love what happened in my career, and I’m very happy and fortunate that there’s a lot of people in this world who were probably as good as I was and just didn’t get the proper break or the right break. I didn’t get my break until I fought for the world title when I was 23-0 with 22 knockouts. Some people never get that chance to showcase their skills. I’m just happy and fortunate that I’m still fighting right now, I’m still world champion. I’ve been fighting for thirty years now, and I’m still a threat and still the best in this era.
Q: One of the questions I have to ask you is, if you weren’t a boxer what do you think you would be?
A: If I wasn’t a boxer, there’s one thing that I wanted to do, but I knew I was too short, and that was be a basketball player. I love to play basketball. The other thing probably would have been an accountant, because I love dealing with numbers and math. I guess also anything dealing with outside work. I’m an outside/outdoors type of person.
Q: Shane, before all is said and done and you ultimately retire from professional boxing, what is it you would like to accomplish?
A: Well, I want to beat everybody in the division. I want to be proclaimed the best. I want to win the ‘pound-for-pound’ belt. After I finish that, then I would like to raise my son to be the next world champion and have the name live on. That would be my next goal: Training him and giving him all the tools that I have.
Q: Off topic, I am curious what your thoughts are on the fact that the long awaited rematch between Roy Jones Junior and Bernard Hopkins has finally been signed and how you see this fight going down?
A: I think it’s great for the sport. I mean, Roy Jones was definitely one of the best in this era and some consider him the best. Throughout the mid-90s, Roy Jones and Bernard, as well, were two of the best. They are two Hall of Fame fighters. It will be a great fight, and hopefully these guys can get what they want to out of this rematch.
Q: Now Shane, before I let you go, is there anything else you would like to say to all of your fans out at East Side Boxing?
A: Thanks for being great fans. Continue to watch, I’m only getting better and better in my older age. I think I’m getting younger, so stay tuned. I’m going to have three fights next year, scheduled, and I’m going to take care of business. Hopefully, in January, April, and November I’ll be fighting, and maybe Mayweather will be one of them.
see more from here http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=21429&more=1
Friday, October 16, 2009
Pacquiao/Mayweather: Pre-Destined?
Pretty interesting article for the Mayweather-Pacquiao match:
By Trevor Weis: The King has been challenged. Mayweather ended his 21-month layoff showing no signs of rust or age, dismantling the technical veteran Juan Manuel Marquez in 12 one-sided rounds. The former pound-for-pound king made Marquez look like a sparring partner, rolling his shoulder and dancing away from punches. Money landed close to 50% of total punches, while Marquez was only able to land an embarrassing 12%, with only 21 jabs throughout the 12 round fight.
Although Marquez went down on a lazer-left hook in the 2nd round, he proved irrefutably that not only does he have heart, but also that Floyd is no powerhouse.
The fight went exactly as planned, following the blue-print to the letter. There was talk of Mayweather wanting the knockout, but coasting to a comfortable UD over a smaller man defines his style.
After the fight, Marquez drew some comparisons in the P4P debate, stating “They have different styles. Floyd is very clever. He’s a defensive fighter 100 percent. He’s a good counter puncher. [But] Pacquiao is a guy who likes to fight.”
That seems to be the answer to the P4P debate: Mayweather is the best BOXER. But Pacquiao stands alone as the best FIGHTER.
People didn’t love Arturo Gatti because of his slick style or technical gifts: they loved him because he dug down deep, found a hidden reservoir of talent and heart, and came back swinging for the fence. Mayweather will be unable to develop that kind of following until he is stuck in a war that forces him to dig…We all know there’s talent there, waiting. But is there heart?
All roads seem to be leading to Pacquiao/Mayweather. But not if Shane Mosely can throw up a road block. In Kanye West-esq fashion, Mosley interjected into Floyd’s post fight interview with Max Kellerman, taunting the victor a little, saying “this is the fight the fans want to see.” Floyd, complete with entourage and guest WWE star Triple H, did not welcome the interruption.
Shortly after Kellerman tried to calm the peace, he shouted the only name that could silence Floyd: “Manny Pacquiao!” And after Floyd gave his usual “I need to talk with Leonard Ellerbe and Al Haymon” (Floyd’s advisors), Kellerman had to cut the interview short to avoid Sugar Shane and B-Hop from tag-teaming Floyd and Triple H…
What I’ve come to realize is this possible mega-match between two P4P kings is comparable to the Cold War: Floyd and Manny are in an arms-race. Pacquiao beating Cotto will give him 7 titles in 7 weights classes, something no other boxer has accomplished, even with all the ridiculous belts and titles. Pacquiao will also have beaten a top-10 P4P fighter, as well as an undisputed welterweight champion. But Floyd brings his perfect record, his self-proclaimed superstar draw, and now an easy victory over the man that took Pacquiao to the limit. Even with Manny’s blowouts of De La Hoya and Hatton, you know that Marquez will now factor into the monetary debate.
Like the Cold War, this battle of “World Superpowers” may never even come to fruition. The United States and Russia prepared vigorously for a war that seemed inevitable, but ultimately never took place. Thankfully, the world was not forced to witness such a potentially horrific battle of military superpowers. But hopefully, the world WILL be privileged enough to witness such a potentially terrific battle of boxing’s two greatest superstars, something that seems inevitable–pre-destined.
more from here http://www.boxingnews24.com/2009/09/pacquiaomayweather-pre-destined/
By Trevor Weis: The King has been challenged. Mayweather ended his 21-month layoff showing no signs of rust or age, dismantling the technical veteran Juan Manuel Marquez in 12 one-sided rounds. The former pound-for-pound king made Marquez look like a sparring partner, rolling his shoulder and dancing away from punches. Money landed close to 50% of total punches, while Marquez was only able to land an embarrassing 12%, with only 21 jabs throughout the 12 round fight.
Although Marquez went down on a lazer-left hook in the 2nd round, he proved irrefutably that not only does he have heart, but also that Floyd is no powerhouse.
The fight went exactly as planned, following the blue-print to the letter. There was talk of Mayweather wanting the knockout, but coasting to a comfortable UD over a smaller man defines his style.
After the fight, Marquez drew some comparisons in the P4P debate, stating “They have different styles. Floyd is very clever. He’s a defensive fighter 100 percent. He’s a good counter puncher. [But] Pacquiao is a guy who likes to fight.”
That seems to be the answer to the P4P debate: Mayweather is the best BOXER. But Pacquiao stands alone as the best FIGHTER.
People didn’t love Arturo Gatti because of his slick style or technical gifts: they loved him because he dug down deep, found a hidden reservoir of talent and heart, and came back swinging for the fence. Mayweather will be unable to develop that kind of following until he is stuck in a war that forces him to dig…We all know there’s talent there, waiting. But is there heart?
All roads seem to be leading to Pacquiao/Mayweather. But not if Shane Mosely can throw up a road block. In Kanye West-esq fashion, Mosley interjected into Floyd’s post fight interview with Max Kellerman, taunting the victor a little, saying “this is the fight the fans want to see.” Floyd, complete with entourage and guest WWE star Triple H, did not welcome the interruption.
Shortly after Kellerman tried to calm the peace, he shouted the only name that could silence Floyd: “Manny Pacquiao!” And after Floyd gave his usual “I need to talk with Leonard Ellerbe and Al Haymon” (Floyd’s advisors), Kellerman had to cut the interview short to avoid Sugar Shane and B-Hop from tag-teaming Floyd and Triple H…
What I’ve come to realize is this possible mega-match between two P4P kings is comparable to the Cold War: Floyd and Manny are in an arms-race. Pacquiao beating Cotto will give him 7 titles in 7 weights classes, something no other boxer has accomplished, even with all the ridiculous belts and titles. Pacquiao will also have beaten a top-10 P4P fighter, as well as an undisputed welterweight champion. But Floyd brings his perfect record, his self-proclaimed superstar draw, and now an easy victory over the man that took Pacquiao to the limit. Even with Manny’s blowouts of De La Hoya and Hatton, you know that Marquez will now factor into the monetary debate.
Like the Cold War, this battle of “World Superpowers” may never even come to fruition. The United States and Russia prepared vigorously for a war that seemed inevitable, but ultimately never took place. Thankfully, the world was not forced to witness such a potentially horrific battle of military superpowers. But hopefully, the world WILL be privileged enough to witness such a potentially terrific battle of boxing’s two greatest superstars, something that seems inevitable–pre-destined.
more from here http://www.boxingnews24.com/2009/09/pacquiaomayweather-pre-destined/
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Floyd Mayweather Jr. takes pound-for-pound crown from Manny Pacquiao
Take a look at this interesting article from Bobby Cassidy.
Was it a fair fight? Maybe not. But it was a sanctioned fight nonetheless and Floyd Mayweather Jr. completely dominated Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night.
We've said all along that Marquez was a very calculated pick by Mayweather. He was older and smaller than Floyd. But the manner in which Floyd so thoroughly defeated Marquez has to make one wonder about Manny Pacquiao as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Pacquiao, who fights Miguel Cotto in November, twice went life-and-death with Marquez. They fought to a draw and then Pac Man won a split decision. Many people feel that Marquez actually won the rematch.
Pacquiao, a great fighter himself, and so much more exciting than Floyd, took over the mythical title of best fighter, pound-for-pound, during Mayweather's absence. Well now Floyd's back, and the title, mythical or not, belongs to Mayweather
see more from here http://www.newsday.com/blogs/sports/the-neutral-corner-1.1276167/floyd-mayweather-jr-takes-pound-for-pound-crown-from-manny-pacquiao-1.1465528
Was it a fair fight? Maybe not. But it was a sanctioned fight nonetheless and Floyd Mayweather Jr. completely dominated Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night.
We've said all along that Marquez was a very calculated pick by Mayweather. He was older and smaller than Floyd. But the manner in which Floyd so thoroughly defeated Marquez has to make one wonder about Manny Pacquiao as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Pacquiao, who fights Miguel Cotto in November, twice went life-and-death with Marquez. They fought to a draw and then Pac Man won a split decision. Many people feel that Marquez actually won the rematch.
Pacquiao, a great fighter himself, and so much more exciting than Floyd, took over the mythical title of best fighter, pound-for-pound, during Mayweather's absence. Well now Floyd's back, and the title, mythical or not, belongs to Mayweather
see more from here http://www.newsday.com/blogs/sports/the-neutral-corner-1.1276167/floyd-mayweather-jr-takes-pound-for-pound-crown-from-manny-pacquiao-1.1465528
Friday, October 9, 2009
Roach to take over Pacquiao’s training camp
Take a glance at this news over Pacquiao's training with Roach...
Chief trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza will arrive in the country Tuesday to whip up Manny Pacquiao into shape for his coming title bout with Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.
The American duo will plane in at 6 a.m. from Los Angeles, California via Philippine Airlines.
Upon arrival, Roach and Ariza will be quickly brought to Baguio City to join Pacquiao in the training camp.
They are expected to take charge of the Filipino boxing sensation’s afternoon workout at the Cooyesan Hotel along Naguilan Road.
Manny Pacquiao does the mitts with assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez. Dave Leprozo
Pacquiao already began training for the Nov. 14 bout Monday, starting off with a road work around Burnham Park accompanied by assistant cornerman Buboy Fernandez, before sweating it out in the afternoon at a well-equipped gym inside the hotel, which will serve as the Pacman’s base for the next four weeks.
By mid-October, Team Pacquiao proceeds to the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles for the final phase of his preparation against the 28-year-old Cotto, the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion.
A case of overstaying and a threat of paying excess taxes in the U.S forced Pacquiao to set up his initial training camp here. Under U.S tax law, an alien like the boxing star is only allowed to stay in the U.S. for 180 days for three years.
Roach initially had been opposed to training the world’s pound-for-pound king in his hometown, stressing too many distractions will hamper his concentration the way it did during past training camps he had in General Santos City and Cebu.
But Pacquiao eventually persuaded the three-time Hall of Famer to come over, stressing that everything will be fine once he enters training camp.
Manny Pacquiao sweats it out in Baguio City. Dave Leprozo
“Kapag ako kasi nag-train, iba kaysa sa other boxers. Gusto ko pinarurusahan ko yung katawan ko," he said.
“At tsaka tamang-tama sa training camp itong Baguio," added Pacquiao, stressing that the City of Pines sits at 1,500 meters above sea level.
Security will also be tightened once Roach and Co. arrive, as deputy national security adviser Chavit Singson, a close friend of Pacquiao, promised to provide security details around the camp.
Sparring partners Shawn Porter and long-time sparmate Urbano Antillon are expected to arrive in the country within the week. - GMANews.TV
see more from gma http://www.gmanews.tv/story/172807/roach-to-take-over-pacquiaos-training-camp
Chief trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza will arrive in the country Tuesday to whip up Manny Pacquiao into shape for his coming title bout with Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.
The American duo will plane in at 6 a.m. from Los Angeles, California via Philippine Airlines.
Upon arrival, Roach and Ariza will be quickly brought to Baguio City to join Pacquiao in the training camp.
They are expected to take charge of the Filipino boxing sensation’s afternoon workout at the Cooyesan Hotel along Naguilan Road.
Manny Pacquiao does the mitts with assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez. Dave Leprozo
Pacquiao already began training for the Nov. 14 bout Monday, starting off with a road work around Burnham Park accompanied by assistant cornerman Buboy Fernandez, before sweating it out in the afternoon at a well-equipped gym inside the hotel, which will serve as the Pacman’s base for the next four weeks.
By mid-October, Team Pacquiao proceeds to the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles for the final phase of his preparation against the 28-year-old Cotto, the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion.
A case of overstaying and a threat of paying excess taxes in the U.S forced Pacquiao to set up his initial training camp here. Under U.S tax law, an alien like the boxing star is only allowed to stay in the U.S. for 180 days for three years.
Roach initially had been opposed to training the world’s pound-for-pound king in his hometown, stressing too many distractions will hamper his concentration the way it did during past training camps he had in General Santos City and Cebu.
But Pacquiao eventually persuaded the three-time Hall of Famer to come over, stressing that everything will be fine once he enters training camp.
Manny Pacquiao sweats it out in Baguio City. Dave Leprozo
“Kapag ako kasi nag-train, iba kaysa sa other boxers. Gusto ko pinarurusahan ko yung katawan ko," he said.
“At tsaka tamang-tama sa training camp itong Baguio," added Pacquiao, stressing that the City of Pines sits at 1,500 meters above sea level.
Security will also be tightened once Roach and Co. arrive, as deputy national security adviser Chavit Singson, a close friend of Pacquiao, promised to provide security details around the camp.
Sparring partners Shawn Porter and long-time sparmate Urbano Antillon are expected to arrive in the country within the week. - GMANews.TV
see more from gma http://www.gmanews.tv/story/172807/roach-to-take-over-pacquiaos-training-camp
Monday, October 5, 2009
Pacquiao claims he’s a low-maintenance guy
An interesting article about Manny Pacquiao's celebrity life in the Philippines. Read on...
MANILA, Philippines—The more fights he wins, the better Manny Pacquiao seems to be looking.
The celebrity boxer is often seen in crisp long-sleeved shirts, well-fitted trousers and designer leather shoes. Accessories are basic blings, usually a diamond stud on the left ear. Even his hair seems to be different now, full, with side-swept bangs.
But he insists that while he has become more fashion-savvy, his grooming routine has been kept to the minimum proper haircut.
“I have two barbers from General Santos who cut my hair,” he said. “Pinapapunta ko sila dito sa Manila kapag kailangan ko ng gupit.”
The 30-year-old boxing champ is the newest poster boy for Head & Shoulders for Men Hair Retain Shampoo. It targets two main hygiene issues of men: dandruff and falling hair.
Pacquiao has gained a major fan base and has been endorsing items from ice cream to motorbikes. Head & Shoulders is his first venture in personal care products.
“Before pa ng fights ko sa Amerika, gumagamit na talaga ako ng Head & Shoulders, totoo talaga ’yan,” he said at the recent launch at Ranaissance Hotel in Makati. “Noon namang nasa Amerika ako, nagbabaon ako ng mga dalawang malalaking bote para gamitin doon. Kaya natutuwa ako noong kinausap nila ako para maging endorser.”
Pacquiao said he is low-maintenance when it comes to skin care as well. His wife, Jinkee, said in a recent Inquirer interview that he cannot put skin products on his face or have treatments because it might get too sensitive when hit during fights.
His advice to fellow Filipinos who look up to him as a male idol: The key to looking good is being confident and thinking positive.
“Dapat confident ka sa sarili mo. Katulad sa boxing, dapat nage-ensayo. Kapag nasa fight, dapat walang iniisip na negative.”
The Golden Boy from GenSan’s fashion style has improved over the years. Did he hire a stylist?
He said he still picks his own clothes, but there’s someone else who buys it for him. “Ako ang namimili pero may bumibili para sa akin.”
Macho shampoo
While there are tons of anti-dandruff shampoos in the market, Head & Shoulders Hair Retain promises to be the made-to-measure product for men.
“What makes it different is it combats dandruff and prevents hair loss with regular use,” said Gloria Nieto, Head & Shoulders’ country marketing manager.
“It has a conditioning level optimized for men’s needs, so it’s not too strong to drag men’s short hair down, making it limp and looking sparse, nor too light to make it stiff. The scent is also tested and developed with men.”
The active ingredient is zinc pyrithione, which counters the growth of the yeast (Malassezia globosa) on the scalp for a healthy, flake-free feel. It has a softening blend that makes it fit for men who do not use conditioner on their hair.
Dr. Adolfo B. Bormate, hair and scalp expert from UP-PGH, said 50 percent of adults suffer from dandruff, making the scalp itchy, flaky and scaly. This condition is usually caused by fungi, oiliness and individual sensitivity.
Hair distress
“Dandruff prompts hair loss in two ways—repeated scratching that damages hair shaft and causes hair breakage; and by promoting shedding, resulting in thin hair,” Bormate said. “Since men produce more oil and sweat, it is best to use a potent anti-dandruff shampoo tailored to their needs.”
Dandruff and hair loss can also pose psychological concerns, said Dr. Randy Dellosa, a psychotherapist.
“When a guy learns he’s losing hair, his first reaction would be to deny and ignore it, thinking it would go away. If it doesn’t, he gets alarmed.
“He may become self-conscious and dress differently, stop wearing black because he has dandruff, or have an outrageous wardrobe to keep people’s eyes off his thinning crown.
“Paranoia may kick in when he starts thinking people laugh and talk behind his back, calling him names like “panot,” “shaggy,” “Hercules” (‘hair ko less’).”
Dandruff makes guys conscious because it makes them look unhygienic. Men look older with less hair, and this can damage their self-esteem, added Dellosa.
Pacquiao refused to comment on showbiz questions, especially those pertaining to women who are linked to him. He said his focus now is the upcoming fight with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
more from here http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090915-225262/Pacquiao-claims-hes-a-low-maintenance-guy
MANILA, Philippines—The more fights he wins, the better Manny Pacquiao seems to be looking.
The celebrity boxer is often seen in crisp long-sleeved shirts, well-fitted trousers and designer leather shoes. Accessories are basic blings, usually a diamond stud on the left ear. Even his hair seems to be different now, full, with side-swept bangs.
But he insists that while he has become more fashion-savvy, his grooming routine has been kept to the minimum proper haircut.
“I have two barbers from General Santos who cut my hair,” he said. “Pinapapunta ko sila dito sa Manila kapag kailangan ko ng gupit.”
The 30-year-old boxing champ is the newest poster boy for Head & Shoulders for Men Hair Retain Shampoo. It targets two main hygiene issues of men: dandruff and falling hair.
Pacquiao has gained a major fan base and has been endorsing items from ice cream to motorbikes. Head & Shoulders is his first venture in personal care products.
“Before pa ng fights ko sa Amerika, gumagamit na talaga ako ng Head & Shoulders, totoo talaga ’yan,” he said at the recent launch at Ranaissance Hotel in Makati. “Noon namang nasa Amerika ako, nagbabaon ako ng mga dalawang malalaking bote para gamitin doon. Kaya natutuwa ako noong kinausap nila ako para maging endorser.”
Pacquiao said he is low-maintenance when it comes to skin care as well. His wife, Jinkee, said in a recent Inquirer interview that he cannot put skin products on his face or have treatments because it might get too sensitive when hit during fights.
His advice to fellow Filipinos who look up to him as a male idol: The key to looking good is being confident and thinking positive.
“Dapat confident ka sa sarili mo. Katulad sa boxing, dapat nage-ensayo. Kapag nasa fight, dapat walang iniisip na negative.”
The Golden Boy from GenSan’s fashion style has improved over the years. Did he hire a stylist?
He said he still picks his own clothes, but there’s someone else who buys it for him. “Ako ang namimili pero may bumibili para sa akin.”
Macho shampoo
While there are tons of anti-dandruff shampoos in the market, Head & Shoulders Hair Retain promises to be the made-to-measure product for men.
“What makes it different is it combats dandruff and prevents hair loss with regular use,” said Gloria Nieto, Head & Shoulders’ country marketing manager.
“It has a conditioning level optimized for men’s needs, so it’s not too strong to drag men’s short hair down, making it limp and looking sparse, nor too light to make it stiff. The scent is also tested and developed with men.”
The active ingredient is zinc pyrithione, which counters the growth of the yeast (Malassezia globosa) on the scalp for a healthy, flake-free feel. It has a softening blend that makes it fit for men who do not use conditioner on their hair.
Dr. Adolfo B. Bormate, hair and scalp expert from UP-PGH, said 50 percent of adults suffer from dandruff, making the scalp itchy, flaky and scaly. This condition is usually caused by fungi, oiliness and individual sensitivity.
Hair distress
“Dandruff prompts hair loss in two ways—repeated scratching that damages hair shaft and causes hair breakage; and by promoting shedding, resulting in thin hair,” Bormate said. “Since men produce more oil and sweat, it is best to use a potent anti-dandruff shampoo tailored to their needs.”
Dandruff and hair loss can also pose psychological concerns, said Dr. Randy Dellosa, a psychotherapist.
“When a guy learns he’s losing hair, his first reaction would be to deny and ignore it, thinking it would go away. If it doesn’t, he gets alarmed.
“He may become self-conscious and dress differently, stop wearing black because he has dandruff, or have an outrageous wardrobe to keep people’s eyes off his thinning crown.
“Paranoia may kick in when he starts thinking people laugh and talk behind his back, calling him names like “panot,” “shaggy,” “Hercules” (‘hair ko less’).”
Dandruff makes guys conscious because it makes them look unhygienic. Men look older with less hair, and this can damage their self-esteem, added Dellosa.
Pacquiao refused to comment on showbiz questions, especially those pertaining to women who are linked to him. He said his focus now is the upcoming fight with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.
more from here http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20090915-225262/Pacquiao-claims-hes-a-low-maintenance-guy
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Pacquiao Says He Wins No Matter What Cotto Does
Got this interesting news on Pacquiao's confidence on winning over Cotto. Read on...
Manny Pacquiao says he prepared for any strategy that Miguel Cotto elects to use in their November 14th fight, saying “If I press the fight I’m sure he [Cotto] would run. And if I wait, he’ll come in. That is what will happen, if he either runs or takes the fight to me, it’s all right with me.” So in other words, Pacquiao sounds like he’s mad with confidence, bordering on someone that may have lost touch with reality.
To listen to Pacquiao talk, he looks to me be more than a little drunk on his past success from the Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton wins. I don’t what his sycophants have been doing in the Philippines, but it looks like they’ve been kissing Pacquiao’s backside 24/7 a little bit too much.
To hear Pacquiao tell it, he’s going to dominate Cotto, a bigger and stronger fighter, as if Pacquiao is fighting one of his super featherweight opponents. Pacquiao seems to forget that he hasn’t yet fought the best in the welterweight or even the light welterweight divisions.
If Pacquiao believes that Oscar De La Hoya was one of the best welterweights in boxing at the time that he fought him, then Pacquiao needs to have someone sit him down break the bad news to him about Oscar. De La Hoya wasn’t one of the best welterweights or one of the best light middleweights at the time that Pacquiao got to him. De La Hoya may have been ranked high by the sanctioning bodies, but that doesn’t mean anything.
If you have put De La Hoya in with someone like Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland, Oscar would have been massacred even worse than what Pacquiao. Of course it would be worse, those fighters could punch a hole through a wall and would make quick work of De La Hoya, and especially Pacquiao.
Okay, so De La Hoya was like a mummified fighter that was still there in body but his ability had left him a long time ago before Pacquiao decided to fight him. The same goes for Hatton. He had been showing cracks in his game since he was defeated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007.
Besides that, look at the fighters that Hatton had chose to fight since beating Kostya Tszyu in 2005: Carlos Maussa, Luis Collazo, whom he beat by a questionable 12 round decision, Juan Urango, Jose Luis Castillo, Mayweather, Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi. Out of all those names, I consider only the fight against Mayweather as a true world class opponent.
Hatton somehow conveniently missed fighting top light welterweights during that time like Timothy Bradley, Kendall Holt, Marcos Maidana, Victor Ortiz, Junior Witter, and Ricardo Torres. It looks like Hatton was steering away from the most dangerous fighters in the division for the most part and taking on easier opponents.
Okay, so the win over Hatton is no big deal because he hadn’t proven that he was still among the best in the division in the past three years. He was riding along on his past resume alone rather than still proving that he was the best.
So based on Pacquiao’s actual experience against fighters in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions, Pacquiao is essentially coming into his November 14th fight zero experience against top level opposition from what I could see. This is why it seems so weird to see Pacquiao talking as if he can walk on water and move mountains. Pacquiao needs to cringe and show some fear because Cotto is the best fighter, aside from Juan Manuel Marquez, that Pacquiao will have faced in his career.
more from here http://www.boxingnews24.com/2009/09/pacquiao-says-he-wins-no-matter-what-cotto-does/
Manny Pacquiao says he prepared for any strategy that Miguel Cotto elects to use in their November 14th fight, saying “If I press the fight I’m sure he [Cotto] would run. And if I wait, he’ll come in. That is what will happen, if he either runs or takes the fight to me, it’s all right with me.” So in other words, Pacquiao sounds like he’s mad with confidence, bordering on someone that may have lost touch with reality.
To listen to Pacquiao talk, he looks to me be more than a little drunk on his past success from the Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton wins. I don’t what his sycophants have been doing in the Philippines, but it looks like they’ve been kissing Pacquiao’s backside 24/7 a little bit too much.
To hear Pacquiao tell it, he’s going to dominate Cotto, a bigger and stronger fighter, as if Pacquiao is fighting one of his super featherweight opponents. Pacquiao seems to forget that he hasn’t yet fought the best in the welterweight or even the light welterweight divisions.
If Pacquiao believes that Oscar De La Hoya was one of the best welterweights in boxing at the time that he fought him, then Pacquiao needs to have someone sit him down break the bad news to him about Oscar. De La Hoya wasn’t one of the best welterweights or one of the best light middleweights at the time that Pacquiao got to him. De La Hoya may have been ranked high by the sanctioning bodies, but that doesn’t mean anything.
If you have put De La Hoya in with someone like Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland, Oscar would have been massacred even worse than what Pacquiao. Of course it would be worse, those fighters could punch a hole through a wall and would make quick work of De La Hoya, and especially Pacquiao.
Okay, so De La Hoya was like a mummified fighter that was still there in body but his ability had left him a long time ago before Pacquiao decided to fight him. The same goes for Hatton. He had been showing cracks in his game since he was defeated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007.
Besides that, look at the fighters that Hatton had chose to fight since beating Kostya Tszyu in 2005: Carlos Maussa, Luis Collazo, whom he beat by a questionable 12 round decision, Juan Urango, Jose Luis Castillo, Mayweather, Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi. Out of all those names, I consider only the fight against Mayweather as a true world class opponent.
Hatton somehow conveniently missed fighting top light welterweights during that time like Timothy Bradley, Kendall Holt, Marcos Maidana, Victor Ortiz, Junior Witter, and Ricardo Torres. It looks like Hatton was steering away from the most dangerous fighters in the division for the most part and taking on easier opponents.
Okay, so the win over Hatton is no big deal because he hadn’t proven that he was still among the best in the division in the past three years. He was riding along on his past resume alone rather than still proving that he was the best.
So based on Pacquiao’s actual experience against fighters in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions, Pacquiao is essentially coming into his November 14th fight zero experience against top level opposition from what I could see. This is why it seems so weird to see Pacquiao talking as if he can walk on water and move mountains. Pacquiao needs to cringe and show some fear because Cotto is the best fighter, aside from Juan Manuel Marquez, that Pacquiao will have faced in his career.
more from here http://www.boxingnews24.com/2009/09/pacquiao-says-he-wins-no-matter-what-cotto-does/
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Nobuhiro Ishida in Line For Santos vs Foreman Winner
see this news about the undercard match for the Cotto-Pacquiao match
By Mark Vester
In a move that makes no sense, Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida was crowned the WBA's interim-junior middleweight champion after winning a decision over Marco Avendano of Venezuela. The fight was set down by the WBA because full champion Daniel Santos has been unable to defend his title since winning it last July.
It doesn't make any sense to crown an interim-champion when Santos is defending his title against the mandatory, undefeated Yuri Foreman, on the November 14 undercard to Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto on November 14.
more boxing news here: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=21901
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Pacquiao starts training: Fans mob champ in Baguio camp
I was able to read this article on Pacquiao's Baguio training\
MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is providing a different kind of chill up in Baguio these days.
Since arriving in the country’s summer capital the other day, the reigning pound-for-pound champion has generated so much attention that people have started to follow him wherever he goes and drool over whatever he does.
Pacquiao was met by a pack of mediamen, including those from various wire agencies, at the Cooyeesan Hotel upon his arrival, and a horde of fans, mostly tourists, when he went out for a run at the famous Burnham Park.
Pacquiao was out on the road at 5 a.m. yesterday, and instead of going to the Sta. Lucia golf course, opted to go straight to the park located at the heart of Baguio City. Before he knew it, a crowd had gathered around him.
Pacquiao chose a spot to do his morning rituals after the run, some shadow boxing, stretching and abdominal exercises as a security team tried to shield him from the crowd.
“It’s okay, Michael,” he told his Canadian adviser, Mike Koncz, referring to the crowd that had inched closer to the boxer to watch his every move.
Pacquiao stayed in the park for close to an hour, and in between sets, shared jokes with his trainers, Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, and Koncz, who’s in charge of the boxer’s stay in Baguio.
Pacquiao was very friendly with his fans and showed them how he loves putting on a show while training.
After a brief rest in his hotel suite, Pacquiao moved a couple of floors lower where the gym is located. He worked out for nearly two hours, with just a few mediamen allowed in to take pictures of the boxer.
From the gym, Pacquiao moved to another wing of the hotel and played basketball with members of his team. The other day, he complained of some pain in his knee after playing basketball in San Francisco.
But all seems well now for the 30-year-old megastar who pounded the road, and the mitts like he’s been training for a month now.
Pacquiao has eight full weeks to prepare for his Nov. 14 fight with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto who’s in his first month of training by now. From Puerto Rico, he has moved over to Tampa, Florida.
Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach, and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, are scheduled to arrive this morning from Los Angeles and take the five-hour ride to Baguio to start presiding over the training. – With Artemio Dumlao
see more from Philippine Star http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=507510&publicationSubCategoryId=69
MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is providing a different kind of chill up in Baguio these days.
Since arriving in the country’s summer capital the other day, the reigning pound-for-pound champion has generated so much attention that people have started to follow him wherever he goes and drool over whatever he does.
Pacquiao was met by a pack of mediamen, including those from various wire agencies, at the Cooyeesan Hotel upon his arrival, and a horde of fans, mostly tourists, when he went out for a run at the famous Burnham Park.
Pacquiao was out on the road at 5 a.m. yesterday, and instead of going to the Sta. Lucia golf course, opted to go straight to the park located at the heart of Baguio City. Before he knew it, a crowd had gathered around him.
Pacquiao chose a spot to do his morning rituals after the run, some shadow boxing, stretching and abdominal exercises as a security team tried to shield him from the crowd.
“It’s okay, Michael,” he told his Canadian adviser, Mike Koncz, referring to the crowd that had inched closer to the boxer to watch his every move.
Pacquiao stayed in the park for close to an hour, and in between sets, shared jokes with his trainers, Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, and Koncz, who’s in charge of the boxer’s stay in Baguio.
Pacquiao was very friendly with his fans and showed them how he loves putting on a show while training.
After a brief rest in his hotel suite, Pacquiao moved a couple of floors lower where the gym is located. He worked out for nearly two hours, with just a few mediamen allowed in to take pictures of the boxer.
From the gym, Pacquiao moved to another wing of the hotel and played basketball with members of his team. The other day, he complained of some pain in his knee after playing basketball in San Francisco.
But all seems well now for the 30-year-old megastar who pounded the road, and the mitts like he’s been training for a month now.
Pacquiao has eight full weeks to prepare for his Nov. 14 fight with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto who’s in his first month of training by now. From Puerto Rico, he has moved over to Tampa, Florida.
Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach, and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, are scheduled to arrive this morning from Los Angeles and take the five-hour ride to Baguio to start presiding over the training. – With Artemio Dumlao
see more from Philippine Star http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=507510&publicationSubCategoryId=69
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Pacquiao-Cotto: Cancun Site Offered For Manny's Training
see this news from Ronnie about Manny's training location:
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says that a sprawling hacienda in Cancun has been offered as a training site for world pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao in preparation for his ‘Fire Power” showdown against WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto with the added attraction of the WBC “Diamond Belt” also on the line at the MGM Grand on November 14.
Arum said that Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz had visited possible training sites in Mexico and that Pacquiao would “have the (Cancun) hacienda all to himself. Its private and its great. The weather is perfect so we advised him to go but what he does, who knows.”
Arum shared trainer Freddie Roach’s concern about setting up training camp in the Philippines with its many distractions aside from the fact that Cotto is a dangerous opponent who cannot be taken lightly by anyone, including Pacquiao.
He said the Filipino boxing icon has “got to let us know so we c an set things up. The Bahamas is still available, its all available. The only object is for “him to pull the trigger” so they know where he’ll train.
The Top Rank promoter who has chartered Pacquiao’s career to remarkable heights said Pacquiao should have “started light training right now and the go to heavy training when he comes over here” even as he expressed the hope that Pacquiao was at least doing some running.
Arum said other than Pacquiao’s training camp site and schedule “everything is going great” even as he disclosed that one more US baseball team, the San Diego Padres will stage a “Manny Pacquiao Night and they are going to give the proceeds on the extra tickets they sell to the Manny Pacquiao Foundation.”
The baseball promotional tour will begin at Yankee Stadium in New York before they leave for a press conference in Puerto Rico after which they fly to a night with the San Francisco Giants after which they go to Los Angeles .
At the same time Arum said that Pacquiao won’t be able to watch the Rodel Mayol title rematch with WBO light flyweight champion Ivan Calderon on September 12 because they have to “get on a plane that afternoon to go to San Francisco and on Sunday we’ll have a press conference with 50,000 at the giant Dodgers Stadium” in Los Angeles.
more news here: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=21900
Saturday, September 19, 2009
'Left-Hook Lounge': Vivek Wallace's mailbag feat. Pacquiao, Mayweather, Urango, Cloud, and more!
got this interesting news on Pacquiao's left hook:
by Michael S. (Brooklyn, NY): With a loss to Miguel Cotto, what do you think would be next for Manny Pacquiao?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think at this point it's tough to say. Being age 30 and having over 50 fights under his belt, there's no question that the wars have taken a huge toll on Pacquiao already. I think a humbling loss (particularly via early KO) would force many around him to push him to pack it in, as there would be little else to prove and the lust of a Mayweather showdown would be not only reduced, but somewhat stripped away, replaced instead by a mounting interest in a Mayweather/Cotto showdown. Considering Pacquiao's mega-man status in the sport, I think it would be hard to see him jumping back in line to face the current 140lb champs, but on the flipside, his ability to win at the negotiations table against marquee names would be greatly compromised as well, so it greatly distorts his options. I think there's only one other place he could look if he decides to stick around, and this option would inevitably place him right back in contention with a solid performance. That option is none other than JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ.. And I put that in all caps because that's the fight that Pacquiao said he has no interest in, (reference to his "finished business" statement after the JMM II fight), yet everyone else in the world does. This fight is a must before both men leave the sport, particularly if they both lose their pending matchups. As much sense as retirement would make, I don't know how easy it would be in the case of Pacquiao, because literally EVERYONE from the Philippines that I have talked to tells me very adamantly that they love him in the ring, but have ZERO interest in seeing him in any type of political seat, which brings about another potential challenge for him. That challenge is a loss of identity, because with little left to do in the ring and little support from his people relative to his political ventures, there will inevitably be a very tough to fill void in his life. The more I think of it, the more I realize that no matter how great things currently are, the life of Pacquiao is a very delicate one right now, and there's a thin line that could quickly take his life from sugar to another "S" word that I'm not exactly able to spell out! If he walks away from the sport, there would be no more boxing and (from what I'm hearing) no political support either....so, where would he really go? There's a lot riding on this fight for him. More than many of us thought about prior to now.
Jeremy O. (Philly, PA): Do you think Mayweather will be affected by having to weigh in at 144lbs against Marquez?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think Mayweather's biggest issue coming into this fight will be the man across from him and any potential ring rust found within him. The weight, I don't see being an issue at all. Miguel Cotto is viewed by many as being a big welterweight, and even in his case, ever since becoming a welter a few years back, he has only weighed in at exactly 147lbs 3-times in 8 welterweight fights. Mayweather is very similar, only tipping the scales at 147lbs twice in four welterweight fights, not including the ODH fight which took place at 154lbs, allowing him to tip the scales at 150lbs. Contrary to popular belief, these guys aren't nearly as big as they seem. Some may argue that Cotto is, but Mayweather, I've seen in between fights on plenty of occasions and I don't think I've ever seen the guy above 155lbs. Ever! So despite the layoff of nearly two years, considering his dedication to the gym, (which he never stopped training), I don't think the loss of a few more pounds will be detrimental, although stranger things have happened. It's only my opinion, but we'll have to wait and see, perhaps.
Pierre R. (Los Angeles, CA): What do you take from the fact that Pacquiao is still filming movies and side-tracked while Cotto is already in full training mode?
Vivek W. (ESB): I take away the fact that Pacquiao is doing what he is able to do while Cotto is doing what he has to do. Remember, Cotto is the one that has to come down in weight and not allow it to be such a drastic change that it affects his bottomline performance on fight night, not Pacquiao. The average fight camp last roughly 2 months, and Pacquiao's people have already stated that he'll be done with all outside obligations no later than September 5th, giving him plenty of time to get prepared. One thing that I do have a concern about is the fact that there are so many other key issues surrounding Pacquiao prior to his camp. As of right now, he still has no idea where that camp will be held, and many of the destinations being discussed leave room for circus atmospheres and too many hanger-on's to fight off. Cancun, the Bahamas, Cebu....all great cities....and also all poor places to conduct a camp of this importance. I think words like normalcy, regularity and continuity come with a high premium, and I guess I'm not totally sold on Pacquiao having to deal with a new environment, with new elements, and new people before arguably the most career defining fight of his illustrious career. A few years ago, I was assigned to the NBA's Miami Heat (by way of Most Valuable Network), and I can remember covering the championship series when the Dallas Mavericks were up 2-0 against the Miami Heat. With only two games left to win to wrap up the series, all of a sudden, despite having all the answers for the opponent on the court, it was the outside influence that created the first level of doubt in the mind of the Mavericks head coach, forcing him to change lodging locations because the temptations and distractions were greater than any 'championship focus' speech he could ever deliver. That move came a day too late, as not only did the level of confidence change, but so did the winning ways. That team would never win another game in that series, and subsequently never reach a stage that grand again (to date). As I mentioned in an earlier question, a humbling loss (or any kind for that matter) means a world of change for Pacquiao. This is not the fight he wants to let slip away. I can only hope for his sake that the movie, the commercials, and the fight camp questions are all wrapped up when it's time to really train, because if they aren't, he'll have himself to blame if his career is ("wrapped up") when this fight is over.
Darius S. (Liberty City, FL.): How do you rate Tavoris Cloud amongst the top light heavyweights after seeing his recent performance against Clinton Woods?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think at this point it's a bit tough to say, because few people have really taken notice of exactly how good Cloud is. Prior to his recent victory, only the hardcore American fight fans - (particularly in Florida) - took note of his worth, but after last weeks win against the U.K.'s Clinton Woods on national television, I think suddenly, his name will find it's way on the tip of many other tongues around the sport. I thought that he performed extremely well, and few took note of the fact that he actually entered the ring with sore throat and what I'm being told was flu-like symptoms I think shows a lot more. It wasn't an easy fight, but he dug down deep and was able to defeat a guy who came into the showdown knowing that his window of opportunity to stay relevant in the light heavyweight division was quickly closing, so I think you have to consider all those outside factors and view him as a guy on a mission. Now, where does he sit, relative to the bigger names in the division? I won't say that he's ready for a Bernard Hopkins just yet, (then again, who is), but I'd be lying if I didn't say that he'd give Dawson a very intriguing showdown, and if Dawson is victorious against Johnson in their rematch, I think clearly, Dawson/Cloud has to be made no later than Summer 2010. Both men have very good speed, both are undefeated (Dawson 27-0, 18KO's/Cloud 20-0, 18KO's), and both now hold straps in a division that has slowly heated up to a nice simmer. Granted, Cloud doesn't have the resume of Dawson, but after defeating a formidable contender like Woods, it only makes sense, as every other marquee matchup to be made in the division may require him to travel abroad, which is something that even Dawson hasn't done, yet one of the two will inevitably soon have to (more than likely). I like Cloud alot, and I think he put himself in a great position, as it relates to his status in the LHW division.
Carmelo F. (Orlando, FL): Do you think that Juan Urango can be a top player in the busy jr. welterweight division?
Vivek W. (ESB): Personally, I think Juan Urango is much closer to the thick of things than many may give him credit for. Many have taken a lot away from him after his recent loss to Berto, but Berto's speed, decent power, and raw ability - (not to mention size) - was far more to deal with than anything he would ever encounter in today's jr. welterweight division. He (Urango) isn't the fastest guy on the planet, so those with superior boxing skills and an ability to handle his body shots stand a very good chance to defeat him. Now, when you look at that list, that's where things get interesting, though, because many of the divisions big names have a few things to prove themselves. Bradley has the speed to handle him, but I'd love to see him try to handle that body banging for 12rds from a guy he can't back up because I've never seen him in with a fighter like that. Khan and Devon Alexander, same thing. Urango doesn't fight going backwards and neither of those guys have the brute strength to make him reconsider, so you have to ask yourself how many of them would really handle him coming forward hacking away all night? There are two men that I would love see face Urango at 140lbs right now, and I think it would be a great proving grounds for all three involved. Victor Ortiz....who we know has a good punch, but desperately needs this type of grind-it-out fight to try once again to show the world that he can handle a bruising type fighter who he can't knock out. My second choice would be Nate Campbell, because I think a solid performance against a fighter like this would prove to many that Campbell is easily ready for anything the division could toss at him. Campbell is also a grind-it-out type fighter, and if he can walk a guy like Urango down who typically won't fight backwards, I don't see many other guys in the division that would maintain the stamina to slow him down over the course of 12rds. It's one thing to show more speed, but speed goes away by the round when a fighter is being worn down. I think the Campbell/Urango showdown would be a great gauge - and in effect a coming out party - for whichever man emerges in that fight and I hope if Shaw and Bradley don't give Campbell his well deserved rematch, this Urango/Cambell fight happens. They're both in Florida so this may be an easy fight to make happen. We'll see what happens.
see more: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20989&more=1
by Michael S. (Brooklyn, NY): With a loss to Miguel Cotto, what do you think would be next for Manny Pacquiao?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think at this point it's tough to say. Being age 30 and having over 50 fights under his belt, there's no question that the wars have taken a huge toll on Pacquiao already. I think a humbling loss (particularly via early KO) would force many around him to push him to pack it in, as there would be little else to prove and the lust of a Mayweather showdown would be not only reduced, but somewhat stripped away, replaced instead by a mounting interest in a Mayweather/Cotto showdown. Considering Pacquiao's mega-man status in the sport, I think it would be hard to see him jumping back in line to face the current 140lb champs, but on the flipside, his ability to win at the negotiations table against marquee names would be greatly compromised as well, so it greatly distorts his options. I think there's only one other place he could look if he decides to stick around, and this option would inevitably place him right back in contention with a solid performance. That option is none other than JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ.. And I put that in all caps because that's the fight that Pacquiao said he has no interest in, (reference to his "finished business" statement after the JMM II fight), yet everyone else in the world does. This fight is a must before both men leave the sport, particularly if they both lose their pending matchups. As much sense as retirement would make, I don't know how easy it would be in the case of Pacquiao, because literally EVERYONE from the Philippines that I have talked to tells me very adamantly that they love him in the ring, but have ZERO interest in seeing him in any type of political seat, which brings about another potential challenge for him. That challenge is a loss of identity, because with little left to do in the ring and little support from his people relative to his political ventures, there will inevitably be a very tough to fill void in his life. The more I think of it, the more I realize that no matter how great things currently are, the life of Pacquiao is a very delicate one right now, and there's a thin line that could quickly take his life from sugar to another "S" word that I'm not exactly able to spell out! If he walks away from the sport, there would be no more boxing and (from what I'm hearing) no political support either....so, where would he really go? There's a lot riding on this fight for him. More than many of us thought about prior to now.
Jeremy O. (Philly, PA): Do you think Mayweather will be affected by having to weigh in at 144lbs against Marquez?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think Mayweather's biggest issue coming into this fight will be the man across from him and any potential ring rust found within him. The weight, I don't see being an issue at all. Miguel Cotto is viewed by many as being a big welterweight, and even in his case, ever since becoming a welter a few years back, he has only weighed in at exactly 147lbs 3-times in 8 welterweight fights. Mayweather is very similar, only tipping the scales at 147lbs twice in four welterweight fights, not including the ODH fight which took place at 154lbs, allowing him to tip the scales at 150lbs. Contrary to popular belief, these guys aren't nearly as big as they seem. Some may argue that Cotto is, but Mayweather, I've seen in between fights on plenty of occasions and I don't think I've ever seen the guy above 155lbs. Ever! So despite the layoff of nearly two years, considering his dedication to the gym, (which he never stopped training), I don't think the loss of a few more pounds will be detrimental, although stranger things have happened. It's only my opinion, but we'll have to wait and see, perhaps.
Pierre R. (Los Angeles, CA): What do you take from the fact that Pacquiao is still filming movies and side-tracked while Cotto is already in full training mode?
Vivek W. (ESB): I take away the fact that Pacquiao is doing what he is able to do while Cotto is doing what he has to do. Remember, Cotto is the one that has to come down in weight and not allow it to be such a drastic change that it affects his bottomline performance on fight night, not Pacquiao. The average fight camp last roughly 2 months, and Pacquiao's people have already stated that he'll be done with all outside obligations no later than September 5th, giving him plenty of time to get prepared. One thing that I do have a concern about is the fact that there are so many other key issues surrounding Pacquiao prior to his camp. As of right now, he still has no idea where that camp will be held, and many of the destinations being discussed leave room for circus atmospheres and too many hanger-on's to fight off. Cancun, the Bahamas, Cebu....all great cities....and also all poor places to conduct a camp of this importance. I think words like normalcy, regularity and continuity come with a high premium, and I guess I'm not totally sold on Pacquiao having to deal with a new environment, with new elements, and new people before arguably the most career defining fight of his illustrious career. A few years ago, I was assigned to the NBA's Miami Heat (by way of Most Valuable Network), and I can remember covering the championship series when the Dallas Mavericks were up 2-0 against the Miami Heat. With only two games left to win to wrap up the series, all of a sudden, despite having all the answers for the opponent on the court, it was the outside influence that created the first level of doubt in the mind of the Mavericks head coach, forcing him to change lodging locations because the temptations and distractions were greater than any 'championship focus' speech he could ever deliver. That move came a day too late, as not only did the level of confidence change, but so did the winning ways. That team would never win another game in that series, and subsequently never reach a stage that grand again (to date). As I mentioned in an earlier question, a humbling loss (or any kind for that matter) means a world of change for Pacquiao. This is not the fight he wants to let slip away. I can only hope for his sake that the movie, the commercials, and the fight camp questions are all wrapped up when it's time to really train, because if they aren't, he'll have himself to blame if his career is ("wrapped up") when this fight is over.
Darius S. (Liberty City, FL.): How do you rate Tavoris Cloud amongst the top light heavyweights after seeing his recent performance against Clinton Woods?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think at this point it's a bit tough to say, because few people have really taken notice of exactly how good Cloud is. Prior to his recent victory, only the hardcore American fight fans - (particularly in Florida) - took note of his worth, but after last weeks win against the U.K.'s Clinton Woods on national television, I think suddenly, his name will find it's way on the tip of many other tongues around the sport. I thought that he performed extremely well, and few took note of the fact that he actually entered the ring with sore throat and what I'm being told was flu-like symptoms I think shows a lot more. It wasn't an easy fight, but he dug down deep and was able to defeat a guy who came into the showdown knowing that his window of opportunity to stay relevant in the light heavyweight division was quickly closing, so I think you have to consider all those outside factors and view him as a guy on a mission. Now, where does he sit, relative to the bigger names in the division? I won't say that he's ready for a Bernard Hopkins just yet, (then again, who is), but I'd be lying if I didn't say that he'd give Dawson a very intriguing showdown, and if Dawson is victorious against Johnson in their rematch, I think clearly, Dawson/Cloud has to be made no later than Summer 2010. Both men have very good speed, both are undefeated (Dawson 27-0, 18KO's/Cloud 20-0, 18KO's), and both now hold straps in a division that has slowly heated up to a nice simmer. Granted, Cloud doesn't have the resume of Dawson, but after defeating a formidable contender like Woods, it only makes sense, as every other marquee matchup to be made in the division may require him to travel abroad, which is something that even Dawson hasn't done, yet one of the two will inevitably soon have to (more than likely). I like Cloud alot, and I think he put himself in a great position, as it relates to his status in the LHW division.
Carmelo F. (Orlando, FL): Do you think that Juan Urango can be a top player in the busy jr. welterweight division?
Vivek W. (ESB): Personally, I think Juan Urango is much closer to the thick of things than many may give him credit for. Many have taken a lot away from him after his recent loss to Berto, but Berto's speed, decent power, and raw ability - (not to mention size) - was far more to deal with than anything he would ever encounter in today's jr. welterweight division. He (Urango) isn't the fastest guy on the planet, so those with superior boxing skills and an ability to handle his body shots stand a very good chance to defeat him. Now, when you look at that list, that's where things get interesting, though, because many of the divisions big names have a few things to prove themselves. Bradley has the speed to handle him, but I'd love to see him try to handle that body banging for 12rds from a guy he can't back up because I've never seen him in with a fighter like that. Khan and Devon Alexander, same thing. Urango doesn't fight going backwards and neither of those guys have the brute strength to make him reconsider, so you have to ask yourself how many of them would really handle him coming forward hacking away all night? There are two men that I would love see face Urango at 140lbs right now, and I think it would be a great proving grounds for all three involved. Victor Ortiz....who we know has a good punch, but desperately needs this type of grind-it-out fight to try once again to show the world that he can handle a bruising type fighter who he can't knock out. My second choice would be Nate Campbell, because I think a solid performance against a fighter like this would prove to many that Campbell is easily ready for anything the division could toss at him. Campbell is also a grind-it-out type fighter, and if he can walk a guy like Urango down who typically won't fight backwards, I don't see many other guys in the division that would maintain the stamina to slow him down over the course of 12rds. It's one thing to show more speed, but speed goes away by the round when a fighter is being worn down. I think the Campbell/Urango showdown would be a great gauge - and in effect a coming out party - for whichever man emerges in that fight and I hope if Shaw and Bradley don't give Campbell his well deserved rematch, this Urango/Cambell fight happens. They're both in Florida so this may be an easy fight to make happen. We'll see what happens.
see more: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20989&more=1
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
ON DECK: THE COTTO/PACQUIAO PRESS CONFERENCE
Read on if you want news on Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto's press conference:
You’ve probably seen black and white photos of the old Yankee Stadium, frozen moments of sports history that speak of another time. Spectators in suits. Lit cigars. A haze of romance under the bright lights. And in some photographs, a boxing ring replaces the infield, two men replace nine. Benny Leonard. Jack Dempsey. Henry Armstrong. Willy Pep. Joe Louis. Sugar Ray Robinson. Rocky Marciano. Muhammad Ali. These boxing icons all showcased their talent at the house that Ruth built. And on these long-ago fight nights, polite pinstripes were absent. Present were two men, torsos exposed, fighting for their reputations and their lives.
On September 10th at the new Yankee Stadium, a fight wasn’t held, but a press conference was. Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao were in New York City hyping their November 14th showdown, which will happen in Las Vegas at the house that MGM built. This mega-fight, between the current pound-for-pound best against one of the toughest, smartest and most resilient fighters in the sport, promises to be a classic. Pacquiao is brutal aggression. Cotto is brutal counter-aggression. It’s a styles-make-fights formula that has fans looking past Marquez/Mayweather.
The usual press conference table, dais in the center, name cards blowing in the Bronx breeze, was set up on the first base side of the field. On the mega-screen in centerfield, clips of past Cotto and Pacquiao fights felt like background noise while the press talked and waited. A whole seating section of fans had come out too, Puerto Rican flags and Yankee caps shouting out allegiances.
Bob Arum entered first, followed by an assortment of suit-and-ties who postured tough despite smooth faces. Then came Freddy Roach and the crowd erupted for one of the premier trainers in the game. Roach was dressed casually, jeans and a green polo shirt, just another press conference to get through before the real work begins.
The Yankees rep stepped up to the dais first and welcomed everyone to the new stadium, read off a list of boxing greats who’d fought in the old stadium, and ran down the numbers. Twenty-nine fight cards. Eight Joe Louis fights, including the second Louis/Schemling bout. When Pacquiao was mentioned, the crowd booed, but this harsh reception was laced with good humor, the press conference too far from fight time to produce real malice. When Cotto was mentioned, the crowd cheered.
Bob Arum spoke next and called out the fighters one at a time. The visiting Pacquiao entered first, also in jeans, also wearing a green shirt, the same color as his WBC belts. Green is the color of youth and Pacquiao is actually the older fighter by two years, but his ring wear, despite a face that is more scarred than Cotto’s, is not so great. In his last fights, Pacquiao steamrolled De La Hoya and Hatton. In Cotto’s last fights, he sustained Margarito’s plaster-enforced damage and Clottey’s often vicious attack. Pac Man seemed genuinely happy to be here and when someone from the crowd yelled, “Cotto’s gonna fuck him up” in fine Yankee-fan form, Pacquiao laughed a wide-open, genuine laugh, an unconcerned man on a late summer’s day. Cotto entered the field next and, as always, he was dressed for business, a tie around his neck. Each fighter was given a personalized Yankee jersey to wear and Arum’s short speech was done.
Melvina Lathan, New York’s new boxing commissioner, spoke briefly. Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, spoke next and dubbed the new Yankee Stadium the house that Jeter built. Then a bigwig from the MGM Casino. Then a woman representing Tecate beer, the chief sponsor. And then Freddy Roach stepped up to the mike. Finally, the empty welcomes were done and the corporate nods nodded.
“This will be a great fight,” Roach said. “I’m getting Manny ready for the toughest fight of his life. On the 14th Manny will be ready.”
Cotto and Pacquiao were equally brief.
“I’m happy to be here,” Manny Pacquiao said. “This is my first time in Yankee Stadium. This fight is going to be a great, great fight. I’m excited and happy. I know Miguel Cotto is bigger than me and stronger, but I will do my best. He is a nice boxer and a good man. Don’t worry. I will train hard for this fight.”
Cotto, always soft spoken and quietly eloquent, finished his quick remarks with, “I heard what Bob Arum said before presenting Manny Pacquiao. The guy who stopped Oscar De La Hoya. The guy who stopped Ricky Hatton. I’m not Oscar De la Hoya. I’m not Ricky Hatton. I’m going to do my best.”
And that was that. The fighters posed for the cameras, did their face-to-face stare down and, when it was done, Cotto shook Pacquiao’s hand, always polite, always “nice” and “good” outside the ring, and the official press conference ended. Perhaps this really was the house that Jeter built. Everyone’s comments were as homogenized as a Derek Jeter interview. But like Jeter, these two men come to play and play hard. The fighters were asked to move on to their respective dugouts. In the home team dugout, the camera crews waited for their television interviews. The writers were assigned the visitor’s dugout. Very symbolic.
I joined the circle of reporters around Freddy Roach who stayed on the open field. Like all great teachers, Freddy Roach always has a lesson plan ready and as he fielded questions it was evident he’d already prepared his next training-camp term. Roach is clearly impressed by Pacquiao’s speed and strength and heart and work ethic. He is also clearly impressed by how tough this test will be. On the subject of Cotto, Roach said, “This is one hundred percent Manny’s toughest fight. He (Cotto) is strong. He is physical. He’s not old like Oscar De La Hoya. He’s in his prime.” But Manny is a special breed of fighter and despite his celebrity status in the Philippines where he’s a literal movie star, Roach was certain that his charge would take nothing for granted. “He is never over confident. He respects everyone. He trains his ass off. He’s the greatest workhorse I’ve ever seen. Once he gets to camp, he’s a machine.”
Press conferences can’t tell you much. You can watch the fighters as they pose in their stare down and assess how they match up in size. Toe to toe and eyes to eyes, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao look like equals. Experts keep talking about Cotto’s size advantage, and he’s certainly the more natural welterweight, but with their clothes on two months before the fight, there’s no apparent advantage for the champion from Puerto Rico. The big visual differences are Manny’s block-shaped head designed to absorb punishment without effect and Cotto’s sloping shoulders, suggesting the kind of deceptive power reminiscent of slope-shouldered Yankee great Don Mattingly. I suppose you can rate the fighters on eloquence at a press conference, but in the ring words mean squat. Perhaps that’s why these two veterans kept their official remarks short and relatively sweet. The odds for the fight are -250 for Pacquiao and for this fight I agree with the oddsmakers, who are rarely wrong. Asked about the bout’s final outcome, each fighter refused to make a specific prediction. Freddy Roach picked his man by decision. “We don’t think we’ll knock Cotto out,” Freddy said. “But we think we’ll win every round.” Bold words from a man who has consistently backed up his words.
Perhaps I’m being overly bold, but I see the fight ending inside the distance. Cotto is a great fighter and I’m a fan, but I saw vulnerability in Cotto’s physical and mental strength when he fought Clottey and I keep picturing Manny, the machine from the Philippines, ripping Hatton’s head off. True, Cotto is no Hatton. True, Cotto is no De La Hoya. But when the pound-for-pound best, with no indication that his crescendo has peaked, fights a man on his way down, if only slightly, the results can be brutal. I see Pacquiao out boxing Cotto, out punching Cotto and busting Cotto up. By round nine, the ref will wave it off.
They don’t fight at Yankee Stadium any more. Yankee Stadium isn’t even Yankee Stadium. The new version is more Hard Rock Cafe capitalism than baseball anyway—when bleacher seats cost forty bucks, when a blue-collar family of four hoping to watch their yuppie team play ball can’t afford a hot dog, something is very wrong. Perhaps the good old days were not so good, but the new days are greedy. Ticket prices will be astronomical for the Cotto/Pacquiao fight in Vegas, but at least there will be no distractions. No Seventh Inning stretches. No bombardments of advertising on a mammoth centerfield screen. No blaring music. No blimps for hire circling the sky. There are rumors that one day soon there will be another mega-fight held at Yankee Stadium, but like a cynical New Yorker, I’ll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, two great fighters, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao, did speak at Yankee Stadium, albeit briefly. These two men, throwbacks in that they are fighters with true boxing skill, will fight in living color on November 14th. And at some time during that Las Vegas night, I hope at least one photographer will take a black and white shot of these two pugilists who, had they lived in another generation, would have been worthy of an old Yankee Stadium war.
more from here http://www.15rounds.com/on-deck-the-cottopacquiao-press-conference-091009/
You’ve probably seen black and white photos of the old Yankee Stadium, frozen moments of sports history that speak of another time. Spectators in suits. Lit cigars. A haze of romance under the bright lights. And in some photographs, a boxing ring replaces the infield, two men replace nine. Benny Leonard. Jack Dempsey. Henry Armstrong. Willy Pep. Joe Louis. Sugar Ray Robinson. Rocky Marciano. Muhammad Ali. These boxing icons all showcased their talent at the house that Ruth built. And on these long-ago fight nights, polite pinstripes were absent. Present were two men, torsos exposed, fighting for their reputations and their lives.
On September 10th at the new Yankee Stadium, a fight wasn’t held, but a press conference was. Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao were in New York City hyping their November 14th showdown, which will happen in Las Vegas at the house that MGM built. This mega-fight, between the current pound-for-pound best against one of the toughest, smartest and most resilient fighters in the sport, promises to be a classic. Pacquiao is brutal aggression. Cotto is brutal counter-aggression. It’s a styles-make-fights formula that has fans looking past Marquez/Mayweather.
The usual press conference table, dais in the center, name cards blowing in the Bronx breeze, was set up on the first base side of the field. On the mega-screen in centerfield, clips of past Cotto and Pacquiao fights felt like background noise while the press talked and waited. A whole seating section of fans had come out too, Puerto Rican flags and Yankee caps shouting out allegiances.
Bob Arum entered first, followed by an assortment of suit-and-ties who postured tough despite smooth faces. Then came Freddy Roach and the crowd erupted for one of the premier trainers in the game. Roach was dressed casually, jeans and a green polo shirt, just another press conference to get through before the real work begins.
The Yankees rep stepped up to the dais first and welcomed everyone to the new stadium, read off a list of boxing greats who’d fought in the old stadium, and ran down the numbers. Twenty-nine fight cards. Eight Joe Louis fights, including the second Louis/Schemling bout. When Pacquiao was mentioned, the crowd booed, but this harsh reception was laced with good humor, the press conference too far from fight time to produce real malice. When Cotto was mentioned, the crowd cheered.
Bob Arum spoke next and called out the fighters one at a time. The visiting Pacquiao entered first, also in jeans, also wearing a green shirt, the same color as his WBC belts. Green is the color of youth and Pacquiao is actually the older fighter by two years, but his ring wear, despite a face that is more scarred than Cotto’s, is not so great. In his last fights, Pacquiao steamrolled De La Hoya and Hatton. In Cotto’s last fights, he sustained Margarito’s plaster-enforced damage and Clottey’s often vicious attack. Pac Man seemed genuinely happy to be here and when someone from the crowd yelled, “Cotto’s gonna fuck him up” in fine Yankee-fan form, Pacquiao laughed a wide-open, genuine laugh, an unconcerned man on a late summer’s day. Cotto entered the field next and, as always, he was dressed for business, a tie around his neck. Each fighter was given a personalized Yankee jersey to wear and Arum’s short speech was done.
Melvina Lathan, New York’s new boxing commissioner, spoke briefly. Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, spoke next and dubbed the new Yankee Stadium the house that Jeter built. Then a bigwig from the MGM Casino. Then a woman representing Tecate beer, the chief sponsor. And then Freddy Roach stepped up to the mike. Finally, the empty welcomes were done and the corporate nods nodded.
“This will be a great fight,” Roach said. “I’m getting Manny ready for the toughest fight of his life. On the 14th Manny will be ready.”
Cotto and Pacquiao were equally brief.
“I’m happy to be here,” Manny Pacquiao said. “This is my first time in Yankee Stadium. This fight is going to be a great, great fight. I’m excited and happy. I know Miguel Cotto is bigger than me and stronger, but I will do my best. He is a nice boxer and a good man. Don’t worry. I will train hard for this fight.”
Cotto, always soft spoken and quietly eloquent, finished his quick remarks with, “I heard what Bob Arum said before presenting Manny Pacquiao. The guy who stopped Oscar De La Hoya. The guy who stopped Ricky Hatton. I’m not Oscar De la Hoya. I’m not Ricky Hatton. I’m going to do my best.”
And that was that. The fighters posed for the cameras, did their face-to-face stare down and, when it was done, Cotto shook Pacquiao’s hand, always polite, always “nice” and “good” outside the ring, and the official press conference ended. Perhaps this really was the house that Jeter built. Everyone’s comments were as homogenized as a Derek Jeter interview. But like Jeter, these two men come to play and play hard. The fighters were asked to move on to their respective dugouts. In the home team dugout, the camera crews waited for their television interviews. The writers were assigned the visitor’s dugout. Very symbolic.
I joined the circle of reporters around Freddy Roach who stayed on the open field. Like all great teachers, Freddy Roach always has a lesson plan ready and as he fielded questions it was evident he’d already prepared his next training-camp term. Roach is clearly impressed by Pacquiao’s speed and strength and heart and work ethic. He is also clearly impressed by how tough this test will be. On the subject of Cotto, Roach said, “This is one hundred percent Manny’s toughest fight. He (Cotto) is strong. He is physical. He’s not old like Oscar De La Hoya. He’s in his prime.” But Manny is a special breed of fighter and despite his celebrity status in the Philippines where he’s a literal movie star, Roach was certain that his charge would take nothing for granted. “He is never over confident. He respects everyone. He trains his ass off. He’s the greatest workhorse I’ve ever seen. Once he gets to camp, he’s a machine.”
Press conferences can’t tell you much. You can watch the fighters as they pose in their stare down and assess how they match up in size. Toe to toe and eyes to eyes, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao look like equals. Experts keep talking about Cotto’s size advantage, and he’s certainly the more natural welterweight, but with their clothes on two months before the fight, there’s no apparent advantage for the champion from Puerto Rico. The big visual differences are Manny’s block-shaped head designed to absorb punishment without effect and Cotto’s sloping shoulders, suggesting the kind of deceptive power reminiscent of slope-shouldered Yankee great Don Mattingly. I suppose you can rate the fighters on eloquence at a press conference, but in the ring words mean squat. Perhaps that’s why these two veterans kept their official remarks short and relatively sweet. The odds for the fight are -250 for Pacquiao and for this fight I agree with the oddsmakers, who are rarely wrong. Asked about the bout’s final outcome, each fighter refused to make a specific prediction. Freddy Roach picked his man by decision. “We don’t think we’ll knock Cotto out,” Freddy said. “But we think we’ll win every round.” Bold words from a man who has consistently backed up his words.
Perhaps I’m being overly bold, but I see the fight ending inside the distance. Cotto is a great fighter and I’m a fan, but I saw vulnerability in Cotto’s physical and mental strength when he fought Clottey and I keep picturing Manny, the machine from the Philippines, ripping Hatton’s head off. True, Cotto is no Hatton. True, Cotto is no De La Hoya. But when the pound-for-pound best, with no indication that his crescendo has peaked, fights a man on his way down, if only slightly, the results can be brutal. I see Pacquiao out boxing Cotto, out punching Cotto and busting Cotto up. By round nine, the ref will wave it off.
They don’t fight at Yankee Stadium any more. Yankee Stadium isn’t even Yankee Stadium. The new version is more Hard Rock Cafe capitalism than baseball anyway—when bleacher seats cost forty bucks, when a blue-collar family of four hoping to watch their yuppie team play ball can’t afford a hot dog, something is very wrong. Perhaps the good old days were not so good, but the new days are greedy. Ticket prices will be astronomical for the Cotto/Pacquiao fight in Vegas, but at least there will be no distractions. No Seventh Inning stretches. No bombardments of advertising on a mammoth centerfield screen. No blaring music. No blimps for hire circling the sky. There are rumors that one day soon there will be another mega-fight held at Yankee Stadium, but like a cynical New Yorker, I’ll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, two great fighters, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao, did speak at Yankee Stadium, albeit briefly. These two men, throwbacks in that they are fighters with true boxing skill, will fight in living color on November 14th. And at some time during that Las Vegas night, I hope at least one photographer will take a black and white shot of these two pugilists who, had they lived in another generation, would have been worthy of an old Yankee Stadium war.
more from here http://www.15rounds.com/on-deck-the-cottopacquiao-press-conference-091009/
If Miguel Cotto's shot, Manny Pacquiao will let us know
a commentary on the Pacquiao-Cotto fight:
For all the talk we've done here about the November 14 encounter between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, I've done my absolute best to stay way away from the "Miguel Cotto is a changed fighter" talk, and certainly haven't touched the "Miguel Cotto is shot" talk. The former may be true in some respects, and I personally feel that the latter is foolish. I've said repeatedly that those underestimating Cotto are way too quick to count out the Puerto Rican warrior, who won a good, hard and close fight against Joshua Clottey in June.
But I will say this, as I've certainly been wrong before and undoubtedly will be again: If Miguel Cotto is a reeling fighter, then Manny Pacquiao is exactly the guy to cement that idea.
After all, Pacquiao has a pretty strong record of putting the finishing touches, so to speak, on great careers. No less than four superstar fighters have essentially been put out to pasture by the Filipino icon this decade.
The first of the four was Mexico's Erik Morales, Pacquiao's second-greatest rival and one of the most gutsy, courageous fighters of his generation. When we say someone "fights like a Mexican," Morales is exactly the type of guy who employed the style we're talking about. He had boxing skills, but he was easily drawn into firefights. In their first bout back in 2005, Morales beat Pacquiao (115-113 across the board) with a phenomenal performance. It was also the last "real" Erik Morales performance we'd ever see.
In his next fight, Morales was stunned by Zahir Raheem, losing a 12-round decision, and then he rematched Pacquiao. This time, it was the younger, stronger Pacquiao that really gut-checked Morales, eventually stopping him in the 10th round. It was a hell of a fight, just as their first bout had been, but it was clear who the better man was, too. They fought once more in November 2006, with Pacquiao completely dominating and overwhelming Morales, winning by third round TKO.
The second man was Morales' greatest rival, Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao fought Barrera in 2003, coming in as a pretty heavy underdog for most, a fairly one-dimensional slugger with good speed and an awkward southpaw style. He was a one-handed fighter at the time. And that night, he tore Barrera to pieces before the Mexican's corner mercifully stopped the bout in the 11th round.
Morales fought once more, moving up to lightweight and losing a competitive scrap to David Diaz. He now intends to come back, but his relevant career is almost certainly finished.
In 2007, Pacquiao and Barrera fought again, and this time Barrera was the heavy underdog. He was coming off of a loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, a fight that was far closer than it was scored, but Pacquiao-Barrera II just never sizzled. It failed to truly captivate the interest of the fans, as the obvious true desire was for Pacquiao-Marquez II. Barrera also announced prior to the fight that it would be his last, and come fight night, he fought like a man simply there to earn one more good paycheck and not get himself embarrassed or knocked out. He lost a wide decision, fighting tentatively until swiping Pacquiao with a blatant cheap shot late in the fight.
Barrera, of course, also came back from retirement, making an ill-advised move to 135 pounds. It has not gone well, and his career, too, is now simply active instead of relevant.
Number three: Oscar de la Hoya. No question Oscar was weight-drained, out of shape, and far past his prime. But Pacquiao did what no one else had ever been able to do: He completely dominated de la Hoya to the point where Oscar had no choice but to swallow his pride, get off his stool, and quit. Even when Bernard Hopkins knocked Oscar out with a wicked body punch years ago, Oscar tried with all he had to get up off the mat and keep going. In that case, he physically couldn't do it. In this case, Pacquiao destroyed him physically and mentally.
Oscar retired from the ring after his loss to Pacquiao.
And then the fourth, obviously, is Ricky Hatton. Hatton is hinting that he's going to fight again, but he's never going to be the same guy. I do think in my gut that Ricky can still compete at a high level against most guys at 140 pounds, but would it shock me if he went out and wound up getting beaten by a much lesser-regarded fighter? No, it wouldn't. Pacquiao definitely took something from Hatton in May.
I'm not saying that Manny Pacquiao is the sole reason these guys retired. Oscar was aged and had done everything he was ever going to do in boxing as an active competitor. Morales and Hatton were both in their prime athletic years, but Morales in particular had already taken a lot of punishment over his legendary career, and Hatton had taken his fair share of lumps, too. Barrera simply seemed to lack any desire.
But in every case, there were two commons: Manny Pacquiao and whispers (sometimes much more) that Manny's opponent simply wasn't the fighter he used to be. Pacquiao's last two fights with Morales, the rematch with Barrera, the mega fights with Oscar and Ricky; every single one of them involved a guy that a good portion of folks thought was toast, or close to it.
Miguel Cotto has heard the same talk since his July 2008 loss to Antonio Margarito. Yes, there's a ton of controversy surrounding that fight now, but it doesn't change the physical effects it may well have had on Cotto, which could still be taking a toll on him. There are also the mental problems it may have introduced. He didn't look trigger-shy at all against a clearly overmatched Michael Jennings, but there are two ways to look at the Clottey fight. The first is he fought smart and with a bad cut that came from a headbutt, winning in a fine performance. That's how I prefer to see it.
But there are also those that really feel Miguel didn't look very good against Clottey and lacked that killer instinct he used to have.
If it's not there for Miguel Cotto the way it used to be, we're going to find out. Clottey may be a bigger, physically stronger guy than Manny, but one thing he doesn't have that Pacquiao does is that killer instinct, that finishing ability. Manny comes to finish fights, and a Cotto that isn't ready for that type of fighter anymore would be a Cotto in very big trouble on November 14.
see more from here http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/8/31/1008697/if-miguel-cottos-shot-manny
For all the talk we've done here about the November 14 encounter between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, I've done my absolute best to stay way away from the "Miguel Cotto is a changed fighter" talk, and certainly haven't touched the "Miguel Cotto is shot" talk. The former may be true in some respects, and I personally feel that the latter is foolish. I've said repeatedly that those underestimating Cotto are way too quick to count out the Puerto Rican warrior, who won a good, hard and close fight against Joshua Clottey in June.
But I will say this, as I've certainly been wrong before and undoubtedly will be again: If Miguel Cotto is a reeling fighter, then Manny Pacquiao is exactly the guy to cement that idea.
After all, Pacquiao has a pretty strong record of putting the finishing touches, so to speak, on great careers. No less than four superstar fighters have essentially been put out to pasture by the Filipino icon this decade.
The first of the four was Mexico's Erik Morales, Pacquiao's second-greatest rival and one of the most gutsy, courageous fighters of his generation. When we say someone "fights like a Mexican," Morales is exactly the type of guy who employed the style we're talking about. He had boxing skills, but he was easily drawn into firefights. In their first bout back in 2005, Morales beat Pacquiao (115-113 across the board) with a phenomenal performance. It was also the last "real" Erik Morales performance we'd ever see.
In his next fight, Morales was stunned by Zahir Raheem, losing a 12-round decision, and then he rematched Pacquiao. This time, it was the younger, stronger Pacquiao that really gut-checked Morales, eventually stopping him in the 10th round. It was a hell of a fight, just as their first bout had been, but it was clear who the better man was, too. They fought once more in November 2006, with Pacquiao completely dominating and overwhelming Morales, winning by third round TKO.
The second man was Morales' greatest rival, Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao fought Barrera in 2003, coming in as a pretty heavy underdog for most, a fairly one-dimensional slugger with good speed and an awkward southpaw style. He was a one-handed fighter at the time. And that night, he tore Barrera to pieces before the Mexican's corner mercifully stopped the bout in the 11th round.
Morales fought once more, moving up to lightweight and losing a competitive scrap to David Diaz. He now intends to come back, but his relevant career is almost certainly finished.
In 2007, Pacquiao and Barrera fought again, and this time Barrera was the heavy underdog. He was coming off of a loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, a fight that was far closer than it was scored, but Pacquiao-Barrera II just never sizzled. It failed to truly captivate the interest of the fans, as the obvious true desire was for Pacquiao-Marquez II. Barrera also announced prior to the fight that it would be his last, and come fight night, he fought like a man simply there to earn one more good paycheck and not get himself embarrassed or knocked out. He lost a wide decision, fighting tentatively until swiping Pacquiao with a blatant cheap shot late in the fight.
Barrera, of course, also came back from retirement, making an ill-advised move to 135 pounds. It has not gone well, and his career, too, is now simply active instead of relevant.
Number three: Oscar de la Hoya. No question Oscar was weight-drained, out of shape, and far past his prime. But Pacquiao did what no one else had ever been able to do: He completely dominated de la Hoya to the point where Oscar had no choice but to swallow his pride, get off his stool, and quit. Even when Bernard Hopkins knocked Oscar out with a wicked body punch years ago, Oscar tried with all he had to get up off the mat and keep going. In that case, he physically couldn't do it. In this case, Pacquiao destroyed him physically and mentally.
Oscar retired from the ring after his loss to Pacquiao.
And then the fourth, obviously, is Ricky Hatton. Hatton is hinting that he's going to fight again, but he's never going to be the same guy. I do think in my gut that Ricky can still compete at a high level against most guys at 140 pounds, but would it shock me if he went out and wound up getting beaten by a much lesser-regarded fighter? No, it wouldn't. Pacquiao definitely took something from Hatton in May.
I'm not saying that Manny Pacquiao is the sole reason these guys retired. Oscar was aged and had done everything he was ever going to do in boxing as an active competitor. Morales and Hatton were both in their prime athletic years, but Morales in particular had already taken a lot of punishment over his legendary career, and Hatton had taken his fair share of lumps, too. Barrera simply seemed to lack any desire.
But in every case, there were two commons: Manny Pacquiao and whispers (sometimes much more) that Manny's opponent simply wasn't the fighter he used to be. Pacquiao's last two fights with Morales, the rematch with Barrera, the mega fights with Oscar and Ricky; every single one of them involved a guy that a good portion of folks thought was toast, or close to it.
Miguel Cotto has heard the same talk since his July 2008 loss to Antonio Margarito. Yes, there's a ton of controversy surrounding that fight now, but it doesn't change the physical effects it may well have had on Cotto, which could still be taking a toll on him. There are also the mental problems it may have introduced. He didn't look trigger-shy at all against a clearly overmatched Michael Jennings, but there are two ways to look at the Clottey fight. The first is he fought smart and with a bad cut that came from a headbutt, winning in a fine performance. That's how I prefer to see it.
But there are also those that really feel Miguel didn't look very good against Clottey and lacked that killer instinct he used to have.
If it's not there for Miguel Cotto the way it used to be, we're going to find out. Clottey may be a bigger, physically stronger guy than Manny, but one thing he doesn't have that Pacquiao does is that killer instinct, that finishing ability. Manny comes to finish fights, and a Cotto that isn't ready for that type of fighter anymore would be a Cotto in very big trouble on November 14.
see more from here http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/8/31/1008697/if-miguel-cottos-shot-manny
Friday, September 11, 2009
Fighters, Fans, and Pay-Per-View
Here's an interesting article about Pacquiao's fights:
By Michael Herron:
Finally, the autumn has arrived and the two most highly anticipated fights of the year are at hand, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto. Fight fans have long discussed and debated the outcome of these fights but it is the “making of” these contests that has shook up the boxing world. Typically, boxing promotions revolve around fighters and their promoters arguing why their fighter and/or company is the best, why you should tune in, buy tickets, order the pay-per-view, etc…True boxing fans, casual and diehards, generally care less about sales and marketing and more about in the ring action but ironically when it comes to these two fights, boxing fans seemingly are less concerned about the actual fight as they are with final pay-per-view sales..
In regards to these two fights, websites and boxing forums from around the world have received endless streams of articles, interviews, chats, and blogs full of facts and opinions. By lending an ear to the fans and researching their opinions it is clear that a battle line has been drawn between those who support the pay-per-view drawing power of Pacquiao vs. that of Mayweather. Based on the comments of many who support Pacquiao it is clear that they want the September 19th Mayweather-Marquez event to fail financially. They have put in a lot of work towards convincing anyone on the fence to not buy this fight. They say Marquez is too small, he is handpicked, he has never fought at welterweight, etc…while at the same time they ignore that Mayweather has been retired for two years, will certainly have rust, was called out by Marquez and agreed to a catch weight below 147. Most importantly, those against this contest conveniently ignore that Marquez is universally regarded as the #2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world; simply put, this is no tune-up.
The Mayweather-Marquez event has several positive components going for it; what is fascinating however is how those who are against this fight take its positives and attempt to turn them into negatives. For instance, many fans have long complained about purchasing pay-per-views that do not have an attractive undercard. This event however does not have that problem; it will showcase not only pound-for-pound stars Mayweather and Marquez but will also feature the rematch of WBA featherweight champion Chris John vs. Rocky Juarez and the always exciting Michael Katsidis vs. Vicente Escobedo. According to the anti-fans, Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) only stacked the card with great fights because they are afraid Mayweather can’t draw. Well if this is the case then I hope no fighter ever becomes a draw again because according to this logic we only get a great card because the headliner can’t draw.
Also, GBP announced that the Mayweather-Marquez fight will be shown in movie theaters across the country. While this is without a doubt one of the best things that has happened to boxing recently, the anti-fans again have attempted to turn this into a negative stating, “They only showing it in theaters cause their afraid no one will buy the pay-per-view.” So again, according to this logic, fear of Mayweather’s inability to draw has brought big fights back to theaters; therefore it appears to this writer that we should thank the so-called non drawing power of Mayweather rather than criticize it.
In contrast, though every true boxing fan should be excited about Pacquiao vs. Cotto, Top Rank’s proposed undercard featuring Yuri Forman vs. Daniel Santos does not come close to matching the GBP offering. Also, the only innovation currently associated with this bout is the creation of a WBC Diamond Belt, which is precisely what the boxing world does not need, another belt. With that said however, there is not nearly as many fans if any at all, criticizing or hoping for Pacquiao-Cotto to fail financially. Perhaps this means that fans are happy with this fight alone regardless of the undercard or maybe this only proves that Mayweather has some of the most dedicated anti-fans in the sport, or as their called in the boxing world, haters.
Though any discussion of boxing is good, why fight fans are dedicating so much energy in debating pay-per-view sales makes one wonder if they believe their getting a cut of the profits. My ultimate goal for both of these fights is simply to add another great fight to my collection, and perhaps even engage in a healthy debate or two regarding who is the best pound-for-pound. The fact of the matter is if fans want to see the biggest fight that can be made “Mayweather vs. Pacquiao” then it may be wise to support their current assignments.
Ultimately, these fights are a win-win for the sport of boxing and the fans, why anyone who claims they are true boxing fans would hope for any of these events to fail is ridiculous. Only Dana White of the UFC, who will be going up against Mayweather-Marquez on September 19th, should be wishing with fingers crossed that no one will take interest in this bout. If his wish indeed comes true then it will not be the fans of UFC he should thank but boxing fans themselves who have willingly shunned their own sport. Keep it up and we will soon be watching boxing’s funeral, if you can’t be there live, I am sure you can catch it on pay-per-view.
see more here: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20990&more=1
By Michael Herron:
Finally, the autumn has arrived and the two most highly anticipated fights of the year are at hand, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto. Fight fans have long discussed and debated the outcome of these fights but it is the “making of” these contests that has shook up the boxing world. Typically, boxing promotions revolve around fighters and their promoters arguing why their fighter and/or company is the best, why you should tune in, buy tickets, order the pay-per-view, etc…True boxing fans, casual and diehards, generally care less about sales and marketing and more about in the ring action but ironically when it comes to these two fights, boxing fans seemingly are less concerned about the actual fight as they are with final pay-per-view sales..
In regards to these two fights, websites and boxing forums from around the world have received endless streams of articles, interviews, chats, and blogs full of facts and opinions. By lending an ear to the fans and researching their opinions it is clear that a battle line has been drawn between those who support the pay-per-view drawing power of Pacquiao vs. that of Mayweather. Based on the comments of many who support Pacquiao it is clear that they want the September 19th Mayweather-Marquez event to fail financially. They have put in a lot of work towards convincing anyone on the fence to not buy this fight. They say Marquez is too small, he is handpicked, he has never fought at welterweight, etc…while at the same time they ignore that Mayweather has been retired for two years, will certainly have rust, was called out by Marquez and agreed to a catch weight below 147. Most importantly, those against this contest conveniently ignore that Marquez is universally regarded as the #2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world; simply put, this is no tune-up.
The Mayweather-Marquez event has several positive components going for it; what is fascinating however is how those who are against this fight take its positives and attempt to turn them into negatives. For instance, many fans have long complained about purchasing pay-per-views that do not have an attractive undercard. This event however does not have that problem; it will showcase not only pound-for-pound stars Mayweather and Marquez but will also feature the rematch of WBA featherweight champion Chris John vs. Rocky Juarez and the always exciting Michael Katsidis vs. Vicente Escobedo. According to the anti-fans, Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) only stacked the card with great fights because they are afraid Mayweather can’t draw. Well if this is the case then I hope no fighter ever becomes a draw again because according to this logic we only get a great card because the headliner can’t draw.
Also, GBP announced that the Mayweather-Marquez fight will be shown in movie theaters across the country. While this is without a doubt one of the best things that has happened to boxing recently, the anti-fans again have attempted to turn this into a negative stating, “They only showing it in theaters cause their afraid no one will buy the pay-per-view.” So again, according to this logic, fear of Mayweather’s inability to draw has brought big fights back to theaters; therefore it appears to this writer that we should thank the so-called non drawing power of Mayweather rather than criticize it.
In contrast, though every true boxing fan should be excited about Pacquiao vs. Cotto, Top Rank’s proposed undercard featuring Yuri Forman vs. Daniel Santos does not come close to matching the GBP offering. Also, the only innovation currently associated with this bout is the creation of a WBC Diamond Belt, which is precisely what the boxing world does not need, another belt. With that said however, there is not nearly as many fans if any at all, criticizing or hoping for Pacquiao-Cotto to fail financially. Perhaps this means that fans are happy with this fight alone regardless of the undercard or maybe this only proves that Mayweather has some of the most dedicated anti-fans in the sport, or as their called in the boxing world, haters.
Though any discussion of boxing is good, why fight fans are dedicating so much energy in debating pay-per-view sales makes one wonder if they believe their getting a cut of the profits. My ultimate goal for both of these fights is simply to add another great fight to my collection, and perhaps even engage in a healthy debate or two regarding who is the best pound-for-pound. The fact of the matter is if fans want to see the biggest fight that can be made “Mayweather vs. Pacquiao” then it may be wise to support their current assignments.
Ultimately, these fights are a win-win for the sport of boxing and the fans, why anyone who claims they are true boxing fans would hope for any of these events to fail is ridiculous. Only Dana White of the UFC, who will be going up against Mayweather-Marquez on September 19th, should be wishing with fingers crossed that no one will take interest in this bout. If his wish indeed comes true then it will not be the fans of UFC he should thank but boxing fans themselves who have willingly shunned their own sport. Keep it up and we will soon be watching boxing’s funeral, if you can’t be there live, I am sure you can catch it on pay-per-view.
see more here: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20990&more=1
Monday, September 7, 2009
Pacquiao-Cotto To Be in a 20-Foot Ring, Says Arum
Arum says ring size will be no more than 20. read on for more details.
By Rick Reeno
Contrary to the information coming from Joe Santiago, trainer for WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, the size of the ring for Cotto's fight against Manny Pacquiao on November 14 will be no more than 20 feet. The regulations per the Nevada State Athletic Commission clearly state that every boxing match must be fought in a 20 foot ring, no more and no less. Santiago told Puerto Rican paper Primera Hora that Pacquiao's people requested a 24 foot ring.
Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer told BoxingScene.com that a promoter(s) can apply for an exception but they probably would not get it.
"That's correct. [The fight] has to be in a 20 foot ring. Any promoter can ask for an exception but they probably wouldn't get it. Nobody has asked for a 24 foot ring in this fight," Kizer said.
Top Rank's Bob Arum, promoter for both Cotto and Pacquiao, has no idea where the information first started but says it's not true.
Arum, who handled the negotiations for both sides, told BoxingScene that neither camp brought up the issue of ring size. Even if Pacquiao wanted a larger ring, he couldn't get it per the regulations in the state of Nevada.
"I don't know where this came from but it's not true. In the state of Nevada, you have to use a 20 foot ring," Arum said.
see more news here: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=21918
Pacquiao vs Cotto: Large Ring Means Manny Will Box
here's a news on the 24-foot ring that Manny will use for their fight:
By Mark Vester
It's been revealed that a 24-foot ring will be used for the November 14 bout between WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao. The ring size was requested by Team Pacquiao during the negotiations. It lays out the battle plan of Pacquiao to stick and move, jump in with combinations and jump right out before Cotto can counter.
Manny is going to play it smart and stay away from Cotto's biggest advantage, his power. Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago knows the ring size will be a big advantage for Manny but they are training on tactics to cut off the ring and close the distance on Pacquiao.
"Among the things that were being discussed during the negotiations for the fight, the Pacquiao's people were asking a ring that measures 24 feet. That would give the Filipino the advantage, but we are going to prepare Miguel in such a way that he will be able to cut off the ring," Santiago told Primera Hora. "Miguel is the stronger fighter and that is going to benefit us to get the win on November 14."
more from here: http://www.boxingscene.com/index.php?m=show&id=21917
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