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
Saturday, October 24, 2009
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
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