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photo courtesy Rachel McCarsonAs you probably have already heard by now, Paul Williams’ career as a fighter is very likely over. More than that, his life itself will be substantially different than anything he could have possibly imagined before Sunday morning’s tragic motorcycle accident. Early reports indicate that Williams, age thirty, will be paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life.It’s absolutely heart-wrenching.I cannot help to reminisce about the last (and only time) I saw Mr. Williams in person. It was his very last fight. Williams, intending to bounce back from his loss to middleweight champion Sergio Martinez and tough encounter with Erislandy Lara, was set to face Nobuhiro Ishida in Corpus Christi, Texas.As a Lone Star State-based boxing writer, I’m always excited to hear about upcoming events within driving distance from where I live near Houston.This one meant even more, though. We boxing writers all have our favorites and Paul Williams has been one of mine for a long time.I was excited to see him.The card was stacked with some pretty big names, too.Along with Williams, former heavyweight title challenger Chris Arreola and undefeated light...
By a vote of the officers and board of directors of the Boxing Writers Association of America, the recipient of the 2010 James A. Farley award for "Honesty and Integrity in Boxing" is Micky Ward.
This smells like a Swift Boat type attack to TSS-Editor Mike. But in this day and age, there is, sadly, a different standard for what is "news" than some of us might like, so we decided that we should address this development, even though the source is at first glance beyond weak. (Hogan)An article which contains accusations that Manny Pacquiao used steroids and human growth hormone is now making the rounds on the Twittersphere. The explosive story is found on www.financebusinessarticles.com, and had been viewed over 700 times as of 4:15 ET on Thursday.
No matter how many times we tell ourselves that we're not going to get sucked into the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao subterfuge, we always do. However, Mayweather relayed something in his phone call to Pacquiao last week that indicated what we probably already knew, that is Floyd isn't as serious as he wants us to think he is about making the fight with Pacquiao.ESPN reported that Mayweather sent SportsCenter anchor Stan Verrett an e-mail that rejected a 50/50 purse split with Pacquiao....something that Manny has said he's agreeable to. According to Verrett, Floyd wrote: "He asked about a 50/50 split and I told him that can't happen, but what can happen is you can make more money fighting me than you have made in your career."So there you have it. Mayweather is still about fighting Pacquiao in the media because if he were truly serious about fighting him, he'd jump at the 50/50 purse split. Can there be any boxing fans alive who don't see that Mayweather has used the nuanced drug testing and demands for purse parity as a ruses to avoid the fight?Does anyone who remotely follows professional boxing not understand that fighting Pacquiao would not only be the most lucrative bout of...
Pacquiao has stayed loyal to Ariza though many folks have tried to get the vocal trainer ousted. (Chris Farina-Top Rank)Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza made it clear that Manny Pacquiao isn't doing in training camp what he thinks he should be doing to give himself the best chance to beat Juan Manuel Marquez on Dec. 8, in a video interview on The Boxing Channel.Ariza has been at odds for some time with trainer Freddie Roach, who threatened to boot Ariza from Manny's corner for his last bout, against Tim Bradley. Ariza also said that he is impressed with the physique of Juan Manuel Marquez, and that he doesn't suspect JMM is using any funky vitamins supplied by Angel Heredia, the Mexican's S and G coach.In a video interview with Marcos Villegas of the Boxing Channel, Ariza said that Pacquiao as always looked good in camp. This time Manny is not doing strength and conditioning, is just focusing on boxing, Ariza said, and that doesn't make him too happy. We will see if looking good in camp translates on fight night, he said.Ariza said that Pacquiao hasn't done much strength and conditioning the last couple fights, I am assuming he means particularly the Tim Bradley...
It now looks like the much anticipated fantasy fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will remain just that. A fantasy. During the recent Mayweather/Cotto presser in NY, Floyd announced that the fight would remain unlikely as long as Pacquiao is promoted under Bob Arum. Mayweather went on, adding that he was not willing to split the purse with Pacquiao either. But Floyd is considered the betting favourite. So why the apparent reluctance? Nobody knows Floyd Mayweather better than, well, Floyd Mayweather. He knows his likes and dislikes. He knows what makes him happy or sad. More importantly, he knows his strengths and his weaknesses. Mayweather versus Pacquiao was once thought of as an even fight. Not anymore. Back in November of last year, Manny Pacquiao was awarded a highly controversial decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez with the Mexican great once again proving to have the counterpunching style to neutralise the Filipino's overwhelming offense. Making things look even more ominous for Pacquiao, was back in 2009, after an 18 month lay off, Floyd Mayweather dominated the very same Marquez, winning just about every second of every round. It was as one sided a...
Three days on, and I'm still wrestling with the Pacquiao-Bradley decision. I'm still not sure what it was that my eyes saw. Fight night, I was certain. I was right there with the HBO crew, and that thunk you heard from Park Slope, Brooklyn was the same thunk you heard en masse in Vegas, and in the Philippines, and everywhere else people had access to the broadcast or stream of the fight. It was my jaw and your jaw, and probably hundreds of thousands of jaws hitting the floor when Michael Buffer got done telling us what we could scarcely believe..but could believe, without a lengthy bout of processing, because similar circumstance had forced us to pick up our jaw from the floor last month, and the month before that, and so on, and so forthBut then I kept ruminating, and marinating, and pondering some what ifs. What if there was a contrarian stance to take? What if a tsunami of emotion and opinion, coalescing around the new wonder that is social media, had turned a semi-screwy decision into a Brinks Job, a Madoffian fleecing. What if those two judges, Ross and Ford, weren't inept or worse, compromised, but actually turned in scores that were within the bounds of reason, based on...
In the 1960s, Muhammad Ali stood as an exemplar of black pride and beacon of hope for oppressed people around the world. In recent years, he has been a symbol of tolerance and understanding.Ali taught his children to rid their hearts of prejudice. The lessons took hold. One of his grandchildren, Jacob Wertheimer, was recently bar mitzvahed.Coming of age rituals are an important part of every religion. Under Jewish law, when a boy reaches the age of thirteen, he accepts full responsibility for his actions and becomes a man. The ceremony commemorating this occasion is known as a bar mitzvah.Jacob (the son of Khaliah Ali-Wertheimer and her husband, Spencer) turned thirteen on January 21 of this year. The bar mitzvah took place on April 28 at Congregation Rodelph Shalom in Philadelphia. One hundred fifty people were in attendance. Jacob’s grandfather was among them.“I was born and raised as a Muslim,” Khaliah says. “But I’m not into organized religion. I’m more spiritual than religious. My husband is Jewish. No one put any pressure on Jacob to believe one way or another. He chose this on his own because he felt a kinship with Judaism and Jewish culture.”“The ceremony was wonderful...
We heard Mayorga in the buildup talking about a fight with Pacquiao. He really, truly believed he'd beat Cotto, because he knew how hard he was training, and get a Pacquiao date. (Hogan Photos)The older I get, the better I'm able to to grasp the fact that I don't know squat.Well, that might be a little harsh. I think I know squat. But you'll have to give me another decade or so watching and dissecting boxing matches before my knowledge base gets to where I want it to be.
So he turned up his nose at $65 million bucks. Floyd Mayweather, with $65 million reasons to say yes, instead said no, I will not at this time fight Manny Pacquiao.
I’ve written at length about Joe Frazier in the past and will do so again in the future. For now, a few words on his passing.Frazier fought with an intensity, determination, and pride seldom seen in the sometimes glorious, sometimes ignominious, history of boxing.Some fighters try hard until they get hit. Then they stop trying. Joe always kept trying.As a young man, Eddie Futch sparred with Joe Louis. Later, he trained Frazier. “Anywhere they hit you, you felt it,” Futch said. “When they hit you, it hurt for days.”Naazim Richardson (like Frazier, a fixture on the Philadelphia boxing scene) later observed, ”The body is different from the mind. Your body would rather lose a fight to Muhammad Ali than win a fight against Joe Frazier.”On March 8, 1971, Frazier entered the ring at Madison Square Garden for the first of three historic fights against Ali.“You don’t win fights by talking,” Joe said. “You win fights by fighting.”Ali’s record was 31-and-0 when he entered the ring, and 31-and-1 when he left it. That night, Frazier became immortal.“If God ever calls me to a holy war,” Ali said years later, “I want Joe Frazier fighting beside me.”Joe Frazier ennobled the sport of boxing....
by Chris Farina-Top RankTimothy Bradley did his best work in the leadup to the main event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night. In the ring, against Manny Pacquiao, Bradley wasn't so successful. He ate straight left hands, and his lack of hand speed and power was glaringly apparent from the start. Pacman looked in fine form, and Bradley, who complained after of a hurting right foot, never buzzed the Congressman. After 12 rounds, the vast majority of each which belonged to Pacman, the judges, though, threw a curveball. It was a brushback variety we have come to expect...They deemed Bradley the victor; Jerry Roth had it 115-113 for Pacman, but CJ Roth and Duane Ford both scored for Bradley, 115-113.Anyone worried that Pacman's religious conversion would take away from his edge were mistaken. He hunted Bradley throughout, and though he never put him down, definitely sent the message that his offense was of a superior grade. The judges said otherwise.I had it as did Harold Lederman 119-109, for Manny. The judges said different, in the most surprising megamatch decision I have ever seen. "I don't think we're blind, I think that is a terrible, bogus decision," Jim Lampley...
Readers, weigh in on Wylie's take, and add your own prediction in our Forum. Do you like Mares (left) against the underrated Moreno? (Hogan)Along with Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux, Anselmo Moreno and Abner Mares are considered two of the best super bantamweights in the world. They will meet this Saturday at the Home Depot Centre in California, Los Angeles. Mares’ WBC title will be on the line.Even though Moreno, 27 years-old, has never campaigned at 122 pounds before, the skilled southpaw technician shouldn’t be at a loss fighting at a slightly higher weight class. Having dominated at 118 pounds, Moreno hasn’t lost a fight in more than 10 years. His last defeat, a split decision to Ricardo Molina back in 2002, has since been twice avenged. Because of his 28 fight-winning streak in the bantamweight division, some consider Moreno to be one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world. There were times during his last two fights against Vic Darchinyan and David De La Morra where Moreno looked every bit as good as those currently residing the pound for pound list.Abner Mares, 26 years-old, is on a bit of a run himself at the moment. Going undefeated in boxing isn’t...
Let me get this out of the way: The transitive property does not apply to boxing. I’m well aware that Juan Manuel Marquez was shutout by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in a one-sided drubbing September of 2009. Even more impressive was the fact that Floyd was coming off a long layoff. I also know the every one of the three times that same Juan Manuel Marquez has fought Manny Pacquiao, Manny was fighting for his life in hotly contested slugfests. This has no bearing on a (sigh) potential fight between the Manny and Floyd.Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao would essentially have the same fight every single time they squared off against one another under sanctioned boxing rules. They are worthy adversaries for one another, and their styles are made to clash in an exciting fight. It’s just the way it is.Against Floyd Mayweather, Manny simply has more ways to win give the sheer fact that he could conceivably stop Mayweather. I find it highly unlikely, but it’s a real possibility. I think anyone with knowledge of the situation would agree that Floyd can’t hurt Manny. Manny’s been in some slugfests, has no problem trading with good punchers, and hasn’t been badly hurt in quite some time....
photo by Damien AcevedoTwo months ago, I was at a press conference to hype Saturday's clash between Sergio Martinez and Darren Barker, an undefeated Brit who hasn't been in against anyone remotely close to Martinez in talent. I asked Martinez and advisor Sampson Lewkowicz if they'd consider dropping down to under 154 pounds if that meant they could tempt one of the two titans, the lottery twins, Mayweather and Pacquaio, into a fight. No way, they said. Sergio's body couldn't handle it it. It wouldn't be a smart thing to attempt, from a health perspective.Well, from a wealth perspective, and in the challenge department, things have changed. Martinez was at Modells in NYC for an open workout today. After adult film actress Lisa Ann finished lusting at the Argentine with her eyes, he went through a quick workout with trainer Gabriel Sarmiento. A bit later, I asked him to explain his flip flop. Check out the video Q 'n' A. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUEY1u5eU8gThe fighter said yes, he'd go to 150 pounds to get a megafight. "At 160 there are no opponents available to me," Martinez said in Spanish, with Lewkowicz translating. "I must go down to 150 and take a risk with my health....
Most fight fans are keen on seeing if Manny Pacquiao can bounce back from the KO loss to rival-for-the-ages Juan Manuel Marquez last December. But that fifth scrap between the Congressman and the Mexican counter-punching ace hinges on Marquez. He's either negotiating skillfully, and actually wants the tussle, while pretending to be uninterested, or is truly set on conquering other territory. I asked Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach if he thinks we'll see Pacquiao-Marquez 5, in September."My gut instinct on what is next? I want it to be Marquez, Manny wants Marquez, but Marquez wants a lot, lot, lot of money," Roach (seen with Pacquiao in above Chris Farina-Top Rank photo, before the fourth bout) told me. "I think it's a little outrageous. It may not happen. We might have to go to Mike Alvarado or Brandon Rios or a Tim Bradley rematch could be made. I want Marquez right away, Manny and I both want it. But Marquez wants just about a 50-50 split. Manny brings butts in seats, pay-per-view-wise, Manny is the guy. Obviously Manny deserves more. I think a rematch will make a lot more money than the last fight. I think both sides can ask for more and Marquez deserves something, but not...
Last Saturday, as I watched Floyd Mayweather dig down deeper than I’d ever seen before to outlast the hard-charging and brave Miguel Cotto, I could not help but come away impressed. Going into the championship rounds with a bloody nose and, most assuredly, in a close contest, Mayweather was as advertised—money. He blanked Cotto over the final three rounds on my scorecard and even had the proud champion holding on for dear life in the twelfth.It was truly a virtuoso performance from a brilliant fighter I have long admired as the best in the sport.But then it hit me. Floyd Mayweather is an all-time great, but Manny Pacquiao is an all-time greater.It’s been an interesting debate for fight fans through the years, and it’s one I’ve long sided on with those in Mayweather’s corner. And with so much time between boxing’s big events, what else is there to do really?Think about it: NFL fans get games every week. MLB fans get entire series of games all week long. The NBA plays what seems like every other day. Then, at the end of their seasons they get a championship game—a coup de grace. Meanwhile, boxing fans wait around all year long just for big enough fights to get excited about, and...
The last time Junior Dos Santos was in the Octagon he pounded his way to the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight belt…and many expect the same today.Dos Santos (14-1) makes his first title defense on UFC 146 against former UFC champion Frank Mir (17-5) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The heavyweight themed fight card will also be televised on pay-per-view.It’s the first time all five main televised fights will be comprised of heavyweights, the big guys.Though Dos Santos may not be the biggest fighter size-wise, he definitely ranks at the top when it comes to pure punching power. Back in November he wrested the heavyweight crown from then champion Cain Velasquez with a number of clubbing punches that stunned the fight world with their ferocity and swiftness.“Against Cain Velasquez I was ready to go all five rounds. You don’t walk in thinking you’re going to end a fight right away and yes I threw a really hard shot against Cain and it took him down. Even I was surprised that the shot landed as hard as it did and that he went down,” said Dos Santos during a conference call. “Ending the fight quickly – and the speed – it was really perfect, but it was the result...
Look at those gleaming choppers. Why, these three folks, Floyd Mayweather, Bob Arum, and entertainer Jamie Foxx seem like they are the best of friends as they get their party on at Super Bowl 45 in Dallas on Sunday.You all recall that Arum promoted Mayweather, until they parted ways in 2006 with some acrimony, after Floyd turned down a then career best payday to tangle with Antonio Margarito. But a deal is a deal, and money is money, and the prospects of Goldman Sachs-y pile of green can make old grudges disappear. So, shall we rejoice because this snap by Chris Farina/Top Rank indicates that Mayweather and Arum are on the same page, after last year was wasted with endless "non negotiations" negotiations which resulted in arbitration, but no meeting of the minds to bring Mayweather and Pacquiao together in a ring? Not so fast.
The provocative pugilist Floyd Mayweather did what he does second best, create buzz with his mouth, on "Speaking Out," a half hour talk with respected author Michael Eric Dyson, a professor at Georgetown."One of the most provocative athletes of our time," Dyson described Mayweather, who gloves up against Miguel Cotto on May 5. The host of the show talked about the boxer's impending jail term, and then we saw him sitting next to the ace hitter. He started out soft, asking him about training camp. "Everything is playing out the way it should be playing out," he said. Next, Dyson went there, into the Larry "I Wish I Was 50 Years Younger" Merchant controversy.Floyd said he and HBO have had a rich history. He said something then that I took issue with, that one shouldn't be able to comment on the sport if one hasn't been a boxer. And if one hasn't been president? And if one is a man and comments on women's issues? C'mon, man...As I said, provocative...Dyson asked how Floyd stays hungry. How? He is after the money and being the best, all-time, he said. "They" are talented, and "I am God gifted," he said. He noted that he gives back, and cares, because he came from a tough place, with...
GEORGE FOREMAN CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS“Big” George Foreman Discusses The Possibility Of Bernard Hopkins Breaking His Record As The Oldest Fighter In Boxing History To Win A Significant World Title
Like any top-tier trainer, Freddie Roach threw himself under, if not a bus, then a minivan, when he told TSS that he thinks maybe overtraining was the reason we didn't see "A-game" Manny Pacquiao against Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12.In a Wednesday phoner with Roach, TSS asked Dedham Freddie to give Manny a grade for his showing, and who the Congressman wants to target next."I give him a B minus," the former fighter, who was mentored by Hall of Fame trainer Eddie Futch, said. "He wasn't really himself, he had a bad night. I don't know why, but he maybe overtrained for the fight. Maybe we started him too soon. He helped Jorge Linares get ready, and we thought that was a good idea at the time. Maybe he was overtrained, and left a little in the gym."Again, see how the trainer didn't even imply subtly that Manny's so-so showing was a result of anything the boxer did or didn't do? It's a Roach trait which is one reason why his gym is a magnet, and draws fighters from coast to coast: guys know he won't degrade them to burnish his rep.Roach also told me he was going to talk to Pacquiao hopefully Wednesday night, and see who he wants to fight next. I wrote about that part of the...
Recently former junior welterweight title holder Ricky Hatton was quoted saying that he went into a depression and considered suicide while trying to come to grips with his loss to Manny Pacquiao in May of 2009. Since being devastated by Pacquiao in the second round Hatton hasn't fought. Sports writers, broadcasters and coaches repeat how the NFL is a game of inches and how one or two plays usually determine the outcome of the game. In boxing one punch can not only be the difference between winning and losing, but it can also make one fighters' career and ruin the others,' and that's not even considering if one fighter sustains a serious injury or in the worst case scenario is killed. When Manny Pacquiao caught Ricky Hatton with an over-hand left on the chin that was heard around the boxing world, it launched one career and ended another. Prior to fighting Pacquiao, Hatton was thought of as being one of boxing's most popular and exciting fighters. If you remember, Hatton and Pacquiao shared equal billing and purse parity for their marquee match up two years ago. At that time, despite his popularity, no one was predicting Pacquiao would go onto claim titles at 140,147 and 154....
Floyd Mayweather helped himself stay relevant with an interview with DJ Whoo Kid. He took aim at Manny Pacquiao, and chided the interviewer for bringing up Pacquiao, implying that doing so is unpatriotic, because Pacquiao makes money in the US, but then brings it back to the Philipines.Mayweather told Kid when asked if he'd be watching Manny Pacquiao meet Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12, "I'm not really concerned with him, a guy got somethin' to hide, you know what I'm saying I do what I do, he do what he do. I beat fighters when they're undefeated, when they're at the top, and he beat my leftovers, he fights my leftovers. We say be the best, take the test, that's the only thing we're saying, be the best take the test."DJ then asked why Larry Merchant always hates on him. Floyd reiterated that he believes Merchant doesn't know boxing. The fighter said he doesn't know who he'll fight next, and then said that Marquez has won the most rounds against Pacquiao, and boasted that he beat JMM easily.He joked that he is introducing a meal at Popeyes, "The Two Piece and a Biscuit," referencing his one-two KO of Victor Ortiz. Another questioner, who must've been in the restroom before,...
photo by Chris Farina-Top RankIn the second installment of HBO’s Pacquiao-Bradley 24/7, viewers are presented with the possibility that Timothy Bradley is a man at peace, not in recent flux, as Manny Pacquiao is, or was. Bradley is grounded, and has been for some time, in family, while Pacquiao has recently comes to grips with an emptiness inside which plagued him, and has now apparently been filled with a fuller embrace of religion.In the opening scene, we saw Timothy Bradley at the gym he uses in Indio, CA, the Boys and Girls Club. Bradley said he doesn’t need a posse; the unspoken comparison is to Manny Pacquaio, who surrounds himself with a bunch of folks who have no clear job description. Bradley says trainer Joel Diaz is like a big brother to him, and he says he believes when the trainer tells him he will beat Manny.Diaz recounts an occasion when Bradley ran 23 miles a week before a bout. It was just an eight rounder, the boxer says. Sometimes he works too hard for his own good, Diaz says.Then, we see Manny’s Ferrari, which has been sitting idle in LA for six months. Pacman heads to the Wild Card, where he does mitts with Freddie. He says LA is like his second home. We...
Think Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao thought they saw some erosion, as Hochberger did, on Saturday against Cotto? (Chris Farina photo)Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto Takeaways:-First off, what an awesome fight! Nice to see Floyd actually be in a real fight. He definitely won, but I had it awfully close. I scored the fight 6-4-2 for Mayweather. If you score the two even rounds (3 and 9) for Cotto, you’re looking at a draw potentially. That said, I definitely think Floyd earned the victory. I’m looking forward to re-watching and seeing if I stand by my scoring or not (Cinco De Mayo is always a tough night to score fights accurately as the tequila makes me fade in the championship rounds). I also tend to favor the aggressor (usually the guy coming forwards) in close rounds, so I gave Miguel the benefit of the doubt a few times.SIDEBAR: Judges need to feel that it’s acceptable to score even rounds. (EDITOR NOTE: Smart fella, the Hochberger kid. I encourage even rounds, to encourage fighters to win rounds more conclusively. Coin-flip rounds should be scored even, period. I had three even rounds in Saturday’s fight, FYI.) Sometimes, rounds are just that: Even. I think the lack of even...
Maybe Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is smarter than most people think he is, a reality he made obvious this week.
Ruben Garcia should be the president of the Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. fanclub. (Chris Farina).I don’t know Ruben Garcia. He might be a very nice man. I do know that Garcia was in the wrong place at the wrong time on Saturday night. More specifically, Garcia was sitting in a judge’s chair scoring the fight between Nonito Donaire and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.It wasn’t a hard fight to score. Donaire outlanded Vazquez in eleven of twelve rounds en route to a 231 to 163 show of superiority. Donaire also landed more power punches in every single round for a 147 to 56 advantage.Judges Levi Martinez and Don Trella scored the fight 117-110 for Donaire. Every ringside report of the fight that I’ve read had Donaire winning by a comfortable margin. For the record, watching at home, I scored the fight 117-110 for Donaire.Garcia scored the fight 115-112 for Vazquez.In other words; the consensus among knowledgeable observers was that Donaire won nine of twelve rounds. Garcia gave eight rounds to Vazquez.“Gave” is the proper word for most of those rounds. Vazquez didn’t earn them.What was Garcia watching? It was almost as though fans could have checked out “early results from San Antonio” on a boxing...
The second installment of Jim Lampley’s “The Fight Game” ran Saturday, after the Chavez Jr.-Lee fight, and the timing could not have been much better, coming so soon after the decision that blew up Twitter, and will force us to hear stale Duane Ford jokes into 2013.Lampley called the Pacquiao-Bradley decision “the biggest boxing news story in years,” and termed the show “Anatomy of a Scoring Disaster.”Lampley cited the Twitter blowup, and boycott petitions, and Bob Arum’s request to get the Nevada AG to look at the decision. He said Harold Lederman got it right when on June 9 he said that Duane Ford was solid, CJ Ross was “questionable,” and “mediocre,” and Jerry Roth was coming off a rough call on Abril-Rios, and maybe shouldn’t be in another big fight. “In my opinion, they should have brought in a judge or two,” Lederman said, presciently.Lampley noted rounds in which Pacquiao had a large edge in punches landed were awarded to Bradley, and wondered how Bradley won if he didn’t land more or harder punches. Ford, to Lampley, said it was a very close fight. He noted the experience of the three judges in question, a questionable call, since even experienced people get it wrong,...
Put that one down on your ballot, folks. The Orlando Salido-Juan Manuel Lopez rematch will most definitely get some love for Fight of the Year for 2012. Salido went down in the fifth, but Lopez’ style on this night, that of a boxer, a mover, didn’t suit him. He reverted to his old ways in the ninth, the round of the year, a back and forth tradefest, and then got dropped and stopped in round ten in the main event at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday night. A right hook, then a left right left had JuanMa down. He arose, but his stumbling sent word to the ref that he was all heart, but all done. The end--of the bout, if not the concept of JuanMa as a heir to Trinidad and Cotto and a PPV driver--came at 32 seconds into the tenth.Salido went 235-637, to 138-559 for Lopez, who moved a bunch and didn't seek to be first and be the aggressor as much as we're used to. After, to Jim Gray, Salido said he knew it would be a tough fight and that he'd have to land about twice as many punches as Lopez to get the nod in PR. Salido said he knew JuanMa is a warrior so he wasn't sure he'd finished him off. How about a third fight? He said he's ready for...
In 1965, Fighting Harada tore into the great Eder Jofre for fifteen rounds and toppled him from the bantamweight throne. From that high perch, Harada thrilled Japan with four successful title defenses. His fifth was against an Australian Aborigine. This challenger, only nineteen years old, was assumed to be nothing more than a “push-over” by the Japanese matchmaker.As it happened, Lionel Rose tore into the great Harada for fifteen rounds and toppled him from the bantamweight throne. The upset sent shockwaves from coast to coast. “I lose my job,” said the matchmaker afterwards.Harada was perhaps the greatest Asian fighter in history until another idol from another island nation took his fourth linear title and left Harada blinking in the glory lights.Manny Pacquiao has not been officially defeated since 2005 when he faced Erik Morales, a conventional boxer-puncher. Many analysts, including this one, believe that another great Mexican fighter defeated him in 2008. Juan Manuel Marquez, a technician, managed to counter Pacquiao’s turbo charges and stun him several times in their rematch. Pacquiao got lucky in that one and left the super featherweight division behind forever. The...
Let's make one thing perfectly clear. Regardless of how some people scored the fight, Floyd Mayweather did a masterful job in dethroning Miguel Cotto on Saturday night, in what I consider one of his best ever nights. Yes, there have been better performances in the past from Mayweather - his ring artistry in the Corrales and Gatti fights remain his signature performances - but this may have been his most complete performance in showing both his offensive and defensive brilliance. However, despite Mayweather chalking up his 43rd career win, against zero losses, you could say May 5th was the night that finally ended any and all hope of this generation's defining fight involving boxing's biggest and boxing's best, between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacqiuao.Prior to Saturday night, Floyd Mayweather was in pole position so to speak, with regards to the ongoing saga that is Mayweather versus Pacquiao and in particular, how the fight would actually turn out. Boxing has always been full of triangle theories - if fighter A beats fighter B and B beats C, then surely fighter A beats fighter C. Of course, as any boxing enthusiast will tell you, there is a styles dynamic to boxing that...
It is exceedingly difficult and rare for an almost 34-year-old athlete to manage to maintain the focus and intensity they had when they started their career. Pacquiao wants to do that on Dec. 8, vs Marquez. (Chris Farina-Top Rank)Manny Pacquiao, Freddie Roach and promoter Bob Arum took part in a conference call to hype the Dec. 8 showdown between Pacquiao and his rival for the ages Juan Manuel Marquez.Roach was asked how camp has been and what the plan will be. Roach said he expects a tough fight from the counterpuncher JMM. Manny is "looking great in training" and his sparring is the best he's seen in awhile, the trainer said. The trainer said Manny will fight at a faster pace, like he did in the first fight, in 2004, and not let Marquez dictate the pace.Pacquiao was asked if he's still gunning for a KO. He said he wants to make the fight as easy as possible.Is Manny concerned with Marquez' strength? "I'm not worried about his strength," Manny said. Is Freddie concerned about Marquez' strength? "I don't think muscle gives you a better chin," Freddie said, and he thinks Marquez is slower now, with extra muscle, and they will take advantage of that.Is he friendly with Marquez at...
Episode two of Pacquiao-Marquez III 24/7 debuted on Saturday and two matters of import emerged for me. One, Marquez has a new strength and conditioning coach, Angel Hernandez, who studied at Texas A&M. Two, the Mexican legend, on the advice of his doctor and Gonzalez, no longer drinks his own urine.Marquez says on the HBo program that he is training for this fight as though it's his pro debut. It looks like he's acclimating to the 144 pound region well, as the speed bag he hammers at the gym is coming off its moorings.Pacquiao, it seems, is also on message. He says he's now balancing the boxing and Congress juggle that much better. Viewers see inhabitants of his district, Sarangani Province, and hear that six of ten live below the poverty line. Many earn around $12 a month, but sometimes that falls to nothing. Manny, people say, is seen a sympathetic person, and his cattle distribution program and monies directed to fishermen for motors are cause for thanks. Manny says he's satisfied so far at what he's done but knows it will take time to make serious inroads. He wants to get a medical center, the provinces' first, built.Back in Mexico City, Marquez shows viewers his car...
Manny Pacquiao has transformed himself into a boxing legend by pushing the limits of the sport. Now he’s hoping to push the limits of the pay-per-view audience as well.
Lotierzo makes a good point. The mental pressure on Ortiz, who has heard from critics that his head isn't screwed on as straight as it should be for a championship caliber fighter, will be immense as we count down to Sept. 17. (Hogan)Well, as if everyone didn't know that the announcement was going to come eventually, the "Fire-starter" has announced he's back and will return to the ring this coming September 17th. Yes, Floyd Mayweather 41-0 (25) is the "Fire-starter" because every time he says or does something pertaining to boxing it ignites a raging fire in the form of a debate that rages and builds until the night of the bout and doesn't subside until a couple weeks after it. And then everyone tries to guess or calculate what his next move will be - and we're usually wrong. The only thing we're never wrong about is there will be an angle in play whether it's the opponent or the conditions or terms of the bout that will weigh heavily in Mayweather's favor.
Bob Arum and Dana White, the man most responsible for making mixed martial arts a flourishing sport, have sparred off and on for many years. White fired the latest salvo at Arum, the 81 year old OG boxing promoter, in an interview he did with 5thround.com.The 43-year-old Las vegas resident hammered Arum for making the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez bout on Dec. 8, reasoning that Pacquiao would have had an easier time with another prospective foe, Timothy Bradley. Here's what White said:"Dumbest fight in history. Bob Arum is a moron. You don't take that fight, you idiot. Why would you do that fight? It's all about the money, that's why. That was a money fight, that's what that fight was done for. He should have fought Bradley. Bradley's the fight they should have done. He would have knocked Bradley out, he would have got his belt back and now he's back in the position he should have been in. [Pacquiao's] one of the best fighters in the world. He goes out and fights Marquez again? Bob Arum is the dumbest promoter in the history of the world."Arum poked White in 2007, about PEDs in MMA. White publicly scoffed at Arum's suggestion that some boxing ticket sales were slow in 2008...
Stephen A. said he now thinks Mayweather is ducking Manny, after Manny said Floyd in their January phone call expressed fear of losing to the Congressman. (Hogan)There are those that say that nobody cares about the fourth tussle between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. They've been there, done that, I've seen that, I will do something else the night of Dec. 8. Alright, you go ahead and watch what indignity the Kardashians are into, or whatever. I will watch, and guess what, if you are a true boxing fan, I am guessing after all the grumbling, so will you. Because if the memo got caught in your spam folder, I got news for you: this is the boxing "business," and this feasible match is the one that puts the most money on the table for the principals. Now...do I like it when every now and again money gets left on the table, and a less renumerative matchup gets made, because the fans and/or the fighters demand it? Of course I do. I'm a "47%" sort of guy, one who knows at the end of the day, money is nice to have, and I like to have enough to meet basic needs, but if all you are doing is chasing it, and idolizing it, you are missing the point in life, and part of me pities...
Last week Manny Pacquiao went to New York City and visited the Daily News, and then traveled to Washington D.C. to meet President Obama at the White house. These stops are in part due to the promotion of his upcoming welterweight title bout with former three division champ Shane Mosley. Like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya, Pacquiao has become a superstar and major presence on the world stage and once again, a pugilist has taken America by storm. Pacquiao's fights are events and more than just boxing fans look forward to watching him fight. Which also was the case with Ali, Leonard, Tyson and De La Hoya.
Most boxing observers have either seen or heard by now that Manny Pacquiao was on ESPN's show First Take last week and said that he'll let Floyd Mayweather have a 55-45 purse split advantage and he'll also agree to submit to drug testing and giving blood right up until the fight. We'll, that should do it and as it's been said here as recently as May 9th, Mayweather and Pacquiao will eventually fight. But not until Manny foolishly agrees to every single stipulation that Mayweather has made and it appears we're almost there.For the better part of the last three years boxing fans have been going back and forth arguing over who would win if Floyd and Manny ever met in the ring. Both sides have made strong and compelling cases as to why Mayweather or Pacquiao will emerge victorious. However, in my opinion both sides have overlooked the most obvious reason as to why Mayweather has to be and will most likely go off as a nearly 2-1 favorite on the night of the fight. And that's because Floyd's one of the best and most patient manipulators in history.It's no secret that Floyd is the most risk averse great fighter we've ever seen. He doesn't fight anybody until everything is in his...
Fifty years from now if we are not paying to see robots fight instead of humans, boxing fans will discuss the accomplishments of Floyd Mayweather Jr. At some point after the welterweight has thrown his last punch, future fight fans will compare his defensive abilities and quickness to other men who are best of their time.Retrospective looks are at the core of this sport. We measure who would win a fight between Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De la Hoya as a healthier debate than contrasting the home run prowess of Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds. But in sports as well as in life, we fail at times to look at the current day from a historical sense.Today, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is 41-0, a six-time champion in five different weight classes. At his peak Mayweather is the best fighter in boxing. But over the last four years, he has fought more battles in a courthouse, than a boxing ring. Numerous run ins with the IRS, misdemeanor, and felony charges including a domestic violence dispute with a former girlfriend and physically assaulting a security guard outside of a nightclub have the 1996 Olympian putting up his dukes with the law.Some think of Floyd’s legal issues as signs of a life...
After Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez finalized details for their third fight a few weeks back, I authored a column entitled “A Six-Pac Of Signing Subplots.” Sadly, in the case of Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz, that oh-so-clever “Pac” pun is not in play. But I still like the “six subplots” concept, so I’m tacking on a “k” and bravely forging ahead.
After the third meeting between Manny Pacquiao 54-3-2 (38) and Juan Manuel Marquez 53-6-1 (39) concluded this past Saturday night, the HBO broadcast team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Emanuel Steward were quick to point out that Marquez's trainer Nacho Beristain was the scapegoat and part of the reason why the decision favoring Pacquiao was met with disapproval by most of the fans attending the fight, simply because Beristain told Marquez he had the fight won. Yeah, no less than six, and probably more like seven rounds of Marquez out-boxing Pacquiao was unraveled by one sentence.How transparent was that? Everyone reading this knows Marquez wasn't going to get the decision unless he beat Pacquiao half to death and he was being held up by the referee when the fight was over. Nacho isn't why his fighter didn't win the decision - even if Marquez won the last round the fight would've been a draw. Prior to their third fight there wasn't much separating them and depending on who you asked, either fighter could've been declared the winner of both bouts. And their third fight this past weekend was no different. It was a very close fight and I wouldn't consider the decision favoring...
There he is, that guy, grinning, while standing behind of the sports' bright lights. Who is that guy? (Hogan Photos)He has one of those faces that you see, and you say, I know that guy...wait, who is that guy? What does he do? I see him on HBO shows, and Showtime shows, in the corners of the best and brightest, but...who is that guy? And what he DO, besides be present at big fights, and grin broadly and frequently?Marcus Watson, the guy with one of those faces, was at Crunch Gym in downtown NYC on Tuesday, so I indulged my curiosity, and asked him to fill me in on who he is, and what he does.We chatted for almost 15 minutes, and I walked away understanding why we always see him in the ring on fight night, standing behind, or whispering in the ears of fighters who are advised by deal-maker extraordinaire Al Haymon.Watson told me that he, and his older brother Brandon, age 31, another guy with one of those faces who we see in the corners of the sport's bright lights, work for Haymon. And what do they do? "Everything behind the scenes," said the 27 year-old Woodland Hills, CA resident. "We make sure the fighter is taken care of."That means in the leadup to the fight, on fight...
Let not your heart sink to a stupor for Manny Pacquiao. As a fighter, he was prepared for the little death of failure long before he experienced it against Juan Manuel Marquez. Instead of evicting it from your soul, let the image sink deep inside your heart. Embrace it.Let it be what it is: a reminder; a prompt.There he lay, slumped over on the cold, blue floor, helpless as a babe. He sleeps now in a womb of despair; a hero has fallen. All of them must. Everyone. Let it wash over you. Even someone as strong and fierce as Manny Pacquiao can be made in an instant but a slumping pile of pitiful flesh by something as painfully simple as one thunderous right hand.(photo by Chris Farina-Top Rank)Manny Pacquiao knew what he was in for. He signed up for it from the very first time he cruelly bit down on his rigid mouthpiece with brutal intentions. What happened to him happens to almost everyone should they fight long enough or against good enough competition to be worth the effort, and the threat of it was with him in every second of every round of every fight. Every single punch thrown at Manny Pacquiao his entire boxing life has been a prelude to this moment.Pacquiao had encountered...
It's been slightly over 10 months since Floyd Mayweather 41-0 (25) scored what has to be considered the signature win of his career over Shane Mosley. Yeah, it may have been eight years after the late Vernon Forest beat a prime Mosley more convincingly than Floyd did, and he did it twice. And granted, though Mosley was a totally spent and empty package the night he fought Mayweather, except for one big right hand in the second round, Shane was still the most formidable and dangerous fighter Floyd's ever shared a ring with. On that there can be no denying, and in Mayweather's defense, he clearly out-thought and out-fought Mosley for 10 of the 12 rounds they spent in the ring fighting. 
Oscar De La Hoya told TSS that he's with the rest of the boxing world, that he'd like to see Floyd Mayweather glove up against Canelo Alvarez in his next fight, in September.I asked Oscar (seen on right, with Canelo before Austin Trout fight, in Gene Blevins-Showtime photo above) this afternoon what the latest is on negotiations to make a scrap between the pound for pound ace and the Mexican phenom Canelo. Will it happen?"I hope so, it's a fight the whole world wants to watch," he said in a phoner, after we talked about his trip to the TV upfronts in NYC. "If anyone can do it, it's Golden Boy."And what of the talk of a catchweight, we heard Floyd Sr is saying that fight would have to take place at 147, and Richard Schaefer indicated that's BS...."Floyd Junior is a competitor, he wants the best," he said. "I don't see an issue of not making it at 154."But, if Team Mayweather said it's 147, or no deal, would and could Canelo make 147? "No, no, his legs are so thick, his neck is so thick," Oscar said.Even making 152 would be a stretch, he said.He does expect Canelo to stick around junior middleweight for awhile, though, and said that he doesn't see him jumping to 160 in the near...
January 18, 2013 - Gary Shaw Productions, in association with Grange Old School Boxing and Black Venom Promotions, are pleased to announce a heavyweight showdown on the undercard to the Mundine vs. Geale world title fight at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, on Wednesday, January 30.Cult sensation Kimbo Slice, will put his devastating punching power to the ultimate test when he squares off with QLD Heavyweight champion Shane Tilyard. Kimbo Slice is no stranger to knocking people out. He's known around the world for his brute strength and granite chin as well as his amazing punching power. One thing you can count on, Kimbo Slice is coming to fight!"Tilyard thinks he's been in the ring with tough guys but he's never been in there with a monster like me," stated Kimbo Slice. "He better be ready because I'm coming to knock his head off and show the fans of Australia who the real KO King is."Tilyard overcame some formidable opposition including former kickboxing world champion Nathan 'Carnage' Corbett and NRL star turned boxer John Hopoate to claim the KO Kimbo competition and earn the right to fight former UFC star Kimbo Slice. The 27 year-old from Brisbane is a knock-out...
I am an Adrien Broner fan, let's get that out of the way.I think the world of his skills, and I enjoy his yapping, preferring the cocky rap and the insult stream toward foes and the humility-free boastings and, as with Floyd Mayweather, the way he keeps writers off balance, to an earnest but boring hitter spewing cliche combos.Like at BB King's on Tuesday, at a press conference to hype his Saturday clash at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, against Gavin Rees...Broner at one moment said that just as one wouldn't need to learn the name of the gal you're hooking up with, he sees no need to learn the name of his foe...and then a bit later said that he had a galpal, and was happy with just one squeeze.Or when he told a group of writers during a sitdown that he doesn't get hassled when he walks around Cinci, because, "I'm well respected from my early days" and then followed that with an admonition to the kids to stay on the straight and narrow.I doubt we see any contradictions in the ring Saturday, on the Golden Boy show, as I expect Rees to be a step too slow of foot and hand to give the 135 pound lightweight champ much trouble.The 32-year-old Rees, there with promoter Eddie Hearn,...
"Freddie, this Marquez knows me better than Jinkee does. He knows what I'm going to do before I do." (Chris Farina-Top Rank)This Saturday, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will do it all again at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and possibly bring some closure to their hotly disputed rivalry. Although Pacquiao has yet to suffer an official loss to Marquez the hope here is that a fourth meeting may provide an answer as to who the better man is -such has been the controversial nature of the round scoring in their previous meetings, there are plenty out there who feel Marquez should have been declared the winner on all three occasions. Furthermore, because Pacquiao has failed to knock out any of his previous five opponents, along with looking far from his scintillating best in his previous three appearances –a lackluster win over Shane Mosley and a contentious win and loss to Marquez and Timothy Bradley respectively- many have been quick to declare that Manny Pacquiao is no longer the force of nature he once was.It cannot be denied that at 33 years-old, Manny Pacquiao will have undoubtedly lost a little in the way of his speed and reflexes. Nevertheless, I believe Pacquiao’s...
June 8, 2012, Las Vegas, Nevada --- (L-R) Superstar Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy "The Desert Storm" Bradley Jr. weigh in(Pacquiao 147 lb, Bradley 146 lb) for their upcoming World Welterweight title mega-fight. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, Pacquiao vs Bradley will take place, Saturday, June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on HBO Pay Per View. --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank
It was the sucker punch heard and seen around the world. Reaction came as swift and hard as the two-punch combination from Floyd Mayweather that laid WBC welterweight titleholder Victor Ortiz out cold for the count this past Saturday on the Golden Boy fight card in Las Vegas.Prizefighters, trainers, commissioners and fans were quick to speak, scream and yell on whether or not Mayweather is a villain or hero.During the press conference Ortiz hinted that the referee Joe Cortez, a man always involved in controversial endings, never truly called for the fight to resume. But Ortiz did acknowledge that he made a costly mistake.“I learned a lesson,” said Ortiz, who was busy apologizing for intentionally head butting Mayweather on the mouth. He repeatedly hugged Mayweather who seemed to shrug it off and then proceed to wallop Ortiz with a left hook and right cross. Ortiz was looking at the referee who was looking somewhere off in space. One person who found the knockout distasteful was Moreno Valley’s Kaliesha West, a female world champion.“Yes it is true, protect yourself at all times. But who wants to witness a cheap shot victory?” said West, the WBO bantamweight champ. “I would have...
THE FIGHT:Manny Pacquiao Versus Timothy Bradley, Saturday, June 9At the MGM Grand Garden, Las Vegas, on HBO pay per view and Primetime 12 rounds, for Pacquiao's WBO welterweight title STATISTICS: Manny Pacquiao Timothy Bradley 33 Age 28 General Santos City Hometown Palm Springs, California Filipino Nationality American Jan 22, 1995 Pro debut Aug 20, 2004 54-3-2 Record 28-0 5ft 6 1/2ins Height 5ft 6ins 67ins Reach 69ins Southpaw Stance Orthodox 353 Rounds boxed 194 64% KO rate 41% 38% Connect rate 33% 27% Opponent's connect rate 25% +11 Compubox +/- +8 n/a Common opponents n/a Previous five opponents W MD 12 Juan Manuel Marquez W TKO 8 Joel Casamayor W UD 12 Shane Mosley W TD 10 Devon Alexander W UD 12 Antonio Margarito W UD 12 Luis Carlos Abregu W UD 12 Joshua Clottey W UD 12 Lamont Peterson W TKO 12 Miguel Cotto NC 3 Nate Campbell ***1/2 Recent opposition quality *** ****1/2 Career opposition quality *** STYLE, STRATEGY AND SHOT SELECTION:Manny Pacquiao:Considered by most to be boxing's premier offensive fighter -- No longer the one-handed searcher of his featherweight days, has now evolved into a dynamic ring stylist--Is able to counter, stalk or employ stick and move tactics...
Last week, I talked about what I thought could happen if Roy Jones Jr and Floyd Mayweather Jr were ever close enough in weight and time to face off, which came about as a result of Jones' comments in a recent interview. Jones stated that if he and Floyd were the same size, Floyd would be an easy fight for him. While I don't think it would be an easy fight for prime Roy, I do agree that his style would have been well suited to that of Mayweather.Which brings us to our next topic: prime Roy Jones versus Manny Pacquiao.In case you've forgotten, Roy claimed that Pacquiao, as opposed to Mayweather, would have given him many problems to contend with - in particular, his southpaw stance and power. Before we go any further, I must stress one important point. By saying that Pacquiao would be a tougher fight for him than Mayweather, I don't think Jones is suggesting that Pacquiao is the better fighter of the two. I believe Roy, whose boxing brain was one of his greatest assets, is aware that more than anything, styles make fights. Roy's twelve rounds of experience with James Toney - a defensive shell based counterpuncher-would give a thinking fighter, like Jones, somewhat of a blueprint...
No one is asking you to follow in Pacquiao's foot-steps. That'd be impossible, as Manny seems to be a once in an era sort of icon. But if you lose the gambling, the partying, all that, and get back to what you do best, box, then we think your legacy will be substantial. As of today, we are not so sure of that...(Hogan Photos)Dear Floyd Mayweather:Hope you had a fine birthday on Thursday.34.Wow.Hope you don't mind me saying, that's sort of old for a boxer. Even an ultra special one like you.
There's no doubting its impact within the boxing fraternity. The recent showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley is the most talked about boxing event of recent times. "The decision," as it's been aptly named, is well on its way to becoming the most infamous decision announced by three judges since Pernell Whitaker was declared to have been the equal of Julio Cesar Chavez back in 1993. Heck, it may have even eclipsed that, placing it on a pedestal alongside the decision that was Leonard versus Hagler of 1987.....I think you get the idea.Having only touched on the subject very briefly in my last two short pieces for TSS, and as a result of many of our regular readers -and some new-taking the time to comment on some of my recent statements -which I feel were not in any way outlandish-I thought I'd take this time to go into a little more detail explaining myself regarding my views on the fight that was, and also in the event of a possible rematch between our two men of the hour. Allow me to make one thing perfectly clear. In a crowded house on fight night, surrounded by a talkative family and blessed with a Primetime feed that just so happened to glorify everything...
Smiles abound here, but 24/7 viewers can see the tension as Freddie Roach and Alex Ariza feud. (Chris Farina-Top Rank)It looks like both the Pacquiao and Bradley training camps are humming along well, from the third installment of HBO's 24/7 series, but one wonders if the pockets of discord, like the Freddie Roach-Alex Ariza feud, will take away from Manny Pacquiao's focus heading in to his June 9 Las Vegas showdown with the unbeaten Tim Bradley.To open, we see Marvin Samodio walk into the Wild Card. He stepped in for Alex Ariza when Ariza left the Philippines camp early last month, and Roach asked him to come to the US to work again with Manny. The strength and conditioning coach says he and Ariza are good friends, and that he is still learning that craft. Pacquiao has decided not to dump Ariza, as Roach recommended. Freddie says that his comments on the last 24/7, when he said he would maybe recommend to Manny that they dump Ariza, who he said had gotten too big for his britches, were heavy-duty. Ariza is free to process them with him the trainer said, but the spat won't distract Pacman, he maintains."Manny likes him and wants him on board so that's the way it is and that's...
After watching the CBS Pacquiao-Mosley 360 special last Saturday night, it appears that Mosley's trainer Naazim Richardson wants Shane to fight Pacquiao the way Juan Manuel Marquez did during their rematch. In other words, he wants Shane to wait and react to Manny's presumed aggression. And it looks like that decision was made after watching Marquez catch Pacquiao with some good clean counter shots as Manny was bringing the fight to Marquez.
Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez have waged one of boxing’s great rivalries. Their first three fights, contested over the course of eight-and-a-half years, showcased two elite warriors with speed, intelligence, power, and skill. Neither man was able to dominate the other. They were equal in the ring, both champions.Pacquiao-Marquez IV is now part of that history. It began with a dramatic ebb and flow. Pacquiao went down hard in round three when Marquez landed an overhand right as Manny was pulling straight back with his hands down. Two rounds later, Juan Manuel’s gloves touched the canvas when a straight left caught him flush. That was followed by toe-to-toe action with Pacquiao getting the better of it. After five rounds, all three judges had the Filipino icon ahead by a 47-46 margin.By round six, Marquez’s face was a bloody mess and his nose appeared to be broken. The scene brought back memories of Chuck Wepner walking back to his corner after a particularly hard round against Sonny Liston.“I can't breathe,” Wepner told his manager, Al Braverman. “My nose is broken."“You got a mouth, don't you?” Braverman answered.Marquez could breathe through his mouth. And Pacquiao,...
Howard Cosell to Muhammad Ali 9/20/72 in the ring after Ali stopped former heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson in their rematch:Cosell: Muhammad, you couldn't put Floyd down, is there anything left of your punch?Ali: No Howard, I can't punch, I only punch hard enough to win.As most know, former heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali wasn't known for his knockout power. Ali may perhaps be the greatest overall heavyweight fighter/boxer in history, but he certainly wasn't a life-taker like Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers. Incidentally, in eight fights against those feared killers, Ali went 7-1 (5). Former champs Larry Holmes and Gene Tunney also weren't known as punchers, yet they convincingly beat beasts named Shavers and Dempsey.When Ali fought Foreman in 1974 for the title, the prevailing thought was he couldn't tickle George with his punch, therefore George should just walk right through him on his way to a spectacular knockout win. Ali knocked Foreman out. When Sugar Ray Leonard fought Marvin Hagler in 1987, Hagler was known for having a titanium chin and it was inconceivable to think Leonard could hurt Hagler, let alone beat him. Yet despite...
Mike Alvarado started slowly versus Brandon Rios, got buzzed in round two, but collected his senses, and he did what all said he couldn't, and boxed smartly and steadily for the duration in the main event at the Mandalay Bay on Saturday night, in Las Vegas.Alvarado mixed movement and flat footed combination punching, and got the love from the judges, by scores of 115-113, 115-113, 114-113. It was another superb prizefight, without the jaw-dropping violence of the Bradley-Provodnikov fight, but top grade nevertheless.I had it 7-3-2, for Alvarado, but am just happy the judges got it right.It was another majestic display of will and guts, and yes, skill, as Alvarado's ring generalship carried the night. Alvie (seen above in Chris Farina-Top Rank photo) went 261-860 to 241-823 for the loser, according to CompuBox.Rios after interrupted Max Kellerman and Alvarado, with Rios calling for promoter Bob Arum to get the papers ready for a third bout. He said he'd give Brandon an immediate rematch, but said it's up to Arum.Rios agreed he lost, to Kellerman. He said he'd go to Denver to fight again. "Respect, we'll go to your city," he said. Rios said he wasn't hurt and he'd be happy to go...
Extra attention is given to members of the Pacquaio and Marquez teams who stand by their men, and help prepare them for battle, in the third installment of the HBO's Pacquaio-Marquez III 24/7First off, Marquez received an honor, as he was bestowed with a spot on the Mexico City walk of fame, but it was right back to work after that interval. Marquez went back to the gym and didn't box a stitch, instead doing weight work. Marquez said his training has been better in every way compared to his prep for his fight with Floyd Mayweather.Marquez finishes the day with a session in a hyperbaric chamber, which he says recharges his batteries. He huffs pure oxygen through a mask, and then departs.In Hollywood, Manny Pacquaio doesn't bother with the weights. He does pads with Freddie Roach and bag work and then pauses to crack up at a lady dressed up as him. It is Halloween, after all.The Manny crew then heads over to hang out in the Manny Pacquiao Merchandise and Tattoo Shop. Manny slurps soup while Buboy gets a tat, his first. He is getting inked with a burning meteor. That tat is the same one Manny and most of the rest of the crew have engraved on their left forearm. Buboy says he...
PRESS RELEASE: The past 15 years have been difficult for former heavyweight boxing champion Tommy “The Duke” Morrison. Once on top of the world, he was allegedly diagnosed with the HIV "hypothesis" in 1996 and barred from the sport he loves. The only problem is that a decade and a half later, Tommy is not sick, has not succumbed to HIV and not succumbed to AIDS, has not taken medication, and cannot get a straight answer from anyone regarding his current status or his 1996 test results.
Another fill in foe, another script flipper, another contender for upset of the year. Danny Garcia knocked down Amir Khan three times and made the ref step in and halt the main event which unfolded at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Saturday night, and on HBO. Six to one underdog Garcia, channeling Josesito Lopez, another sub, who just upset Victor Ortiz, went ballistic after Kenny Bayless saw that Khan looked to shaky to continue in the fourth round.The time of the finish was 2:28. "I'm a killer, baby," Garcia said after. The first knockdown, off a left hook, was something he worked on in camp. The victor said he knew Khan would come out fast, and he planned to step it up after the third. Khan said he got caught by what looked like a blind shot but gave credit to the victor. Did he want to continue? He said he was OK, and in fact told the ref he was OK. "I was surprised the ref stopped the fight there," he said. "I got up off the floor, I was fine...Maybe they made the right choice."The WBA junior welter champ Khan (lives in England; age 25; 26-1 with 18 KOs entering) was 139-148 pounds on fightnight, as was the WBC junior welterweight champion Garcia (from Philadelphia; age 24;...
GRAND ISLAND, NE (Oct. 15, 2011) – Electrifying heavyweight Kimbo Slice, aka Kevin Ferguson, needed only 1:52 to register a phenomenal knockout of Tay Bledsoe in tonight’s main event on the “Rumble In The Heartland” card, presented by Gary Shaw Productions and Legacy Communications, at Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska. Slice (2-0, 2 KOs), who is co-promoted by Gary Shaw and Tony Holden, continued to show improvement in the ring with world-class trainer John David Jackson in his corner. The former Internet combat fighting sensation came out fast and ended the night with a powerful, one-punch overhand right, stopping Bledsoe who remained motionless for several minutes. Slice’s first pro fight lasted only 17 seconds. Washington D.C. heavyweight Maurice Byarm scored three knockdowns in the opening round, finishing veteran Clinton Boldrige in the first round (1:14) to remain unbeaten, while middleweight Abel Perry (16-5, 7 KOs) battled his way to a unanimous decision victory against Patrick Thompson (17-17-1, 7 KOs). 
It looks like a fair number of you were hoping to see Mike Alvarado get the nod against Manny Pacquiao for Pacman's November date in Macau. Many fans think Alvarado's boxing skills give him a better chance to better the 34-year-old Pacquiao and suspect Rios, a straight ahead rumbler who often neglects defense, is tailor made to help Pacman stop his losing streak.I checked in with former HBO analyst Larry Merchant, who has kept busy doing work for Top Rank following his exit after 35 years at HBO, to discuss what is forthcoming for Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, and the other fighters clustered at 147 pounds."Instead of a fifth fight between Pacquiao and Marquez, there are two pretty good ones instead," he said. "In regards to Rios versus Alvarado for Pacquiao, it is a question of style, they want someone to come straight forward, give him chance to have a spectacular showing."Does Merchant think fans are disappointed, that Alvarado--who by the way was medically disqualified from a November fight, as a hurt tendon in his hand might not be healed-- would be a better style matchup for Manny? "I think Alvarado poses a more complex problem to solve," he said. "He would try to box...
Floyd Mayweather appeared at a press and fan conference in Puerto Rico to hype his May 5 tussle with Miguel Cotto. I watched the event from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan on a stream provided by Livestream, on Primera Hora, but it was choppy, and kept freezing, sadly. I did hear some of what Floyd had to say at the presser.Floyd talked up Cinco de Mayo. He thanked HBO, and noted their partnership for 16 years, "and still going."He thanked Puero Rican fans for their support, and said it'd be right for them to support their guy. "One man has to rise to the occasion and that will be me," he said. "Floyd Mayweather is not a cheater like Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao. Hard work. Hard work. Hard work," he said.He said he won't run, and it will be a fight May 5. He won't worry if fans root for Miguel. "If God is on your side, you will always rise," he said.He said one doesn't dominate for 16 years with out hard work.Cotto then took to the mike, after being introed as "one of the greatest fighters of all time."He said things in Spanish, which no one thought to translate.Mayweather and Cotto then posed for photos, with gamefaces on, shook hands and hurriedly parted ways....
What did you think of Donaire's effort tonight, readers? (Chris Farina-Top Rank)WBO 122 pound champion Nonito Donaire sent Jeffrey Mathebula down to the mat for the first time in his career, in round four, and it looked like that might be all she wrote, because the South African arose on weak legs. But the bell clanged to end the round, and Mathebula, the IBF champ, regained his legs, and kept on chopping away. He did well to enter the later rounds, but not well enough to sway the judges his way. Donaire scored a UD12 victory in his first title defense, via scores of 117-110, 118-109, 119-108, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.Donaire went 151-515, to 231-919, but the judges liked the power edge of Donaire. Readers, did you? Was this scoring solid?After, Donaire spoke to Max Kellerman. He said Mathebula was tough and faster than he thought, and hard to counter. The jab of the loser was hard to handle, he said, of the loser, who he termed a "great champion." Of the knockdown, he said he didn't expect it, but later on, was smarter defensively. The winner said he should have used the right more. He said he thought the fight was close. "It was fun, I really had a good...
When judge Jerry Roth told HBO's Jim Lampley that he judged Manny Pacquiao's performance versus Timothy Bradley against what vintage Pacquiao might have done to Bradley as the reason why he scored the fight so closely in Manny's favor, every fan with a scintilla of common sense admonished him. And rightly so. But if nothing else, Ford highlighted one thing that's been lost in the controversy, and that is Pacquiao has declined dramatically as a fighter. In his last two fights he was out-boxed and should've lost the decision against Juan Manuel Marquez. And according to two of the only three people that count, he lost to Bradley.To think that Pacquiao could win a decision against Floyd Mayweather who recently beat Miguel Cotto convincingly in his last fight is almost in-comprehensible. Manny is not the same fighter he was when he fought Miguel Cotto in 2009. Mayweather has said repeatedly that Pacquiao can be out-boxed and nullified by fighters who give him different looks and a little foot movement, something both Marquez and Bradley fed Pacquiao. Notice that not only did Marquez and Bradley go the distance, they were never down or on the verge of going down against Pacquiao. In...
Borrowing from the classic style and prose of hall of fame sportswriter Jimmy Cannon (April 10, 1909 - December 5, 1973), the writer takes a look at the career of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and discovers that time is not the only vandal. You’re Floyd Maweather, Jr., aged thirty-five, the preeminent star in the sport of boxing. People love you, and they hate you. They love you because of how great you could be. They hate you because you seem unwilling to prove it. Still, you are the alpha figure in boxing today, and you love it. You make more money than any other fighter in the sport. In fact, you have the fantastic ability to make in one night more than what ninety-nine percent of fighters make for their whole careers. You’re Floyd Mayweather, and you’re the best fighter in the world…maybe.Oh sure, you’re still undefeated. No one can take that away from you. You wouldn’t give them the chance. Yeah, you’ve beaten some of the very best fighters of your era. The names on your resume are nothing to scoff at. Not at all. Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto. Big names. Huge. But there’s more to a legacy than just “names,” isn’t there?You started...
A star is born. Adrien Broner, 22, from Cincinnati Ohio, took his record to 23-0 [19 kos] this past weekend, with a scintillating fourth round knockout of tough Eloy Perez. Before the contest, many thought Perez possessed the style and attributes to give Broner a tough night's work. This however, did not prove to be the case as Broner, after taking just a fraction of the first round to figure out how his opponent was behaving, dominated the action in thoroughly one sided fashion. Perez appeared to be well out of his depth. Broner, a natural counterpuncher, simply overwhelmed Perez in every area of the fight. Broner was patient early, taking in his smaller opponent's rhythm. Broner then set about disrupting that rhythm with a well timed jab, which he mixed well to body and head. Broner knew he had his man solved as he then started to walk Perez down, behind a high guard. Throwing jabs, straight right hands and lead left hooks, Perez was unable to adjust. One got the impression the fight was not going to last much longer as Broner began stalking his opponent with a lot more purpose and spite. The inevitable came after Broner landed a devastating straight right hand to the chin...
Feb. 19, 2011, Las Vegas,Nevada --- Hall of Fame Top Rank promoter Bob Arum (ctr) congratulates Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire(R) and his trainer Robert Garcia (L) after Donaire stopped Fernando Montiel in the 2nd round to win theWBC/WBO bantamweight belts Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top RankNonito Donaire may be even better than we thought he was. Comparisons to that other Filipino guy were already being made before Saturday night, but they will certainly grow louder now.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a tweet is worth … well, at 140 characters max, certainly a whole lot less than a thousand words. Maybe 32 or so, I’d guesstimate. Unless there’s a Twitpic attached, in which case it’s worth about 1,032 words.Nevertheless, this Twitpic-free tweet from Floyd Mayweather on Wednesday is certainly worth a thousand words of reaction: “I’m fighting Miguel Cotto on May 5th because Miss Pac Man is ducking me.” The tweet was just 14 little words long, but its emotional impact on this longtime boxing fan and writer is not so succinctly summed up.A list of some of the feelings stirred by “Money’s” loaded declaration: anticipation, excitement, depression, frustration, anger, bewilderment, revulsion, confusion, and maybe even a little guilt and self-loathing. Allow me to lie down on Dr. Melfi’s couch and explain.On the one hand, Mayweather vs. Cotto is a decent fight, the most marketable and second most competitive (behind only Mayweather vs. Sergio Martinez) fight Floyd could have considered if we take Manny Pacquiao out of the equation. It’s a big event. On certain levels, I’m looking forward to it.However, I’d still need about 8-1 odds to...
That smile looks at home on Donaire, but it wasn't always so. He suffered through a dark childhood, and there were days, he said, he didn't want to trudge on. He did, and look where he is now. THAT is a role model. (Chris Farina-Top Rank)When he dropped the bombshell on me back in October 2011, I was in awe of the guy, how far he'd come, and thought he could and should be celebrated--outside of the narrow world of the boxing racket--as a potent symbol of how you can come back from the depths.However, when Nonito Donaire in an NYC hotel room a few days before he was to fight Omar Narvaez at the MSG Theater admitted that he was so depressed as a kid he thought about offing himself, I confess I felt almost uncomfortable.That info was too raw, seemingly out of place outside of a therapy session. But I felt honored that the boxer had chosen to share such emotionally intensive material with me. Yes, from that moment on, I of course had a new level of respect for Nonito Donaire, the Filipino Flash, who is now in the process of taking the reins over, as the Phillipines boxing standard bearer, from Manny Pacquiao.I filed a story for a publication and the story fell in between the...
Reading in between the lines, TSS in the FH video could detect no softening in Floyd's stance, no signal that he seems more open to risking his "0" against Pacquiao. (Hogan)Floyd Mayweather, the superbly talented part-time pugilist, has gone on record as saying that he agreed to all terms to fight Manny Pacquiao, and offered to show contract, as proof, to the website FightHype.
It's not just Hopkins. Many fighters I talked to shook their heads and scoffed at Mosley's showing against Manny. It's not just super critical fightwriters and sarcastic fans who want to see buckets of blood who looked down on Mosley's (non) effort. (Hogan)I've held off writing this, for a few reasons. Mostly, I was still trying to figure out what it was that I saw on Saturday night at the MGM in Las Vegas. But also, the part of me that holds considerable respect for Shane Mosley, and what he has done in the ring, didn't want to be too harsh.
Dig that 'do. Pacman showed off a Beiber bob in Cali on Thursday. Will Mosley have any luck getting to the Congressman's head when they clash in May? (photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank)BEVERLY HILLS-If fan popularity can be judged by a press conference, then Manny Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title defense against Sugar Shane Mosley is going to be a blockbuster.
photo by Chris Farina-Top RankNo, he doesn't have the pop his pop had, but Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. can crack, as he showed in the main event in the Sun Bowl at U. Texas-El Paso, in El Paso, Texas on Saturday night. HBO showed Chavez' effort against Andy Lee, who started out boxing smartly, but was lured into a bit of a brawl with the Mexican, to his ultimate dismay. Lefts and rights to the head and body, with Lee on the ropes, forced the ref to end the fan-friendly tussle in the seventh. The end came at 2:21, and dad grinned and screamed his approval from the front row.Larry Merchant chatted with both men after. Junior said he figured out Lee didn't have enough power to bother him, and then pressed on the gas. "He never hurt me," he said. He said he's happy to carry on the family name in the game. He said his legs were bothering him from the start, and could have stopped Lee earlier. Asked about Sergio Martinez, he said he would knock him out and shut his mouth. Lee said Junior is a good fighter, and he walked through good punches. "He's a big middleweight. He's heavy, it was hard to move him with my shots," he said. He said he's better than people give him credit for, and...
No PED cloud hung over this one. Nonito Donaire, the bigger, more skilled, younger and most tested boxer, crushed Jorge Arce in the main event at the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday night. Donaire sent him down once in the second and twice in the third. The left hook that ended came at 2:59, and will get some consideration for KO of the year...if not for Juan Manuel Marquez' special on Manny Pacquiao.Donaire went 28-93 to 13-96 for the loser.After the fight, Donaire lauded Larry Merchant for a fine career. He said Arce caught him, and noted that a busted knuckle wasn't fully healed, but he's a battler, and needs to rumble. He said he hopes the Filipinos are proud of him and are happy that he beat the Mexican, for Manny. He said he'd like Mares, or Rigo, but that he has told Top Rank for two years to get Mares to the table. To Merchant, Arce said after his career is over. Are you sure, Merchant asked. He said he promised his family he would retire if he lost. The Mexican said "he's very good" and had a power edge. They are friends, but Arce said he's proud to have lost to the better man. "You are the best," Arce said to Merchant, after saying he would move over to...
What do you think about this, Pacman fans? I asked Sergio Martinez' advisor Sampson Lewkowicz if his man was the top pound for pounder in the world. And his answer, I think, will not make you happy."By far (Martinez is number one)," said Lewkowicz, at a press conference in Manhattan on Wednesday to hype the Oct. 1 Martinez-Darren Barker clash in Atlantic City. "I believe Martinez has fought better competition than Manny Pacquiao, I believe that whoever says Pacquiao is number one is wrong. I believe Sergio Martinez is the sweet scientist of boxing. And give him credit for that." Is Mayweather better than Sergio? "Let's fight each other and find out who is the best."
Floyd Mayweather put on a thoroughly masterful showing Saturday night in Las Vegas, I dare say surprising a ton of folks who thought that he'd deteriorated with age. No, he made a darn fine fighter like Robert Guerrero miss like a Golden Gloves neophyte time and again, and again proved to me that there is nobody from 140-154 who can beat or maybe even truly test him. I'd love to see him tell us all to go to hell for critiqueing him, and shut our smart mouths once and for all by challenging Andre Ward at a catch-weight, and fighting and beating him...though I know the chances of this are the same as me waking up tomorrow with a full head of hair and a 30 inch waist. Keep on dreaming, cueball...The nattering nabobs and gleeful jackals have been out in force since Sunday morning, taking to Twitter to dissect every aspect of the Mayweather-Guerrero promotion, from the buildup to the actual scrap and now the numbers. Word leaked out that the fight might come in under expectations, perhaps doing less than 1 million buys. I called Showtime boxing boss Stephen Espinoza (seen flanked by Leonard Ellerbe and Floyd Mayweather in above John Filo-Showtime photo) to see if he had some...
Nonito Donaire wants to unify the bantamweight title, a process promoter Bob Arum wants to begin May 28 on HBO against WBA title holder Anselmo Moreno. Only problem is some people associated with Donaire say Arum’s promotional contract with the WBC/WBO bantamweight champion runs out that month. Arum disagrees. Of course, he does.
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