Pacquiao-Mayweather mania running wild

Your weekly random thoughts …

• You know just how big the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight is when just the discussion of where the March 13 super fight will take place generates daily headlines.

Las Vegas, Dallas, New Orleans and Los Angeles are all places that are interested in the fight. Promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy also received inquiries from places such as Atlanta, Miami and such non-starters as the Congo and Dubai.

I've always believed the fight would wind up in Las Vegas, although it would be fun to go with some place like Dallas, where the stadium with a retractable roof could seat 100,000 people. But the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, from what I understand, has exerted big-time pressure to have the fight there. The MGM, perhaps the best place on Earth to see a fight, has always been the leader in the sweepstakes for obvious reasons. It's hosted numerous Pacquiao and Mayweather fights and supports Top Rank and Golden Boy fights regularly, even some that don't bring big crowds. The MGM hosts lesser fights knowing it also will get the big ones. Golden Boy, in particular, is very tight with the MGM, particularly executive Richard Sturm, who plays a key role in keeping boxing a major aspect of the casino's entertainment offerings. The only problem is that Pacquiao-Mayweather is so big, the arena, which holds maybe 18,000 max, just isn't big enough.

Los Angeles, despite a supposed $20 million offer from AEG, which owns the Staples Center and a minority stake in Golden Boy, seems unlikely because of the state income taxes that will be assessed to each fighter. Besides, Pacquiao says he doesn't want to fight there.

Dallas is interesting, given the serious interest from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in bringing the fight to his stadium. I think that would be cool, not to mention I could make a pilgrimage to nearby Southfork Ranch, home of my all-time favorite TV show, Dallas.

Golden Boy's Richard Schaefer inexplicably dissed Jones by canceling a planned trip there on Wednesday with Top Rank's Bob Arum and HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg to tour the facility and meet with Jones. Even if Schaefer was under orders from Mayweather and manager Al Haymon not to do the fight anywhere other than Las Vegas, Schaefer was wrong to cancel the trip. What harm could have come from it? You at least listen to what Jones has to say.

Schaefer bailing so angered Arum that he threw up his hands, pulled himself out of the talks to finalize the fight (which will get done despite the bumpy road) and turned over the Top Rank end of talks to company president (and stepson) Todd duBoef. He is trying to clean up the mess and do his impersonation of Winston Wolfe -- the legendary Harvey Keitel character from "Pulp Fiction" who could fix any problem.

Now that Schaefer and duBoef are working together, I'm told Dallas is back in the mix. Unless some other place pops up, this is a two-town race: Vegas or Dallas, neither of which levy state income taxes.

We should know in a few days. And just think -- all this craziness is just about where the fight will be. Imagine how much fun it's going to be when the fight is signed, sealed and delivered.

• I tuned into HBO's "Joe Buck Live" on Tuesday night to see Mayweather's appearance. What a complete waste of time. Only Buck could make Mayweather boring in an interview. I have also watched a previous episode of the show, and it's just awful. It's a train wreck. It's the "KO Nation" of talk shows.

• If Kelly Pavlik beats Miguel Espino next week, I still want to see Pavlik against Paul Williams before I see a Williams rematch with Sergio Martinez.

• Now that heavyweight Cristobal Arreola has bounced back from his loss to Vitali Klitschko by stopping game Brian Minto in four exciting rounds, I want to see Arreola against David Tua. Somebody please make this happen.

• Say what you want about promoterLou DiBella, but I have deep respect for him. He's a man of conviction. He left a lot of money on the table by severing ties with Jermain Taylor because he believes the diminished Taylor, who has been severely knocked out in three of his last five fights, should drop out of the Super Six and retire. DiBella won't stand by and be a part of something he believes is wrong. Before Taylor fights Andre Ward in April, likely in Oakland, in the next round of Showtime's tournament, I encourage the California commission to demand to see Taylor's medical records and test results from when he was hospitalized in Germany following the crushing knockout he suffered against Arthur Abraham on Oct. 17.

• I have decided to get disgraced judges Gale Van Hoy, Alan Davis, Benoit Roussel and Pierre Benoist eyeglasses as gifts for this holiday season. On second thought, what they all really deserve for their horrific scorecards in recent fights is a giant lump of coal. If you're a prizefighter and you find out one of these guys has been assigned to your fight, run.

• It hasn't been a good month for Square Ring, the promotional company owned by Roy Jones. In the span of three days, neither of the company's key fighters could make it out of the first round. Jones was knocked out in 122 seconds by Danny Green and Dmitriy Salita was knocked out by Amir Khan in 76 seconds. Ouch, babe.

• For the record: I absolutely love the idea of junior welterweights Devon Alexander and Khan defending their titles against good opponents on the same HBO telecast March 6. I think it could lead to an eventual Alexander-Khan showdown, something I've been interested in and first wrote about in August.

• Top Rank hopes that Miguel Cotto will return from his knockout loss to Pacquiao in June in New York on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. Don't be shocked if Cotto moves up to junior middleweight to challenge New Yorker Yuri Foreman for his title. It would be a throwback sort of fight with the Big Apple's large Puerto Rican population supporting Cotto and the Jewish community supporting Foreman. I think it could actually be a pretty big fight. If it happens, I just hope Arum doesn't give me the finger again, like he did after Foreman's fight last month when he won his title against Daniel Santos on the Pacquiao-Cotto undercard.

• A hearty congratulations to a trio of non-participants who were elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame this week: manager Shelly Finkel, Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler and former Associated Press writer Ed Schuyler. I've known all three since I started covering boxing and all three are most deserving of the honor. You can say what you want about Finkel, who has made his share of enemies, but he's managed a who's who of boxing superstars and champions (Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor, Michael Moorer, Fernando Vargas, Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko and Manny Pacquiao, to barely scratch the surface) over the past 25 years. His résumé speaks for itself. With Trampler, Top Rank wouldn't be the formidable company it is today. He's the glue and one of the most revered matchmakers ever. No Top Rank fight is made without his stamp of approval. Schuyler, AP's national boxing writer for 32 years, is one of my journalism idols. He retired in 2002, but in the first couple of years of my career covering boxing, I got to cover fights with him. I sat next to him for many big fights and, to be honest, it was just as much of a thrill to learn from him at ringside as it was to cover the actual fights. He's a legend.

• Happy birthday to Top Rank's one and only Arum, who turned 78 on Tuesday.

• DVD pick of the week: When I was writing a blog earlier this week about how I cast my ballot for the International Hall of Fame this year, and explaining my vote for "Prince" Naseem Hamed, it obviously got me thinking about one of my all-time favorite fights. It's been the DVD pick of the week before, but it never gets old. So back to Dec. 19, 1997, at New York's famed Madison Square Garden, where Hamed made his American debut in sensational style as he defended his featherweight title against former champ Kevin Kelley. It was Hamed's first fight under a monster HBO contract and it was a slugfest. After one of Hamed's lengthy, showy entrances they went to battle, and both men hit the deck three times. Ultimately, Hamed scored the fourth-round knockout in a fight HBO's Larry Merchant called the "Hagler-Hearns of featherweight fighting." And, by the way, the undercard bout that opened HBO's telecast -- a pitched battle between Kennedy McKinney and Junior Jones, in which McKinney rallied for a fourth-round knockout to claim a junior featherweight title -- was also sensational.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Pacquiao-Mayweather: What I’ve learned so far

Las Vegas Boxing Examiner | Chris Robinson

The say that in the game of life you learn something new each and every day. That is a statement that definitely rings true and in the world of boxing especially there is always something worth discovering.

In charting the recent Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather developments I find myself being amazed and taken back in more ways that one. The hype surrounding the contest is unlike anything I have seen and every day I stumble upon a new angle or find myself contemplating a scenario that is completely new to me.

If the fight does come off I can only hope the contest delivers as much drama and suspense inside of the ropes than has been the case outside of the ring so far. From my best recollection, these are some of the things that have stood out to me while covering the early Pacquiao-Mayweather buzz.

The Mayweathers are a tough crowd

When Pacquiao defeated Cotto this past November 14th he put on an all around performance, one of the most complete and definitive of his career. Showing patience, poise, and extreme versatility with his attack, the Filipino sensation dominated the fight over the second half of the bout and had Cotto retreating before the action was halted in the twelfth round.

To even Pacquiao’s most ardent critics it was the type of performance that elicited great respect and in some cases admiration. Still there are one group of people who have remained hard pressed towards really tipping their hat to Manny; a clan known simply as the Mayweathers.

It goes without saying that all of Floyd Jr.’s relatives are going to stand behind him but what has been surprising is the fact that neither of his uncles nor his father have yet to acknowledge how impressive Pacquiao has been as of late. In talking to all three, Floyd Sr., and Uncles Roger and Jeff, I gathered up three similar viewpoints from each. All firmly believe that Pacquiao is no match for Floyd Jr.

“I do feel that Pacquiao is making a mistake going up against my son,” Floyd Sr. commented roughly a week ago. “Floyd is the most technical fighter out there; He’ll control the fight easily with his ring generalship. I don’t see anything that Pacquiao can bring for him. If Floyd stays away from that left it will be easy work.”

Earlier I had asked Roger his impressions of a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight and he too was extremely adamant about Pacquiao’s slim to none chance in the fight. I tried to press the chief trainer on to whether he saw some kind of greatness in Pacquiao but came up empty handed.

“He’s an alright fighter,” Roger said apathetically “I saw what he did against Cotto but I can’t say he’s anything special. I just don’t see it.”

As for Uncle Jeff, he has always been considered the Mayweather who is the most level headed in many regards and I was curious as to what he had to say about a Pacquiao-Money May collision. Surprisingly, to me at least, Jeff’s answers were that of a man dead set on his belief that Floyd Jr. is simply on another level.

“Pacquiao has nothing more than a puncher’s chance against Floyd,” Jeff stated a few weeks back. “I think we’ll see a replay of Mayweather-Marquez. If Pacquiao doesn’t catch Floyd with a big shot I don’t see him doing anything. The only punch he can land against him is the hook and it is very powerful. The other punches he throws are just too wide. Basically Floyd can stay on the outside and basically pick him apart.”

Talk about a tough crowd. It’s obvious that there seems to be a certain touch of bias amongst the Grand Rapids clan, as it is natural for those connected by blood to stand by each other. I don’t think the Mayweathers genuinely feel dismissive of Pacquiao but the possible showdown between him and Floyd is the type of contest that will bring the best and worst emotions to the surface.

The writer’s grind

Pacquiao-Mayweather is the type of contest that has also brought out the best and worst of many of today’s writers as well. Keeping up with the daily drama regarding the potential bout is a chore in its own and as a writer it becomes a test of your creativity, skill, and talent in producing new material.

Despite a multitude of angles to cover in the contest, thinking of something new and refreshing isn’t the easiest of tasks and I have noticed that every writer has their own nice when dissecting the fight’s developments. Like it or not, Mayweather and Pacquiao are what everyone is talking about and it's simply the topic that many are dying to read about.

Some writers really on their interaction with their connections in the boxing world, trying to produce somewhat of a ‘behind the scenes’ type of atmosphere with their material. Other writers rely solely on their opinion and speak from their heart with passion, caring less what people have to think of their often harsh words. Other scribes focus heavily on their inside information and always have a way of getting the scoop before anyone else.

Other scribes online have their own unique way of collecting attention, whether it is from their elaborate headlines, straight to the point articles, or even creating somewhat of a scoreboard of their own. Whether you are a writer looking for feedback from the fans or looking for compensation of another kind, any kind of attention is usually beneficial.

The Pacquiao-Mayweather grind is like a rat race for all parties involved, whether you are a fan, writer, or close to either camp. At the end of the day we’re all just trying to keep pace.

Putting everything into perspective

I have noticed that Pacquiao-Mayweather seems to be the main topic on everyone’s mind these days, to the point that other attractive contests have been lost in the shuffle. Just this weekend for example, we have two very meaningful fights in the Jr. Welterweight division with the Juan Diaz-Paulie Malignaggi rematch and the Timothy Bradley-Lamont Peterson WBO title tilt. And on top of that we also have a tape delayed broadcast of WBC Heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko taking on Kevin Johnson.

Two of those contests are evenly matched affairs that could conceivably end in either guy’s favor and the other is perhaps today's best Heavyweight going up against a brash and undefeated challenger from America. All four of the Jr. Welterweights doing action tonight are skilled in their crafts and it is the type of weekend that fans look forward to. But in looking online at the daily boxing news that is being churned out, the pressing concern on everyone’s mind is still all of the Pacquiao-Mayweather scenarios that have yet to play themselves out.

Pacquiao and Mayweather have been used to dominating inside of the ropes but nowadays they are also controlling the headlines as well. Feeling here is that won’t change anytime soon.

It’s all speculation

In going online to assess the thoughts of the everyday public in regards to the bout I have noticed much passion and even hatred coming to the surface. Pacquiao-Mayweather is the type of showdown that has had people talking, and to a broader extent, arguing and debating to night’s end.

Pacquiao’s faithful fans in particular are undyingly loyal to their hero and attack like piranhas when something even slightly negative is said about their man. Their opinion of Mayweather is that of someone who is purely the enemy and their words have often been scathing. Many of Pacquiao’s fans view Floyd as a coward and insist that he has no intentions of ever fighting their man.

At the end of the day, for as much as we can talk and debate the happenings, it’s all speculation. Nobody knows what is going on in the head of Floyd Mayweather Jr. except himself and over the following months we’ll have a better gauge of what his actions are. You can be for certain that up until the first bell rings, if it ever does, that the opinions will be hot and heavy.

Source: Examiner.com

Manny wants to retire after Mayweather bout

By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated December 13, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Could this be the last fight for Manny Pacquiao?

Well, the boxer now being considered as the greatest of his era thinks so.

“Baka last fight ko na (It could be my last fight),” he said on TV yesterday of his highly-anticipated showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr., the undefeated American ex-pound-for-pound king.

Pacquiao, who turns 31 on Wednesday, now holds the distinction of being the best fighter in the planet, not long after scoring historic wins over Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao is the first and only boxer in history to win seven world titles in seven different weight classes – flyweight, super-bantam, featherweight, super-feather, lightweight, junior-welter and welter.

His victory over Cotto, who’s supposed to be much bigger and much stronger, cemented his place in boxing history, and after starting out at 105 lb he’s now the reigning world champion at 147 lb.

Following his sensational win over the Puerto Rican last Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, said it’s about time to call it a day and that she can’t stand watching him fight again.

“Ayoko na makita siya lumaban at masaktan (I don’t want to see him fight and get hurt),” said Dionisia.

Pacquiao said retirement had crossed his mind a couple of times.

“Ayaw na talaga ng mama ko (My mother doesn’t want it anymore). Umiiyak na nga siya (And she cries),” said Pacquiao, now getting ready for another big birthday bash in his hometown in Sarangani.

Then he gets to enjoy more time with his family on Christmas and as they celebrate his wife Jinkee’s birthday on the first week of January. By that time, however, they could be in the United States.

Pacquiao and Mayweather, unless fate dictates otherwise, should be holding a press conference in New York on Jan. 6 or Jan 11 to announce the fight being billed as the fight of the new century.

Then it’s off to training, another seven to eight weeks, starting off in Baguio City and capping it at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. Pacquiao said he will train like never before because it could be his last.

The boxer is also seeking a congressional seat in Sarangani in the May 10 national elections.

That’s why his promoter, Bob Arum, is making sure Pacquiao gets the best of both ends in his fight with Mayweather. And as it is, despite a recent hitch, negotiations could be done and over with in a week.

While both camps are ironing out minor kinks in the contract, promoters are busy trimming down the choices as venue of the fight. As of presstime, the choices are down to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

Even before negotiations for this fight started, Pacquiao said if it’s Mayweather then he deserves a guaranteed purse of at least $25 million or almost P1.2 billion which is enough to fund a presidential campaign.

But his Canadian adviser, Mike Koncz, said because of the magnitude of the fight, the pride of the Philippines could end up with $50 million in his already fat bank account.

Source: philstar.com

Mayweather Vs Pacquiao fight: This Is Floyd’s Only Chance To Prove His Doubters Wrong

December 12: Mayweather Vs Pacquiao fight: This Is Floyd’s Only Chance To Prove His Doubters Wrong. After a long wait the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao has been set for next year. But officially this has yet to be confirmed.

However, the mere announcement has triggered a heated debate among fans and fighters. Many say this fight is a good chance for Mayweather to prove his mettle and realize his dream of becoming a master fighter.

But on several websites conflicting views are coming. The debate is raging about his future. There are plenty of doubters who are calling Mayweather an easy target. If he is trounced in the fight then for most of his fans their star’s boxing career will come to an end. Everything can be changed if he goes on to win this title. He will be recognized as a great fighter by his fans.

On the other hand Pacquiao is the favorite. Most sports critics and fans are rooting for him this time. And Mayweather is well aware of this fact. He kind of knows that he is handling his biggest challenge of his career.

So before taking him in the rings, Mayweather has to do all his homework, meaning he has to make sure that he wins the fight at any cost. Losing is not an option for him.

Source: khabrein.info

Manny Pacquiao and steroid use allegations...

By Tony Montgomery

I do not believe Manny Pacquiao does steroids.

I start my article making this statement because so many people only read the headline of an article, and maybe the first line, before clicking off and moving on. All they walk away with is, "Manny Pacquiao and steroids."

There have been accusations of Manny Pacquiao and steroid use lately. And I want to emphasize that I do not believe Manny Pacquiao is a user of any performance enhancing drugs. I'm sure many of you know I’m not a “super fanatic” of Manny Pacquiao but I’m not a hater either. I am very conscious of his accomplishments in the sport of boxing and believe he is one of the best, if not the best fighter today.

When I read or hear that Manny Pacquiao is using steroids, I can't help but ask, where is the proof? And I always get the same answer, that it’s impossible for a fighter to go up in weight the way Manny Pacquiao has and retain power and speed as he has. And again I ask, where is the proof that accomplishing such a feat is impossible?

All things bring me to major league baseball. The great sport of baseball has been and always will be America's favorite past time. Baseball is one of the few things in this country that remains pure and wholesome to many. As the world continuous to evolve, baseball has remained the same, until the reported use, and in some cases proof of steroids abuse stuck its ugly head in America's favorite game. Fans have gone from cheering homerun hitters to raising an eyebrow every time a homer has been hit. Hell, an inside the park homerun isn’t even considered safe anymore. If a player runs the bases too quickly, the very speed that got him to home base may have been acquired from steroids, or so it is being implied. We saw our heroes become bigger, faster, and stronger in the later stages in their careers; when most would have been slowing down, they were only getting better, and thus the accusations of steroids abuse.

A few bad apples have spoiled it for everyone. Every time an athlete improves his stats or plays better than the previous season many assume he may be using steroids. The days of thinking someone worked hard during the off season are almost a thing of the past. It is becoming unacceptable to believe an athlete has done everything he or she could in the off season to improve his or her game, more often than not it’s just assumed the person picked up a needle rather than weights.

If Manny Pacquaio would have done this 10-15 years ago no one would have thought twice about it. It would have been thought of exactly how it should be, a great fighter doing great things. And while fingers are being pointed, and accusatory allegations continue to be made, the fans shouldn't just point the finger at the media for the allegations. A finger most definitely should be pointed at the athletes who have brought about this shameful time in sports.

Source: braggingrightscorner.com

Pacquiao shoots down L.A. faithful

LA Boxing Examiner | Ricardo Lois

The largest concentration of Filipinos in the United States is within the boundaries of Los Angeles County. Cities such as Eagle Rock, Carson, Los Angeles, and Cerritos are hot beds of Filipinos and Filipino-Americas who have supported Manny Pacquiao since he first appeared in California to train with Freddie Roach.

These fans, along with their Northern California brethren, are the ones who initially traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to watch Manny fight the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales; their support propeled Pacquiao into the super star he is today in the States.

If you have any doubt about the love Southern California has for the pound for pound king of boxing, just stop by the parking lot of The Wild Card Gym, in Hollywood when Pacquiao is training. Babies, teen-agers, middle aged men, and grand mothers all line up for the opportunity to get a glimpse of Pacquiao and hopefully a photograph or autograph.

When the Staples Center, in Downtown, Los Angeles, put in a bid of 20 million dollars to house the looming mega-fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather, it made logical sense, but was an economic longshot.

$20 million dollars is a hefty amount of money, but fighting in Los Angeles, California means that the fighters would have to pay State taxes which are not levied in Texas or Nevada - States deep in the running for the bout.

So as unlikely and improbable it would be for Staples to win the battle to host the fight, they threw in their hat hoping to land the event and boost Los Angeles' crippled economy with a one-time shot in the arm.

The proper thing to do by Team Pacquiao? Just ignore the offer, and not insult the hundreds and thousands of hard-core Pacquiao supporters that call the city home.

Instead through the mouth piece of advisor Michael Koncz, Pacquiao made his thoughts on fighting in Los Angeles very clear to veteran Filipino scribe Ronnie Nathanielsz

"Manny is not interested in fighting in LA. I’m going to advocate against it also for the simple reason that it's going to cost Manny an additional $3-$5 million in taxes to fight in LA. I mentioned to Manny that it looks like Staples Center and he said ‘I don’t want to fight in LA. I prefer Vegas and I didn’t even tell him about the taxes.”

That all makes sense, but Mr. Koncz and Mr. Pacquiao should understand what an insult that is to Los Angelino Pacquiao fans. Yes, several millions of dollars in taxes is a tough bullet to bite and deal breaker when you are a millionare. But how does the struggling family man, who two years ago spent several hundreds of dollars to drive to Las Vegas, book a hotel, purchase tickets to a Pacquiao fight, but is now unemployed due to the weakened economy, feel about these statements? His hero, or merely the man he paid to see fight and make a star, won't make a sacrifice to bring some entertainment to the city which initially adpoted him.

I have a sneak suspcious that support will not waiver in Los Angeles, but the kick to the gut will be felt, if not heard by his most loyal of fans.

Source: Examiner.com

Pacquiao-Mayweather an even match

By NICK GIONGCO
December 12, 2009, 7:24pm

According to oddsmakers, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are evenly matched.

Sportsbook.com, one of the leading on-line betting stations, has installed Mayweather a – 130 favorite, meaning a bettor has to come up with a wager of $130 to win $100.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, is listed as even money.

Pacquiao and Mayweather’s promoters are working hard the last few days so a venue can be named so it could host the March 13, 2010 super showdown at welterweight.

Leading the growing list of candidates is the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, while attempting to secure the right to the fight are the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas as well as venues in Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum is set to announce this coming week which city will stage the World Boxing Organization 147-pound title fight.

Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, which Mayweather tapped to represent him in the negotiations, are co-promoting the fight although it is Top Rank that is the lead organizer.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the celebration of Pacquiao’s 31st birthday on December 17.

Bren Evangelio, Pacquiao’s administrative assistant, said personalities from the world of politics, showbiz and sports are expected to fly to General Santos City.

“Presidentiables, senators, and congressman are among those who have confirmed their attendance,” said Evangelio.

The KCC Mall, which also hosted Pacquiao’s 30th birthday, will be spruced up once again for the deluge of big shots.

Miguel Cotto, the Puerto Rican fighter Pacquiao beat last November 14, has also been invited to come.

Source: mb.com.ph

Where should Pacquiao-Mayweather take place? Fans across the globe give their thoughts

Las Vegas Boxing Examiner | Chris Robinson

The latest rumors and discussion regarding the hopeful Pacquiao-Mayweather bout seem to be where exactly the contest will take place. From the get go the frontrunner to land the fight seemed to be Las Vegas, but rumors also leaked that Dallas, Texas, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and even random places such as the Congo were interested in staging the show.

When I talked to perennial boxing scribe Michael Marley last weekend, he seemed certain that Las Vegas would find a way to land the bout.

“I’m convinced that on March 13th, 2010 we’ll all be out there again to see Mayweather and Pacquiao in the ring,” Marley stated. “Especially now given the financial situation, Vegas is still on the ropes and Vegas needs this fight. The city of Dallas is going to roll on with or without the fight. Las Vegas needs it and the MGM Grand, the same company that owns the Mirage and the MGM and Mandalay Bay, I think they are going to clamp down and I don’t think they are going to let this fight of the century out their grasp.”

A fair assessment from Marley, one that reflected the fact that Las Vegas had been pegged as the ideal location for the bout from the get go. Just recently, however, I came across an interesting piece from MaxBoxing scribe Steve Kim where he stated an endless list of reasons why the fight would be better off outside of Nevada.

In the article Kim pointed to the fact that if the fight is held in Vegas that many hardcore fans will miss out on the chance of getting tickets at a decent price. He also noted that the newly resurrected Dallas Stadium would give fans the opportunity to appreciate the bout in a real fight atmosphere. Initially it appeared as though Dallas was out of the running, after Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer nixed a planned meeting with Cowboy’s owner Jerry Jones but reports have begun to surface that Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum is still interesting in considering the option of Dallas after getting a huge deal from the Texas tycoon.

With so much taking place on a daily basis it can be hard to keep track of all the developments. Wanting to get a better sense of what the fans are saying, I dug up some of the more noteworthy quotes and messages on some of today’s busiest forums. In their own words, this is what the fans and public are saying about the eventual location of Pacquiao-Mayweather.

(O-Dogg33 @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“There is no way Vegas is losing this fight. They are about to open up that $8 billion city center they need this fight more than ever.”

(BRIANBA1 @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“NYC was ruled out the first second the fight was discussed due to the ridiculously high taxes....on to the fight of course it SHOULD be in a city not named Vegas but we all know it WILL be there. Texas definitely shouldn’t be considered until the Cole family moves out which but that def would be the optimal venue due to sheer numbers of seats, Jones fantastic track record in sports business and Texas has proven its boxing IQ and fandom. Its unfortunate UNLV doesn’t have a closer football stadium which would solve all these issues”

(Sandy Bunz @ EastSideBoxing.com)…
“Vegas has already been chosen as the venue for the mega fight. The town is invaded by thousands of Filipinos every time Manny fights. The Filipinos love to gamble and spend tons at the tables. No town can match all the advantages of Vegas. The hype is going to be HUGE for the next four months with Roach and Sr. as directors of the choir. The talk of another venue is crap. ”

(Valdosta @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“They better have this fight in Vegas at the MGM. I have no interest of going to the other shitholes that want to host the fight. I will go either way though as long as it's in Vegas. Not so sure if it was in the other spots. I will be getting my money back from all my damn losses on Pacquiao to. I am putting my biggest bet ever on Floyd.”

(Dilly @ DogHouseBoxing.com)…
“They need to quit the BS. We all know it's going to be at the MGM Grand, just choose the venue already. ”

(MichaelMC1 @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“My concern with Texas is the terrible decisions that have happened there over the last 8-9 years starting with the Micky Ward - Lejia fiasco. Knowing how Dickie Cole works I can see how one of the all time worst referees in the sport, his son Lawrence Cole, gets the nod to ref that bout. Actually that would be a classic and pretty funny. While there at it why not get Gale Van Hoy to score the bout. If I was fighter I would avoid Texas at all costs. I definitely am on board for a venue outside of Vegas, though those outdoor Caesar's fights were great.”

(Paulie again @ FightHype.com)…
“Yo let me get this straight…If I want to watch the fight live…I spend a lot of money on flight tickets, fly to Dallas, stay in an ordinary hotel (no casinos) that are priced ridiculously, spend a few days eating BBQ, going to bars, doing the tourist thing (which can be done in any metropolitan city), but ‘Texas’ t-shits (that’s all they have at tourist trap stores), pay a lot of money for flight tickets and then watch the fight on the big screen with 100,000 people? Seriously? Heck I can watch the fight at a closed circuit big screen in Las Vegas with all the Vegas amenities that Dallas doesn’t have!”

(napoleon336 @ DogHouseBoxing.com)…
“They really think anyone believes it’s gonna be in Dallas?”

(Jay Hova @ Digital Journal.com)…
“We all got a feeling it’s gonna be in Vegas and possibly MGM Grand yet again. They just are using all these other venues as publicity to get the whole country excited about the fight in my opinion.”

(Ron Champ Miller @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“Cant see this fight anywhere but Vegas. Nothing more electrifying than fight night in Vegas. Though I wouldn’t mind seeing that new stadium in Texas...looks like a beast!”

(ChristopherDA2 @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“I agree that Vegas is the last place that should get this fight, but I am also very leery of Texas as a host. We have seen some truly atrocious judging decisions handed down there over the past couple years. While I don't know which of (if either) fighter would get any unfair scoring advantage if the fight were held in the Jones majal, this fight is too important to the sport as far as the casual sports fan is concerned to have a poopy decision awarded. I love taking the sport back to big cities, but how about NYC? I think the Garden is about the best venue for a big fight before the weather warms up.”

(Tito4EVER @ DogHouseBoxing.com)…
“Just hold it at the MGM Grand already. If it's at Dallas I see the controversy right now. "It was an outdoor stadium he couldn't adapt", etc. Having the fight at the MGM Grand makes it a normal venue and will sell out regardless. ”

(Victor @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“I hope the fight comes to Dallas! 3 hour drive for me and no worry about hotel rooms or anything. Go Dallas!!”

(TrueWest @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“Vegas was going to get this from the start. Too much money they will throw at it and nobody can really match it. I would've preferred Dallas as well but the writing was on the wall. I really don't mind it being in Vegas, I just wish they had a place that could accommodate more than just 18k with only 2k of those being real boxing fans.”

(Michael Matos @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“If the fight's May 1st, don't be shocked if it shows up in Yankee Stadium. Dallas just doesn't seem a fit. Yankee Stadium or Vegas. I have to go back to the Pacquiao-Cotto program and the full page, The New Yankee Stadium-Your Home For Boxing 2010 ad. Seems like a done deal from here, unless they're planning on selling out the place for the much anticipated, mouth-watering Yuri Foreman-Daniel Santos rematch.”

(BABABOOEY @ DogHouseBoxing.com)…
“I don't see what the hold up is. Floyd has already said he won't fight in Dallas b/c he doesn't trust Texas judges. So why is there even still an issue. Doesn't that make Vegas the choice? Sign the damn contracts!!”

(Smelodies @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“Freddie Roach wants it in Vegas. Floyd, I'm sure, wants it in Vegas. It's going to be in Vegas.”

(JohnnyR @ Examiner.com)…
“Of course everyone knows it's all a ploy to up the site fee, but at least GBP should go through the motions. That's just bad etiquette and a frankly obnoxious for Schaefer to put it in writing like that. The longer Mayweather takes to put his name to paper the more it will look like he's making excuses to back out of the fight. Schwarznegger can't possibly damage his political image any more and can only profit by making a tax exemption to bring what is perceived as the biggest fight in history to California's economy. A little friendly side bet between Gov. Singson and Schwarznegger would certainly put the two on top of the media stream. I just don't see the Terminator as a Mayweather fan.”

(Joe King @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“I'm hoping for May 1st as well. May is a good month for boxing so another fight may be in Vegas the following weekend. NY has too many taxes for them to pay. They are not going to want it there. Vegas will get it.”

(MangoSpam @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“Check out the prices for the rooms at MGM. From February to April, there's only 2 non-holiday dates that you can't use promo codes on. Guess which two. Arum needs to stop with the posturing, start the promotion already, March is only 3 months away.”

(AndrewP @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“I can't even think of that many big fights that have been outside of Vegas lately. I remember Atlantic City was right with them in the late 80's, but that went by the wayside for the most part. Maybe Whitaker vs. Chavez in San Antonio? It would be nice to see someone else break through, but I'm sure it'll be Vegas again.”

(Rebel @ BoxingFanatics.com)…
“It has to be Vegas. You simply can't beat that atmosphere for a big fight.”

(9secondko @ DogHouseBoxing)…
“You know, it's interesting. I have never before heard so much made about where the site would be at. Usually all this is done behind closed doors. I would have to say that it seems strange. Is it all being put "out in the open" to give the illusion of honesty? GBP has been just as shady as any other promotions company and Arum is not above bending the rules himself. The Cowboys Stadium would be huge and would no doubt sell more tickets than MGM Grand for the fight. However, the Grand has a built in hotel and some people like to throw their money away at the casino. For a fight like this, I would think that a neutral site ground would be far better for the fighters. No LV peeps doing the judging and no CA referee. Keep everything as neutral as possible. Pacquiao deserves to have the fight somewhere else. Wherever the fight is held, the referee and judge appointments are key as is security. Pacquiao has accomplished so much and deserves to have at least as much in his favor as Mayweather does.”

(Shoeshine @ MaxBoxing.com)…
“So, I was at the Cotto-Pac fight and sat in 224L, Row B which cost $500 per seat. (That is the 2nd row of the upper level if you have never caught a fight at the Garden Arena before.) Those are OK seats, not great, but at least you don't need binoculars... Now, for this fight if it happens at the MGM (which seems like a 95% chance at this point) I'm guessing those same seats would be at least $750. Then, the $300 seats would become $500 and the $100 seats $250. The $1000 seats will be $1750. But hey, guess what? Only 5 of us from this entire board will get tickets so I guess we shouldn't bitch about the prices. I'm just pissed off that the atmosphere in there is going to be crap because it's full of comped suits, Asian businessmen who could care less about the fight and a bunch of whales there on a "perk". I am a firm believer that the atmosphere at a fight helps dictate and make the fight and enables the fighters to perform at their peaks.”

Source: Examiner.com

PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER NOT HAPPENING ON MARCH 13?

By G. Leon

Arum denies it, but time will tell!

Boxingtalk.com has been informed that pound for pound king, Manny Pacquiao will likely be unavailable to fight Floyd Mayweather in March due to his running for congress in the Philippines. Our information tells us that the earliest that the highly anticipated will take place is June or July. Earlier today we spoke to Bob Arum and he denied it, stating everything would be a go for March 13, but time will tell. Remember where you heard it first!

Source: boxingtalk.com

Massive Mayweather-Pacquiao deal gets done next week

NY Boxing Examiner | Michael Marley

CHICAGO--Done deal.

(Click here to see a video of what the boxing fans have to say about Manny vs. Floyd.)

Those are really the only two words that boxing fans the world over want to hear about the proposed March 13 Super Fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Call me a cockeyed optimist, folks, but I think those heartening words, "done deal" will ring out from both camps by this time next week.

I think, based on 40 plus years sitting ringside at the big fight circus, that fight fans are about to get the best Christmas present ever.

It's all down to a matter of twos.

Let me explain.

You've got the two best fighters in the world, the flashy and unbeaten Mayweather and the whirling Pinoy dervish known as Pacman.

You've got two possible venues--and only a pair of them now--in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and the self-resuscitated "Jerry's World" Dallas Cowboy stadium offer from team owner and legendary mogul Jerry Jones.

You've got two strong voices repping the fighters, Richard Schaefer in the Mayweather corner and Top Rank president and Bob Arum stepson Todd duBoef.

And they have two guys backing up their moves to seal this massive deal. duBoef naturally gets full guidance from Arum, the voice of experience, while I've learned that Schaefer is leaning on a voice of reason in the Golden Boy office, marketing whiz Bruce Binkow.

Duboef on one side and Schaefer on the other have made considerable progress in reaching agreement as to any possible sticky issues which could block or preclude the mega match from being put down on paper so Floyd and Manny can sign off.

In a reversal of form, Schaefer and sidekick Binkow are ready, willing and able to now listen to what the irrepressible Jones is willing to put on the table to bring the huge fight to Arlington rather than to Nevada.

Everyone seems to be in agreement as to the money issues.

There is no weight issue.

The WBO welterweight title that Megamanny took off the head of Miguel Cotto will be contested between them.

Oh, and those twos I keep mentioning.

There's one more.

Too big, too big to fail.

Get the lawyers on speed dial because it will shortly be time for the final documents to be executed.

Source: Examiner.com

Mayweather-Pacquiao venue issue turns into a complete bore

NY Boxing Examiner | Michael Marley

CHICAGO—Frankly, I’m getting a tad bored with the where-will-Floyd-Mayweather-fight-Manny-Pacquiao speculation.

(Click here to see what the boxing fans have to say about the super-fight!)

It’s going to wind up in Mayweather’s backyard of Las Vegas and there is no real reason for the Pacman camp to object to it. Manny and Floyd have both cashed in big time at the MGM Grand in the past and, all other things being equal, that’s where the fight will land.

I checked with Keith Kizer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission Thursday afternoon and he said he was not surpised that the March 13 date has not been applied for as yet.

“My understanding is they working on the venue,” Kizer said. “Then they would ask us to put on the agenda for our next commission meeting which is likely set for January 8. There should be no problem."

The commission meeting date ties in nicely with the planned January 11 New York City press conference which should be just massive.

Mayweather has no intention or interest in going to the glitzy Dallas Cowboys’ playpen they like to call “Jerry’s World.”

Look, keep this is mind. Richie Rich Schaefer is merely Mayweather’s agent. So that means he gets his marching orders directly from Al Haymon and Leonard Ellerbe. They supposedly get theirs from L’il Floyd himself.

I spoke to a guy who regularly does business with Golden Boy Thursday and he informed me that, a week ago, Schaefer told him he was going to Dallas to tour Jerry Jones’ stadium and talk turkey with the NFL team owner about doing the mega bout there where up to 100,000 fans could be accommodated.

“That was last week,” this man said. “Something happened this week and the best guess is that the Mayweather camp put the complete kibosh on Texas. It has nothing to do with it being an outdoor arena because it’s only al fresco when they raise the roof. “

I placed a couple of calls to Mr. Jones about the situation Thursday but got no reply.

Another non-starter is the AEG-owned Staples Center in Los Angeles, a great venue for boxing to be sure but located in a financially imperiled state and one which would put a huge tax bite, in the area of $5 million, on Manny and Floyd.

And could anyone expect Gov. Schwarznegger to get on the bandwagon given the budgetary problems California is facing?

When teachers are being fired and vital public services are being trimmed and trimmed again due to huge revenue shortfalls, I don’t see Terminator Arnie saying, “This boxing match is the magic answer for all of our Golden State money ills!”

Another source said that, unlike maverick Arum who takes fight shows to New York and elsewhere in addition to Vegas, Golden Boy is under a moral if not a legal obligation to try to deliver this plum of plums promotion to the MGM Grand Mirage group.

Fair is fair. These guys provided a home for Sugar Shane Mosley-Andre Berto and many other not-so-scintillating attractions. They wouldn’t like to get completely kicked to the curb if they can come in with a reasonable package deal for Floyd versus Manny.

Venue, schemnue…let’s get on with it, fellas.

A ring is a ring is a ring.

Source: Examiner.com

Manny Pacquiao coach Roach warns Roger Mayweather he will KO him

By Gareth A Davies Boxing and MMA Last updated: December 11th, 2009

The rivalry between the trainers in the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather superfight is expected to be part of the build-up. Freddie Roach, speaking exclusively to The Telegraph , sent out a warning that he will come to blows with Roger Mayweather, the uncle and trainer of the fighter Floyd Mayweather Jnr, if Mayweather indulges in abusive insults in the lead-in to the superfight next year. Mayweather was quoted this week as saying his man will deliver a boxing lesson to Pacquiao when they meet.

Roach told The Daily Telegraph: “Floyd Snr is no harm. He has his poems and he talks a bit of trash, but he’s not mean. Roger and I don’t get along. He’s a piece of ****. He talks trash about my trainer Eddie Futch. He puts people down who can’t actually defend themselves because they have passed away.”

“He says ‘Eddie Futch wasn’t ****’, stuff like that. He says he would have knocked me out. If he gets out of line, I will fight him. In the street. He’s disrespectful and I’m getting to the point where I can’t take it no more. If he talks like that one more time and I’m in front of him, he’s going to have a fight on his hands. It will be exciting because I’m not going to take this **** from him. He doesn’t have that good a chin – we know that. He can punch though. We’ll see…

Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Which party wanted extensive drug testing for Mayweather and Pacquiao?

Pittsburgh Fight Sports Examiner | Scott Heritage

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will undergo extensive testing before their fight as agreed by both fighters. The testing will include several tests rather than just one, and will also use a blood sample as well as urine analysis. Not only this but the samples will be testes at the Olympic testing center.

It isn't clear at this juncture which side of the negotiations is demanding this to be in the contract. Either way though it seems an odd choice of contract clause for either fighter to demand given the accusations Pacquiao has faced recently. Paulie Malignaggi, Kermit Cintron and Floyd Mayweather Sr. have all accused Manny of taking 'special supplements' recently, although of course without any evidence.

If this stipulation was demanded by Golden Boy, and more specifically Floyd Mayweather it sounds like a backhanded accusation from 'Money'. Obviously if Floyd felt that way making an outright accusation would risk the fight calling apart, and he's too smart for that. Of course the thing about steroid use is that timed properly, nearly all performance enhancing drugs can be flushed out of the system before testing.

Athletes in every sport take steroids, and many of them aren't caught for years if at all. Although Olympic testing is a lot more thorough than the standard testing performed by the state athletic commissions for boxing, the system still isn't fool proof. Most steroids can be cycled out of the body before testing takes place, especially if you know when the testing is going to happen. This isn't to say that Manny is taking steroids, because I don't believe he is, but Olympic testing doesn't prove anything either way.

This is probably due to ignorance on my part, but are the newest designer steroids even easy to get hold of in the Philippines anyway? A lot of athletes from developing countries tend to get caught with steroids due to the fact that they are using outdated and old fashioned drugs that can be detected easily using new methods. The newest designer drugs which are harder to detect are generally made in the U.S, and hard to find in most other places.

The only other option about the more extensive testing would be that Manny himself was demanding it to stop the constant accusations. What he would be forgetting there though is that the accusations are probably the result of jealousy and attention seeking from the likes of Cintron or Malignaggi rather than true belief that he uses steroids.

Floyd Sr. also had reason to accuse Manny without necessarily believing what he was saying as well because Manny destroyed a fighter he was training in 2 rounds (Ricky Hatton).

The big reason the accusations seem to keep coming is that Manny struggled against lighter fighters but batters heavier fighters without much trouble. The reason I would suggest this is happening is because the heavier the fighters are that Manny faces, the more of a speed advantage he faces, Where lighter fighters can block and counter more easily, the likes of Hatton or Cotto will get caught more often, and with Pacquiao's power, this means the fights are easier.

The reasoning behind that idea is flawed anyway because if Pacquiao were using performance enhancing drugs then surely he would have been taking them back then as well, not just after he moved up the weight classes.

Source: Examiner.com

MAYWEATHER VS. PACQUIAO: IT'S ALL ABOUT LOCATION

By Ben Thompson | December 11, 2009

Location, location, location! When it comes to boxing, it's all about the location, at least, that's what you might believe if you've been keeping up with the current status of negotiations for the highly-anticipated clash between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Who would have thought that the venue would be the final roadblock to finalizing a deal for the biggest fight of the decade?

When Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer pulled out of a planned visit to Texas to meet with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, it was thought that Cowboys Stadium was out of the running to land Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Not so, says Arum. Apparently, the elaborate pitch for the new $1.2 billion state-of-the-art stadium proceeded as planned without representatives from the Mayweather camp. "He [Jerry Jones] made a fantastic offer to us. He has already indicated that he's going to increase it and it will be by far the biggest site fee ever," Arum would tell Ronnie Nathanielsz of PhilBoxing.com in a recent interview. "There are two places in the running. At least we've eliminated all the nonsense. It's between the MGM Grand or Dallas."

At least we've now eliminated Los Angeles, New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami, the Congo, Dubai and a ton of other places that were all eager to stage the mega-event. It's either Dallas, Texas or Las Vegas, Nevada and it will likely come down to a bidding war between the two venues before a final decision is rendered. That being said, something tells me that no matter the offer that Jerry Jones makes, MGM Grand will be ready to match it. After being home to some of the biggest fights in recent boxing history (Mayweather vs. De La Hoya, Trinidad vs. De La Hoya, Holyfield vs. Tyson and Leonard vs. Hagler all come to mind), it's highly unlikely that they're going to let this one get away.

"They [MGM Grand] will come up with a very good offer and that will determine what we're going to do," Arum added, hinting that MGM Grand will have an opportunity to match any offer made by Jerry Jones. What that offer turns out to be remains to be seen, however, it was recently revealed that the Staples Center offered a whopping $20 million, which was considered to be "too low" according to Arum. I have a feeling that Jerry Jones is merely driving up the bid and the final price that MGM Grand will have to pay.

There are so many reasons why this fight should not be in Las Vegas, and yet, there are so many reasons why it will be. Both Schaefer and Arum simply do far too much business in the city to jeopardize their future business for this one event. Staging this fight anyplace else could have long-term effects on their relationship with the same casinos that provide them their generous site fees for fights like Mayweather vs. Marquez, Pacquiao vs. Diaz or Pacquiao vs. Marquez. Everything might be bigger in Texas, but what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas and sources tell me that's exactly where this fight will be. If I were you, I'd book my rooms now before those prices start going up too.

Source: fighthype.com

Vegas fights for Mayweather-Pacquiao match-up

Anita Roman reporting

The deal hasn't been struck just yet but word is that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will meet Manny Pacquiao in the ring in March.

And it could happen right here in Las Vegas.

The match-up is so huge that several other cities have also put in bids to host the event. But city officials and fans want the fight to take place right here in town.

Victor Ortiz of Top Dogg Boxing hung up his professional boxing gloves to years ago. Today, although he trains the young up-and-coming fighters, he still makes time to keep a close eye on fan favorites.

We're talking about the potential mega-fight between two of the greats: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

"It would be a great fight for the boxing fans."

As momentum grows for a March 2010 match-up, cities like Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Dallas are throwing their hats in the ring to host the event, one that normally takes place in Las Vegas.

"Boxing belongs here in Vegas," Ortiz continues. "This is the boxing capitol of the world."

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority, the history of major prize fights in Las Vegas dates back to the 1930s. Even today, decades later, a match-up between two marquee fighters like Pacquiao and Mayweather would be extremely beneficial to the city.

Jeremy Handle, spokesperson for the LVCVA, says depending upon the venue and the fighters involved, a bout such as this could draw anywhere from 9,000 to 18,000 people and $10 million to $15 million.

"The international recognition, the pay-per-view viewership, just everything that has Las Vegas on the title brings more recognition to the destination as well."

This is why Handle says it's so important for Mayweather and Pacquiao to fight here. And Ortiz agrees.

"This place will be sold out. If it doesn't get sold out I would be surprised no matter where they have it. But I think this is where the fight should be: here in Vegas."

Reports have surfaced on the Internet that certain cities have already been ruled out. However, a source connected to one of the fighters says every location is still being considered, including Florida, Atlanta, and even the country of Congo.

A decision could be reached by this weekend.

Source: kvbc.com

Pacquiao-Mayweather creates a busy fight to stay in line

by Norm Frauenheim on 10 December 2009

Behind Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., there’s a long line of everybody else fighting for a chance to cash in on a rich renewal expected after March 13 when and wherever their welterweight bout is supposed to generate business big enough to be a stimulus package.

Saturday represents the second leg in a campaign to get back in line or just stay there.

In a night as busy as it is intriguing, junior-welterweight Timothy Bradley can stake a big claim against unbeaten Lamont Peterson on Showtime. Then, there’s Juan Diaz, who is under pressure to knock out doubts in an HBO rematch that gives Paulie Malignaggi a chance to prove that what happened in Texas should stay in Texas. Meanwhile, there’s Vitali Klitschko, who against Kevin Johnson in Switzerland can continue to keep the heavyweight division from a downhill slide into irrelevancy.

It started last week with middleweight Paul Williams. It’s hard to say exactly where he stands after escaping with a victory – a majority decision – that left his amended marketing label as boxing’ most feared man bruised by Sergio Martinez.

It continues next Saturday, Dec. 19, with Kelly Pavlik, who is battling to regain his place against Miguel Espino in the middleweight champ’s first fight since withdrawing from two dates with Williams because of a dangerous infection on his left hand.

Then, there’s Jan. 30 when welterweight Shane Mosley will try to remind Pacquiao, Mayweather and everybody else that he hasn’t gone anywhere in a challenge against Andre Berto, who wants to prove that his arrival isn’t temporary.

There’s more. Each undercard this Saturday includes two fighters at the crossroads.

On the Bradley-Peterson card in Palm Springs, there’s Vic Darchinyan, boxing’s angry man and maybe its most feared before Williams appropriated the label, is coming off a defeat that could turn him into a forgotten face in the crowd if he can’t beat Tomas Rojas in a fashion that makes his summer loss to Joseph Agbeko look like an aberration.

On the Diaz-Malignaggi card in Chicago, there’s Victor Ortiz, who was called the future, yet wasn’t willing to fight for one a TKO loss to Marcos Maidana in June. If there is a significant role for Ortiz in a future after Pacquiao-Mayweather, he will have to make everybody forget the past against Antonio Diaz.

For all, there is more than winning. There is the performance, which means dominance thorough and dramatic enough to get noticed.

“Especially after a long layoff, it is definitely important that we look solid,’’ Pavlik said Thursday during a conference call.

Whether layoff or loss, that’s solid advice. For Bradley, there’s some understandable exasperation at feeling unappreciated for all of his years on the road, where he only lost baggage. He is at home now, in the desert east of Los Angeles, for the second straight fight since a messy no-contest – the blemish on his 25 fight record — over Nate Campbell on Aug. 1.

“You can basically look at my resume and see that in less than one year, I won two world titles’’ Bradley said, also in a conference call. “ I’m still young, I’ve fought on the road, like a veteran, and I won on the road. People don’t understand how much pressure there is on a fighter when he fights on the road. I beat Junior Witter on the road to win the world title and didn’t get much credit for that. On the road, that just shows you how determined I am to being great.

“At the end of the day, after I beat Lamont Peterson, people are going to start realizing that, ‘I’m going to stop betting against this guy and I’m going to get on the bandwagon.’ ”

For Diaz, the bandwagon was already crowded. Then, he lost to Campbell and Juan Manuel Marquez. He beat Malignaggi, but controversy lingered, mostly because of a one-sided scorecard – 118-110, Also Malignaggi had predicted that he couldn’t win a decision in Houston, Diaz’ hometown.

Pressure from HBO forced a rematch in what looks to be a neutral site, although Chicago big Mexican-American community means the crowd figures to be heavily behind Diaz.

Diaz might need all the help he can get against the slick Malignaggi, whose outspoken courage before the Houston fight earned him some sympathy and maybe some points. He also might have the style to beat Diaz, who looks as if he faces the toughest task at holding onto his place in line that might lead to a Pacquiao-Mayweather windfall.

No Big D a big disappointment

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum sounded disappointed Thursday that a trip, scheduled for Wednesday, to Dallas for a tour of the Cowboys’ stadium as possibility for Pacquiao-Mayweather was suddenly canceled.

According to Arum, Mayweather representative Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions said that the welterweight, who lives in Las Vegas, didn’t want to fight in the NFL stadium. It was the first hitch in negotiations that have proceeded quickly and with surprising ease.

During the conference call with Pavlik Thursday, Arum was asked if it was sign for further trouble.

“I don’t know,’ he said. “But I know as a promoter I have a fiduciary responsibility to a fighter. And that is to see if I can get him the most that comes out of a fight. Other people have other agendas. That is also something that saddens me greatly. That’s all I want to say about it.’’

Without the Dallas trip, some bargaining power might have been lost, although the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that Staples Center will offer $20 million. No word yet on how big the offer will be from Las Vegas MGM Grand, which is believed to have the inside track.

Notes, quotes anecdotes

· Phoenix’s poisonous politics resulted in an indictment Tuesday of Mary Rose Wilcox on a laundry list of charges related to her elective position on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Amid an ongoing feud between the County Supervisors and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, an indictment was expected. It was surprising, however, that the indictment includes nothing about boxing. Wilcox is a former chairperson of the Arizona State Boxing Commission. The arrest several weeks of Phoenix promoter Peter McKinn by Arpaio’s deputies has been part of Arpaio’s investigation.

· Yes, Pavlik watched Williams against Martinez. For the record, he said he thought Martinez won. “I had it scored a little different,’’ Pavlik said. “I had it for Martinez, two to three rounds. But other than that, it was a great fight.’’ Not so great, Pavlik said, were references to Williams as being the most feared. “That was the only thing that irritated me,’’ he said.

· And maybe Cowboys owner Jerry Jones should just pull the December sheet out of his annual calendar. It’s been a bah-humbug month for Jones. His Cowboys can’t win in December and neither can he. If he had chance in December, he would have at least been able to make a sales pitch Wednesday for Pacquiao-Mayweather.

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Source: 15rounds.com

Mayweather: 'I'm an American citizen and want the (US) fans to stand by me like an American soldier'

Indianapolis Fight Sports Examiner | Dennis "dSource" Guillermo

Wake up, America. Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants you to stand up and support him... like an American soldier. Why? Because he needs your support. And because as he stated, he is an American citizen.

If that's not reason enough, maybe you can consider the fact that he might throw some real money on top of the fake money he dishes out during his public appearances. Don't mind if he does not pay his taxes on time at times and yet brags about losing "a looooooot" of money, which quantified he said about a couple of hundred thousand dollars in a week of gambling.


"I'm an American citizen and want the (US) fans to stand by me like an American soldier," said Floyd Mayweather in his appearance on HBO's Joe Buck Live show.

Aware of Pacquiao's popularity, Mayweather already put a gun to American boxing fans' in an attempt to perhaps turn his fight against Pacquiao into USA vs. Philippines. Well unfortunately for Floyd, and fortunately for the Philippines his boxing match against Pacquiao isn't USA vs. The Philippines, otherwise a straight-up war between the two countries isn't even going to last 30 minutes. Come on, let's get real. A world super-power vs. a third-world country? Forget about it.

But here's the thing, Pacquiao earned his fans by dazzling them and putting on a great show. He has re-energized the sport and brought excitement back. Things that you Floyd, have failed to do. In essence, just as most African-Americans who know anything about boxing say (video posted below) "we want Floyd to win, but Pacquiao is a beast." Every time I witness a Pacquiao fight, his fan base just keeps growing. And the thing about Pacquiao as well is that he never disrespected anybody. He is beloved because he treats everyone with respect. He has paid tribute to Mexicans when he was being labeled as "The Mexicutioner". Pacquiao scoffed at the moniker and said he "respects all the Mexican fans" and did not want to be called as such. He earned British fans admiration by destroying Ricky Hatton, yet never said a single insult against "The Hitman". And if he was popular amongst Boricuas when he before he fought Miguel Cotto, he is now also considered as one of their all-time favorite fighters after humbling yet honoring their fallen hero. Pacquiao has even invited Miguel Cotto and his wife to his birthday celebration as guests of honor in the Philippines.

See Floyd, you dug yourself a hole buddy. You alienated all your potential fans and former fans as well by acting like a big clown, throwing away money in public as if finding satisfaction in seeing the world around you struggling for money for the sake of bragging that "you got it, yep!"

Don't take it from me though. The people have spoken. Check out the videos below.

Source: Examiner.com

Exclusive Interview with Jeff Mayweather: Floyd is Gonna whip Pacquiao

By: Albert Alvarez

Exclusive Interview with Jeff Mayweather

Jeff, what’s good? What can you tell us about the Godzilla of all fights being inked?

JM- Well you know Albert, it’s on the table and being reviewed so you and I both know that it needs to happen.

What can you tell us about the split in this enormous pot?

JM- I believe that it has to be 50/50 right down the middle. Someone will always have something to say, like Floyd can say that he is undefeated and he just had a real easy time with Marquez, where with Pacquiao, Pacquiao struggled hard as heck against Marquez. Pacquiao can come back and say well I beat Oscar and Hatton much easier than you did. So that is why I am saying that the way to be fair in all this is to split it right down the middle.

Now obviously this clash is a real Super Bowl type of event here, so one should pretty much treat it as such. In saying that, don’t you feel that this fight should end up in a huge stadium like they used to do in the old days?

JM- You make a great point by saying that we should treat this fight as a Super Bowl event. I agree with you on that, but I still feel that this fight belongs in Vegas. I mean come on now Albert, Vegas is where the top money is made and above all, Vegas is the Boxing Capital of the world.

On our weekly spotlight column, I recently just yesterday wrote on how I compare this fight to Oscar vs. Tito. Oscar brought the beauty of boxing as well as his good looks just as Floyd brings now, and Tito brought the beast of boxing in the sense that he was knocking guys out with either hand just as Pacquiao does now. I got to tell you though, that for this fight I have no idea who will win, I even ask our readers for help in helping me decide on a winner.

JM- That is a great comparison. Oscar versus Trinidad is very much like what Floyd and Pacquiao bring to the table. Like you said Oscar was a boxer and Trinidad was the banger. Who did you think would win that fight, between Oscar and Trinidad?

Well I was a huge Trinidad fan because of the vicious pictures he painted, but I always knew that Oscar would win because Oscar was the more versatile of the two.

JM- Well there you go. You have the same thing happening here. You can’t tell me that Pacquiao is more versatile than Floyd. Floyd is by far the most versatile fighter out there.

I agree with you that Floyd is very versatile and can adapt quick to anything thrown his way, but PacMan brings that blinding speed out of the southpaw stance with either hand, I mean I can honestly see Floyd being hit flush with a shot he doesn’t see coming.

JM- Well you are right. Pacquiao is fast and he can catch Floyd with something, but the question is how often that can happen through the course of the fight. You can’t hurt what you can’t hit. Floyd is gonna whip him.

So if Floyd is going to whip Pacquiao, then out of all the welterweights out there today, who has the best chance on coming close to Floyd?

JM- I would have to say Pacquiao.

So you think that Pacquiao can beat Mosley?

JM- Yes, but only if he does it at a catchweight. At 147 I’m not so sure. Mosley is very durable and is a heck of a fighter but he is also easy to hit with the right hand. In fact, if Berto can land that right often then he can beat Shane, but Shane is tough and has that great chin. Shane has a better chin than Berto does, so we’ll have to see.

Alright Jeff, well thank you so much for your time and keep me posted on anything new.

JM- Yes, Albert for sure. Next time you come back out here hit me up so we can talk. Thanks for the call, take care.

Latest Boxing News www.diamondboxing.com

Source: diamondboxing.com

An Open Letter: Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather, JR

By Gina L. Caliboso-December 11, 2009

Since becoming a Feature Writer on RSR, I have come to learn and appreciate the wave of Filipino boxers that are making their way through the boxing ranks, holding titles in the various weight classes. It’s in Manny Pacquiao’s journey that I completely respect as an athlete and an individual.

As I’ve stated that I’m a Filipino flag waver, I’ve been on a personal journey right along with Pacquiao and the up and coming fighters. I’m rooting for success, while at the same time, worried that in the desire and drive to succeed, may push them to develop too quickly. And, for the fighters coming from the Philippines, fighting in the United States or even outside of their homeland, Filipino boxers will have a special place in my heart.

As the negotiations for Pacquiao – Mayweather continue for a potential matchup on March 13, 2010, I’d like to take a look at one boxer in particular from the 1930’s. Does the name Ceferino “The Bolo Puncher” Garcia sound familiar?

Imagine this: It’s October 1939. In New York’s Madison Square Garden, 12,000 boxing fans are gathered together to watch the fight for the American Middleweight Championship Crown. Yes, modern readers – a Filipino Middleweight – Ceferino “the Bolo Puncher” Garcia weighed in at 153-3/4 pounds to fight reigning champ Fred “The Boxing Bell Hop” Apostoli favored at 5 to 8 and weighing in at 160 pounds.

It’s a scheduled bout of 15 rounds. According to the reports, “Garcia’s bolo punch – a powerful right uppercut, affected Apostoli in the first round – a bolo punch to the chin, quickly followed by a left-right combination, sent an already-dazed Apostoli to his knees for a count of two. Apostoli got up, but Garcia’s straight swift straight hand and left hook knocked him down again, this time for a count of nine. By the fourth round, Garcia had inflicted a bleeding gash under the defending champ’s chin, while Apostoli cut Garcia near the right eye with a left hook in the fifth round.

By the sixth round, Garcia was leading Apostoli on competition points, winning four of the rounds. Two minutes and seven seconds into the seventh round, it was all over. After a series of well-placed bolo punches to Apostoli’s jaw and head, the bleeding badly beat champion went down for the third time, slowly sinking his forehead onto the canvas. Standing over Apostoli’s collapsed body, referee Billy Cavanaugh began the count and then spread both arms to signal the end of Apostoli’s reign. Lifting Garcia’s arm, Cavanaugh proclaimed “the new middleweight champion.” (New York Times and Los Angeles Times, October 3, 1939; as taken from “Prizefighting, Masculinity, and the Sporting Life” by Linda Espana-Maram)

There are two things I’d like to point out about the Garcia bout and hopefully we have learned since 1939. First, under the charge of George Parnassus, Garcia slowly rose through the boxing ranks and worked on the sweet science to become a better boxer (as revealed through his 102 bouts) Garcia weighed in at 154 pounds and stood 5’6. Second, Garcia had to take the fight in New York due to Mike Jacobs, the influential boxing promoter of the 1930’s. It was no small surprise that Garcia had an extremely popular following, primarily among the many Filipino laborers up and down the West coast.

Why did the fight take place in New York?

In this small nugget of a history remembered, Manny Pacquiao has the good fortune to pick the fight he wants. As of yesterday, when it was announced that promoter Bob Arum was on his way to talk to Pacquiao about the potential March 13, 2010, fight with Mayweather or whether Arum went to talk about Pacquiao’s political ambitions back in the Philippines, I’d say it’s about time. Bob Arum should be going to Pacquiao.

Mayweather should be fighting someone else first before Pacquiao. Pacquiao should set the conditions of the fight because he is the draw. Mayweather is crazy to think that the fight is about him – although recent reports have indicated he may need a little bit of cash to pay off some debt – but again, those are just reports.

Now, the point to all this, in reflection of Ceferino Garcia and the current Pacquiao-Mayweather situation, and my own personal journey, it’s simply that it’s important to remember where you come from and what you’ve accomplished. It’s the main reason why I don’t want to see Pacquiao fight Mayweather – not for fear of his losing, but that he really doesn’t need to take the fight. There is nothing wrong for Pacquiao to take whatever fight he chooses. I am naïve to a degree, and I know, money talks and it seems to be foremost on everyone’s lips to make this fight happen.

Even more importantly, when the bout does occur, Pacquiao has hands down (no pun intended) deserves and should set the terms of the fight for his own benefit. Pacquiao has earned that right and has gained international success due to his hard work up the various weight ranks and having the right people watching his back. There has been a constant argument as to the venue – Las Vegas, the Cowboys Stadium, and New Jersey – whatever and wherever, I’d love to see Pacquiao fight in his home country – back in the Philippines.

It’s a return and a respect that Pacquiao has earned. And, it forces everyone to go to him.

So, as Pacquiao – Mayweather unravels by the minute, I’d offer that in the 70 years since Garcia’s time back in 1939, it’s really Pacquiao’s time to shine and set the standard for the Filipino boxers. This time around Pacquiao will determines what’s best for himself as a fighter, but also as a man and athlete at the top of his sport. Regardless of whether he decides to take the fight and money may always seem to speak, you really can’t put a price on respect and honor.

Manny Pacquiao will always have both – whether or not he fights Mayweather.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Only Mayweather OK needed to make fight vs Pacquiao a done deal

By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 11 Dec 2009

Except for Floyd Mayweather Jr. affixing his signature on the dotted line and the place where the fight will be staged, the ``Fight of the Decade’’ between the former pound-for-pound-king and Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao is a done deal.

In fact, if Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach is to be believed, the Pacman has already signed the contract and the camp of the reigning World Boxing Organization champion is only waiting for his American opponent to follow suit.

Roach, answering a query from Brad Cooney Counts News, said the only thing that can snag negotiations can come from the Mayweather camp.

“Anything is possible with Floyd Mayweather involved but we signed our contract and that’s all I care about. There is nothing that I can do about the other guy. I don’t know if they officially but we have,” Roach assured.
“Everything looks good. We have agreed on the glove size, and the weight, “ he added. “I talked to Arum, Dallas wants the fight, MGM wants the fight, Yankee Stadium wants the fight, so it's just trying to find out where the venue is. The fight looks good.”

Describing the March 13 agreed date, Roach said it will be the most difficult for him and Pacquiao since Mayweather is a runner and a counter-puncher.

“We will go to camp and we will make some changes, we will set traps for this guy. This is completely opposite of the Cotto fight, opposite of the Hatton fight, and opposite from the De La Hoya fight, he said recalling Pacquiao’s immediate past fights. “We will come up with a new game plan, a 10 week camp, and some changes. We will work on taking Floyd's speed away from him.”
Roach also confirmed his earlier statement made to this writer before Team Pacquiao left for the United States for the Filipino’s date with Miguel Cotto last month that the seven-division titlist will go back to Baguio City for the first month of his 10-week preparations.

“Yes, a month in PI and a month in Los Angeles, I have no problem with that,” he said in answer to Cooney’s question as to the venue of training.

Source: PhilBoxing.com

News PACQUIAO WON’T FIGHT IN STAPLES CENTER

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 11 Dec 2009

Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao won’t agree to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and his adviser Michael Koncz believes Mayweather himself won’t agree to fight there either.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer who called off a planned visit with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and HBO Sports Ross Greenburg to Dallas, Texas to talk to the owner of the Dallas Cowboys new state-of-the-art stadium – Jerry Jones – at the last minute, announced that AEG had offered a $20 million guarantee to stage the fight at the Staples Center.

Schaefer’s decision forced Arum to cancel the trip which he said was an embarrassment since they hadn’t even given Jones the courtesy of listening to what his offer was. Arum told us he suspected there was something “fishy” going on.

Schaefer’s announcement of the AEG offer appeared to confirm Arum’s suspicion since AEG and Golden Boy Promotions have shared business interests.

When www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports contacted Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez at 2:00 a.m. on Friday (Manila Time) he said “I have no idea of what’s going on because I have been in Chicago for the last few days attending to the Juan Diaz – Paulie Malignaggi fight and I haven’t had any contact with Richard (Schaefer) with regards to that (Pacquiao vs Mayweather). I know he’s still working on it. I don’t know what happened. I don’t have any information. Just call Richard at the office.”

When we called Schaefer, the operator at Golden Boy got back to us after connecting to Schaefer’s office and said “Richard is not taking any calls from the media regarding the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.”

Koncz called us at 5:00 a.m. to tell us “Manny is not interested in fighting in LA. I’m going to advocate against it also for the simple reason that it's going to cost Manny an additional $3-$5 million in taxes to fight in LA. I mentioned to Manny that it looks like Staples Center and he said ‘I don’t want to fight in LA. I prefer Vegas and I didn’t even tell him about the taxes.”

Koncz said he would “give Bob Arum the courtesy of a call and if it's true it's Schaefer messing around then I’ll probably give Al Hayman a call and make sure he’s on the same page as us. I believe he is because I know Floyd doesn’t want to pay the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) any more than he has to and then it's time for us to put our foot down. The promoters work for the fighters, the fighters don’t work for the promoters.”

Koncz added ”the bottom line is Manny’s preference is not to fight in California and I haven’t advised him not to do it for tax consequences which is an 11 percent tax plus I haven’t confirmed the amount but there’s an additional special athletic tax for foreigners who take part in sports in California.”

Koncz said he and Pacquiao were leaving for the fighter’s hometown of General Santos City on the early morning flight and would be back to do a voice makeover for his latest movie for Solar Entertainment – ‘Wapakman’ for two days.“

Source: PhilBoxing.com

Mayweather backing out of March 13 fight against Pacquiao?

Indianapolis Fight Sports Examiner | Dennis "dSource" Guillermo

For the record, I have said two things about the super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. One is that there is no way this fight is happening anywhere but Las Vegas. It just doesn't make sense, I don't care how many million dollars you say this or that stadium is willing to offer. And Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines? Someone must've been smoking crack to believe that one was even going to be considered. 30 minutes at the tables with a high-roller say from Brunei or Dubai or even Charles Barkley means millions as it is. Plus, Vegas has the infrastructure with the hotels, casinos, 24-hour lifestyle on top of everything else to accommodate the biggest fight of the decade. And Mayweather is from Vegas, so enough of all the nonsense venue hullabaloo. Why would you labor to try and sell fried chicken to vegetarians when you can put it in a black neighborhood. And that ain't racist, it;s business sense, I got a ton of black friends, and they all love fried chicken.

Second, I always thought that if this fight was going to happen, it will be later in the year. Let's say Bob Arum really took the Golden bait, but I just don't believe Floyd wants a piece of Pacquiao right away. In my article I published a few weeks ago, after hanging around with Jeff Mayweather who said Floyd was already training for a possible fight in Europe, and the fact that the sudden announcement of Floyd agreeing to fight Pacquiao without a signed contract didn't really make much sense, I guess all I'm saying is that it doesn't take Phil Ivey to realize that Mayweather might very well be bluffing.

How so?

Well, Floyd really wants to fight in Europe. An announcement that he wanted to fight Pac out of nowhere placed Pac in a gun-point position to decide on fighting Mayweather in March. With all the reports of Pacquiao running for politics and his injuries on top of his other commitments, it was going to be tough for Pacquiao to pull it off. What Mayweather didn't realize is that Pacquiao really wants to beat his a$$- badly! Pacquiao said it himself. So regardless if it would've been more convenient for Pacquiao to wait after the elections, he signed-on to fight Mayweather, taking away the arrogant loudmouth's alibis. Pacquiao after all is about challenges, not convenience which is more like Mayweather's alley.

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And it only makes sense that even after Pacquiao signed-on to the fight Mayweather that his father and former trainer and constant Pacquiao detractor Floyd Sr. would say he didn't really think Pacquiao wanted to fight his son, because they really wanted to put Pacquiao in that position. Well too bad, Pacquiao really wants to "whup" his son so bad and now they are scrambling to concoct another contingency plan since what they expected didn't work. Floyd wanted to put the gun on Pacquiao making things inconvenient for the Filipino to say yes to fight him in March so in my opinion, he could come back and say "Well, I already agreed to fight him, he's the one who backed out so I'm fighting in Europe against Ricky Hatton's brother," and "I told you Pacquiao is afraid to fight me," or something along those lines. Too bad that script just went out the door. So now what Floyd?

In the most recent article by Nick Gionco of Fightnews.com, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said, “I am very disillusioned,” talking about Golden Boy CEO Richard Shaeffer who is representing Mayweather, pulling out of a scheduled meeting to iron out details on the fight. Further, Arum who was such in a positive and upbeat mood after coming back to the US from the Philippines with Pacquiao's go signal to fight Mayweather in March said, “I think Richard (Schaefer) has an agenda,” and added in a more somber mood, “We’ll see, we’ll see..”.

Is it really that hard to see uncle Bob or has age caused your vision to go Stevie Wonder on you and really wonder what agenda is behind Shaeffer and Mayweather? For the sake of fight fans, I hope Floyd proves me wrong and go on to fight Pacquiao. But then again, the real question is, how scared is he to risk his undefeated record? Talk is cheap. Put you money where your mouth is, Money!

Source: Examiner.com