Sunday, February 28, 2010

Pacquiao's Arrival in Dallas

Despite the forecast of cold weather in the next two weeks, Dallas is going to be scorching hot with the arrival there of the stars of the March 13 show at Cowboys Stadium.

Expected to be there first is Ghanaian Joshua Clottey, who lands at Dallas-Fort Worth International from New York on a commercial flight this Sunday, a full day ahead of his Filipino foe Manny Pacquiao, who will be brought there by a private jet on March 9.

Top Rank, which is staging the event in partnership with Texas billionaire Jerry Jones, said Dallas is going to be buzzing with activity as soon as they get there with Clottey penciled for an open media workout at 1:30 p.m. on March 9.

Pacquiao will hold his own the following day at the same time.

A makeshift gym will be built at the basement of the Gaylord Texan so the two fighters can train there instead of driving for 30 minutes to reach the nearest gym.

The press conference for Pacquiao and Clottey will be held at the Cowboys Stadium on March 10, while the undercard fighters will have their day the following day at the Gaylord Texan, the official residence of the promotion.

The official weighin – always on the eve of the fight – will also be staged at the Cowboys Stadium at 5 p.m.

Pacquiao and Clottey will answer the opening bell at 10 p.m. (12 noon in the Philippines of March 14) before an expected sellout crowd of 40,000 and a worldwide TV audience. The first fight will be at 5 p.m. after the gates to the stadium start to receive fight fans an hour earlier.

Clottey is in the final phase of his training in Florida and is going to make a side trip to New York to fulfill some promotional obligations like the hosting of a workout for the Big Apple press at Kingsway Gym on March 4 before heading to Dallas.

Pacquiao is also hosting his own workout at the Wild Card on March 3.

Source : Manila Bulletin
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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Steroid Not An Issue in Pacquiao-Clottey Fight

Manny Pacquiao’s last fight fell apart over steroid testing.

For his next fight, it won’t even be an issue.

Pacquiao, whose negotiations for a projected $100-million megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. collapsed in January when he balked at Mayweather’s demands for random, Olympic-style blood testing, will not be tested at all before or after his March 13 welterweight title fight against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

According to a spokeswoman for the Texas Combative Sports Program, the state agency that regulates boxing matches, Texas does not test boxers for steroids unless there is probable cause. "As of this date," the spokeswoman said, "the executive director, William Kuntz, finds he has no good cause to order it."

Kuntz was not available for comment, but Clottey, who lost a split decision to Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden in his last fight in June, said he would not request Pacquiao be tested before this fight.

"I don’t want to do that because I respect him so much," Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs) said on a conference call on Thursday. "I don’t think Manny Pacquiao would do that. But if he does, then he’s cheating the sport."

Clottey’s opinion was echoed by his manager, Vinny Scolpino, who said, "We’ll comply by the commission’s rules. If they want to implement further testing, let ’em implement it and we’ll follow it. If Manny is a super-champion, we all hope he’s doing the right thing."

After Pacquiao’s convincing 12th-round TKO of Cotto in November, Mayweather’s camp accused Pacquiao, a former 106-pounder who now fights as a welterweight, of using steroids and demanded he submit to random blood-testing the week of the fight.

Pacquiao, who has never failed a postfight steroid test, refused and for now, what might have been the most lucrative prize fight of all time was put on hold while Pacquiao faces Clottey next month and Mayweather takes on Shane Mosley on May 1.

"Is (Pacquiao-Clottey) a consolation prize? Well, in a way," promoter Bob Arum said. "The fight everyone wanted to see didn’t happen for one reason or another, but who the hell knows? Maybe Joshua beats Manny and Mosley beats Mayweather and then we’re doing a Clottey-Mosley fight. So what? Life goes on. That’s what makes boxing interesting."

Arum said he expects a near-sellout for the fight in an 80,000-seat stadium that will be configured to seat 45,000. "If you believe, as I do, that boxing is a big-time sport, that it isn’t a niche sport or a dying sport, then putting your event in a stadium like this or Yankee Stadium or the new Meadowlands Stadium is a great way to prove it," he said. "It’ll be a great night of boxing. The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders will be all over the place, there’ll be fireworks, and a terrific main event."

And no steroid testing to spoil the fun.

Source : Boston Herald
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Friday, February 26, 2010

Pacquiao and Clottey Classic Fights

Leading up to the welterweight title showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey – set for Saturday, March 13 and broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View® – HBO Sports will present the exclusive replay of a high profile showdown that showcases both fighters remarkable ring skills.

On Friday, March 5 at 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT) and Saturday, March 6 at 11:00 a.m. (ET/PT), HBO2 will replay back-to-back Pacquiao vs. Cotto 2009 and Judah vs. Clottey 2008. Pacquiao solidified his superstar standing with his 12th round instant classic TKO triumph over Miguel Cotto on November 14, 2009. Clottey reinforced his status as one of the toughest welterweights in the division with a 9th round stoppage over Zab Judah on August 2, 2008 in a sizzling showdown..

The fights will also be available to HBO On Demand subscribers and can be seen 24 hours a day, from Monday, March 1 thru Wednesday, March 24.

On Saturday, March 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT, HBO Pay-Per-View will present Pacquiao vs. Clottey live at the landmark $1.2 billion Cowboys stadium in Arlington, TX.

Source : Boxing News
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Pacquiao's Campaign after Pacquiao-Clottey Fight

BOXING champion Manny Pacquiao has promised to join the campaign sorties of Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manny Villar after his fight with Joshua Clottey in March.

“Soon after my return to the Philippines, I will join my beloved president Manny Villar so I can introduce him to our countrymen,” Pacquiao said on Sunday night in Pilipino in a video-taped message shown at a concert rally in Mandaue City that capped the NP’s two-day barnstorming of vote-rich Cebu province.

In endorsing Villar, Pacquiao said: “He’s the only person who can help the poor because he defied poverty to become a successful businessman.”

The video clip was shown by noontime host Willie Revillame as a surprise for Villar, who has then just finished delivering his speech to a crowd of over 80,000 in a reclamation area in Cebu.

“Let us support our beloved president, Manny Villar. Sa dami ng taon na lumipas, wala pa rin tayong pagbabago, lalo pa pong padami nang padami ang mga taong mahihirap at walang trabaho,” said Pacquiao, who referred to Villar as his “beloved president.”

The boxing champ said he is confident that propoor Villar, who, like him, overcame poverty, will solve poverty.

“The way I see it, we need people who have experienced how it is to be poor. I myself come from that sector, and I feel the hurt when the poor cry for help from the government, Pacquiao said in Tagalog.

He added: “This is Manny Villar, the answer to our problems because I know he came from poverty, we need a leader who can relate to the sentiments of the poor…I sincerely plead that we support Manny Villar. 

Source : BusinessMirror
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Monday, February 22, 2010

It's not an upset, just a win says Clottey

Clottey, 32, is the clear underdog heading into his clash with the pound-for-pound king on March 13.

But the Ghanaian is confident he can defy the odds at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

Clottey said: "Pacquiao is a human being, like everyone else. He's just a really good fighter who is currently No1.

"If I win this fight, I will never feel like I beat the best fighter in the world.

"I will feel like I had a fight with the best fighter out there right now — and I won.

"I'll say, 'It's not an upset, just a win'."

Source : thesun
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Sunday, February 21, 2010

Road to Dallas : Pacquiao-Clottey HBO Special

HBO Sports® will present “Road to Dallas: Pacquiao vs. Clottey,” a thirty-minute special analyzing the upcoming welterweight title showdown between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and challenger Joshua Clottey that will mark the first-ever pro boxing event at the landmark $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex. The intriguing fight will take place on Saturday, March 13 and be televised on HBO Pay-Per-View ®..

The “Road to Dallas: Pacquiao vs. Clottey” special, which will feature fighter profiles, expert analysis and forecasts for the matchup, will premiere on HBO on Saturday, March 6 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT immediately following the live presentation of HBO Boxing After Dark®.

Making his first ring appearance of 2010, Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) looks to continue the enormous momentum he built up in 2009 when he scored convincing KO wins over Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. Considered the sport’s pound-for-pound king, Pacquiao is boxing’s first seven division champ. A native of Ghana, Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs) is a formidable opponent who is determined to spring the first huge upset of 2010.

The special will also be available to HBO ON DEMAND® subscribers 24 hours a day, beginning Wednesday, March 10 through Monday, April 12.

Additional HBO replay dates:
Saturday, March 6 at 1:00 a.m.
Sunday, March 7 at 10:30 a.m.
Monday, March 8 at 2:00 p.m. & 12:05 a.m.
Tuesday, March 9 at 10:00 a.m. & 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. & 11:30 p.m.
Friday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. & 2:00 a.m.
Saturday, March 13 at 11:30 a.m.

Additional HBO2 replay dates:
Sunday, March 7 at 11:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 10 at 10:00 p.m.

All times are ET/PT.

Thanks to EastSideBoxing for sharing.
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Saturday, February 20, 2010

Freddie Roach Prediction : KO win for Pacquiao

The more Freddie Roach watches Joshua Clottey on video, the more the celebrated trainer believes Manny Pacquiao is going to become the first fighter to knock the Ghanaian puncher out on March 13 in Dallas, Texas.

“To be honest, the more tape I watch of him, the more holes I find, the more mistakes he makes,” Roach told Michael Rosenthal of The Ring in its on-line edition Saturday.

“I am very confident for this fight… Size doesn’t win fights, talent wins fights. We can do a lot more than he can,” said Roach, downplaying Clottey’s obvious advantage in height and heft.

With three weeks before the scheduled 12-round welterweight title match, Roach has a picture of what Pacquiao would do to Clottey before an expected packed crowd at Cowboys Stadium.

“I expect him to stay on the ropes and rest a little bit. I have the perfect way to crack that defense. I believe he’ll be stopped for the first time in his life.”

Roach said it would take some time before Pacquiao gets the job done, stressing that the African is tough and dangerous.

Meanwhile, Top Rank publicist Lee Samuels revealed that Pacquiao is expected to arrive in Dallas on March 8, while Clottey is checking in the day before.

Source : Manila Bulletin
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Friday, February 19, 2010

Pacquiao-Clottey : The Last Fight of Pacquiao?

Freddie Roach has suggested Manny Pacquiao's clash with Joshua Clottey could be the Filipino's swansong if a deal cannot be struck with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao, the recent conqueror of Ricky Hatton, has signed to fight Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium.

The Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr camps have made positive noises about getting together in the ring, but they have failed to iron out the details of the fight. Legendary trainer Roach is still hopeful some common ground can be found, but suggests Pacquiao may turn his back on boxing if no deal is signed.

"If Mayweather doesn't come around after this fight and sign to fight us, this could be our last one," Roach told East Side Boxing's On The Ropes show.

Roach expects Clottey to be a durable opponent for Pacquiao. "We're going to have to break him down and it will be in the late, late rounds." Roach added. "I really don't have a number in mind, because I think we will get him somewhere along the way, but it's going to be a battle up until that point, though."

Mayweather is due to fight Shane Mosley on May 1 and Roach expects the former to retain his unbeaten record.

"Shane's been after that fight for a long time, but I do feel that Mayweather will win the fight," Roach said. "It's a very competitive fight, and it's great to see that fight happening and hopefully the winner of this fight will fight the winner of Pacquiao-Clottey. It would be a great match-up."

Source : ESPN.com
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Thursday, February 18, 2010

Pacquiao will fight the Mosley-Mayweather fight winner

Filipino Manny Pacquiao is said to be among the masses that now highly anticipate the upcoming showdown between Floyd Mayweather jr. and Shane Mosley. The betting odds have Mayweather currently listed as a slight favor, and fans around the world seem to be split. With all of the people out there that can't seem to put a finger on the man that they feel will get the eventual nod, what we've recently come to learn is that Pacquiao isn't one of them. When asked about the pending showdown in a recent interview, Pacquiao was quoted as saying that he feels "Mosley will win" the fight, and while not taking anything away from Mayweather, the P4P contender made it very clear who he likes in the fight. Whomever wins between the two, Pacquiao is expected to get the winner next. Either man will make for an intriguing evening. But first things first, as Pacquiao has his own showdown to conquer...

Source : 8CountNews
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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pacquiao picks Mosley over Mayweather

MANILA, Philippines – The world’s best pound-for-pound fighter made a prediction on the outcome of the May 1 fight between Americans Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Shane Mosley.

“I think Mosley will win,” Manny Pacquiao declared on the Krystal Hart Show as quoted by FightFan.com.

Even if he thinks that Mayweather is a "boring" fighter, Pacquiao said that the fight between "Pretty Boy Floyd" and "Sugar Shane" will still be a treat for fight fans.

“I think Mayweather vs. Mosley will be a good fight,” he said.

Pacquiao then went on to give another reason why his scheduled March 13 bout with Mayweather did not push through.

“I’m not concerned about the Money (that would have come in a fight vs. Mayweather). I’m concerned about what I can give in terms of my performance to the people who love boxing. My concern isn’t only with myself, but with the people who buy tickets looking for a good fight,” he said.

“I don’t want to disappoint people with a boring fight. I feel you need to entertain the people who watch your fights.”

Pacquiao, meanwhile, assured a very good fight against Ghana’s Joshua Clottey, whom he will face on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“It’s going to be a good fight because he has a good style. It’s a different kind of style and I want to fight. He’s bigger and he’s taller than Miguel Cotto.”

Pacquiao won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title last November by beating Cotto via technical knockout in Round 12.

Clean fighter

After Pacquiao’s victory over Cotto, talks on the Mayweather-Pacquiao match-up swirled immediately. They were supposed to face off on March 13 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Talks to seal the deal collapsed when the fighters’ camps disagreed on the drug testing protocol.

Mayweather, his father Floyd Sr. and other members of his team even alleged that Pacquiao was taking performance-enhancing drugs. The Filipino boxing icon already filed a defamation complaint against them.

“I’m not against blood testing. Just not the day of the fight. I’ve had that happen in the (first) [Erik] Morales fight. I lost that fight and my body felt very weak. I don’t feel I recovered. That is why I don’t want blood testing close to the fight,” explained Pacquiao.

He also mentioned that he is a “very honest person” who prays and believes in God. He said his success in the ring only reflects the hard training he undergoes before every fight.

“I’m a clean fighter who trains very hard. People don’t know how hard I train and the sacrifices I make.”

He even hit back on Mayweather, saying that the American probably did not really want to face the 7-time world champ.

“I don’t think Mayweather wanted the fight. He had too many reasons (that lead) to cancel the fight. I’m not disappointed because I know I’m not the one who didn’t want the fight and I have to defend myself.”

Clottey’s disappointment

Pacquiao, who is training in the United States for his title defense, said he is not underestimating his opponent.

“I didn’t expect I would end up fighting Clottey but I will prepare myself and train hard,” he said.

“Clottey is a strong guy and a good fighter. He’s a former world champion. I am sure we will have a good fight and create a lot of excitement in the ring.”

The Ghanian, on the other hand, is still encountering problems in his fight preparations because his trainer, Godwin Dzanie Kotey better known as Alloway, has not yet secured a US visa.

“I am fine but tell Ghana that they’ve disappointed me by not giving my trainer visa to come here with me,” Clottey said in a GhanaWeb.com article.

“The only thing I can tell you is everything is fine with me and I’m ready to fight [even] if the government can’t help because it’s my life on the line,” added Clottey.

Source : ABS-CBN
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Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Dallas Stadium Ready for Pacquiao-Clottey

Dallas is on a roll. Racing from Mavericks town to Cowboys territory to NBA All-Star state, Dallas heads the Texas offensive like Carl Lewis on the US 4 x 100 meter relay team. The finish line, though, is far from sight. That suits Dallas just fine. It’s having too much fun turning the Lone Star State into a global sports hub.

After hosting a record-breaking NBA All-Star Week, Dallas prepares for the big fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey on March 13. By all indications, the Dallas area and its fans are ready to host another grand event and all-set to watch Pacquiao deliver another knockout show.

“I can’t wait to see Pacquiao in action here in Dallas," exclaimed Ronald “Popeye" Jones, former 11-year veteran for the Mavericks turned Mavericks Player Development Coach. “You see that burning fire in Pacquiao to win, to be successful. It’s the same fire that Michael Jordan had."

Perhaps that’s what drove Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones to aggressively lure Pacquiao away from the bright lights of Las Vegas and into the first-rate amenities of Cowboys Stadium. Jones really wanted to host Pacquiao versus Mayweather. Mayweather has cemented his place in boxing history. Pacquiao has done likewise while turning himself into one of the hottest commodities in professional sports.

It makes perfect sense, therefore, for Jones to unite the Michael Jordan of contemporary boxing with the Hercules of football stadiums. Jones wanted to bring boxing’s pound-for-pound king into the newest sports capital of Texas. Even former Maverick and Pacquiao fan Steve Nash was impressed with Jones’ sports cathedral. “People (who watched the NBA All-Star game) felt they were in the coolest sports bar of all-time with the biggest wide screen TV in the world."

Last week, tall buildings and posh hotels in Dallas were covered with gigantic billboards promoting the NBA All-Star game. In the coming days, however, expect Pacquiao’s intense face to replace oversized action shots of Nowitzki, Bryant, James and Garnett. And fans are eager to turn Dallas from All-Star town to Pacquiao city.

“I paid extra to make sure I’ll watch Pacquiao from a nicer seat," James Farias, 26, Texas-native and food server for a popular Tex-Mex restaurant in the Dallas area, said. “I just hope Pacquiao doesn’t beat Clottey too easily. After all, I’m paying to see Manny not Clottey."

There’s a Pacquiao-Clottey billboard on the freeway and excited fans on the streets. On this trip, we met Mavericks/Cowboys fans who have become Pacquiao believers. Tickets for Pacquiao-Clottey were reportedly sold out as early as three weeks ago. A ticket was said to cost anywhere from 50 USD to 700 USD. Fans still without tickets have no choice but to purchase them from third-parties.

It’s a problem basketball Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman, a boxing fan since the glory days of her good friend Muhammad Ali, won’t have. She made sure she got her VIP tickets weeks ago. “Pacquiao will be fighting here in Dallas and I’ll be there for the fight."

Source : GMATV
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Monday, February 15, 2010

NBA All-Star Choice is Pacquiao!

DALLAS, Texas - The stars came out for the Lone Star State for the 59th NBA All Star Game last Sunday (Monday morning in Manila). Celtics legend Bill Russell, hip-hop mogul P. Diddy, comedian Chris Tucker, rapper Drake, Knicks die-hard Spike Lee and actress Gabrielle Union dotted the glitzy landscape. During the game, another star quietly entered Cowboys Stadium. He strolled with his entourage and looked for his VIP seat.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. made a nondescript entry into the scene. Cowboys Stadium was set aside for Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather said, “No thanks." Then, those who wanted to watch Floyd and Pacman in the ring, including many of the 2010 NBA All-Stars, retorted, “No way."

“Oh, I was very, very disappointed that the fight didn’t push through," West All-Star Chauncey Billups, a fan of Pacquiao, admitted. “I love Manny Pacquiao. He’s one of the greats. I love his heart. I love his passion out there and he fights to the end."

Many of the 2010 NBA All-Stars believe Pacquiao knocks out opponents the way LeBron James slams the ball. Successful athletes, after all, recognize skill and resolve the way Simon Cowell identifies talent. They also recognize a missed opportunity for Mayweather to test his greatness against Pacquiao.

“Pacquiao’s just tenacious," West All-Star Brandon Roy said. “I mean he goes in there and not only gives a great show but a great fight, that’s why you really want to see him in boxing. He’s just a great athlete, a great competitor and he fights at a high level every night."

“I’m very impressed with Manny Pacquiao," 1st time All-Star Deron Williams added. "He’s arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter and the way he has been beating people has been ridiculous."

Billups, Roy and Williams refused to predict a winner in a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout. They all agreed, though, that a showdown would feature two great fighters.

“I don’t know who’ll win that fight," 5-time All-Star Chris Bosh said. “That’s why it’s going to be a great fight. No one knows what’s going to happen."

Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao with Joshua Clottey and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders during their press tour in Texas last month. AP

Mayweather still has loyal fans. 1st time All-Star Derrick Rose is one of them. Still, if Mayweather slid into Sunday’s game with little fanfare, Pacquiao blasted the boxing scene like a Dwight Howard two-handed slam. Pacquiao, who’ll face Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium on March 13, didn’t quietly enter the consciousness of the NBA’s boxing fans, he rocked their world.

“I’m just a big fan of boxing so I would love to see both those guys get in the ring together but just because it didn’t push through now doesn’t mean it won’t push through," an optimistic Roy said. “I still have high hopes that it will push through eventually."

“I love Manny Pacquiao," West All-Star starter Amare Stoudamire asserted. “He’s a great boxer. He was totally ready to fight Mayweather. I was waiting to see that fight but it didn’t happen."

When asked who would win the bout between Mayweather and Pacquiao, Stoudamire had one, clear choice.

“Pacquiao."

Source : GMA
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Sunday, February 14, 2010

A Pacquiao-Mayweather Fight Deal : Take it or leave it says Mayweather

Here goes Floyd Mayweather again.

The trash-talking former holder of the mythical title of pound-for-pound king went on the offensive over the weekend, expressing his wonder to his hometown paper – the Grand Rapids Press – why Manny Pacquiao would not agree to “a $25 million drug test.”

Still resentful about the collapse of the lucrative bout with Pacquiao, Mayweather said that if their camps revive talks about a matchup in the next few months, the Filipino will have to agree to get less of the money at stake especially if his May 1 fight with Shane Mosley fares better than Pacquiao’s March 13 bout with Joshua Clottey.

“Instead of 20 or 25 (million dollars), he may have to drop to 15 or 17 and you know me, they have to throw that extra 5 or ten on mine and we can rock and roll. Take it or leave it,” said Mayweather.

Pacquiao and Mayweather appeared on their way to agreeing on a deal but Mayweather demanded that Pacquiao undergo random blood testing to level the playing field even though Pacquiao has never failed a drug test ever.

While Mayweather insists that he is not accusing Pacquiao of somebody who uses performance-enhancing drugs, the American fighter sounds off that the current pound-for-pound king is guilty.

“The thing is this: I’ve never seen a guy who didn’t want to take a $25 million drug test. If you’re clean, take the drug test.”
Mayweather lamented the fact that he had agreed to an unheard-of demand by Pacquiao on the issue of penalties on excess weight.

“In my clause, he told me if you would weigh over 147 I had to pay him $10 million for each pound. I agreed but he didn’t agree to my terms and we both would have had to take tests. It wasn’t just steered toward him. It was both me and him.”

Stung by Mayweather's nasty accusation, Pacquiao has filed a defamation lawsuit against him as well as the Oscar De La Hoya-owned Golden Boy Promotions.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, is right on track in his preparation against Clottey even though he took a break when he traveled to Las Vegas to throw his support behind the Filipino fighters who fought there.

Pacquiao told a Manila-based station covering the fight at ringside that he didn’t find it hard to regain his old fiery form because he was coming off a big fight.

Over at Clottey’s training camp in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, the Ghana banger is said to be awesome as well during sparring sessions, his chief handler Vinny Scolpino told ace fight scribe Mike Marley.

“He’s on target, he’s beating the crap out of people in sparring and I would say he is definitely on his A game,” said Scolpino.

Source : Manila Bulletin

I don't think it is proper for Mayweather to demand much from Pacquiao.
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Saturday, February 13, 2010

Cole Out of Pacquiao-Clottey Fight

MANILA, Philippines - Laurence Cole, who called a slip a knockdown and a knockdown a slip when Manny Pacquiao fought Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio in 2003, will not be on the ring when the Filipino ring master takes on Joshua Clottey.

It was announced a few days ago that Cole, who normally gets the assignment during big fights in Texas, would officiate the coming bout, but yesterday it was reported that Rafael Ramos has been designated as the referee.

The Examiner’s Michael Marley described Ramos, who officiated the 2009 Fight of the Year between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz, as “a respected referee and allows for action if there’s going to be action.”

While there were concerns when Cole’s name came up as the referee for the Pacquiao-Clottey fight, there seemed to be no official protest coming from the Pacquiao camp or if there was any, such move was kept under wraps.

Cole was the third man on the ring during the first Pacquiao-Barrera showdown at the Alamodome almost seven years ago. And many believed that Cole leaned toward the Mexican assassin during the fight.

In the 2:32 mark of the first round, Pacquiao landed a lead left on Barrera’s face, and as the Pinoy icon moved to his side, the Mexican stepped on his right foot, forcing him to sway back and hit the floor.

Cole ruled it as a knockdown, and Pacquiao was just as surprised as ring analyst Larry Merchant who then said, “I’m not sure if Cole saw a punch and I’m not also sure if there was a punch” landed by Barrera.

Pacquiao knocked Barrera down in the third round, and with 10 seconds left in the sixth, he caught the Mexican with a good, short punch. Once again Barrera went down. But Cole was quick to rule it as a slip.

Again, Merchant said, “that sure looks more like a knockdown than in the first round.”

That won’t happen on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as Ramos, and not Cole, has been assigned to handle the fight where Pacquiao will put his WBO welterweight championship on the line.

It will be the first time since 2006 that a Pacquiao fight will not be officiated by Kenny Bayless, Tony Weeks or Vic Draculich who have alternated in the pound-for-pound champion’s last eight fights.

“The best news, of course, is this means that oft-derided Texas referee Laurence Cole won’t be the third man, which was feared by most the minute this fight was announced,” Marley wrote yesterday.


Source : Philstar.com

We'll update you once they announce the third man on the ring. Stay tuned.
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Thursday, February 11, 2010

Pacquiao-Clottey Fight Prediction

Here's a Pacquiao-Clottey fight prediction from Gina Caliboso of ringsidereport.com.

Just to be clear, I am not going to begin my article with a lot of reasons on why the Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather, JR., mega fight never happened.

The ugliness of steroids overall is a horrible yet unfortunate reality about today’s modern athlete. Fingerpointing and lecturing aside, I’ll refrain from further comment that the fight negotiations were just – how can I put this?

Ugly?

I’m just saying that there’s a whole year left. I don’t count out the possibility just yet.

For now, Pacquiao definitely looks like he’s gearing up for the fight against Joshua “Grand Master” Clottey, 35-3, 20 KO’s, set for March 13th at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. But given some thought about Clottey as an opponent, I’ll argue that he may give Pacquiao some competition.

Some competition meaning that the fight is going to end with a unanimous decision in favor of Pacquiao over 12 rounds. However, Clottey is not and should not be taken lightly because there is never a sure thing for a fighter – even for Pacquiao – once he steps into the ring.

I had to look back at some of Clottey’s previous bouts. And, l always feel that looking at a fighter’s losses are more telling and if whether his post loss matches were better or worse. Clottey’s fight record is a veritable list of who’s who in the current welterweight division. And, unlike Pacquiao, he’s always fought at welterweight so he’s established himself at that weight against some heavy hitters and can definitely take some punishment at the hands of his opponents.

From footage I’ve seen, Clottey fights great inside. He has a good jab-hook combination that if properly executed, rocks his opponents. He goes to the body with left uppercuts, followed by barrages of hooks.

Clottey is definitely at his best when he’s in the middle of the ring. He has a tendency to get cornered and as such, doesn’t work too hard to dominate, especially if he’s against the ropes and in the corner. Once he establishes close in-fighting exchanges, he does not back down at all.

Clottey easily loses points when he fails to be aggressive and works tentatively showing moments of strong fighting and winning by points, but then somehow takes times off in a round or two without establishing his will on his opponent. Clottey’s lackluster ring generalship allows his opponents to win rounds he could have easily won if he weren’t so reluctant to exchange.

Now, I just stated that his ring generalship is a little lackluster, but it’s not lacking too much. This is where I just love to theorize about boxing tactics because I definitely think Clottey has an awareness of the referee. Call it “dirty tactics,” but I think Clottey is very aware of the referee in the ring and what he can possibly do to his opponent depending on what the referee may or might not be seeing. Yes, fight fans, others have said it. Clottey is notorious for the timeliness of his clashing of heads. And, it’s usually his opponents that get the worst of these accidental head butts.

Back in 1999 in his fight against Argentina’s Carlos Baldomir, Clottey scored a DQ. He lost two points for his headbutting of Baldomir in the 10th round and repeated a headbutt again in the 11th resulting in the disqualification. Again, timeliness of the head clash, but in this case, he lost big because he was ahead on the judges’ scorecards at the time the fight was stopped.

Back in June 2009, Clottey faced Miguel Angel Cotto. Clottey had suffered a knockdown in the first round. But later, towards the end of round three, Cotto had suffered a cut above his left eye again by an accidental headbutt. Cotto went on to win the fight by split decision over 12 rounds, but the cut didn’t exactly take one or two stitches. According to reports, the cut took 20 total stitches (14 over and 6 below the eye – ouch!)

In this fight, Clottey definitely gave Cotto a hard time despite the knockdown in the first round, but still didn’t really looked like he could beat Cotto.

Clottey is definitely a different type of opponent for Pacquiao. He has solid talent, has shown definite ability to work and exchange on the inside. But as a slow starter, he cannot afford to be tentative. It’s a big moment and venue for the fighter from Ghana. If Clottey can step up his game and the occasion, he has nothing to lose by any means. Given his history of accidental headbutts, Pacquiao’s southpaw stance makes him even more vulnerable to the possibility of a clash of heads.

Pacquiao must show even more technical ability, combined with his speed and power, to take the fight quickly. However, it’s up to Clottey to make this his fight and not make the fight about his opponent Pacquiao. So, was Clottey the safer choice for Pacquiao? Probably, but maybe, just maybe, Clottey will make this fight about giving some competition to Pacquiao.

Will he win?

I say no, but I don’t see him exactly standing there getting beat up either.
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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Pacquiao-Valero Fight

Anyone still sulking about the collapse of Manny Pacquiao's blockbuster clash with Floyd Mayweather might just be about to perk up.

The possibility of a scrap between Pacquiao and Edwin Valero will drag even the most disillusioned fight fan out of the doldrums - a mouth-watering scrap rising from the ashes of the scuppered pound-for-pound play-off with Mayweather.

Valero, arguably the only fighter on the planet more exciting than the revered Filipino, has set his sights on what he rightly claims to be "the fight the world wants to see".

While a clash between pound-for-pound king Pacquiao and predecessor Mayweather must, for the good of boxing, happen at some point in the future, a Pacquiao-Valero tear-up would excite most boxing insiders more than any other fight in the last decade.

With a record of 27 stoppages from 27 fights, Valero is the most exciting and aggressive fighter on the planet. Pacquiao, meanwhile, is the most complete fighter of his generation having started out at light-flyweight before moving through the divisions and dishing out beatings to everyone put in his way.

While Pacquiao-Mayweather would be an intriguing and necessary clash pitting the world's top two against each other, a fight between the Filipino firebrand and Valero would be pure indulgence for the viewing public.

It promises a blur of furious violence so thrilling that nobody would complain about paying hefty pay-per-view fees for a fight likely to last barely a few rounds.

After dismantling tough challenger Antonio DeMarco to force a retirement after nine rounds last weekend, WBC lightweight champion Valero - who moved up a division last year to capture that belt - revealed his ambition to step up again and compete at light-welterweight.

To do so would be to head tantalisingly close to Pacquiao-infested waters.

And just the suggestion of a fight between the two is prompting many in the sport to get excited.

First, it seems likely Valero will jump in at the deep end by challenging WBO light-welterweight champion Tim Bradley and, should he come through, with Pacquiao meanwhile navigating his way past Joshua Clottey, a meeting between the two will move to the top of the agenda.

"That's the fight the world wants to see," Valero said after impressing against DeMarco.

"I demonstrated once again (against DeMarco) that I am a boxer, that I do side steps, and I'm technical. I've never said it, but all my team and the people around me know that I can box.

"It's just that a majority of the fights have been against boxers who have gone out early."

While it seems promoter Bob Arum - who also promotes Pacquiao - is keen to throw him in against Bradley, Venezuelan Valero is also eyeing hardman Juan Diaz.

"I hope that it can be in Texas against the 'Baby Bull' Diaz so I can prove I have power in this weight category," said Valero.

There, however, is the first of two stumbling blocks. Texas is the only place in America Valero can fight, because of an ongoing refusal to licence him elsewhere due to an old head injury suffered in a motorcycle crash early in his career.

Unless that changes - and it would be a suspicious coincidence for a change of heart to suddenly occur if such a massive fight was in the offing - the fight cannot be staged in Las Vegas or New York.

The other obstacle in Valero's way is his desire to hold onto his WBC lightweight belt, with the scrapper appealing to the governing body to allow him to move up to 140lbs while retaining his title.

Keen to keep one of their most marketable champions, they may cede to his request, while Pacquiao is fighting Clottey in Dallas anyway so why not stage a showdown there as well?

Valero's biggest challenge will be surviving such a dangerous 'tune-up' fight, however, be it against Diaz or Bradley.

Wherever their allegiance lies, fans of the sweet science will be rooting for both men to come through and remain on this most tantalizing collision course.

Source : SportingLife.com
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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Bob Arum Spoiling Pacquiao

There was a time when Manny Pacquiao was happy to be on board a commercial flight.

But times have changed. He is famous, rich and is the apple of Bob Arum’s eye, his energetic promoter.

The best luxury hotels, 24-hour security, any food and practically anything are at Pacquiao’s beck and call.

But the one thing that truly indicates that Pacquiao has arrived is the private plane that Arum has put at the Filipino boxer’s disposal.

Like a rock star and sports megastars in the category of Tiger Woods, a private plane is the transport of choice for the once poor boy from General Santos City.

So when Pacquiao and his entourage travel the three-hour flight to Dallas, Texas, on Monday, a plane will be waiting for him.

“Manny’s going to Dallas first thing in the morning of Monday, March 8th,” Arum said yesterday from Las Vegas.

Except for flights arriving in the US from the Philippines, Pacquiao has been riding private planes to fulfill countless appointments as though he owns one.

Not only that, Arum has also asked the management of Gaylord Texan Resort and Hotel in Grapevine, Texas, to build a makeshift gym at the basement so Pacquiao could train there in the final days leading to the fight.

Source : ManilaBulletin

What do you think? Does Arum really spoiling Pacquiao?
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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Size Does Not Matter

Being big, strong and durable do not make Joshua Clottey unbreakable.

This is the belief of trainer Freddie Roach, who tries to steer Manny Pacquiao to another victory on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Acknowledging that Clottey could pose problems with his physique, strength and his chin that is said to be made of anvil, Roach said the Ghanaian banger “makes too many fundamental mistakes,” lapses that Pacquiao is sure to take advantage of come fight night.

Speaking to fightnews.com, Roach is confident Pacquiao will become the “first” fighter to knock the African out in their 12-round welterweight match before an expected sellout crowd.

Clottey has fought 38 times and despite losing three times on points, the 32-year-old has never been stopped although he suffered a flash knockdown in the first round against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in June last year.

Pacquiao is in the thick of training at the Wild Card in Hollywood, California, and had logged his 32nd round of sparring Saturday afternoon, racking up four rounds each with Ray Beltran and Mike Dallas Jr.

“There’s not even a small problem as far as Manny’s preparation is concerned,” said the fighter’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz Sunday after handing the two sparmates their weekly pay.

This early, Team Pacquiao is finalizing the travel arrangements for the trip to Texas.

“Manny said he would like to travel to Dallas after he spars for the last time on the Monday before the fight,” said Koncz.

“I told him that it would be much better if we travel on Sunday, which is his day-off, but he told me it’ll be Monday.”

Pacquiao will likely be billeted at the Gaylord Texan Hotel – the official hotel of the Dallas Cowboys – in the city of Grapevine.

Source : ManilaBulletin
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Friday, February 5, 2010

Tourists raid Pacquiao Stores

If there's anything you can't miss on a trip to General Santos City, it's a visit to boxer Manny Pacquiao's clothing and accessories stores.

This is according to Manila-based and foreign tourists who were seen browsing a Team Pacquiao store for signature jackets and t-shirts that double as tourist souveniers.

General Santos City, located in the southern part of the Philippines, became famous as Pacquiao's hometown more than its booming tuna fishing industry.

The city, located in South Cotabato, is home to many of the Pacquiao family's businesses, including coffee house franchises and boutiques by his wife, Jinkee Pacquiao.

"Ok ang store. [Ang dami ng] pagpipilian. Sinadya talaga namin pumunta dito. (The store is okay. There are lots of things to choose from. We really went out of our way to come here)," said tourist Aida Timbreza.

Team Pacquiao stores, located in both Robinson's Place Mall and the JMP building along OsmeƱa street in GenSan, are stocked with complete Pacquiao merchandise.

These include new slippers printed with Pacquiao's face, clothes for men and other accessories. Pacquiao, as a brand endorser for Nike, has signature t-shirts, shoes and jackets marked with a special seal.

'Money not an issue'

Dr. Wilma Heramil, who came from a neighboring municipality in South Cotabato called Polomolok, spent more than P5,000 on t-shirts and caps alone.

Heramil told ABS-CBN News that these apparel were specially requested by her relatives in San Diego, California.

"Ipadala ko doon. Gustong gusto nila. Suotin daw nila sa gagawing party. Reason ng gathering nila si Pacman. (I will send it there. They really want it. They will wear these for as party in Pacman's honor)," she said.

Heramil added that her relatives will be wearing these merchandise in time for Pacquiao's March 13 fight against Ghanian boxer Joshua Clottey.

The Team Pacquiao's store supervisor, Rex Aniero, says tourists often flock to the shop every time Pacquiao has an impending fight.

He said items that sell the most are signature items like boxing gloves and Victorinox wristwatches that each cost P30,000--the store's most expensive item.

Aniero said money is not an issue for die-hard Pacquiao fans who come into the store, most of whom are foreigners.

The Victorinox watches have reportedly sold out.

Expecting a new surge of clients in the days leading to the Pacquiao-Clottey match in Texas, Aniero said Team Pacquiao stores will carry special Pacquiao vs. Clottey t-shirts.

He's sure that, just like with other merchandise, these shirts will click with the Filipino boxing champion's fans.


Source : ABS-CBN News
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We really like the idea that aside from boxing Pacquiao is generating more income thru his business.
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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Pacquiao versus Mayweather-Mosley Fight Winner Says Roach

Trainer Freddie Roach says Manny Pacquiao, should he beat Joshua Clottey on March 13, will be more than happy to fight the winner of May's mega-bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley. Roach sees the winner of Mayweather-Mosley as the best candidate for Pacquiao's next fight. Roach told BoxingScene.com that Mayweather should win the fight but it's going to be very tough for him.

"I like Shane. He's a good guy but I think Mayweather will outbox him. I think Mayweather will win that fight but it's a very competitive, good fight and I would like to see that fight," Roach told BoxingScene.

If Mayweather wins, Roach says a fight with Pacquiao will only happen under the rules of the governing commission. They will not agree to Mayweather's demand for unrestricted random drug testing. Pacquiao did tell BoxingScene's Robert Morales that he would consider taking random drug tests if the contract called for the random tests to stop 30-days prior to the fight. Pacquiao would also take a blood test immediately after the fight was over.

Mayweather is more concerned about the testing that takes place inside the 30-day time period. Mayweather has placed the test demands on Mosley, who accepted the terms. Mayweather and Pacquiao were unable to agree on the drug testing terms when they were negotiating for a tentative fight in March. Roach does think Mayweather fight will happen but under the right circumstances.

"When Mayweather loses a little more money gambling and he needs it, I think he'll fight us. I would like to see Pacquiao fight him under the commission rules and the counseling bodies but not under Floyd Mayweather's rules because who the f**k is he? We don't work for him," Roach said.

Mosley will be an easier fight to make because he doesn't care about random drug testing. He will fight Pacquiao with or without a clause that calls for random testing. Roach would love to have Pacquiao take that fight if Shane pulls off the upset.

"Shane would love to fight Manny. If he beats Mayweather...if he wins, we will fight him and that will be a great fight. Shane is a very good fighter and I respect him quite a bit," Roach said.

Source : BoxingScene
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Fighter of the Decade Awarded to Manny Pacquiao

Elation written all over his face Bob Arum, by far the pre-eminent boxing  promoter in the world jetted to Mexico City with the owner of the Dallas Cowboys $1.2 billion state-of-the-art stadium Jerry Jones.

And created further excitement about ‘The Event” on March 13 which pits pound-for-pound icon Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines against Ghana’s tough former champion Joshua Clottey for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title.

The affair was given added prestige with the presence of WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman and his son and WBC secretary general Mauricio Sulaiman as well as well-known Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran and the added glamor of the gorgeous Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.

Arum was obviously elated over his prized possession Pacquiao not just being voted as the “Fighter of the Decade” by the prestigious Bowing Writers Association of America but that he whipped his closest rival Floyd Mayweather Jr by a bigger margin than 2-to-1.

BWAA president Jack Hirsh told us earlier that he was looking at an international figure to present the award to Pacquiao and www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports learned that Arum was keen on having former US President George Bush who is apparently a huge Pacquiao fan do the honors.

Reflecting on Pacquiao’s achievements, Boxing Writers Association of America president Jack Hirsch put it best when he said “If there was any doubt that Manny Pacquiao is the biggest star of his sport, it was put to rest by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America. By an overwhelming margin, Pacquiao took home not only the BWAA's newly named "Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year" award, but went one better by also winning "Fighter of the Decade" honors. For Pacquiao, it was his third BWAA "Fighter of the Year" award, tying him with Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield for the most in the history of the organization.”

According to Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz, the Filipino boxing hero was his usual humble self thanking the boxing writers for the honor bestowed on him which he dedicated to his country and people who have supported him all these years, and promising always to uphold the integrity of the sport and serve as an example to the youth.

Koncz said “everything is going perfectly. Manny did seven rounds of sparring and looked like he never left off from the (Miguel) Cotto fight. He stayed in physical condition by playing a lot of basketball in the Philippines and that helped.”

Respected boxing writer and television reporter James Blears of boxingscene.com reported out of Mexico that Jerry Jones revealed he wants to be right up there in the fray of competition for the chance to hold the Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr, should the difficult negotiations ultimately prove fruitful after he finishes with the March 13 sporting extravaganza..
Blears quoted the Dallas Cowboys owner who said “I want to earn that, and want to earn that with boxing and with the fans of boxing. I appreciate what Las Vegas has meant to boxing, and it’s been special. But fights of this stature can be shown when you have four or five times the amount of people and you can get the atmosphere too.”

Jones pointed out that the NFL “as great a game as it is on television, and it was built for television, would be nothing if it didn’t have the pageantry and crowds of the stadium. The crowds and the fan experience that comes your way through television are important to enjoy that game. You and I want to know they’re playing before thousands and thousands of people. Boxing can have that and we can have that at the cowboys stadium!”

Jones explained his pride and love for sports and spoke of his determination to put on the best show with Pacquiao and Clottey and indicated he was determined to make it a resounding success.:
Explaining the about the unsurpassed financial commitment in building the new stadium, Blears quoted Jones as saying “The bottom line- I emptied my bucket to build that stadium. Before they play, I tell the team, empty your bucket today. We have emptied our bucket to have Manny Pacquiao be the first fight in that stadium. We will do everything we can."

“We will take that huge screen that makes him seventy two feet tall, and we’ll hang it thirty feet above their heads. And when they’re in there competing and fighting, every fan in the stadium, will feel as if they’re in there with them!”

The astute Arum, banking on the support of Mexican fans who themselves have embraced Pacquiao despite the fact that he has demolished every Mexican legend, added up an exciting undercard which features Irish hope John Duddy and Salvador Sanchez - the nephew of the late, great world champion who died in a tragic car crash and a enthralling encounter between WBC Welterweight Intercontinental champion Alfonso Gomez and ring legend Jose Luis Castillo who battled Mayweather in two exciting bouts and served as one of Pacquiao’s sparring partners as he prepared for the Cotto fight last November.

Source : TeamPilipinas
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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Pacquiao not Angry with Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao is back in town. Boxing is like phases of the moon, and Pacquiao is in the training phase. There will be a fight, all right. But not the one the world wanted, nor Pacquiao and his trainer, Freddie Roach.

"I wanted Mayweather bad, real bad," Roach says.

"I'm not angry at Floyd," Pacquiao says. "I just feel disappointed in his allegations."

It is a Monday afternoon at Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. The air is stale, the noise often deafening and the entire place decorum-challenged, unless you are into wrinkled 1972 boxing posters. That's as it should be. They train boxers here, not ballerinas.

Pacquiao prepares for a March 13 fight that was to be between him, recently acclaimed fighter of the decade in a vote by the U.S. Boxing Writers, and Floyd Mayweather Jr., who would tell you the boxing writers got it wrong. Now, the fight will be between Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey.

Once Pacquiao and Mayweather parted ways in the well-documented drug-testing dispute, Mayweather agreed to fight Shane Mosley on May 1 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Mosley has signed the contract deal, but as of Monday night, Mayweather had not.

Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, says he expects the Mayweather signature any minute. He also says that Mosley agreed to all the Olympic-style random testing , including blood testing right up to fight time, that Pacquiao had rejected.

There are attempts from all camps to portray this fallback outcome as just fine for boxing, maybe even better.

Roach says Clottey might give fight fans a better show than the tactical, defense-minded Mayweather because "Clottey comes forward and it could become a war." Pacquiao refers to the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, where his fight will be held in front of an expected 40,000 people, as "a beautiful place" and the Top Rank camp of Bob Arum characterizes the new venue as an important step in bringing new fans to the sport. Schaefer says that, as great as the 40-0 Mayweather is, Mosley's stunning domination of Antonio Margarito 13 months ago at Staples Center proves how dangerous he is.

Still, the loss of the Pacquiao-Mayweather mega-fight, one that could have put as much as $40 million in each fighter's pocket, hangs in the Wild Card Gym like the smell of body odor.

"In the end," Roach says, "if we had given in on the blood testing, it would have been like giving Mayweather the first round. Why would we do that?

"Manny hates needles. He said that's what cost him the first [Erik] Morales fight [March 2005]. We made a mistake on that one. Nevada has every boxer give blood once a year, and Manny hadn't done that, so we had to do it the night before the fight, just like Mayweather wanted. Manny said it made him weak for three days. Even if they took blood from him 14 days before the fight, that would have meant I lose him on key sparring days 14, 13, and 12 days out."

The Mayweather camp will read that and chuckle. Those theorizing that Pacquiao must use steroids or he would have agreed to the extra drug testing will not be moved.

There is the issue of time running out on Pacquiao's boxing career. He will run for Congress in the Philippines in mid-May. Roach has said he doesn't think Pacquiao can be a marquee boxer and a politician at the same time. Asked about that Monday, Pacquiao says, "Why not?"

There is the issue of how much these next fights could mess things up. Were Clottey to win, might not Pacquiao see that as a perfect time to retreat to politics full time? Were Mosley to win, might that not do the same thing?

"Shane came to the gym twice to ask me to let him fight Manny," Roach says. "I told him no both times, and both times for the same two reasons: First, there isn't enough money there, and second, you're too good a fighter."

There is the issue of Pacquiao's current lawsuit against the Mayweathers for defamation. Pacquiao's attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, says that the case is in federal court in Nevada, is moving at full speed and can be in trial by year's end.

But the real issue remains lost money for the boxers and lost opportunity for the sport. For now, Pacquiao-Mayweather has gone away, but probably not forever.

Pacquiao is asked whether he is so angry at Mayweather that he will never be able to bring himself to step into the ring against him.

"No, I can fight him," Pacquiao says. "I'm just not sure he ever really wanted the fight."

Roach is asked whether the fight that didn't happen has now become like a burr in his saddle.

He nods.

Source : TeamPilipinas
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Monday, February 1, 2010

Another Award for Manny Pacquiao

The awards are added to the many that has come Pacquiao’s way in recent years, particularly in 2008 and 2009. It is a testament to the recognition accorded to his dominance of boxing spread over a record-setting seven different weight divisions. His two victories last year cemented his status as a legitimate all-time great in the sport.

In May, he met British Superstar for the IBO and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight title in Las Vegas, Nevada. His two-round annihilation of the Hitman stunned the boxing world which was expecting a grueling, competitive battle.

The Pacman followed that up with a 12th-round stoppage of Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in his last fight in November, for the latter’s WBO Welterweight title, also in Las Vegas. The victory earned him his seventh world title in his seventh weight division – an unprecedented feat.

It is the third time Pacquiao won the award as Fighter of the year, after similar recognitions in 2006 and 2008. The award is named after the consensus greatest fighter of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson. Manny will most likely receive the trophy during the BWAA’s 85th banquet in New York City in June.

Topping it all off is the organization’s naming of the current pound for pound king as the Fighter of the Decade. He bested some of the sport’s biggest names on his way to that recognition. Pacquiao is currently training for his first defense of the welterweight crown against Joshua Clottey in March.

Source : Two Minutes News
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