Pacquiao vs Marquez 3 live stream online

Pacquiao vs Marquez 3 live stream free online|Watch streaming

2011-11-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

Be sure you have a free time to watch Pacquiao vs Marquez live stream fight which will kick off this coming weekend. For the third time Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will face each other inside the ring and will continue their growing rivalry. As we remember Pacquiao and Marquez has already met twice, their first fight took place in 2004 which ended up in a draw. The second fight came in 2008 and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao won the fight via split decision. Both fighter has been successful in their respective most current fight. Manny Pacquiao has defended the welterweight title over Shane Mosley last May while Marquez won over Likar Ramos and is now riding a 3 winning streak. Pacquiao enters this fight with a 53-3-2 win-loss record while Juan Manuel Marquez has a 53-5-1 win-loss record.

Marquez is the last fighter to not be knocked out or lose by unanimous decision to Pacquiao, can Marquez step up and beat Pacquiao this time? The only answer is by watching Pacquiao vs Marquez 3 live stream fight on November 19, 9 PM EST. Pacquiao vs Marquezlive fight wil take place at the MGM Grand Arena at Las Vegas Nevada. So be there and witness this epic battle.

Pacquiao vs Marquez 3 will take place via HBO

2011-08-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

Finally, the competition between HBO and Showtime for broadcasting the upcoming fight of Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez has been settled out - and the winner is - HBO. HBO earned the rights to broadcast the Pacquiao vs Marquez 3 live stream via pay-per-view. HBO has been successful in delivering a ppv experience over the years. It has been responsible of broadcasting the fights of biggest names in boxing like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao himself.

Pacquiao vs Marquez third fight will take place on November 12, 2011.

via BoxingInsider

Luneta will be the first stop of Pacquiao-Marquez III press tour

2011-07-07T09:23:00.001-07:00

MANILA, Philippines — Two landmark sites in the Philippines and Mexico will play host to the much-awaited promotional tour of the Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez Nov. 12 fight, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said Wednesday from Los Angeles.

Arum told the Bulletin that the Luneta or Quirino Grandstand will be the first stop of a four-city press tour on Sept. 3 and that he expects a multitude to attend the event in Manila.

A similar function will be held in Marquez's lair in Mexico City after stops in New York and Los Angeles, according to Arum, revealing that the main square called The Zocalo, which can hold more than 100,000 people, will be tapped to host it.

After the tour, Pacquiao and Marquez will head to their respective

high-altitude training camps: Pacquiao in Baguio and Marquez in Toluca.

There is bad blood in this third meeting between Pacquiao and Marquez with their first two matches ending in controversy. The first time they fought, the bout ended on a 12-round split draw and the rematch ended on a split decision victory for the Filipino.

Marquez remains bitter up to his day, telling Mexico City-based journalist Tim Johnson of the McClatchy newspapers in an article that appeared in the Sacramento Bee that "he (Pacquiao) knows he's never really beaten me."

Both fighters insist there'll be no fourth fight as the convincing result of the rubber match will prevent one from taking place.

Nacho Beristain, the newly-inducted Hall of Fame trainer of Marquez, said Pacquiao's metamorphosis from a wild-swinger to a more skillful puncher will make it a lot easier for his fighter to connect.

But Freddie Roach, who will join Beristain soon, said the added weight and the vast improvement will spell the difference.

Roach said Pacquiao will hand Marquez a devastating knockout loss.

Pacquiao and Marquez are fighting at a catch weight of 145 lbs.

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacquiao vs Mosley live stream free online|Watch via ppv

2011-05-02T05:01:00.000-07:00

This coming weekend we will about to see another spectacular boxing fight that will surely be written in the history. The fight that everyone has been waiting for - its Pacquiao vs Mosley. Watch Pacquiao vs Mosley live stream if you don't want to be get behind. BO welterweight champion and 8 time division champions Manny Pacquiao will takes on former three-division champion Shane Mosley for the WBO Welterweight belt. Pacquiao enter this fight with a 52-3-2 win-loss record with a 38 KO’s while Mosley has 46-6-1 win-loss record to go with 39 KO’s.

So who will be the last man standing in this Pacquiao vs Mosley fight? Just watch Pacquiao vs Mosley live stream on May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao vs Mosley set on May 7, 2011

2011-01-04T06:08:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Mosley is coming on May 7.

Former three-division champion Shane Mosley will take on WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told SI.com.

The fight will be promoted by Top Rank and be at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

Mosley, 39, had been considered the favorite of a three-candidate field to fight Pacquiao that included lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and welterweight champion Andre Berto. Arum said he presented Pacquiao with these options after consulting with Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, and Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler.

Roach has been vocal in his opposition of a fight with Mosley, telling SI.com in November that he "didn't see much of a point" in a Mosley fight and that he preferred a third fight with Marquez to "shut Marquez up." According to Arum, Roach's opinion changed after spending a week with Arum and Pacquiao in the Philippines.

"He turned around," Arum said. "He was an advocate [for the fight]."

Arum has taken some criticism over his preference for a fight with Mosley. Mosley has struggled in his last two fights, a one-sided loss to Floyd Mayweather last May and a draw against Sergio Mora in September. Many in the boxing industry believed a fight with Marquez, who battled Pacquiao to a draw in 2004 and lost a narrow decision to the Filipino in 2008, was the better choice.

"I try to take the pulse of people who are non-boxing fans," Arum said. "And to them, without question Shane Mosley is at the head of the pack. I know there were some issues within the boxing community that maybe Marquez was more deserving. But people don't know Marquez, and even fewer know Berto. Their Q rating doesn't resonate. To everyone I talk to around the world, it's always Mosley."

As for Mayweather, Arum said he would have waited to make a deal with the former pound-for-pound champion if Mayweather had given him any indication he was interested in the fight. Mayweather is due in court next month to face four felony charges stemming from a domestic incident in September.

"We put it off as long as we could," Arum said. "He has been totally incommunicado. All he had to do was pick up a phone and say, 'Hey Bob, wait a week, two weeks' and we would have waited. He could have given us a signal. No one knows how to get a hold of him. The only ones who know how to get a hold of him are the police."

source

Watch Pacquiao vs Margarito live stream on ppv

2010-11-13T01:46:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for Pacquiao vs Margarito fight? Few hours from now we will going to witness another spectacular event that will surely become the hottest topic of the town. Pacquiao vs Margarito is all set to kick off this Saturday night and it will take place at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Why this fight is so remarkable for both Pacquiao and Margarito? Pacquiao is the pound-for-pound king and holds a seven title in different seven division and a win will give him his eighth title and solidify his title as the pound-for-pound king of the boxing world. On the other hand, Margarito is in the process of redeeming him self from a suspension. As we all know Margarito has been banned from fighting across United States after being caught of using illegal hand wraps during his fight against Mosley back in 2009. Margarito fought only once after that suspension, however it took place in Mexico and it was against to an unranked fighter. Margarito is also in the mission of avenging his fellow countrymen that has been dismantled by Manny Pacquiao.

Will Pacquiao able to get his eight title or Margarito end his amazing feat this time? Well, there is only one answer to this, just watch Pacquiao vs Margarito live stream which will be available in pay-per-view.

Pacquiao vs Margarito undercard fights

2010-11-12T02:19:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Margarito is all set to kick off this coming weekend. The pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will face Antonio Margarito in a 150-pound catch weight fight where a winner could take home the 154-pound WBC Super Welterweight title. This spectacular event will take place on Saturday night, November 13, 2010. Watch Pacquiao vs Margarito live stream which is available in pay-per-view and will take place at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Pacquiao vs Margarito is also full of interesting match up. Below is the fight card for Pacquiao vs Margarito fight.

Guillermo Rigondeaux (6-0) vs. Ricardo Cordoba (37-2-2)
(The Ring Magazine Unranked Jr. Bantamweight vs. #4)

(PPV) Brandon Rios (25-0-1) vs. Omri Lowther (14-2)
(The Ring Magazine #5 Lightweight vs. Unranked)

(PPV) Mike Jones (22-0) vs. Jesus Soto Karass (24-4-3)
Richie Mepranum (22-2-1) vs. Anthony Villarreal (10-3)
Dennis Laurente (35-3-5) vs. Rashad Holloway (11-1-2)
Robert Marroquin (15-0) vs. Francisco Dominguez (7-5)
Jose Benavidez (8-0) vs. Winston Mathis (6-2)

Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito

2010-11-08T02:03:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito fight

Pacquiao vs Margarito is fast approaching so be sure to prepare yourself for another spectacular boxing event. Watch Pacquiao vs Margarito live stream this coming November. The year's most awaited bout in boxing is coming this November, featuring the number one pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito for the WBC Jr. Middleweight title. Manny Pacquiao is eying another title in another weight class division which could put Pacquiao once again in history book of boxing. Pacquiao will be facing a very tough job as he faces the biggest and heaviest opponent in his entire career. Antonio Margarito is the biggest opponent that Pacquiao would face throughout his career. However, despite the size advantage, Margarito still respect Pacquiao skill set. Pacquiao remains the favorite to win this match up. Pacquiao won his fight is the latest against Joshua Clottey. He also won against formidable opponent like Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez and ended the career of Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao enters this fight with a record of 03/02/1951 with 38 knockout.

Who will win between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito? Just watch Pacquiao vs Margarito live stream free which will be available in PPV. This spectacular boxing event will take place at Cowboys Stadium on November 13, 2010.

Watch Pacquiao vs Margarito live stream free online

2010-10-24T22:59:00.000-07:00

Pacquiao vs Margarito live stream

The most awaited fight of the year in boxing is coming this November - the fight between number one pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC Light Middleweight Title. Manny Pacquiao will try to get another title in a much heavier weight class division and this could be Pacquiao's eight title if he ever wins. This will not be an easy task for Pacquiao as he will face a bigger man as he continues his assault in yet another division. Antonio Margarito is the biggest opponent that Pacquiao would face in his entire career. However despite the size advantage of Margarito, Pacquiao remains the favorite to win this match up. Pacquiao has won his most recent fight which is against Joshua Clottey. He also won against formidable opponent such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez and ended the careers of Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao enters this fight with a 51-3-2 record with 38 are by way of KO.

Meanwhile, Antonio Margarito is the next in line for Manny Pacquiao. Margarito is coming off a suspension. He is now looking for redemption after a loaded-gloves controversy and knockout loss to Shane Mosley wreaked havoc on his reputation. Margarito has a pro record of 38-6 with 27 KOs. Margarito is in two straight losses before he was supended, he lost to Paul Williams and Shane Mosley. Antonio Margarito is now under going a very intensive training. He hopes to get back in good shape at the right time to give Pacquiao a good fight.

Who will win between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito? Just watch Pacquiao vs Margarito live stream which will be available in PPV. This spectacular boxing event will take place at Cowboys Stadium on November 13, 2010.

Watch UFC 121 live stream free online

2010-10-23T17:05:00.000-07:00

UFC 121 live stream. See UFC 121 live stream free when he kicks off this weekend when the headliners for UFC UFC 121st 121 live stream will be available on the card. Another spectacular event that will surely provide excitment for all UFC fans worldwide. In this event, Brock Lesnar will try to defend his heavyweight crown from a very athletic, the rapid increase in hunting Cain Velasquez. This is only the second match Lesnar after his return from a year long lay off due to illness. Lesnar returned to the UFC with a victory over Shane Carwin on UFC 116, making it regained the title. Meanwhile Velasquez in this match with a zero loss and will try to remain perfect after the match against Brock Lesnar. Velasquez is a Mexican, fighting not only trying to steal the crown from Lesnar, but also for being the first Mexican boxer to win a heavyweight championship in the martial arts. It was first fight Lesnar since a victory over the greatest of all time, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110.

Can Lesnar give Velasquez his first loss? Just watch UFC 121: Lesnar vs Cain online free stream via ppv on Oct 23, 2010 which will take place at Honda Center, Anaheim, California.

Margarito Sparmates Issue Warning

2010-10-16T03:43:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines — The four sparring partners of Antonio Margarito have a message to Manny Pacquiao: Margarito can be hazardous to Pacquiao’s health.

A month before Pacquiao and Margarito get it on at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Cleotis Pendarvis, Ricardo Williams, Austin Tour and KC Martinez intimated to the on-line edition of The Ring magazine that Margarito poses serious risks to the Filipino pound-for-pound king.

“He’s definitely not (a) shot (fighter),” said Pendarvis, who has a 10-3-2 record with four KOs, after sparring with Margarito

in Oxnard, California, site of Margarito’s training camp.

“If he was shot, he wouldn’t have been able to do what he did today. He did 10 rounds with four talented young sparring partners. We’re not old journeymen that he can beat up on. We can fight,” said Pendarvis, who also once helped Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton in their own preparation for Pacquiao.

Williams, a 2000 Sydney Olympics silver medalist, was awed by Margarito’s ability to take a shot.

“He takes a good shot,” said Williams, who has a 16-2 card with nine KOs.

Even the fast-rising Trout, who packs a 21-0 mark with 13 KOs, has seen tremendous inroads in Margarito’s skills.

Having spared with Margarito two years ago, Trout said Margarito has learned how to pick his punches, a trait that is likely to work wonders against somebody as accomplished and gifted like Pacquiao.

But just about everyone sang the same tune when asked about the vaunted pressure that Margarito applies during a fight.

“You start to feel it by the second round. It’s real,” said Trout.

Pendarvis was blunt in his assessment.

“With Margarito you feel the pressure from the first round because he throws eight shots in one combination.”

Williams felt it the moment “he gets you with a good body shot.”

But Pendarvis, who claimed they were told to take it east against De La Hoya and Hatton during training camp, summed it all up.

source

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Gym closed during Pacquiao sparring session

2010-10-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

Coach Freddie Roach shows that they are taking Antonio Margarito seriously, proof is, Roach will not allow public to see Pacquiao during sparing sessions. According to sparring partners of Pacquiao Freddie Roach has begun to close the gym during some sparring sessions, which is likely for several reasons. In an interview by Ring correspondent Ted Lerner to coach Roach, Roach said Pacquiao tends to showboat when the crowds and media are watching, which understandably he wants to keep to a minimum. Roach explained that Pacquiao should focus on his sparring sessions and his attention should not get to anywhere else as a danger of either getting caught with a big punch or getting cut, both of which could set his training schedule back.

Pacquiao vs Margarito fight will take place on November 13th at Dallas Cowboys stadium in Texas. Pacquiao vs Margarito live stream will be available in pay-per-view.

Shane Mosley vs Sergio Mora live boxing fight

2010-09-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

Mosley vs Mora live stream boxing fight as it kick off on Saturday night featuring Shane Mosley and Sergio Mora. After his last fight against four months ago against Mayweather, Mosley finally get a chance to get back to the ring to redeem his self in fighting Sergio Mora. Mosley look to bounce back from his one-sided loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mosley entered this fight as a favorite to win, and it’s going to be interesting if he can live up to that on Saturday night. Mora look to win over Mosley and he is the worst opponent you could pick for a fighter that’s losing his legs like Mosley. Though Mosley is favored to win this fight, Mora is a fast fighter that specializes in hitting without being hit and he has the capability to pull an upset in this match.
Who will win in this fight? Just watch Mosley vs Mora online boxing fight on September 18th,2010 at The Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA.

Pacquiao vs Margarito tickets on sale Saturday

2010-09-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

ARLINGTON, TX – Tickets for the Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito fight November 13th go on sale officially Saturday September 18th at the ticket office of Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Tickets range from: $700, $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50.

Tickets can also be purchased by phone at 800-745-3000, 800-745-3000 or on line at. Or check it at Pacquiao vs Margarito tickets
About 50,000 tickets were sold for the last Pacquiao card at the stadium March 13th and a bigger crowd is anticipated for this one because of the large Hispanic following of Margarito in North Texas.

In a 10 round fight, Kelly Pavlik will face Haitian Daniel Edouard. Pavlik, 36-2 (32 KO’s) is a former middleweight champion while Edouard is 23-2-3 (14 KO’s).

Dallas’ own Roberto Marroquin, 15-0 (12 KO’s) featherweight will face TBA.
Other fights are to be announced.

Pacquiao and Margarito do dallas

2010-09-04T21:09:00.000-07:00

Arlington, TX (Sept. 3, 2010) – The final press tour conference at the state of the art Cowboy’s Stadium today, venue of the November 13 matchup between two fistic warriors Manny Pacquiao, lone Sarangani representative, pound for pound best & seven divisions World Champion in as much weight classes versus the Mexican pride Antonio “Tijuana Tornado” Margarito, was a huge success.

The Dallas Presscon kicked off before noon today. Top Rank’s President Todd DuBoef, filling in for the greatest promoter in boxing history Bob Arum, did a tremendous job. Mark Taffet, HBO Sports Pay-Per-View President, was thrilled that HBO’s Emmy Award winning 24/7 show will be back again, highlighting “behind-the-scenes” in this big event. Mr. Taffet promised that every important issue, every controversy related to this event will be addressed. The series will be done in four parts.
“Texas did research, they did not rush to judge. They listened and did due diligence,” declared Todd DuBoef as he introduced TDLR’s Executive Director William “Bill” Kuntz who spoke next at the podium. It was Mr. Kuntz who decided Margarito should be licensed in Texas and eventually made this fight happen. “It’s making Texas a major destination for the sport of boxing, and for Jerry Jones to bring it here at the Cowboy’s Stadium, is wonderful for the State of Texas,” explained Mr. Kuntz.

Representing the World Boxing Council, Executive Secretary Mauricio Sulaiman, a big Cowboys’ fan himself, presented the contested green and gold Super welterweight championship belt. It was a beautifully crafted, one-time special edition crown, which features the Dallas Cowboys famous blue star and Top Rank’s logo including pictures of the combatants - Pacquiao & Margarito. The young Sulaiman congratulated Mr. Kuntz for the decision of licensing Antonio Margarito and doing the right thing for boxing. “This fight is not about steroid testing or hand wrapping. This fight is about two heroes. One fighting for the Philippines and the other for Mexico,” added Sulaiman.

During the WBC belt presentation, Pacquiao playfully showed he was unwilling to give back the belt and motioned as if he were to keep it (for now), much to the amusement of the crowd. Margarito’s serious face showed he wanted the belt badly hence he will have to give a good fight for it this coming November 13. Margarito was humorless during the face off while Pacquiao managed to burst in laughter and smiled at his opponent. Everyone present was thrilled for this big event. Fans of the Mexican Margarito chanted – “Me-hee-co, Me-hee-co” and “Si se puede.” (Mexico, Mexico and Yes you can!) Some loud boos came from the other side of the venue.

Jerry Jones, the Texas billionaire and owner of the Dallas Cowboys, after being presented with a WBC trophy of a golden fist, mentioned that memorabilia of Pacquiao’s previous Dallas fight and new ones will be made readily available for everyone to see in the coming days leading up to the big event. It will have a special place at the Cowboy’s Stadium, which is being planned to fill with 70,000 people or more for such a big boxing event. Margarito is a Hispanic fan favorite while Pacquiao has achieved world wide boxing iconic status and could easily be added as an all time great, hence, the organizers feel this could break existing records.

DuBoef introduced three-time welterweight world champion Margarito as setting the highest attendance in an event at L.A.’s Staple Center at 21,000 people hence he deserved to fight Pacquiao. “Margarito wanted to fight everybody. Oscar De La Hoya, Winky Wright, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. wanted nothing to do with him (Margarito)…even when millions of dollars were offered to them,” he added.

Team Margarito voiced out their opinions of the fight. “Jerry Jones might have to build a new stadium because the Tijuana Tornado Margarito is coming with everything and he will do major destructions come November 13,” stressed his manager Francisco Espinoza. Roberto Garcia, Margarito’s trainer, articulated that Manny Pacquiao would receive a beating from his ward. “For now, Team Pacquiao is the enemy and there will be a war,” Garcia vowed.

Team Pacquiao was introduced next to include Atty. Franklin “Jeng” Gacal, Pacquiao’s Chief of Staff in Congress, special adviser from Canada Mike Koncz and finally Freddie Roach who himself has become a world wide celebrity, getting the most applause from the audience. The legendary trainer Roach said it clearly, “It’s going to be a big fight in a big house. I do believe that the tornado will be downsized to a tropical storm.” The crowd roared in laughter and most present, especially the Filipino boxing fans, applauded him.

Antonio Margarito spoke Mexican at the podium and was received with mixed reactions – boos and clapping. With Top Rank’s publicist Ricardo Jimenez interpreting, he said, “Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter but I will bring the WBC Belt back to Mexico.” His fans were the loudest and cheered wildly for him.
Before Todd Duboef introduced the boxing Congressman from Sarangani Manny Pacquiao, he told a story what the PacMan had said when asked why he (Pacquiao) chose to fight Antonio Margarito at this time. Pacquiao believes in himself and told the media, “He (Margarito) is an aggressive fighter. I like his style. And, he will make me look good!”

Finally, when it was his turn at the podium, Manny Pacquiao simply thanked everyone for coming and for their support including Jerry Jones, HBO, Top Rank, Media, Team Margarito and most of all - the boxing fans. He assured that everyone would be happy watching the event, and that it will be a great night for boxing.

The usual presscon routine followed with the fighters measuring & facing each other. After which, media was provided opportunity to have interviews with each fighter whether for print or broadcast. Pacquiao and Margarito then went to their respective fans for meet & greet including autograph signing with picture taking.

Final note: Before entering the venue, this writer had a chance to talk to McAllen, Texas Imperial Ed Promotions President Ed Lozano who had flyers and invitations for events in September 17 & 18, where Manny Pacquiao was going to be present. Gran Cena Mexicana (Dinner) at McAllen Convention Center on September 17 at 8 pm then a fight card in September 18 at the State Farm Arena. Pacquiao confirmed his attendance to this writer. Hope to see you there! Pacquiao vs Margarito

source

Pacquiao to face his biggest opponent in 15 years of his career

2010-09-03T23:17:00.000-07:00

November 13 is the date to remember if you talk about boxing, as Manny Pacquiao meet Antonio Margarito at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium for the vacant WBC super welterweight championship title. The Filipino boxing champ will be facing his biggest opponent in 15 years of his professional boxing career. Manny Pacquiao only stands 5'6.5" tall while his Mexican-American counter stands 5'11" an advantage that Margarito could enjoy during their fight. Margarito has also a reach advantage of 73" against Pacquiao's 67" inches. However, Pacquiao remains the favorite to win this year's biggest boxing event despite Magarito's huge advantage in height and reach.

"In my 15 years of professional boxing, I will be fighting in my heaviest weight and for the first time I will try and hope to win in this new weight division", Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao is a seven times world Champions in seven different weight classes, a feat that only Pacquiao did. If Pacquiao win in this super welterweight division fight, he will solidify his supremacy in boxing along with the elite members of boxing's Hall of Fame.

Pacquiao and his entourage have just joined Antonio Margarito and his team in New York for the second leg of his press tour.

On Friday they will proceed to Texas for the last leg of the promotional tour. Pacquiao will fly to Los Angeles before going back to Manila to attend to his congressional duties as a neophyte congressman.

The reigning WBO welterweight champion will start training September 20 with his trainer Freddie Roach who is flying to Manila shortly to prepare for Pacquiao's rigorous training.

Pacquiao vs Margarito is on November 13, 2010. Don't miss to watch it live via ppv.

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Pacquiao vs Margarito set on November

2010-08-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

Pacquiao vs Margarito set in November.

Manny Pacquiao will fight Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 for a vacant super welterweight championship, either in Las Vegas if Margarito can get licensed or in Monterrey, Mexico, if he can’t, promoter Bob Arum said.

That ends any possibility of a match between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., the top two boxers in the world, for 2010.

Arum said he decided to choose Margarito instead of Miguel Cotto, whom Pacquiao stopped in the 12th round in November, because it would be perceived as a more competitive bout. The bout will be offered on HBO Pay-Per-View.

“Cotto was beaten and even with [Hall of Fame trainer] Emanuel Steward now with him, I don’t think people believe that it’s enough to make a difference and I’m not sure they would buy it as competitive,” Arum said by telephone from his vacation home in Los Angeles. “But putting aside the controversy about the wraps, the one thing you know for sure with a Margarito fight is that it will be a hell of a fight for however long it lasts.

“Margarito knows only one way to fight and that’s coming forward. They’re going to get in there and fight. That’s what people want to see.”

Margarito’s hand-wrap controversy is no minor matter, however. He was caught with a hardened substance in his knuckle pad prior to a Jan. 24, 2009, fight in California against Shane Mosley.

He was forced to re-wrap his hands and was knocked out in the ninth round by Mosley. In February 2009, he was suspended for a year by the California State Athletic Commission.

He fought once since the Mosley fight, winning a lackluster unanimous decision over Roberto Garcia.

He applied for a license in Nevada on July 9, but by a 4-1 vote, the Nevada Athletic Commission tabled the matter and told Margarito to return to California. Arum said Margarito will file paperwork with California on Monday.

If Nevada grants Margarito a license, Arum said the fight would be in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. If not, it is all but certain to wind up at a 22,000-seat arena in Monterrey, Mexico, though a group from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is also bidding for the fight.

Skip Avansino, a member of the Nevada commission, said he thinks California regulators should consider it first, even though Margarito doesn’t plan to fight there. The California commission knows the matter best, Avansino said.

Avansino wasn’t willing to speculate what would occur if California were to decline taking up his request, given he doesn’t have a fight planned in the state.

“He certainly deserves a decision,” Avansino said. “I don’t know what procedures California will consider in connection with his reapplication. I would think that they would consider his application appropriately, just as we would, but I would want to wait until I see what California decides.”

Avansino said he wouldn’t be swayed by the huge economic impact the fight would have upon the depressed Las Vegas economy.

Pacquiao is a huge draw in Las Vegas and is one of the few boxers who attracts high-rolling Asian gamblers, who play $25,000-a-hand blackjack as well as baccarat. Las Vegas casinos had their best night in two years Nov. 14, 2009, when Pacquiao fought Cotto, because of the large influx of high-rollers who flooded Las Vegas, according to analysis by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

“I’m mindful of the economic conditions in the state of Nevada and I understand them well,” Avansino said. “I have every interest to improve and help improve the economy in this state. But as a commission, my responsibility is to protect the health and safety of those who compete in our state and to uphold the integrity of the sport. That’s my primary responsibility.”

The match would be for the World Boxing Council super welterweight championship. If Pacquiao wins it, it would be either the seventh or eighth division in which he has held a title, depending upon how it is calculated.

He has won sanctioning body titles at 112, 122, 130, 135, 140 and 147 pounds. At 126 pounds, he beat Marco Antonio Barrera, who was the linear champion. But Barrera had surrendered all of his sanctioning body titles by the time he fought Pacquiao, though he had not been beaten.

Source

Floyd Mayweather hints he will face Manny Pacquiao

2010-06-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

Undefeated American boxer and Yahoo Sports' pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr (41-0) gave the biggest hint yet that a super-fight with Filipino boxer and Ring Magazine's pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2) will be made in November of this year.

Together with rapper 50 Cent, Mayweather disclosed a rap album compilation project that he is working on together with the New York-based rapper, in a recent interview with MTV News.

50 Cent stated that the hip hop album will be released later this year, around the same timeframe of the biggest fight in boxing history.

With that statement, Mayweather chimed in, affirming that the end of the year bout would indeed be the biggest fight in the history of the sport.

The two suggested that by promoting the album around the same timeframe of the superfight, that the massive publicity from boxing would help increase hype - and sales - of the hip hop compilation.

Neither 50 Cent nor Floyd Mayweather would provide any additional details about the album.

The boxer's comment regarding "the biggest fight in the history of the sport" prompted 50 Cent to joke that the two would make so much money they would have to bring in trucks in order to load piles of cash.

Mayweather recently attended game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

via examiner.com

De la Hoya: Pacquiao-Mayweather almost a done deal

2010-06-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya spilled the beans on the confidential negotiations for the super showdown between top pound-for-pound fighters Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

In an interview with Spanish broadcasting network Univision, de la Hoya said they are “very close in finalizing the contracts that were once very complicated.”

“I think right now we are very, very close in finalizing the contracts. I can't talk right now in detail about the negotiations but I will say that we are very close,” de la Hoya was quoted by TheBoxingTruth.com.

The negotiations are being done by Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank, Inc. big boss Bob Arum, and Mayweather’s representative, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

“Up until now, it's been a very difficult negotiation process for various reasons but right now we're very close,” added de la Hoya.
Seven-division world champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

Pacquiao and Mayweather were supposed to face off last March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. But fight talks collapsed because the boxers disagreed on the drug testing protocol

Pacquiao refused to undergo the Olympic-style drug testing procedure, but reversed his stand as long as the blood test would be conducted 14 days before the fight.

Mayweather, who had been silent since Pacquiao’s agreement to undergo blood testing, then made waves with his pronouncement that he would be taking a break from boxing.

Despite this, Arum said the Pacquiao-Mayweather blockbuster bout was still in the cards.

“The two fighters now realize that this fight must be made. It has to be made because the boxing fans want to see it happen and right now it's the biggest fight that can be made in the world,” continued de la Hoya.

The Mexican-American boxing legend, who suffered his last 2 career losses to Mayweather and Pacquiao, stated: “It's going to be a big, big fight!”

The Ball Is Back In Mayweather's Court; Manny Says OK To 14 Day Window

2010-05-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

By Michael Woods

Never before has boxing had so much in common. Hurdles, here, there and everywhere...

The main hurdle to making the November 13 Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather has seemingly been traversed, as the Congressman from Sarangani province said, hard and fast, that he is open to undergoing random drug testing--via analysis of blood and/or urine--14 days before the fight.

This is according to the Manilla Bulletin, which quoted Pacquaio as saying, “As long as they’re not getting a large amount of blood, I am willing to give out blood as close to two weeks before the fight.”

TSS you'll notice has chosen to use the word "seemingly," since it'll be up to Team Mayweather, led by Al Haymon and Floyd Mayweather, with Richard Schaefer acting as emissary, along with Leonard Ellerbe, during negotiations with Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum, to sign on the testing protocol. In the previous stage of negotiations, held in December and January, Team Mayweather was holding to the stance that they want Pacquiao to be amenable to a blood test as close to two days before any bout. Pacquiao had countered that he feels excessively weakened when blood is taken from him. He said he felt drained when a large quantity was taken for testing before his March 2005 clash with Erik Morales, a UD12 loss. Was the weakness in his head? Or is it a matter of superstition? That explanation for the 2005 loss didn't loom large in the US five years ago, though it did draw press in the Phillipines, and only truly emerged as an issue during the first failed rounds of talks. Pacquiao fans embrace, by and large, his stance on blood loss, while doubters see his fear of blood loss as a masking agent for another motivation to refuse bloodwork too close to a fight. The blood matter can only be asked and answered by Manny and seems destined to be one of those unanswerable deals, where backers and doubters can find no common ground.

Right before the last negotiations dissolved, Team Mayweather said they'd be OK with a drug test 14 days before the fight. Crucially, the Mayweather crew said, the test did not have to be a blood test. Pacquiao wanted to shut the blood testing window at 24 days out from the tussle, though he agreed to have his urine tested, with no limitations. (Though Floyd fans point to the fact that there isn't a fully reliable urine test to detect HGH...) Ten days difference in testing dates seemingly were THE reason why a $100 million clash wasn't going down. Those were the terms in early January; have the goalposts been moved since then? Hard to tell, since this round of dealmaking has been held outside the glare of us keyboard tappers. Top Rank reps were in New York on Wednesday, TR reps said they were not at liberty to disclose the location of Top Rank chief Bob Arum. Might he be holed up somewhere with Schaefer, finalizing terms for a Nov. 13 mega-clash? One could easily surmise that...

source bleacherreport.com

Talks to resume anew for Pacquiao-Mayweather mega fight

2010-05-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK—Manny Pacquiao may soon turn his attention from campaigning for Congress to negotiating the details on the richest fight in boxing history.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, told The Associated Press on Monday that discussions could begin as early as Tuesday for a bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr., once results are in from the Philippine elections. Pacquiao is running for Congress for the second time.

The matchup involving boxing’s two most high-profile fighters was discussed at length earlier this year, but negotiations fell apart when the sides could not agree on drug testing protocol.
Both took different fights, with Pacquiao soundly beating Joshua Clottey at the new Cowboys Stadium near Dallas, and Mayweather routing welterweight champion Shane Mosley in Las Vegas.

“I think the fight will happen," said Roach, who was in New York with another of his fighters, Amir Khan, who defends his junior welterweight title against Paulie Malignaggi on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

“It will probably be November, maybe October," Roach added. “November’s not a great pay-per-view month, but I think it will happen."

Roach wouldn’t say whether Pacquiao would budge on the drug testing dilemma. Mayweather has said that every fight he takes, beginning with Mosley, will include Olympic-style blood testing along with the typical urine tests required by most athletic commissions. That means the fighters could have blood drawn in the days leading up to the fight.

Pacquiao believes giving blood makes him weak and refused to do so within 24 days of a fight.

“If Manny Pacquiao can take a blood and urine test then we have a fight," Mayweather said shortly after his victory May 1. “If not, no fight."

Both fighters months ago agreed to what is usually the major sticking point in negotiations with a deal to split the proceeds evenly. That may not happen the second time around, though, depending on how the pay-per-view numbers shake out from their other bouts. Pacquiao-Clottey generated about 700,000 buys while Mayweather-Mosley is expected to be over 1.1 million.

That could give some additional leverage to Mayweather, even though his opponent was much better known. Other than the stadium venue, Pacquiao was the only real draw in his bout.
One thing that won’t become an issue is Pacquiao’s potential duties in Congress.

“When he fights they close down Parliament and all the terrorists call for a peace," Roach said, only half jokingly. “It’s not going to change anything. They’ll just announce him as Congressman Manny Pacquiao, that’s all."

Roach had been receiving constant updates from promoter Bob Arum, who spent the last few days before the election in the Philippines. Roach said early returns show Pacquiao “winning in a landslide" against 61-year-old Roy Chiongbian, who comes from a politically powerful family.

Computer problems and campaign-related violence, which has killed more than 30 people in the past three months, were the main concerns in the voting. Official hope the results set a new standard for the country’s fragile democracy, where government corruption is common.
“He wants change," Roach said of Pacquiao, who lost decisively in his first attempt at politics. “I think it’s genuine. People see that he wants to help his country, and that’s why they’re voting. That’s why they support him." - AP

source

Watch Mayweather vs Mosley live stream free online ppv

2010-05-01T04:42:00.000-07:00

Who are you picking? is the biggest question that boxing fans around the world is asking while waiting for the most anticipated event of the year, the Mayweather vs Mosley fight. Floyd Mayweather Jr. will face Shane Mosley in a fight that is labeled as the Fight of the Year. Mayweather is still undefeated and winning against Mosley will solidify his him in the position as the pound-for-pound king. And thought he won against Marquez in his comeback fight a lot of people still doubt if he does fit for the title as the pound-for-pound king. Meanwhile, Mosley will try to defend his welterweight title and the same time aiming to give Mayweather his first loss.

Will Mosley the first boxer to give Mayweather his lost? Just watch Mayweather vs Mosley live streaming on May 1, 2010 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.

Mayweather Mosley Undercard Announced

2010-04-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

Before Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Sugar Shane Mosley heat up the Las Vegas night in their Saturday, May 1 mega-fight, some of the top contenders in boxing today will enter the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and warm up fans in attendance and those watching at home on the “Who R U Picking: Mayweather vs. Mosley” televised pay-per-view undercard..

In welterweight action, 19-year-old Mexican prodigy Saul “Canelo” Alvarez puts his unbeaten record on the line against veteran contender Jose Miguel Cotto in a 10-round bout, former World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon and Cornelius Lock will face off in a 10-round featherweight match-up, while Argentinean power puncher Hector David Saldivia takes on Las Vegas native Said Ouali in a 10-round welterweight fight.

Boxing superstar and six-time World Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather and welterweight mega-star, five-time World Champion and current WBA Welterweight World Champion Sugar Shane Mosley, are set to meet Saturday, May 1 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a spectacular bout which will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

The event, promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions, and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T, Dewalt Tools and StubHub, promises to be a spectacular display of talent and skill with Mayweather and Mosley meeting in a 12-round welterweight battle that is already being compared to other great and historic welterweight match-ups such as Sugar Ray Leonard against Tommy Hearns and Oscar de la Hoya against Felix Trinidad.

Tickets, priced at $1,250, $1,000, $600, $300 and $150 not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and limited to 10 per person and ticket sales at $150 are limited to two (2) per person with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Unbeaten in 32 pro fights, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (31-0-1, 23 KOs) has quickly developed a tremendous fan base and is rapidly moving in on a world title shot. With the NABF, WBO Latino, WBC Youth and WBA Fedecentro welterweight title belts already in his trophy case, it’s clear that the Mexican phenom is ready for the big time. Currently ranked fourth in the world by the WBC and WBO, Alvarez must first turn back the challenge of his toughest test to date, Jose Miguel Cotto, before moving closer to his dream of a world title shot.

The brother of boxing superstar Miguel Cotto, Jose Miguel Cotto (31-1-1, 23 KOs) is carving out his own niche in the fight game with an exciting style and a veteran’s savvy. A 1996 Puerto Rican Olympian, the Caguas native is unbeaten in five fights since his hard-fought decision loss to Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz in a 2006 lightweight world title bout. Now fighting at 147 pounds, the 32-year-old feels that now is the time to shine and wants to prove it against Alvarez on May 1.

Known for his knockout power and warrior’s heart, former Junior Featherweight World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon (38-2, 32 KOs) has reinvented himself as a featherweight contender and with wins over Marlon “Rata” Aguilar, Roinet Caballero and Orlando “El Fenomeno” Cruz in his new weight class. A May 1 victory over the crafty Cornelius Lock should put him on a fast track to becoming a two-division world champion.

Winner of three of his last four bouts, including victories over 14-0 Juan Garcia, 27-1 Roger “Speedy” Gonzalez and 16-0-1 Orlando “El Fenomeno” Cruz, Detroit’s Cornelius Lock (19-4-1, 12 KOs) is rapidly becoming a fighter opposing pugilists definitely don’t want to see across the ring from them on fight night. The 31–year-old southpaw plans on spoiling Daniel Ponce De Leon’s night this May.

Ranked fourth in the world by the WBA, Argentinean warrior Hector David Saldivia (33-1, 26 KOs) has been making waves in the welterweight division for the last two years. Winner of the WBA Fedelatin title, he has defeated the likes of Omar “Tito” Weis, Ricardo Cano, Daudy Bahari and Luis Rodriguez. On May 1, “El Tigre” makes his United States debut against Said Ouali.

A native of Morocco now fighting out of Las Vegas, Said Ouali (26-3, 18 KOs) gets a chance to perform in front of his adopted hometown crowd on May 1 when he takes on Argentina’s Hector David Saldivia. Winner of 12 of his last 13 bouts, this southpaw standout who is ranked number five in the world by the WBA is well aware that he can catapult himself even higher up in the 147-pound rankings with a victory over Saldivia.

The Mayweather vs. Mosley pay-per-view telecast, which begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $54.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mayweather vs. Mosley fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

HBO's fast-moving reality series “24/7 Mayweather/Mosley” returns with an all new episode on Saturday, April 17 at 9:30 pm ET/6:30pm PT. The four-episode series chronicles the preparations and back stories of both fighters as they train for their May 1 pay-per-view showdown. Episode one is available on HBO ON DEMAND.

source eastside boxing

Mayweather vs Mosley: Face Off

2010-03-23T22:36:00.000-07:00

Prior to the upcoming Mayweather vs Mosley boxing fight on May 1,2010, HBO releases its latest video entitled "Face Off", a Mayweather vs Mosley promotional fight video featuring Mayweather and Mosley with Max Kellerman. The video talk about Shane Mosley's career with a different manager and triner and Mayweather obsession on his undefeated record.

Watch the video below for more stories.

Pacquiao vs Clottey video torrent download

2010-03-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

Have you missed the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey last March 13? If so, then no problem, below is the download links of the Pacquiao vs Clottey fight video.
Enjoy downloading and watching!

Megaupload 1
File Type: avi
File size: 698.84 MB
78mins/HBO Version/Includes entrances and post fight.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HBB9CM0W

Megaupload 2
File Type: avi
File size: 721.15 MB
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=S8X3E2LB

Torrent 1
File Size: 871.62 MB
http://www.demonoid.com/files/download/2171330/775222

Torrent 2
File Type: mp4
File Size: 348 MB
http://isohunt.com/download/158890153/pacquiao+clottey.torrent

Torrent 3
Video: H.264 codec | Main Profile | Level 4.0 | 1280×720p | 9000 kbps | 59.94 FPS
Audio : AC3 Stereo | 384 kbps
File Size: 5.73 GB
Download from http://torrents.thepiratebay.org/5434960/Manny_Pacquiao_vs_Joshua_Clottey.5434960.TPB.torrent

Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey video replay highlight

2010-03-14T16:22:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao won against Joshua Clottey via unanimous decision.

Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey video replay highlight below

Pacquiao vs Clottey result - Pacquiao dominates Clottey

2010-03-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao dominates Clottey in front of 50,994

ARLINGTON, Texas – Joshua Clottey may have been bigger, but that was his only edge on Saturday. Manny Pacquiao clearly outworked Clottey, outpunching him 4, 5 and even 6 to 1 at times, in winning a wide decision before a standing room only crowd of 50,994 at Cowboys Stadium.

Pacquiao punished Clottey with combinations to the body throughout in winning the unanimous decision to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight title and his status as the world’s finest boxer.

It was no contest, as Clottey simply kept his guard high and rarely threw punches. According to CompuBox, Pacquiao landed 246 of 1,231 punches. Clottey connected on just 108 of 399.

Pacquiao took advantage by using his blazing hand speed to rip through Clottey’s gloves and land hard, punishing shots.

He made the former champion wince several times as he fired off hard combinations at Clottey’s midsection.

Despite the exhortations in the corner of trainer Lenny DeJesus, Clottey never opened up and fought aggressively. He was backed up all night and, except for an occasional shot, never did much to Pacquiao.

It was another virtuoso performance for the Filipino superstar, who has won titles or has claimed the linear championship in seven different weight classes. Pacquiao is on a collision course with unbeaten rival Floyd Mayweather Jr., who fights Shane Mosley on May 1.

According to CompuBox, Pacquiao outpunched Clottey 1,239 to 399 and outlanded him 246-108.

Source YahooSports

2010-03-13T22:01:00.001-08:00

Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey online live stream free on PPV

2010-03-13T10:50:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao will once again show us why he is the pound-for-pound king of boxing this days when he face Joshua Clottey of Ghana inside the ring this coming March 13, 2010. Pacquiao vs Clottey fight is one of the most awaited fight in boxing today after the Pacquiao vs Mayweather mega-fight has been stripped out. Pacquiao and Clottey has agreed to fight in 147lbs., and of course with a millions of dollar is also at stake.

Who will win? Just watch Pacquiao vs Clottey live stream free online on the internet via PPV as it kick off on March 13 at Dallas Stadium.

Manny Pacquiao was originally slated to fight Floyd Mayweather jr. but both camp back out because of they didn't reached an agreement on the demand of Mayweather of Olympic style drug testing. AfterPacquiao vs Mayweather failed to materialized Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter immediately find replacement to Mayweather in the March 13 fight. And it was Joshua Clottey who agreed to fight Manny Pacquiao.

Manny Pacquiao vs Joshua Clottey Tale of the Tape:

Manny Pacquiao
Age: 30
Division: Light welterweight
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 169cm
Reach: 170cm
Record: 50W (KO 38) - 3L (KO 2) - 2D
Rounds boxed: 305
KO%: 69.09%

Joshua Clottey
Age: 32
Division: Welterweight
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 173cm
Reach: 178cm
Record: 35W (KO 20) - 3L (KO 2) - 0D
Rounds boxed: 248
KO%: 51.28%

Diaz vs Sotto on Pacquiao vs Clottey fight

2010-03-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

Once KO'd by Manny Pacquiao, Diaz Battles Soto For WBC Crown

ARLINGTON, Texas -- On the evening of May 5, 2009, Manny Pacquiao was sitting in the dressing room following his ferocious, second-round knockout of England's Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

Suddenly, Pacquiao's cell phone rang.

The call was from David Diaz (pictured above, at right, with Humberto Soto), the man whom Pacquiao had dethroned with a ninth-round in June 2008 to earn the WBC lightweight (135 pounds) title.

Diaz was phoning to thank Pacquiao for the new highlight-reel stoppage of Hatton -- the one he figured would be used in future bouts promoting the Filipino superstar.

In between the stoppages of Diaz and Hatton, Pacquiao had similarly made Oscar De La Hoya remain on his stool between the eighth and ninth rounds.

But De La Hoya quit. He wasn't devastatingly dismantled and dropped like Diaz or Hatton.

And the way Hatton went out, Diaz was confident that Pacquiao's sensational blowout of the Englishman would supplant his own demise at Pacquiao's hands as the replay of record for future HBO highlights.

Diaz was correct.

"I sure did call him, and I told him to stop using my highlight and to start using Ricky Hatton's," said the 33-year-old Diaz, a southpaw who resides in Chicago.

"But this is what we do. We're supposed to sometimes lose and sometimes win," Diaz said. "And sometimes, unfortunately, that means getting knocked out. It just happens. It's my job."

On Saturday night on HBO pay-per-view from Cowboys Stadium, Diaz (35-2-1, 17 knockouts) will get a chance to regain the crown that he lost when he engages in a clash of former world champions with 29-year-old Humberto Soto (50-7-2, 32 KOs) of Tijuana, Mex., for the WBC lightweight belt vacated by Edwin Valero.

"I never thought that I would be a world champion. Now, to be able to be called two-time world champion? That lights a fire under my a** real quick," said Diaz, whose matchup with Soto takes place on the undercard of Pacquiao's defense of his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title against Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs). "That makes me want to go out there and do what I've got to do against the guy who is across the ring from me."

Diaz said that he considers Soto a personal friend, having seen him around at boxing events and during the many times when they have fought on the same cards.

"We have a good camaraderie with each other. A lot of people don't understand the concept that we can go in there and beat each others brains in, and then later on be sharing a Coke or a beer," Diaz said.

"You have to live this life to really grasp it and understand it, and I think that boxers are really good people when you come down to it," Diaz said. "We just work hard and try to have that competitiveness that we want to be good. You just want people to talk about you and say, 'Hey, you had a pretty good fight.'"

Soto has won six consecutive bouts, four of them by knockout, since being disqualified in the fourth round by referee Joe Cortez against Francisco Lorenzo on the Pacquiao-Diaz undercard.

Soto was winning the fight with Lorenzo, but was ruled to have hit him while he was down, resulting in the loss. Soto is coming off of December's 10-round unanimous decision victory over Jesus Chavez.

Now, Soto and Diaz are after the crown left behind by the 28-year-old Valero (27-0, 27 KOs).

Coming off of a Feb. 6, 10th-round knockout of Antonio DeMarco (23-2-1, 17 KOs) of Mexico, Valero is moving up to the junior welterweight (140 pounds) division to take on 26-year-old, Lamont Peterson (27-1, 13 KOs) on a date to be determined -- potentially on April 10 in Las Vegas or in July, according to Top Rank Promotions' CEO Bob Arum and Top Rank matchmaker Carl Moretti.

The first of Saturday night's televised bouts from Cowboys Stadium is a 10-round middleweight (160 pounds) clash between 30-year-old Ireland native John Duddy (28-1, 18 KOs) of New York, and 23-year-old Michael Medina (22-1-2, 17 KOs) of Monterrey, Mex.

Duddy is coming off of his second straight victory since losing last April's 10-round split-decision to Billy Lyell, having stopped Juan Atorga in the first round of his last fight in January.

Medina is coming off of his fourth knockout in his past five fights -- all triumphs -- having knocked out Robert Valenzuela in the first round in February. Medina's last loss was to Vanes Martirosyan in September 2008.

The second featured bout on Saturday night is between 36-year-old former world champion Jose Luis Castillo (60-9-1, 52 KOs) of Sonora, Mex., and 29-year-old Alfonso Gomez (21-4, 10 KOs) of Guadalajara, Mex.

"This is a very big one for me, because this will open the door to get into bigger fights. I'm going to go in there and do my job," Castillo said. "I don't know if I'm going to steal the show or not, but I'm going to go out there and do my job -- definitely."

source fanhouse.com

Pacquiao-Clottey: The People’s Eyebrow

2010-03-11T18:27:00.001-08:00

Prior to the 2001 baseball season, baseball pundits and fans alike could reasonably conclude the following about Barry Bonds:

1.) Barry Bonds was an exceptional baseball player

2.) Barry Bonds was physically achieving what many people thought impossible for someone his age, but as suspect of an achievement as it may have been, it was still explainable and therefore celebratory.

Then, the 2001 season happened. Bonds hit 24 more homers than the previous season and broke Mark McGwire’s single season record. He batted .328 with 137 RBI’s and a slugging pct. of .863, an astounding accomplishment for a 36-year-old. At an age where most players’ statistics begin to plummet, he rewrote the baseball record books.

The 2001 season was so disproportionate to his previous achievements that it served as an “eye brow raiser.” At that time there wasn’t any conclusive evidence linking Bonds to steroids, but when you looked at the numbers, his age and what he achieved, you at least raised an eye brow.

Manny Pacquiao placed a microscope on his achievements this past winter when he declined to accept Floyd Mayweather’s contractual request to submit to Olympic-style random blood testing. Whether you believe Manny is reasonable when he says he feels drained after such tests, the amount of money left on the table for declining such a request is enough to give pause.

Still, all of Manny’s achievements up to this point are explainable and reasonable. Is it suspicious that in March 2008, he was in a war with Juan Manuel Marquez at 130lbs and by November of 2009, he was crushing an established and bigger Miguel Cotto at 145lbs? Sure. But Manny is an exceptional workhorse whose training regime is second to none. Up to this point, his achievements should still be celebrated.

This Saturday, Pacquiao is set to face Joshua Clottey in what could be his “2001 season”. Clottey has never been stopped inside of 12 rounds. He is a much bigger Welterweight than Pacquiao, has a solid chin and is a defense-first boxer. His three losses come from a disqualification, a decision to Antonio Margarito and a very questionable loss to Miguel Cotto.

Yes, Manny Pacquiao is arguably the best boxer, pound for pound, on the planet. His last three wins illustrate a type of streak that is incomparable to any recent fighter. On the surface, this fight should serve no other purpose other than to showcase Pacquiao’s skill set, Dallas’s new venue and help magnify the public’s desire for a fight with Floyd Mayweather. But a closer look at the Pac Man’s last three tornado wins should lead someone to the following three facts:

1) Oscar De La Hoya was not only in the twilight of his career but was physically and mentally drained prior to the start of the fight.

2) Ricky Hatton is not, nor was he ever, an elite boxer. He was a very good fighter whose most notable win was against a much older Kostya Tszyu. In his two opportunities to fight on the grand stage, he was knocked out.

3) Cheaters never prosper, but they sure can hurt you. Miguel Cotto was badly beaten and battered in his 2008 loss to Antonio Margarito, who would later lose his boxing license for tampering with his hand wraps prior to his 2009 fight with Shane Mosley.

This fight with Clottey is an entirely different animal. Clottey is still on the rise, he hasn’t been unceremoniously battered into a pulp like Cotto and he’s not going to drop his hands and engage in a pub fight like Ricky Hatton.

Manny is by far the superior fighter. He has the faster hands, and his pace is likely to frustrate and confuse Clottey. A unanimous decision win for Manny would be nothing more than a stamp on a hall of fame career. However, I cannot help but realize that going into this fight, the following states are relevant:

1.) Manny Pacquiao is an exceptional boxer.

2.) Manny Pacquiao is physically achieving what many people thought was impossible for someone his size, but as suspect of an achievement as it may be, it’s still explainable and therefore celebratory.

Maybe Manny is telling the truth and has absolutely NO idea what a steroid even is. Maybe he’s a once-in-a-lifetime fighter.

As a longtime boxing fan, I know anything can happen in a fight, but then again, a knockout of a very game, very big, very underestimated Clottey on Saturday should at least…be cause to raise an eyebrow. Or two.

Source fighthype.com

Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey weigh in

2010-03-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey fighter weigh in. Before the event day, fighters will undergo weigh-in to determine if they meet the weight required for the fight. As for Pacquiao and Clottey, they should weigh up to 147 lbs, as this was the catch weight that both camp agreed to fight in. Anyone exceed to the required catch weight will be penalized.

The weigh-in usually takes place the day before the fight, sometime in the late afternoon, most likely around 5 or 6:00 PM ET. Fighter weigh-in is also open to the public and it usually take place at the same location where the fight is taking place, so probably Pacquiao vs Clottey weigh-in will take place at Dallas Stadium. Pacquiao vs Clottey fight will be on March 13, 2010.

Boxers disappointed with Pacquiao’s omission

2010-03-10T17:29:00.000-08:00

ABU DHABI // Manny Pacquiao, the first boxer to win world titles in seven weight divisions, should have been nominated for the Laureus Sportsman of the Year, according to two reigning champions.

Amir Khan, Britain’s WBA world light welterweight champion, and Vitali Klitschko, the WBC heavyweight champion, maintained Pacquiao’s absence from the five-strong nominees list left them feeling disappointed.

“Manny is pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world,” said Khan. “I’m very surprised he’s not on the list. In the last few years he’s fought [Juan Manuel] Marquez, Oscar [De la Hoya], Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. He’s had some big fights and I’m surprised he’s not a contender.”

Khan said Pacquiao’s reluctance to embrace celebrity-status beyond his native shores of the Philippines had not helped his cause.

“Few boxers get that level of publicity,” he said. “If it was someone like Floyd Mayweather, who is a bigger name and attraction, then maybe [a nomination would be possible]. But although Manny is huge for what he has done in the game, there is that thing about his image which stops him being massive around the world.”

Klitschko echoed Khan’s view on the Filipino fighter. “Champions like Pacquiao are bringing boxing to another level and the sport needs heroes,” said the Ukraine boxer.

“If I had the chance, as a boxer, I would have voted for Pacquiao, but it was never a situation – he wasn’t on the shortlist. There are a lot of champions around and you can’t give everyone an award. Still, it’s disappointing.”

Laureus’s two-part voting process sees a selection panel of international media compile a shortlist, before Laureus Academy members vote by secret ballot to select the winners.

source thenational.ae

Pacquiao's Final Fight?

2010-03-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

After Manny Pacquiao's dramatic stoppage of Miguel Cotto in November 2009, the scribes of the sweet science proclaimed that boxing had peeled itself off the canvas. Once again, there was a boxer who, like Mike Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya, could command the interest of the general sports fan.

Soon after the Filipino sensation's victory over Mr. Cotto, the public was clamoring to see Mr. Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) and the undefeated, recently unretired Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 knockouts) battle for the unofficial title of best pound-for-pound pugilist on the planet. But boxing has a knack of clobbering itself on the chin.

A couple of months ago, Messrs. Mayweather and Pacquiao were poised to ink contracts when Mr. Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style drug testing. Mr. Pacquiao took umbrage and sued Mr. Mayweather and his promoters for defamation of character. When attempts at mediation failed, the two welterweight giants stomped away from what could have been the biggest payday in boxing history.

Still, Mr. Pacquiao, who has garnered titles in a record seven different weight divisions, was intent on fighting in March, as he is set to begin campaigning for Congress in the Philippines in April. Instead of facing Mr. Mayweather, Mr. Pacquiao will be tapping gloves with Joshua Clottey (35-3, 21 knockouts), the No. 1 welterweight contender from Ghana. The fight, which has already sold more than 38,000 tickets, will take place on Saturday at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Mr. Clottey, who now in lives in New York, began boxing on the streets at age 6 in his hometown of Accra, Ghana. He made it to the quarterfinals of the Commonwealth Games in 1994 and turned professional in 1995. A broad-shouldered man with an endearing smile and laid-back body language, Mr. Clottey is a rugged and highly competent combatant who has the respect of his peers and the boxing press. But the 32-year-old former world champion has yet to win a mega pay-per-view fight. He came close in June 2009, losing a split decision to Mr. Cotto. Many observers believed that Mr. Clottey should have had his hand raised after that bloody 12-round contest, but virtually everyone agreed that he would have won the fight had he brawled with less caution.

After a brisk workout at his Florida gym, the soft-spoken Mr. Clottey gushed: "This fight is a dream come true, I can hardly believe it. I'm so excited. Right now, Manny is the best of the best. He is the man. I know that I can beat him, but I have to fight the whole time. I have to keep busy. But unlike some of the other guys that he has fought, I will not underestimate his power. One punch from him can take you out. So I also have to stay calm and think in there as well as fight." While reasonable enough, that note of caution would land like a punch on elements of Mr. Clottey's boxing braintrust.

In this pivotal contest, Mr. Clottey will be without his trainer, Godwin Dzanie Kotey, who could not get a visa to come to the U.S. Mr. Clottey's veteran cutman, Lenny De Jesus, will work the corner instead and told me: "You have to take risks in there to be a great champion, and that is what Joshua has to learn to do in this fight. I used to work with Manny, and he is not afraid of losing."

While the elite of the elite in boxing have very special powers of concentration and reservoirs of motivation, Mr. Clottey, for all his virtues, has yet to show that he can hit the internal switch, turn his tempo up a notch, and take over a close fight.

Mr. Clottey is quick, coordinated, strong and gritty. While not an overpowering puncher, his blows are fast, direct and flinty. He boasts a solid straight right, which he likes to chase with a left hook to the body. The combination of right uppercut and left hook is also essential to his slugging syntax. Watching Mr. Clottey work out, one gets the impression that his camp believes their man needs to make the Pac Man pay for his hyperaggressive tendencies with hooks to the body.

Freddie Roach, Mr. Pacquiao's famous trainer, assessed his antagonist: "Clottey is a big welterweight [5 feet 8 inches, compared with 5 feet 6½ inches for Mr. Pacquiao]. He is a great fighter. He has good skills. He has some power. He can take a punch. But I have watched a lot of films of him and he is not versatile. He does not move his head. He is easy to hit." For weeks now, Mr. Roach has been saying that "Manny will be the first one to knock Joshua out."

For his part, Mr. Pacquiao says: "The victory is always the most important thing to me. If I get a knockout, it's a bonus. But a knockout has never been a goal for me for any fight." But then he adds, "Freddie has his own opinion on the outcome of the fight with Clottey, and I will try not to disappoint him."

The diminutive dynamo with the impish smile unleashes hellfire in the ring. He seems to delight in the utter destruction of the opponent whom he will hug and praise after the fight.

Mr. Pacquiao, recently voted the Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America, is still improving. In boxing, he who is not busy learning will soon be busy losing. When I asked Mr. Pacquiao what lessons he was working on for this fight, his maestro, Mr. Roach, was quick to answer for him: "Manny has to stay off the ropes and continue to work from his strengths—and that is throwing punches from different angles and to keep moving. . . . Manny's speed is the key to winning any fight. People think I mean the speed of his hands, but what I really mean is the speed of Manny's feet. He has the best footwork in the game."

Mr. Roach, who has Parkinson's probably brought on by too many bouts during his own boxing days, warned that this might be the last time we see his champion in the ring, especially if Mr. Pacquiao wins a seat in Congress. His stellar charge has had a long, tough career. And if Mr. Pacquiao wins and Mr. Mayweather does not quickly agree to terms, Mr. Roach says, "there will be nothing left for Manny to prove." There will only be bales of money.

Source wsj.com

Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey live stream free online PPV

2010-03-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

‘Journey’ Lead Vocalist Arnel Pineda will sing for Pacquiao vs Clottey fight

2010-03-09T17:16:00.000-08:00

Past reports saying Charice will be singing the Philippine National Anthem for the Pacquiao vs Clottey fight this Sunday were proven untrue as the Journey lead vocalist, Arnel Pineda, will be taking the duty of singing the Philippine National Anthem, “Lupang Hinirang” in the upcoming Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey fight. Pineda is a Filipino and was personally invited by the king of the ring, Manny Pacquiao to sing for the Philippines in his next fight.

Arnel Pineda also said he will be arriving at Dallas on Thursday and he is so delightful that finally he can sing for the Pacquiao vs Clottey fight. The famous singer also revealed it was the Manny Pacquiao’s third attempt to invite him, that is why he’s very happy it will finally push through.

The much awaited Manny Pacquiao vs Joshua Clottey fight will be held this Saturday (March 13) – March 14 in Manila at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

You can watch Pacquiao vs Clottey fight Live stream Online on Sunday at selected channels over the internet. If you do not want to watch Pacquiao vs Clottey online free livestream, and you are a Filipino fan, then watch Pacquiao vs Clottey Livestream at the UP Theater, commercial-free straight from the US.

Source: ‘Journey’ Lead Vocalist Arnel Pineda will sing for Pacquiao vs Clottey fight

Sellout expected for Pacquiao-Clottey

2010-03-09T17:05:00.000-08:00

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- Promoter Bob Arum said Tuesday that he doesn't expect the remaining tickets to last for Saturday's Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight at Cowboys Stadium.

"Definitely," Arum said. "It will be sold out."

About 41,000 tickets have been sold, with seating capacity set at 45,000 for the first boxing match at the $1.2 billion stadium. Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title.

Arum said he's eager to hold more fights at the home of the Cowboys, adding that Kelly Pavlik, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and other boxers will be at the fight in hopes of getting to become headliners there.

"I have never had an experience where the venue has played such a paramount role in the promotion," said Arum. "It's helped us sell the tickets, helped us get the publicity. ... Whatever works."

The ring will be on the star logo at the 50-yard line. The world's largest high-definition television screen will loom above, giving people in the worst seats a close-up look at every bead of sweat and drip of blood.

"This is going to be big time," Jones said Tuesday during a conference call with reporters. "I'm going to over-deliver what it means to [fans] to be involved in this stadium. ... That does enhance the competition, help the sport. You're not going to need any incentive to get these fighters to compete."

Having already hosted the NBA All-Star Game, and with the Super Bowl coming in February, Jones wants Cowboys Stadium to be a prime destination for boxing, too.

That's why it was so important for him to get Pacquiao for the debut.

"You don't want to deal with anything but the top," Jones said. "This says everything to have Manny Pacquiao and this competition. It says everything I want."

Jones hopes to pack the high-dollar seats with his running buddies -- all sorts of current and former Cowboys greats, including former coach Jimmy Johnson.

"It's no accident there are going to be many football players here," Jones said. "There is a crossover of interest. That really excites me. I'm not trying to be presumptuous but we all know how popular the NFL is right now. That raises all boats. That's a big thing to me."

If Cowboys Stadium can land two or three big fights per year, as Jones hopes, that would put him in competition with Las Vegas.

But Jones again invoked the "rising tide" notion, believing that the popularity of fights at his building will generate "more interest and more visibility for fighting."

Arum agrees.

"I love Las Vegas, I live in Las Vegas," he said. "But the tickets are limited by the size of the arena and they generally go to the high-rolling casino customers. Here, the sales pitch is about the public. ... You cannot be a major sport if all your big events are in one city where people have to come from all over to attend the event. The Super Bowl wouldn't be as big, in my opinion, if it had to be held in the same city every year."

As for planning the next fight here, stay tuned.

"We want to get this one over first," Arum said. "Once we get this one over ... we'll sit down and plot the future."

Source ESPN Sports

Pacquiao's Sparring Is Becoming Legendary

2010-03-09T16:43:00.000-08:00

Watching two upper-tier fighters/contenders spar while preparing for an upcoming fight is the highlight of any activity in a boxing gym. Sparring was my favorite part of training back in the day. So much so, that on the days I didn't spar I felt as though my workout was incomplete and was one day further away from getting to where I wanted to be. There's only one way for a fighter to improve and that is for him to spar and fight.

The most intense sparring I've ever witnessed was between former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champ, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, and former light heavyweight contender Jerry "The Bull" Martin in the early eighties. The closet parallel I can make to describe the rounds they logged is to suggest imagining Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez weighing 185 pounds wearing training gloves and head gear while going at it five or six rounds a day. I would've paid to see them spar each other every day of the week if that's what it took just to have the pleasure of watching them work together.

When it comes to sparring, I've never read nor have I had it conveyed to me by any fighters or trainers stories like the ones that surface about Manny Pacquiao's sparring. Has anyone reading this ever heard of Pacquiao getting his butt kicked in the gym even once? Or heard of someone who has even held their own with him? If it's happened during the last four or five years, it seldom has surfaced. Yet there's a flood of reports pertaining to his sparring on a daily basis after almost every workout. And that's nowhere near the case pertaining to Paul Williams, Floyd Mayweather, Edwin Valero, Chad Dawson or either of the Klitschko brothers when they train and spar in preparation for a big fight.

Pacquiao's legendary sparring further illustrates just how much he truly loves to fight. It's rather apparent that Manny brings the same kind of passion and joy to his sparring sessions that he seems to bring to every aspect of boxing -- and he genuinely seems to be a man who loves what he's doing for a living.

Earlier this week Pacquiao said, “I am ready to rumble (referencing to his March 13th bout with Joshua Clottey). I can’t wait to get into the ring. I am feeling very good and I am excited to put on a memorable show for the boxing fans. I want to make them happy again.”

Pacquiao reiterating that he wants to put on a good fight for the fans no doubt endears him to them a lot, and I believe that he means it to a point. But more than that Pacquiao projects from his deeds in the ring that he really loves ring combat and can't wait to glove up on fight night, in much the same way Roberto Duran and "Smokin" Joe Frazier did. I'm sure there may be a few reading this and saying to themselves that I forgot about Mike Tyson... and they'd be wrong.

Tyson had a presence about him that projected he couldn't wait for the bell to start the fight, and when he was having his way with his opponent he looked as if he loved being inside the ring. However, when Mike was met with resistance like he was when he fought Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, he wasn't nearly as willing and stopped letting his hands go and began thinking about possibly losing leading to him being more measured offensively.

That's the polar opposite of Duran and Frazier who actually got stronger and became more confident and willing as the fight got tougher and intensified. And Pacquiao is cut from the same cloth as they were and relishes the joy of physical combat. In his previous two fights against Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, both tried to bring it to him only to realize they were confronted by what must've seemed like a school of piranha who raised them one.

Hatton tried to jump on him early hoping to assert himself physically, and was met by a buzzsaw who made him pay for his deed. Cotto, after seeing what happened to Hatton, tried to go about it a little more measured. When Miguel felt Pacquiao was stepping back to reset, he tried to impose himself physically and not only did Manny oblige him to do so, he let him have a few free shots at his body and literally fed off of Cotto not doing any real damage when he landed with his Sunday left-hook in succession.

For his WBO title defense against Clottey, it's been reported in several Philippine newspapers that Pacquiao has worked with Jamie Kavanagh, Mike Dallas, Dave Rodela, Ray Beltran, Shawn Porter, Jose Benavidez, Abdullay Amidu and Steve Forbes as his spar-mates. Forget what their records are, they're all in good shape physically and present him with something unique. Some are small and quick, others are a little bigger and more physical and present varying styles. And the reports coming out of Pacquiao's training camp all indicate that he's had his way with every one of them. And it seems as the fights gets closer Pacquiao is looking better every time out and is once again peaking at the right time. Which confirms that team Pacquiao knows exactly how to get the most out of it's sparring work as they ready Manny for his upcoming bouts.

Maybe because we're in the midst of a media explosion and almost everything is on YouTube, at least for a little while before it's taken down, Pacquiao's sparring as he prepares for his major bouts have drawn a lot of attention, more so than any fighter in recent memory.

Source thesweetscience.com

Pacquiao and Mayweather: One Bout Away from the Big One?

2010-03-09T16:34:00.000-08:00

It is 7:13 a.m. in Los Angeles and Manny Pacquiao, the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, is jogging on a public high school track. There are palm trees in the distance, and the low hum of traffic on I-10 is starting to turn into a low roar as the Filipino boxer, clad in a red tracksuit, dashes around the dirt oval despite a painful shin splint. A handful of early-arriving students hang on the chain-link fence surrounding the track and watch him do his work. The Pac-Man is preparing for his March 13 fight against Joshua Clottey, a dangerous but relatively unknown welterweight from Ghana. The $49.95 pay-per-view fight is billed as "The Event" but could easily be called "The Letdown."
Just three months ago, boxing was preparing for its version of the Super Bowl. Fresh from his mega-fight win over Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao had begun negotiations with Floyd Mayweather Jr., a brash welterweight whom non-sports fans know best from his appearance on Dancing with the Stars. The proposed battle was being compared to some of the greatest matchups in boxing history. Even people who had given up on boxing or hadn't really thought about it much were talking about the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, which would probably earn each boxer $40 million, the most lucrative match ever. (See pictures of Manny Pacquiao's boxing career.)
But negotiations became so acrimonious that they descended to the level of bad soap opera. Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style random blood testing, which Pacquiao refused, saying that drug-testing rules should be decided by boxing commissions, not individual fighters. Though suspicions were raised that Pacquiao was on some sort of performance-enhancing drug, the Filipino boxer — who has won an unprecedented seven belts in seven weight classes, putting on 40 lb. throughout his career — has never tested positive for banned drugs. He says he is willing to submit to random urine testing. (See pictures of Olympic athletes' tattoos.)
Pacquiao's camp says the boxer refused the blood testing because he is superstitious and doesn't want to give blood so close to fight time. He was blood-tested a couple of days before his fight with Erik Morales, and lost. "It made me weak," says Pacquiao, who is suing Mayweather for sullying his reputation. There is speculation in some boxing gyms that Mayweather knew about Pacquiao's aversion to pre-fight blood testing and used it as a tactic to duck him. But Mayweather insists that he simply wants to reform the sport's drug policies. "I am taking a stand," he says, adding, "I should get to choose who I want to fight." But by allowing the negotiations to collapse, Pacquiao and Mayweather quickly became defined as the boxers who wouldn't fight each other. "I think Floyd is scared of Manny," says Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer. "I think the public is disgusted by the controversy, but they still want the fight to happen." (See "The Meaning and Mythos of Manny Pacquiao.")
To fill the vacuum and assuage dissatisfaction, each boxer decided to take on formidable interim opponents. Pacquiao will fight Clottey, and Mayweather will battle "Sugar" Shane Mosley on May 1. The hope is that if Pacquiao and Mayweather both win their respective fights, they will work out their differences and fight in the fall. "My nails are going to be bitten down to the bone waiting until May 2," says Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, which is hoping to televise the Pacquiao-Mayweather spectacle.

From: Pacquiao and Mayweather: One Bout Away from the Big One?

Bet $800 on Pacquiao victory, win just $100

2010-03-08T17:02:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD—It’s easy to see why Filipino ring superstar Manny Pacquiao exudes confidence just six days before he tangles with Ghanaian challenger Joshua Clottey.

Unlike before, Pacquiao has been training at the Wild Card Gym here on a full stomach.

“Kain ng kain (I keep on eating),” Pacquiao told Manila-based sportswriters Sunday in his unit at the gated Palazzo residences here. “Sobra-sobra pa (And I had a lot more).”

No wonder, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has lavished superlatives on his favorite ward’s training form.

Boxing writers, observers, photographers and visitors gushed at the way Pacquiao has toyed with experienced sparmates and sweated it out for over two hours each day.

And betting odds only underscore Pacquiao’s seeming invincibility going into the World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

According to bookmakers, Pacquiao is now at minus-800 and Clottey at plus-550.

It means that an $800 bet on a Pacquiao victory will earn just $100 while a $100 bet on a Clottey win will yield $550.

An attractive proposition is in the “will go” the distance (minus-180) and “won’t go” the distance (plus-140) betting.

If the bout lasts less than 9½ rounds, a $100 “won’t go” bet will earn $140. A “will go” bet of $180 will net just $100.

Pacquiao’s speed, power and strategy have so impressed Roach that the trainer said he expects the Filipino superstar to inflict Clottey’s first knockout defeat.

Because it was Sunday here, Pacquiao took a break and attended to his spiritual obligation. He heard Mass and skipped road work.

“Okay na, ready na,” said Pacquiao, who continues to evade questions regarding the outcome of the pay-per-view tussle. “Good luck to both of us.”

The seven-division world champion closes training camp Monday morning with four rounds of sparring against Raymundo Beltran at Wild Card.

Team Pacquiao will take the three-hour flight to Dallas on a chartered plane along with an entourage of some 150 people.

Clottey’s team flew to Dallas on a commercial flight Sunday.

Source inquirer.net

Pacquiao warned of Clottey's dirty tactics

2010-03-08T16:48:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - What makes Joshua Clottey a dangerous opponent for Manny Pacquiao is his unpredictability as a dirty fighter.

How Pacquiao will cope with Clottey’s low blows, headbutting, holding and lacing is a big question mark since the Filipino icon has experienced difficulty handling rule-breakers in the past. Clottey’s headbutting is a major concern.

He repeatedly banged heads with Argentina’s Carlos Baldomir in 1999 and was disqualified in the 11th round.

In 2005, Clottey butted Steve Martinez so badly that referee Wayne Hedgpeth was forced to stop their fight in the second round and declared it a no-contest.

In 2007, he kept fouling Shamone Alvarez and won a 12-round decision because referee Jay Nady tolerated his illegal tactics, exasperating the previously unbeaten American.

Last year, the Ghanaian roughhouser left Miguel Cotto with a cut that took 20 stitches to close, courtesy of a butt. “The most dangerous weapon in Clottey’s arsenal and what Pacquiao will have to be most aware of, is undoubtedly Clottey’s head,” wrote Don Stradley in The Ring Magazine (April 2010).

“The sheer contour of it is menacing, the forehead bulging slightly as if nature designed Clottey with the specific intention of giving other fighters headaches and bad cuts.” Clottey’s most inglorious moment was when he went on a butting rampage against Baldomir in a bout for the vacant International Boxing Council (IBC) welterweight title in London. Italian referee Franco Ciminale docked two points from Clottey for a blatant butt in the 10th round, opening a nasty wound over Baldomir’s left eye.

Clottey butted Baldomir once more in the 11th, causing Ciminale to issue a stern warning.

But the Ghanaian didn’t seem to care about Ciminale’s reprimand or that he led in the three judges scorecards – 96-92 (Thailand’s Anek Hongtongkam), 95-93 (Austria’s Walter Schall) and 95-93 (Mexico’s Jose Guerra).

He blew a sure win by butting Baldomir again, leaving Ciminale no choice but to rule a disqualification.

That established Clottey’s unsavory reputation as an instinctively dirty fighter – almost like it’s in his nature to be dirty. Boxing News writer Tony Connolly said there was also reason to disqualify Clottey for low blows which he threw throughout the fight with impunity. In 2006, referee Lou Moret slapped a point deduction on Clottey for a low blow but the Ghanaian still beat Richard Gutierrez on points.

In 2008, Clottey won a ninth round technical decision over Zab Judah who was ruled unfit to continue by referee Robert Byrd because of a cut from an alleged butt.

Clottey’s vile tricks not only inflict physical damage but also cause mental anxiety.

Alvarez, for instance, couldn’t get untracked as he lost his focus, defending against butts and low blows instead of executing his fightplan.

Pacquiao has met two unscrupulously dirty fighters in his career – Australia’s Nedal Hussein and the Dominican Republic’s Agapito Sanchez.

He had problems dealing with both. In 2000, Pacquiao couldn’t figure out Hussein at first and was even floored in the fourth round.

Hussein hit on the break and used his forearms, elbows, shoulders and head to throw off Pacquiao.

Referee Carlos (Sonny) Padilla, however, put his foot down and slapped a point deduction on Hussein for forearming Pacquiao right after the knockdown.

Pacquiao eventually stopped Hussein on cuts in the 10th round. In 2001, Sanchez gave Pacquiao fits with his shenanigans during their brawl in San Francisco.

Referee Marty Denkin deducted two points from Sanchez for low blows but the Dominican got away with a headbutt that split open Pacquiao’s right eyelid in the second.

Sanchez butted Pacquiao once more on the same spot in the sixth.

Denkin should’ve disqualified Sanchez outright but copped out by halting the contest and going to the scorecards.

Pacquiao escaped with a split technical draw but without the two-point deduction, he would’ve lost by a split decision. At the point of stoppage, judge Ricardo Bays of Florida had it 58-54 for Pacquiao, judge Marshall Walker of California 55-57 for Sanchez and judge Raul Armando Caiz of Texas, 56-all.

Clottey’s history of resorting to foul tactics is an indication that he won’t be restrained from going against the rules to win a fight.

source philstar.com

Who can help Clottey repair his right punch?

2010-03-08T16:37:00.000-08:00

Like Floyd Mayweather Jr., their flawed skipper, they were never expected to play it fair with Filipinos.

But Richard Shaefer of Golden Boy Promotions and a dirty dove by the name of Kelly Swanson surpassed themselves when they savaged Filipino broadcasters, who came all the way from Manila, and shooed them from a press conference in Los Angeles last week.

“It was a move borne out of arrogance,” cried the respected Michael Marley in his column at examiner.com.

* * *

The Filipino TV crew was able to record the insult.

So Marley bore down harder on the American pair after they brushed off and denied the incident, which took place during the Mayweather-Shawn Mosley media event.

“They’re spitting in our faces by telling us it’s raining,” Marley wrote.

Naturally, there came a clamor for a boycott of the Mayweather-Shawn Mosley bout in response to the Marley report.

But Marley was just out to report candidly, not to slur or ruin anybody.

* * *

This friend of Filipinos, an original ally of Muhammad Ali who has done a lot for the betterment of boxing, will always go all out for fairness in the sport.

But, come to think of it, does Marley, just like his friend Freddie Roach, also foresee a mismatch in the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey clash this weekend?

You see, there has been a one-sided flow of information centering on the overwhelming edge Pacquiao enjoys over Clottey.

* * *

This could partly be blamed on Clottey himself, who continued to claim he did not see the need to study Pacquiao fight tapes.

Of course, Clottey had also seen Pacquiao on tape.

But whether this tough Ghanaian was playing it coy or openly offering a handicap, Marley may have to step in and give a timely advice.

Granted that Clottey indeed no longer sees the urgent necessity of dissecting Pacquiao on video, it’s a must that he (Clottey) restudies himself on film.

* * *

Marley may have to also join Clottey the challenger in this effort to re-check Clottey the fearless fighter who’s also dubbed back home as the Grandmaster.

If they do sit down and watch together, there’s no doubt Marley, who we understand learned the Sweet Science under Ali, would readily see the grand flaw in Clottey’s right-hand punch.

This reporter had the luck of observing Clottey when Solar Sports replayed last Saturday his bout versus Shamone Alvarez of the US in 2007.

Clottey, as confirmed by The Dean, Quinito Henson, won that bout by unanimous decision.

* * *

Anyway, as Henson would confirm, he also observed something strange in Clottey’s right punch.

Actually, it’s a clinical defect from this reporter’s view.

Clottey has the primitive habit of launching the right blow wholly from the shoulder, like a pitcher throwing a fastball.

This causes the promising powerful shot to be pushed or slammed, instead of being speared with a crackling snap from the navel area.

Here’s hoping Marley would be able to be seated with Clottey and his current trainer Leni DeJesus.

What could come out of this pre-fight conference should help greatly in making the Pacquiao-Clottey fight a fairly even and memorable bout.

source inquirer.net

Manny Pacquiao Vs. Joshua Clottey: How Good Is Clottey, Anyway?

2010-03-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows Manny Pacquiao. Not everyone knows Joshua Clottey, the man Pacquiao is fighting Saturday.

Clottey (above left against Miguel Cotto, photo by Howard Schatz) has a very good reputation, for the most part. Some boxing writers consider him one of the 20 best boxers of today, and he's one of the top men in the welterweight division, clearly. He caught some flack for his showing at the end of the fight against Cotto, but there are a lot of people who thought he got robbed in that bout. And it wasn't that long ago that there was a highly viable theory that Clottey was underrated, the best fighter in the division not to be recognized as one of the best.

Yet the more I look at Clottey, the less convinced I am. I'd had that thought prior to Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach saying the same thing in the "Road to Dallas" documentary that aired Saturday (I swear! Ask the people I hung out with Saturday night, away from the television, when the documentary was airing). But that Roach said it made me feel confident about it, too. I think Clottey has become overrated.

This requires a bit of a preface, a disclaimer. I think Clottey's a really good boxer. I think he's a dangerous fighter for Pacquiao to take on, by virtue of his size and style. But when I look at his record and his review the video, I see a fighter who's a full notch below the best of the best.

Consider:

The best win of Clottey's career is probably his 2008 9th round technical decision over Zab Judah. Now, Judah's a talent. But Judah hadn't had a win over a non-journeyman since 2005, when he knocked out Cory Spinks. Judah was ranked in the top 10 of the division at the time, but there were a lot of smart people who think he didn't deserve to be. He'd been beaten by Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto and Carlos Baldomir from 2005 to 2008. He was competitive in all of them, but Judah's downward slide was clearly in full force. And you know what? It was a close fight, Clottey-Judah, even under the circumstances. Two judges gave Clottey the fight by a mere point.

The second best win of his career is over... well, there's a big drop off from the win over Judah. Is it Diego Corrales, who was moving up two divisions and had the look of damaged goods? Is it Shamone Alvarez, a decent welterweight but nobody who ever really much sniffed the top 10 of the division?

You can point to the almost-wins over Cotto and Antonio Margarito, but those only go so far. Clottey couldn't beat Cotto with one of the worst handful of cuts I've ever seen a boxer persevere through. Against Margarito, Clottey was doing well early before claiming hand injuries and slowing down. Clottey was ahead on the scorecards against Baldomir before being disqualified.

I'm doing something here that is reminiscent of the kind of thing I hate in boxing -- systematically diminishing a fighter's accomplishments. Honestly, you can do it with any fighter. But I'm doing it here despite fundamentally liking Clottey, and thinking he's good. It's only, as I said, that I think he's a notch lower than some of the best guys.

Cotto knocked out Judah, and Floyd Mayweather beat Judah more easily than did Clottey. Margarito and Pacquiao both knocked out Cotto. There's nobody on my pound-for-pound list whose best win is over Judah, and I don't think there ever will be. Almost-wins count for something, but only if the boxer has a proven record of beating top competition on the scorecards or via knockout.

That's steering us toward the root of where Clottey's problems lie. His style, as I mentioned, is difficult, and he's a dangerous opponent. His excellent defense, good counterpunching and rock-solid chin have made him a handful for the elite boxers he's faced. Yet they also are part and parcel about why he hasn't exactly excelled on the top, top level.

There's a feeling out there that I've long argued against that Clottey allowed Cotto to win in the late rounds, that he somehow took his foot off the gas. In actuality, as I see it, Cotto just exploited the flaws in Clottey's style in those late rounds. Clottey does good work behind his high guard, cutting off the ring and firing counters. But that style often requires Clottey to set his feet, wait for his opponent to punch, then return fire. Cotto, in the final couple rounds against Clottey, took advantage of that by moving and initiating contact and forcing Clottey to cover up, then moving again, preventing Clottey from planting. Clottey didn't know what to do, so he did what he always does, which is more of the same. He didn't give the fight away any more than any other fight he'd ever been in. His style did, with a little help from Cotto.

Judah, a less fundamentally sound boxer than Cotto, also exploited Clottey's style. Merely by punching at Clottey, he outworked him and won rounds. Clottey's style is economical to a fault. He doesn't take a lot of chances, thinking defense-first the way he does, and if you can hit him and get out of the way, you can have a lot of success against him. If Judah's footwork was better, and if he wasn't in the midst of a career slide, and if he wasn't inclined toward finding a way to lose despite his talent, maybe he wins that fight.

That's another issue with Clottey: He kind of finds ways to lose or get taken out of his game, rather than fighting through it all. There's a little bit of bitch in Clottey, at least compared to the top-notch guts of some fighters. I don't doubt his hand injuries against Margarito, but any number of fighters routinely injure their hands and fight through it, from Mayweather to fighters who lacked Clottey's talent, like Arturo Gatti. In the Judah fight, he winced and hammed it up when Judah landed a low blow. He spent about a half hour recovering from Cotto's body slam. I don't know if the disqualification against Baldomir was justified or not, but there's a trend here, no?

What I'm trying to establish is that while I think Clottey's a legit foe for Pacquiao, that he's definitely worth of being top-5 at welter, that his style presents unique problems to his foes and that he's good enough to hang with the best of the best... the best of the best he ain't. Or, at least, he hasn't proven himself to be in his career so far, owing to a variety of defects in his game and a dearth of wins against said best-of-the-best.

It doesn't mean that Pacquiao beating him will be insignificant or anything like it -- it's be another huge win in a historic career. It doesn't mean he can't or won't win against Pacquiao; sometimes, non-super fighters beat super fighters by virtue of the dynamic between those two fighters, and sometimes non-super fighters become super fighters with one key win.

But it's a handicap. - Pacquiao vs Clottey

Source queensberry-rules.com

Manny Pacquiao will not take Joshua Clottey lightly

2010-03-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

The Filipino superstar will be at a size disadvantage when taking on the African welterweight Saturday, but he’s trained rigorously for the challenge.

It's not the fight most wanted to see, and many casual sports fans probably don't know much about this guy who's stepped into Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s void to fight Manny Pacquiao.

Understandable. So much about why that mega-bout crashed over a drug-testing dispute, with $25-million guarantees to each fighter, is head-scratching.

Time, then, to bring some simple reasoning to the sport now as fight week arrives for Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey on Saturday night at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

The soundest logic says the man considered the best boxer in the world will have his way against the African challenger.

Any reason to think differently? A letdown? A visit to Pacquiao's Hollywood gym brings an onslaught of rebuttals from those asked if the Filipino superstar has shown any sign he's blowing off the threat of this lesser-known opponent.

"I wish we were fighting Mayweather this time the way Manny has worked," Pacquiao's conditioning trainer Alex Ariza said.

A gym regular said he saw Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) unleash a barrage of two-dozen unanswered blows to respected veteran sparring partner Steve Forbes.

"I hear Vegas has the over/under for rounds at 10," said Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, who's been so sharp in projecting his prodigy's latest conquests of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. "I'll take the under. We've watched a lot of tapes on Clottey. He's predictable. Manny will be the first to stop him."

The 32-year-old Clottey, a native of Ghana and current resident of the Bronx, is 35-3 with 21 knockouts, and his lone losses have come to world champions: Carlos Baldomir in 1999 (controversial disqualification), Antonio Margarito in 2006 (close decision), and Miguel Cotto (close decision) in in June, his most recent bout.

Pacquiao watched Cotto-Clottey from ringside, scouting Cotto at the time before beating him by 12th-round TKO in November. In Clottey, Pacquiao will be fighting a second-straight true welterweight who has victories over the accomplished Zab Judah (a world title fight) and the late Diego Corrales on his resume. Clottey performed strongly against Cotto, but oddly stopped asserting himself in the final rounds.

"Clottey, he's a good defensive fighter," Pacquiao said. "He's bigger than me [by 2 ½ inches, with a three-inch reach advantage], so I've had to study his style and maybe he's trying to learn some new techniques. But from what I've studied so far, I think he's a good formula for me. I'm still sure he's studying different techniques he can try against me."

And how's that going?

"It is not easy. [Pacquiao's] good, but I tell people I'm going to beat him," Clottey said. "They don't believe me, but I'm a confident guy and I will keep my word. I will make him think a lot in the ring because of my defense. … I believe in my defense. He's going to throw a lot of punches. I'll block nine out of 10."

Clottey has been groomed in his country by impressive natives, including the tough Ike Quartey. Like Pacquiao, he came from a poor family and hawked goods on the street, including fish, oranges and bananas.

So is Clottey bound to frequently go into a self-made shell, stalling like he did late against Cotto? Clottey says he won't, wanting Pacquiao to stay cautious of the size advantage and punching power that is considered by some to be suspect. Clottey's last true knockout was in 2004, at a club show in Laughlin, Nev.

"What about mine?" Clottey asked of his punches.

Roach has openly said, "We don't know what Clottey has. We're concerned with his uppercut and hook, but we'll keep Manny out of that pocket."

Pacquiao, guaranteed $12 million plus a pay-per-view cut for this fight, has some bigger days ahead of him this year, including the election he's seeking for a congressional seat in the Philippines, along with the expected resumption of talks with Mayweather.

Clottey, meanwhile, wants to keep logic thrown out the window. He never expected to get this fight, was negotiating for a bout against 154-pound champ Yuri Foreman when notified Mayweather was out and he was in.

"I'd like to think good things come to good people," Clottey said. "We'll see. I know he's a good fighter. If he hits me, and I don't feel his punches, I'll jump on him. If I do feel them, I'll just have to hit him more."

Source latimes.com

Is Pacquiao Superman or Super Human?

2010-03-03T21:57:00.000-08:00

In my Pacquiao/Clottey prediction earlier this week, I predicted that Pacquiao will go on to coast through the fight and walk away with a Unanimous Decision Victory. I got to tell you, I might as well had said that Clottey will go on to destroy the Pac-Man. Pac-Man by far right now has the most loyal crazed fans in the sport. If you don’t say that Pacquiao will win by knockout then you might as well just go for the other guy. If you say Pacquiao by decision then that must mean that you are doubting the great God that is Pacquiao. I got news for you all, well I got news for ”US” all, I say us because I sometimes feel the same way as you all do. I sometimes also feel that Pacquiao is Superman, thing is that he is not Superman. Pacquiao may perform like a Superman, but he is human like you and I. Super Human yes, but Superman no!

When I mentioned that the way to beat Pacquiao was to bring the fight to him and keep him off balance, to throw off his rythym, many fans responded by saying that ”Reckless” Hatton tried to do just that and well look where it got him. Same can be said about Cotto, same plan, same result. Pac-Man gobbled them up. You are right for pointing that out to me, but since when does Hatton who was also knocked out by feather fisted Floyd, have a chin, and as strong as Clottey? Same can be said about Cotto. Cotto has been dazed countless times before. Like I said in my pick, Pacquiao will win but not in that Superman fashion that seems to be the latest trend. Oh and for those that are quick to point out that Cotto beat Clottey and Pacquiao crushed Cotto so Clottey will also get crushed. Well guess what? Styles make fights. So am I to also think that Floyd will eat up Pacquiao since Floyd toyed with Marquez while Marquez pushed Pac-Man to the limit? I feel that Pacquiao won both Marquez fights but truth be told, Marquez was on Pacquiao’s ass like a rash. It must also be noted that at least Pacquiao fought Marquez at Marquez’s fight weight, but Floyd would have still dominated Marquez at any weight. Why? Once again, because styles make fights. For the most part, I am with you all, I am amazed by Pacquiao each and every time I see him fight. I haven’t seen anything like what I have been seeing in Pacquiao, EVER! Even Bob Arum is now calling Pacquiao the greatest fighter he has ever seen, then again maybe we shouldn’t pay that too much mind since Arum once called Money May the greatest since Ali. Arum is the kind of guy that will eat shit and tell you it tastes good, just as long as he is promoting shit. I am sticking to my pick, Pacquiao by UD. If Pacquiao crushes Clottey like many of you think he will, I will then eat my crow the very next day and help hold up Superman’s cape.

May 1st., May’s 1st. Loss?- I recall sitting some 10-15 feet away from Floyd after he dominated Marquez when a reporter asked him about his money problems. Floyd’s answer to the brave reporter was that Floyd’s money was none of his business. Great answer by Floyd, but he that lives in a glass house should not throw stones. At yesterdays Mosley/Mayweather press conference, Mayweather made it a point to spit out that Shane needs money because Shane now has to pay alimony. I guess my business is my business and your business is everyone’s business. Seems to me that Floyd’s way of life is to always be on the defensive, the same Floyd you see in the ring is the same Floyd that you see out of it. I can hit you all I want but you can’t hit me. Regardless of all that, I gotta give it up to Floyd, He sure knows how to sell a fight.

Caballero Vs. Yordan April 10- Last week while I was out in Vegas, I stopped by Richard Steele’s Gym where I was able to see Celestino Caballero hit the pads with Jeff Mayweather. Celestino looked very strong and very sharp. Caballero’s footwork impressed me alot. Jeff mentioned to me that the 2 have been working together for a little under 2 months now and Caballero keeps surprising him with how fast he is able to pick up on things. Caballero feels that Gamboa and Lopez are both scared to face him in the ring. Earlier today it was announced that the man that will be seeing Caballero in that ring next will be the very tough Daud Yordan. Caballero/Yordan are set to face each other on April 10 on HBO.

Mike who? Mike Jones- I must admit that whenever someone would mention to me how good Mike Jones is, I would simply just shrug and say ok cool let me watch him first then I’ll get back to you. I have always just seen bits and pieces of him but never enough to fully see something for myself. This past weekend, I got to see him in action against Henry Bruseles. I must agree and now say that Mike Jones is good and should not be slept on. I would also like to add that Mike Jones reminds me of a young Vernon Forrest. May you rest in peace champ.

Local News: Ronson Frank back to make a statement- Ronson Frank brother of former champs Steve and Raul will take on tough vet Raynard Darden on March 12. Ronson who is 13-0 with 7 ko’s is looking for #14 to represent Rosedale to the fullest. Ronson who also just signed a new promotional contract will be making his debut under the O’ Shea Brothers Boxing Promotions banner. Mnay other fights are also set to take place including Maureen ”The Real Million Dollar Baby” Shea against Nydia Feliciano. ”St. Patty’s Day Brawl” will be held March 12 at the PaL Gym in Yonkers, Ny. For additional information and tickets, please call 914.216.9381. Big ups to my boy Ronson, do your thing.

source diamondboxing.com

Pacquiao beating up sparmates, says security head

2010-03-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao is reaching peak form for his March 13 defense of the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey.

This was what Canadian Rob Peters confidently told Filipino sportswriters, who caught up with him at Nat’s Thai restaurant near the Wild Card gym.

Peters, Pacquiao’s chief of security, added that the pound-for-pound king again toyed with his sparmates in a 10-round afternoon session held behind closed doors under the watchful eyes of master trainer Freddie Roach.

“The more guys they put on him, the more guys he beat up,” said Peters, citing Pacquiao’s sparring Tuesday with Raymund Beltrand and David Rodela and light welterweight prospect Jamie Kavanagh of Dublin, Ireland.

According to Peters, the 19-year-old Kavanagh, who compiled a 168-win, 12-loss record in a stellar amateur career highlighted by a silver-medal effort in last year’s AIBA World Youth Championships, became too overeager and “came in a little too brave.”

The observation of Peters jibed with comments from boxing pundits who’ve seen Pacquiao honing up his skills for the March 13 duel with Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. - Pacquiao vs Clottey

Source inquirer.net

Sparmates can't keep up with in-form Manny

2010-03-03T17:36:00.001-08:00

HOLLYWOOD – Probably one reason Freddie Roach wanted less rounds of sparring this time is because it’s getting more and more difficult to find guys who can really keep up with Manny Pacquiao.

With just nine days left and a couple more rounds to go before his fight with Joshua Clottey, the heavy-handed Pacquiao continued to punish anyone thrown at him by his trainer at the Wild Card gym.

Since sparring began on the fourth week of January, the 31-year-old Pinoy icon had sparring partners, around 10 of them, lining up like they were disputing the welterweight slot in the US Olympic team.

From Brian Brooks, Dave Rodela, Ray Beltran and Jose Benavidez, a 2009 Golden Gloves welterweight champion, to Mike Dallas, Steve Forbes, Shawn Porter, Abdulla Amidu and Jamie Kavanagh.

“The more guys they put on him the more guys he beat up,” said Wild Card security enforcer Rob Peters in a brief chat with Filipino scribes just outside the Wild Card Gym on a cold Tuesday evening.

Roach had just taken off, and so Peters did some talking.

“The camp has been good. Freddie’s happy and Manny’s in good spirits. We’ve been super strict with the fans the entire camp and it’s been working,” said Peters, who makes sure Pacquiao trains behind closed doors.

Peters was in there Tuesday when Pacquiao sparred with Kavanagh, the newest member of the Pacquiao sparring team. He’s a 19-year-old Irish armed with a respectable 168-12 record as an amateur and a future as a pro.

Peters said Kavanagh was probably out to make an impression that he came out swinging at Pacquiao like he wasn’t aware that he was in the ring with the greatest boxer in the planet today, the pound-for-pound champion.

“He came in a little too brave.. So, he comes in and Manny hits him with a good shot,” said Peters, adding that as Kavanagh staggered, Pacquiao had to step back a little.

“Manny really hit him with some serious shots,” said the Wild Card enforcer who noted that Pacquiao did a total of 10 rounds with Kavanagh, Amidu, Rodela and Beltran.

Pacquiao is in his last few days of sparring. He did 12 rounds against four guys last Saturday, and for this week the numbers should go down to 10, eight, six and four until they wrap things up by Saturday or Monday.

For his previous fights, Pacquiao does close to 150 rounds of sparring, but for this fight, Roach said a little over a hundred would be good enough because his boxer did not take long to be in good shape.

After all, it’s been only two months after he demolished Miguel Cotto that Pacquiao started training for Clottey.

Notes: Pacquiao will hold a media workout Wednesday at the Wild Card Gym starting at 2 p.m. There will be no sparring but it doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. Joshua Clottey’s media workout is set Thursday in New York... Pacquiao should be happy with the arrival of his wife, Jinkee, Tuesday evening from Manila, and might bring her along when he appears at The Jimmy Kimmel Show later in the evening along the famous Hollywood Boulevard. Pacquiao was in the same show last November, in the runup for the Miguel Cotto fight, but created quite a stir when he drove in on his black Mercedes with a camera-shy girl who everybody thought wasn’t Jinkee.... Freddie Roach turns 50 on Friday. His birthday wish? Of course, a big win over Clottey.

source philstar.com

Roach on Pacquiao's training, future

2010-03-03T17:04:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, will talk with FOXSports.com each week leading up to Pacquiao's March 13 welterweight title fight with Joshua Clottey (on HBO pay-per-view).

This is the second in a four-part series. Part I

FOXSports.com: How'd training go this week?

Roach: Training's going great. Manny's doing very well. We're headed towards our peak. He went 10 rounds on Tuesday. He'll do 11 rounds today (last Thursday) and he'll max out at 12 rounds on Saturday so he'll be in the best shape for the fight.

FOXSports.com: You and Manny have had so much success. How do you keep your message fresh to him?

Roach: He's very smart. We work on moves. Especially with Clottey. We're watching tapes of him. We're finding his flaws and his habits. When you have a new opponent in front of you, you always have to find the best way to fight him. That's how we keep it fresh with a new opponent. Joshua Clottey is dangerous - he's a dangerous guy. We have a lot of respect for him. But I have a lot of confidence in my fighter and we'll knock him out before it's over.

FOXSports.com: You just said Clottey is a dangerous fighter. What are you guys focusing on in training?

Roach: How to break his defensive style when he goes to the ropes. We're working on that quite a bit. We're working on if he's coming to us, if he decides to do that. We're getting ready for every scenario that can happen actually. We've been watching a lot of tapes on him. He fights people with different styles, of course. But his habits are there and we can take advantage.

FOXSports.com: With all the hype surrounding Manny -- people saying he could be the best fighter of his generation -- how hard is it to keep him level?

Roach: It's amazing to me that Manny Pacquiao still comes to my gym and works as hard as he does. It's like the first day he came. After winning seven world titles, you'd think somebody would slow down a little bit, lose their edge, be a little cocky. Not Manny Pacquiao. He trains as hard today as the first day he came to my gym. I actually have to slow him and stop him sometimes and turn the bell off in the ring, so he doesn't work anymore. His work ethic is tremendous and that's why he's such a good fighter.

FOXSports.com: Have you or Manny or both of you started to think about your respective legacies?

Roach: We're not caught up in that so much. I that will settle in maybe when we're both retired and looking back on it. We're in the middle of it right now. It's a great relationship. We have a great rapport with each other. But the thing is, we're just getting ready for fights to fight the best fight we can to please the audience. Manny Pacquiao, he's a performer. He wants to make people happy. That's why he trains so hard and fights so hard.

FOXSports.com: How long do you see Manny still fighting?

Roach: Well, Manny Pacquiao's a fighter -- especially in the way of his dedication he could fight for a long time if he wanted to. But I like to see him fight Joshua Clottey. We'll fight the winner of the Shane Mosley-Mayweather fight. And then I want Manny to retire. He's got a lot of interests in life. He's singing, TV shows, movies and politics. He didn't put everything into boxing. He can do other things also. So I'd like to see Manny retire on top and I'd like to see it pretty soon.

FOXSports.com: With the politics, the acting, the singing, the TV, how does Manny keep it all together?

Roach: He loves to entertain. There's no stage big enough for Manny Pacquiao. He loves to perform. After practice here at the gym he goes to singing classes and stuff like that, voice classes and learns how to play the piano and guitar. He just likes to stay busy with all that. You know a lot of people would say that's a lot of distractions and stuff, you know his mind is on the fight when he's in fight mode. But when he's not in fight mode, he's doing other things and enjoying life. I think he'll be president of the Philippines some day because he cares about his people.

Source foxnews.com

Pacquiao, Clottey "Face-Off" with Max Kellerman

2010-03-02T23:37:00.000-08:00

HBO's third installment of its fight hype series "Face-Off" with Max Kellerman is now On Demand. It features, of course, Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey, who will fight March 13 in the new Dallas Stadium in a welterweight fight to be aired on HBO pay-per-view. This one is the funniest yet: I found myself laughing on several occasions. It was silly. They smiled a lot. They shared giggles. They rarely seemed like two men who are getting prepared to step into a boxing ring and attempt to beat the living hell out of each other.

Pacquiao and Clottey might be the two nicest boxers around. As Shoelfy pointed out, Clottey is just not a very angry guy, and we all know Pacquiao is a happy-go-lucky fellow. The difference, I think, is that Pacquiao is more competitive than Clottey. Whereas Clottey seems unwilling to push himself in the ring, Pac has always been inclined to fully engage in the pursuit of victory. Pac's got that dog in him that the greatest competitors possess, that dog that Clottey doesn't.

Anyways, some of my favorite parts:

- Max asks Manny if he gets "a special satisfaction" out of beating fighters from all over the world:

"It's not my intention to beat them all, but it's my job," Pac says, smiling.

- Manny talks about one of the things that he says makes boxing "easier" - studying your opponent and training for his style:

"Some fighters, if they have a fight, just go to the gym and train for what's their style, just doing what's their style. It's wrong. Before I start training, I watch the style of my opponent first. There's my strategy. And when I start training, I know what I'm going to do because I studied the style of my opponent. The strategy that I'm doing everyday, it's very accurate to the style of my opponent."

I think this speaks to the fact that Manny has become a much more cerebral fighter. He alluded to the same thing in the post-fight presser for the Cotto fight, and Freddie Roach has talked about how underrated Manny's intelligence is. The young, wild, uninhibited slugger has been replaced by the veteran, smart, aggressive boxer-puncher. It has been quite a transformation to witness.

- Max turns to Clottey, and asks him if he has seen anything about Manny that he thinks he can exploit. Clottey calls that his "secrets," and says that he doesn't want to reveal it because Manny is very a smart person with a very smart trainer. However, he does indulge us a bit, saying that the double-guard (Clottey's trademark defense) is the best thing thing to combat Manny's offense.

"But that's not a secret from you, right?" Max says.

Manny (smirking at Clottey the whole time he is revealing something that is not really revealing) interrupts.

"No, I know," Pac says, as the three men share a laugh. "No, I know."

- Max asks Manny what Clottey does well. "Good defense, strong back...Good defense, can punch."

"What are his weaknesses?" Max asks.

Manny looks at Max.

"Secret," Pac says, before letting out a laugh. Clottey nods, smiling.

- Max points out the obvious: these two like each other. He asks them if they'll need to work up some kind of comptempt for each other before the fight.

Pacquiao: "I think we're just doing our job in the ring. We have to do our best to entertain the audience and give the people what they want to see."

Clottey: "I show respect to any opponent I fight. But I know boxing is this: When you put on the gloves, the gloves is like a spirit. As soon as you put on the gloves, you're gonna defend yourself. And defending, you have to attack. When we get in, we're gonna do our job. I know he's coming to win, and he's the best. I want to play the best, because I know if I beat Manny Pacquiao today, I'll be the number one out there. Because he's the best."

Clottey continues.

"This is boxing. It's not an easy job at all. For you to get into the ring and beat the best out there is not easy at all. The way I'm going to train, I'll make sure that I do everything to win.

"When we get to the ring, we're going to be more than serious."

Manny shoots him a fierce look.

And with that, suddenly March 13 can't get here fast enough.

P.S. Pacquiao appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! tonight. He did the same prior to the Cotto fight and it was an entertaining appearance. He and Kimmel have good chemistry. Set your TiVo's. - Pacquiao vs Clottey

Source sportingnews.com

Manny Pacquiao's Star Power Keeps Rising

2010-03-02T21:44:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao is a congressional candidate in his native Philippines, where a super hero movie he starred in there debuted on Christmas.

He has been the subject of large, or front page features in Time Magazine, the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and ESPN's Body Issue -- the latter along with athletes such as Dwight Howard and Serena Williams.

While he was celebrating his 31st birthday in General Santos City, Philippines, on Dec. 17, with thousands of his country men and dignitaries in attendance, Pacquiao received the news that it was being announced, at the same time, in America, that he had been named among Time Magazine's Top 25 People Who Mattered in 2009 -- listed alphabetically right behind the United States' first African American president, Barack Obama.

And on Tuesday, March 3, the seven-division champion and current WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king will make his second appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live -- the same place on which Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) stole the show from beginning to end on Nov. 3.

Pacquiao's first appearance came about two weeks prior to his dethroning Miguel Cotto as WBO champ with a 12th-round knockout on Nov. 14, just as his second one will come about two weeks prior his first defense of the belt -- a March 13 clash with former IBF titlist, Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KOs), of Ghana slated for The Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in Arlington, Tex.

A three-time Fighter Of The Year who was recently named Fighter Of The Decade, Pacquiao even rubs elbows with other celebrities at the Wild Card Boxing Club, where he is being prepared for Clottey by four-time Trainer Of The Year, Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao is also expected to be featured sometime in the fall on 60 Minutes, which will have access to the fighter from the moment he lands in Dallas for his bout with Clottey, all the way up until the show airs, according to Lee Samuels, publicist for Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank.

During a recent workout, Robert Duvall visited Pacquiao and Roach (all pictured above, from left to right), the gym's owner and proprietor.

Asked if he would agree that Pacquiao has become a cross-over star, the figher's Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank, said "That's 100 percent correct."

"That was our goal when we started with Manny, was to break him out from the Filipino base that he had. We were able to pick up millions of Hispanic fans and we have broken him in to the general conscience of the people around the world," said ," Arum.

"Manny is truly a crossover star," said Arum, who has promoted Muhammad Ali, and compares Pacquiao favorably to him in popularity. "How many fighters of our time go on Jimmy Kimmel Live? How many fighters go on Good Morning America, like he's going to be doing? And how many fighters have a big article coming out in Time magazine, which he is going to have again? I think that is saying something."

On the last Jimmy Kimmel Live, Pacquaio was introduced by the host as "The Pride Of The Philippines," and nearly every gesture that Pacquiao made was greeted by cheers or laughter or both from the largely Filipino audience.

Considered boxing's premiere fighter, pound-for-pound, Pacquiao's fist name -- "Manny!" -- was repeatedly chanted by the members of the crowd.

The fighter opened the show by smashing hanging pumpins with his fists -- much like he does heavybags in training or rivals in the ring. And he closed it by singing with the members of the Jimmy Kimmel Live band, just as he did while holding a late-night concert right after defeating Cotto.

Since losing to Erik Morales in March of 2005, Pacquiao is 11-0, with eight knockouts. That run includes two knockouts of Morales, victories over Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, and, in his last four bouts, knockouts of David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and, Cotto, respectively.

Pacquiao (pictured at right, on the left, with Julio Cesar Chavez) has said that after his bout with Clottey, he will immediately return to the Philippines and concentrate on the political side of his life.

Pacquiao did rule out retirement.

"In the election, I am leading. And the start of campaigning is March 26, so it will not be until after my fight. After the fight, I will go back to the Philippines and start campaigning," said Pacquiao.

"It is going to be busy. I want to pass some bills that will be good for the livelihood of the people there and education for the children," said Pacquiao. "This is my last fight before the election. I am not saying I'm going to retire. It is hard to say right now when I'm going to retire, but this is my last fight before the election, and I'm very excited about it."

link

Pacquiao: Rebounding from KO losses made my career

2010-03-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao doesn't think he needs a fight against Floyd Mayweather to validate his place in boxing history.

It's not so much what he says, it's more in how he says it.

Manny Pacquiao really means it when he says calmly and serenely that he will be content to ride off into the boxing sunset without fighting the mouthy Mayweather.

When you're sitting across a dinner table in Nat's Thai Restaurant and Pacman repeats this assertion it is quite different than just auditing it on an international media conference call.

“I don't need him, I don't need Mayweather now,” Pacquiao said late Monday night. “I am fine with what I have done in my carrer, I am happy with that.”

Don't take that to mean Pacquiao is not striving for more great nights in the ring, starting with his March 13 bout against Joshua Clottey in Dallas.

He expects more benefits from his arduous training and preparation but repeated that he needs no comparisons to the undefeated American fighter.

“As far as my career, this all comes from God and the people who support me, the fans, I know that,” Pacquiao said. “This is just my time.”

While Mayweather mocks Pacman's early career problems, including two KO losses, Manny thinks handling such wicked professional adversity set the stage for his brilliance against Ricky Hatton, Oscar de la Hoya and lastly Miguel Cotto.

He doesn't expect Mayweather to understand.

You Pacman trivia buffs know that it was fellow Pinoy Rustico Torrecampo who iced Manny in the teenager's 12th pro bout (1996) and Medgoen Sinsurat of Thailand who also scored a KO 3 over Pacman in a world flyweight title bout in 1999.

You might say the little fella has been on something of a roll since that loss (see video below) in Thailand and I do not mean a spring roll.

“I stopped boxing for six months at one point,. I was just so down and so depressed. But I came to realize that losing can be beneficial because when you lose a fight, you learn more, more about boxing, more about yourself.

“Those losses caused me to improve more, they caused me to wake up to the meaning and purpose of my life,” Pacquiao said.

“It turned out that those losses were really a big thing for me and my boxing career.”

Pacman said he was no time for Mayweather's ranting and raving and demeaning of opponents.

“He does all this trash talking which is really not good. It's not good for the sport of boxing and it's a bad example to the young kids who are coming up, I couldn't do this or say things like that.

“My success comes only from God and only from the support of the people who love boxing. Without the fans there to support you, what do you have? You have nothing.”

Pacman is currently pushing his new energy drink known as “Pacq.”

It is 100 percent natural ingredients and does not cause those who imbibe it to turn into raving, garbage spewing lunatics or even someone pretending to be one.

source examiner.com

Headline: Can Pacquiao wipeout Clottey?

2010-03-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

In Pacquiao’s last fight, Pacquiao was tested by one of the hardest punchers in the sport in Miguel Cotto. I recall Pacquiao getting buzzed for a second or two in a wild exchange against Cotto in the very early going of their great action packed fight. After the light buzz, Pacquiao then took Cotto’s best shots and took them with ease, Pacquiao later said that the Boriqua Bombers hard shots did indeed hurt, but Pacquiao pretended in his own mind that they really didn’t hurt. Come March 13, can Pacquiao pretend that Clottey’s fierce left hook tickles? I sure hope so, because come March 13 I will be picking Pacquiao to get the W over Clottey. I however do not see this fight as a wipeout as most observers out there are seeing this affair play out. I see this fight as a 8 rounds-4 or 7 rounds-5 kind of fight for Pacquiao. Many are picking Pacquiao based on 2 things, that is speed and power.

I will agree that Pacquiao does have the speed and power advantages over Clottey, but speed and power will not win this fight for Pacquiao. The things that will win this fight for Pacquiao will be heart and will. Will Pacquiao’s heart will The Pac-Man to keep firing off shots when he finds a steel iron chin Clottey resting on the ropes with his ear muffs on? How will Pacquiao react when he discovers that he can’t hurt Clottey as easily as he was able to hurt has past foes? Those are great questions to ask, but the bottom line is that Clottey just doesn’t throw enough shots to derail the Pacquiao Express. If I am Clottey, I would bring the fight to Pacquiao and constantly have Pacquiao backing up, Pacquiao is at his best when he is the one moving forward sitting on his punches and picking his spots. This is why I would push forward and place Pacquiao in a whole different place, take the rythym away from him. Can the Grand Master from Ghana do just that? I don’t think so. Pacquiao By UD.

source diamondboxing.com

Texas: No 'good cause' for drug-testing Pacquiao, Clottey

2010-03-01T21:04:00.000-08:00

The well-chronicled argument between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. over drug testing was so heated and divisive it caused two money-loving athletes to walk away from a guarantee of $25 million each.

Mayweather's camp implied there was something not so natural about Pacquiao's steady move up in weight in recent years, with increased dominance in the ring, and Pacquiao grew so defensive about the jabs that he sued members of the Mayweather camp for defamation.

Now, less than two weeks before Pacquiao fights Joshua Clottey in the replacement fight March 13 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has judged that there is no "good cause" to institute any pre-fight drug screening for either fighter before their welterweight main event.

Mayweather and Pacquiao's public fireworks over the issue, in which a federal arbitrator was summoned to mediate the argument, have already been considered by the Texas executive director, William Kuntz, said licensing and regulation spokeswoman Susan Stanford.

Stanford added Kuntz can still change his mind "at any time," ordering drug screening procedures that the fighters would need to pay for.

Nevertheless, the absence of testing seems stunning when it's considered that Mayweather's May 1 fight against Pomona's Shane Mosley in Las Vegas is subject to Olympic-style drug testing that is being negotiated to be supervised by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Not only is USADA set to supervise random testing, including blood screening for human growth hormone that last week nabbed a British rugby player, Mayweather will have the option to request additional tests as long as he gives a sample of his own at or near the same time, said his advisor, Leonard Ellerbe, and promoter, Richard Schaefer, said.

Mosley has admitted that in the days before his 2003 mega-fight against Oscar De La Hoya, he used performance-enhancing drugs given him by BALCO founder Victor Conte. Mosley has insisted he thought the substances he took from Conte were legal vitamins.

The disparity in how the Pacquiao and Mayweather fights are being scrutinized (or not) is an unfortunate fact of life in boxing, says the president of the Assn. of Boxing Commissions, the national body that advises state commissions.

"Testing [is] an excellent idea, but the cost of [it is] somewhat cost-prohibitive," Timothy Lueckenhoff said. "If steroid testing is to be done as well as testing for illegal [street] drugs, it must be done across the board. When we talk about requiring all fights to be subject to this, we are just adding more cost to a struggling profession, especially regarding club show events.

"All drug testing is good and needed, but the cost is a huge factor right now."

source Lance Pugmire - latime.com

Pacquiao scores a joyful knockout

2010-03-01T16:17:00.000-08:00

THE RIGHT STRAIGHT, thrown sharply like a spear, was not (yet) super but is definitely above average.

It’s however the scythe-like left hook, swift and power-packed, which should help greatly Julian Santos Chua in his goal to fight for the Philippines in the 2012 London Olympics.

Santos Chua, 18, was at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym over the weekend.

The kid has been described by the sweet-punching fight chronicler Michael Marley as a Golden Gloves champion from the Midwest.

Of course, despite his credentials, Julian could’ve not made it to Wild Card alone.

* * *

Credit goes to Hammering Hermie Rivera, said Marley.

For the record, the punches described in the first two sentences of this column were courtesy of YouTube.

But more than those inborn gifts, the sharp-eyed Marvelous Marley appeared convinced it was Julian’s dream meeting with Manny Pacquiao last Saturday which would prove the biggest influence and inspiration in the young fighter’s dream to box in London 2012.

“My goodness, even though he (Pacquiao) was busy and tired, he was so gracious,” said Santos Chua’s mother, Ronnet, a physician.

Pacquiao, as Marley would put it, was a joy of a knockout.

* * *

Julian was tearful and overjoyed by the honor of meeting Manny, the mother who was herself overwhelmed, explained.

Maybe it was the first time the lady doctor had seen her usually stoic kid get bowled over.

“Santos Chua has a double-sided dream of becoming the first Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal then go on to a pro career,” Marley reported.

Now, if that dream Olympic gold suddenly appears within reach for the Philippines, it’s all because of Pacquiao and his super trainer, Freddie Roach.

“Roach is set to attend to the young boxer and will start training him at the Wild Card gym on June 1, just right after Julian gets his high school diploma,” Marley confirmed.

* * *

What a thrill, indeed.

Of course, it’s a bit bothersome that Marley, despite his keenness, failed to mention Hermie Rivera’s whereabouts during that unforgettable encounter at the Nat’s Thai Restaurant around Wild Card.

Truth is there’ve been efforts from amateur boxing people in Manila to reopen communication lines with Hermie.

He could’ve been stalled by the happy turn of events over the weekend at Wild Card?

* * *

Anyway, wherever Mr. Rivera may be, the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines is hereby offering to give Julian Santos Chua an all-expense tryout in Manila.

“He can bring his mother, if he cares to,” ABAP executive director Ed Picson told the Inquirer Monday.

Yes, Hermie Rivera has done everything so things could be in place for Santos Chua at Wild Card.

Everything is also in place for Hermie’s proposed tryout for Julian in Manila.

All Hammering Hermie has got to do is pick up the phone or answer his e-mail.

Or has Rivera also been floored by the menacing brownouts that have started to spread all over our luckless, dwarf-plagued Philippine Islands?

source inquirer.net

This Time Clottey's Non-Response Was Troubling

2010-03-01T00:17:00.000-08:00

This past Thursday there was a press call that featured Team Clottey along with promoter Bob Arum. Personally, I don't find fighter press outings and conferences to be all that informative. Sure, they can fill a writers' notebook with a lot of quotes. But having been around and associated with many world class fighters and champions, I know fighters are never going to disclose much about how they really feel and think about their upcoming fight and opponent. Obviously there are exceptions like Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Floyd Mayweather and David Haye. However, they are the exception and certainly not the rule.

Most of today's fighters aren't going to shed anything that most observers haven't already figured out. Mangers, trainers and promoters are more than willing to talk - and that's because on fight night when the bell rings they step down and out of the ring. Whereas the fighters have to back up what they may have said during the run-up to a big fight or main event like Pacquiao-Clottey. Which is not the most comfortable position to be in if you're the fighter who lost.

During the conference call, Joshua Clottey was pressed as to what it is he sees about Pacquiao that makes him confident that he can beat him on March 13th. Others asked what it is that he had to improve on himself in order to become a better fighter. Clottey retorted by basically saying he's had a great training camp and is ready for the fight. The only thing Joshua said of substance was that by him being able to block a lot of Pacquiao's punches, Manny will in turn be a little more open for him to hit. Which of course is true. The problem is Pacquiao throws punches in bunches from a lot of unconventional angles. Meaning that if he's jammed with the first one or two he throws, three, four, five and six will be re-routed to the open areas. Which depending on how Clottey's chin holds up will either be his undoing or leave Pacquiao vulnerable to the presumably stronger Clottey.

The fact that fighters usually don't give up much to writers and commentators before the fight is just the way it is. Yet often you can tell that it's more the case of them holding something back and they are just keeping it to themselves so they don't show their hand before the fight. In fact Clottey admitted during the call that he didn't watch film of his opponents' fights. Then he said he's seen enough of Pacquiao to know how he fights. Okay, that's fair but here are the concerns I came away with.

One - Clottey is definitely troubled by not being able to be re-united with his first trainer, Ghanian Godwin Kotey, who was denied a US visa. Not only is that big for him emotionally, but it could turn out to be a disaster tactically. Secondly - Clottey gave me the impression that he really isn't sure what he wants to do or try to prevent Pacquiao from doing during the fight. And Manny Pacquiao is the wrong fighter to try and adjust to on the fly.

Granted, Pacquiao can disrupt the best formulated fight plan in the world during the heat of battle with his hand speed and shocking power. But if Clottey is under the impression that he can sit back and try and wait on what Pacquiao does - and then try to adapt to that and/or take it away--that's a colossal miscalculation. If Clottey was a little more aggressive he could use Pacquiao's mindset of being a real fighter against him, but that's not who he is.

The fact that Clottey didn't project that he's of the mindset and belief that he's going to fight as the bigger and stronger fighter is not a good sign. If it hasn't been drummed into Clottey's head by now that the only way he can win this fight is by forcing himself physically on Pacquiao, and hopefully that will be enough to break down the smaller opponent, then he really doesn't have much of a chance to score the upset. Pacquiao is a better boxer with faster hands and is the more accurate and sharper puncher. There's no way Clottey can sit back and try waiting and reacting to what Pacquiao is trying to do. But that's the impression I was left with as to what his approach to the fight will be after hearing him talk about it for 50 plus minutes.

Source thesweetscience.com

Roach to bring in new sparring partners, It's becoming too easy for Manny

2010-03-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

Trainer Freddie Roach plans to bring in some new sparring partners for pound-for-pound icon Manny Pacquiao this week as he steps up training for his showdown against Ghana’s tough Joshua Clottey at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium on March 13.

Conditioning expert Alex Ariza told us that Roach wants “to get some fresh blood in there because to be honest it's been too easy for him (Pacquiao). ”

Pacquiao sparred twelve rounds last Saturday but dropped super featherweight David Rodela from the roster and instead went up against undefeated Abdullai Amidu (18-0, 17 KO’s) of Ghana, light welterweight Mike Dallas (11-0-1, 2 KO’s) and the experienced welterweight, veteran Steve Forbes (34-7, 10 KO’s.)

Ring Magazine’s Michael Rosenthal recently quoted Dallas as saying Pacquiao is “even stronger than he was before the (Oscar) De La Hoya fight. He’s a good counter-puncher. He’s strong, he’s fast and his legs are really something. His footwork is incredible. He moves like a cat. He’s real fast.”

Amidu told Rosenthal, Pacquiao is in good condition “punches hard, had a lot of speed and has good movement. He has everything. His punches come from different directions. They don’t come from where you expect to. You have to be ready for every eventuality.”

Asked why he thought Pacquiao was so successful, Amidu replied “he has a lot of respect for humanity. God blesses him a lot. He’s very disciplined, always in good condition.”

The Ghana fighter said he was very impressed with Pacquiao’s footwork pointing out that “if you have good footwork you can do a lot in boxing. You have to have good movement, to move from every angle. He can do that” adding that Pacquiao was the best he had worked with.

Ariza said Pacquiao was good, same as before when he had a stirring workout on Thursday which both Roach and Ariza agreed was Pacquiao’s best showing in sparring so far.

The conditioning guru who has worked with Roach since a few weeks before the David Diaz fight which Pacquiao won by a devastating 9th round knockout told us he’s “focusing more on his legs” which caused some concern in the training camp when Pacquiao complained of pain and tightness in the left leg which was similar to what he suffered during the fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Ariza told us “as long as his leg is holding up and it's not bothering him I am pleased. Until he wins this fight let’s keep our fingers crossed.”

He revealed that Pacquiao “knows now” about the danger to his leg posed by playing too much basketball which Roach has long been against and has apparently stopped.

While he was in the Philippines prior to leaving for Los Angeles, Pacquiao played a lot of basketball which is his way of staying in physical shape before getting into the gym to prepare for a fight. Even in Los Angeles, Pacquiao did play in some pick-up games because he loves the sport so much.

Source philboxing.com

Final bell for Manny Pacquiao?

2010-02-28T23:18:00.000-08:00

The Filipino boxer might be headed for his last bout because of other interests, including politics, and a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. just might never happen.

Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, delivered this knee-buckling assessment for boxing fans already distraught by the failed Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. negotiations.

"This could be our last fight," Roach said last week, as Pacquiao heads into the final days of training for his March 13 welterweight world title bout against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium outside Dallas.

Roach's sobering speculation about boxing's biggest star is based on a chain of events that could occur.

Pacquiao, 31, is running for a congressional seat in his native Philippines. If elected in May, he'll represent a community of about 400,000 people in need of improved healthcare, education and employment that the boxer himself was deprived of while being raised in poverty.

"I can see the help people need because I've been in that place," Pacquiao said. "They're poor, suffering, and needing help from the government. I know what they feel."

His public-service duties will be tremendous, the boxer and his closest advisors know, and his election is more realistic than it was when he failed to win a national seat a few years ago.

Pacquiao, recently selected fighter of the decade, has won 11 consecutive fights against the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Juan Manuel Marquez.

If he beats Clottey as expected, and if Mayweather defeats Shane Mosley on May 1, negotiations for a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout are likely to resume.

"I've talked to Manny about this. And if Mayweather doesn't come back to the table in a mood to negotiate, the public demand won't be there for any other fight," Roach said. "So if Manny wins the election and likes politics, this [Clottey fight] could be it. And I have no problem with that. I don't want Manny to be one of those guys who stays too long. It's better to go out on top.

"That's my goal for him, and I've told him, 'Don't do it like everyone else in the world.' "

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) has fought only six fewer bouts than Muhammad Ali, and has boxed the same number of rounds (305) that "Sugar" Ray Leonard had when he retired.

Roach also serves as a reminder of the perils of an overextended boxing career, as he battles the effects of pugilistic Parkinson's syndrome.

Before a recent workout at Roach's Wild Card gym in Hollywood, Pacquiao expressed enthusiasm to fight Mayweather but noted the uncertainty over his future.

"It's hard to say. Is this my last fight? We'll see," Pacquiao said. "One never knows. It's still so early to be talking about this, but I do like the thought of going out on top.

"We did a lot in boxing, achieved a lot -- more than what we set out to do."

Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, said he was "inclined to doubt" that his star fighter would walk away from the sport.

The reason?

"Money," Arum said, referring not only to the $12-million guaranteed payday Pacquiao will get for fighting Clottey, but similar purses he'd generate against other non-Mayweather foes. "That's a fortune in the Philippines," Arum said.

As Pacquiao prepares for Clottey, his workout regimen remains intense. His devotion to the sweet science is such that his sparring partner, Steve Forbes, describes Pacquiao as a human version of a "little Tasmanian devil."

Yet, Pacquiao's popularity gives him options to make a lucrative income outside the sport in acting, music and endorsements.

And the bitterness of the previous Pacquiao-Mayweather negotiations lingers. The fighters argued over Mayweather's insistence to adopt Olympic-style drug testing before the bout. Mayweather's implications led Pacquiao to sue Mayweather for defamation.

"In my opinion, [Mayweather] wasn't ready for the fight, he needed a reason to stop it," Pacquiao said. "People say to me all the time they want to see Pacquiao-Mayweather, Mayweather-Pacquiao, whatever you want to call it, and I'm a fighter," he adds, pounding over his heart with his right fist, "I'm concerned with giving the people what they want.

"Look, if I was bigger than him, I can understand him making this big deal. He's bigger than me. We have a boxing commission in Nevada. They were fine with what we were doing [regarding testing]. The fighter doesn't get to change the rules."

On his Twitter page, Mayweather responded to a follower by asking, "Ask [Pacquiao] why he wouldn't take a $25,000,000 blood test, because I honestly don't know."

Meanwhile, Mayweather's promoter, Richard Schaefer, cast a dire tone about future contract talks.

"I've never said I believe I'll be able to get this fight done the second time," Schaefer said. "Each side feels strongly about its position, and I don't see either side giving in. It could be one of those scenarios where you just move on. Some fights just don't happen. That's the way of life."

And if Pacquiao retires from boxing?

"People wondered, 'Who's going to carry the mantle?' after Oscar retired, and Manny Pacquiao popped up," Schaefer said. "There'll always be a next great star."

Source latimes.com

Bob Arum: Life goes on, Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey a competitive fight

2010-02-28T16:34:00.000-08:00

Clottey says he has too much respect for Pacquiao to demand blood testing

The issue that killed a mega-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather apparently didn't even come up during the Filipino's negotiations with Joshua Clottey.

Shortly after talks between Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO) and Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO) broke down because of Mayweather's insistence they implement Olympic-style drug testing, Top Rank officials announced their fighter was moving on to take a March 13 fight with Clottey at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

During a media conference call Thursday, Clottey (35-3, 20 KO) characterized the opportunity to face Pacquiao as "a blessing" and said questioning Pacquiao's credibility never crossed his mind because of the respect he has for his opponent.

"I don't want to do that because I respect him so much," Clottey said. "I don't think Manny Pacquiao would do that. If he is, he's cheating the sport, but I believe he's not."

Mayweather's accusations that Pacquiao possibly was using performance-enhancing drugs stemmed from the welterweight champion's rare ability to dominate opponents while moving up weight classes.

Pacquiao made boxing history last November when he defeated Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for a world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class. He began his professional career fighting at 107 pounds.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission only requires its fighters to take urine tests and not the random blood tests that Mayweather had demanded.

On Thursday, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum reiterated a point he's made in the past — any rule change must be made by the commission and not an individual fighter.

"My view is that is something for the commission to decide and if any participant in a boxing match wants more stringent testing, he should go before the commission and present his case," Arum said. "That's not for a bunch of amateurs to start talking about and making demands.

"That is wrong. That is what is called chaos. You go before a commission and say, 'I want such and such on testing,' and you let the commissioners decide. That's what they get paid for."

Mayweather went on to sign a deal to face Shane Mosley on May 1 in Las Vegas, which included both fighters undergoing Olympic-style drug testing.

While the details of drug testing were enough to break up what many believed would be the richest fight in boxing history, they did little to slow talks with Clottey, who is coming off a split decision loss to Cotto in June.

"I couldn't agree with Bob more," said Clottey's manager, Vinny Scolpino. "If a commission wants to implement more rules, let them and we'll follow. Manny is a super-champion and we all hope that he's doing the right thing. If he's not, the commission will find it in their drug testing and that's they way it is."

Many boxing fans were disappointed when Pacquiao and Mayweather were unable to come to terms in January, as the two are currently considered the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

When asked about the lingering effects of the broken deal between the two, Arum responded that fans were still receiving two great fights and need to move on.

"Life goes on," Arum said. "If Joshua beats Manny, who knows? Maybe Mosley beats Mayweather and we do a Mosley vs. Clottey fight. Who the hell knows?

"If these were walkover fights, nobody would give a damn. Are they consolation prizes? Well, in a way. The one fight everybody wanted to see didn't happen for one reason or another but now we've got, on March 13, a really good, competitive fight that I believe is Manny Pacquiao's toughest fight yet."

source lasvegassun.com

He’s not Mayweather, but Joshua Clottey might be good enough

2010-02-28T16:16:00.000-08:00

Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey live stream on March 13, 2010 at Dallas Stadium.

Timing and circumstances haven’t been kind to Joshua Clottey. He isn’t Floyd Mayweather, Jr., the welterweight everybody wanted to see against Manny Pacquiao on March 13.

Instead, Clottey has been cast as the substitute, which to a cynical public only means he isn’t Mayweather and he doesn’t have a chance against Pacquiao on a night when Cowboys Stadium in the Dallas metroplex might be the biggest attraction.

If he doesn’t feel like last season’s Detroit Lions or St. Louis Rams, then Clottey knows what it is to have been one of those replacement players in the last NFL work stoppage. In 1987, none of those guys belonged there and that’s exactly what you hear and read these days about Clottey. Pacquiao is supposed to kick him around like the soccer ball Clottey used to chase as a kid in Ghana.

Fair? I don’t think so. Then again, I’ve been wrong about these things before. I actually thought Juan Manuel Marquez was skilled, smart and tough enough to challenge Mayweather. After watching Mayweather humble Marquez through 12 one-sided rounds in September, I wondered if I had been kicked in the head one too many times.

Nevertheless, I like Clottey, perhaps not enough to pick him over Pacquiao, especially without a familiar trainer in his corner. He split with Kwame Asante after his loss by split decision in June to Miguel Cotto over a reported disagreement over money. Then, Godwin Kotay, also of Ghana, was denied a U.S. visa. Instead of Asante or Kotay, cut-man Lenny DeJesus will take the lead in Clottey’s corner.

In front a potential crowd of 45,000 and against Pacquiao’s varied skills and dangerous power, an unfamiliar face in the corner looms as a problem, especially when – not if – Clottey is in trouble.

Still, Clottey’s size, strength and durability are enough to make it difficult for Pacquiao, whose motivation could have taken a hit when an agreement to fight Mayweather fell apart because of demands that the Filipino icon undergo Olympic-style blood-testing for performance-enhancers.

Pacquiao also will jump directly into a rough-and-tumble political campaign in the Philippines after the fight.

In part, the public’s lack of any respect for Clottey might be a spillover from disgust at the abortive negotiations for Pacquiao-Mayweather. Fans and media are still angry. What they have forgotten, however, is just how close Clottey came to an upset of Cotto in front of the Puerto Rican’s loyal New York fans at Madison Square Garden.

“I did not lose the Cotto fight,’’ Clottey said Thursday during a conference call from his training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Maybe not.

But Clottey also didn’t do enough in the last couple of rounds to convince anybody at ringside that he deserved more than a draw. That, like the victory he still thinks he deserves, eluded him. Clottey has been criticized for not throwing enough punches, which could quickly leave him with a deficit on the scorecards against Pacquiao’s whirlwind pace. But he is confident he can make his power count.

“I am not a flyweight,’’ Clottey said during the conference call, which will be followed by one Friday with Pacquiao. “I’m not a bantamweight. I’m a welterweight. I throw punches that connect.’’

As a natural welterweight, unlike the smaller Pacquiao (5-foot-6 ½), the 5–8 Clottey might have enough leverage to inflict some damage. Before Pacquiao’s 12th-round stoppage of Cotto in November, the Filipino’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said Clottey’s punches almost made Cotto quit during the ninth round.

“The more I play it over, the more I realize how competitive this is and that nobody with any certainty can predict the result,’’ said Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters. “Everybody knows how Manny Pacquiao fights. Everybody knows the angles from which he throws punches.

“And everybody knows that Joshua Clottey is a tremendous defensive fighter and can put a real hurt on an opponent. And everybody knows that Joshua Clottey is the bigger man and Manny is the smaller man. There is talk about Manny going up in weight. But he really hasn’t. He couldn’t make 130 pounds anymore, He fought at 135. He was 138 when he fought (and knocked out) Ricky Hatton.

Now, he goes into the ring at 142 or 143 pounds on the scale and that’s not because he’s putting on weight. That’s because he has breakfast and lunch before the weigh-in. If he had to, he’d still make 135 pounds. So, the idea that he’s a big man is just not true.

“Joshua has the size. He’s the natural welterweight. Manny Pacquiao isn’t. That’s the intrigue in this fight.’’

The intrigue, at least, doesn’t include more of the noisy debate about blood-testing for performance-enhancers. Clottey, ever the gentleman, said he did not and would not demand the Olympic-style testing that Mayweather says he and every one of his future opponents, including Shane Mosley on May 1, will undergo.

“No, I don’t want to do that, because I respect him so much,’’ Clottey said. “He is a very nice guy. I feel comfortable around him. He’s respectful of everybody. I don’t think Manny Pacquiao did that thing. I trust him.”

If only, Clottey could enjoy some of that same trust. He’s not Mayweather. But, trust me, he’s a better fighter than people think.

Source 15rounds.com

Pacquiao vs Clottey fight week events

2010-02-27T19:31:00.000-08:00

Paquiao vs Clottey fight will kick of on March 13, 2010 at the Dallas Stadium.

Pacquiao vs Clottey Fight event schedule:

Open Workouts:

Monday, March 8
1:30 pm: Joshua Clottey
2:00 pm: Humberto Soto

Tuesday, March 9
1:30 pm: Manny Pacquiao

Wednesday, March 10

12:30 pm: Official Press Conference begins at Cowboys Stadium – East Plaza (closed to the general public)

1:30 pm: Press Lunch Cowboys Stadium – Main Club South (closed to the general public)

Undercard Press Conference:
Thursday, March 11
1:00 pm: Press Conference Begins - Gaylord Texan – Grapevine A&B
Weigh-In (Open to the Public):

Friday, March 12
5:00 pm: On Scale Cowboys Stadium – Outside East Plaza

Current Fight Day Schedule:
4:00 pm: Doors open
5:00 pm: First bout
8:00 pm: Televised fights begin
10:00 pm: "The Event" Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey

Pacquiao vs Clottey live stream will be available on PPV.

A Look At Pacquiao's Partners

2010-02-27T01:39:00.000-08:00

Good sparring partners are a crucial element for fight preparation, and all reports coming out of the Wild Card Gym indicate that Manny Pacquiao is getting in some excellent work. I always find it interesting to look at the sparring partners elite fighters choose because it can sometimes give clues into things they are working on for their next fight, and provide a heads up on prospects the top trainers think are worth watching. In his preparation for Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao sparred with Shawn Porter, who has lately been drawing attention with appearances on Showtime and ESPN's Friday Night Fights.

So let's take a look at Manny Pacquiao's sparring partners as he prepares for Joshua Clottey:

Raymundo Beltran:
Age: 28
Record 23-4 (15 KOs)
Weight: Fights between 130-135 lbs

Ray Beltran has been sparring with Manny for years and they are clearly quite comfortable with one another. While Beltran is much smaller than Clottey he has quick hands and provides Manny with good work. In his last fight, on January 9, which you can watch above, he shows that he has quite a bit of power. The KO is frightening and the ref should never be allowed in the ring again, but you can see that Beltran is good at putting his punches together.

In an interview with The Ring, Beltran talks about how he has seen Manny progress through the years, saying, "I remember when he fought Barrera the first time. He was more aggressive, aggressive, aggressive... Now, he's become a better boxer. He has better technique. He uses his brain more. He's much smarter now. You can see it in the way he fights. He and Freddie see weaknesses in opponents and they work on it."

Beltran is still only 28, so he may be able to make a move and challenge for a title in the future. It might be a long road back, however. Though he won in style last month, it was his first fight in nearly two years after suffering a shocking one-punch KO loss to Ameth Diaz in his previous fight.

Abdullai Amidu:
Age: 27
Record: 18-0 (17KOs)
Weight: 147 lbs

Amidu's record is obviously impressive, but a look at his boxrec page is cause for a little caution. Out of Amidu's 18 opponents we see a group of fighters with a combined total of 15 wins! An incredible nine of them were making their professional debut. This isn't to say that Amidu isn't a worthy sparring partner. It simply means we don't really know much about him. He has only fought in Ghana thus far, his native land. I'm certain Freddie Roach picked him partly for that very reason, as Ghanaian fighters tend to have similar styles. From Azumah Nelson to Ike Quartey and Joshua Clottey, they often fight with high guards and aggressive, powerful jabs.

Mike Dallas:
Age: 23
Record: 11-0-1 (2 KOs)
Weight: 140 lbs

Dallas is just starting his career and its obvious that Freddie Roach sees some potential in the young fighter if he has chosen to make him a key part of Manny's preparation. Dallas is the same height as Clottey and sports a similarly imposing physique. Speaking to The Ring, Dallas says of Pacquiao, "he's strong, even stronger than he was before the De La Hoya fight. He's a good counterpuncher. He's strong, he's fast and his legs are really something. His footwork is incredible He moves like a cat. He's real fast."

Dallas could be a prospect worth watching.

These, are Pacquiao's main sparring partners, but the Wild Card Gym has become a destination for many of the sport's top fighters and Pacquiao works with them all. Recent reports had him working with Steve Forbes, for example.

Joshua Clottey, meanwhile, appears to be sparring mainly with Damian Frias. All indications are that Clottey will be in terrific shape, but it's hard not to think Pacquiao's varied and accomplished sparring partners will be a big advantage on March 13.

source sportingnews.com

Clottey's $1.2 million question: Is he mentally prepared for Pacquiao?

2010-02-27T01:17:00.000-08:00

There is concern within the Joshua Clottey fight camp as to the mental outlook of the March 13 Manny Pacquiao WBO welterweight title challenger.

You might call it the $1.2 million question as I've learned that the African boxer will earn $900,000 while his manager, Vinny Scolpino, gets the remainder.

But don't hit the panic button. It's par for the course, this wonderment about the Ghanaian's brain waves.

Gjin Gjini owns and operates Clottey's home training base in the South Bronx, John's Gym.

Clottey and his team were planning to return there this weekend but snowy weather around New York may delay those plans.

Clottey has been training in Fort Lauderdale.

Gjini, a former fighter orginally from Albania, said you never know what Clottey's mental state will be on fight night. It's not just that he's fighting the widely acclaimed pound for pound king of all boxing.

Clottey could have outpointed Miguel Cotto last June at Madison Square Garden but he went into a mental fog and stopped being aggressive in the final rounds. Clottey lost a split decision to the rugged Puerto Rican.

There is concern within the Joshua Clottey fight camp as to the mental outlook of the March 13 Manny Pacquiao WBO welterweight title challenger.

You might call it the $1.2 million question as I've learned that the African boxer will earn $900,000 while his manager, Vinny Scolpino, gets the remainder.

But don't hit the panic button. It's par for the course, this wonderment about the Ghanaian's brain waves.

Gjin Gjini owns and operates Clottey's home training base in the South Bronx, John's Gym.

Clottey and his team were planning to return there this weekend but snowy weather around New York may delay those plans.

Clottey has been training in Fort Lauderdale.

Gjini, a former fighter orginally from Albania, said you never know what Clottey's mental state will be on fight night. It's not just that he's fighting the widely acclaimed pound for pound king of all boxing.

Clottey could have outpointed Miguel Cotto last June at Madison Square Garden but he went into a mental fog and stopped being aggressive in the final rounds. Clottey lost a split decision to the rugged Puerto Rican.

source examiner.com

Joshua Clottey in 'Best Shape' of His Career For Manny Pacquiao

2010-02-27T01:08:00.000-08:00

A native of Ghana who is preparing for a March 13 challenge for the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown held by seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), of the Philippines, Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 knockouts), of The Bronx, N.Y., spoke to FanHouse on Friday from his sleeping quarters near his training facility at Fort Lauderdale's Contender Gym in Fla.

This is the second of four diaries translated from Clottey that is appearing regularly on FanHouse as the 32-year-old fighter enters the most lucrative and biggest fight of his career.

Joshua Clottey wept, openly, earlier this month when a work Visa to the U.S. was denied to his preferred chief second, Godwin Nii Dzanie Kotey.

Kotey is perceived by many in their native Ghana as legendary and a father figure, having been the trainer for former welterweight star, Ike Quartey, of Ghana. Kotey was to be in Clottey's corner for the first time against Manny Pacquiao.

Kotey's presence was sought after Clottey had split with Kwame Asante in a reported disagreement over money -- this after Asante had served as Clottey's chief second for June's 12-round split-decision loss to then-WBO king, Miguel Cotto.

But now, with the biggest fight of his life on the horizon, Clottey was trainer-less.

Enter Lenny DeJesus (pictured above, left, with Clottey), a man Clottey had known of prior to employing DeJeus as the cutman for the Cotto fight.

A resident of the Bronx, the 32-year-old Clottey had seen DeJesus working with other fighters at the John's Gym, a venue he, himself, frequents that is located not too far from Yankees Stadium.

"I knew of DeJeus, but I didn't talk to him. Vinnie introduced me to him," said Clottey, referring to his manager, Vinnie Scolpino. "So he was used as a cut man in my fight with Miguel Cotto because he's been around for a long time. He seemed like a good choice."

Clottey said that DeJesus turned out to be even more of an asset during the fight with Cotto,

"When he was my cut man against Miguel Cotto, he pushed me. He sort of wakes you up, tells me some good things. We established a good relationship during the Cotto fight, so I chose him" to be primary trainer for the Pacquiao fight, said Clottey. "It was an easy transition. He motivates you."

Another advantage, said Clottey, is the fact that DeJesus knows a little bit about Pacquiao, having worked as the Filipino superstar's cut man throughout much the early part of his career.

DeJesus was last in Pacquiao's corner for the latter's March, 2005 loss to Erik Morales at super featherweight (130 pounds), after which Pacquiao won his next 11 bouts, eight of them by knockout.

A southpaw, Pacquiao has gotten more-and-more powerful as his weight has risen, having stopped his past four opponents, David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and, Miguel Cotto, respectively, while weighing 134, 142, 138, and, 144 pounds.

"Does DeJesus know a little bit about Manny Pacquiao? Yes," said Scolpino. "But we also know that Manny Pacquiao is a different fighter now than he once was. We're prepared, but we're preparing for the Manny Pacquiao of today."

Clottey said that his respect for Pacquiao's power is among the reasons he will dethrone him.

"I have more confidence this time around because I'm taking this fight like if I win, I have bigger things ahead. I have so much respect for Manny, so that gives me more confidence because I respect the guy," said Clottey. "I respect the guy because, if he has the chance, he can stop me. So I respect him because of that, and because of that, I'm more confident."

Conversely, said Clottey, it was his lack of respect for Cotto that led to his demise.

"When I went to fight Cotto, I knew, within me, or at least my thinking was, 'I could beat Cotto because I knew Cotto had not faced a guy like me before.' That was my thinking," said Clottey.

"I didn't respect him like he was going to cause any damage," said Clottey. "So, compared to that, I respect this guy, Manny Pacquiao, because he's stopped a lot of good guys. So, I'm giving him respect, and the respect will carry me through the fight."

Clottey, who weighed out at 154 pounds on Thursday, claims to be in the best shape of his life, and punching with more power than ever.

"We're two weeks from the fight, and that's where I want to be right now. I don't want to come down too much or too fast from sparring because that might hurt you," said Clottey.

"I eat a lot of chicken and a lot of fish. It's African food. I don't eat any other meat," said Clottey. "Sometimes, I have salads -- things that make me strong and to wake up in the morning and go jogging, or which can make me go to the gym and work out. I drink a lot of water and I'm very strong in the gym at work."

In photos, the challenger (pictured above) appears to have a more muscular upper body than ever.

"This is the best shape that I've ever been in. Because, I know that I've got a really tough fight with Manny, Pacquiao. All that you've seen from my photos is from the hard work of training," said Clottey, who a week ago, already was sparring 10, four-minute rounds with a 30 second rest in between and little if any fatigue.

"You know, I'm always in shape. I train even when I'm not fighting," said Clottey. "I play soccer. So when I start training, it doesn't take long. After a three weeks or a month, I'm strong."

And that, for Clottey, has meant more energy during sparring sessions, and, throughout his training overall.

"I've been trainig to do what I have to do. When the opening's there, I'm going to find them. When he's running, and he's moving around, I'll be able to cut off the ring," said Clottey. "When he stops running, I'll throw punches. And when I throw a punch, and he's there, I will be able to land it."

There are some who have questioned Pacquiao's ability to rise from one weight class to another with power, believing that he is on steroids or some other performance-enhancing drug.

Clottey, however, said that he is not among those who believes Pacquiao is dirty.

"Manny is a good man. He prays a lot. God gave him his power. He is a great champion, and this is going to be a difficult fight," said Clottey. "However, I have a plan: Hard punching, back him up, don't let him take charge. I will pressure him."

Source Boxing Fanhouse

Pacquiao-Clottey fight might draw 45,000 to Cowboys Stadium

2010-02-25T16:46:00.000-08:00

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Thursday the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight is “well on its way” to selling out the 45,000 seats at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

“The Event” is scheduled for March 13 for Pacquiao’s welterweight title.

Arum said during Thursday’s teleconference that he expects about 4,000 tickets to remain when the fighters arrive locally the week before the bout.

He said opening up additional seats would be up to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Arum said having a heavy undercard of Hispanic fighters helps appeal to the local Hispanic community. WBC super featherweight champion Humberto Soto (Mexico) will fight former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz (Chicago) for the vacant WBC lightweight title. Mexico’s Jose Castillo and Alfonso Gomez also highlight the undercard.

However, Arum suggested that many Hispanic fight fans have embraced Pacquiao, a Filipino who is widely considered the top pound-for-pound fighter in professional boxing.

Arum said he fell in love with Cowboys Stadium as a venue and hoped it could house a Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout.

Mayweather’s camp skipped a potential visit to Cowboys Stadium, which embarrassed Arum.

When that fight fell apart Arum immediately called Jones to arrange Cowboys Stadium for the Clottey fight. Speaking of the failed Mayweather bout, the ultimate deal breaker proved to be Mayweather’s camp insisting on stringent drug testing.

Clottey’s representatives didn’t ask for additional drug testing.

“I respect him too much as a fighter,” Clottey said. - Pacquiao vs Clottey

Source star-telegram.com

Will Clottey's strategy of wearing Pacquiao down work?

2010-02-24T21:06:00.000-08:00

Joshua Clottey and his team have said that their strategy for defeating Manny Pacquiao and taking his WBO welterweight title will revolve around wearing him down.

The immediate problem with this plan is that it's the same one that plenty of other fighters have tried in the past, and most failed spectacularly.

Granted that not all of them posed the same problems for Pacquiao that Clottey does, but the fact remains that wearing down Pacquiao is usually an uphill struggle.

Traditionally Pacquiao has always struggled with good counter punchers, and last came close to defeat against Juan Manuel Marquez. Clottey is a great counter puncher, but doesn't have the boundless energy needed to get the better of Pacquiao over 12 rounds. So as well as wearing Pacquiao down then, he will have to do it early and probably win by stoppage.

Obviously Clottey's trainers will have something more specific planned for Pacquiao than I've detailed here, but the plan seems like a gamble to me. Miguel Cotto thought his size advantage would make all the difference, and in the end he barely made a dent. Similarly the then larger Ricky Hatton was stopped in his tracks before he even got going.

As for Pacquiao and Freddie Roach, their preparations will probably sacrifice a few of the initial rounds, and wait until Clottty tires out and drops his output for Pacquiao to attack. The blueprint for beating Clottey seems to have been established and the biggest remaining factor seems to be Clottey's size and strength.

Hunter Lemore, Pittsburgh PA: "Clottey's big plan is to wear down the most durable fighter in the division, with his quit after round 6 style? This isn't going to end well for Clottey"

The gamble Clottey and his team seem to be taking is that being much bigger and stronger than Pacquiao, he will be able to hurt him early and tire him out. He might have some early success, but I can't see Pacquiao getting tired out, especially if Clottey drops the pace half way through.

Michael Brown, Pittsburgh PA: "Clottey will surprise a lot of people here, he can hit harder than Pacquiao and he can take a beating as well. If he doesn't do his usual later round fade out the fight will be close."

Clottey does have the power and chin to tough it out with Pacquiao, but I think he'll look too slow and sluggish compared to Manny's work rate. The first half might be closer than the Cotto fight, but so far Clottey hasn't shown any reason to suggest that he won't do his usual slowdown during the later rounds.

Chris Simpson, Greensburg PA: "Pacquiao will run through Clottey like a Filipino freight train and there isn't anyone out there who can stop him."

There are still three fighters who I think could give Pacquiao a run for his money. Those fighters are Floyd Mayweather, Antoino Margarito and Paul Williams. At least one of those fights will probably happen, possibly two. The only unlikely one is Paul Williams, but for the time being he's at light middleweight anyway.

Source Scott Heritage - examiner.com

Manny Pacquiao – Joshua Clottey Creating Buzz

2010-02-24T17:37:00.000-08:00

There are very few fighters that can capture the imagination of the public and create the excitement that Manny Pacquiao does. On March 13th, he will square off against Floyd Mayweather, JR., replacement, former IBF Welterweight Champion, Joshua Clottey in a 12 round WBO Title showdown. The steroid scandal has died down and now it’s back to business.

Joshua Clottey, 35-3, 20 KO’s, has never been stopped in his career, facing power-punchers like Miguel Cotto, Diego Corrales, and “Hands of Plaster” Antonio Margarito. His tight defense and consistency proves problematic for his opponents and if he keeps his head inside the ropes, Manny is going to have some serious problems. That is the intrigue here.

Pacquiao has to be favored and the game plan has to be to use straight punches to infiltrate the defense of Clottey. Clottey does very well fending off hooks, but the straight down the middle punches seem to be the weakness, and Manny is very good up the middle. Considering what Pacquiao did to Cotto, Ricky Hatton, and many other before them, it is likely that he has the power to hurt Clottey if he lands, but make no mistake, he’s in a real fight here on the 13th, and Clottey will be ready for the incoming.

The Pacquiao-Clottey PPV collision may give us some surprises or further cement the Filipino powerhouse as the best fighter in the game. Whatever happens, the world will be watching this fight, with the hopes that Manny pulls through and will eventually meet Floyd Mayweather, JR., inside the ring.

Source Geno McGahee - ringsidereport.com

Pacquiao and Mayweather need to take a page from De La Hoya

2010-02-24T17:16:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles - Maybe I can alienate myself to both Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather supporters in one flurry of the keyboard.

Before Oscar De La Hoya was the poster child for Golden Boy Promotions, the native of East Los Angeles was boxing's biggest star.

The biggest and brightest, a position that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather seem content on battling for in separate bouts during the first half of 2010.

The unraveling on Pacquiao and Mayweather's proposed battle for early 2010 has been well documented, as Manny now finds himself on a collision course with Joshua Clottey and Floyd is set to tangle with Shane Mosley.

While both camps point the finger at the other for the drug testing fiasco, I say there is enough blame for both Team Pacquiao and Team Mayweather to share.

When De La Hoya was in his full fistic glory, I never remember him skipping over a fight due to a stalemate on contractual stipulations. Loved him or hated him, The Golden Boy fought all comers.

How did Oscar become truly Golden? By fighting the biggest and best names over and over again, with no hesitation.

Pernell Whitaker, Julio Cesar Chavez, Genaro Hernandez, Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins, Fernando Vargas, Manny Pacquiao, and Floyd Mayweather are all on De La Hoya's Hall of Fame resume. He fought them all, and many others, without letting a scrap go by the wayside due to a roadblock at the negotiators table.

Pacquiao vs. Clottey and Mayweather vs. Mosley will be intriguing affairs for fight fans, but it is not the fight they wanted to see; a fight that failed to take place because of negotiations over a drug test.

Time for Pacman and Money to make sure the fight happens and carry the mantle of boxing biggest star without the business office drama.

Source Ricardo Lois - examiner.com

Clottey’s sparring mate Damian Frias takes us inside camp, says an upset over Pacquiao is possible

2010-02-23T21:18:00.000-08:00

In October of last year, once beaten contender Damian Frias made the move up in weight to the Welterweight division to face off with Mexico City’s Freddy Hernandez. Taking place in Laredo, Texas, the Showtime televised bout was a pivotal one for Frias in his career as his past few years up until that point had been marked by inactivity and injuries.

As the rounds went by, however, Frias didn’t appear to be himself and his passive attack saw him end up on the wrong end of a decision. In the fight Frias appeared apprehensive towards building up his work rate and despite a late rally it wasn’t one of his better nights. The 98-92 scorecards across the board reflected the actions of a fighter who simply didn’t bring his best on that night.

The Placetas, Cuba native took a little time off to regroup but insists his belief in his abilities was never in question. Upon returning to his home away from home, Contender’s Gym in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Frias eventually began to get himself back on track in hopes for a big 2010 campaign.

“I’m back in the gym training and trying to redeem myself,” Frias recently stated. “I’m working hard, working harder than before. My mindset is OK. I didn’t lose my confidence because I didn’t get beat down. I fought a full blown Welterweight. I stepped up to Welterweight and I felt that I could compete. The last round that I had in that fight actually showed me that if I choose to I can go ahead and knock these guys out if I come in there with that mindset instead of boxing.”

Contender’s Gym is like Frias’ home away from home and he goes about his regimen under the watchful eye of his trainer John David Jackson, who also looks over former champions Nate Campbell and Randall Bailey as well as Super Middleweight contender Allan Green. While Frias was certainly at ease being around familiar surroundings it wasn’t until recently when things again started to fully pick up as he crossed paths with an unlikely gym mate.

“I’ve been working with Joshua Clottey for the past two weeks,” Frias stated. “Actually almost everyday. We’ve been sparring like four times a week. It’s been intense and we are really working. He’s got my respect and I have his respect.”

Respect seems to be the type of word one who elicit when discussing Clottey, who is a solid fighter from the bottom to the top. The Accra, Ghana fighter is in line for a chance of a lifetime showdown with Manny Pacquiao on March 13th at Dallas Cowboys stadium and it’s a contest that some say he very well has a chance of winning. When assessing the preparation for the bout, Frias insists their sparring sessions aren’t for the feint of heart.

“It’s very intense,” Frias claimed. “I just got back in the gym and he really didn’t catch me at tip top shape so he forced me to get back real fast, faster than I wanted to. It’s OK because he is a guy who is in my weight class and he is considered elite and I can see that I can compete in the Welterweight class by sparring him.”

The 16-2 Frias also has a tentative bout lined up for March so both men are helping prep one another for their respected showdowns. While the action in the ring may be hot and heavy Frias insists that it has lead to a certain type of understanding between each man. Frias has been able to see many sides of Clottey in and out of the ropes.

“It’s a special bond, of course,” Frias noted. “I want to see him win. From what I can see I am his only real sparring partner. Other guys might come once a week. We’re working together and he’s also helping me. As a person from what I can see he is a humble, quiet guy. He’s a strong soldier but he’s humble at the same time. He’s real pleased, from what I can see, with where he is at. When he comes to the gym he comes ready. As soon as he comes he wraps his hands up, puts his cup on, and he’s ready.”

Sporting a 35-3 record with 20 knockouts, Clottey’s only losses have all been close affairs against former world champions. The Accra, Ghana fighter is ultra confident in his abilities and Frias points out some of the intangibles he has noticed during their time in closed quarters.

“His conditioning,” Frias said. “He has nice hand speed and he fights in combination. He’s not a dummy. He thinks, he’s quiet, and he fights very calm and from what I can see that guy doesn’t get tired at all. That’s one of his main strengths. He has some power too, he’s strong.”

It’s obvious that Clottey presents a very formidable challenge to anyone he steps in the ring with but he is still perceived as a heavy underdog to Pacquiao, who has been on a terror in his past four fights. But from getting to know the former champion on an intimate basis, Frias believes whole heartedly that everything lies in Joshua’s hands come March 13th.

“He’s good, he’s ready and it’s all up to him. If he comes to the fight with the right mindset he can be victorious and upset a lot of people. He’s not going to be a pushover for Pacquiao.”

Source examiner.com

Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey live stream on March 13, 2010 via PPV.

Pacquiao Spars With Tough Fighters

2010-02-23T18:00:00.000-08:00

Fighter of the decade and the world's best pound-for-pound boxer Manny Pacman Pacquiao has intensified his preparations for the March 13 fight against Joshua Clottey at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas, USA.

According to reports monitored by DAILY GUIDE SPORTS, the classic boxer is sparring with two tough fighters in order to be ready for the Ghanaian hard hitting pugilist.

The report indicates that Pacman is sparring with Steve Fobres who once fought Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and went the distance with him; and Raymund Beltran, a regular spar-mate.

Conditioning expert, Alex Ariza said, “Pacquiao showed amazing speed and power and was ready to go anytime.

“It was obvious that he was relaxed and happy and looking forward to the clash with Clottey (35-3, 21KOs)”, he noted.

He added that there is no welterweight in the world now who could beat Pacquiao and that includes Floyd Mayweathr Jnr and Shane Mosley.

Meanwhile, the city of Dallas is readying itself for the biggest boxing showpiece of the year.

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." Tickets for the fight had already been sold, selling from US$50 to US$700.

source Charles Nixon Yeboah - modernghana.com

Clottey's Problems

2010-02-23T16:59:00.000-08:00

I keep finding it strange that if you had proposed a Pacquiao-Clottey fight two years ago people would have thought you were a lunatic. They would have thought that Clottey would crush and batter the smaller Pacquiao. Part of me thinks that we're all in for a big surprise.

But then I think about Pacquaio's recent performances, and I think about Clottey and that doubt goes away. We know what Pacquiao can do, but the news out of Clottey's camp reaffirms my feelings about him; he's a guy who isn't meant to win. For some reason things just don't seem to work out for Joshua Clottey.

In this fight we've all heard that Clottey is without his preferred trainer, who remains in Ghana dealing with visa issues. Today on Boxingscene it is reported that he is working with Pacquiao's former cutman Lenny De Jesus.

I don't know enough about De Jesus to judge his fitness to train Clottey, but I do know that there needs to be a level of trust between a trainer and a fighter. I can't imagine that is easy to create just weeks prior to the biggest fight of your career.

Equally concerning is an article in the Las Vegas Boxing Examiner. We learn that Clottey's chief sparring partner is Damian Frias. Frias reports that things are going well in camp, but notably say, "From what I can see I am his only real sparring partner. Other guys might come once a week. "

I saw Frias fight on Showbox last year where he lost a clear decision to Freddy Hernandez. He's a decent fighter, but it does seem a little concerning that Frias, Boxrec's 250^th ranked welterweight, is Clottey's only major sparring mate. Manny Pacquiao, working at the Wildcard Gym, has an inexhaustible supply of good fighters to work with.

Does this mean Clottey can't win? Absolutely not. It does make one wonder if Clottey will be at his absolute best, if he will have given himself every advantage possible, as Pacquiao has. We know Pacquiao won't wilt in the last few rounds, he trains for it and lives for it. Will Clottey be ready? Will he be willing to do everything it takes? For a guy like Clottey - whose career has been a series of moments where he came up just short - it sounds like it could be part of a familiar pattern.

Source sportingnews.com

Manny Pacquiao, fighting fit and ready to fight

2010-02-23T16:27:00.000-08:00

Head trainer Roach had to ease back on his fighters training, anxious his man would peak too early before the March 13 bout at the cowboy’s stadium, Arlington, Texas. When asked how Manny felt about fighting at the venue Roach said his fighter is honoured to be fighting in such a venue, he’s thrilled and it’s given him the extra incentive in his training in his quest to please a packed crowd.

Freddy Roach suggested Pacquiao, 50-3-2, (38) will enter the ring around 149 – 149 ½ pounds on the night of the fight, his opponent Joshua Clotty, 35-3-0. (28), is expected to weigh at least 160 pounds come the night of the fight. When asked if he was concerned with the size difference, roach said “Many is a true welterweight now and will not be fighting below the 147 limit again, if Clottey comes in at 160 pounds that does not concern me, it will only slow him down and make our job a whole lot easier.

Manny Pacquaio is said to be in tremendous condition, he reportedly started training at 149 pounds, only two pounds above the contractual weight of 147 pounds.

Sparring
Those who have witnessed the pound for pound king in sparring have been giving glowing reports; some suggest he looks ready to fight tomorrow. The Pac-Man allegedly beat up journeyman Bryan Brooks in four rounds, and almost knocked out Mike Dallas, 11-0, when the 23 year old light welterweight accidently landed a blow south of the border. Roach drafted in a new addition to the Pacquiao sparring sessions, Abdullai Amidu, a welterweight from Ghana who is undefeated with a record of 18-0, (17).

Joshua Clottey
Meanwhile on the east coast Joshua Clottey is preparing himself for the biggest opportunity of his career, one he plans on grabbing with both hands. Without the massive entourage Clottey goes about his business in Florida. “I’m not only bigger I am stronger, I have a game-plane and a motivation to beat Manny Pacquiao” said Clottey “God has given me this opportunity and I will seize that opportunity on the night of March 13. Personally I know he’s worried about me, how big and strong I am; he knows I will present him with a lot of problems, I have worked hard my whole life for this opportunity”

Aftermath
The contractual details are unclear regarding a re-match clause should Pacquiao loose this fight. I’m guessing a fight of this magnitude would have such a clause, not that there would be a need for one. If the Ghanaian Clottey were to win I feel he would happily oblige, another massive pay day and a desire to prove the first win was no upset would be enough to lure both back into the ring. I see only two routes for Pacquiao should he be the victor, the first would be a fight against the winner of Floyd Maywaether vs. Shane Mosley, pencilled in for May 1st, at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada. The other option would be to boost his historic record by winning yet another title in an eight division, light middleweight. - Pacquiao vs Clottey

Source theboxinghistorian.com

Pacquiao vs Clottey Live Stream

2010-02-22T17:47:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Clottey Live Stream. After the destruction of Manny Pacquiao to Miguel Cotto, all eyes of boxing fans goes to Mayweather. The fight Pacquiao Mayweather comes close but later on both camp doesn't agree about the Olympics style that Floyd demanded and as a result Bob Arum find interesting with Clottey to be the next opponent of Pacquiao.

A few weeks ago Arum arrange the battle between Pacquiao vs Clottey. The rules was set for Pacquiao vs Clottey fight and the result for both camp is positive they both agreed at 147lbs. and the price stake.

But the said scheduled have never been change by Arum. Pacquiao vs Clottey is still scheduled this coming March 14, 2010. Just don't miss to watch Pacquiao vs Clottey Live Stream.

Would Pacquiao get dominated by Mayweather?

2010-02-22T06:51:00.000-08:00

I think it’s for the best that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. ended up not fighting. If they had fought, I have a strong feeling that the Pacquiao hype machine would end on that night with Mayweather making Pacquiao look ridiculous in beating him either by knockout or a hopelessly one-sided decision. Pacquiao is just too wide open and flawed with his fighting ability to beat a skilled boxer like Mayweather, in my view. Pacquiao is great at beating fighters that come at him and the type that are there for him to hit, but he looks bad if he has someone that can counter punch and move.

For example, Juan Manuel Marquez really exposed many of Pacquiao’s flaws in his two fights with him. I think Marquez beat Pacquiao in both fights, even though the judges gave it to Pacquiao in the 2nd fight. Mayweather, and even better counter puncher than Marquez, with lighting fast hand speed and excellent foot speed.

Pacquiao would likely have no chance against Mayweather, and would probably get picked apart. It’s good that Pacquiao was spared having to face that kind of a boxer, because by not fighting Mayweather – or even Shane Mosley or Timothy Bradley – Pacquiao can probably retire on a strong note by maybe beating up Miguel Cotto again for the WBA light middleweight title.
There’s also a fight against Edwin Valero, a straight ahead fighter that seems to be made for Pacquiao’s style of fighting. Mayweather, though, would probably be a living nightmare for Pacquiao. Both bigger and faster than Pacquiao, Mayweather would have almost every advantage you could think of in a fight against Pacquiao.

It wouldn’t matter what Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach came up with to beat Mayweather, it wouldn’t likely work at all. Mayweather would beat Pacquiao down, hitting him each time Pacquiao tried to throw one of his shots. Pacquiao wouldn’t be able to take advantage of any of Mayweather’s mistakes, because he wouldn’t be making any.

Mayweather wouldn’t be initiating the action like Pacquiao victims Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Instead, it would be Pacquiao who be forced to come at Mayweather and take his pin point shots to the head. I think it would be just an awful fight for Pacquiao. And what would be really bad is all the people that would see the fight.

The entire world would watch it, and remember it long after. Roach wouldn’t have a clue what to do to help Pacquiao out in this one. It’s beyond what Roach could come up. Mayweather has been trained since he was a small child at boxing, and has learned the craft quite well. And his physical tools make him even better. This fight would be like teacher beating up pupil.

I think it would be a massive slaughter with Pacquiao getting backside kicked by Mayweather. It’s a good thing that they don’t fight. Pacquiao is better off facing Cotto again, winning his 8th world title, and then maybe beating up Edwin Valero for his final fight. Those two fights would be an excellent way for Pacquiao to retire. He doesn’t need Mayweather. - Pacquiao vs Clottey

source Esteban Garduno - boxingnews24.com

Manny Pacquiao vs Joshua Clottey: The Case For Clottey

2010-02-22T00:06:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Clottey - You’re probably wondering how on earth can Joshua Clottey win this fight. He appears to have little chance when he faces off against Manny Pacquiao in three weeks. Not many people outside of his homeland of Ghana, West Africa think he can win.

Here’s why.
Clottey recently lost to Miguel Cotto. The same Miguel Cotto who got beat down by Pacquiao last year. I know that it’s silly to compare how two fighters fared against a common opponent but Clottey’s performance against Cotto simply does not match up well with Pacquiao’s.
Clottey also has shown a reluctance to pull the trigger in his biggest fights. Maybe it’s an issue of physical fatigue. Or maybe it’s simply mental. Whatever it is, this gun-shy nature, especially late in his two fights against Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto, cost him a chance at victory in both fights. If he commits the same sin against Pac Man, he may not last 12 rounds for the first time in his career.
Yes, it appears that Clottey has no chance. But looks can be deceiving.

The Case for Joshua Clottey: Physical Strength

For the first time, Manny Pacquiao will be facing off against a full-blown, welterweight. Not a blown-up Ricky Hatton coming off a knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather. Not a weight-drained Oscar De La Hoya fighting at 147 for the first time in years.
In Clottey, Pacquiao will be facing the strongest boxer in his career. Talented, yet naturally smaller boxers like Diego Corrales and Zab Judah were unable to hold up against Clottey. Will Clottey’s strength have a similar impact on the Pac Man?

The Case for Joshua Clottey: El Dinamita

In case you didn’t know, "El Dinamita" is Juan Manuel Marquez’s fighting nickname. Simply put, Clottey better be studying film of Pacquiao’s epic wars with Marquez like an undergrad cramming for Sweet Science 101: A Lesson in Counter-Punching by Juan Manuel Marquez.
Clottey is a natural counter-puncher. Watching tapes of Marquez-Pacquiao may give him the clues that he needs to pass the considerable test that is the Pac Man.

The Case for Joshua Clottey: Manny Pacquiao

Will thoughts of his political career after boxing or of a potential fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. later in the year cause Pacquiao to overlook Clottey? It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that the Pac Man is looking past Clottey.
He’s accomplished just about everything in his career. What does a win against Joshua Clottey mean? If what I say is true, the always-in-shape Clottey may be primed for an upset.
What do you think?
Next week, I will state the case for Manny Pacquiao. Stay tuned.

From fightinsight.com

Clottey could be Pacquiao’s last fight: Roach

2010-02-21T18:12:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Clottey - Boxing coach Freddie Roach said that if Floyd Mayweather Jr. keeps on playing “hard to get,” the former pound-for-pound king might actually miss the chance to fight 7-division world champ Manny Pacquiao.

Roach, who is currently training Pacquiao for his fight on March 13, said the Filipino boxer’s match with Ghana’s Joshua Clottey could be his last.

“If Mayweather doesn't come around after the fight and he doesn't sign to fight us, then this (Clottey fight) could be our last one,” the American trainer told EastSideBoxing’s On the Ropes.

Before signing up to fight Clottey, Pacquiao’s camp had negotiations with the Mayweather camp for a super fight. However, talks collapsed when the former pound-for-pound king demanded an Olympic style drug testing.

Pacquiao ended up setting a fight with Clottey to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title, while Mayweather opted to fight “Sugar” Shane Mosley.

Before the power-punching Pinoy faced Miguel Cotto in November last year, Roach said he’d be happy to see Pacquiao retire while still on top of his game.

“If negotiations with Mayweather fail and Manny wins against Cotto, he’ll be having seven world titles. Nobody has done that before, so there’s nothing else to prove,” the trainer told sports analyst Dennis Principe.

Pacquiao will also be very busy after the Clottey fight as he will be pursuing his political career. He is running for congressman in Sarangani province in the May 10 polls. The campaign for local posts starts on March 26.

It is widely believed that Mayweather came out of retirement to fight Pacquiao for what many has said would be the richest boxing match in history.

source http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/02/20/10/clottey-could-be-pacquiao%E2%80%99s-last-fight-roach

Pacquiao, 5 others are major Elorde awards honorees

2010-02-21T18:03:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines— Pacquiao vs Clottey - Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and five other world beaters will be the major honorees in the 10th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions on March 25 at the Harbour Tent of the Sofitel Hotel in Manila.

Pacquiao, who wrested Miguel Cotto’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title last November to become the only fighter to win seven crowns in as many weight divisions, leads the awardees as Boxer of the Decade.

Also to be feted in the awards rites commemorating the 25th death anniversary and 75th birth anniversary of Elorde are former and reigning world champions Donnie Nietes (WBO strawweight), Brian Viloria (International Boxing Federation light flyweight), Nonito Donaire (IBF flyweight), Marvin Sonsona (WBO flyweight) and Gerry Peñalosa (WBO bantamweight).

The 28-year-old Nietes defended his title for the second time by scoring a unanimous decision over Erik Ramirez on Feb. 28 last year. In his third defense, Nietes won by split decision over interim champion Manuel Vargas on Sept. 12.

Viloria, 29, won by unanimous decision over Mexican Ulises Solis on April 19 last year. He retained the title via the same verdict over Jesus Iribe on Aug. 29.

Donaire, 28, defended his title by stopping Raul Martinez in the fourth round, also on April 19. He then stopped Mruti Mthalane in a rematch on Aug. 1.

Sonsona won over Jose Lopez via a unanimous decision on Sept. 5 to become the youngest world champion at 20. But his reign was also the shortest—two months and 17 days—when he failed to meet the weight limit against Alejandro Hernandez. The bout ended in a split draw but Sonsona lost the crown under WBO rules.

The 37-year-old Peñalosa was the WBO bantamweight titlist at age 37 before he fought and lost by TKO in the 10th round to Juan Manuel Lopez on April 25 last year.

The event is presented by Johnny Elorde Management International and the Elorde Sports Foundation in cooperation with Pagcor, Smart Communications, Tanduay, Sofitel Hotel, Elorde gyms and Southpaw Bar and Grill.

Fifty years ago on March 16, Elorde stopped Harold Gomez at the Araneta Coliseum to start his seven-year reign as junior lightweight titlist—the longest by any boxer.

Source Roy Luarca - inquirer.net

Road To Dallas: Pacquiao vs. Clottey premieres Sat., March 6 on HBO

2010-02-20T23:27:00.000-08:00

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.

source: www.eastsideboxing.com

Pacquiao’s training hits a high chord

2010-02-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

With folk music blaring on the background, Manny Pacquiao, the current king of boxing, spoke the language of confidence Thursday moments after another tough day at the Wild Card Boxing Club, his training headquarters for the March 13 clash with Joshua Clottey in Dallas.

“No problem, I feel very good,” Pacquiao told The Bulletin after having his favorite meal at a Thai food restaurant located a few steps from the gym. "Tell our people that there's nothing to worry as I am training hard."

Pacquiao stressed that having little time for a good vacation after beating Miguel Cotto late last year turned out to be a blessing since he is not having a hard time getting back in shape.

“After only two weeks in the gym, I already felt great and I think it was not only because I am coming off a tough fight but I had to immediately report back to training camp,” said Pacquiao, who asked his interviewer to hold the long distance call while he sings the final notes of a song on karaoke.

As soon as he belted out the last note, Pacquiao was on the line again, assuring the man on the other end that there’s nothing to worry about as far as his preparation is concerned.

Pacquiao’s assurance that everything is right on track was echoed by Alex Ariza, the Filipino fighter’s touted conditioning coach.

“Manny is ready to fight this Saturday,” said Ariza, who marveled at the way the 32-year-old pound-for-pound king handled himself with the punch mitts during Wednesday’s workout.

“He did 15 rounds in the mitts without even a sip of water,” narrated Ariza.

Over at Clottey’s training camp in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, the boxingscene website reported that the Ghana slugger is also right on the money.

Clottey has been working out at the Contender’s Gym the last three weeks under the guidance of a new set of trainers since Godwin Dzanie Kotey, his long-time trainer, has yet to be granted a renewal of his US visa.

Despite the drawback, Clottey said he has no other choice but to move on.

“I already know in my head what I am going to do and how I am going to win,” Clottey said.

Source http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/244136/pacquiao-s-training-hits-a-high-chord

Pacquiao vs Clottey full fight card

2010-02-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

Below is the the list of match for the upcoming Pacquiao vs Clottey boxing fight on March 13, 2010 to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

• Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) vs. Joshua Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs)

• Humberto Soto (50-7-2, 32 KOs) vs. David Díaz (35-2-1, 17 KOs)

• José Luis Castillo (60-9-1, 52 KOs) vs. Alfonso Gómez (21-4-2, 10 KOs)

• Michael Medina (22-1-2, 17 KOs) vs. John Duddy (28-1, 18 KOs)

• Roberto Marroquín (12-0, 9 KOs) vs. TBA

• Salvador Sánchez (18-3-2, 8 KOs) vs. TBA

• Michael Farenas (26-2-3, 23 KOs) vs. TBA

Floyd Trying to Talk His Way To Victory Over Pacquiao

2010-02-18T17:01:00.000-08:00

Floyd Mayweather is not especially intelligent but he understands he can’t beat Manny Pacquiao inside the ring, so he must embark on a smear campaign to try to defeat the Filipino outside the ring – in the arena of public opinion.

Floyd knows his fists and his skills are just not formidable enough to get the highly dangerous job done. He knows his mind is inferior and not smart enough to out-think Pacquiao under pressure. And Floyd realizes his will is not strong enough to subdue the ferocious intensity to win a 12-round boxing match against Pacquiao.

But there is a single quality where the dishonorable American pugilist does hold an advantage over Pacquiao: he has a bigger mouth which can tell repeated lies and mistruths without a sense of shame. As we know, if a lie is repeated enough, it will eventually be believed by many.

So that’s all Mayweather can do now – is use his mouth to try to do the job his frail fists and faltering confidence can not accomplish – defeat Pacquiao by spreading lies and falsehoods.

As you may have noticed, Mayweather has been hanging around major sporting events like the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Game. The fork-tongued double-talker has double intentions – to promote his upcoming fight with Shane Mosley on May 1 and to discredit Manny Pacquiao in every possible way he can think of.

Mayweather wants you to believe Pacquiao is the one who pulled out of the fight in January because he wouldn’t agree to all of Floyd’s – NOT the Nevada State Commission’s – but Floyd’s personal demands for excessive random blood testing. But the little-known truth is, Mayweather advisor Al Haymon’s associate George Peterson told me the decision to cancel the Pacquiao-Floyd was made as far back as early December – obviously, because Team Mayweather concluded a boxing match against Manny Pacquiao was a “no win situation.” Yes, a severely brutal knockout loss at the fists of a smiling Asian man is a no-win situation indeed for an arrogant pretender like Mayweather.

As if ducking Pacquiao once wasn’t enough, after the Super Bowl and NBA All Star Game, now we have learned Mayweather aspires to duck Pacquiao again. Even if Pacquiao were to agree to Floyd’s 14-day random blood testing demands, that might not be enough now, says Floyd. And Floyd also stated that the 50-50 split may not work if Floyd-Mosley does bigger pay-per-view numbers than Pacquiao-Clottey.

Only the dim-witted wouldn’t be able to comprehend this is Floyd’s way to lay the foundation to duck Pacquiao for 2010 and perhaps the rest of his career.

Floyd may think he’s successfully pulled off the greatest duck in boxing history and that he has won the media war of words with the humble, quiet man from General Santos City. But one must understand that the mighty truth shall always destroy the ugly false.

“The lie of the emperor is always believed before the truth of the peasant.” -unknown

“If you bury the truth and bury it under the ground it will but grow and gather itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through it will blow up everthing it its way.” -Emile Zola

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it’s violently opposed. And third, it’s accepted as self-evident.” -Arthur Schopenauer

Source Scoop Malinowski - boxinginsider.com

LA boys exploiting Pacquiao

2010-02-18T16:44:00.000-08:00

Dashing and dapper in a three-piece suit, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, as expected, was a big hit with the predominantly Filipino crowd at the Pavilion of the Hilton Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where the Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury fight card was held on Valentine weekend.

Media friends who covered the event swore love was in the air as Manny and wife Jinkee greeted their friends, fans and kababayans.

My veteran colleague Ronnnie Nathanielsz, for one, said he was overwhelmed by the romantic aura exuded by the couple that night.

“Jinkee looked really lovely, while Manny was all smiles and obviously happy,” said Ronnie, who covered the Las Vegas fight with Dyan Castillejo for ABS-CBN. “He had a broad grin on his face as he moved around acknowledging the cheers and the handshakes from fellow Filipinos, Americans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Latino fans.

“Every TV network covering the event that night was scrambling for an interview with the pound-for-pound king. Not only that, everyone tried to get him to join their broadcast panel.”

Of course, Manny ended up with the tandem of Ronnie and Dyan.

“Manny was clearly in his element as he talked about his fight with Joshua Clottey in Texas next month,” Ronnie related. “He also talked about a program series that he wanted to do. Actually, we had talked about it in the past and the plan was to telecast all his old fights when he was still a kid and feature it on the late Rod Nazario’s “Blow by Blow” weekly TV show.”

“Of course, Manny’s stature, fame and fortune have skyrocketed since.”

Incidentally, many of the champ’s countrymen find disturbing the report that Manny is dangling a $20,000 prize for the member of Team Pacquiao who will lose the most number of pounds before the fight.

Instead of spending his money on incentives like this, the critics feel that Pacquiao could alleviate the plight of his poor countrymen at home by helping them get started on small livelihood projects.

“These people around Manny get fat eating off him, and now he will reward them for losing weight,” said one critic. “These LA (Los Angeles) boys whom he continues to coddle will be the first to forget him when his days as champion are over.”

source:inquirer.net

Roach: Opening rounds hard for Pacquiao, Clottey

2010-02-18T16:34:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Although boxing coach Freddie Roach is confident that Manny Pacquiao will demolish Joshua Clottey, he sees a very hard fight for both boxers.

The prized trainer said he thinks the March 13 bout between reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champ Pacquiao and challenger Clottey might even turn out just like the Miguel Cotto fight last November.

“Just like the Cotto fight... the first half of the fight will be really, really hard for both guys,” Roach said in an interview with FightFan.com.

Roach, who oversees Pacquiao’s training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California, acknowledges Clottey’s durability.

He, however, said the Ghanaian’s defense leaves much to be desired so he expects his Filipino ward to assert himself by the middle rounds.

“We will take over in the middle or late rounds,” said Roach.

Passive defense
Roach said he has patterned some of Pacquiao’s strategies against the Ghanaian’s “amateurish” defense.

“He's passive, he's way too passive,” he said while describing Clottey’s defensive stance. “That works in the amateurs. There's no counter punching in that defense. He waits for you to finish your combinations then he throws.”

Roach said the only way Clottey would be effective against Pacquiao is if the Ghanaian engages the Filipino into a full fight.

This means Clottey would have himself get hit before he can tag Pacquiao with power punches.

“For him to be effective, he has to hit while we're engaging also for him to land that power shot, but he seems like he doesn't do that a lot,” said the boxing coach.

Waiting for Pacquiao to get tired would only bring Clottey more trouble.

“[Because] Pacquiao… doesn't get tired,” said Roach.

Source http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/02/18/10/roach-opening-rounds-hard-pacquiao-clottey

Roach plans on having Pacquiao attack Clottey’s body

2010-02-17T15:06:00.000-08:00

Trainer Freddie Roach has come up with another one of his masterful strategies for his pupil WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in his upcoming March 13th fight against Joshua Clottey. In an article at Fight Fan, Roach says “He’s [speaking of Clottey] got a good chin and so forth, but nobody has tested his body as much as we well. People with good chins don’t always take it into the body.” You think? Thank you for telling me something I don’t know, Freddie. As far as I can tell, Clottey was already exposed for having problems taking shots to the body in his fights against Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto.

If you watch both of those fights, Clottey slowed way down after Margarito and Cotto started pounding him in the body with heavy hooks. Clottey then spent the remainder of the fight glued to the ropes doing a poor imitation of Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope. It would be a complete of waste of time for Pacquiao to even try to take Pacquiao out with head shots, because not only can Clottey take a great shot without showing any signs of being hurt, but he keeps a high guard at all times and it’s hard to penetrate with shots.

Clottey’s midsection is usually wide open and an inviting target for punches. This really the only choice Pacquiao will have if he wants to land anything in the fight. It’s nice that Roach made us all aware of what Pacquiao is planning on doing, though, as if I already didn’t know. I just hope Pacquiao is astute enough to follow Roach’s program and not start head hunting like he always does.

If he does this, Pacquiao will end up probably hurting his hands and taking a lot of shots in return. Pacquiao has his hands full anyway because he’s so little and not a real welterweight in terms of frame. Oaky, so think Pacquiao is probably going to go head hunting and will ignore Clottey’s midsection after giving him a few weak shots. I’ve never seen any of Pacquiao’s fights where he’s paid much attention to throwing to the body.

Pacquiao will probably stubbornly keep throwing to the head, and basically ignore what Roach is saying to him. This will make the fight harder for Pacquiao and make Roach frantic in his corner. I think Pacquiao will still win the fight, but he’s going to come out of the fight looking more like the loser than the winner. But what can you do? Pacquiao will beat up even if he goes to the body as well.

This is Clottey’s big chance and he’s not going to roll over on his back and kick up his legs like a dog an make it easy for Pacquiao. He’s going to pound Pacquiao and mess up his features probably. Pacquiao might not be able to sing that night. He wanted the fight. Getting beaten up is the byproduct of messing around with a tough fighter like Clottey.

source http://www.boxingnews24.com/2010/02/roach-plans-on-having-pacquiao-attack-clottey%E2%80%99s-body/

Freddie Roach Predicts Clottey will fall in the later rounds

2010-02-17T14:58:00.000-08:00

Reigning pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao's trainer has began to study his fighters next opponent, during a telephone interview with theboxinghistorian's Stacey Taylor, Roach said with only weeks remaining before the fight at the $1.2 billion Cowboy’s stadium, Arlington, Texas, he has dusted of the tapes and begun to dissect Clottey. The legendary trainer did not divulge how much time Manny Pacquiao has spent watching Clottey’s fights because the 31-year-old WBO welterweight champion usually gets bored watching tapes of his opponents. It’s Roach who spends many hours on the sofa of his new Los Angeles home studying the tapes. “I have been studying him quite a bit now. He is very strong and has a good chin but he makes too many fundamental mistakes and I think Manny will be the first person to knock him out,” he said during an interview with “on the ropes radio”. Clottey has never been knocked out in his life, winning 35 matches and losing only three, each one of them debatable.

The Grand Master first defeat was a disqualification in 1999 at the Wembley Arena, London, England. He was ahead on the cards but was warned repeatedly for leading with his head cutting his opponent Carlos Baldomir. His second loss came to Antonio Margarito in 2006, in round four of their bout Clottey seemed to hurt his hand while landing with an uppercut, he immediately went into retreat indicating a problem. Clottey lost a unanimous decision. In his last fight he lost a close competitive split decision loss to Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto. However Roach; referred to as “My Master” by Pacquiao, said the more he watches “The Grand Master”, the more he becomes convinced Pacquiao will stop him in the later rounds.

Source: theboxinghistorian.com

Pacquiao to fight Margarito in 2010?

2010-02-16T22:16:00.000-08:00

Whether World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO’s) fights Floyd Mayweather Jr. next after Manny dispatches his March 13th opponent Joshua Clottey, Pacquiao, 31, will likely be fighting former WBA welterweight champion later on in 2010. Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, is really interested in matching Pacquiao up with Margarito in 2010, provided that Margarito gets his boxing license back to fight in the United States.

If that happens, you can bet that Arum, the president of Top Rank, will put Pacquiao in with Margarito at the Dallas Cowboy stadium where Arum will be able to draw huge number of Hispanic fans from around the area who might want to see Margarito fight. It’s a smart move by Arum, because it will likely be a huge fight if Margarito gets his boxing license back.

However, it’s questionable whether Margarito will get his boxing license back from the California Athletic Commission, who revoked his license last year after a foreign plaster-like substance was found on Margarito’s hand wraps before his bout against Shane Mosley. This led to Margarito receiving a year suspension from the California Athletic Commission.

The year has since passed, and there’s no word as to when/if Margarito will finally get his boxing license back, if he ever does. It’s doubtful that Arum will take Pacquiao to Mexico for a fight between Manny and Margarito. So the chances of a Pacquiao-Margarito fight in the future will likely hinge on whether he can get his boxing license back or not. Many boxing fans and boxers are dead set against Margarito ever being able to box again, believing that he should be barred for life from boxing.

However, even if Margarito doesn’t get his license back, you can bet on him continuing his career in Mexico where he’ll still be able to fight. Margarito lost by a 9th round stoppage to Shane Mosley last year in their January 2009 bout. Before the loss to Mosley, Margarito was considered by many boxing fans to be the best fighter in the welterweight division. Margarito destroyed Miguel Cotto by an 11th round stoppage in July 2008.

It’s unclear how Pacquiao feels about the subject of fighting Margarito. There are likely other opponents that Pacquiao could fight besides Margarito that would give Pacquiao a better payday than him. Even if Pacquiao doesn’t end up fighting Mayweather, he could potentially make more money in a fight against a recently beaten Mosley rather than fighting Margarito you would think. Mosley, if puts in a good performance against Mayweather and yet still loses, would still remain a red hot fighter and an ideal one for Pacquiao to fight next.

source Eric Thomas - boxingnews24.com

Pacquiao strategy: Go for Clottey’s body

2010-02-16T22:03:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Since Joshua Clottey has a remarkable chin, Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao is more likely to attack the Ghanaian’s body.

According to his coach Freddie Roach, Pacquiao will test Clottey’s body like no other fighter has done before.

“He's (Clottey) got a good chin and so forth but nobody has tested his body as much as we will,” Roach said in an interview with FightFan.com. “People with good chins don't always take it into the body.”

Although Clottey was knocked down by Miguel Cotto in 2009, the durable Ghanaian has never been knocked out in a fight before.

However, Roach said that this might change when the power-punching Pacquiao assaults Clottey in the body.

“He's punching really [expletive] hard,” the trainer said of Pacquiao. I mean I wear that body suit, it doesn't help that much. He kills me. He's punching really, really well.”

Pacquiao is scheduled to fight Clottey on March 13 in the match called “The Event”. The bout is slated to take place at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Secret to good conditioning
Pacquiao, earlier, said that his training is going really well because of his conditioning.

“Maganda kasi na nakuha ko agad ang kundisyon ko kasi hindi ako masyadong matagal nagpahinga,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN Sports commentators Ronnie Nathanielsz and Dyan Castillejo during the live telecast of Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury 13 on Sunday.

“Last fight ko November so January, nakapag-training agad ako. Nandoon agad ang kundisyon ko,” he added.

In addition to that, Roach said Pacquiao regularly played basketball during his downtime after the Cotto fight.

“He plays basketball everyday… it's like his favorite sport. He runs and runs the court and he came in to the New York press conference [for the Clottey fight] at 148 pounds,” said Roach.

Now he wants to fly, too

The 7-time world champ, meanwhile, met Jessica Cox, the Filipino-American who gained the distinction as the only plane pilot without arms. The pilot has invited the boxing star to be her passenger.

Pacquiao was thrilled to have Cox as his pilot. “I'm excited for that,” he said.

The boxing star also said he plans to learn how to fly a plane with Cox’s help.

"Maybe after the fight, because now I'm busy with my training but after the fight, she can teach me how to," he said.

The Filipino American pilot, for her part, was also excited to meet Pacquiao, too.

"I've heard so much about him and I wanted to ask him if he has moves that he might suggest because of my taekwondo and he does boxing and I thought it would really be neat to get to meet him," she said. - Pacquiao vs Clottey

source http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/02/16/10/pacquiao-strategy-go-clottey%E2%80%99s-body

The Shadow of the Big One: Mayweather-Pacquiao

2010-02-16T15:26:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. started the promotional push for his May 1st date
with Shane Mosley down in Miami at the Super Bowl media nexus. Though, you couldn’t tell if you didn’t know already.

On the NFL Network, Mayweather’s five-minute segment hardly ever touched on the upcoming fight. Rather, Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders and the rest of the crew only wanted to dissect why the Manny Pacquiao fight fell apart.

“How much of a risk are you taking,” ESPNews first asked Mayweather, “by taking this fight ahead of a possible fight with Pacquiao?” To follow-up, the newscaster probed, “What are the chances we will see you and Pacquiao in the ring down the road?” Two opening questions. No mention of Mosley.

“I just want to see the [Pacquiao] fight, man,” implored comic legend Chris Rock, speaking with Mayweather on the 2livestews Radio Show. “Who you fightin’ now? Shane Mosley? Everybody beat Shane Mosley!” said Rock in jest. “I’m supposed to be impressed?”

Of course, boxing fans know Sugar Shane Mosley is a worthwhile opponent. Boxing fans know Mosley offers problems that Mayweather rarely deals with. Boxing fans know Mosley means a fight. And yet, the casual sports fan could care less.

Mayweather – Pacquiao differs from any other fight that can be made today. A bout between the two is a match-up the public wants. In the De La Hoya – Mayweather bonanza a few years ago, the promotion told the public they should watch. That fight might “save boxing,” read Sports Illustrated. That fight was an entree to a sporting public hungry for the big fight. With Pacquiao – Mayweather, the public isn’t just hungry for a big fight – they’re starving for THIS fight. The public views Pacquiao – Joshua Clottey and Mayweather – Mosley as mere appetizers before the main course. The casual sporting public doesn’t need the promotion to tell them to watch Manny versus Floyd. They can tell themselves.

So while boxing writers and fans rejoice that the boxing realm gets to see two great match-ups instead of one, the wider world still waits to see the one it really wants. And while some boxing fans may not care whether or not the sport receives extra exposure and reaches a bigger audience, the niche boxing inhabits in the United States cannot grow without the casual sports fan. The casual sports fan feeds the talent pool with more youthful hopefuls, and more talent can lead to a better, more dynamic, and more interesting sport.

So as you enjoy columns on Mayweather – Mosley, reflect on why you just read a piece on Mayweather – Pacquiao instead.

source JD Camacho - doghouseboxing

Betting odds steady for Pacquiao

2010-02-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines—He’s the shorter, lighter guy, but as far as fight fans are concerned Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao towers over Ghanaian challenger Joshua Clottey.

Betting odds for the Pacquiao-Clottey showdown for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, continued to tilt in favor of the Filipino pound-for-pound king, according to Gambling911.com.

With less than four weeks to go before the fight, billed as “The Event,” SportsInteractive.com put Pacquiao as a minus-556 favorite and Clottey a plus-300 underdog.

This means that a P556 bet on Pacquiao will earn just P100 if he wins, while a P100 winning bet on Cotto will net P300.

Sportsbetting.com, on the other hand, put Pacquiao—the only boxer to win seven world titles in as many divisions—at minus-500 and Clottey at plus-350.

There was little difference in the figures provided by Bookmaker.com which put Pacquiao at minus-440 and Clottey at plus-350.

The 33-year-old Clottey, however, seems unaffected by the little respect being accorded him, saying he knows how to handle southpaws like Pacquiao.

The Ghanaian said he has been training hard and ready to “shock the world” with an upset victory.

In a recent Kristal Hart show interview, Clottey (35-3 with 20 knockouts) said he will throw a lot of stiff jabs to prevent Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) from digging in and unleashing his power punches at short range.

source inquirer.net

Roach: “This [Pacquiao-Clottey] could be our last fight” if the Mayweather fight doesn’t happen next

2010-02-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

In a bombshell interview at East Side Boxing’s On the Ropes online program, trainer Freddie Roach revealed that this could be the last fight for his fighter World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. Roach says “If Mayweather doesn’t come and fight us next time, this [Pacquiao-Clottey] could be our last one.” Roach is obviously speaking only of Pacquiao, because I can’t see Roach retiring anytime soon.

But this is fairly earth shattering news if Roach isn’t just blowing smoke up our backsides with this, because by the recent statements coming from Floyd Mayweather about him wanting Pacquiao to take even more blood tests in the future if he plans on fighting him, it seems to suggest that the Clottey fight could be Pacquiao’s last bout of his 15-year pro boxing career.

That would a huge disappointment if Pacquiao does decide that this will be his last bout, because it would leave opponents like Edwin Valero, Mayweather and Paul Williams without the opportunity to test Pacquiao to see if he’s as good as the recent hype that’s been generated about him due to his wins over Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Oscar De La Hoya. As things are looking, it’s highly doubtful that Pacquiao and Mayweather are going to be able to come to any kind of agreement for a fight in the future with Mayweather insisting on random blood tests all the way up to the fight.

And Mayweather is now saying that if his May 1st fight against Shane Mosley does better financially than Pacquiao’s March 13th bout against Clottey, then it means he should get the bigger slice of the revenue for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. That’s just another reason to doubt that there will ever be a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao in the future.

As for the Pacquiao vs. Clottey fight, Roach says “Obviously we have to break him [Clottey] down. It’s [a possible knockout for Pacquiao] going to be in the late rounds. It won’t go 12 rounds. We’ll get him at some point along the way. It’s going to be a battle up to that point. I do think the body shots and work rate will be too much. I don’t think Clottey will keep up with us.”

Most of the betting money is being put on Pacquiao to win. Indeed, Clottey appears to be way over his head in this fight despite being ranked by the WBO as the number #1 contender. Oddly enough, Clottey is ranked number #1 despite the fact that he was beaten in his last fight by Miguel Cotto. Usually when a fighter is beaten, they slip in the rankings, but not in the case of Clottey.

He’s ranked number #1, above Cotto for some reason. Cotto was just beaten by Pacquiao in his last fight by a 12th round knockout. But beyond Cotto and Clottey, the talent pool is abysmal in the WBO top 15. Most of the fighters are more prospects than contenders in my view, and deeply flawed. It’s more than a little sad and disappointing to see how poor the opposition is in the top 15 for the WBO, and perhaps for that reason we have Clottey ranked as number #1, even though he just got beat.

Source boxiingnews24.com

Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey boxing fight on Marhc 13, 2010 at the Dallas Stadium.

Jamie Kavanagh On Sparring With Manny Pacquiao

2010-02-16T15:05:00.000-08:00

For 19-year-old Jamie Kavanagh, sparring with Manny Pacquiao is nothing short of a dream come true. Kavanagh spoke to FanHouse about the experience of helping the seven-division titlist prepare for the March 13 defense of his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title against Joshua Clottey.

http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2010/02/16/jamie-kavanagh-on-sparring-with-pacquiao/

The New Manny Pacquiao Defends His World Title in Digos City

2010-02-16T06:41:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Clottey - Balweg Bangoyan, the Filipino fighter that some people are calling the next Manny Pacquiao, will defend his WBC super bantam weight world title on March 2 at Don Mariano Track & Field Open Arena in Digos City in front of an anticipated crowd of around 50,000 people. (PRWEB) February 15, 2010 -- Balweg Bangoyan, the Filipino fighter that some people are calling the next Manny Pacquiao, will defend his WBC super bantam weight world title on March 2 at Don Mariano Track & Field Open Arena in Digos City in front of an anticipated crowd of around 50,000 people. Bangoyen boasts a 15-0 record with a 47% KO percentage. After he turned pro in 2006 Bangoyan has enjoyed an impressive career with the only blemish coming when his title was stripped from him for failing to defend it in the prescribed time.

Balweg "The Davao Hitman" Bangoyan will face up to 23 year old Korean, Jong Wong Jong, to defend his Super Bantam Weight Title. But Bangoyan made amends when he outpointed Raymond “Foreman” Sermosa in Manila last year to regain the crown that he believed was rightfully his. At just 23 years of age Bangoyan is a promising talent with boxing commentators and scribes from around the world touting him as the next Manny Pacquiao. With a handsome clean cut profile and a cheeky grin, Bangoyan is a favourite with the female fans and has amassed a large supporter base in his short career. He is currently training at the Tiger City Gym in Manila under the watchful eye of his trainer Frederick Wangkay. Balweg “Davo Hitman” Bangoyan will have to face up to the tough 23 year old Korean fighter, Jong Wong Jong to retain his title belt, but is quietly confident of a strong performance. Bangoyan's early fame and strong performances have attracted the eye of a new sponsor, with an Australian pharmaceutical company stepping in to sponsor the fight in Digos City. The Elmore Oil Company is a manufacturer of a pain relief lotion, called Elmore Oil, currently sold in the Philippines and used extensively at Balweg Bangoyan's home gym in Davao City. The company has a strong community spirit and currently runs a charity for street children in Ozamiz City with the support of the cities Mayor, Reynaldo Parojinog. The company's managing director, Mark Linford, believes Balweg Banyogan is a perfect fit for his company. “This young boxer seems to be a fine ambassador for his country and a great role model for the young people of The Philippines. This is exactly the type of person we like to support and assist in any way we can to progress their career. We will help Balweg progress and support him whenever we can because he is a good role model for kids and a future champion of the Philippine people.” The fight on March 2nd will coincide with the birthday of Davao del sur Vice Governor Simplico “Fely” Latasa who has declared that as a gift to her local people the entry to the fight shall be free. Latasa described Bangoyan as “one of the brightest Filipino prospects in years to hold a world championship” and a future champion of the people.

Source prweb.com

Watch Pacquiao vs Clottey fight on March 13, 2010 at Dallas stadium

Is Manny Pacquiao Too Good For His Own Good?

2010-02-16T06:31:00.000-08:00

In less than a month, Manny Pacquiao will square off against Joshua Clottey in Jerry Jones' spectacular new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

I predict the fight will be an action packed affair with the rugged Clottey giving it everything he's got.

It won't be like Pac-Man's fight with Ricky Hatton when "The Hitman" was so scared he almost collapsed entering the ring. (I hadn't seen anyone that scared since Frank Bruno entered the ring against Iron Mike Tyson back in the early '90s.)

Clottey will show up, which is why the first few round should be very entertaining.

I just don't think Clottey has the stuff to handle Manny's combinations, combinations that come from angles most boxers have never seen before in their entire careers.

That's the thing about Manny. He not only has incredible speed and power, but under Freddie Roach's tutelage, he has learned to let his hands go from any and all angles.

Oscar De La Hoya said it best in his own ring blog last August when he remarked that Pac-Man had the quickest hands he'd ever seen. According to Oscar "His punches don’t come from your basic boxing style; they come from all sorts of weird angles. That’s what makes him difficult.”

Clottey's tough, and he gave Cotto all he he could handle. But look what happened when Cotto faced Manny.

I see this fight going maybe eight or nine rounds before Clottey gets worn out and goes down for the count.

Then what?

Manny's at that stage where each of his fights are what you call legacy fights. No one will want him to get in the ring unless the money is right. And there aren't a lot of those fights out there for someone as good as Manny.

He will probably wait until after the Mayweather-Mosley fight and try to negotiate with the winner. But who know how that will go.

I don't think fight fans can assume Manny automatically fights the winner between Mayweather and Mosley, no matter who wins.

If Mayweather, wins there will be a lot of pressure on both fighters to make the mega-fight happen. But with all the bad blood between the two camps, that's certainly not a sure thing.

If Sugar Shane wins, there might not be enough money in that fight to make it worthwhile, especially since Mosley will not want to go back to the 65-35 split that he has agreed to for this bout.

Most likely Mosley will ask for a 50-50 split, and Arum's not likely to give that kind of split to a fighter who's never shown an ability to put fannies in the seat. Shane's more likely to get that in a rematch with Money May.

That leaves Pacquiao with two options. He can fight talented up and comers, guys like like stablemate Amir Khan, Edwin Valero, and Paul Williams. Unfortunately, none of these fighters would add considerably to Manny's legacy or his bank account.

Or he could fight inferior fighters for paychecks and until those top contenders fight each other, hoping one of them rises to the top of the heap.

But with convincing wins over several Hall of Famers already under his belt and political aspirations back in the Philippines, I don't really think that would interest him. There's just not enough up side for a fighter like Manny.

When you're as good as Manny Pacquiao, there's no reason to hang around and tarnish your legacy, which is why we might be seeing one of his last fights.

Source Bill Cody - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/346446-is-manny-pacquiao-too-good

Fight odds soar for Pacquiao

2010-02-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Clottey - Not even Freddie Roach’s statement that he sees the fight going the distance could keep the fight odds from sky-rocketing in favor of Manny Pacquiao. The other day, the four-time Trainer of the Year told fightfan.com that he’s not looking for a knockout. Instead, he said he sees a 12-round battle with Joshua Clottey. But no one seemed to listen as oddsmakers for the March 13 showdown at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas remained convinced it’s going to be one-sided. At least four online betting stations in the United States have placed Pacquiao as the overwhelming favorite, and the only way he could lose if he doesn’t show up on fight night.

Sportsbook, which has control of the betting stations in Las Vegas, has the 31-year-old Filipino superstar at -500 and Clottey, the hungry challenger from Ghana, at +300 with less than a month left. It’s so huge that you need $500 to win a hundred bucks if you’re rooting for Pacquiao, and that a $100 bet on Clottey gives you $300 in return in case he pulls off the upset of the century. At sportsbetting.com, Pacquiao was at -500 and Clottey at +350. Bookmaker.com was a little more conservative with its -440 for Pacquiao and +350 for Clottey while sportsinteraction.com has it at -556 and +300. Clottey having problems in training makes it easier for oddsmakers to point at Pacquiao as the favorite. First, the 33-year-old challenger could not take his long-time trainers with him to the United States after they failed to secure the required working visas from the US Embassy in Ghana. And while he trained briefly in New York, a snow storm kept Clottey indoors and unable to do roadwork. For his part, Pacquiao is in the thick of things at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. Those close to him say Pacquiao looked so fit the past week that he’s ready to fight Clottey tomorrow. Roach has even ordered the number of sparring rounds slashed from around 150 to just a little over a hundred. Still, Roach said he sees a tough fight. “The first half of the fight will be very hard for both guys,” he told fightfan.com. “Then we’ll take over in the middle or late rounds. Clottey waits for you to punch yourself out and get tired. But Manny Pacquiao doesn’t get tired,” he said. – Pacquiao vs Clottey

Source: philstar.com

The Final Score: Pacquiao is NBA All-Stars’ Choice

2010-02-16T06:19:00.000-08:00

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." 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 GMAnews.tv

Pacquiao vs Clottey Tickets - Whats the prices?

2010-02-16T00:11:00.000-08:00

As Pacquiao vs Clottey boxing fight is fast approaching a lot of fans has already book a seat at the Dallas Stadium to witness one of the most anticipated boxing event this year. And just like how fast the time is winding down to the event day, Pacquiao vs Clottey tickets is also selling fast. So, if you don't want to miss this boxing event of the year live at Dallas, better get one now. The tickets price is ranging from $73-$15,000.

Below is the Ticket prices for the Many Pacquiao vs Joshua Clottey boxing fight.

█ Ringside	- $834 - $15000
█ Floor	- $300 - $1950
█ Risers	- $575 - $880
█ Club Hall of Fame	- $399 - $999
█ Hall of Fame	- $181 - $536
█ Club Main	- $237 - $450
█ Main	- $139 - $312
█ Club Mezzanine	- $139 - $350
█ Mezzanine	- $73 - $199

Manny Pacquiao: Violently Graceful

2010-02-15T23:42:00.000-08:00

Boxing is a very violent sport, bloodshed is a common scene in a boxing match. Most of the time, boxers seem to be like wild, hungry beasts release to unleash horror. Pain in inevitable. Danger is always around, but just like any other sport, boxing is also a display of the extremes of human body's performance. Boxers are poets in action. Even though it is a bloodied sport, it is a sight to be hold.

A lot of boxers can punch hard, be agile and tireless. But only a handful have all of the three. One of them is Manny Pacquiao. Skills mesmerize the fans. From the die hard boxing fan to the casual boxing viewers, most people who watch boxing want to see something amazing. Something out of the ordinary. Something that can take your breath away and keep you at the edge of your seat for the whole 12 rounds. That is where Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao comes in.

Manny started in the lower divisions in his native country (The Philippines). Since boxing was his way of living, he didn't have enough resources to give him an advantage. He used his determination and hard work to survive in a cruel sport. He has come a long way since then, but one thing stayed consistent. Since the bell rang in his first ever match as a professional boxer, Manny has captured the attention of those who watched him. He defied the odds of poverty to be the best that he can be. He didn't mind being cheated as long as he plays the game with all his heart and believing that God is with him.

If there are great poets who captures our hearts with their poems, there are boxers like Pacquiao who do the same with their fists. But with Pacquiao, you will love him with or without gloves on. He smiles a lot out of the ring. He loves to joke around and even though he doesn't have an "American idol-type" of voice, he will serenade you with a song from his heart. He is as gentleman as a guy a can be. He doesn't talk bad against his foes. Win or lose, he's thankful he was able to share the ring with a fellow fighter.

Inside the ring, Manny is still a gentleman, but he's a gentleman who plans on inflicting pain. His hands are like dynamite wrapped in leather. He bounces off the canvass like its his own playground. His punches are so fast and so many that its like pellets coming out of the shotgun's barrel.

He gets inside and out so easy he's like a member of the Jabbawockeez. He trades punches like there's no tomorrow and the best of all, he always puts on a show no matter who he is fighting. With Pacquiao, there are no easy fights. It will only seem to be one sided after the bout.

Outside of the ring he's a funny guy, in the ring he's as scary as it gets. I understand why some boxers choose to avoid him. It's not easy being a boxer, let alone being on the opposite side of the ring with Manny Pacquiao. Just like what Muhammad Ali said: "Fly like a butterfly, Sting like a bee", the Pacman is just violently graceful.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Pacquiao Ready To Batter Clottey; Valero Wants Marquez

2010-02-15T17:09:00.000-08:00

“Fighter of the Decade” and pound-for-pound icon Manny Pacquiao has been “rejuvenated” leading up to his showdown against Ghana’s tough Joshua Clottey in “The Event” at the $1.2 billion Dallas Cowboys Stadium on March 13.

Pacquiao’s trusted adviser Michael Koncz told us that Pacquiao “is really motivated, he is excited to go to Dallas and that fantastic stadium over there. So far 30,000 in ticket sales. These new things in the regimen like the stadium, the big crowd its rejuvenating him and he’s really excited and training hard.”

Filipino trainer Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez said Pacquiao was in good condition which he indicated was 90 percent. Fernandez said “he peaked immediately because he didn’t lave a long layoff (from the Miguel Cotto fight) which lasted twelve rounds so he doesn’t have any problems with his condition returning right away.”

When asked about reports that Pacquiao was mauling his sparring partners, Fernandez replied “that’s what happens when he’s in condition and we’re hoping his training will go well all the way.”

Meantime, WBC lightweight champion Edwin Valero, the undefeated Venezuelan knockout artist with 27 KO’s in 27 wins continues to push for an eventual clash with Pacquiao which most fight fans believe will be a far more exciting fight than a Pacquiao clash with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

On returning to Venezuela, Valero who proved he can box as well as punch in his demolition of Antonio DeMarco said he was “ready to go up to whatever weight Manny wants in order to fight him.” At the same time Valero stressed he would “not require that he be tested for anything . I just want to get into the ring with Manny.”

He added, “whoever beats Pacquiao becomes the top dog in boxing. Pacman is my main objective for 2010.”

Before taking on Pacquiao, Valero indicated he would like to face Juan Manuel Marquez saying Marquez “is a great fighter and it would make for an exciting bout.”

Source http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=25339

Joshua Clottey still upset with coach’s no-show

2010-02-14T16:24:00.000-08:00

Joshua Clottey has yet to forgive Ghanaian boxing officials and even government for their inability to help him secure visa for his preferred trainer to travel with him to the USA. With exactly a month to go for his big chance against Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao in Dallas on March 13, Clottey is preparing without Godwin Dzanie Kotey.

The Ghanaian trainer popularly called Alloway’s absence in his training camp continues to be a worry for 32 year old Clottey.

And he is talking tough on the failure of the powers that be in Ghana to work out the visa problem when it is for a fight the whole world knows about. “I am with a trainer but not the one I want and you know it so don’t ask me because you know I came to Ghana to bring Alloway with me but they didn’t help me to come with him so I will do my best. I am fine but tell Ghana that they’ve disappointed me by not giving my trainer visa to come here with me,” a disenchanted Joshua said in a chat from the US.

But like the true warrior that he is, Joshua Clottey, 35-3 (20K0s), remains unruffled and has vowed to give off his best, even with the odds heavily stuck against him. No matter the problems surrounding his preparations, expect Clottey to be ready when he steps into the ring against Pacquiao for the WBO Welterweight title.

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

Source: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=176673

Clottey blames his low KO percentage on struggles to make 147

2010-02-13T03:41:00.000-08:00

In a recent interview, former International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO’s) candidly admitted why he’s had problems knocking out opponents as of late. Clottey, 32, says “This is the problem. I’ve been a welterweight for 16 good years. If you look at me from my head to my toe – my legs, my body, are all big. So sometimes I have to train hard to make the weight. So when you stay at the same weight for too long your knockout percentages comes down. I trained too much for the welterweight division. It’s not that I lack stamina.”

Whatever the case, the process of Clottey melting down to 147 has the effect of ruining his stamina and at the same time driving down his knockout percentage. If what Clottey says is true, then he should have really considered moving up to the junior middleweight division as early as 2004, as that’s when Clottey’s knockouts began to dry up.

At that time in his career, Clottey had a record of 26-1 with 19 knockouts. Since that time, Clottey’s knockout percentage has dropped off dramatically to the point where he’s had only one knockout in his last 11 fights. That’s a bad KO percentage for a top fighter. It means that Clottey is having to work harder for his wins, fight longer and take many more head shots than he would have if he was still knocking out his opponents.

On March 13th, Clottey faces World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao at the Dallas Cowboy stadium. Pacquiao is knockout pretty much everyone with his explosive punching power, and fast hand speed. Clottey’s revelation about his problems to make the 147 makes it even harder to see him having any chance against Pacquiao.

However, it didn’t take his comments to realize that Clottey has little chance to beat Pacquiao. Clottey hasn’t looked good in the ring for awhile now. In 2006, Clottey struggled to beat Richard Gutierrez, a good fighter but someone that Clottey should have been able to dominate. In Clottey’s next fight, he was soundly beaten by Antonio Margarito in a 12 round decision loss.

Clottey said afterwards that he had injured his hand during the fight, but he looked exhausted after the 4th round, fighting with his mouth open and sweating like crazy. That wasn’t because of his hand. If it was because of his struggles to make weight, Clottey should have considered moving up to the junior middleweight division at that time.

There were some good fighters at that weight class at the time such as Oscar De La Hoya, and Clottey might have had a chance to get a fight with him had he moved up in weight and dominated. However, Clottey chose to stay at welterweight, where he’s racked up wins over Diego Corrales, Felix Flores, Shamone Alvarez, Jose Luis Cruz and Zab Judah in the past three years.

His best opponents, Judah and Corrales, were too small to compete with Clottey. Corrales had been a lightweight for much of his career, and Judah has had only mixed results since moving up from the light welterweight division in 2005, losing four out of the eleven fights he’s had at welterweight.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Soto-Diaz added in Pacquiao vs Cotto fight

2010-02-11T18:39:00.000-08:00

Soto-Diaz added in Dallas.

WBC super featherweight champion Humberto “Zorrita” Soto and former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz will meet for the vacant WBC lightweight title, headlining the pay-per-view undercard of the March 13 Pacquiao vs. Clottey pay-per-view telecast. The card will also feature 10-round rumbles between two-time world champion Jose Luis “El Terrible” Castillo in a welterweight battle against top-10 contender Alfonso Gomez and “Ireland’s” John Duddy in a middleweight duel with Michael “Myckol” Medina.

“The pay-per-view undercard is a perfect complement to the main event, capturing the cultural flavor of Texas” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “Each matchup will feature a world class fighter from a different region of Mexico or a Hispanic region in the United States. And the fans who watch the fight live at Cowboys Stadium will be treated to seeing Salvador Sanchez III, the nephew of the great champion Salvador Sanchez, and undefeated Dallas wunderkind Roberto Marroquin in separate non-televised undercard bouts.”

Source fightnews