Bob Arum Tells Floyd Mayweather, Schaefer: "Go To Hell!"
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Would Mayweather have beaten Pacquiao?
By Dave Lahr: Since the potential mega fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao appears all but finished, boxing fans are left to wonder what might have happened had the stars of the sport fought on March 13th. We’ll probably never know at this point. However, it seems likely that Pacquiao would have had huge problems with the size, reach and boxing ability of Mayweather.
Pacquiao seemed to struggle during parts of his recent fight with World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto when the Puerto Rican fighter began to box and move on the outside. Pacquiao was forced to chase after him and eat a lot of jabs in the process.
Cotto isn’t nearly as good at moving and boxing as is Mayweather. Pacquiao would have been open for a lot of shots from Mayweather while chasing after him. In most of Pacquiao’s fights, he’s gone up against opponents that either stood there or else came at him. In other words, Pacquiao hasn’t had to chase down a sneaky defensive specialist like Mayweather.
The way I see the fight taking place is like this:
It would have been tough task for the smaller Pacquiao. Mayweather has centered his career around moving and boxing from the outside against fighters like Pacquiao. It would have been a fight where Mayweather would have likely held all the cards. Pacquiao would have little choice but to attack Mayweather, because if he were to let Mayweather stand on the outside, Pacquiao would have probably been riddled to pieces with Mayweather’s long jabs. But in going after Mayweather, that’s where Pacquiao would have had his main problems.
Mayweather can change directions at the drop of a dime to elude an opponent. Pacquiao tends to leave himself open when he’s rushing wildly forward trying to make contact with his opponents. This would present Mayweather with countless opportunities to blast away at Pacquiao with check left hooks and right hands to the head. Pacquiao might have great offensive skills when it comes to slugging, but he is capable of being hurt if he’s hit hard. Mayweather would have been putting hands on Pacquiao, hitting him each time Pacquiao came rushing forward.
There’s a good chance that Mayweather would have opened a cut over one of Pacquiao’s eyes early on in the fight. Once Mayweather had Pacquiao cut, he’d start aiming his shots at that area to try and further blind the injured Pacquiao and make it difficult for him to see where the punches are coming from. With only limited vision out of one eye, Pacquiao would have had problems against Mayweather. At this point, Mayweather would have unloaded a storm of punches on Pacquiao, possibly leading to a stoppage
By Dave Lahr: Since the potential mega fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao appears all but finished, boxing fans are left to wonder what might have happened had the stars of the sport fought on March 13th. We’ll probably never know at this point. However, it seems likely that Pacquiao would have had huge problems with the size, reach and boxing ability of Mayweather.
Pacquiao seemed to struggle during parts of his recent fight with World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto when the Puerto Rican fighter began to box and move on the outside. Pacquiao was forced to chase after him and eat a lot of jabs in the process.
Cotto isn’t nearly as good at moving and boxing as is Mayweather. Pacquiao would have been open for a lot of shots from Mayweather while chasing after him. In most of Pacquiao’s fights, he’s gone up against opponents that either stood there or else came at him. In other words, Pacquiao hasn’t had to chase down a sneaky defensive specialist like Mayweather.
The way I see the fight taking place is like this:
It would have been tough task for the smaller Pacquiao. Mayweather has centered his career around moving and boxing from the outside against fighters like Pacquiao. It would have been a fight where Mayweather would have likely held all the cards. Pacquiao would have little choice but to attack Mayweather, because if he were to let Mayweather stand on the outside, Pacquiao would have probably been riddled to pieces with Mayweather’s long jabs. But in going after Mayweather, that’s where Pacquiao would have had his main problems.
Mayweather can change directions at the drop of a dime to elude an opponent. Pacquiao tends to leave himself open when he’s rushing wildly forward trying to make contact with his opponents. This would present Mayweather with countless opportunities to blast away at Pacquiao with check left hooks and right hands to the head. Pacquiao might have great offensive skills when it comes to slugging, but he is capable of being hurt if he’s hit hard. Mayweather would have been putting hands on Pacquiao, hitting him each time Pacquiao came rushing forward.
There’s a good chance that Mayweather would have opened a cut over one of Pacquiao’s eyes early on in the fight. Once Mayweather had Pacquiao cut, he’d start aiming his shots at that area to try and further blind the injured Pacquiao and make it difficult for him to see where the punches are coming from. With only limited vision out of one eye, Pacquiao would have had problems against Mayweather. At this point, Mayweather would have unloaded a storm of punches on Pacquiao, possibly leading to a stoppage
Mayweather is a master tactition in and out of the ring, and you know he has been planning and plotting this for months before there was ever serious talk for this fight. And man did this shit work like a charm. The man is playing chess and he's already in the mind of Pacman and his fans before a punch or training camp has even began.
I could see Pac being upset if Mayweather was asking him to test only, but Mayweather is also agreeing to the same intrusive testing for the sake of a clean fight on both sides. If you have nothing to hide, even if you see it as a sign of disrespect, you do it to prove him wrong, but the worst thing you could do is leave doubt in the eyes of the fans and the media. They will never let up, especially if he lost the fight very badly.
I could see Pac being upset if Mayweather was asking him to test only, but Mayweather is also agreeing to the same intrusive testing for the sake of a clean fight on both sides. If you have nothing to hide, even if you see it as a sign of disrespect, you do it to prove him wrong, but the worst thing you could do is leave doubt in the eyes of the fans and the media. They will never let up, especially if he lost the fight very badly.
to some it might seem like a chess move/mind game what have you, but i look at it as straight pussy shit! like said before the proof is in the pudding boxers get caught in boxing if they on one. the pussy boys accusing manny of bein on some shit is as pussy as it gets considering he's never tested positive or nothing. it's pretty obvious to me that pbf don't wanna fight or is THAT willing to put his unbeaten record on the line. shit mayweather sr. said it himself that he don't want his son to fight cuz he knows he goin get mollywhopped lol.
If you think Team Mayweather's request for additional testing has anything to do with the 'sake of a clean fight on both sides' you're trippin.
The test has everything to do with what you said: Getting under Manny's skin, in attempt to have him enter the fight distracted or even angry.
If you ask me, it shows a lack of confidence from Team Mayweather.
If Team Mayweather was all about playing fair, then why did they con Marquez into thinking Floyd was going to make a catch weight when they know damn well Floyd had no intentions on making that catch weight?
That's true, but you could also look at it as dignifying the allegations by taking them. Either way, people are acting like he's refusing to be tested all together.
I personally don't see what's wrong with NSAC testing...but again, its all a ploy by Team Mayweather to weaken their opponent mentally.
The guy is already moving up in weight, and taking on the challenge. Floyd is SUPPOSED to win this fight. He won't gain very much by beating the smaller man, just like he says...its a lose-lose.
The test has everything to do with what you said: Getting under Manny's skin, in attempt to have him enter the fight distracted or even angry.
If you ask me, it shows a lack of confidence from Team Mayweather.
If Team Mayweather was all about playing fair, then why did they con Marquez into thinking Floyd was going to make a catch weight when they know damn well Floyd had no intentions on making that catch weight?
That's true, but you could also look at it as dignifying the allegations by taking them. Either way, people are acting like he's refusing to be tested all together.
I personally don't see what's wrong with NSAC testing...but again, its all a ploy by Team Mayweather to weaken their opponent mentally.
The guy is already moving up in weight, and taking on the challenge. Floyd is SUPPOSED to win this fight. He won't gain very much by beating the smaller man, just like he says...its a lose-lose.
Hopefully mayweather accepts. I think this is fair, leave it up to the state of Nevada...
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Top Rank Makes Final Offer
By Mark Vester
Top Rank's Bob Arum has made a final counter-offer to save the March 13 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. If Golden Boy Promotions does not accept his counter, he plans to move forward with finalizing a deal to have former junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi step in as the replacement for Mayweather on the March date. Arum has give Golden Boy a Monday deadline.
Mayweather-Pacqauiao is on the verge of being postponed because of an ongoing dispute on the handling and schedule of the random Olympic-style drug tests.
Arum told the Los Angeles Times that each fighter [per his counter-offer] will agree to take unlimited random urine tests, and to let the Nevada State Athletic Commission decide if additional blood testing is necessary at their January 19 meeting.
"We will allow Golden Boy to present experts to the commission to explain why additional testing is required, and we'll explain our position," Arum said. "Then we'll let the Nevada commission decide. If Nevada says we need to do more testing, we'll do more, but if they don't, we won't. Nevada is the one who should have the say, not the fighters."
"If the commission says both fighters have to give blood as they're walking into the ring, we'll do it. But I want the commission saying it, not some outside group with an agenda. If they say no to this, that shows they don't want the fight."
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Top Rank Makes Final Offer
By Mark Vester
Top Rank's Bob Arum has made a final counter-offer to save the March 13 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. If Golden Boy Promotions does not accept his counter, he plans to move forward with finalizing a deal to have former junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi step in as the replacement for Mayweather on the March date. Arum has give Golden Boy a Monday deadline.
Mayweather-Pacqauiao is on the verge of being postponed because of an ongoing dispute on the handling and schedule of the random Olympic-style drug tests.
Arum told the Los Angeles Times that each fighter [per his counter-offer] will agree to take unlimited random urine tests, and to let the Nevada State Athletic Commission decide if additional blood testing is necessary at their January 19 meeting.
"We will allow Golden Boy to present experts to the commission to explain why additional testing is required, and we'll explain our position," Arum said. "Then we'll let the Nevada commission decide. If Nevada says we need to do more testing, we'll do more, but if they don't, we won't. Nevada is the one who should have the say, not the fighters."
"If the commission says both fighters have to give blood as they're walking into the ring, we'll do it. But I want the commission saying it, not some outside group with an agenda. If they say no to this, that shows they don't want the fight."
Promoter Arum wants an agreement from Schaefer by Monday or else Malignaggi will be n
By Jim Dower: In an article from the Los Angeles Times today, they’re reporting Bob Arum, the promoter of World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, has given a counteroffer to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, saying that Arum wants an agreement by this Monday from Floyd Mayweather Jr. to have unlimited random urine tests, and the let the Nevada Athletic Commission decide on whether any extra blood tests are needed beyond the two blood tests that Pacquiao has already agreed upon.
Pacquiao is already agreed to having a blood test 30 days before the fight, and immediately after. Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions have been seeking additional blood tests within the 30 day window. Pacquiao doesn’t want to take the extra tests, feeling that it weakens him to have blood taken from his body so close to the fight.
Arum wants the Nevada Athletic Commission to decision on the matter of whether the additional blood tests are needed during their next meeting on January 19th.
Arum says “Nevada [referring to the Nevada Athletic Commission] is the one who should have the say, not the fighters.
Normally, only urine is tested before fights. However, the Mayweather camp wanted extra testing for the March 13th fight, and recommended that the U.S Anti Doping Agency be used to test both fighter’s blood at random times leading up to the fight. Arum and the Pacquiao team don’t want Mayweather and his management team to dictate what kind of tests should be done before the fight, especially when it’s not unusually done for fights in Nevada.
Arum seems agreeable to doing whatever the Nevada Athletic Commission says, commenting “If the commission says both fighters have to give blood as they’re walking into the ring, we’ll do it. But I want the commission saying it, not some outside group with an agenda.”
As of now, Arum is prepared to finish negotiations with former International Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi for a fight against Pacquiao on March 13th, if Mayweather’s team doesn’t agree to the counteroffer that Arum has left for them. Malignaggi wouldn’t be nearly as popular as Mayweather, but he’ll make it interesting for as long as it lasts. Malignaggi doesn’t care about whether Pacquiao takes blood tests are not, as he’s just happy to get the fight with him because of the huge payday he’ll receive by fighting Pacquiao.
By Jim Dower: In an article from the Los Angeles Times today, they’re reporting Bob Arum, the promoter of World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, has given a counteroffer to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, saying that Arum wants an agreement by this Monday from Floyd Mayweather Jr. to have unlimited random urine tests, and the let the Nevada Athletic Commission decide on whether any extra blood tests are needed beyond the two blood tests that Pacquiao has already agreed upon.
Pacquiao is already agreed to having a blood test 30 days before the fight, and immediately after. Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions have been seeking additional blood tests within the 30 day window. Pacquiao doesn’t want to take the extra tests, feeling that it weakens him to have blood taken from his body so close to the fight.
Arum wants the Nevada Athletic Commission to decision on the matter of whether the additional blood tests are needed during their next meeting on January 19th.
Arum says “Nevada [referring to the Nevada Athletic Commission] is the one who should have the say, not the fighters.
Normally, only urine is tested before fights. However, the Mayweather camp wanted extra testing for the March 13th fight, and recommended that the U.S Anti Doping Agency be used to test both fighter’s blood at random times leading up to the fight. Arum and the Pacquiao team don’t want Mayweather and his management team to dictate what kind of tests should be done before the fight, especially when it’s not unusually done for fights in Nevada.
Arum seems agreeable to doing whatever the Nevada Athletic Commission says, commenting “If the commission says both fighters have to give blood as they’re walking into the ring, we’ll do it. But I want the commission saying it, not some outside group with an agenda.”
As of now, Arum is prepared to finish negotiations with former International Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi for a fight against Pacquiao on March 13th, if Mayweather’s team doesn’t agree to the counteroffer that Arum has left for them. Malignaggi wouldn’t be nearly as popular as Mayweather, but he’ll make it interesting for as long as it lasts. Malignaggi doesn’t care about whether Pacquiao takes blood tests are not, as he’s just happy to get the fight with him because of the huge payday he’ll receive by fighting Pacquiao.
Berto-Mosley: More intriguing fight than people think
By Peter Wells: The first top draw fight of 2010 is just over a month away now, set for 30th January at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The fights main event will feature the 3rd best boxer in the world Shane Mosley fighting World Boxing Council welterweight champion Andre Berto in a WBC/WBA unification fight.
Shane Mosley will have been inactive exactly a year since stopping the Welterweight hardman, Antonio Margarito, whom was later found out to be attempting to wear illegal hand wraps. Mosley took the WBA champion to school just after Margarito had defeated Miguel Cotto and maybe ruined what was to be a glorious career. Antonio never won a round, beat down, floored in the 8th and stopped the next; it was Shane’s turn around fight. It was Shane’s 39th stop from 46 victories. Suddenly the whole division avoided him, including Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Mosley made his case to Floyd Mayweather’s face after Floyd beat Juan Manuel Marquez in his return fight.
Despite what people say, Andre Berto is no man to take easy, since winning the WBC title in June 2008 by stopping Miguel Angel Rodriguez, he has gone on to make 3 successful defences of his belt. Firstly he beat Steve Forbes on points on the Mosley-Mayorga undercard in a one sided contest. Then his close victory over Luis Collazo, where he was exposed in many ways; but did just enough to take his title home with him. Then after all the criticism he outclassed Juan Urango in a completely dominant person, almost floorless.
Berto has fought some decent names but hasn’t fought anyone in Mosley’s league yet, and will need to be on his best when the fight comes around. Every great fighting has to start with a fight like this, a fight where he is going against a much better fighter than himself, and if he is truly great he will succeed, and this is how this fight is. If Berto is going to be a future great, he will exceed expectations here and come out on top, but if he isn’t yet ready, or never will be ready, we shall see Mosley come out with all the belts.
I can’t say whether Berto will be great or not, but lets just say that both fighters will give there best performances of there careers so far. Mosley will be strong early on, with Berto starting slowly as he did versus Collazo. Mosley gets through on a few occasions to take the first 3 rounds. Berto starts to move more try to get under the jabs of Mosley, but gets caught for most of the next two rounds. As we enter the second half of the fight Mosley is up 60-54, and is growing in confidence and going up in the gears. Berto will look out of his depth but will start to find his rhythm and will catch Mosley with some very hard shots. Mosley will keep his head till the very end, controlling the majority of the fight, but will concede a few rounds near the end.
By Peter Wells: The first top draw fight of 2010 is just over a month away now, set for 30th January at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The fights main event will feature the 3rd best boxer in the world Shane Mosley fighting World Boxing Council welterweight champion Andre Berto in a WBC/WBA unification fight.
Shane Mosley will have been inactive exactly a year since stopping the Welterweight hardman, Antonio Margarito, whom was later found out to be attempting to wear illegal hand wraps. Mosley took the WBA champion to school just after Margarito had defeated Miguel Cotto and maybe ruined what was to be a glorious career. Antonio never won a round, beat down, floored in the 8th and stopped the next; it was Shane’s turn around fight. It was Shane’s 39th stop from 46 victories. Suddenly the whole division avoided him, including Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Mosley made his case to Floyd Mayweather’s face after Floyd beat Juan Manuel Marquez in his return fight.
Despite what people say, Andre Berto is no man to take easy, since winning the WBC title in June 2008 by stopping Miguel Angel Rodriguez, he has gone on to make 3 successful defences of his belt. Firstly he beat Steve Forbes on points on the Mosley-Mayorga undercard in a one sided contest. Then his close victory over Luis Collazo, where he was exposed in many ways; but did just enough to take his title home with him. Then after all the criticism he outclassed Juan Urango in a completely dominant person, almost floorless.
Berto has fought some decent names but hasn’t fought anyone in Mosley’s league yet, and will need to be on his best when the fight comes around. Every great fighting has to start with a fight like this, a fight where he is going against a much better fighter than himself, and if he is truly great he will succeed, and this is how this fight is. If Berto is going to be a future great, he will exceed expectations here and come out on top, but if he isn’t yet ready, or never will be ready, we shall see Mosley come out with all the belts.
I can’t say whether Berto will be great or not, but lets just say that both fighters will give there best performances of there careers so far. Mosley will be strong early on, with Berto starting slowly as he did versus Collazo. Mosley gets through on a few occasions to take the first 3 rounds. Berto starts to move more try to get under the jabs of Mosley, but gets caught for most of the next two rounds. As we enter the second half of the fight Mosley is up 60-54, and is growing in confidence and going up in the gears. Berto will look out of his depth but will start to find his rhythm and will catch Mosley with some very hard shots. Mosley will keep his head till the very end, controlling the majority of the fight, but will concede a few rounds near the end.
Ted Sares’s Top Boxing Awards for 2009: Pacquiao, Mosley, Roach, More!
By Ted Sares:
1. Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao
An easy choice this year. After retiring Oscar De La Hoya late in 2008, he rendered unconscious Ricky Hatton in two and then stopped Miguel Cotto after he finally chased him down in the 12th round. Manny is THE event fighter in boxing going into 2010.
2. Fight of the Year: Bernard Dunne vs. Ricardo “Maestrito” Cordoba
Dunne was dropped and hurt badly twice in the fifth round while his Panamanian opponent was decked in the third and then three times more in the eleventh round after which the fight was finally stopped in front of a roaring crowd in Dublin.
3. Round of the Year: Round twelve, Rogers Mtagwa vs. Juan Manuel Lopez
“Juanma” was almost taken out by “The Tiger” from Philadelphia by way of Tanzania, but fought back to survive the grueling round and win the fight with his title on the line. “The Tiger” is the kind of guy that can make this list in different categories every year.
4. Breakthrough Fighter of the Year: Yonnhy Perez
At 20-0, he first stopped Silence Mabuza in South Africa in the 12th round to win the IBF bantamweight title eliminator. Then, in a great fight which featured incredible punch volume, he beat Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko to win the title. Though born in Colombia, he has done all of his work in the U.S and mostly in California. This stylist will be tough to dethrone.
5. Upset of the year: Juan Carlos Salgado over Jorge Linares
Undefeated WBA super featherweight champion Linares is dropped twice in the first round by unknown Salgado and loses his title in Tokyo in a shocker.
6. KO of the Year: Pacquiao over Ricky Hatton in round two
It was decisive, scary and chilling. It was the kind that should make the victim think about other career options and left observers worrying about his future well being.
7. Most Exciting Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao
Who else? With his speed, in-and-out whirlwind style, and malefic punches coming from every angle, he brings electricity into the ring every time he fights.
8. Comeback Fighter of the Year: Sugar Shane Mosley
After so-so performances against Miguel Cotto in 2007 and Ricardo Mayorga in 2008, Sugar Shane was seen as aging and was not expected to do much against the then imposing (but soon to be disgraced) Antonio Margarito who had demolished the same Cotto. Instead, he fought an almost perfect fight destroying the “Tijuana Tornado” in brutal fashion over 9 furious rounds. SSM is back and good to go.
9. Worse Decision of the Year: Ali Funeka vs. Joan Guzman
American judge Joe Pasquale had it right at 116-112. The two Canadian judges had it wrong at 114-114 for a majority draw. All one had to do was to look at Guzman’s face at the end of the fight to know how awful this decision was.
10. Trainer of the Year: Freddie Roach
He trains Manny Pacquiao. Enough said. But for some icing on the cake, he also has done a great job with Amir Khan.
11. Ugliest Boxing Moment of the Year
Heavyweight Joey Abell’s after-the-bell KO over fellow-Minnesota resident Raphael “The Silencer” Butler (35-8) in the first round on December 4 resulted in Butler being silenced with what looked to be a sucker punch. As Butler lay unconscious, his corner man ran into the ring after Abell upon which Abell’s corner joined the fray. What ensued was a mini-riot and a no-contest.
12. Ugliest Boxing story of the Year
“Wrap Gate” featuring Antonio Margarito and trainer Javier Capetillo who were suspended after their instantly infamous handwrap controversy in January.
13. Good Guy of the Year Award: Showtime announcer Nick Charles
Like a fighter, just give me one round at a time and I’ll eventually win. I have a positive attitude, a strong Christian faith, and an amazing support system especially within the boxing family.
–Nick Charles
Nick, a class act indeed has been behind the microphone to call hundreds of fights. Now, he has his own fight as he battles bladder cancer. Nick warrants the prayers of every boxing fan and our collective wishes for a full and complete recovery.
By Ted Sares:
1. Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao
An easy choice this year. After retiring Oscar De La Hoya late in 2008, he rendered unconscious Ricky Hatton in two and then stopped Miguel Cotto after he finally chased him down in the 12th round. Manny is THE event fighter in boxing going into 2010.
2. Fight of the Year: Bernard Dunne vs. Ricardo “Maestrito” Cordoba
Dunne was dropped and hurt badly twice in the fifth round while his Panamanian opponent was decked in the third and then three times more in the eleventh round after which the fight was finally stopped in front of a roaring crowd in Dublin.
3. Round of the Year: Round twelve, Rogers Mtagwa vs. Juan Manuel Lopez
“Juanma” was almost taken out by “The Tiger” from Philadelphia by way of Tanzania, but fought back to survive the grueling round and win the fight with his title on the line. “The Tiger” is the kind of guy that can make this list in different categories every year.
4. Breakthrough Fighter of the Year: Yonnhy Perez
At 20-0, he first stopped Silence Mabuza in South Africa in the 12th round to win the IBF bantamweight title eliminator. Then, in a great fight which featured incredible punch volume, he beat Joseph “King Kong” Agbeko to win the title. Though born in Colombia, he has done all of his work in the U.S and mostly in California. This stylist will be tough to dethrone.
5. Upset of the year: Juan Carlos Salgado over Jorge Linares
Undefeated WBA super featherweight champion Linares is dropped twice in the first round by unknown Salgado and loses his title in Tokyo in a shocker.
6. KO of the Year: Pacquiao over Ricky Hatton in round two
It was decisive, scary and chilling. It was the kind that should make the victim think about other career options and left observers worrying about his future well being.
7. Most Exciting Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao
Who else? With his speed, in-and-out whirlwind style, and malefic punches coming from every angle, he brings electricity into the ring every time he fights.
8. Comeback Fighter of the Year: Sugar Shane Mosley
After so-so performances against Miguel Cotto in 2007 and Ricardo Mayorga in 2008, Sugar Shane was seen as aging and was not expected to do much against the then imposing (but soon to be disgraced) Antonio Margarito who had demolished the same Cotto. Instead, he fought an almost perfect fight destroying the “Tijuana Tornado” in brutal fashion over 9 furious rounds. SSM is back and good to go.
9. Worse Decision of the Year: Ali Funeka vs. Joan Guzman
American judge Joe Pasquale had it right at 116-112. The two Canadian judges had it wrong at 114-114 for a majority draw. All one had to do was to look at Guzman’s face at the end of the fight to know how awful this decision was.
10. Trainer of the Year: Freddie Roach
He trains Manny Pacquiao. Enough said. But for some icing on the cake, he also has done a great job with Amir Khan.
11. Ugliest Boxing Moment of the Year
Heavyweight Joey Abell’s after-the-bell KO over fellow-Minnesota resident Raphael “The Silencer” Butler (35-8) in the first round on December 4 resulted in Butler being silenced with what looked to be a sucker punch. As Butler lay unconscious, his corner man ran into the ring after Abell upon which Abell’s corner joined the fray. What ensued was a mini-riot and a no-contest.
12. Ugliest Boxing story of the Year
“Wrap Gate” featuring Antonio Margarito and trainer Javier Capetillo who were suspended after their instantly infamous handwrap controversy in January.
13. Good Guy of the Year Award: Showtime announcer Nick Charles
Like a fighter, just give me one round at a time and I’ll eventually win. I have a positive attitude, a strong Christian faith, and an amazing support system especially within the boxing family.
–Nick Charles
Nick, a class act indeed has been behind the microphone to call hundreds of fights. Now, he has his own fight as he battles bladder cancer. Nick warrants the prayers of every boxing fan and our collective wishes for a full and complete recovery.
Manny, Mayweather, Malignaggi and New Years Eve: Parallels revealed
By Jordan Stoddart: Belly full of Turkey and beer? Check. Weird sense of impending doom and financial ruin inbound? Check. Realisation that Christmas is an unbelievable moment when utilised for its fundamental reasons, but ultimately has been exaggerated, distorted and moved so far away from what it stands for, that it is about as moralistic and soul cleansing as it is refunding that present you received yesterday which is going straight back to which ever store is stupid enough to refund it? Check. What about the next week? How the bloody hell do you get through that torrid time of travelling, shopping and drinking without losing the plot? Ahh, good old New Years Eve. It’s like its cousin and partner in crime Xmas, with drastically less presents, a lot more booze and lots more of your hard earned pennies to dispense. The chiming of those bells and the comradeship of your buddies at that crucial beginning of a new year should be the cataclysm of a great age to come. Those bucket lists, those ideas, those dreams, their all going to come to fruitation, not a minute to spare, the great year of hope and change is upon you. Doh! The Tequila and Duff beer have disappeared, you have £3.17p in your bank, you told your Boss she’s good looking but irritating, oh and the rent is due. The whole bloody thing was a hoax! Why didn’t I listen, its happened 25 times in my lifetime! Are we suitably depressed yet? Then let’s begin.
Two of the strongest and rawest reactions I have witnessed in Boxing recently were Paulie Malignaggi’s response to being pulled out in the 11th round of his (what should have been career defining) fight with Ricky Hatton back in November 2008, and his heartfelt and justified speech post his first fight with Juan Diaz (35-2) in Houston earlier this year. Paulie is brash, cocky and possesses a larger than life character. He is a great fighter in the sense he is brilliant technically, utilises his strengths well, has great reflexes, footwork, and also owns a great set of whiskers as is evident in his war with the recently defeated Miguel Cotto (34-2). On the flipside, he is the lightest puncher in his division, can sway from game plans and strategies too easily and can be found not grasping the opportunities he has admirably created, although on his day, he is a pleasure to watch and at a push can be in the mix with the best fighting out of the 140 division. Paulie lost his fight with Hatton quite easily, but do not let this result cloud your view of the Magic Man (27-3) as he himself will inform you of his bad preparation for that fight, and most evidently, his lack of discipline in the ring, highlighted ironically by his grappling and holding tactics which so many accuse Hatton of exploiting on a regular basis. To most, it seemed that the Magic Matador would return to his position as a gatekeeper of his weight division, and provide stern tests for fighters on the rise like his old foe Cotto, or maybe his supposed new foe Amir Khan. Malignaggi didn’t. He did what every other proud Italian/American fighter has done before him, and will do since; he fought his way back into the mix.
Any sane man person in the Toyota Centre, Houston on the controversial night he lost a unanimous decision to Juan Diaz would have thought immense sympathy for the fighter who was once Cotto’s worst nightmare. His infamous broken cheekbone, and blood splattered tear up with the Puerto Rican was a stepping stone to this much talked about, but more importantly well fought out loss. Yes, a loss. In the eyes of many, Paulie won. Even more confusing is the fact that the result wasn’t really the shock, it was the unbelievable and quite frankly disgraceful scoring which made Malignaggi’s record look like he had taken a punishing one sided beating, much the like the one he received from Ricky Hatton at the MGM back in 2008. Malignaggi did not perform an orthodox press conference when addressing the media back in August. He used his time well to conclude his pre-fight thoughts and predictions of biased judges, and how the general running of his and our beloved sport is ruining its actual integrity. Some might have thought ‘we didn’t need to know that’. After all, one can browse this very site and find the usual ‘boxing is dead’ statements which are constant, consistent, but mostly unfounded cries of boredom. Paulie let rip at the Politics, the fraud and the downright despicable affects of a money making, fan pleasing underworld. Man he had balls that night. It was a refreshing alternative to the ‘he was a great fighter, but I was too strong’ clichés, although the American still found time to compliment the winner by scores of 118 – 110, 115 – 113 and 116 – 112.
The rematch was a treat. I mean, it had a great storyline, backdrop and had not added spice, but a moral and personal battle brewing. One wanted to avenge that dreadful decision, on a neutral patch I might add, whilst the other needed to prove that although fundamentally The Magic Man had a point, he was outclassed and beaten well by a rising star first time out. They fought out a much better fight this time around, and man fighting out of Brooklyn, New York performed exceptionally well, at times, boxing clever with breathtaking footwork and generally outstanding althletisism and a good mixture of firepower. Dancing his way round the ring, and added mostly unseen power in his hooks and jabs, Paulie done himself and the Boxing fan justice. He won a 116 – 111 on all 3 Judges cards at the UIC Pavillion in Chicago. Around the same time as this much heralded rematch, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao had begun to sit down after their Christmas Dinners, of Juan Marquez stuffing, and Miguel Cotto, in a Turkey baked, Cranberry sauce dressed dinner, and were looking to better that, both financially and in a bigger sense a sporting spectacle unseen to most of us for decades. For 2 weeks the unthinkable seemed to happen; there were no hitches, unreasonable demands or setbacks to the negotiations for what we were being told was ‘the biggest fight since the four kings graced our screens’.
Fast forward a month and the turkey is now dry and unwanted on your plate. Tales of steroid abuse, compulsory drug tests being turned down, and the usual non attendance of Money at planned meetings once the dollar starts being discussed, have clipped this birds wings, and has no doubt robbed us paying fans of another super fight, only this one would have matched the top two pound for pound fighters in the world for the first time in years. This episode of late could well provide fuel to the ‘end of boxing’ brigade for months to come. It backs up the Italian/American fighter’s claim that greed and corruption prevail in a world where entertainment and competition should reign supreme. Manchester United play Liverpool twice every year, the same happens with the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Knicks, hell Formula One racing has everyone fighting each other every two weeks for a whole season, why not us? The fact of the matter is, Boxing is an individualistic sport, which HAS to be run by promoters and businessman, who hell yeah, have shading doings and dodgy connections, but what do you expect from a sport that is staged and fed directly in Sin City? A ‘fair world’ will never exist when over 60 belts dictate the landscape that it operates in. To me, ‘Pound 4 Pound’, ‘2 go to War’ or ‘Battle of the Planets’ does not feature in my 2010 calendar. If it happens, then that’s a excellent bonus, here is my 30 bucks, but there is too much going on in this sport already. Too much for it all to stop and gear up for another mega/super fight, I have had 4 already over the last year.
Malignaggi/Diaz II was my Christmas dinner. Built on suspicion, controversy and unproved fundamental like its festive parallel; it still did the trick when those thousands of fans sat down at the arena or in front of their TV’s. It cost money, sure it did, but those 45+ minutes hit the nail on the head. The storyline was played out with a Hollywood theme, and delivered exactly what we wanted; an unlikely winner and hero, certified entertainment and maybe a bit of justice to those who felt he was robbed in the first outing. The dust has now settled on that match up, and most already have, or did have, one eye on Pacquiao V Mayweather, the big New year celebration, that 1 fight that is going to settle the ‘best fighter’ debate, the boring but irritatingly compelling Pound for Pound debate, and the one that will be the dreaded saviour of Boxing. The fight of the decade. I think I will pass thanks. I had my fingers burned on previous New Year’s celebrations, see De la Hoya, Hatton, Juan Marquez and Hatton again. I had one unexpected party when the pride of the Philippines cemented his status against a game, but battle weary Cotto, but my well earned pounds could do without being tempted out again for another over hyped, and ultimately predictably pugilistic Superbowl. (Debatable, but all dreams fade, that is a certainty; as is Floyd Mayweather sucking in yet another over aggressive and tailor made opponent over 12 rounds, playing to his undoubted role as the finest defensive fighter that has lived over the past 15 or so years) Hours, days, months dedicated to tales of unfairness, egos to massage and PPV’s to sell, Boxing does not need another New Years party, it needs more of 2009, and more of the Christmas dinner with the family. Unexpected superstars, the nurturing of the new bread, the headline makers in Carl Froch, Edwin Valero and Andre Ward, not headline grabbing and demoralising party poopers from the Golden Boy Promotions and TopRanks of this world. More Magic, not Money. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all at BoxingNews24.com, ESB and the like. [email protected]
By Jordan Stoddart: Belly full of Turkey and beer? Check. Weird sense of impending doom and financial ruin inbound? Check. Realisation that Christmas is an unbelievable moment when utilised for its fundamental reasons, but ultimately has been exaggerated, distorted and moved so far away from what it stands for, that it is about as moralistic and soul cleansing as it is refunding that present you received yesterday which is going straight back to which ever store is stupid enough to refund it? Check. What about the next week? How the bloody hell do you get through that torrid time of travelling, shopping and drinking without losing the plot? Ahh, good old New Years Eve. It’s like its cousin and partner in crime Xmas, with drastically less presents, a lot more booze and lots more of your hard earned pennies to dispense. The chiming of those bells and the comradeship of your buddies at that crucial beginning of a new year should be the cataclysm of a great age to come. Those bucket lists, those ideas, those dreams, their all going to come to fruitation, not a minute to spare, the great year of hope and change is upon you. Doh! The Tequila and Duff beer have disappeared, you have £3.17p in your bank, you told your Boss she’s good looking but irritating, oh and the rent is due. The whole bloody thing was a hoax! Why didn’t I listen, its happened 25 times in my lifetime! Are we suitably depressed yet? Then let’s begin.
Two of the strongest and rawest reactions I have witnessed in Boxing recently were Paulie Malignaggi’s response to being pulled out in the 11th round of his (what should have been career defining) fight with Ricky Hatton back in November 2008, and his heartfelt and justified speech post his first fight with Juan Diaz (35-2) in Houston earlier this year. Paulie is brash, cocky and possesses a larger than life character. He is a great fighter in the sense he is brilliant technically, utilises his strengths well, has great reflexes, footwork, and also owns a great set of whiskers as is evident in his war with the recently defeated Miguel Cotto (34-2). On the flipside, he is the lightest puncher in his division, can sway from game plans and strategies too easily and can be found not grasping the opportunities he has admirably created, although on his day, he is a pleasure to watch and at a push can be in the mix with the best fighting out of the 140 division. Paulie lost his fight with Hatton quite easily, but do not let this result cloud your view of the Magic Man (27-3) as he himself will inform you of his bad preparation for that fight, and most evidently, his lack of discipline in the ring, highlighted ironically by his grappling and holding tactics which so many accuse Hatton of exploiting on a regular basis. To most, it seemed that the Magic Matador would return to his position as a gatekeeper of his weight division, and provide stern tests for fighters on the rise like his old foe Cotto, or maybe his supposed new foe Amir Khan. Malignaggi didn’t. He did what every other proud Italian/American fighter has done before him, and will do since; he fought his way back into the mix.
Any sane man person in the Toyota Centre, Houston on the controversial night he lost a unanimous decision to Juan Diaz would have thought immense sympathy for the fighter who was once Cotto’s worst nightmare. His infamous broken cheekbone, and blood splattered tear up with the Puerto Rican was a stepping stone to this much talked about, but more importantly well fought out loss. Yes, a loss. In the eyes of many, Paulie won. Even more confusing is the fact that the result wasn’t really the shock, it was the unbelievable and quite frankly disgraceful scoring which made Malignaggi’s record look like he had taken a punishing one sided beating, much the like the one he received from Ricky Hatton at the MGM back in 2008. Malignaggi did not perform an orthodox press conference when addressing the media back in August. He used his time well to conclude his pre-fight thoughts and predictions of biased judges, and how the general running of his and our beloved sport is ruining its actual integrity. Some might have thought ‘we didn’t need to know that’. After all, one can browse this very site and find the usual ‘boxing is dead’ statements which are constant, consistent, but mostly unfounded cries of boredom. Paulie let rip at the Politics, the fraud and the downright despicable affects of a money making, fan pleasing underworld. Man he had balls that night. It was a refreshing alternative to the ‘he was a great fighter, but I was too strong’ clichés, although the American still found time to compliment the winner by scores of 118 – 110, 115 – 113 and 116 – 112.
The rematch was a treat. I mean, it had a great storyline, backdrop and had not added spice, but a moral and personal battle brewing. One wanted to avenge that dreadful decision, on a neutral patch I might add, whilst the other needed to prove that although fundamentally The Magic Man had a point, he was outclassed and beaten well by a rising star first time out. They fought out a much better fight this time around, and man fighting out of Brooklyn, New York performed exceptionally well, at times, boxing clever with breathtaking footwork and generally outstanding althletisism and a good mixture of firepower. Dancing his way round the ring, and added mostly unseen power in his hooks and jabs, Paulie done himself and the Boxing fan justice. He won a 116 – 111 on all 3 Judges cards at the UIC Pavillion in Chicago. Around the same time as this much heralded rematch, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao had begun to sit down after their Christmas Dinners, of Juan Marquez stuffing, and Miguel Cotto, in a Turkey baked, Cranberry sauce dressed dinner, and were looking to better that, both financially and in a bigger sense a sporting spectacle unseen to most of us for decades. For 2 weeks the unthinkable seemed to happen; there were no hitches, unreasonable demands or setbacks to the negotiations for what we were being told was ‘the biggest fight since the four kings graced our screens’.
Fast forward a month and the turkey is now dry and unwanted on your plate. Tales of steroid abuse, compulsory drug tests being turned down, and the usual non attendance of Money at planned meetings once the dollar starts being discussed, have clipped this birds wings, and has no doubt robbed us paying fans of another super fight, only this one would have matched the top two pound for pound fighters in the world for the first time in years. This episode of late could well provide fuel to the ‘end of boxing’ brigade for months to come. It backs up the Italian/American fighter’s claim that greed and corruption prevail in a world where entertainment and competition should reign supreme. Manchester United play Liverpool twice every year, the same happens with the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Knicks, hell Formula One racing has everyone fighting each other every two weeks for a whole season, why not us? The fact of the matter is, Boxing is an individualistic sport, which HAS to be run by promoters and businessman, who hell yeah, have shading doings and dodgy connections, but what do you expect from a sport that is staged and fed directly in Sin City? A ‘fair world’ will never exist when over 60 belts dictate the landscape that it operates in. To me, ‘Pound 4 Pound’, ‘2 go to War’ or ‘Battle of the Planets’ does not feature in my 2010 calendar. If it happens, then that’s a excellent bonus, here is my 30 bucks, but there is too much going on in this sport already. Too much for it all to stop and gear up for another mega/super fight, I have had 4 already over the last year.
Malignaggi/Diaz II was my Christmas dinner. Built on suspicion, controversy and unproved fundamental like its festive parallel; it still did the trick when those thousands of fans sat down at the arena or in front of their TV’s. It cost money, sure it did, but those 45+ minutes hit the nail on the head. The storyline was played out with a Hollywood theme, and delivered exactly what we wanted; an unlikely winner and hero, certified entertainment and maybe a bit of justice to those who felt he was robbed in the first outing. The dust has now settled on that match up, and most already have, or did have, one eye on Pacquiao V Mayweather, the big New year celebration, that 1 fight that is going to settle the ‘best fighter’ debate, the boring but irritatingly compelling Pound for Pound debate, and the one that will be the dreaded saviour of Boxing. The fight of the decade. I think I will pass thanks. I had my fingers burned on previous New Year’s celebrations, see De la Hoya, Hatton, Juan Marquez and Hatton again. I had one unexpected party when the pride of the Philippines cemented his status against a game, but battle weary Cotto, but my well earned pounds could do without being tempted out again for another over hyped, and ultimately predictably pugilistic Superbowl. (Debatable, but all dreams fade, that is a certainty; as is Floyd Mayweather sucking in yet another over aggressive and tailor made opponent over 12 rounds, playing to his undoubted role as the finest defensive fighter that has lived over the past 15 or so years) Hours, days, months dedicated to tales of unfairness, egos to massage and PPV’s to sell, Boxing does not need another New Years party, it needs more of 2009, and more of the Christmas dinner with the family. Unexpected superstars, the nurturing of the new bread, the headline makers in Carl Froch, Edwin Valero and Andre Ward, not headline grabbing and demoralising party poopers from the Golden Boy Promotions and TopRanks of this world. More Magic, not Money. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all at BoxingNews24.com, ESB and the like. [email protected]
Haye interested in fighting Vitali Klitschko in Africa
By Scott Gilfoid: World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye is looking to repeat Muhammad Ali’s Rumble in the Jungle by fighting WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in Africa next year in 2010. According to an article from the Daily Mail Haye is interested in setting up a bout worth £30million in Gabon. “Ali is a massive hero of mine and if I could do something like he did then I’d love it,” Haye said. “Maybe we [Vitali Klitschko] can stage the new Rumble in the Jungle. I am looking to leave a legacy and to be able to fight in every continent would be tremendous.”
That sounds nice on the surface. However, Haye isn’t well known outside of the UK. In fact, that’s pretty much where all Haye’s fan base is located, which would make a fight in Africa seem kind of doubtful. In contrast, Muhammad Ali was popular worldwide at the time that he fought knockout artist George Foreman on October 30th, 1974 at the Mai 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire. That fight worked out well because of Ali’s popularity and the fearsome reputation of Foreman.
Haye doesn’t have the heavyweight experience of an Ali or Foreman to make this a huge event. Klitschko isn’t popular outside of Europe, and it’s difficult to imagine that he’d be able to draw fans in Africa. Haye would be much better off trying to stage a fight with Klitschko in England or Germany, where the two could sell out a stadium.
If Haye wants to have a legacy like Ali, whom he sees as a hero figure, then Haye should focus on establishing himself as a quality heavyweight by trying to defend his title over and over again like Ali did. By traveling to Africa at this early point in Haye’s career, before he’s even shown that he can defend his title once, it’s like putting the cart before the horse.
Haye barely beat WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev on November 7th, having to settle for a narrow 12 round majority decision over the weakest of the heavyweight champions. That’s not the kind of performance that makes you think that Haye has the kind of clout to go to Africa and try to set up a fight with Klitschko there. It just seems misguided and backwards at this point. Haye needs to stick around for awhile and prove himself, and then if he’s still a champion, then by all means he should try to lure one of the Klitschko brothers over to Africa or wherever.
Right now, it would be almost be comical for them to fight in the same place that the great Ali did. The Ali-Foreman bout was a great fight between two excellent heavyweights. I can’t say that a fight between Haye and Klitschko would be anything close to that.
By Scott Gilfoid: World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye is looking to repeat Muhammad Ali’s Rumble in the Jungle by fighting WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in Africa next year in 2010. According to an article from the Daily Mail Haye is interested in setting up a bout worth £30million in Gabon. “Ali is a massive hero of mine and if I could do something like he did then I’d love it,” Haye said. “Maybe we [Vitali Klitschko] can stage the new Rumble in the Jungle. I am looking to leave a legacy and to be able to fight in every continent would be tremendous.”
That sounds nice on the surface. However, Haye isn’t well known outside of the UK. In fact, that’s pretty much where all Haye’s fan base is located, which would make a fight in Africa seem kind of doubtful. In contrast, Muhammad Ali was popular worldwide at the time that he fought knockout artist George Foreman on October 30th, 1974 at the Mai 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire. That fight worked out well because of Ali’s popularity and the fearsome reputation of Foreman.
Haye doesn’t have the heavyweight experience of an Ali or Foreman to make this a huge event. Klitschko isn’t popular outside of Europe, and it’s difficult to imagine that he’d be able to draw fans in Africa. Haye would be much better off trying to stage a fight with Klitschko in England or Germany, where the two could sell out a stadium.
If Haye wants to have a legacy like Ali, whom he sees as a hero figure, then Haye should focus on establishing himself as a quality heavyweight by trying to defend his title over and over again like Ali did. By traveling to Africa at this early point in Haye’s career, before he’s even shown that he can defend his title once, it’s like putting the cart before the horse.
Haye barely beat WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev on November 7th, having to settle for a narrow 12 round majority decision over the weakest of the heavyweight champions. That’s not the kind of performance that makes you think that Haye has the kind of clout to go to Africa and try to set up a fight with Klitschko there. It just seems misguided and backwards at this point. Haye needs to stick around for awhile and prove himself, and then if he’s still a champion, then by all means he should try to lure one of the Klitschko brothers over to Africa or wherever.
Right now, it would be almost be comical for them to fight in the same place that the great Ali did. The Ali-Foreman bout was a great fight between two excellent heavyweights. I can’t say that a fight between Haye and Klitschko would be anything close to that.
Please, Bob Arum, shut off your phone and vacation
by Jason Alcairo: Now that the Floyd Mayweather Jr. camp has relented on blood testing procedures being handled by the USADA, one more and hopefully the final hurdle has been cleared for the fight to be finalized. You would think. Bob Arum, head of Top Rank, is seemingly starting to backtrack a bit on the stipulations the Pacquiao camp has been seeking. I can not stress this enough. I repeat. I CAN NOT stress this enough.
Bob, you may never read this.But the fans need you to know.
Stop. Talking. To. The. Media. With me so far? Stop talking to the media. Stop it.
Right now, Todd DuBoef is the one handling the negotiations. Todd is talking to Richard Schaefer working his ass off to clean up your verbal diarrhea. Freddy is the one who handles Manny’s training and knows him best. You are in Cabo San Lucas, probably wearing a smear of sun tan lotion over your nose and staying shaded as much as possible while screaming into your phone about how the Mayweather camp is bullying Manny and pushing him around. Now they’ve let up and we’re all excited to see the biggest fight of the last 20 years or so and you’re having a heart attack to try and correct everything that you think is wrong. But you aren’t helping. Please. Have a Mai Tai and sit this one out for a bit.
Manny, please drop the lawsuit by the way. It’s cool. Make the fight, take out your aggression out on Mayweather. Hit him so hard his dad is going to feel it. Please do this for us. Hell, I’m sure even your detractors will thank you for it just because it will mean the fight is really happening.
Freddy, get on the wire and tell everyone that things are cool and you guys are going to work out a time table like you requested. Come through for us.You want a piece of the Mayweathers and now you have it so get with Manny, find out what works, and tell them.
So, now that that’s out the way, I implore my fellow boxing fans, that whether you agree with me or not, don’t take anything Bob Arum says to be fact. He isn’t handling negotiations. Yes, it’s annoying. It’s very annoying. But do the fact checking necessary for a fight of this magnitude.It’s been marred in enough whiny cry baby hearsay rumors. I’m sure you’ll find that everyone,Bob Arum aside, is trying to move this along.
by Jason Alcairo: Now that the Floyd Mayweather Jr. camp has relented on blood testing procedures being handled by the USADA, one more and hopefully the final hurdle has been cleared for the fight to be finalized. You would think. Bob Arum, head of Top Rank, is seemingly starting to backtrack a bit on the stipulations the Pacquiao camp has been seeking. I can not stress this enough. I repeat. I CAN NOT stress this enough.
Bob, you may never read this.But the fans need you to know.
Stop. Talking. To. The. Media. With me so far? Stop talking to the media. Stop it.
Right now, Todd DuBoef is the one handling the negotiations. Todd is talking to Richard Schaefer working his ass off to clean up your verbal diarrhea. Freddy is the one who handles Manny’s training and knows him best. You are in Cabo San Lucas, probably wearing a smear of sun tan lotion over your nose and staying shaded as much as possible while screaming into your phone about how the Mayweather camp is bullying Manny and pushing him around. Now they’ve let up and we’re all excited to see the biggest fight of the last 20 years or so and you’re having a heart attack to try and correct everything that you think is wrong. But you aren’t helping. Please. Have a Mai Tai and sit this one out for a bit.
Manny, please drop the lawsuit by the way. It’s cool. Make the fight, take out your aggression out on Mayweather. Hit him so hard his dad is going to feel it. Please do this for us. Hell, I’m sure even your detractors will thank you for it just because it will mean the fight is really happening.
Freddy, get on the wire and tell everyone that things are cool and you guys are going to work out a time table like you requested. Come through for us.You want a piece of the Mayweathers and now you have it so get with Manny, find out what works, and tell them.
So, now that that’s out the way, I implore my fellow boxing fans, that whether you agree with me or not, don’t take anything Bob Arum says to be fact. He isn’t handling negotiations. Yes, it’s annoying. It’s very annoying. But do the fact checking necessary for a fight of this magnitude.It’s been marred in enough whiny cry baby hearsay rumors. I’m sure you’ll find that everyone,Bob Arum aside, is trying to move this along.
Mayweather-Pacquiao: Maybe they should scrap the blood tests
By Scott Gilfoid: I don’t know about you but I’m completely bored with all this back and forth crying about blood tests for the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight. They need just follow the rules that they usually have for Nevada fights and stick with testing urine. Either that, or go with the three blood tests that Pacquiao already agreed with – one in January, and the another 30 days before the bout, and the final one after the fight.
That’s enough. If either fighter is using anything, it will show up during the tests. But all this other garbage about testing continuously is a waste of a time and all it will do is screw up the fight altogether. I don’t know why they’re making a big production about testing Pacquiao so much. Pacquiao doesn’t look like a fighter that is using steroids. He’s small and doesn’t have the classic puffed up face like most steroid users.
I’ve heard that growth hormone users/abusers sometimes have problems where their head gets bigger as well as their hands. But Pacquiao’s head always seemed kind of big for his body, and I don’t think it’s gotten any bigger lately as far as I can tell. As he’s put on weight, Pacquiao’s face has gotten wider like a chipmunk, but it doesn’t look like his actual skull and jaw has gotten any bigger.
I’ve seen pictures of people who’ve gone overboard with using growth hormone and they look weird with this big head on a tiny body. It’s not a problem when they’re working out and using the growth hormone, because they’re muscular at the time. But after they stop using, their muscles naturally shrink, but they’re left with a big bowling ball head. Its bad looking to see people with this condition and its irreversible.
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum wants to leave it up to the Nevada Athletic Commission to make a ruling as to whether it should be blood or urine that gets checked. That sounds good to me. Let the Commission make the ruling. But they need to quit hammering Pacquiao about this and let the fight go ahead like normal Nevada based fights.
I think they need to focus on just playing within the old rules for the fight and forget about extra testing. If Mayweather isn’t okay with fighting under the normal rules, then he should shop around for another fighter that will be acceptable to his more stringent testing.
By Scott Gilfoid: I don’t know about you but I’m completely bored with all this back and forth crying about blood tests for the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight. They need just follow the rules that they usually have for Nevada fights and stick with testing urine. Either that, or go with the three blood tests that Pacquiao already agreed with – one in January, and the another 30 days before the bout, and the final one after the fight.
That’s enough. If either fighter is using anything, it will show up during the tests. But all this other garbage about testing continuously is a waste of a time and all it will do is screw up the fight altogether. I don’t know why they’re making a big production about testing Pacquiao so much. Pacquiao doesn’t look like a fighter that is using steroids. He’s small and doesn’t have the classic puffed up face like most steroid users.
I’ve heard that growth hormone users/abusers sometimes have problems where their head gets bigger as well as their hands. But Pacquiao’s head always seemed kind of big for his body, and I don’t think it’s gotten any bigger lately as far as I can tell. As he’s put on weight, Pacquiao’s face has gotten wider like a chipmunk, but it doesn’t look like his actual skull and jaw has gotten any bigger.
I’ve seen pictures of people who’ve gone overboard with using growth hormone and they look weird with this big head on a tiny body. It’s not a problem when they’re working out and using the growth hormone, because they’re muscular at the time. But after they stop using, their muscles naturally shrink, but they’re left with a big bowling ball head. Its bad looking to see people with this condition and its irreversible.
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum wants to leave it up to the Nevada Athletic Commission to make a ruling as to whether it should be blood or urine that gets checked. That sounds good to me. Let the Commission make the ruling. But they need to quit hammering Pacquiao about this and let the fight go ahead like normal Nevada based fights.
I think they need to focus on just playing within the old rules for the fight and forget about extra testing. If Mayweather isn’t okay with fighting under the normal rules, then he should shop around for another fighter that will be acceptable to his more stringent testing.
Shane Mosley hoping for a great 2010
By Peter Wells: One of the world’s greatest fighters at present, World Boxing Association welterweight champion ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley has very high hopes of a great 2010. Despite getting the worlds attention early this January by stopping Antonio Margarito after Margarito stopped unbeaten Cotto. Unfortunately things didn’t go according to plan, 2009 turned into a year of being avoided, not fighting at all for the rest of the year, despite his pleas.
Mosley finally got a fight for next January against WBC Welterweight champion and unbeaten Andre Berto, which would be a great unification, and a chance for Mosley to get back down to business. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying that Andre is just another test, this is a fighting who wants to prove he’s ready for the big time, and this is his time to shine. This is a tough fight that not every fighting in the division would take, maybe because there isn’t enough money, but if you love boxing like Mosley then a fight is a fight and opponents don’t mean everything.
Shane is looking to excel this year, and get the fights he wants, mainly the winner of Pacquiao-Mayweather if the fight is still on, and if it isn’t then he has the chance to get his glory early. One thing that is getting to me is Bob Arum getting in touch with Paulie Malignaggi to replace Mayweather. Malignaggi! He’s being linked to Amir Khan, what’s the point. Bob knows full well that Mosley is right there, maybe he doesn’t get along with Golden Boy, but Bob we don’t care just get the fight on. If the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao doesn’t go ahead, which at the moment it looks like it could be back on, then if either fighting doesn’t ask Mosley for a fight I will lose a lot of respect for Manny and Floyd. Manny knows he needs to fight a proper Welterweight at the right weight, and if he fights Floyd then fine, but he must take on Shane afterwards. Same goes for Floyd, he has a lot of criticism and if he beats Pacquiao he must fight Mosley.
Mosley is hoping to get one or both fighters this year, but maybe it could be another bad year for Shane, despite his other options. Unfortunately the likes of Joshua Clottey and Carlos Quintana just don’t get you anywhere with your legacy, just shows you’ve got the guts to fight all the fighters in your division. Miguel Cotto would be a great option while he’s waiting, but if a fight against Manny or Mayweather comes up Shane won’t give it a second thought.
All I’m trying to say here is that Mosley deserves his chance now, he can and will prove to everyone he is the best fighter in the world. He should carry on and then he can take on those other contenders, and have a rematch with Miguel Cotto. Unfortunately he will never get the chance to get revenge on Vernon Forrest, god bless his soul, and Winky Wright wouldn’t be much of a fight really. If we look at it, we could be in for a great 2010, and it could be the best year of Mosley’s career, let’s hope so.
By Peter Wells: One of the world’s greatest fighters at present, World Boxing Association welterweight champion ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley has very high hopes of a great 2010. Despite getting the worlds attention early this January by stopping Antonio Margarito after Margarito stopped unbeaten Cotto. Unfortunately things didn’t go according to plan, 2009 turned into a year of being avoided, not fighting at all for the rest of the year, despite his pleas.
Mosley finally got a fight for next January against WBC Welterweight champion and unbeaten Andre Berto, which would be a great unification, and a chance for Mosley to get back down to business. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying that Andre is just another test, this is a fighting who wants to prove he’s ready for the big time, and this is his time to shine. This is a tough fight that not every fighting in the division would take, maybe because there isn’t enough money, but if you love boxing like Mosley then a fight is a fight and opponents don’t mean everything.
Shane is looking to excel this year, and get the fights he wants, mainly the winner of Pacquiao-Mayweather if the fight is still on, and if it isn’t then he has the chance to get his glory early. One thing that is getting to me is Bob Arum getting in touch with Paulie Malignaggi to replace Mayweather. Malignaggi! He’s being linked to Amir Khan, what’s the point. Bob knows full well that Mosley is right there, maybe he doesn’t get along with Golden Boy, but Bob we don’t care just get the fight on. If the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao doesn’t go ahead, which at the moment it looks like it could be back on, then if either fighting doesn’t ask Mosley for a fight I will lose a lot of respect for Manny and Floyd. Manny knows he needs to fight a proper Welterweight at the right weight, and if he fights Floyd then fine, but he must take on Shane afterwards. Same goes for Floyd, he has a lot of criticism and if he beats Pacquiao he must fight Mosley.
Mosley is hoping to get one or both fighters this year, but maybe it could be another bad year for Shane, despite his other options. Unfortunately the likes of Joshua Clottey and Carlos Quintana just don’t get you anywhere with your legacy, just shows you’ve got the guts to fight all the fighters in your division. Miguel Cotto would be a great option while he’s waiting, but if a fight against Manny or Mayweather comes up Shane won’t give it a second thought.
All I’m trying to say here is that Mosley deserves his chance now, he can and will prove to everyone he is the best fighter in the world. He should carry on and then he can take on those other contenders, and have a rematch with Miguel Cotto. Unfortunately he will never get the chance to get revenge on Vernon Forrest, god bless his soul, and Winky Wright wouldn’t be much of a fight really. If we look at it, we could be in for a great 2010, and it could be the best year of Mosley’s career, let’s hope so.
Mosley: “I’m the best welterweight in the world”
By Jason Kim: Throughout all the massive amount of attention that has been centered around the Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout recently, World Boxing Association welterweight champion Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO’s) has been ignored by boxing fans and the media. Mosley, 38, will be facing unbeaten WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto in a unification bout on January 30th, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mosley sees himself as the best fighter in the welterweight division, remarking to the Press Telegram “I’m the world champion. I’m the best welterweight in the world. I can’t chase anybody around. If they don’t want to fight, retire, get out of my division and go somewhere else.”
Mosley has good reason for sounding a bit upset, because he’s been ignored by the other top fighters in boxing, such as Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto and Mayweather since Mosley’s impressive 9th round stoppage win over then WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito on January 24th. The win, instead of opening doors to big mega fights with the stars in boxing, did more to keep Mosley inactive. Mosley may have looked too good, and in boxing that’s not something you want to do.
Since the win over Margarito in January, Mosley has spent the better part of 2009 trying to line up a fight with other big stars. However, Mosley’s efforts have been futile, as he’s had no takers. Mosley even went so far as to show up ringside for Mayweather’s bout against Juan Manuel Marquez in September and call Mayweather out. It didn’t work. Mayweather showed no interest in fighting Mosley, instead turning his attention to a fight against the smaller Pacquiao.
Nevertheless, Mosley is hoping that an impressive win over Berto will open some doors for him. It may be, but then again, Mosley, if he looks too good, could be right where he’s been the last year trying to dig up a big money fight with one of the stars. Things aren’t easy for Mosley now that his old nemesis Oscar De La Hoya has retired. Mosley fought De La Hoya twice, beating him both times by narrow decisions. Mosley has had problems against bigger welterweights like Vernon Forrest, losing twice to him. Mosley tried moving up in weight to light middleweight, but was too small for that class, and was beaten twice by Winky Wright by decision in 2004.
If Mosley looks as good as he did against Margarito, he should have enough to beat Berto. Andre is a good fighter, but he’s faced much lesser opponents during his five year pro career. Berto hasn’t looked good in his last two fights against Luis Collazo and Juan Urango. Berto’s style of fighting has evolved from throwing fast flurries into a punch and grabs style, which is quite boring to watch from a boxing fan’s perspective.
It’s worked for Berto, because he’s stayed unbeaten, but he’s not nearly interesting to watch nowadays compared to before. Whichever style Berto uses in this fight, he’s going to have problems against Mosley. Berto is going to have to be able to fight on the inside, because Mosley will likely take the fight there after seeing how well Collazo did against Berto while fighting him on the inside.
By Jason Kim: Throughout all the massive amount of attention that has been centered around the Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout recently, World Boxing Association welterweight champion Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO’s) has been ignored by boxing fans and the media. Mosley, 38, will be facing unbeaten WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto in a unification bout on January 30th, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mosley sees himself as the best fighter in the welterweight division, remarking to the Press Telegram “I’m the world champion. I’m the best welterweight in the world. I can’t chase anybody around. If they don’t want to fight, retire, get out of my division and go somewhere else.”
Mosley has good reason for sounding a bit upset, because he’s been ignored by the other top fighters in boxing, such as Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto and Mayweather since Mosley’s impressive 9th round stoppage win over then WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito on January 24th. The win, instead of opening doors to big mega fights with the stars in boxing, did more to keep Mosley inactive. Mosley may have looked too good, and in boxing that’s not something you want to do.
Since the win over Margarito in January, Mosley has spent the better part of 2009 trying to line up a fight with other big stars. However, Mosley’s efforts have been futile, as he’s had no takers. Mosley even went so far as to show up ringside for Mayweather’s bout against Juan Manuel Marquez in September and call Mayweather out. It didn’t work. Mayweather showed no interest in fighting Mosley, instead turning his attention to a fight against the smaller Pacquiao.
Nevertheless, Mosley is hoping that an impressive win over Berto will open some doors for him. It may be, but then again, Mosley, if he looks too good, could be right where he’s been the last year trying to dig up a big money fight with one of the stars. Things aren’t easy for Mosley now that his old nemesis Oscar De La Hoya has retired. Mosley fought De La Hoya twice, beating him both times by narrow decisions. Mosley has had problems against bigger welterweights like Vernon Forrest, losing twice to him. Mosley tried moving up in weight to light middleweight, but was too small for that class, and was beaten twice by Winky Wright by decision in 2004.
If Mosley looks as good as he did against Margarito, he should have enough to beat Berto. Andre is a good fighter, but he’s faced much lesser opponents during his five year pro career. Berto hasn’t looked good in his last two fights against Luis Collazo and Juan Urango. Berto’s style of fighting has evolved from throwing fast flurries into a punch and grabs style, which is quite boring to watch from a boxing fan’s perspective.
It’s worked for Berto, because he’s stayed unbeaten, but he’s not nearly interesting to watch nowadays compared to before. Whichever style Berto uses in this fight, he’s going to have problems against Mosley. Berto is going to have to be able to fight on the inside, because Mosley will likely take the fight there after seeing how well Collazo did against Berto while fighting him on the inside.