Boxing News Thread

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Amir Khan: "I'm Sure Pacquiao Will Take Cotto Out"

By Mark Vester

WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan says Manny Pacquiao's combination of speed, power and movement will beat WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Khan and Pacquiao are both trained under Freddie Roach and have sparred often. He doesn't deny that Cotto will be a very tough fight for Pacquiao.

"It's going to be a tough fight for Manny. I trained alongside Manny and I'm on his side. I really think that he can go in this fight and take Cotto out. It's a tough job but I'm sure he will do it," Khan said to BoxingScene.com's Luis Sandoval.

"[I think the keys to the fight are] speed, footwork and angles. I don't think Cotto has ever met someone like Manny who hits and moves and is so quick and explosive. People forget that Manny is quick but he is also hard-hitting."

 

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Diaz: Cotto-Margarito II Will Happen For The Right Money

By Mark Vester

The manager of former champion Antonio Margarito, Sergio Diaz, is sure tha a rematch with Miguel Cotto will happen if the right money is on the table. Cotto suffered his lone career loss to Margarito last July. Margarito had his license revoked in February by the California State Athletic Commission after inserts with a plaster-like substance were discovered in his handwraps around 30 minutes prior to the bout with Shane Mosley on Jabnuary 24.

Diaz says his team is making moves to get Margarito his license back. Margarito will be able to apply for a new license in January and he is expected to return in March. A few weeks ago Cotto told the Puerto Rican press that Margarito will never make another penny off of him. Diaz thinks it can still happen

"We're taking steps to getting our license back. I know Cotto says Antonio won't make another penny off [him], but if he's offered a lot of pennies to take the fight, I think he will," Diaz said to The Los Angeles Times.

Bob Arum, who promotes both Cotto and Margarito, told the paper that a rematch is something that all the fans want to see.

"The fight everyone would want to see is a Cotto-Margarito rematch," Arum said.

 

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Ibragimov Feels Valuev Was Deceived in David Haye Loss

By Andrey Krikunov

Former WBO world heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov has put on the record that although he didn’t officially announce the end of his boxing career, he told Sovetskiy Sport that he more than likely wouldn’t return to the ring.

“I came back from America 10 days ago. I spent a week in Miami. Of course, I visited my gym where I had been training for so many years. I saw all the guys, had a training session. And now I understand that I have to work very hard to reach the level I was at two years ago," Ibragimov said.

"Of course I get a lot of calls and proposals. But I’m not interested in it right now. What do I have to prove? I don’t want to announce that I quit boxing. Because there are lots of examples when boxers did that and then returned 2-3 years later. I can simply say that most likely I won’t return to boxing. I’ve already been the champion. I don’t need money – I have profitable oil business. Of course, if I could fight Klitschko again, I would sacrifice a lot of things. But as far as I understand Klitschko is booked for at least three years ahead. And I don’t see the point in starting everything from the scratch."

Sultan also says that his manager Boris Grinberg still owes him the money for the bout with Wladimir Klitschko. “His is paying me, but in parts. Boris is very unwilling to give the money away" - the boxer said – "It’s a very unpleasant situation when people you absolutely trusted deceive you. It also doesn’t inspire me to come back in the ring."

Also Ibragimov admitted that he didn’t watch the fight between David Haye and Nikolay Valuev for the WBA heavyweight championship because he knew all along that “they would flunk Nikolay in that bout."

“Anybody who understands at least something about boxing figured out even before the fight that Valuev would struggle against a small and fast Haye - explained Sultan – "It’s the most unpleasant opponent for Nikolay. They could have found a more suitable opponent for him, considering that it was his voluntary defense. But they chose Haye, which means they decided to flunk Valuev. It’s evident [to me] by knowing people. After the bout I got the confirmation of my assumptions in the words of Valuev’s and Haye’s now common co-promoter. Now Wilfried Sauerland will have 50 percent of the Haye’s revenues for his next 3 bouts. That’s the way they’re doing their business. I think that Don King also had a big part in that scheme. Probably Don King, Wilfried Sauerland and Haye’s team arranged everything behind Valuev’s back

 

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Juanma: "They Should Have Stopped it in Round 7 or 8"

By Mark Vester

Undefeated WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez felt the bout between his countryman Miguel Cotto and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao should have been stopped in the seventh or eight round. Lopez was ringside at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and watched Cotto get busted up for nearly twelve rounds.

Lopez thought Cotto would win with his counterpunching style. He said Pacquiao's power shocked him. He doesn't think Cotto overtrained for the fight, which some have suggested.

"I thought that if Cotto fought him by counterpunching, he had a very good chance of winning and even had a chance to knock him out. But what happened was that Pacquiao was not only fast, he was a big puncher, and he was able to take a lot of as well," Juanma said to El Nuevo Dia.

"I'm not here to criticize, but I can humbly say that this fight should have been stopped in the seventh or eighth round. Overtraining is something that exists. But really, I don't think he overtrained. I think he looked good physically, and what happened was that Pacquiao's punch made the difference

 

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Mike Arnaoutis-Tim Coleman Lands on Versus on 12/3

Star Boxing has announced that the premiere December 3rd installment of its new series, "Hustler Boxing", will be shown live on the nationally televised Versus Network. Hustler Boxing is a new series of star-studded boxing events being presented by Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and Larry Flynt's Hustler Club-NYC throughout the New York City area.

The premiere installment will take place at the Grand Ballroom at New York's famous Manhattan Center, and will feature Star Boxing's light welterweight contender, "Mighty" Mike Arnaoutis (22-3-2, 10KO) taking on Tim "Pit Bull" Coleman (16-1-1, 4KO) for the vacant USBA light welterweight championship. The card will also feature a battle between undefeated, sensational welterweight prospects, Star Boxing's "The New" Ray Robinson (11-0, 4KO) and three-time national golden gloves champion, Brad Solomon (8-0, 3KO). Robinson vs. Solomon is scheduled for six rounds.

"We are pleased that Versus has chosen to televise this tremendous card featuring two championship match-ups and a battle between two of boxing most promising up and coming prospects," stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and found of Star Boxing. "Not only will it give fans around the world the opportunity to get a feel behind what we are trying to do with this new series, but it also gives the fighters an opportunity to be in the national spot light

 

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Mayweather Ready To Fight "One-Dimensional" Pacquiao

By Mark Vester

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is ready and willing to fight the recognized pound-for-pound king, Manny Pacquiao. The entire boxing world is calling for the fight and Mayweather is ready to make it. During a recent interview with Sky Sports, Mayweather baited the Filipino champion by telling him to "step up to the plate" if he really wants a fight. He downplayed Pacquiao's skills by calling him a "one-dimensional" fighter.

"If he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather all he has to do is step up to the plate. The thing is with Pacquaio I don't see any versatility as a fighter; he's a good puncher but just one-dimensional," Mayweather said.

Mayweather doesn't think there is anything to gain in beating Pacquiao. He says a fight with Pacquiao is a no-win situation.

"The world's going to go 'wow' if Floyd Mayweather gets beaten," Mayweather said. "That's what everyone is looking to see. If I beat Manny Pacquaio do you know what they are going to say? 'You are supposed to beat him, you are Floyd Mayweather, you are the bigger man'. If I knock him out they'll say 'you're supposed to knock him out he's been knocked out before'.

"I'm in a no-win situation and when I beat him no one is going to be surprised because he's been beaten before; whatever I do to Pacquaio has been done before - he's been beaten on three occasions. And if I knock him out I don't want the world shouting because he's been knocked out twice before."

Bob Arum of Top Rank, who promotes Pacquiao and Richard Schaefer, CEO for Golden Boy Promotions who will represent Mayweather, are scheduling to begin talks this week

 

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Hatton Offered a Rematch With Ndou But in Australia

By Mark Vester

Welterweight Matthew Hatton has been offered a rematch with IBO champion Lovemore Ndou. They fought to a draw in Hatton's backyard of Stoke. Ndou will fight him again but only if the fight takes place in Australia. Hatton is convinced that he won the fight.

"Everyone knew I'd won the fight," Hatton told Manchester Evening News. "The cruellest thing they could do was call it a draw. I would sooner have lost by three or four rounds and say I'd lost to the better man on the night, but I know I won the fight."

Ndou felt it was a tough fight but he doesn't think Hatton did enough to win and he won't return to England for a rematch.

"It was a tough fight, tougher than I expected," Ndou said. "But I felt I was always in control. You have got to take a title from the champion."

 

[heyzel]

Manny Pacquiao's Ear Injury is No Cause For Concern

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says the doctor who attended to Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao after he had hammered WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto into submission in twelve brutal rounds said there is no need for concern over the bleeding in Pacquiao’s right ear.

In an overseas telephone conversation with BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Arum said Dr. Jeffrey Roth told him that “Manny will be fine” after treating him again the day after the fight.

Arum disclosed that according to Dr. Roth the “blood comes from bleeding from getting hit on the ear. It could have come in the training, it could have come from the fight or the blows from the fight made it worse. But its nothing. It’s a minor kind of thing . He never went to the hospital and the doctor treated him on the night of the fight and treated him today.”

Arum said Dr. Roth drained “that excess blood from that cartilage” that was apparently damaged during the fight.

He said “its something that you treat so that he doesn’t end up with what they call a cauliflower ear. Most fighters leave that stuff in their ear so their ear gets disfigured.”

ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo who spoke to Dr. Roth after he treated Pacquiao for a second time Sunday said the doctor told her “there was fluid again and a little blood so he added more dressing” but indicated there was nothing to be worried about and that Pacquiao could be checked again after a few more days.

Meantime at mass, Dionisia Pacquiao, the mother of the world’s pound-for-pound king cried and begged her son to stop fighting to prevent anything from happening to him.

But Arum said he would talk to Pacquiao before he leaves on a flight back to the Philippines and “figure out what he’s going to do politically because the only way we can do a (Floyd) Mayweather Jr fight is if I do it at the end of April or the beginning of May.”

While most fight fans and the international media are pushing for a Mayweather fight, Arum said he needs time to promote the fight and to also negotiate with whoever Mayweather appoints to negotiate on h is behalf.

Arum said that if Pacquiao decides to run for a congressional seat then he has to make “a smaller fight for him in March which could probably be a (Juan Manuel) Marquez fight.” He said he was confident he could get a Mayweather fight done by late April “because there is so much money that an agreement could be reached.”

He said he doesn’t know who is likely to represent Mayweather in any negotiations and said he is waiting to hear from them. Arum said “if its (Richard) Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions it’s fine. If its somebody else its fine. When they call me I will find out who is authorized to handle the negotiations. I don’t think Mayweather has a contract with Golden Boy but once I see what the deal is I’ll take it to Manny first for his approval.”

Schaefer was quoted in the Los Angeles times that Getting them together is a mega-fight that has to be made. We'd all have to be morons to not let this happen” even as he asked how often have he and Arum failed to make a big fight.

Boxing writer Mark Vester reported that HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg agreed with the Golden Boy Promotions CEO and believes "It's a simple negotiation. There's so much money to be made. If it doesn't happen, there'll be a revolt. Nothing else is acceptable, and I'm speaking on behalf of the American public and the sport itself. All we can do is try to encourage both sides to sit at a table and hammer out a deal

 

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Felix Trinidad: "Cotto Should Retire in Two or Three More"

By Mark Vester

Puerto Rican icon Felix Trinidad has advised his countryman, Miguel Cotto, to retire after two or three more fights. Trinidad watched Cotto take a bad beating at the hands of Manny Pacquiao last Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He says Cotto has a few more fights in the tank but not many.

The Puerto Rican former champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad said that Miguel Cotto should not retire after losing last night against Filipino Manny Pacquiao.

"Cotto has only two losses and I think he can still have a few more fights. My advice to him is to do two or three more fights and retire, because economically he has to be taken care of," Trinidad told El Nuevo Dia.

Trinidad and his father/trainer, Felix Trinidad Sr, were sure Cotto would beat Pacquiao but they were wrong. Trinidad saw Cotto's stamina crash after a bad beating.

"I always knew it would be a tough fight. Both me and my father believed that Cotto could dominate Pacquiao because he has very good technique. But what happened is that Pacquiao throws hard punches and he is very fast. And Cotto's stamina began to drop because the punches were doing a lot of damage.

 

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Mayweather-Pacquiao Has To Be Made, Says Schaefer

By Mark Vester

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer has a hard task ahead; negotiating on behalf of Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a possible showdown with Manny Pacquiao in 2010. He says the fight is something that has to happen. He is confident that a deal can be reached with Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank. Both fighters are known for their tough tactics at the table. This fight is no different because both guys want more than 50% of the money. Mayweather did over 1 million pay-per-view buys for September's bout with Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao's numbers for Saturday's bout with Miguel Cotto will not be released for a few more days. The numbers will play a big role in the talks.

"Bob and me -- how often have we failed to make a big fight? How did Pacquiao-Marquez do versus Mayweather-Marquez? How did Pacquiao-Oscar do versus Floyd-Oscar?" Schaefer told the Los Angeles Times. "Getting them together is a mega-fight that has to be made. We'd all have to be morons to not let this happen."

HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg agrees with Schaefer and he plans to encourage both sides to make the fight happen.

"It's a simple negotiation," Greenburg said. "There's so much money to be made. If it doesn't happen, there'll be a revolt. Nothing else is acceptable, and I'm speaking on behalf of the American public and the sport itself. All we can do is try to encourage both sides to sit at a table and hammer out a deal."

 

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Cotto's Rebuilding Needs a New Trainer, The Right Fights

By Ryan Burton

Leading up to Manny Pacquiao's demolishing of Miguel Cotto, a lot was written about Miguel Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago, and his lack of experience. An experienced corner and quick reflexes were thought to be Pacquiao's biggest advantages. All of those advantages were proven to be true on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Cotto started out strong in the first round but he didn't and/or couldn't make the adjustments necessary to win the fight and a lot of that has to fall on Santiago. In reality a different trainer wouldn't have changed the final outcome but the fight may have been more competitive.

On the other hand, Pacquiao tasted Cotto's power and knew right away that he could take the punches. With the help of his corner, he was able to adjust and dominate the fight.

During the post fight press conference in Las Vegas, Bob Arum was asked if Cotto could still compete at the championship. Arum says he could.

"Cotto can compete with any of the top welterweights in the world just not with that super human Manny Pacquiao," Arum said.

While that statement may probaby ring true, let's examine a couple of facts:

1. Cotto has taken a beating in three out of his last four fights.

2. Cotto has regressed under Joe Santiago's tutelage. Most believe that Cotto is training himself and Santiago is the trainer in name only.

Cotto needs a trainer that isn't his friend. He needs a trainer who can crack the whip and make the necessary adjustments to sculp Cotto into an elite fighter again. Wholesale changes aren't necessary but a few minor adjustments can get him back to being the thoroughbred he was.

The trainer he needs is Nacho Beristain.

It really makes perfect sense from a boxing standpoint. Miguel Cotto is a great counter puncher like Juan Manuel Marquez. Cotto's loss further illustrates the greatness of Juan Manuel Marquez and Nacho Beristain. Marquez was too small for Mayweather but has fought the only competitive fights with Manny Pacquiao in recent years and Beristain has to be given a lot of credit for that. Besides the fights with Pacquiao, Marquez's victories over Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz after moving up to lightweight at an advanced age further illustrate the greatness of Beristain.

Admittedly, it is difficult to picture Miguel Cotto running in the mountains outside of Mexico City training for a fight and it is also hard to imagine Nacho Beristain going to Puerto Rico to train Cotto.

What is possible though is Beristain training Cotto in Florida. I don't think Cotto wants to make any excuses for losing his latest fight and firing his trainer could be perceived as an excuse. In reality Cotto doesn't need to fight anymore. He could easily retire but that doesn't seem likely. After the pay-per-view buys are tallied, his purse will easily top the 10 million dollar mark. At the age of 29 he isn't old and he may still be in his prime provided this latest beating didn't leave him like Erik Morales at the same age.

Cotto hiring Beristain is the first move that should be made along with a well needed vacation. During that time, Bob Arum should look at getting Cotto a fight with Ricky Hatton. As reported by BoxingScene.com's Terence Dooley, Hatton told The Sun he was interested in fighting Cotto - if Cotto were to defeat Pacquiao. Actually this fight makes more sense with both men coming off losses to Pacquiao.

A fight like this in Las Vegas brings a lot of money to both fighters and a win puts the winner back in the mix for another mega fight. Hatton hasn't looked good at 147 pounds and if they met at 145 pounds - Cotto would be a significant favorite.

Hatton is a great comeback fight for the Puerto Rican star and during this frame Antonio Margarito will be looking at possibly having his suspension lifted. If Margarito gets reinstated and wins a tuneup or two, and Cotto beats Hatton, it sets up an interesting backdrop, Margarito versus Cotto II. Their first fight did close to 500,000 pay per views and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was close to a full house.

Obviously this time around Margarito's hand wraps would be checked and re-checked more times than Santa Claus checks his Christmas list. A fight with Margarito is a chance at redemption for Cotto. Even though Cotto has said that he won't fight Margarito again, Bob Arum has a way of persuading his fighters to make the fights he wants. Cotto versus Margarito II is a big money maker for Top Rank and both fighters.

A big purse plus a chance to basically erase the controversial loss in the first fight may be enough to entice Cotto. A win over Margarito is far from certain but if he is able to emerge victorious in that fight, and couple it with the win over Hatton, and Cotto is back in position for another super fight

 

[heyzel]

Will Miguel Cotto Ever fight Again?

by James Slater - I think it's fair to say, that unless he is made of even sterner stuff than his bravery this past Saturday showed him to be cast from, Miguel Cotto will never be the same fighter after what Manny Pacquiao did to him in Las Vegas. Taking a monstrous and prolonged beating that finally came to an end when referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight in the 12th-round, Cotto looked like he'd been though hell after the loss, which, of course, he had.

The question now is, will the 29-year-old who has only been beaten twice as a pro, ever fight again? The beating the amazingly brave Puerto Rican took on Saturday was the type of hiding that ruins a fighter.. Worse than the hammering he took from Antonio Margarito last year, the Pacquiao loss could well have knocked all the remaining fight out of Cotto. Marked up worse than ever before and looking a sorry state, Cotto would be entitled to call it a career if he so chose.

Putting the physical toll the two-knockdown beating took on him aside for a minute, there is the mental damage and the removing of confidence the loss took out of Cotto. This will also be extremely hard to deal with. A fighter with fierce pride, Cotto will not want to continue fighting against second-rate fighters simply to pick up a pay cheque. But after the savage beating he took inside The MGM Grand, are there any top level fighters he can be expected to be able to defeat if he does decide to box on?

It will likely be a good number of months before Cotto even begins to think about looking ahead towards his boxing future, very possibly a year or so. But even long after the aches and pains have gone and after the cuts have healed, Cotto will not know what he has left to offer. Sparring and training can only give a fighter a clue as to how his tools have faired after he's taken a brutal defeat. Only if and when Miguel gets back in the ring with a good fighter will he know for sure if he's shot or not.

But is the possible risk involved with finding out worth it? It would be sad to see Cotto fighting on when a badly faded force, and it would be even sadder to see him losing to guys who wouldn't have been fit to lace his boots in his prime years. I think Cotto has done enough for the sport he excelled in, and if he's in a financial position to be able to do so, he should lock his gloves away for good and never even think about fighting again.

A great fighter who won world titles at two weights and who has to his name wins over some superb, almost certain future Hall of Fame fighters, Cotto can rest assured he has his place in history. A future Hall of Famer himself, "Junito," in his 36 pro fights, has achieved far more than a good number of his fellow prize fighters ever will.

Of course, it's Cotto's decision, but I can't see any way in which he can fight on and expect to have much chance of ever becoming a world champion again. And as proud as he is, why else would Cotto want to box on? A world champion from 2004 to 2008 and then again from early 2009 until this past Saturday, Miguel has done all anyone can ask of him.

 

[heyzel]

Incredibly, Floyd Mayweather Jr Says He's In A "No-Win" Situation If He Fights Pacqui

by James Slater - Floyd "Money" Mayweather would have us all believe he is not in any way as excited about the possibility of a showdown with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao as the rest of us are. At least this is the impression Mayweather gave while speaking on the subject of a lucrative clash with the sensational Filipino hero.

Speaking exclusively with Sky Sports at the weekend, the 32-year-old boxing master said he is more than willing to fight Pacquiao, but that after he has done so, and beaten him as he is sure he will, he will not get any genuine credit for having done it. Amazingly, Mayweather, one of the most self assured prize fighters of all-time, has referred to "Pac Man" as a one-dimensional fighter who has been KO'd before, therefore he himself will get no plaudits if he manages to stop the southpaw dynamo..

"The thing is with Pacquiao I don't see any versatility as a fighter," Mayweather told Sky's Adam Smith. "He's a good puncher but just one-dimensional. I'm in a no-win situation. If I beat Manny Pacquiao do you know what they [the critics] are going to say? 'You are supposed to beat him, you are Floyd Mayweather. You are the bigger man.' I I knock him out they'll say, 'You're supposed to knock him out, he's been knocked out before.'

"I'm in a no-win situation and when I beat him no-one is going to be surprised, because he's been beaten before. He's been beaten on three occasions."

Staggering! All fighters as talented as Floyd is have a right to be hugely confident, but to brush aside the superb talents of Pacquiao like that! Fans, and indeed experts, the world over want to see a Pacquiao-Mayweather meeting next year, and why is that? Because Pacquiao has proven himself to be one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in history, that's why. And the only fighter left for him to beat is Mayweather. Yet for some reason, the 32-year-old wishes to downplay the fight - a fight that would be one of the most important in the sport's history.

Does Mayweather really believe what he's saying? Or has his ego got the better of him? Sure, Pacquiao has been beaten three times - by Rustico Torrecampo and Medgoen Singsurat, both down at flyweight and both over ten years ago, and by Erik Morales at super-feather back in 2005, the loss subsequently avenged twice - but how much has Manny improved as a fighter since? Pacquiao was a mere novice by comparison when he lost his two bouts at flyweight, and the loss to Morales was eleven fights ago.

There is no doubting "Pac-Man's" talents, and deep down I believe Floyd knows this himself. Still, the 40-0 star feels Pacquiao is reluctant to face him.

"When they asked Manny Pacquiao,'Would you like to fight Floyd Mayweather,' he said talk to my promoter. Manny Pacquiao was asked the same question, 'Do you want to fight Floyd Mayweather?' three times. This is something the world is trying to force on him.

"If he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather all he has to do is step up to the plate."

While it's true Pacquiao did give the "ask my promoter" answer when asked about who he'd like to fight next, that is merely Manny's humble attitude - not a sign of his fear of facing Mayweather.

Let's hope Floyd does indeed want the fight, and that any money issues can be resolved to allow the super-fight to take place. Make no mistake about it; Manny Pacquiao is not afraid of "Money" Mayweather.

 

[heyzel]

Shane Mosley vs Andre Berto

It began as a war of words fought on internet websites and on Saturday, Jan. 30, welterweight superstars Sugar Shane Mosley and Andre Berto will take their dispute from cyberspace to the ring at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.. The 12-round bout will air live on HBO's World Championship Boxing and will determine once and for all the King of the 147-pound weight class.

"Andre Berto's a good young fighter but he's bitten off more than he can chew with all the talking he's been doing," said WBA Welterweight Super World Champion Mosley. "I've forgotten more about the fight game than he knows and the world will see that in January.."

Berto, the WBC Welterweight World Champion commented, "This is the fight I've waited my whole career for and now it's finally a reality. Shane Mosley made me chase him for a while, but he won't be able to run when we get into the ring on January 30, and I can't wait."

Mosley vs. Berto, a 12-round welterweight bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and DiBella Entertainment. The bout will air live on HBO's World Championship Boxing from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning at 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT.

Tickets priced at $300, $200, $150, $100 and $50 are now on sale and available for purchase at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith's Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

President of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar de la Hoya said, "Mosley-Berto is the first big fight of 2010 and it's the perfect way to kick off the boxing year. Mosley fights his best when the challenge in front of him is greatest. Berto is one of the most talented fighters in the world, so I expect Mosley to be at his very best in a great fight on January 30."

"This is one of those can't miss fights in terms of action and Berto and Mosley won't have to look too hard to find each other in the ring," said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. "I think this fight represents the passing of the torch from the old lion in Mosley to the young lion in Berto and I'm expecting an early Fight of The Year candidate. With respect to a first ballot Hall of Famer, the Shane Mosley era ends on January 30."

Richard Sturm, President of Sports & Entertainment for MGM MIRAGE, said, "We are proud to kick off 2010 with Golden Boy Promotions, DiBella Entertainment and HBO Sports and welcome the return of both Shane Mosley and Andre Berto to Mandalay Bay. This will be an exciting fight for not only our customers, but boxing fans around the country."

Kery Davis, senior vice president of programming of HBO Sports said, "Beginning the new season of HBO's World Championship Boxing with Shane Mosley vs. Andre Berto is a spectacular way to start the year. Boxing fans need to mark down January 30 right now on their calendars."

A future Hall of Famer with five world titles to his name, Sugar Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO's) has ruled the lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight divisions over his storied 16-year career. However, at 38 years old, the Pomona, Calif. native seems to be getting better and better as the years pass. Winner of seven of his last eight fights dating back to 2005, Mosley has defeated the likes of Fernando Vargas (twice), Luis Collazo and Ricardo Mayorga, but his most recent victory also was one of his most spectacular -- a ninth round stoppage of Antonio Margarito in January 2009 to win the Welterweight World Title for the third time.

One of boxing's top young stars, 26-year-old Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KO's) first made his mark on the worldwide sports scene as a member of the 2004 Haitian Olympic team. However he already has surpassed those accomplishments as an unbeaten professional and world champion. The owner of wins over Cosme Rivera, Michel Trabant, Steve Forbes, Collazo and Juan Urango, the Winter Haven, Fla. native won the WBC Welterweight World Title in June 2008 with a seventh round stoppage of Miguel Angel Rodriguez and has since defended his crown three times. No victory would be bigger than one over Mosley on January 30.

 

[heyzel]

Mayweather-Pacquiao: It’s Gotta Happen! Right

By Coach Tim Walker – When there is nothing more to say, shut up! Fortunately, eastsideboxing.com readers are never short on things to say, feelings to express or ideas to present. When it comes to the sport of boxing and its participants our comments go on and on, and on AND on. Those we like, we truly and wholeheartedly love. Those we don’t like, we despise with a passion equally as harsh. This is the case for the not yet official albeit combustible clash between Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao. Epic in its nature, the quintessential villain and hero matchup.

Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of my favorite writers. His works have stood time’s test and resonate needful even today. Though his writings are plentiful two of his quotes seem to perfectly describe this blockbuster of a match. One seems to represent Pacquiao, the other, maybe Mayweather..

Emerson once stated “A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.” If there is another quote that so vividly describes the state of the Pac Man’s union I haven’t heard it. He has effectively won the hearts of the world. Mostly because of his victories in the ring but there is another reason as well. He story parallels life in the most classic sense and brings hope to people. He is the little guy. He is the little engine that could. Knock downs and defeats early in life. Losses that would have surely caused most men to pack it up and move on. Try something different. Do something else. But not Manny. He kept with it. Endured the hardship, adversity and difficulties to arrive at his current point of destiny. He is loved for the way he fights in the ring. He is respected for the way he fights in life.

Emerson also wrote the famous phrase “Make yourself necessary to someone.” I am not one of them but many people don’t like the super talented Mayweather. Unflattering phrases are pinned to his torso like badges of dishonor. Pompous! Arrogant! Egotistical! Vain! His talent is unquestionable. His skill is undeniable. But he has botched making himself necessary in the hearts of fans. Absolutely, his PPV fights make millions but I’m sure there are as many, if not more, who tune in hoping to see him topple.

I can’t imagine how it feels to be him. To have worked your entire life to gain the highest level of skill that your body will allow to only have your aptitude overlooked in lieu of your attitude. I would liken it to being stranded on an island where there is no lack. For the record, I am as big a Mayweather fan as you can find.

Relax folks the fight will happen. It’s gotta happen. Right? We hope. When it does the stage is set for both fighters. Pacquiao will get his due (win, lose or draw) because he is loved and respected and he has earned that right. For Mayweather it won’t play out the same. If he wins it will be deprecate. If he loses or draws it will echo the world over. His due will come in the form of aversion towards his person regardless of his success or failure.

I once asked a boxing fan who totally dismisses Mayweather’s boxing career because he doesn’t like him the following question: If Mayweather beats Cotto, Margarito, Williams, Mosley and Pacquiao all in a row would you then respect him? Without missing a beat or blinking an eye he looked at me squarely and said “Hell no!”

Such are the roles of Pacquiao and Mayweather.

 

[heyzel]

Richard Schaefer Reveals Juan Manuel Marquez And Ricky Hatton Are In Talks For A Figh

by James Slater - Ricky Hatton, last seen being knocked out inside two-rounds by the amazing Manny Pacquiao, has spoken a few times recently about how he has been getting "the urge" to want to fight again. Despite looking a good 30 or more pounds above his best fighting weight of 140-pounds, the former world light-welterweight king has admitted he misses the ring action and that he may well have a fight next year some time - after he's had Christmas and the New Year to give things a serious think..

Well, according to Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer, who has been talking to Ring on line, Hatton and Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez are currently in talks about a fight to take place between the two in Hatton's hometown of Manchester, UK. No date has been mentioned, and neither has a definite weight at which the two popular fighters would meet at been made clear (although light-welterweight would seem to be the obvious choice - if Hatton can get down okay).

Indeed, so far hardly any details have been made public at all, save for the fact that the two men are talking about a possible match-up taking place.

"That's (the date) one of the things we have to discuss," Schaefer told Ring. "I'm going to be talking to the Hattons. And Marquez wants to do it. We'll see if we can get it done."

As badly beaten as "The Hitman" was in the Pacquiao fight, his popularity remains massive in the UK, and a fight with as great a fighter as Marquez, even though he too is coming off a loss, to Floyd Mayweather on points, would be a big attraction - especially in Manchester. And the fight does have some intrigue to it. Marquez has never fought at light-welterweight before, he is not as devastating a puncher as Pacquiao is (who is?) and his fighting style would likely mesh well with Hatton's.

If he can get the excess weight off as well as he has done in the past, Hatton, 45-2(32) would have to be given a reasonable chance against the smaller and older man (Hatton is slightly taller than Marquez, although Marquez has the longer reach). Of course, nobody, Hatton included, knows how much the 31-year-old has left. Neither do we know how much damage the brutal KO he suffered at the hands of Pacquiao inflicted on Ricky.

Marquez, 50-5-1(37) is unquestionably the greater fighter of the two, but at 36 going on 37, he cannot be expected to perform at the highest level forever. Who knows, the timing of the fight might just go in Hatton's favour. Would Marquez be able to cope with Hatton's vicious body punching? How would Hatton cope with the classy boxing skills of the man known as "Dinamita?"

Rest assured, a sell out Manchester crowd will be itching to find out if the two exciting warriors do agree to face each other some time next year.

 

[heyzel]

Felix Trinidad Sr. Not Happy With Cotto's Corner/Trainer

By Mark Vester

Felix Trinidad Sr., trainer of former three-division champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad, was not pleased with the way Miguel Cotto's corner was run last Saturday night in Las Vegas. Cotto's new trainer Joe Santiago is taking a lot of heat for the beating Cotto took at the hands of Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand. Trinidad Sr. agrees with some of the harsh talk on Santiago.

"The performance of the corner was not good," said Trinidad Sr. to El Nuevo Dia. "Joe Santiago tells him to go for one more round when Cotto couldn't change the pace of the fight. What more could Cotto prove at the time?"

"If you have a fighter who no longer has the potential to win, who does not have the strength to land a knockout blow, you must stop the fight. If not, the fighter will continue to receive unnecessary punches. If it was his decision (Santiago), that's wrong."

Trinidad Sr. doesn't blame the inexperience of Santiago. He says the relationship between Santiago and Cotto is too friendly. Trinidad feels that Santiago allows Cotto to play the role as the boss, when the trainer is the one who needs to be the boss of the corner.

"As a fighter you can not ask to stop the fight," Trinidad Sr. said. "You need a corner who knows that, who has the knowledge to stop it and doesn't let their fighter take anymore punishment. That led to Cotto fighting several more rounds, because the boss in the corner is Cotto. A person can not be the pitcher and the catcher at the same time."

Trinidad says Cotto made a mistake by parting ways with ex-trainer/uncle Evangelista Cotto.

 

[heyzel]

Cotto Refuses To Entertain a Rematch With Margarito

By Mark Vester

During Miguel Cotto's recent return to Puerto Rico, he was mobbed by reporters who asked him about his next move in 2010. One of the obvious questions was his thoughts on a possible rematch with Antonio Margarito, who is slated to return to action in early 2010. Cotto held firm on his position of not being interested in a second meeting with Margarito. He told reporters that he will not discuss [if asked questions] the subject of a rematch with Margarito in the future.

Margarito is almost done with his suspension from the California State Athletic Commission. He lost his license in February after inserts with a plaster-like substance were discovered in his handwraps about 30-minutes prior to the January 24 bout with Shane Mosley. Margarito still fought that night and was battered, and stopped for the first time, by Mosley. Cotto suffered a bad stoppage loss to Manny Pacquiao last Saturday in Las Vegas. A rematch would be a crossroads fight with the winner moving on to bigger things.

When asked about Cotto's possible options for 2010, Top Rank's Bob Arum said a rematch with Margarito or the winner of January's bout between Shane Mosley and Andre Berto. Arum said last week that a Margarito-Cotto rematch would be huge and "a fight that everyone wants to see." Cotto said a few weeks back that Margarito will "never make another penny off of my name." Margarito's co-manager, Sergio Diaz, still believes the fight can be made if enough pennies are on the table.

 

[heyzel]

Mike Tyson Gives Maccarinelli Words of Inspiration

y Terence Dooley

Enzo Maccarinelli has been inspired to continue in boxing after meeting one of his idols. Enzo, who was destroyed by Denis Lebedev in June, got to meet Mike Tyson, the former undispured heavyweight champion, during Tyson’s tour of the UK. Enzo, 29, told thisissouthwales.co.uk that Mike’s words of encouragement have galvanised him ahead of his comeback.

He said: “It was an amazing experience. I didn't really expect to meet Mike but I actually sat next to him and chatted about boxing for most of the night. I was blown away by it all because he was my idol — his fights were always the ones I wanted to watch. But he talked a lot about my career as well as his own. He told me he had watched me beat Wayne Braithwaite (for the WBO belt) and that I looked very dangerous that night. And he noticed how I didn't look myself against Afolabi and Lebedev. He said I looked pretty uncomfortable and awkward, which I did. After speaking to him, I was bursting to get back into the gym the next day.”

Enzo is on a poor run of form, three defeats in his past four fights – to David Haye, Ola Afolabi and Lebedev – left Enzo on the brink of retirement only for the support of his fans, Tyson amongst them, to persuade him to give it another go.

Maccarinelli won WBO and WBU honours at cruiserweight; he will be featured on the undercard of Khan-Salita at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle on December the 5th.

 

[heyzel]

Breidis Prescott: "Mitchell, Amir Khan is Better Than You"

By Terence Dooley

Colombian dangerman Breidis Prescott, who defeated Amir Khan last year, has warned Kevin Mitchell to expect more of the same when the two clash in Newcastle on December the 5th. The fight is a WBO lightweight title eliminator and Breidis believes that the promise of a title shot will ignite his career, which has flagged since the Khan win.

“Kevin is a good fighter but with all due respect to him Amir is better,” taunted Prescott during a conference call. “It's a tough fight for me but I'm a lot better prepared for this fight than for when I fought Amir.

“Beating Amir was a very important night for me. It was the best night of my career. It really put my name on the map. Amir came to the fight undefeated, after beating him I got worldwide recognition. I want a repeat of what happened that night and have been training hard to achieve that.”

However, Breidis is coming off a points loss to Miguel Vazquez, the 26-year-old knows that people are starting to write the Khan win off as a fluke. “I feel like I have a lot to prove. I beat Amir but you're only as good as your last fight,” admitted Prescott. “It's about proving something to myself.”

Mitchell, 25, knows that Prescott is a tough test but the Dagenham-based boxer feels that he may just shock Prescott. “Prescott said he fancies Amir as more of a talent than me. I think Amir is unbelievable but if I hit him on the chin he would go,” he declared.

“Prescott is a big puncher and will be dangerous for all 12 rounds. He's been a dangerman throughout his career but I can bang. In around 100 amateur and pro fights I've only been knocked down once.”

Prescott is 21-1 (18); Mitchell is undefeated in 29 contests, with 22 coming by the knockout rou