Boxing News Thread
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Arum sticking it to Mayweather
By John F. McKenna (McJack): It is not surprising that Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum thought that the judges who awarded WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) the decision over WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday night were correct.
Arum was quoted in the Manila Bulletin saying:
“The worst score was seven (rounds) to five (rounds) for Pacquiao and the eight to four rendered by HBO in house judge Harold Lederman was fair.”
Arum speaking from his home in Las Vegas said that the expectations for Pacquiao were too high and that even if he narrowly won a round he was not given the round.
Judge Robert Hoyle score the fight even at 114 – 114, while Judge Dave Moretti had it 115 – 113 in favor of Pacquiao. The 3rd Judge Glenn Trowbridge scored it 116 – 112 in Pacquiao’s favor. The crowd consisted of a large number of highly partisan Mexican fans who voiced their displeasure over the decision by booing Pacquiao during the post fight interview in the ring. It should be pointed out however, that there were many fans from all over the world who were not at all happy with the decision favoring Pacquiao.
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. camp, not surprisingly now appears to be interested in a match with Pacquiao although still insisting that Manny must “take the test”. The call for Pacquiao to “take the test” has been a rallying cry by Mayweather and his loyal fans, although it appears to have become a non issue when the Pacquiao camp months ago agreed to do the Olympic style drug testing required by Floyd.
In an interesting turn of events Bob Arum has called for yet another Pacquiao – Marquez fight which would be the 4th meeting between the two. This move has infuriated the Mayweather camp who, apparently feel that in lieu of Pacquiao’s less than stellar performance Saturday night, the time is right to take on the “Pacman”.
The wily and wise Harvard educated Arum who has pursued a fight with Mayweather for so long now seems to be turning the tables on the Mayweather camp who appeared to use one excuse after another to dodge a fight with Pacquiao. Arum over the past few months has said more than once that he would not chase after Mayweather and that they knew his number. Now the shoe has turned and it appears that Arum may not be answering his phone if he knows it is Mayweather’s people on the other end.
Could it be that Arum, who plays hard ball, will now be sticking it to “the man”? In this case “the man” is Floyd Mayweather Jr.
By John F. McKenna (McJack): It is not surprising that Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum thought that the judges who awarded WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) the decision over WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday night were correct.
Arum was quoted in the Manila Bulletin saying:
“The worst score was seven (rounds) to five (rounds) for Pacquiao and the eight to four rendered by HBO in house judge Harold Lederman was fair.”
Arum speaking from his home in Las Vegas said that the expectations for Pacquiao were too high and that even if he narrowly won a round he was not given the round.
Judge Robert Hoyle score the fight even at 114 – 114, while Judge Dave Moretti had it 115 – 113 in favor of Pacquiao. The 3rd Judge Glenn Trowbridge scored it 116 – 112 in Pacquiao’s favor. The crowd consisted of a large number of highly partisan Mexican fans who voiced their displeasure over the decision by booing Pacquiao during the post fight interview in the ring. It should be pointed out however, that there were many fans from all over the world who were not at all happy with the decision favoring Pacquiao.
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. camp, not surprisingly now appears to be interested in a match with Pacquiao although still insisting that Manny must “take the test”. The call for Pacquiao to “take the test” has been a rallying cry by Mayweather and his loyal fans, although it appears to have become a non issue when the Pacquiao camp months ago agreed to do the Olympic style drug testing required by Floyd.
In an interesting turn of events Bob Arum has called for yet another Pacquiao – Marquez fight which would be the 4th meeting between the two. This move has infuriated the Mayweather camp who, apparently feel that in lieu of Pacquiao’s less than stellar performance Saturday night, the time is right to take on the “Pacman”.
The wily and wise Harvard educated Arum who has pursued a fight with Mayweather for so long now seems to be turning the tables on the Mayweather camp who appeared to use one excuse after another to dodge a fight with Pacquiao. Arum over the past few months has said more than once that he would not chase after Mayweather and that they knew his number. Now the shoe has turned and it appears that Arum may not be answering his phone if he knows it is Mayweather’s people on the other end.
Could it be that Arum, who plays hard ball, will now be sticking it to “the man”? In this case “the man” is Floyd Mayweather Jr.
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results are through Nov. 15.
1. FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.
Welterweight titlist
Record: 42-0, 26 KOs
Age: 34
Mayweather
Hits: Even after 16 months out of the ring following his near shutout of Shane Mosley in May 2010, Mayweather returned to action on Sept. 17 and showed not the slightest bit of rust. Still fast and possessing great defense and underrated power, Mayweather knocked out Victor Ortiz (albeit in controversial fashion) in the fourth round to reclaim one of the titles he had previously given up. Now, instead of disappearing on another long layoff, Mayweather has announced plans to return on May 5, ideally against Manny Pacquiao -- if Pacquiao's people will come to the bargaining table.
Misses: It's great that Mayweather seems to be showing real interest in finally facing Pacquiao, but since Pacquiao just fought, how about giving him a little bit of time to unwind before insisting on a negotiation right now? Where was that kind of urgency at any point in the past few years?
2. MANNY PACQUIAO
Welterweight titlist
Record: 54-3-2, 38 KOs
Age: 32
Pacquiao
Hits: Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, who had already produced two memorable battles in featherweight and junior lightweight title bouts, met for the third time Nov. 12 and gave fight fans a worthy trilogy with another outstanding and highly competitive fight. With Pacquiao's victory, the path is wide open for him to at long last meet Mayweather in the fight the world wants to see.
Misses: Pacquiao, who was a massive favorite to beat Marquez because they were fighting at welterweight, looked as vulnerable as he has in a long time. Although he eked out a majority decision, few would have quarreled had Marquez gotten the win or had the fight been ruled a draw. Pacquiao looked confused at times and lacked snap on his punches in a less-than-stellar outing. It just wasn't the kind of performance we have come to expect from Pacquiao, especially in light of the fact that Marquez had been wiped out by Mayweather in 2009 in his only other welterweight fight. Although a fourth fight with Marquez is certainly warranted at some point, it absolutely should not be next, which is what Top Rank's Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, is talking about pursuing. Mayweather should be next, and it's going to have to be up to Pacquiao to stand up to Arum and tell him to make a deal. Period.
3. SERGIO MARTINEZ
Middleweight champion
Record: 48-2-2, 27 KOs
Age: 36
Martinez
Hits: If there is a silver lining to the apparent implosion of Pacquiao-Mayweather negotiations before they have even begun, it is that Martinez, the 2010 fighter of the year, might be an attractive opponent for Mayweather, who plans to fight May 5. Martinez has said repeatedly he would drop down in weight for the opportunity to face Mayweather or Pacquiao. If Pacquiao is going to fight Marquez for a fourth time, Mayweather could make a big statement by taking on Martinez near 150 pounds.
Misses: When Martinez defended the middleweight championship against massive underdog Darren Barker on Oct. 1, he had a significant struggle before stopping him in the 11th round. It was far from Martinez's best night
ESPN.com
For a list of the current champions in all weight classes, click here.
Note: Results are through Nov. 15.
1. FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.
Welterweight titlist
Record: 42-0, 26 KOs
Age: 34
Mayweather
Hits: Even after 16 months out of the ring following his near shutout of Shane Mosley in May 2010, Mayweather returned to action on Sept. 17 and showed not the slightest bit of rust. Still fast and possessing great defense and underrated power, Mayweather knocked out Victor Ortiz (albeit in controversial fashion) in the fourth round to reclaim one of the titles he had previously given up. Now, instead of disappearing on another long layoff, Mayweather has announced plans to return on May 5, ideally against Manny Pacquiao -- if Pacquiao's people will come to the bargaining table.
Misses: It's great that Mayweather seems to be showing real interest in finally facing Pacquiao, but since Pacquiao just fought, how about giving him a little bit of time to unwind before insisting on a negotiation right now? Where was that kind of urgency at any point in the past few years?
2. MANNY PACQUIAO
Welterweight titlist
Record: 54-3-2, 38 KOs
Age: 32
Pacquiao
Hits: Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, who had already produced two memorable battles in featherweight and junior lightweight title bouts, met for the third time Nov. 12 and gave fight fans a worthy trilogy with another outstanding and highly competitive fight. With Pacquiao's victory, the path is wide open for him to at long last meet Mayweather in the fight the world wants to see.
Misses: Pacquiao, who was a massive favorite to beat Marquez because they were fighting at welterweight, looked as vulnerable as he has in a long time. Although he eked out a majority decision, few would have quarreled had Marquez gotten the win or had the fight been ruled a draw. Pacquiao looked confused at times and lacked snap on his punches in a less-than-stellar outing. It just wasn't the kind of performance we have come to expect from Pacquiao, especially in light of the fact that Marquez had been wiped out by Mayweather in 2009 in his only other welterweight fight. Although a fourth fight with Marquez is certainly warranted at some point, it absolutely should not be next, which is what Top Rank's Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, is talking about pursuing. Mayweather should be next, and it's going to have to be up to Pacquiao to stand up to Arum and tell him to make a deal. Period.
3. SERGIO MARTINEZ
Middleweight champion
Record: 48-2-2, 27 KOs
Age: 36
Martinez
Hits: If there is a silver lining to the apparent implosion of Pacquiao-Mayweather negotiations before they have even begun, it is that Martinez, the 2010 fighter of the year, might be an attractive opponent for Mayweather, who plans to fight May 5. Martinez has said repeatedly he would drop down in weight for the opportunity to face Mayweather or Pacquiao. If Pacquiao is going to fight Marquez for a fourth time, Mayweather could make a big statement by taking on Martinez near 150 pounds.
Misses: When Martinez defended the middleweight championship against massive underdog Darren Barker on Oct. 1, he had a significant struggle before stopping him in the 11th round. It was far from Martinez's best night
ESPN and I believe Yahoo have Floyd #1 pound 4 pound, but The Ring keeps Pacquiao at #1, floyd #2.
Here is The Ring's explanation of their ruling:
Pacquiao wasn’t fighting a chump. Marquez is the No. 5 fighter in the world pound for pound. And Pacquiao beat him, at least officially.
A great fighter shouldn’t necessarily be demoted because another great fighter has his number. We didn’t think less of Muhammad Ali because he had trouble with Ken Norton three times. The same with Willie Pep and Sandy Saddler in their series.
A fighter shouldn’t necessarily be demoted because he has an off night, if that’s what it was on Saturday. Sergio Martinez didn’t look great against Darren Barker but no one clamored for him to be demoted.
Pacquiao has accomplished more than Mayweather in recent years. The Filipino is 9-0 against big-name opponents since the beginning of 2008; Mayweather is 3-0 in that time.
Mayweather isn’t exactly coming off a sterling performance. He looked good against Victor Ortiz for three-plus rounds but scored a knockout when Ortiz wasn’t looking.
And you can’t say that Mayweather should supplant Pacquiao because he defeated Marquez more easily. That doesn’t take into account styles and strengths. Plus, Pacquiao beat Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya more easily than Mayweather did.
Here is The Ring's explanation of their ruling:
Pacquiao wasn’t fighting a chump. Marquez is the No. 5 fighter in the world pound for pound. And Pacquiao beat him, at least officially.
A great fighter shouldn’t necessarily be demoted because another great fighter has his number. We didn’t think less of Muhammad Ali because he had trouble with Ken Norton three times. The same with Willie Pep and Sandy Saddler in their series.
A fighter shouldn’t necessarily be demoted because he has an off night, if that’s what it was on Saturday. Sergio Martinez didn’t look great against Darren Barker but no one clamored for him to be demoted.
Pacquiao has accomplished more than Mayweather in recent years. The Filipino is 9-0 against big-name opponents since the beginning of 2008; Mayweather is 3-0 in that time.
Mayweather isn’t exactly coming off a sterling performance. He looked good against Victor Ortiz for three-plus rounds but scored a knockout when Ortiz wasn’t looking.
And you can’t say that Mayweather should supplant Pacquiao because he defeated Marquez more easily. That doesn’t take into account styles and strengths. Plus, Pacquiao beat Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya more easily than Mayweather did.
What Manny fans don't seem to understand is that Manny never out right beat Marquez the 3 times he fought him. Mayweather KO'ed Hatton, and SD'ed ODLH which was some bad scoring in boxing, because Mayweather beat Oscar easily to me. Mayweather clearly outclassed Marquez and that's something Manny didn't do 3 times now and last time Marquez was 38yrs old. Mayweather never lost the #1 P4P title to begin with the media just gave it to Manny.
Mayweather’s legacy secure
By John F. McKenna (McJack): When WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) defeated WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez last Saturday night via highly controversial decision ironically it seemed to settle questions many boxing fans had about WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s).
Prior to Saturday nights fight between “Pacman” and “El Dinamita” there had been a non stop call from boxing fans for a matchup between Pacquiao and Mayweather. Many boxing observers and fans had accused Floyd of ducking the “Lil Fella” as the Mayweather camp is fond of calling Pacquiao.
Pacquiao had some astounding accomplishments in his march up through weight divisions all the way up from 106 pounds to where he fights today at 144 pounds. He won 8 division championships along the way and was named “Fighter of the Decade” for the years from 2000 to 2009 as well as winning “Fighter of the Year” for the years 2006, 2008 and 2009. He has also been almost universally acknowledged to be the best Pound for Pound fighter in the world for a number of years.
But things have a way of changing quickly in boxing and as the saying goes perception is everything. As in the movies boxers are most remembered for their last performance. And Pacquiao’s performance against Marquez was no where close to what boxing fans had come to expect from Manny. Most boxing observers and fans feel that “Pacman” lost to Marquez, a fighter “Money” Mayweather handled with ease, pitching a shutout in their bout in 2009. The ease with which Floyd defeated Marquez would lead a reasonable boxing fan to assume that he would do the same to Pacquiao. The Pacquiao balloon has been punctured and deflated leaving his legions of ardent fans to wonder themselves whether or not he even belongs in the same ring with Mayweather.
The chorus of Pacquiao fans accusing Mayweather of ducking Manny has gone silent almost overnight. Even Pacquiao promoter Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is not keen on Manny fighting Floyd anytime soon, saying instead he would like to a arrange yet another fight with Marquez. But after 3 controversial fights most boxing fans are of the opinion that Pacquiao – Marquez IV would be equally controversial with no definitive winner.
It appears that Pacquiao – Marquez III may have settled the question of who reigns supreme in boxing by proxy, without Mayweather squaring off in the ring with “Pacman”. The reasoning is that if Manny cannot legitimately defeat Marquez in the ring without assistance from the ringside judges how would he ever be able to defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr?
No one can answer that question. Mayweather is again rated the best Pound for Pound fighter on the planet by ESPN. Pacquiao is holding on to his # 1 ranking by The Ring, but just barely and that is primarily because Mayweather has been relatively inactive fighting only twice in the last two years.
Mayweather’s legacy will remain intact if the long anticipated match with Manny Pacquiao never comes to fruition and even if he were never to fight again. The Manny question seems to have been answered in most boxing fans minds.
By John F. McKenna (McJack): When WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) defeated WBO/WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez last Saturday night via highly controversial decision ironically it seemed to settle questions many boxing fans had about WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s).
Prior to Saturday nights fight between “Pacman” and “El Dinamita” there had been a non stop call from boxing fans for a matchup between Pacquiao and Mayweather. Many boxing observers and fans had accused Floyd of ducking the “Lil Fella” as the Mayweather camp is fond of calling Pacquiao.
Pacquiao had some astounding accomplishments in his march up through weight divisions all the way up from 106 pounds to where he fights today at 144 pounds. He won 8 division championships along the way and was named “Fighter of the Decade” for the years from 2000 to 2009 as well as winning “Fighter of the Year” for the years 2006, 2008 and 2009. He has also been almost universally acknowledged to be the best Pound for Pound fighter in the world for a number of years.
But things have a way of changing quickly in boxing and as the saying goes perception is everything. As in the movies boxers are most remembered for their last performance. And Pacquiao’s performance against Marquez was no where close to what boxing fans had come to expect from Manny. Most boxing observers and fans feel that “Pacman” lost to Marquez, a fighter “Money” Mayweather handled with ease, pitching a shutout in their bout in 2009. The ease with which Floyd defeated Marquez would lead a reasonable boxing fan to assume that he would do the same to Pacquiao. The Pacquiao balloon has been punctured and deflated leaving his legions of ardent fans to wonder themselves whether or not he even belongs in the same ring with Mayweather.
The chorus of Pacquiao fans accusing Mayweather of ducking Manny has gone silent almost overnight. Even Pacquiao promoter Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is not keen on Manny fighting Floyd anytime soon, saying instead he would like to a arrange yet another fight with Marquez. But after 3 controversial fights most boxing fans are of the opinion that Pacquiao – Marquez IV would be equally controversial with no definitive winner.
It appears that Pacquiao – Marquez III may have settled the question of who reigns supreme in boxing by proxy, without Mayweather squaring off in the ring with “Pacman”. The reasoning is that if Manny cannot legitimately defeat Marquez in the ring without assistance from the ringside judges how would he ever be able to defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr?
No one can answer that question. Mayweather is again rated the best Pound for Pound fighter on the planet by ESPN. Pacquiao is holding on to his # 1 ranking by The Ring, but just barely and that is primarily because Mayweather has been relatively inactive fighting only twice in the last two years.
Mayweather’s legacy will remain intact if the long anticipated match with Manny Pacquiao never comes to fruition and even if he were never to fight again. The Manny question seems to have been answered in most boxing fans minds.
Floyd Mayweather junior is a bigger issue to Manny Pacquiao, than marquez
By Babatis Banda – It is an obvious fact that Floyd Mayweather junior is a bigger issue to be settled, than the slim wins Manny has had with Marquez. Simple logic would demand that the next fight for Manny should be against Floyd Mayweather junior, than go for a fourth attempt at Marquez. Arum by choosing to go and try to settle the issue for the fourth time, putting aside the possibilities of putting Manny with Floyd is a farce, and pure injustice to the fans. It is a clear escape route to avoid the fight.
While Arum has a whole basket-full of issues to grind with Floyd, he should never be let off the hook by manipulating situations. If Manny really feels aggrieved by Marquez’s claims that he won against him on the 12th of November, he should deal with him after whooping Floyd. We want Manny to face Floyd and we want a conclusive result of who is the top P4P fighter.
Ironically, Manny’s fans seem comfortable with the idea of avoiding Floyd. Nobody is talking about Floyd being in hiding or scared anymore. Floyd is ready and waiting. We all know that Manny versus Marquez would bring in a decent PPV, but we also know that it would never be anywhere near the Floyd versus Manny bout. So, logically speaking, the biggest grudge and the biggest money is with Floyd Mayweather and if there is anything that needs to be settled urgently, it is this controversy.
I am sorry to say, Arum will certainly choose the easier way out and go after Marquez for the fourth time. If Manny is beaten by Marquez, it kills the whole Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao and what will remain are the senseless arguments and the foolish court cases. If the bout will be another controversial one, we will see a fifth re-march for as long as Floyd is still around.
The once brave and outspoken Manny’s fans, stand out and compel your team to make things happen, do not tuck-in your tails and get comfort from the ensuing Arum’s arrogance.
By Babatis Banda – It is an obvious fact that Floyd Mayweather junior is a bigger issue to be settled, than the slim wins Manny has had with Marquez. Simple logic would demand that the next fight for Manny should be against Floyd Mayweather junior, than go for a fourth attempt at Marquez. Arum by choosing to go and try to settle the issue for the fourth time, putting aside the possibilities of putting Manny with Floyd is a farce, and pure injustice to the fans. It is a clear escape route to avoid the fight.
While Arum has a whole basket-full of issues to grind with Floyd, he should never be let off the hook by manipulating situations. If Manny really feels aggrieved by Marquez’s claims that he won against him on the 12th of November, he should deal with him after whooping Floyd. We want Manny to face Floyd and we want a conclusive result of who is the top P4P fighter.
Ironically, Manny’s fans seem comfortable with the idea of avoiding Floyd. Nobody is talking about Floyd being in hiding or scared anymore. Floyd is ready and waiting. We all know that Manny versus Marquez would bring in a decent PPV, but we also know that it would never be anywhere near the Floyd versus Manny bout. So, logically speaking, the biggest grudge and the biggest money is with Floyd Mayweather and if there is anything that needs to be settled urgently, it is this controversy.
I am sorry to say, Arum will certainly choose the easier way out and go after Marquez for the fourth time. If Manny is beaten by Marquez, it kills the whole Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao and what will remain are the senseless arguments and the foolish court cases. If the bout will be another controversial one, we will see a fifth re-march for as long as Floyd is still around.
The once brave and outspoken Manny’s fans, stand out and compel your team to make things happen, do not tuck-in your tails and get comfort from the ensuing Arum’s arrogance.
Marquez vs Pacquiao and the HBO Bias!
Burbridge - Over the last few days you’ve read and heard a mountain of opinions on Manny Pacquiao. His performance Saturday night versus arch rival Juan Manuel Marquez was certainly disappointing to his fans because they went into the fight believing that Marquez was finally ready to be taken. Decisively and by KO! All the pertinent factors were in their favor. Three years had passed making it practically a guarantee that Juan Manuel was past his prime and during that time he engaged in intense wars with the likes of Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis. But perhaps the most telling event came when he was out technique’d in shut out fashion by Floyd Mayweather Jr fighting at a similar weight (over 140 lbs) in which Marquez looked slow, soft and with little zip on his punches. Oh, and let’s not forget that he was also 38 years old! Damn near every talking head wrote a variation of “he’s in BIG trouble” which increased the perception that Marquez was certain to fall. In fact, considering all the public pessimism any logical person would conclude that Marquez was every bit the 9-1 underdog that the Vegas intelligentsia made him out to be.
But, once again he didn’t fight like one..
The legacy of Juan Manuel Marquez is filled with him doing things he’s not supposed to be able to do and it’s quite clear that Team Pacquiao (Freddie Roach and Bob Arum) grossly underestimated Marquez and grossly overestimated Manny Pacquiao’s technical improvement over the years since their last meeting. We’ve heard nothing but a constant drone from damn near every mountain top from boxing “expert’s” singing the praises of Manny Pacquiao being a “complete fighter” yet, his performance against a massively handicapped (or thought to be) foe tends to refute that claim. So, what IS the issue? You’ve heard a small minority say that they have seen signs of slippage that began in the Mosley fight but those opinions were largely muted and were explained away by blaming Shane for fighting almost exclusively in survival mode. Not to mention, Manny had “leg cramps” which is again being cited for Saturday night’s lack luster performance. This after we’ve been told over and over again that “this camp was different”. According to Roach “there was a SPECIAL intensity to Manny for this one” and “this was personal”. Going in all indications were that Manny was 100% dedicated and prepared but now we’re being told “well, he might have been distracted”…..The truth of the matter is that he’s ALWAYS distracted with a 60 person entourage and going on talk shows the night before the fight so its not fair to Marquez to imply these things.
The reality is Manny Pacquiao does not have the technical capacity to beat Juan Manuel Marquez decisively and no one knows this better than Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach. This thing backfired in their face in the worst possible way because Marquez was supposed to be done just like Shane Mosley was done just like Antonio Margarito was done just like Joshua Clottey was “offensively passive” just like Miguel Cotto was “damaged goods” and so on. That’s why JMM got the fight. Remember there were a whole lot of people scoffing at this match up when it was initially made and the prevailing sentiment was this was going to be a slaughter, a tune up, a professional bitch slap, etc….! Roach who has been exceptional in assessing how long it will take Manny to finish his opponent off is apparently losing his physic powers because this is the second fight in a row where he was way off! But, what we’ve really learned is that the Top Rank / Freddie Roach propaganda machine has been selling us Pacquiao porn and Manny is only slightly better technically than the fighter we saw Juan Manuel Marquez face back in 2008.
That’s the lesson we’ve learned!
Manny looked absolutely miserable in the corner against Juan Manuel Marquez. I scored the fight 115 – 113 for Marquez. It honestly wasn’t that hard of a fight to score because it was quite clear who was dictating the pace and who came out on top in damn near every exchange. Yes, it was close but it was also clear who landed the more telling blows. That’s all…..You know who else agrees with that conclusion?? Team Pacquiao otherwise they wouldn’t be clinging to a FOURTH fight against Marquez to avoid a Mayweather fight. Ordinarily a promoter would wait for the total PPV buy rate to be tallied to determine if it makes business sense to do another fight. Arum’s not doing that and is hoping that the controversy will allow him to rake in another all Top Rank promoted event. Arum knows and certainly Roach knows that what we saw Saturday night doesn’t beat Mayweather. We all know that the Mayweather fight will be the biggest in history and makes the most financial sense for Manny but it doesn’t make the most financial sense for Top Rank and Arum wouldn’t be Arum if he couldn’t read the writing on the wall.
If he puts Manny in with Floyd the Top Rank train will come to a screeching halt.
Top Rank would be relegated to pushing Donaire, Chavez Jr, Brandon Rios….or maybe try and build Bradley up to Floyd but the bottom line is the next biggest money maker on the roster is Miguel Cotto and after December 3rd someone else might move up a notch. Top Rank goes from “A” status to “B” if Manny loses. That’s what at stake and why Arum is trying to sneak in a fourth fight which in today’s boxing environment is highly unusual. It does two things. It allows total control and revenue for another Top Rank promotion and it also allows Floyd to age a little bit more. (Hey, who knows….? It’s worth a shot.)
The judging has been almost universally panned for this fight with Moretti and Trowbridge being called everything from blind to on the “take” so you know the judges for a fourth meeting will be under a RED HOT spotlight. Manny will HAVE to deliver a dominant performance because if he doesn’t he won’t get the benefit of the doubt. My opinion is that we’ll get a repeat of what we saw Saturday night and Marquez will FINALLY be awarded the decision. The recent public outcry nearly guarantees that result under the circumstances.
But, on to my next topic….
There’s kind of an unspoken rule not to point out certain things about HBO in print. In fact, boxing websites cringe whenever a scribe writes anything questioning the most important boxing network today so let me be clear that I’m expressing my own opinion and not that of Eastside Boxing. But, let me also say that over the years many of the other writers I correspond with have made the exact same comments albeit in private conversation.
Juan Manuel lost this fight before he even walked into the ring as far as the powers that be at HBO were concerned. Practically all the media looked at this fight as suicide as did the head of the WBC, José Sulaimán who along with Bob Arum routinely remind us of what’s truly wrong with professional boxing today. So, the overall impression was that this was going to be a business as usual affair for Manny.
To add to Marquez’s perceptual burden the “judges” incompetent ratio was 2 out of 3 which is never a good thing.
But the one sour point of the night that really annoyed me to no end was HBO!
How many more years are we going to be forced to listen to Jim Lampley’s light weight, cheerleading rhetoric, Emanuel Steward’s utter destruction of the English language and Max Kellerman’s arrogance dipped in sarcasm.!?!? Thank GOD, Merchant wasn’t on the call or we’d still be waiting for him to deliver one of his slow as molasses dismissive quips!! Are they biased!?! NO QUESTION!!! I could literally go back 20 YEARS all the way to the Chavez – Taylor fight and recount one biased call after another. I’m still trying to forget some of the one sided calls over the years. So, much so that I watch fights with the volume turned all the way down. HBO pick’s their guy and regardless of what’s actually happening in the ring they tailor their comments to support that guy…….And the folk’s in the truck almost always replay sequences to support their “misinformation”….
It used to be that Sugar Ray Leonard was the “darling” then the 1984 Gold Medal winners and so on… But, now it’s Manny Pacquiao! Every single person reading this who gets the HBO feed knows exactly what I’m talking about and to some extent the fact that HBO continues to allow it speaks to an overall lack of integrity but more troubling it’s an insult to boxing fans. They’re hurting the sport by not being objective with their comments. Either its complete incompetence or its intentional….Either way it needs to be addressed! That goes double for Harold Lederman who’s scores over the years have left not only I but MANY fight fans asking “is the fix in? Did HBO decide who they needed to win this fight for economic reasons before the fighters even entered the ring?” Lederman’s scoring for Saturday nights fight was horrendous which was only exceed by his explanation of how he arrived at those conclusions. HBO is the premier boxing network in the world and they have the resources to do better. Much better!!
Its one thing to see a guy do the job and not get the nod but it’s something completely else to hear a group of “company men” trying and convince you to ignore your own eyes.
There is a LEGACY of one sided calls by this group that almost seems institutional in nature and I PRAY that Ken Hershman brings in a team to review some of the more biased calls and either corrects the problem or makes a change.
Now, the MAJORITY of writers, boxing analysts and fans believe Marquez won a close but clear decision so somebody please explain to US how we’re all wrong and the folk’s calling the fight got it right??
Continue to voice your disapproval on the forums and to all you scribes, “SAY SOMETHING” because we pay top dollar for these events and DEMAND realistic UNBIASED commentary!!
Burbridge - Over the last few days you’ve read and heard a mountain of opinions on Manny Pacquiao. His performance Saturday night versus arch rival Juan Manuel Marquez was certainly disappointing to his fans because they went into the fight believing that Marquez was finally ready to be taken. Decisively and by KO! All the pertinent factors were in their favor. Three years had passed making it practically a guarantee that Juan Manuel was past his prime and during that time he engaged in intense wars with the likes of Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis. But perhaps the most telling event came when he was out technique’d in shut out fashion by Floyd Mayweather Jr fighting at a similar weight (over 140 lbs) in which Marquez looked slow, soft and with little zip on his punches. Oh, and let’s not forget that he was also 38 years old! Damn near every talking head wrote a variation of “he’s in BIG trouble” which increased the perception that Marquez was certain to fall. In fact, considering all the public pessimism any logical person would conclude that Marquez was every bit the 9-1 underdog that the Vegas intelligentsia made him out to be.
But, once again he didn’t fight like one..
The legacy of Juan Manuel Marquez is filled with him doing things he’s not supposed to be able to do and it’s quite clear that Team Pacquiao (Freddie Roach and Bob Arum) grossly underestimated Marquez and grossly overestimated Manny Pacquiao’s technical improvement over the years since their last meeting. We’ve heard nothing but a constant drone from damn near every mountain top from boxing “expert’s” singing the praises of Manny Pacquiao being a “complete fighter” yet, his performance against a massively handicapped (or thought to be) foe tends to refute that claim. So, what IS the issue? You’ve heard a small minority say that they have seen signs of slippage that began in the Mosley fight but those opinions were largely muted and were explained away by blaming Shane for fighting almost exclusively in survival mode. Not to mention, Manny had “leg cramps” which is again being cited for Saturday night’s lack luster performance. This after we’ve been told over and over again that “this camp was different”. According to Roach “there was a SPECIAL intensity to Manny for this one” and “this was personal”. Going in all indications were that Manny was 100% dedicated and prepared but now we’re being told “well, he might have been distracted”…..The truth of the matter is that he’s ALWAYS distracted with a 60 person entourage and going on talk shows the night before the fight so its not fair to Marquez to imply these things.
The reality is Manny Pacquiao does not have the technical capacity to beat Juan Manuel Marquez decisively and no one knows this better than Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach. This thing backfired in their face in the worst possible way because Marquez was supposed to be done just like Shane Mosley was done just like Antonio Margarito was done just like Joshua Clottey was “offensively passive” just like Miguel Cotto was “damaged goods” and so on. That’s why JMM got the fight. Remember there were a whole lot of people scoffing at this match up when it was initially made and the prevailing sentiment was this was going to be a slaughter, a tune up, a professional bitch slap, etc….! Roach who has been exceptional in assessing how long it will take Manny to finish his opponent off is apparently losing his physic powers because this is the second fight in a row where he was way off! But, what we’ve really learned is that the Top Rank / Freddie Roach propaganda machine has been selling us Pacquiao porn and Manny is only slightly better technically than the fighter we saw Juan Manuel Marquez face back in 2008.
That’s the lesson we’ve learned!
Manny looked absolutely miserable in the corner against Juan Manuel Marquez. I scored the fight 115 – 113 for Marquez. It honestly wasn’t that hard of a fight to score because it was quite clear who was dictating the pace and who came out on top in damn near every exchange. Yes, it was close but it was also clear who landed the more telling blows. That’s all…..You know who else agrees with that conclusion?? Team Pacquiao otherwise they wouldn’t be clinging to a FOURTH fight against Marquez to avoid a Mayweather fight. Ordinarily a promoter would wait for the total PPV buy rate to be tallied to determine if it makes business sense to do another fight. Arum’s not doing that and is hoping that the controversy will allow him to rake in another all Top Rank promoted event. Arum knows and certainly Roach knows that what we saw Saturday night doesn’t beat Mayweather. We all know that the Mayweather fight will be the biggest in history and makes the most financial sense for Manny but it doesn’t make the most financial sense for Top Rank and Arum wouldn’t be Arum if he couldn’t read the writing on the wall.
If he puts Manny in with Floyd the Top Rank train will come to a screeching halt.
Top Rank would be relegated to pushing Donaire, Chavez Jr, Brandon Rios….or maybe try and build Bradley up to Floyd but the bottom line is the next biggest money maker on the roster is Miguel Cotto and after December 3rd someone else might move up a notch. Top Rank goes from “A” status to “B” if Manny loses. That’s what at stake and why Arum is trying to sneak in a fourth fight which in today’s boxing environment is highly unusual. It does two things. It allows total control and revenue for another Top Rank promotion and it also allows Floyd to age a little bit more. (Hey, who knows….? It’s worth a shot.)
The judging has been almost universally panned for this fight with Moretti and Trowbridge being called everything from blind to on the “take” so you know the judges for a fourth meeting will be under a RED HOT spotlight. Manny will HAVE to deliver a dominant performance because if he doesn’t he won’t get the benefit of the doubt. My opinion is that we’ll get a repeat of what we saw Saturday night and Marquez will FINALLY be awarded the decision. The recent public outcry nearly guarantees that result under the circumstances.
But, on to my next topic….
There’s kind of an unspoken rule not to point out certain things about HBO in print. In fact, boxing websites cringe whenever a scribe writes anything questioning the most important boxing network today so let me be clear that I’m expressing my own opinion and not that of Eastside Boxing. But, let me also say that over the years many of the other writers I correspond with have made the exact same comments albeit in private conversation.
Juan Manuel lost this fight before he even walked into the ring as far as the powers that be at HBO were concerned. Practically all the media looked at this fight as suicide as did the head of the WBC, José Sulaimán who along with Bob Arum routinely remind us of what’s truly wrong with professional boxing today. So, the overall impression was that this was going to be a business as usual affair for Manny.
To add to Marquez’s perceptual burden the “judges” incompetent ratio was 2 out of 3 which is never a good thing.
But the one sour point of the night that really annoyed me to no end was HBO!
How many more years are we going to be forced to listen to Jim Lampley’s light weight, cheerleading rhetoric, Emanuel Steward’s utter destruction of the English language and Max Kellerman’s arrogance dipped in sarcasm.!?!? Thank GOD, Merchant wasn’t on the call or we’d still be waiting for him to deliver one of his slow as molasses dismissive quips!! Are they biased!?! NO QUESTION!!! I could literally go back 20 YEARS all the way to the Chavez – Taylor fight and recount one biased call after another. I’m still trying to forget some of the one sided calls over the years. So, much so that I watch fights with the volume turned all the way down. HBO pick’s their guy and regardless of what’s actually happening in the ring they tailor their comments to support that guy…….And the folk’s in the truck almost always replay sequences to support their “misinformation”….
It used to be that Sugar Ray Leonard was the “darling” then the 1984 Gold Medal winners and so on… But, now it’s Manny Pacquiao! Every single person reading this who gets the HBO feed knows exactly what I’m talking about and to some extent the fact that HBO continues to allow it speaks to an overall lack of integrity but more troubling it’s an insult to boxing fans. They’re hurting the sport by not being objective with their comments. Either its complete incompetence or its intentional….Either way it needs to be addressed! That goes double for Harold Lederman who’s scores over the years have left not only I but MANY fight fans asking “is the fix in? Did HBO decide who they needed to win this fight for economic reasons before the fighters even entered the ring?” Lederman’s scoring for Saturday nights fight was horrendous which was only exceed by his explanation of how he arrived at those conclusions. HBO is the premier boxing network in the world and they have the resources to do better. Much better!!
Its one thing to see a guy do the job and not get the nod but it’s something completely else to hear a group of “company men” trying and convince you to ignore your own eyes.
There is a LEGACY of one sided calls by this group that almost seems institutional in nature and I PRAY that Ken Hershman brings in a team to review some of the more biased calls and either corrects the problem or makes a change.
Now, the MAJORITY of writers, boxing analysts and fans believe Marquez won a close but clear decision so somebody please explain to US how we’re all wrong and the folk’s calling the fight got it right??
Continue to voice your disapproval on the forums and to all you scribes, “SAY SOMETHING” because we pay top dollar for these events and DEMAND realistic UNBIASED commentary!!
that's not true he announced his retirement and stayed retired for two years.
You don't keep your pound 4 pound #1 spot while being retired and not fighting anyone, thus Pacquiao became #1.
Now, I don't really care if a person has floyd #1 or pac #1, it's all subjective, but I do see what The Ring is saying being that floyd has been so inactive fighting 3 times since 2009 while Pac fought 9 times and has had one tough fight.
You don't keep your pound 4 pound #1 spot while being retired and not fighting anyone, thus Pacquiao became #1.
Now, I don't really care if a person has floyd #1 or pac #1, it's all subjective, but I do see what The Ring is saying being that floyd has been so inactive fighting 3 times since 2009 while Pac fought 9 times and has had one tough fight.
Cotto vs Margarito: Top Rank Says Fight Not Out of NYC Yet, But Outlook Not So Good
Michael Woods of NYFightBlog at ESPN.com has this from Top Rank VP Carl Moretti, who is hoping to remind everyone that an official statement from the NYSAC has not been made yet regarding the Cotto vs Margarito situation, and specifically, Margarito being denied a license to box in the state:
"The plug has not been pulled on the card," Moretti said. "A hearing with the New York Commission will take place tomorrow at 11 a.m," and the commission will render an up or down decision on whether Margarito will be granted a license to fight.
Moretti continued: "I am not at liberty to comment on other potential sites." He said that if Margarito is not granted a license to box in New York, "we will act appropriately and accordingly."
There's nothing really new here, but someone from Top Rank did have to make this statement at this point. It doesn't change the strong rumor winds saying Margarito will not be licensed in New York, and this fight will have to get on the move.
Bob Arum earlier named Denver, Texas, and Mississippi as potential venues, according to Chris Mannix.
So to be clear: No, there is nothing 100% official yet. But the overall feeling is that Antonio Margarito is not going to be licensed by New York, and the fight will be going on the move. A lot of people are still hoping that's not the case, obviously including the folks at Top Rank.
Michael Woods of NYFightBlog at ESPN.com has this from Top Rank VP Carl Moretti, who is hoping to remind everyone that an official statement from the NYSAC has not been made yet regarding the Cotto vs Margarito situation, and specifically, Margarito being denied a license to box in the state:
"The plug has not been pulled on the card," Moretti said. "A hearing with the New York Commission will take place tomorrow at 11 a.m," and the commission will render an up or down decision on whether Margarito will be granted a license to fight.
Moretti continued: "I am not at liberty to comment on other potential sites." He said that if Margarito is not granted a license to box in New York, "we will act appropriately and accordingly."
There's nothing really new here, but someone from Top Rank did have to make this statement at this point. It doesn't change the strong rumor winds saying Margarito will not be licensed in New York, and this fight will have to get on the move.
Bob Arum earlier named Denver, Texas, and Mississippi as potential venues, according to Chris Mannix.
So to be clear: No, there is nothing 100% official yet. But the overall feeling is that Antonio Margarito is not going to be licensed by New York, and the fight will be going on the move. A lot of people are still hoping that's not the case, obviously including the folks at Top Rank.
Joel Casamayor Fails Post-Fight Drug Test, Marijuana Found
ESPN.com reports that Joel Casamayor failed his post-fight drug test in Nevada following last Saturday's one-sided loss to Timothy Bradley. Casamayor tested positive for marijuana.
The commission could fine Casamayor up to 100 percent of his $100,000 purse, although that is unlikely. Casamayor had $6,600 withheld from his purse for a child-support claim, which Kizer said the commission would not interfere with.
Casamayor, 40, was initially overweight at the weigh-in (which included a hilarious scene where Casamayor attempted to suck in his stomach on a third attempt) and hasn't been a serious fighter for a while now. Word has been that he's fighting only because he has to, entirely for money. And while a lot of fighters do that, and it's just part of the game, the fact is by testing positive for marijuana, there's a chance he comes out of this with little money, and you have to wonder if he's taking anything very seriously at this point. It's been past time for the major promoters to stop featuring him on big shows, and this whole situation -- showing up overweight, giving little effort in the fight, failing a drug test -- could give him the boot down to lesser cards for good.
ESPN.com reports that Joel Casamayor failed his post-fight drug test in Nevada following last Saturday's one-sided loss to Timothy Bradley. Casamayor tested positive for marijuana.
The commission could fine Casamayor up to 100 percent of his $100,000 purse, although that is unlikely. Casamayor had $6,600 withheld from his purse for a child-support claim, which Kizer said the commission would not interfere with.
Casamayor, 40, was initially overweight at the weigh-in (which included a hilarious scene where Casamayor attempted to suck in his stomach on a third attempt) and hasn't been a serious fighter for a while now. Word has been that he's fighting only because he has to, entirely for money. And while a lot of fighters do that, and it's just part of the game, the fact is by testing positive for marijuana, there's a chance he comes out of this with little money, and you have to wonder if he's taking anything very seriously at this point. It's been past time for the major promoters to stop featuring him on big shows, and this whole situation -- showing up overweight, giving little effort in the fight, failing a drug test -- could give him the boot down to lesser cards for good.
Antonio Margarito Denied License in New York, Cotto-Margarito To Move Out of Madison
Antonio Margarito has been denied a license to fight in New York by the New York State Athletic Commission, reports Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, forcing his highly anticipated rematch with Miguel Cotto on Dec. 3 to be moved from Madison Square Garden. According to two posts on Mannix's Twitter account, an announcement will come at the end of the day and Texas, Denver and Mississippi are being considered as alternate sites.
Margarito, if officially denied a license as expected to be announced later today, was turned down due to medical reasons stemming from the eye injury he sustained in his brutal Nov. 2010 loss to Manny Pacquiao. Margarito sustained a broken orbital bone in the fight, an injury some of his handlers thought would be career-ending. However, he had cataract surgery done in the spring, a procedure that seemingly saved his fighting career.
As Scott pointed out yesterday, this would not only be a real shame but is something that could turn into a disaster because of the short notice. As someone in the New York area, I was seriously considering going to the fight and am very disappointed that it's being moved to another venue and market. The Garden just seemed the perfect place for this fight, with Cotto always able to pack the building thanks to the large Puerto Rican population in and around the area. Tickets were reportedly moving very well, as a sell out was anticipated. On top of that, good luck to Top Rank in finding a venue that will come close to matching the atmosphere The Garden would have had for this fight.
I'm sure at this point that's not high on their priority list, but it's unfortunate nonetheless.
Antonio Margarito has been denied a license to fight in New York by the New York State Athletic Commission, reports Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, forcing his highly anticipated rematch with Miguel Cotto on Dec. 3 to be moved from Madison Square Garden. According to two posts on Mannix's Twitter account, an announcement will come at the end of the day and Texas, Denver and Mississippi are being considered as alternate sites.
Margarito, if officially denied a license as expected to be announced later today, was turned down due to medical reasons stemming from the eye injury he sustained in his brutal Nov. 2010 loss to Manny Pacquiao. Margarito sustained a broken orbital bone in the fight, an injury some of his handlers thought would be career-ending. However, he had cataract surgery done in the spring, a procedure that seemingly saved his fighting career.
As Scott pointed out yesterday, this would not only be a real shame but is something that could turn into a disaster because of the short notice. As someone in the New York area, I was seriously considering going to the fight and am very disappointed that it's being moved to another venue and market. The Garden just seemed the perfect place for this fight, with Cotto always able to pack the building thanks to the large Puerto Rican population in and around the area. Tickets were reportedly moving very well, as a sell out was anticipated. On top of that, good luck to Top Rank in finding a venue that will come close to matching the atmosphere The Garden would have had for this fight.
I'm sure at this point that's not high on their priority list, but it's unfortunate nonetheless.
Abner Mares: "I Can't Wait to Fight and Beat Agbeko Again"
Below are quotes from a Wednesday conference call with three of the four fighters featured on Showtime's December 3 bantamweight double-header. Abner Mares defends the IBF and WBC silver titles in the main event, a rematch of a highly-controversial fight in August with Joseph Agbeko.
* * * * *
"I still have something to prove - that I'm a complete fighter. I just can't wait to get into the ring and beat Agbeko and beat him a different way. I know it's going to be a great fight and he's a great ex-champion."
"I'm blessed and honored to have had some great fights against great fighters. The guys I've beaten have given me great experience and have done so much for me mentally. It means that I can beat the best and have success at this level."
"I've grown and I've learned from every fight. Each one I learn a little something new. Fight fans want to come see me because they know what Abner is going to bring and they want to come to see what I'm going to do next. I train to become a better fighter because you never quit learning."
"I'm a fighter that always likes to go to the body. Agbeko is the kind of fighter that leans down but you're not going to see any of that in the next fight. It's going to be a tremendous fight and I think people will leave very happy."
Star-divide
"I'm a perfectionist and I'm definitely going to go to the body. I'm going to throw a lot of body punches. If I see that the ref is saying my punches are too low then I'm going to stop doing it."
"I think Agbeko is a more complete fighter than the last two fighters I fought (Yonnhy Perez and Darchinyan). The way he kind of pulls down and the way he hides his head is pretty good."
"What I tell everyone is that if I would have been penalized or had a point taken away in the early rounds (of the first Agbeko fight), I would have definitely stopped going to the body. I thought most of my punches were right at the belt line. It was not my intention to hit him low like that and I didn't mean to hit him there. I fought my best and he fought his best and the fans were excited about the fight."
"But, most definitely, I do see where all the controversy comes from. There were some low punches but I tried to correct them. There were times when he pulled my head down and the ref told him not to. I thought at one point I was going to get penalized but I just went to a neutral corner and just saw the ref started counting. It's not my fault. I can't tell the ref to stop counting, so you can't blame me for that. That's why I have no problem fighting him again and I can't wait to fight and beat him again."
"All eyes are going to be on me and waiting for me to make the mistakes, but I'm determined to go to the body like I always do. We're ready. We have plan A and plan B and plan C."
Below are quotes from a Wednesday conference call with three of the four fighters featured on Showtime's December 3 bantamweight double-header. Abner Mares defends the IBF and WBC silver titles in the main event, a rematch of a highly-controversial fight in August with Joseph Agbeko.
* * * * *
"I still have something to prove - that I'm a complete fighter. I just can't wait to get into the ring and beat Agbeko and beat him a different way. I know it's going to be a great fight and he's a great ex-champion."
"I'm blessed and honored to have had some great fights against great fighters. The guys I've beaten have given me great experience and have done so much for me mentally. It means that I can beat the best and have success at this level."
"I've grown and I've learned from every fight. Each one I learn a little something new. Fight fans want to come see me because they know what Abner is going to bring and they want to come to see what I'm going to do next. I train to become a better fighter because you never quit learning."
"I'm a fighter that always likes to go to the body. Agbeko is the kind of fighter that leans down but you're not going to see any of that in the next fight. It's going to be a tremendous fight and I think people will leave very happy."
Star-divide
"I'm a perfectionist and I'm definitely going to go to the body. I'm going to throw a lot of body punches. If I see that the ref is saying my punches are too low then I'm going to stop doing it."
"I think Agbeko is a more complete fighter than the last two fighters I fought (Yonnhy Perez and Darchinyan). The way he kind of pulls down and the way he hides his head is pretty good."
"What I tell everyone is that if I would have been penalized or had a point taken away in the early rounds (of the first Agbeko fight), I would have definitely stopped going to the body. I thought most of my punches were right at the belt line. It was not my intention to hit him low like that and I didn't mean to hit him there. I fought my best and he fought his best and the fans were excited about the fight."
"But, most definitely, I do see where all the controversy comes from. There were some low punches but I tried to correct them. There were times when he pulled my head down and the ref told him not to. I thought at one point I was going to get penalized but I just went to a neutral corner and just saw the ref started counting. It's not my fault. I can't tell the ref to stop counting, so you can't blame me for that. That's why I have no problem fighting him again and I can't wait to fight and beat him again."
"All eyes are going to be on me and waiting for me to make the mistakes, but I'm determined to go to the body like I always do. We're ready. We have plan A and plan B and plan C."
Vic Darchinyan: "I'm Going to Demolish Anselmo Moreno"
by Bad Left Hook
"I'm well prepared and I want to show everyone in America and the rest of the world that I'm very fit and ready to go. As soon as I'm done fighting (Moreno) I want to fight Abner Mares and I will destroy him. That's what I want."
"I think Moreno is an OK fighter. I don't think he's a very effective fighter because he just goes round by round. I'm just going to be too strong for him. He's bigger than me maybe body-wise, but I'm going to be too strong for him."
"I know I have to be patient. I can't be in a rush like I did against Agbeko. I just wanted to knock him out in the first round and I was very impatient. I had no control in the ring because I wanted to just knock him out. I'm not just going to try and knock (Moreno) out. I'm going to take my time."
"I'm going to show the entire world that I'm a strong fighter and that I'm going to knock him out."
"I know Moreno is a great fighter and wants to take me out but if I win this fight I want to fight the winner of Agbeko-Mares. I just love to fight. Anyone who comes, I'm just going to destroy him."
Who does Moreno remind you of?
"I think he looks a little like my first world title fight against (Irene) Pacheco, but Pacheco is more aggressive. He's a southpaw and tall and a good mover, but I think Pacheco is more aggressive than Moreno. They are both good movers and come to fight, so it's going to be a good fight."
"I've seen a couple of his fights. He's always trying to push his opponents around. He comes in not so fit and he gets tired after the sixth round. He's won his recent fights by split decision and he's just looking to survive. He wants to win the first six or seven rounds, but I'm just going to come and demolish him and be so much stronger than him."
"I know Moreno is a great fighter and wants to take me out, but if I win this fight I want to fight the winner of Agbeko-Mares. I just love to fight. Anyone who comes, I'm just going to destroy him.
by Bad Left Hook
"I'm well prepared and I want to show everyone in America and the rest of the world that I'm very fit and ready to go. As soon as I'm done fighting (Moreno) I want to fight Abner Mares and I will destroy him. That's what I want."
"I think Moreno is an OK fighter. I don't think he's a very effective fighter because he just goes round by round. I'm just going to be too strong for him. He's bigger than me maybe body-wise, but I'm going to be too strong for him."
"I know I have to be patient. I can't be in a rush like I did against Agbeko. I just wanted to knock him out in the first round and I was very impatient. I had no control in the ring because I wanted to just knock him out. I'm not just going to try and knock (Moreno) out. I'm going to take my time."
"I'm going to show the entire world that I'm a strong fighter and that I'm going to knock him out."
"I know Moreno is a great fighter and wants to take me out but if I win this fight I want to fight the winner of Agbeko-Mares. I just love to fight. Anyone who comes, I'm just going to destroy him."
Who does Moreno remind you of?
"I think he looks a little like my first world title fight against (Irene) Pacheco, but Pacheco is more aggressive. He's a southpaw and tall and a good mover, but I think Pacheco is more aggressive than Moreno. They are both good movers and come to fight, so it's going to be a good fight."
"I've seen a couple of his fights. He's always trying to push his opponents around. He comes in not so fit and he gets tired after the sixth round. He's won his recent fights by split decision and he's just looking to survive. He wants to win the first six or seven rounds, but I'm just going to come and demolish him and be so much stronger than him."
"I know Moreno is a great fighter and wants to take me out, but if I win this fight I want to fight the winner of Agbeko-Mares. I just love to fight. Anyone who comes, I'm just going to destroy him.
lol Fat Dan answered my question:
natas (seattle)
James Kirkland vs Canelo. Will Golden Boy make it happen or will they protect the ginger kid?
Dan Rafael
(1:20 PM)
It could happen in the future but I dont think that is first on their mind. I think they will move James in another direction to a different belt.
natas (seattle)
James Kirkland vs Canelo. Will Golden Boy make it happen or will they protect the ginger kid?
Dan Rafael
(1:20 PM)
It could happen in the future but I dont think that is first on their mind. I think they will move James in another direction to a different belt.
