Manny Pacquiao may indeed fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on March 13, but the opponent may not be Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Promoter Bob Arum on Thursday made an offer to former world champion Paulie Malignaggi for a fight with Pacquiao on March 13. Arum extended the offer to Malignaggi promoter Lou DiBella, who could not be reached for comment on Christmas Eve.
“Lou liked it, but he was having trouble getting a hold of Paulie to discuss it with him because of the holiday,” Arum said.
While the offer hardly means the proposed Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is off, it makes resuscitating it that much harder. The fight, which is expected to be the highest-grossing bout in boxing history, has come to a halt over a dispute over drug testing.
Mayweather is insisting upon testing administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which requires random urine and blood testing up to and including on the day of competition. Pacquiao is willing to submit blood samples, though he doesn’t want to give blood too close prior to a fight because he believes it weakens him.
Arum said Pacquiao would submit to testing, but wants it under the auspices of the Kansas City, Mo.-based National Center for Drug Free Sports.
“All we’re asking is to get a different agency other than (USADA) because they’re clearly inflexible,” Arum said. “We can go with this other one and they’ll come up with a protocol and get it done in an organized way and we’ll still achieve the desired results. “The bottom line is that the (National Center for Drug Free Sports) could do it and wouldn’t interfere as intrusively as USADA.”
Arum said there appears nothing left to negotiate with the Mayweather side, because it will not back off its demand for testing by USADA. Arum said he spoke with Pacquiao’s attorney, Franklin “Jeng” Gacal, on Thursday and said Gacal told him Pacquiao’s position had not changed.
Arum said he decided to make an offer to Malignaggi because Pacquiao wants to fight before he begins his campaign for a seat in the Filipino congress.
“(Team Mayweather) has their position and we have ours and it looks like we’re on different paths, so I made the offer to Lou (for Malignaggi),” Arum said. “No big deal.”
Arum landed an unlikely ally on Thursday when super lightweight world champion Timothy Bradley spoke out in favor of his position.
Bradley was brought into the fray when his promoter, Gary Shaw, issued a news release saying that Bradley was willing to fight either Mayweather or Pacquiao if the fight between them fell apart.
But Shaw then did an interview with Boxingscene.com after his release became public and said Bradley wouldn’t fight Pacquiao unless Pacquiao submitted to the same testing as Mayweather was requesting.
That would make little sense, because if Pacquiao were to accept such testing, he’d do it to fight Mayweather in what would be the richest fight in history.
And Bradley said that’s not his position anyway. He said he hoped the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight was made.
“This whole thing with Pacman and Mayweather is baloney with the steroid and blood testing thing,” Bradley said. “The fans want to see this fight. Everyone wants to see the fight. I want to see it. This is the fight that should be made. But this testing stuff is crazy.
“I’m not worried about Manny Pacquiao. He’s not on steroids. Just because he’s destroying guys, you want to say he’s on steroids? Come on. He’s just that good. He’s been tested how many times and he’s never tested positive. Neither has Mayweather.”
Bradley said he would fight either man if he were given an offer and said he wouldn’t demand tests, as Shaw said he would.
He said he has confidence in commissions like the Nevada Athletic Commission and the California State Athletic Commission to properly administer testing.
“These are big-time commissions and they have a track record of doing the right thing and protecting fighters,” he said. “They clearly take their jobs seriously. You have to do a lot to satisfy their requirements. I don’t get why anyone would be asking for these blood tests above and beyond what Nevada or California might do.
“Neither guy has a history and I think history shows you that the boxers who have tried steroids find it doesn’t work. Look at (Fernando) Vargas. When he fought Oscar (De La Hoya), it turns out he was on steroids and he got tired. Look what happened to him. He got knocked out.”
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Friday, December 25, 2009
Do the test, Oscar urges Pacquiao
Oscar De La Hoya said on Wednesday that if Manny Pacquiao insists he is clean, he must submit himself to Olympic-style drug testing.
“C’mon. It’s only a little bit of blood. If you have nothing to hide, then do the test,” said De La Hoya in his blog in the on-line edition of The Ring magazine a day after it was announced that the proposed March 13 showdown between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather was in danger of being scrapped for the Filipino’s disagreement with a drug-testing procedure being demanded by Mayweather.
De La Hoya, who lost his farewell fight to Pacquiao in December 2008, says Mayweather is submitting himself to the same tests to show that he doesn’t use performance-enhancing substances.
De La Hoya, whose Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) is representing Mayweather in negotiations with Pacquiao’s promotional banner Top Rank, wonders why Pacquiao, regarded as the world’s best boxer pound-for-pound, “is afraid of needles and having a few tablespoons through random testing in the three months leading up to the fight.”
“If Pacquiao, the toughest guy on the planet, is afraid of needles and having a few tablespoons of blood drawn from his system, then something is wrong. The guy has tattoos everywhere; he’s tattooed from top to bottom. You’re telling me he’s afraid of needles?”
Pacquiao says the urine test being conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission is more than enough to determine if he is drug-free or not, but De La Hoya says it is not so.
“And the idea that urine tests can detect HGH [Human Growth Hormone] is wrong. I talked to Travis Tygart, CEO of the USADA. He testified before Congress that anyone who says HGH can be detected by a urine test is mistaken. It can only be detected by a blood test.”
For the fight to be saved, De La Hoya advises Pacquiao to agree to undergo such tests.
“So you have to do the blood work. If Pacquiao doesn’t want to do this and risk a possible $40-million payday because he’s afraid of needles or believes he’ll be weakened by blood tests, then that raises question marks,” said De La Hoya, who has fought two fighters who have tested positive for banned substances, Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas.
“Now I have to wonder about him. I’m saying to myself, 'Wow. Those Mosley punches, those Vargas punches and those Pacquiao punches all felt the same.' I’m not saying yes or no [about whether Pacquiao might be taking performance-enhancing drugs]; I’m just saying that now people have to wonder: 'Why doesn’t he want to do this? Why is it such a big deal.'”
De La Hoya, who had once inked Pacquiao to a promotional contract that was later rescinded owing to a technicality, stresses that Pacquiao’s refusal is being looked at differently.
“A lot of eyebrows have been raised. This is not good at all.”
If Pacquiao says he is deathly-afraid of needles, De La Hoya has a piece of advice.
“I believe Mayweather wants to do the right thing, to get tested properly. He’s not doing it to harass Pacquiao; that’s garbage. I would say to Pacquiao:
“'Do the test. Do it because it’s only a couple of tablespoons. Needles don’t hurt. Just look away when they put the needle in your arm.'” Besides, De La Hoya articulates, “he’ll probably lose more blood in the fight than the blood being drawn for the test.”
Source: .mb.com.ph
“C’mon. It’s only a little bit of blood. If you have nothing to hide, then do the test,” said De La Hoya in his blog in the on-line edition of The Ring magazine a day after it was announced that the proposed March 13 showdown between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather was in danger of being scrapped for the Filipino’s disagreement with a drug-testing procedure being demanded by Mayweather.
De La Hoya, who lost his farewell fight to Pacquiao in December 2008, says Mayweather is submitting himself to the same tests to show that he doesn’t use performance-enhancing substances.
De La Hoya, whose Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) is representing Mayweather in negotiations with Pacquiao’s promotional banner Top Rank, wonders why Pacquiao, regarded as the world’s best boxer pound-for-pound, “is afraid of needles and having a few tablespoons through random testing in the three months leading up to the fight.”
“If Pacquiao, the toughest guy on the planet, is afraid of needles and having a few tablespoons of blood drawn from his system, then something is wrong. The guy has tattoos everywhere; he’s tattooed from top to bottom. You’re telling me he’s afraid of needles?”
Pacquiao says the urine test being conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission is more than enough to determine if he is drug-free or not, but De La Hoya says it is not so.
“And the idea that urine tests can detect HGH [Human Growth Hormone] is wrong. I talked to Travis Tygart, CEO of the USADA. He testified before Congress that anyone who says HGH can be detected by a urine test is mistaken. It can only be detected by a blood test.”
For the fight to be saved, De La Hoya advises Pacquiao to agree to undergo such tests.
“So you have to do the blood work. If Pacquiao doesn’t want to do this and risk a possible $40-million payday because he’s afraid of needles or believes he’ll be weakened by blood tests, then that raises question marks,” said De La Hoya, who has fought two fighters who have tested positive for banned substances, Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas.
“Now I have to wonder about him. I’m saying to myself, 'Wow. Those Mosley punches, those Vargas punches and those Pacquiao punches all felt the same.' I’m not saying yes or no [about whether Pacquiao might be taking performance-enhancing drugs]; I’m just saying that now people have to wonder: 'Why doesn’t he want to do this? Why is it such a big deal.'”
De La Hoya, who had once inked Pacquiao to a promotional contract that was later rescinded owing to a technicality, stresses that Pacquiao’s refusal is being looked at differently.
“A lot of eyebrows have been raised. This is not good at all.”
If Pacquiao says he is deathly-afraid of needles, De La Hoya has a piece of advice.
“I believe Mayweather wants to do the right thing, to get tested properly. He’s not doing it to harass Pacquiao; that’s garbage. I would say to Pacquiao:
“'Do the test. Do it because it’s only a couple of tablespoons. Needles don’t hurt. Just look away when they put the needle in your arm.'” Besides, De La Hoya articulates, “he’ll probably lose more blood in the fight than the blood being drawn for the test.”
Source: .mb.com.ph
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Testing issues could derail Mayweather-Pacquiao
Nearly every detail is finalized for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao to fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas but one. That one detail, though, may kill the fight.
Negotiations are at an impasse over Pacquiao’s failure to agree to random Olympic-style drug testing, said Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, on Tuesday.
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said his fighter is willing to comply with strict drug-testing standards, but Roach won’t allow Pacquiao to have blood drawn 48 hours before the fight.
Ellerbe said he would not let Mayweather enter the ring unless Pacquiao agreed to it.
Both sides agreed that the drug testing issue is the only hurdle preventing the fight from being finished. Earlier Tuesday, Golden Boy Promotions officially requested March 13 from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to host the show.
“As Floyd’s management, we are insistent that there be a level playing field,” Ellerbe said. “This is in the best interests of the fighters, the fans and the sport. If you want a level playing field, the best way to do it is to have Olympic-style, random drug testing administered by the premier agency in the world, the [United States Anti-Doping Agency].”
Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said the demand is “absolutely crazy,” done simply to harass Pacquiao, who is squeamish about needles, and is proof that Mayweather doesn’t really want the fight.
Arum said the request has been an unsettled issue since the first day of negotiations last month.
“We’re not going to agree to have Manny give blood in training, because that’s stupid,” Arum said. “Every doctor in the world will tell you that is stupid. He’ll give his blood at the beginning of the year and he’s willing to be urine-tested 24/7, but blood doesn’t show [expletive] and he’s not going to do it.”
Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser and de facto manager, said Pacquiao believes drawing blood so close to a competition harms the body, but the boxer is willing to have his blood drawn a month away from the fight as a compromise.
Koncz said Pacquiao was willing to pass on the fight if it came to that.
“Manny has a lot more options than Mayweather does,” Koncz said. “Manny is clean and he’s never done a thing, and he’s willing to go to great lengths to prove it. It’s my understanding that this stuff doesn’t just leave your system overnight.
“He’ll take a blood test immediately after the fight, if that’s what they insist upon. But Manny believes very strongly that it would be harmful to him to draw blood that soon before the fight and he plain and simple isn’t going to do it.”
In a statement released by his publicist, Mayweather said he is willing to submit to the testing. There was never any suspicion that Pacquiao had ever taken banned substances until earlier this year, when Floyd Mayweather Sr. suggested he was on steroids.
Pacquiao has passed every urine test he’s been given in connection with boxing matches.
“I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don’t know anyone who really does,” Mayweather said in his statement. “But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.
“It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night. I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA.”
Blood tests for illegal drugs and banned substances are not required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would have regulatory control of the bout if it is held in Las Vegas.
In Nevada, a fighter is required to submit to a blood test that screens for HIV and Hepatitis B and C, as well as other blood-borne diseases, as part of the requirement to gain a license.
A license in Nevada is good for one year. In Pacquiao’s case, he received his 2009 license shortly before he fought Ricky Hatton in May. He submitted his blood to the commission between April 5 and April 20, said Keith Kizer, the commission’s executive director.
Kizer said all fighters who fight in Nevada are subject to random urine tests as well as any other medical tests, such as an MRI or a CAT scan, that the commission deems necessary. Arum said Pacquiao is willing to submit to testing by an outside agency but won’t give his blood. Roach said it’s an issue because Mayweather’s side has been insisting Pacquiao give blood as close as 48 hours within the fight.
“We’ll accommodate their requests and do urine testing up the wazoo and we’ll agree to have them done by an outside agency,” Arum said. “Manny has nothing to hide. But he’s not going to give blood because that’s crazy. He’ll do it at the beginning and he’ll do it at the end. That’s how it is done. Ask some former Olympic boxers how many times they give blood.”
Ellerbe said having the testing administered by USADA would quell suspicions about the procedures or the result.
“This is no rooty toot organization,” said Ellerbe, who noted that such testing was accepted by elite athletes such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps and Lance Armstrong.
Roach scoffed at such talk and said it won’t matter to him if the fight is not held.
“I really don’t care, because Manny doesn’t need Floyd Mayweather,” Roach said. “The tests he’s requesting are not commission tests, they’re not boxing tests and this is not an Olympic sport. A urine test is just as qualified as a blood test. [Human growth hormone] is not detected by blood or urine.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency successfully used blood testing at the 2004 Olympics in Athens to test for HGH.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Negotiations are at an impasse over Pacquiao’s failure to agree to random Olympic-style drug testing, said Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, on Tuesday.
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said his fighter is willing to comply with strict drug-testing standards, but Roach won’t allow Pacquiao to have blood drawn 48 hours before the fight.
Ellerbe said he would not let Mayweather enter the ring unless Pacquiao agreed to it.
Both sides agreed that the drug testing issue is the only hurdle preventing the fight from being finished. Earlier Tuesday, Golden Boy Promotions officially requested March 13 from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to host the show.
“As Floyd’s management, we are insistent that there be a level playing field,” Ellerbe said. “This is in the best interests of the fighters, the fans and the sport. If you want a level playing field, the best way to do it is to have Olympic-style, random drug testing administered by the premier agency in the world, the [United States Anti-Doping Agency].”
Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said the demand is “absolutely crazy,” done simply to harass Pacquiao, who is squeamish about needles, and is proof that Mayweather doesn’t really want the fight.
Arum said the request has been an unsettled issue since the first day of negotiations last month.
“We’re not going to agree to have Manny give blood in training, because that’s stupid,” Arum said. “Every doctor in the world will tell you that is stupid. He’ll give his blood at the beginning of the year and he’s willing to be urine-tested 24/7, but blood doesn’t show [expletive] and he’s not going to do it.”
Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser and de facto manager, said Pacquiao believes drawing blood so close to a competition harms the body, but the boxer is willing to have his blood drawn a month away from the fight as a compromise.
Koncz said Pacquiao was willing to pass on the fight if it came to that.
“Manny has a lot more options than Mayweather does,” Koncz said. “Manny is clean and he’s never done a thing, and he’s willing to go to great lengths to prove it. It’s my understanding that this stuff doesn’t just leave your system overnight.
“He’ll take a blood test immediately after the fight, if that’s what they insist upon. But Manny believes very strongly that it would be harmful to him to draw blood that soon before the fight and he plain and simple isn’t going to do it.”
In a statement released by his publicist, Mayweather said he is willing to submit to the testing. There was never any suspicion that Pacquiao had ever taken banned substances until earlier this year, when Floyd Mayweather Sr. suggested he was on steroids.
Pacquiao has passed every urine test he’s been given in connection with boxing matches.
“I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don’t know anyone who really does,” Mayweather said in his statement. “But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.
“It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night. I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA.”
Blood tests for illegal drugs and banned substances are not required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would have regulatory control of the bout if it is held in Las Vegas.
In Nevada, a fighter is required to submit to a blood test that screens for HIV and Hepatitis B and C, as well as other blood-borne diseases, as part of the requirement to gain a license.
A license in Nevada is good for one year. In Pacquiao’s case, he received his 2009 license shortly before he fought Ricky Hatton in May. He submitted his blood to the commission between April 5 and April 20, said Keith Kizer, the commission’s executive director.
Kizer said all fighters who fight in Nevada are subject to random urine tests as well as any other medical tests, such as an MRI or a CAT scan, that the commission deems necessary. Arum said Pacquiao is willing to submit to testing by an outside agency but won’t give his blood. Roach said it’s an issue because Mayweather’s side has been insisting Pacquiao give blood as close as 48 hours within the fight.
“We’ll accommodate their requests and do urine testing up the wazoo and we’ll agree to have them done by an outside agency,” Arum said. “Manny has nothing to hide. But he’s not going to give blood because that’s crazy. He’ll do it at the beginning and he’ll do it at the end. That’s how it is done. Ask some former Olympic boxers how many times they give blood.”
Ellerbe said having the testing administered by USADA would quell suspicions about the procedures or the result.
“This is no rooty toot organization,” said Ellerbe, who noted that such testing was accepted by elite athletes such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps and Lance Armstrong.
Roach scoffed at such talk and said it won’t matter to him if the fight is not held.
“I really don’t care, because Manny doesn’t need Floyd Mayweather,” Roach said. “The tests he’s requesting are not commission tests, they’re not boxing tests and this is not an Olympic sport. A urine test is just as qualified as a blood test. [Human growth hormone] is not detected by blood or urine.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency successfully used blood testing at the 2004 Olympics in Athens to test for HGH.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Pacquiao-Mayweather an even match
According to oddsmakers, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are evenly matched.
Sportsbook.com, one of the leading on-line betting stations, has installed Mayweather a – 130 favorite, meaning a bettor has to come up with a wager of $130 to win $100.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, is listed as even money.
Pacquiao and Mayweather’s promoters are working hard the last few days so a venue can be named so it could host the March 13, 2010 super showdown at welterweight.
Leading the growing list of candidates is the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, while attempting to secure the right to the fight are the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas as well as venues in Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum is set to announce this coming week which city will stage the World Boxing Organization 147-pound title fight.
Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, which Mayweather tapped to represent him in the negotiations, are co-promoting the fight although it is Top Rank that is the lead organizer.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the celebration of Pacquiao’s 31st birthday on December 17.
Bren Evangelio, Pacquiao’s administrative assistant, said personalities from the world of politics, showbiz and sports are expected to fly to General Santos City.
“Presidentiables, senators, and congressman are among those who have confirmed their attendance,” said Evangelio.
The KCC Mall, which also hosted Pacquiao’s 30th birthday, will be spruced up once again for the deluge of big shots.
Miguel Cotto, the Puerto Rican fighter Pacquiao beat last November 14, has also been invited to come.
Source: www.mb.com.ph
Sportsbook.com, one of the leading on-line betting stations, has installed Mayweather a – 130 favorite, meaning a bettor has to come up with a wager of $130 to win $100.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, is listed as even money.
Pacquiao and Mayweather’s promoters are working hard the last few days so a venue can be named so it could host the March 13, 2010 super showdown at welterweight.
Leading the growing list of candidates is the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, while attempting to secure the right to the fight are the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas as well as venues in Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum is set to announce this coming week which city will stage the World Boxing Organization 147-pound title fight.
Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, which Mayweather tapped to represent him in the negotiations, are co-promoting the fight although it is Top Rank that is the lead organizer.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the celebration of Pacquiao’s 31st birthday on December 17.
Bren Evangelio, Pacquiao’s administrative assistant, said personalities from the world of politics, showbiz and sports are expected to fly to General Santos City.
“Presidentiables, senators, and congressman are among those who have confirmed their attendance,” said Evangelio.
The KCC Mall, which also hosted Pacquiao’s 30th birthday, will be spruced up once again for the deluge of big shots.
Miguel Cotto, the Puerto Rican fighter Pacquiao beat last November 14, has also been invited to come.
Source: www.mb.com.ph
Floyd camp wants drug tests
The camp of Floyd Mayweather will make sure Manny Pacquiao — and even the American fighter himself — undergo an Olympic-style drug testing to make sure both fighters are “clean” when they collide on March 13, 2010.
Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe told the Grand Rapids Press over the weekend that the random drug test would be done in the weeks leading up to the fight and that he and another adviser, Al Haymon, said they acted without the consent of Mayweather.
“Al and I made sure this will be implemented. It is going to be done,” said Ellerbe.
“It’s not a one-way thing, it’s both fighters who are subject to testing. And this is not Floyd saying this.
This is me and Al. This is one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport and the fans deserve it to be fair.”
Ellerbe denied that the decision to mandate that Pacquiao be tested extensively was based on suspicions that the Filipino has been using performance-enhancing drugs the last few fights as he has been looking sensational as if he is not going up in weight each fight.
“Floyd’s got nothing to do with this. It’s our job to protect him and give him the best chance to be successful.
Inside the ring, he’s got that. He’ll have no problem with Pacquiao, none whatsoever. Our job is to take care of things outside the ring.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), which holds office in Montreal, Canada, is the main agency that administers such tests but Ellerbe did not say whether another group will do the job.
“With the standard commission testing, they only test for specific things. The Olympic-style testing tests for everything. The commission testing is nowhere near as sophisticated,” added Ellerbe.
Pacquiao’s camp found the move to tap an anti-doping agency “amusing.”
“We’ve got nothing to hide so if that’s what they want, no problem,” said Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz.
Source: mb.com.ph
Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe told the Grand Rapids Press over the weekend that the random drug test would be done in the weeks leading up to the fight and that he and another adviser, Al Haymon, said they acted without the consent of Mayweather.
“Al and I made sure this will be implemented. It is going to be done,” said Ellerbe.
“It’s not a one-way thing, it’s both fighters who are subject to testing. And this is not Floyd saying this.
This is me and Al. This is one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport and the fans deserve it to be fair.”
Ellerbe denied that the decision to mandate that Pacquiao be tested extensively was based on suspicions that the Filipino has been using performance-enhancing drugs the last few fights as he has been looking sensational as if he is not going up in weight each fight.
“Floyd’s got nothing to do with this. It’s our job to protect him and give him the best chance to be successful.
Inside the ring, he’s got that. He’ll have no problem with Pacquiao, none whatsoever. Our job is to take care of things outside the ring.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), which holds office in Montreal, Canada, is the main agency that administers such tests but Ellerbe did not say whether another group will do the job.
“With the standard commission testing, they only test for specific things. The Olympic-style testing tests for everything. The commission testing is nowhere near as sophisticated,” added Ellerbe.
Pacquiao’s camp found the move to tap an anti-doping agency “amusing.”
“We’ve got nothing to hide so if that’s what they want, no problem,” said Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz.
Source: mb.com.ph
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Pacquiao fight date announced Monday
NEW YORK (Reuters) — An official announcement of a Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao fight is expected to come on Monday after a venue for the world welterweight title fight is decided, according to Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum.
“I'm very optimistic that everything will come together and we'll have an announcement by next Monday,” Arum told Reuters in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “I think it's going to be the biggest fight of all time, certainly from a revenue standpoint. It could gross a couple of hundred million (US dollars).”
The pair is considered the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
American Mayweather, who has won titles at five different weight classes, has a 40-0 record. Filipino Pacquiao improved to 50-3-2 when he became the first to win titles in seven classes when he stopped Miguel Cotto last month to win the WBO welterweight crown.
Arum said both fighters were on board for a March 13 clash that could generate hundreds of millions of dollars and become the biggest ever boxing promotion.
''We don't want to do an official announcement until we know where the fight's going to be held,'' said Arum. ''That's what we're exploring this week.
''Tomorrow we'll be in Dallas visiting with (NFL Dallas Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones at Cowboys Stadium and hopefully by Monday of next week we'll have a venue and a deal in place.
''I know that Jerry Jones has really worked on the possibility and that's why we're meeting with him tomorrow.''
The new $1.3 billion Cowboys Stadium seats about 73,000.
Arum said there were other contenders to host the bout.
''There's the MGM in Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, that is the only possibility because the outdoor stadium will not work in March.
''We have heard but haven't really explored the (Louisiana) Superdome in New Orleans and the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
“I'm very optimistic that everything will come together and we'll have an announcement by next Monday,” Arum told Reuters in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “I think it's going to be the biggest fight of all time, certainly from a revenue standpoint. It could gross a couple of hundred million (US dollars).”
The pair is considered the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
American Mayweather, who has won titles at five different weight classes, has a 40-0 record. Filipino Pacquiao improved to 50-3-2 when he became the first to win titles in seven classes when he stopped Miguel Cotto last month to win the WBO welterweight crown.
Arum said both fighters were on board for a March 13 clash that could generate hundreds of millions of dollars and become the biggest ever boxing promotion.
''We don't want to do an official announcement until we know where the fight's going to be held,'' said Arum. ''That's what we're exploring this week.
''Tomorrow we'll be in Dallas visiting with (NFL Dallas Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones at Cowboys Stadium and hopefully by Monday of next week we'll have a venue and a deal in place.
''I know that Jerry Jones has really worked on the possibility and that's why we're meeting with him tomorrow.''
The new $1.3 billion Cowboys Stadium seats about 73,000.
Arum said there were other contenders to host the bout.
''There's the MGM in Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, that is the only possibility because the outdoor stadium will not work in March.
''We have heard but haven't really explored the (Louisiana) Superdome in New Orleans and the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Roach sees easy win by Pacquiao
Freddie Roach doesn’t mind going to the Philippines to begin training camp with Manny Pacquiao, who faces Floyd Mayweather in what could turn out to be boxing’s most expensive fight set in March next year.
“I can’t wait for the fight,” said Roach on Wednesday morning (Tuesday afternoon in the US).
The confident Roach he doesn’t see his boy losing.
“We’ll kick Mayweather’s ass,” said the tough-talking Roach, who has guided Pacquiao to an incredible 16-1 record on US soil, including memorable victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
Roach remains in seventh heaven as he had just steered another major fighter under his wing - British star Amir Khan - to a 76-second knockout win over Dimitri Salita over the weekend in Newcastle, England.
Roach said he doesn’t have any concerns about setting up the first half of training camp in Baguio, where Pacquiao had worked out for a month in preparation for the Miguel Cotto fight that the Filipino won in stunning fashion last November 14.
Roach is so thrilled about Pacquiao clashing with Mayweather that he has named Khan and welterweight hotshot Andre Berto as sparring partners of Pacquiao although Roach stressed that Berto will only be tapped in the second half of training, when they’ve already returned to the familiar confines of the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Berto, who has a 25-0 record with 19 knockouts, is scheduled to face Shane Mosley on Jan. 30 in Las Vegas and if Berto emerges unscathed, he will be asked to give a helping hand to Pacquiao.
Roach said he has a few more fighters lined up in the remaining weeks but is looking forward to starting Day One of training camp.
Source: mb.com.ph
“I can’t wait for the fight,” said Roach on Wednesday morning (Tuesday afternoon in the US).
The confident Roach he doesn’t see his boy losing.
“We’ll kick Mayweather’s ass,” said the tough-talking Roach, who has guided Pacquiao to an incredible 16-1 record on US soil, including memorable victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
Roach remains in seventh heaven as he had just steered another major fighter under his wing - British star Amir Khan - to a 76-second knockout win over Dimitri Salita over the weekend in Newcastle, England.
Roach said he doesn’t have any concerns about setting up the first half of training camp in Baguio, where Pacquiao had worked out for a month in preparation for the Miguel Cotto fight that the Filipino won in stunning fashion last November 14.
Roach is so thrilled about Pacquiao clashing with Mayweather that he has named Khan and welterweight hotshot Andre Berto as sparring partners of Pacquiao although Roach stressed that Berto will only be tapped in the second half of training, when they’ve already returned to the familiar confines of the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Berto, who has a 25-0 record with 19 knockouts, is scheduled to face Shane Mosley on Jan. 30 in Las Vegas and if Berto emerges unscathed, he will be asked to give a helping hand to Pacquiao.
Roach said he has a few more fighters lined up in the remaining weeks but is looking forward to starting Day One of training camp.
Source: mb.com.ph
Friday, December 4, 2009
Pacquiao, Floyd fight a done deal?
Negotiations for the mouth-watering March 13, 2010 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. took a giant step towards completion Friday after promoter Bob Arum emerged smiling after meeting with the Filipino star.
“I met with Manny this morning and my next step is to go back to the US to meet with the Mayweather people to finalize the arrangements. That’s as far as I want to go and we have an understanding with the Mayweather people until we finalize everything,” Arum said during a press conference that also formally announced a TV partnership between ABS-CBN and Top Rank.
Arum politely declined to go further but the tone of his voice suggested that Pacquiao and Mayweather are on the same page.
“You can interpret it the way you like it but you can see a smile on my face that means I am not disappointed,” said Arum, who had initially met with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) CEO Richard Schaefer before coming to the country.
Schaefer is being allowed by Mayweather to represent him in negotiations with Arum even though he is not under the GBP banner. Mayweather, however, has dealt a couple of times with the Oscar De La Hoya-owned GBP.
“This is going to be one of the biggest fights financially,” stressed Arum, who aims to finalize the deal with Mayweather’s camp in the next two weeks.
If everything falls into place, Arum said a major press conference will be held sometime in January and because of time constraints, there would be no more multi-city promotional tours.
On another note, Arum said that Roy Chiongbian, who will be contesting the lone congress seat of Sarangani in next year’s polls, should make a sacrifice.
“I just hope that Manny would be focused and I think his opponent would do everybody a service to the great country of the Philippines by withdrawing from the race so it could take Manny’s mind off politics but that’s just my opinion. I am not a Filipino and I can’t tell everyone what to do but this guy Manny is running against should do everybody a favor.”
Meanwhile, Arum’s deal with ABS-CBN would allow the giant network to broadcast major Top Ranks cards mainly from the US and Mexico, some of which will feature Filipino fighters.
But Pacquiao fights remain in GMA-7 and Solar Sports’ domain.
The two television outfits and Pacquiao signed a new contract which gives GMA-7 and Solar the rights to broadcast his fights until 2013.
Solar Entertainment President Wilson Tieng confirmed Pacquiao’s signing of a renewal contract with their company in an interview yesterday.
“A few months ago, (Manny) renewed his contract. So, Solar's contract with Pacquiao is up to 2013. Hindi lang ito na-publicize,” Tieng said.
Should the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, which experts have been calling the "Fight of the Century," push through, viewers will be able to watch it for free on GMA Network and Solar Sports.
“We are tied up with Manny until 2013. Whether against Mayweather or whoever else, Solar will still have the airing rights for the Philippines. With our partnership, we’ll still air the fights on GMA and Solar TV,” said Solar COO Peter Chanliong.
Source: mb.com.ph
“I met with Manny this morning and my next step is to go back to the US to meet with the Mayweather people to finalize the arrangements. That’s as far as I want to go and we have an understanding with the Mayweather people until we finalize everything,” Arum said during a press conference that also formally announced a TV partnership between ABS-CBN and Top Rank.
Arum politely declined to go further but the tone of his voice suggested that Pacquiao and Mayweather are on the same page.
“You can interpret it the way you like it but you can see a smile on my face that means I am not disappointed,” said Arum, who had initially met with Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) CEO Richard Schaefer before coming to the country.
Schaefer is being allowed by Mayweather to represent him in negotiations with Arum even though he is not under the GBP banner. Mayweather, however, has dealt a couple of times with the Oscar De La Hoya-owned GBP.
“This is going to be one of the biggest fights financially,” stressed Arum, who aims to finalize the deal with Mayweather’s camp in the next two weeks.
If everything falls into place, Arum said a major press conference will be held sometime in January and because of time constraints, there would be no more multi-city promotional tours.
On another note, Arum said that Roy Chiongbian, who will be contesting the lone congress seat of Sarangani in next year’s polls, should make a sacrifice.
“I just hope that Manny would be focused and I think his opponent would do everybody a service to the great country of the Philippines by withdrawing from the race so it could take Manny’s mind off politics but that’s just my opinion. I am not a Filipino and I can’t tell everyone what to do but this guy Manny is running against should do everybody a favor.”
Meanwhile, Arum’s deal with ABS-CBN would allow the giant network to broadcast major Top Ranks cards mainly from the US and Mexico, some of which will feature Filipino fighters.
But Pacquiao fights remain in GMA-7 and Solar Sports’ domain.
The two television outfits and Pacquiao signed a new contract which gives GMA-7 and Solar the rights to broadcast his fights until 2013.
Solar Entertainment President Wilson Tieng confirmed Pacquiao’s signing of a renewal contract with their company in an interview yesterday.
“A few months ago, (Manny) renewed his contract. So, Solar's contract with Pacquiao is up to 2013. Hindi lang ito na-publicize,” Tieng said.
Should the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, which experts have been calling the "Fight of the Century," push through, viewers will be able to watch it for free on GMA Network and Solar Sports.
“We are tied up with Manny until 2013. Whether against Mayweather or whoever else, Solar will still have the airing rights for the Philippines. With our partnership, we’ll still air the fights on GMA and Solar TV,” said Solar COO Peter Chanliong.
Source: mb.com.ph
Pacquiao Vs Mayweather Fight is on 13 March 2010
Seven-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has agreed to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year, a television report said Friday night.
Pacquiao confirmed this in an interview with GMA 7’s "24-Oras" after emerging from a meeting with Top Rank big boss Bob Arum Friday night.
After agreeing for the March 13, 2010 fight with Mayweather, Pacquiao instructed Arum to iron out all details in order for both boxers to finally seal the deal.
Pacquiao said Mayweather is not a good role model for kids, who regularly look up to athletes as their heroes.
“He (Mayweather) is full of thrash talk whom the children should not emulate."
Despite the proximity of the May, 2010 election, in which he will running for congressman in Saranggani, Pacquiao agreed to fight Mayweather.
Source: mb.com.ph
Pacquiao confirmed this in an interview with GMA 7’s "24-Oras" after emerging from a meeting with Top Rank big boss Bob Arum Friday night.
After agreeing for the March 13, 2010 fight with Mayweather, Pacquiao instructed Arum to iron out all details in order for both boxers to finally seal the deal.
Pacquiao said Mayweather is not a good role model for kids, who regularly look up to athletes as their heroes.
“He (Mayweather) is full of thrash talk whom the children should not emulate."
Despite the proximity of the May, 2010 election, in which he will running for congressman in Saranggani, Pacquiao agreed to fight Mayweather.
Source: mb.com.ph
Floyd ‘afraid’ of Pacquiao – Arum
NEW YORK (Reuters) — Manny Pacquiao's desire to take on Floyd Mayweather Jr. may not be enough to persuade the American to climb into the ring for a dream fight against the Filipino, promoter Bob Arum said on Thursday.
As Pacquiao returned to a hero's welcome in Manila on Friday following his impressive WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto at the weekend, Arum cast doubt on a Mayweather showdown, saying the American might not want to blemish his perfect record.
''But you have to understand Mayweather's psyche,'' Arum told reporters at a lunch saluting Yuri Foreman, who became the first Israeli to win a world title when he claimed the WBA super welterweight crown on the Pacquiao undercard.
''Psychologically he may not be prepared to do this fight,'' Pacquiao promoter Arum added.
''Now this is me being an amateur psychologist, but Mayweather is so tied up with the fact that nobody has beaten him, that he has a zero on his record, I don't know if he would be willing to go into the ring with anybody that could jeopardize that zero.
The 32-year-old Mayweather, who has won titles at five different weight classes, has a 40-0 career record while Pacquiao, 30, improved to 50-3-2 when he stopped Cotto in the 12th round in Las Vegas.
''He is afraid, terrified of losing that zero,'' said Arum, possibly in an effort to goad Mayweather into making the match.
''That's why he's ducked (Shane) Mosely, (Antonio) Margarito, and Cotto, and the question is will he duck Manny Pacquiao because he's so afraid of losing that zero.''
Pacquiao, who won his seventh world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class, told a radio interviewer this week he wanted to fight Mayweather in what would be a showdown between the world's two best pound-for-pound boxers.
However, the Filipino threw the ball back in Mayweather's court with comments to local media at Manila airport.
''We are not pushing the fight. He should be the first to challenge me, after all I got a higher pay-per-view from my fight,'' Pacquiao added.
Mayweather's last fight against Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez in September, a victory by a unanimous points decision, drew a million pay-per-view buys.
Final figures are yet to be released but Pacquiao's stoppage win over Cotto is widely tipped to have generated more.
After being greeted by a media scrum at the airport, Pacquiao rode a flat-bed truck adorned with flags around the streets of Manila, drawing thousands of cheering fans.
Representatives of HBO Boxing expressed confidence that Pacquiao and Mayweather would fight as welterweights in May, and Arum said he would try his best to arrange it.
Source: mb.com.ph
As Pacquiao returned to a hero's welcome in Manila on Friday following his impressive WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto at the weekend, Arum cast doubt on a Mayweather showdown, saying the American might not want to blemish his perfect record.
''But you have to understand Mayweather's psyche,'' Arum told reporters at a lunch saluting Yuri Foreman, who became the first Israeli to win a world title when he claimed the WBA super welterweight crown on the Pacquiao undercard.
''Psychologically he may not be prepared to do this fight,'' Pacquiao promoter Arum added.
''Now this is me being an amateur psychologist, but Mayweather is so tied up with the fact that nobody has beaten him, that he has a zero on his record, I don't know if he would be willing to go into the ring with anybody that could jeopardize that zero.
The 32-year-old Mayweather, who has won titles at five different weight classes, has a 40-0 career record while Pacquiao, 30, improved to 50-3-2 when he stopped Cotto in the 12th round in Las Vegas.
''He is afraid, terrified of losing that zero,'' said Arum, possibly in an effort to goad Mayweather into making the match.
''That's why he's ducked (Shane) Mosely, (Antonio) Margarito, and Cotto, and the question is will he duck Manny Pacquiao because he's so afraid of losing that zero.''
Pacquiao, who won his seventh world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class, told a radio interviewer this week he wanted to fight Mayweather in what would be a showdown between the world's two best pound-for-pound boxers.
However, the Filipino threw the ball back in Mayweather's court with comments to local media at Manila airport.
''We are not pushing the fight. He should be the first to challenge me, after all I got a higher pay-per-view from my fight,'' Pacquiao added.
Mayweather's last fight against Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez in September, a victory by a unanimous points decision, drew a million pay-per-view buys.
Final figures are yet to be released but Pacquiao's stoppage win over Cotto is widely tipped to have generated more.
After being greeted by a media scrum at the airport, Pacquiao rode a flat-bed truck adorned with flags around the streets of Manila, drawing thousands of cheering fans.
Representatives of HBO Boxing expressed confidence that Pacquiao and Mayweather would fight as welterweights in May, and Arum said he would try his best to arrange it.
Source: mb.com.ph
Politics may spoil Pacman bout vs. Mayweather
Here’s one bad news for diehard fans of Manny Pacquiao, the fighter. Promoter Bob Arum, in an overseas call on Wednesday, said politics may get in the way when it comes to seeing Pacquiao back in the ring at least within the first half of next year.
Arum said he plans to talk with Pacquiao before the Filipino superstar leaves for home today from Los Angeles and propose a possible outing in late April which will only be a few days before the May 10 national and local elections.
“That’s too bad. Politics is up to him. As his promoter all I can tell him is we can do this fight and he can make a lot of money but we have to do it between the end of April or beginning of May. I can’t do a March fight,” said Arum “Manny has to take that into account. Maybe he doesn’t run, or decides to run on the party list, I don’t know. But what’s the hurry? He’s a young man. He can run three years from now.”
The 30-year-old Pacquiao, who is coming off a smashing 12th round TKO win over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto last weekend in Las Vegas, is said to be hell-bent on running for congressman to represent Sarangani province which has one congressional seat.
Initially, HBO has set a March Pay-Per-View date for Pacquiao but the pound-for-pound king’s famed trainer Freddie Roach said the schedule will be too close for the Filipino sensation.
“Freddie is the trainer and we do nothing without Freddie. He is the guy that is responsible for these kind of issues and so the earliest we would do a fight with Manny would be the end of April to beginning of May,” said Arum.
Arum, meanwhile, declined to discuss further potential talks with Pacquiao’s likely opponent Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
“We’re just here and Manny is ready to fight Mayweather. I just don’t want the newspapers to upset any negotiations to make the fight,” said Arum.
Arum, however, reveals he is being deluged with calls inquiring about the possibility of staging a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.
Among the places who expressed interest in holding the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout are The New Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field in New York, The New York Giants Stadium, New Orleans and a place in Las Vegas where a 30,000-seat facility is set to be built.
As for the Pacquiao-Cotto PPV buys, Arum denied internet reports that the $54.95 subscription may reach the two million mark.
“I think there’s a good chance its going to be a million three (1.3 million buys) to a million four (1.4 million buys) which is still great,” said Arum.
Source: www.mb.com.ph
Arum said he plans to talk with Pacquiao before the Filipino superstar leaves for home today from Los Angeles and propose a possible outing in late April which will only be a few days before the May 10 national and local elections.
“That’s too bad. Politics is up to him. As his promoter all I can tell him is we can do this fight and he can make a lot of money but we have to do it between the end of April or beginning of May. I can’t do a March fight,” said Arum “Manny has to take that into account. Maybe he doesn’t run, or decides to run on the party list, I don’t know. But what’s the hurry? He’s a young man. He can run three years from now.”
The 30-year-old Pacquiao, who is coming off a smashing 12th round TKO win over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto last weekend in Las Vegas, is said to be hell-bent on running for congressman to represent Sarangani province which has one congressional seat.
Initially, HBO has set a March Pay-Per-View date for Pacquiao but the pound-for-pound king’s famed trainer Freddie Roach said the schedule will be too close for the Filipino sensation.
“Freddie is the trainer and we do nothing without Freddie. He is the guy that is responsible for these kind of issues and so the earliest we would do a fight with Manny would be the end of April to beginning of May,” said Arum.
Arum, meanwhile, declined to discuss further potential talks with Pacquiao’s likely opponent Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
“We’re just here and Manny is ready to fight Mayweather. I just don’t want the newspapers to upset any negotiations to make the fight,” said Arum.
Arum, however, reveals he is being deluged with calls inquiring about the possibility of staging a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.
Among the places who expressed interest in holding the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout are The New Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field in New York, The New York Giants Stadium, New Orleans and a place in Las Vegas where a 30,000-seat facility is set to be built.
As for the Pacquiao-Cotto PPV buys, Arum denied internet reports that the $54.95 subscription may reach the two million mark.
“I think there’s a good chance its going to be a million three (1.3 million buys) to a million four (1.4 million buys) which is still great,” said Arum.
Source: www.mb.com.ph
Path to dream Pacquiao-Mayweather duel far from easy
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Barely seconds after Manny Pacquiao had completed a ruthless demolition of Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas on Saturday, the crowd began chanting “We want Floyd, we want Floyd’’ in the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Pacquiao’s commanding win over Puerto Rican Cotto to claim the WBO welterweight title has left the boxing public hungrily awaiting a showdown between the Filipino southpaw and unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao and Mayweather are widely viewed as the two biggest names in contemporary boxing and their confrontation in the ring would finally settle the argument over who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
The path to this dream duel, however, is far from easy and its success hinges on their respective promoters being to able to strike a deal.
Both fighters are known for demanding the lion’s share of any negotiated figure and Mayweather has, so far, shied away from committing to a mouth-watering clash with the pride of the Philippines.
The Pacquiao camp expressed its eagerness to take on Mayweather shortly after Saturday’s fight was halted by the referee early in the 12th and final round.
“I want to see him fight Mayweather,’’ Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach told reporters when asked who was the next name on his wish list.
Pacquiao, whose victory over Cotto earned him a seventh world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class, deferred to his promoter Bob Arum.
“My job is to fight in the ring,’’ the 30-year-old said after improving his career record to 50-3-2 with 38 knockouts.
“It’s my promoter’s job to make the fights.’’
Arum told Reuters on Monday it was now up to the Mayweather camp to express interest in going forward with negotiations.
“Speaking for Manny and Freddie, we are looking forward to doing that fight (with Mayweather),’’ Arum said. “Now the question is working out the terms for both sides.
“And that is a significant step because we are not sure whether it is Mayweather’s decision.’’
Arum added: “If Mayweather is interested, he will send a letter to (television channel) HBO saying that he is interested in doing the fight and who he wants to negotiate for him.’’
Mayweather, who improved his career record to 40-0 (25 KOs)
with a unanimous points win over Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September, has criticised Pacquiao for deferring to his promoter.
“Tell Manny Pacquiao to be his own man and stop letting everyone, including his loudmouth trainer, talk for him,’’ Mayweather said in a statement released by his promotions company on Monday.
“I am my own boss, speak for myself and tell it like it is. If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight me, all he has to do is step up to the plate and say it himself.
“I have yet to hear him actually say: ‘Yes, I want to fight Mayweather.’ Manny Pacquiao doesn’t say anything directly about fighting me because he might just know it’s not a fight he can win.’’
Mayweather was widely regarded as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter when he stopped Britain’s Ricky Hatton in the 10th round of their 2007 encounter.
However, the flamboyant American then retired from the ring before returning 21 months later, during which time the mythical ‘pound-for-pound’ tag passed to Pacquiao.
The brash-talking Mayweather, one of the best defensive fighters of all time, has continually bragged he is the greatest fighter of his era.
For the boxing public, that argument can only be settled once Mayweather enters the ring with Pacquiao.
source: mb.com.ph
Pacquiao’s commanding win over Puerto Rican Cotto to claim the WBO welterweight title has left the boxing public hungrily awaiting a showdown between the Filipino southpaw and unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao and Mayweather are widely viewed as the two biggest names in contemporary boxing and their confrontation in the ring would finally settle the argument over who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
The path to this dream duel, however, is far from easy and its success hinges on their respective promoters being to able to strike a deal.
Both fighters are known for demanding the lion’s share of any negotiated figure and Mayweather has, so far, shied away from committing to a mouth-watering clash with the pride of the Philippines.
The Pacquiao camp expressed its eagerness to take on Mayweather shortly after Saturday’s fight was halted by the referee early in the 12th and final round.
“I want to see him fight Mayweather,’’ Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach told reporters when asked who was the next name on his wish list.
Pacquiao, whose victory over Cotto earned him a seventh world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class, deferred to his promoter Bob Arum.
“My job is to fight in the ring,’’ the 30-year-old said after improving his career record to 50-3-2 with 38 knockouts.
“It’s my promoter’s job to make the fights.’’
Arum told Reuters on Monday it was now up to the Mayweather camp to express interest in going forward with negotiations.
“Speaking for Manny and Freddie, we are looking forward to doing that fight (with Mayweather),’’ Arum said. “Now the question is working out the terms for both sides.
“And that is a significant step because we are not sure whether it is Mayweather’s decision.’’
Arum added: “If Mayweather is interested, he will send a letter to (television channel) HBO saying that he is interested in doing the fight and who he wants to negotiate for him.’’
Mayweather, who improved his career record to 40-0 (25 KOs)
with a unanimous points win over Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September, has criticised Pacquiao for deferring to his promoter.
“Tell Manny Pacquiao to be his own man and stop letting everyone, including his loudmouth trainer, talk for him,’’ Mayweather said in a statement released by his promotions company on Monday.
“I am my own boss, speak for myself and tell it like it is. If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight me, all he has to do is step up to the plate and say it himself.
“I have yet to hear him actually say: ‘Yes, I want to fight Mayweather.’ Manny Pacquiao doesn’t say anything directly about fighting me because he might just know it’s not a fight he can win.’’
Mayweather was widely regarded as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter when he stopped Britain’s Ricky Hatton in the 10th round of their 2007 encounter.
However, the flamboyant American then retired from the ring before returning 21 months later, during which time the mythical ‘pound-for-pound’ tag passed to Pacquiao.
The brash-talking Mayweather, one of the best defensive fighters of all time, has continually bragged he is the greatest fighter of his era.
For the boxing public, that argument can only be settled once Mayweather enters the ring with Pacquiao.
source: mb.com.ph
Pacquiao eyes megafight with Mayweather
LAS VEGAS, Nevada, November 16, 2009 (AFP) - Manny Pacquiao hopes his stunning victory Saturday over Miguel Cotto will put him in line for a mega welterweight showdown against Floyd Mayweather in 2010.
Filipino southpaw Pacquiao showed he is ready to lead boxing's revival by taking Cotto's World Boxing Organization belt and claiming his seventh world title in seven different weight classes.
He scored a final-round technical knockout, putting the Puerto Rican champion down as the referee stopped the onslaught 55 seconds into the 12th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Under siege from mixed martial arts, boxing has seen its fan base shrink in the past few years.
With his stunning demolition of his last three opponents, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and now Cotto, Pacquiao has become the face of the sport even making the front page of the Asian edition of Time magazine this month.
What better way to showcase the sport's newest poster boy than to have a pound-for-pound showdown between Pacquiao and American Mayweather.
"That is the fight the whole world wants to see," said Paquiao's trainer Freddie Roach.
Asked after the Cotto fight if he wanted Mayweather next, Pacquiao said, "My job is to fight and it depends on promoter Bob Arum to negotiate that."
Pacquiao said earlier in the week he doesn't think Mayweather will step up to the plate and called him a boring boxer.
"Boxing for him is like a business. He doesn't care about people around him watching. He doesn't care if the fight is boring as long as the fight is finished and he gets his money," Pacquiao said.
Roach said even if Mayweather agrees to a deal, the fight won't take place at any cost.
"If Floyd wants a 65-35 (purse) split then he is not going to get it," Roach said.
Heading into the Cotto fight, Pacquiao looked relaxed all week even smiling and waving as he climbed into the ring.
Underdog Cotto was the more serious of the two knowing the odds were stacked against him and his best hope for a win was to be the aggressor and try to land his savage left hook.
Pacquiao's game plan against Cotto was to engage him from the opening bell try to land an early shot and take away the champion's confidence.
While he didn't stick to the script entirely, Pacquiao did what he had to do in the first round to figure out his opponent and then break him down with his superior hand speed and boxing skills.
Pacquiao's confidence increased after the third round when he realized he could take Cotto's punches without losing any steam. In the fifth, he switched from being the aggressor to counter-puncher, landing several hard blows as Cotto tried to spin away from exchanges.
"I couldn't see where the punches were coming from," a bloodied Cotto said in the ring before heading off to the hospital for x-rays and treatment of cuts and bruises.
When he didn't get the knockout he wanted in the sixth and seventh rounds, Pacquiao appeared to carry Cotto into the later rounds, hoping to catch him with a flurry in the final minute of a round that would finish the fight. Either that or he was hoping the referee would evoke the mercy rule.
Roach said all week he didn't think Cotto's corner would be able to make adjustments very well in the middle of the fight and there seemed to be confusion among Cotto's handlers about when, and if, to the stop the fight.
"I would have stopped the fight if I was his corner man," Roach said of Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago.
"Once he (Cotto) started running he gave up and he was looking for way out. I would have given him one. I wouldn't have let him take a beating."
source: mb.com.ph
Filipino southpaw Pacquiao showed he is ready to lead boxing's revival by taking Cotto's World Boxing Organization belt and claiming his seventh world title in seven different weight classes.
He scored a final-round technical knockout, putting the Puerto Rican champion down as the referee stopped the onslaught 55 seconds into the 12th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Under siege from mixed martial arts, boxing has seen its fan base shrink in the past few years.
With his stunning demolition of his last three opponents, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and now Cotto, Pacquiao has become the face of the sport even making the front page of the Asian edition of Time magazine this month.
What better way to showcase the sport's newest poster boy than to have a pound-for-pound showdown between Pacquiao and American Mayweather.
"That is the fight the whole world wants to see," said Paquiao's trainer Freddie Roach.
Asked after the Cotto fight if he wanted Mayweather next, Pacquiao said, "My job is to fight and it depends on promoter Bob Arum to negotiate that."
Pacquiao said earlier in the week he doesn't think Mayweather will step up to the plate and called him a boring boxer.
"Boxing for him is like a business. He doesn't care about people around him watching. He doesn't care if the fight is boring as long as the fight is finished and he gets his money," Pacquiao said.
Roach said even if Mayweather agrees to a deal, the fight won't take place at any cost.
"If Floyd wants a 65-35 (purse) split then he is not going to get it," Roach said.
Heading into the Cotto fight, Pacquiao looked relaxed all week even smiling and waving as he climbed into the ring.
Underdog Cotto was the more serious of the two knowing the odds were stacked against him and his best hope for a win was to be the aggressor and try to land his savage left hook.
Pacquiao's game plan against Cotto was to engage him from the opening bell try to land an early shot and take away the champion's confidence.
While he didn't stick to the script entirely, Pacquiao did what he had to do in the first round to figure out his opponent and then break him down with his superior hand speed and boxing skills.
Pacquiao's confidence increased after the third round when he realized he could take Cotto's punches without losing any steam. In the fifth, he switched from being the aggressor to counter-puncher, landing several hard blows as Cotto tried to spin away from exchanges.
"I couldn't see where the punches were coming from," a bloodied Cotto said in the ring before heading off to the hospital for x-rays and treatment of cuts and bruises.
When he didn't get the knockout he wanted in the sixth and seventh rounds, Pacquiao appeared to carry Cotto into the later rounds, hoping to catch him with a flurry in the final minute of a round that would finish the fight. Either that or he was hoping the referee would evoke the mercy rule.
Roach said all week he didn't think Cotto's corner would be able to make adjustments very well in the middle of the fight and there seemed to be confusion among Cotto's handlers about when, and if, to the stop the fight.
"I would have stopped the fight if I was his corner man," Roach said of Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago.
"Once he (Cotto) started running he gave up and he was looking for way out. I would have given him one. I wouldn't have let him take a beating."
source: mb.com.ph
Mayweather Vs Pacquiao is Possible
Now that Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. successfully destroyed Juan Manuel Marquez via unanimous decision during their welterweight boxing match in Las Vegas, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. , there's a chance that Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. Vs Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao could come into action if Pacquiao will win over Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico on November 14, 2009. If Mayweather Vs Pacquiao comes to action, this fight could generate the biggest Pay Per View draw and much awaited also on video live stream.
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