Manny Pacquiao finally broke the news that he’s been using World Boxing Association junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara as one of his sparring partners to get ready for his May 2nd fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
It’s unclear if the Cuban Lara is the so-called secret weapon sparring partners that Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has been bragging about or not. If so, then that would explain Roach being so hush-hush about it. That also might explain why Pacquiao might not be doing so well in his sparring sessions.
Lara has the identical movement of Mayweather, so it’s not hard to predict that Pacquiao would find himself having a lot of problems against Lara. We’re talking about a 5’10” fighter with blazing fast hand speed, a southpaw stance, pinpoint accuracy and excellent power.
Pacquiao is used to fighting stationary fighters that stand in one place and don’t have much hand speed. Lara might be giving Pacquiao all he can handle in the ring.
Lance Pugmire of the LA Times said “Trainer Freddie Roach is not entirely satisfied with how Pacquiao has looked in sparring, specifically in how Pacquiao is not cutting off the ring as sharply as he did in November when he scored a career best six knockdowns of then unbeaten Chris Algieri.”
Mayweather would likely be a lot more aggressive than Lara is, and that’s something that Pacquiao might have to adjust to when he gets inside the ring with Mayweather on May 2nd.
If he’s assuming that he’s going to run around the ring like Lara, then Pacquiao might not be ready for what he’s going to be facing on May 2nd. But I can definitely see how Pacquiao could struggle against someone like Lara during a sparring session because there wouldn’t be a catch-weight handicap to weaken Lara like we saw when Pacquiao fought Margarito at a catch-weight at 150 for the vacant WBC light middleweight title in 2010.
Pacquiao’s sparring with Lara would be with Lara weighing whatever he is right now. We could be talking about a 170+ pound Lara. The Cuban fighter is in between fights right now, so it’s not as if his weight would be low.
Pacquiao has reportedly been focusing on throwing a lot of flurries, according to Pugmire. Obviously fighting like that against a guy like Mayweather is going to cause Pacquiao to get lit up like a Christmas tree. He can’t be throwing combinations against Mayweather because he’ll get hit way too much.
Throwing combinations works for Pacquiao against the guys that his promoter Bob Arum has been scratching up for him. Pacquiao used to try the combination punching against Juan Manuel Marquez, and it generally led to Pacquiao getting countered like mad. If he tries that with Mayweather it’s likely going to be far, far worse.
“I’m coming to the ring to win the fight and bring honor to my country,” Pacquiao said via the latimes.com.
Pacquiao was suffering leg problems recently in the form of cramps, but supposedly the cramps have disappeared. Whether they’ll stay away in the head of the battle on May 2nd is anyone’s guess. With the movement that Mayweather will be using in this fight, I would not be surprised at all if Pacquiao starts cramping again.
Rich get richer: Mayweather and Pacquiao purses soar
The first ticket has yet to be sold, but the richest fight in boxing history is getting richer by the day.
New estimates show Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s payoff for fighting Manny Pacquiao could easily be $180 million, up substantially from earlier predictions of $120 million. Pacquiao gets the short end of the purse, but even that is expected to be well over $100 million by the time everything is tallied up.
The money is staggering, though not exactly unexpected. Five years of waiting seem to have only piqued the public's demand for the one fight even casual fans of the sport want to see.
"For whatever it's worth, the buildup over these years has certainly enhanced the fight," promoter Bob Arum. "Everybody knows about it now, even people who don't follow boxing. Plus we have a good economy, unlike in 2009 when people were out of work and didn't have the money to spend."
Fans will certainly have to pay a price to see the May 2 welterweight title bout, especially those lucky enough to score a ticket inside the MGM Grand arena itself. Ticket prices there range from $1,500 in the upper deck to $7,500 at ringside — and only a small percentage of the tickets will actually be put on public sale.
Arum said Tuesday the gate at the MGM alone will be more than $72 million, obliterating the previous live gate record of $20 million in Nevada set by Mayweather's 2013 fight with Canelo Alvarez. Though the MGM will provide some tickets for its biggest gamblers, Arum said even the celebrities who can normally get free tickets to sit ringside will have to pay full fare for the fight — if they can get their hands on tickets at all.
Promoters announced a deal Tuesday with Sky Sports to televise the fight on pay-per-view in England and parts of Europe, part of another $35 million expected to come in from foreign rights. Add in another $10 million in sponsorships — Tecate beer will be the main sponsor — and the fight will gross more than $100 million before a single home in North America buys the pay-per-view.
Less certain is how many people will spend what is expected to be $100 or so for the pay-per-view in the U.S., but that could easily break records, too. Mayweather's 2007 fight with Oscar De La Hoya currently tops the charts with 2.44 million buys, but many think Mayweather-Pacquiao could do more than 3 million homes despite softness in the pay-per-view market in the last few years.
"That's the one element that's a mystery," Arum told The Associated Press. "It seems like it will break the record, but who really knows? Anyone who predicts the total pay-per-view is whistling in the dark."
Cable networks HBO and Showtime have yet to announce the pay-per-view price, saying they are still in negotiations with cable systems and satellite providers. Those negotiations are mostly about how the money will be divided between the broadcasters and the fight promoters, who historically have split revenues fairly equally.
With promoters holding the upper hand for this fight, though, that split could end up 65-35 in favor of the promotion. And if 3 million homes buy the fight at $100, that would mean about $200 million in revenue to Mayweather Promotions and Arum's Top Rank from pay-per-view alone.
Add in the other money and the two camps will have more than $300 million to divvy up. With Mayweather getting a 60-40 split, that would mean a purse of $180 million or more to Mayweather and $120 million or more to Pacquiao.
Both purses would dwarf the biggest ever in boxing, including the 2007 fight with Mayweather in which De La Hoya made a reported $52 million. Mayweather's biggest payday was against Alvarez, when he was guaranteed $41.5 million and may have made another $20 million off the pay-per-view sales.
"You get to this level where you're making nine figures in 36 minutes," Mayweather said at the fight press conference this month in Los Angeles, "and you have to be a winner."
Judging from the money on the table in this bout, it's hard to find a loser.
New estimates show Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s payoff for fighting Manny Pacquiao could easily be $180 million, up substantially from earlier predictions of $120 million. Pacquiao gets the short end of the purse, but even that is expected to be well over $100 million by the time everything is tallied up.
The money is staggering, though not exactly unexpected. Five years of waiting seem to have only piqued the public's demand for the one fight even casual fans of the sport want to see.
"For whatever it's worth, the buildup over these years has certainly enhanced the fight," promoter Bob Arum. "Everybody knows about it now, even people who don't follow boxing. Plus we have a good economy, unlike in 2009 when people were out of work and didn't have the money to spend."
Fans will certainly have to pay a price to see the May 2 welterweight title bout, especially those lucky enough to score a ticket inside the MGM Grand arena itself. Ticket prices there range from $1,500 in the upper deck to $7,500 at ringside — and only a small percentage of the tickets will actually be put on public sale.
Arum said Tuesday the gate at the MGM alone will be more than $72 million, obliterating the previous live gate record of $20 million in Nevada set by Mayweather's 2013 fight with Canelo Alvarez. Though the MGM will provide some tickets for its biggest gamblers, Arum said even the celebrities who can normally get free tickets to sit ringside will have to pay full fare for the fight — if they can get their hands on tickets at all.
Promoters announced a deal Tuesday with Sky Sports to televise the fight on pay-per-view in England and parts of Europe, part of another $35 million expected to come in from foreign rights. Add in another $10 million in sponsorships — Tecate beer will be the main sponsor — and the fight will gross more than $100 million before a single home in North America buys the pay-per-view.
Less certain is how many people will spend what is expected to be $100 or so for the pay-per-view in the U.S., but that could easily break records, too. Mayweather's 2007 fight with Oscar De La Hoya currently tops the charts with 2.44 million buys, but many think Mayweather-Pacquiao could do more than 3 million homes despite softness in the pay-per-view market in the last few years.
"That's the one element that's a mystery," Arum told The Associated Press. "It seems like it will break the record, but who really knows? Anyone who predicts the total pay-per-view is whistling in the dark."
Cable networks HBO and Showtime have yet to announce the pay-per-view price, saying they are still in negotiations with cable systems and satellite providers. Those negotiations are mostly about how the money will be divided between the broadcasters and the fight promoters, who historically have split revenues fairly equally.
With promoters holding the upper hand for this fight, though, that split could end up 65-35 in favor of the promotion. And if 3 million homes buy the fight at $100, that would mean about $200 million in revenue to Mayweather Promotions and Arum's Top Rank from pay-per-view alone.
Add in the other money and the two camps will have more than $300 million to divvy up. With Mayweather getting a 60-40 split, that would mean a purse of $180 million or more to Mayweather and $120 million or more to Pacquiao.
Both purses would dwarf the biggest ever in boxing, including the 2007 fight with Mayweather in which De La Hoya made a reported $52 million. Mayweather's biggest payday was against Alvarez, when he was guaranteed $41.5 million and may have made another $20 million off the pay-per-view sales.
"You get to this level where you're making nine figures in 36 minutes," Mayweather said at the fight press conference this month in Los Angeles, "and you have to be a winner."
Judging from the money on the table in this bout, it's hard to find a loser.
Mayweather-Pacquiao fight won’t halt sport’s decline
The super fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao is expected to be the highest grossing bout in history but will do nothing to resuscitate a sport that has been in perpetual decline for years, according to experts.
Boxing will enjoy more exposure than it has seen in decades during the buildup to the May 2 fight but will quickly reclaim a back seat to other sports after the last crushing blow is landed at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“It’s going to be massive, but it’s also going to be a massive one-off,” Bob Dorfman, executive creative director of Baker Street Advertising in San Francisco, told Reuters.
“It would’ve had more impact overall on the boxing world if it happened five years ago when it could’ve been the beginning of an ongoing series of fights between these guys that would’ve maybe built in momentum.”
Mayweather and Pacquiao will be 38 and 36, respectively, on fight night and their failure to agree to meet earlier in their illustrious careers robbed the boxing world of what could have been one of the sport’s all-time great rivalries.
But for one day, at least, boxing will likely be at the center of the sporting universe given the intrigue of watching Filipino left-hander Pacquiao, who has held world titles in eight different weight divisions, take on an undefeated Mayweather.
“This may be the last hurrah of boxing,” said Robert Boland, sports business professor at New York University. “It’s an interesting moment and maybe a moment that boxing will come together and figure out where it goes for the future.”
Tickets for the fight between two of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters have not gone on sale to the public yet but are expected to start at $1,000 with ringside seats fetching a face value of $5,000, according to Forbes.
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum said on ESPN Radio last week that ringside seats for the fight will be made available only to customers who have a $250,000 line of credit with the casino.
A news conference in Los Angeles on March 11 featuring both fighters is expected to draw such a massive contingent of media that those wishing to attend must apply for credentials to gain admission, which is unusual.
For Kathy Duva, chief executive of New Jersey-based boxing promotion company Main Events, the long focus on getting boxing’s two biggest names in the ring has only served to hold back other up-and-comers who could help the sport.
“This fight has taken so long that talking about it, waiting for it, has so consumed the fans and the media that I am just happy that they are getting it over with,” Duva told Reuters.
“There are a lot of good younger fighters out there who are ready to step up and become the stars and it’s hard to do that when you got two people who are still there, lingering and not willing to pass the torch.”
A lack of star power, the rise of other genres like mixed martial arts and splintering sanctioning bodies that left casual fans wondering who the true champion is have all contributed to boxing’s decline.
It is now a far cry from a nearly 80-year period during the 20th century when boxers were among the biggest names in sports, including Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Mike Tyson.
“Certainly new talents will always come to any sport and a transcendent talent can change the dynamic of any event,” said Boland.
“But this is definitely a situation where there really are not fighters in the pipeline and this is a time when boxing is probably at its lowest point since the beginning of the 20th century and the rise of pro fighting.”
Boxing will enjoy more exposure than it has seen in decades during the buildup to the May 2 fight but will quickly reclaim a back seat to other sports after the last crushing blow is landed at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“It’s going to be massive, but it’s also going to be a massive one-off,” Bob Dorfman, executive creative director of Baker Street Advertising in San Francisco, told Reuters.
“It would’ve had more impact overall on the boxing world if it happened five years ago when it could’ve been the beginning of an ongoing series of fights between these guys that would’ve maybe built in momentum.”
Mayweather and Pacquiao will be 38 and 36, respectively, on fight night and their failure to agree to meet earlier in their illustrious careers robbed the boxing world of what could have been one of the sport’s all-time great rivalries.
But for one day, at least, boxing will likely be at the center of the sporting universe given the intrigue of watching Filipino left-hander Pacquiao, who has held world titles in eight different weight divisions, take on an undefeated Mayweather.
“This may be the last hurrah of boxing,” said Robert Boland, sports business professor at New York University. “It’s an interesting moment and maybe a moment that boxing will come together and figure out where it goes for the future.”
Tickets for the fight between two of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters have not gone on sale to the public yet but are expected to start at $1,000 with ringside seats fetching a face value of $5,000, according to Forbes.
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum said on ESPN Radio last week that ringside seats for the fight will be made available only to customers who have a $250,000 line of credit with the casino.
A news conference in Los Angeles on March 11 featuring both fighters is expected to draw such a massive contingent of media that those wishing to attend must apply for credentials to gain admission, which is unusual.
For Kathy Duva, chief executive of New Jersey-based boxing promotion company Main Events, the long focus on getting boxing’s two biggest names in the ring has only served to hold back other up-and-comers who could help the sport.
“This fight has taken so long that talking about it, waiting for it, has so consumed the fans and the media that I am just happy that they are getting it over with,” Duva told Reuters.
“There are a lot of good younger fighters out there who are ready to step up and become the stars and it’s hard to do that when you got two people who are still there, lingering and not willing to pass the torch.”
A lack of star power, the rise of other genres like mixed martial arts and splintering sanctioning bodies that left casual fans wondering who the true champion is have all contributed to boxing’s decline.
It is now a far cry from a nearly 80-year period during the 20th century when boxers were among the biggest names in sports, including Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Mike Tyson.
“Certainly new talents will always come to any sport and a transcendent talent can change the dynamic of any event,” said Boland.
“But this is definitely a situation where there really are not fighters in the pipeline and this is a time when boxing is probably at its lowest point since the beginning of the 20th century and the rise of pro fighting.”
Pacquiao is just a shell of what he was five years ago, says former conditioning coach Alex Ariza
Manny Pacquiao's former strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza is convinced that the Filipino ring icon is no longer the same athlete he trained years ago.
The controversial Ariza who kicked Freddie Roach in a training session with Brandon Rios in 2013, will get another chance to beat his old boss after signing as Floyd Mayweather's new conditioning coach months ago.
"You know, if you talk to the trainers and fighters who know this sport, there's a reason why they're all picking Floyd to win," Ariza told fighthype.com.
"For me, the guy that I trained five years ago, the guy that was walking through walls and that was literally breaking bones with shots and comatizing people with single shots, the opponent that we have now is a shell of that guy."
As for the upcoming showdown between Pacquiao and Mayweather on May 2, Ariza feels rather confident of his new boss' chances come fight night.
"For me, I think I've been in harder fights," says Ariza.
"It's just very hard for me to see where our weaknesses are in this fight versus our opponent's weaknesses."
The controversial Ariza who kicked Freddie Roach in a training session with Brandon Rios in 2013, will get another chance to beat his old boss after signing as Floyd Mayweather's new conditioning coach months ago.
"You know, if you talk to the trainers and fighters who know this sport, there's a reason why they're all picking Floyd to win," Ariza told fighthype.com.
"For me, the guy that I trained five years ago, the guy that was walking through walls and that was literally breaking bones with shots and comatizing people with single shots, the opponent that we have now is a shell of that guy."
As for the upcoming showdown between Pacquiao and Mayweather on May 2, Ariza feels rather confident of his new boss' chances come fight night.
"For me, I think I've been in harder fights," says Ariza.
"It's just very hard for me to see where our weaknesses are in this fight versus our opponent's weaknesses."
No trash-talk from Roach, but he says Pacquiao can stop Mayweather
One element of boxing’s Super Bowl being made which bears watching is the trash-talk, or lack thereof, between the principals and parties affiliated with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
Hardcore fans know that Pacman, a most devout Christian, is more inclined to tell us that he’s praying for a poor soul who has busted his chops publicly. Mayweather, they also know, is unafraid to sling it, bring it hard in the smack-talk arena. His dad, Floyd Sr., ain’t afraid to rumble with words, either. He told me last month that he thought when his son and The Congressman fought, Floyd would beat the excrement out of Pacman.
I asked Pac’s trainer Freddie Roach about that possibility when we chatted on Monday night. And yes; I was aware of the possibility that Roach, who often acts as the stand-in chops-buster, or the designated responder, if you will, for Manny or another of his quieter boxers, might return fire hard on Senior.
“They can have that opinion,” said Roach, who informed me that Pacman will be hitting the Wild Card on March 8, to begin his in-the-U.S.-training. “If I was his father, I might say that too! But I think Manny beats Floyd, breaks him down, and knocks him out before it’s over.”
No small task, considering how adept Floyd is as a defender…and also because while Manny showed pop galore in his last outing, against Chris Algieri, his last stop came in 2009 (vs. Miguel Cotto). Freddie explained further his reasoning.
“In watching Floyd’s career, he’s definitely slowed down somewhat,” the trainer said. “Manny has also some, everyone ages. But I think Manny’s legs are fresher than Floyd’s. Against Algieri, Manny boxed really good, good rounds the whole time.”
Indeed; his stamina tank was remarkably level the whole way through.
“When Floyd sits down and rests, Manny will catch him. Floyd is a defensive master. But he takes rests. And the only place to do it is on the ropes. If Manny catches him on the ropes…Floyd can look at Manny, think he has pretty fast hands, punches pretty hard. But you don’t really feel it until you’re in there with him. He has devastating power, and he jumps in so suddenly. He still has the power and speed to get a KO.”
Hardcore fans know that Pacman, a most devout Christian, is more inclined to tell us that he’s praying for a poor soul who has busted his chops publicly. Mayweather, they also know, is unafraid to sling it, bring it hard in the smack-talk arena. His dad, Floyd Sr., ain’t afraid to rumble with words, either. He told me last month that he thought when his son and The Congressman fought, Floyd would beat the excrement out of Pacman.
I asked Pac’s trainer Freddie Roach about that possibility when we chatted on Monday night. And yes; I was aware of the possibility that Roach, who often acts as the stand-in chops-buster, or the designated responder, if you will, for Manny or another of his quieter boxers, might return fire hard on Senior.
“They can have that opinion,” said Roach, who informed me that Pacman will be hitting the Wild Card on March 8, to begin his in-the-U.S.-training. “If I was his father, I might say that too! But I think Manny beats Floyd, breaks him down, and knocks him out before it’s over.”
No small task, considering how adept Floyd is as a defender…and also because while Manny showed pop galore in his last outing, against Chris Algieri, his last stop came in 2009 (vs. Miguel Cotto). Freddie explained further his reasoning.
“In watching Floyd’s career, he’s definitely slowed down somewhat,” the trainer said. “Manny has also some, everyone ages. But I think Manny’s legs are fresher than Floyd’s. Against Algieri, Manny boxed really good, good rounds the whole time.”
Indeed; his stamina tank was remarkably level the whole way through.
“When Floyd sits down and rests, Manny will catch him. Floyd is a defensive master. But he takes rests. And the only place to do it is on the ropes. If Manny catches him on the ropes…Floyd can look at Manny, think he has pretty fast hands, punches pretty hard. But you don’t really feel it until you’re in there with him. He has devastating power, and he jumps in so suddenly. He still has the power and speed to get a KO.”
Pacquiao spots Mayweather’s flaws
Manny Pacquiao watched Floyd Mayweather score two victories over Marcos Maidana last year and liked what he saw.
Mayweather was far from perfect.
Especially in the first bout on May 5 where the unbeaten American escaped with a majority decision over the rugged Argentine.
The rematch on Sept. 13 was clearly won unanimously by Mayweather, who’ve adjusted to Maidana’s brawling style.
In both instances, Pacquiao’s sharp eyes discerned some flaws, which he plans to pounce on in their megabuck welterweight showdown on May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I saw his weaknesses in the Maidana fights,” Pacquiao told ANC News Monday. “Yes, I’m confident I can catch him.
“All I need to do is train hard,” added Pacquiao, who finds no need to overhaul the training regimen charted by chief trainer Freddie Roach in his preparations for Chris Algieri last November.
That time, Pacquiao thoroughly dominated Algieri, knocking down the bewildered New Yorker six times to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown by lopsided unanimous decision.
Of course, Pacquiao knows Mayweather will be in far better form when they tangle for the unified 147-pound crown and, more important, the pound-for-pound king label.
That’s why the Filipino eight-division world champion admits he needs to step up further to raise his chances against Mayweather, a 2 1/2 to 1 favorite.
“More than that (performance against Algieri),” said Pacquiao. “I must improve some more. I need to be in 100 percent condition.”
To do that, Pacquiao said he intends to “apply exercises that we were unable to apply before.”
The focus, according to Pacquiao, will be on gaining “more speed.”
That’s why, the Sarangani representative is intent on playing basketball as long as Roach allows it.
“It’s good for my cross-training,” said Pacquiao, before he sweated it out at his MP Wild Card Gym in Gen. Santos City under the guidance of assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez. “Basketball enhances my footwork and balance.”
Earlier, Pacquiao did his early morning run.
Though he took a break in training on Sunday, Pacquiao still played billiards and basketball in the evening.
Pacquiao, also the playing coach of KIA Carnival in the PBA, bared that he’ll see action in the Carnival’s game against Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters Wednesday.
He’s set to leave for Los Angeles, where he’ll hold training camp at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, on Saturday.
Mayweather was far from perfect.
Especially in the first bout on May 5 where the unbeaten American escaped with a majority decision over the rugged Argentine.
The rematch on Sept. 13 was clearly won unanimously by Mayweather, who’ve adjusted to Maidana’s brawling style.
In both instances, Pacquiao’s sharp eyes discerned some flaws, which he plans to pounce on in their megabuck welterweight showdown on May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I saw his weaknesses in the Maidana fights,” Pacquiao told ANC News Monday. “Yes, I’m confident I can catch him.
“All I need to do is train hard,” added Pacquiao, who finds no need to overhaul the training regimen charted by chief trainer Freddie Roach in his preparations for Chris Algieri last November.
That time, Pacquiao thoroughly dominated Algieri, knocking down the bewildered New Yorker six times to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown by lopsided unanimous decision.
Of course, Pacquiao knows Mayweather will be in far better form when they tangle for the unified 147-pound crown and, more important, the pound-for-pound king label.
That’s why the Filipino eight-division world champion admits he needs to step up further to raise his chances against Mayweather, a 2 1/2 to 1 favorite.
“More than that (performance against Algieri),” said Pacquiao. “I must improve some more. I need to be in 100 percent condition.”
To do that, Pacquiao said he intends to “apply exercises that we were unable to apply before.”
The focus, according to Pacquiao, will be on gaining “more speed.”
That’s why, the Sarangani representative is intent on playing basketball as long as Roach allows it.
“It’s good for my cross-training,” said Pacquiao, before he sweated it out at his MP Wild Card Gym in Gen. Santos City under the guidance of assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez. “Basketball enhances my footwork and balance.”
Earlier, Pacquiao did his early morning run.
Though he took a break in training on Sunday, Pacquiao still played billiards and basketball in the evening.
Pacquiao, also the playing coach of KIA Carnival in the PBA, bared that he’ll see action in the Carnival’s game against Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters Wednesday.
He’s set to leave for Los Angeles, where he’ll hold training camp at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, on Saturday.
How Pacquiao can beat Mayweather, according to Juan Manuel Marquez
Juan Manuel Marquez has been in four wars with Manny Pacquiao, so he knows better than anyone what the Filipino fight icon is capable of inside the ring.
The proud Mexican champion has also fought against Floyd Mayweather, giving Marquez a unique perspective about the upcoming mega-fight on May 2 in Las Vegas.
And unlike most observers, Marquez sees Mayweather struggling with Pacquiao.
"Floyd Mayweather isn’t really used to fighting with southpaws," Marquez said on the Mexican show Golpe Y Golpe.
Marquez detailed how Pacquiao can break through Mayweather's vaunted defense.
"We know how Floyd Mayweather uses his shoulder roll, so with an orthodox fighter he can dodge many of those shots and wait for openings in his opponents than counter. Manny Pacquiao on his part has to use his speed, and lateral movement and in turn do not give Mayweather any space or minimal space to make him uncomfortable on that very stance," said Marquez.
The Mexico City native also took note what punches Pacquiao could use to bother Mayweather.
"The right hook will be key as a lefty for Manny Pacquiao. can set it up by using a left jab to the body and following it up with a hook from the outside and repeating a double hook and he can finish it off with a straight left. The repetition will be key in landing those combinations and Pacquiao has to change it up for Floyd not to adapt," said Marquez, adding that Mayweather's boxing IQ makes the brash American formidable.
"He sets traps and throws nice uppercuts from long distance, and he will use that reach advantage to do so. He will follow that up with counter rights and straight lefts from range because of that advantage."
The proud Mexican champion has also fought against Floyd Mayweather, giving Marquez a unique perspective about the upcoming mega-fight on May 2 in Las Vegas.
And unlike most observers, Marquez sees Mayweather struggling with Pacquiao.
"Floyd Mayweather isn’t really used to fighting with southpaws," Marquez said on the Mexican show Golpe Y Golpe.
Marquez detailed how Pacquiao can break through Mayweather's vaunted defense.
"We know how Floyd Mayweather uses his shoulder roll, so with an orthodox fighter he can dodge many of those shots and wait for openings in his opponents than counter. Manny Pacquiao on his part has to use his speed, and lateral movement and in turn do not give Mayweather any space or minimal space to make him uncomfortable on that very stance," said Marquez.
The Mexico City native also took note what punches Pacquiao could use to bother Mayweather.
"The right hook will be key as a lefty for Manny Pacquiao. can set it up by using a left jab to the body and following it up with a hook from the outside and repeating a double hook and he can finish it off with a straight left. The repetition will be key in landing those combinations and Pacquiao has to change it up for Floyd not to adapt," said Marquez, adding that Mayweather's boxing IQ makes the brash American formidable.
"He sets traps and throws nice uppercuts from long distance, and he will use that reach advantage to do so. He will follow that up with counter rights and straight lefts from range because of that advantage."
Mayweather-Pacquiao set for May 2
At long last, pound-for-pound greats Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will fight.
Yes, the bout that looms as one of the most anticipated in boxing history is finally on.
For more than five years sports fans have clamored for a summit meeting between the two best fighters in the world and after various failed negotiations -- and a protracted and difficult effort to make the fight in recent months -- they will get it on May 2 to unify their welterweight world titles at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The showdown is a lock to be the richest in boxing history and will, barring a draw, settle the issue that has been debated for years: Who is the No. 1 fighter in boxing and who is the king of their era?
[+] EnlargeFloyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao
Issac Baldizon/NBAE/Getty Images
Excitement ratcheted up on Jan. 27 when Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, both sitting courtside at a Miami Heat game, met briefly at halftime and after the game privately.
Mayweather made the announcement on Friday afternoon on a social media platform called Shots, of which he is an investor.
"I am glad my decision to meet with Manny and discuss making this fight happen helped get the deal done," Mayweather said, referring to a chance Jan. 27 meeting with Pacquiao at a Miami Heat game followed by a private discussion after the game. "Giving the fans what they want to see is always my main focus. This will be the biggest event in the history of the sport."
In addition to the future Hall of Famers finally hammering out a deal for their welterweight title unification bout -- one that will see Mayweather receive the lion's share of a 60-40 money split in a fight that could gross around $400 million -- rival premium cable networks Showtime, which has Mayweather under contract, and HBO, which has a deal with Pacquiao, went through a brutal negotiation.
The networks resultingly will come together to produce and distribute a joint pay-per-view telecast, which is expected to cost a record-high $89.95 (and probably $10 more for high definition).
"I am very happy that Floyd Mayweather and I can give the fans the fight they have wanted for so many years," Pacquiao said. "They have waited long enough and they deserve it. It is an honor to be part of this historic event. I dedicate this fight to all the fans who willed this fight to happen and, as always, to bring glory to the Philippines and my fellow Filipinos around the world."
Many involved expected the announcement to come on Thursday but Mayweather was upset because Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter, was leaking word of the impending announcement and Mayweather wanted it to be a surprise.
"Boxing fans and sports fans around the world will witness greatness on May 2," Mayweather said. "I am the best ever, TBE, and this fight will be another opportunity to showcase my skills and do what I do best, which is win. Manny is going to try to do what 47 before him failed to do, but he won't be successful. He will be number 48."
According those familiar with the agreement, the contract Mayweather signed for the fight gave him the right to be the one to announce the fight, even though he was obligated to notify Top Rank of when he would do it.
On Friday afternoon, Top Rank was notified and Mayweather made the announcement about an hour later, though the deal had been done for a couple of days with both sides having signed the paperwork. Contracts were also signed by broadcasters HBO and Showtime, who will team for a historic joint pay-per-view.
"It's hasn't been easy," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com. "But I think in some strange way the inability to get the fight done before now enhances its value and this is one event that the public all over the world has been talking about and discussing for years. The interest in the fight will be absolutely red hot. I've been promoting boxing for nearly 50 years and there is nothing that has come close to this because there has been nothing that has been so difficult to come to fruition. As interest is concerned, this is akin to the first (Muhammad) Ali-(Joe) Frazier fight.
"You have to be grateful that this is finally happening. You can't bemoan the false starts and the inability to do this before. It's here now."
The fight is expected to shatter every revenue record in boxing history, including the pay-per-view buy record of 2.4 million generated by Mayweather's 2007 junior middleweight championship fight against Oscar De La Hoya; the all-time pay-per-view revenue record of $150 million generated by Mayweather's 2013 junior middleweight championship fight against Canelo Alvarez; and the all-time gate record of $20,003,150.
"Everyone involved, including Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, knows this fight simply had to happen," said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports. "All of us are thrilled to be able to deliver this event to boxing fans around the world.
"Now, for the second time under his current deal with Showtime Networks, Floyd Mayweather has agreed to fight an opponent that many people thought he'd never face. We set an all-time pay-per-view record with the first event back in September 2013 (with Alvarez) and we look forward to another record-breaking performance on May 2."
Said HBO Sports president Ken Hershman, "Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have been the two most prominent fighters in the sport of boxing for the past decade, and fight fans around the world have been clamoring for them to face each other.
"And now, on May 2nd, in what everyone believes will be the biggest boxing event of all-time, fight fans have been granted their wish. May 2nd will be a signature moment for the sport of boxing and HBO Sports is thrilled to be a part of this spectacular event. I know the fighters and their teams will be primed to excel and we plan to work closely with everyone involved to deliver the same level of performance from a broadcast perspective."
It is only the second time Showtime and HBO have made such a deal. The first time was for the highly anticipated 2002 fight between then-heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, who was with HBO, and former champion Mike Tyson, who was with Showtime.
For years, Mayweather and Pacquiao have been the two best fighters in the world, fighting in the same weight class but having not faced each other despite constant public demand.
Both have been considered the pound-for-pound king at various times, with Mayweather having held that mythical position for the past few years with Pacquiao right behind him for most of that period.
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and living in Las Vegas, "Money" Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs), who turns 38 on Tuesday, has won world titles in five weight classes, mainly with his defensive brilliance and speed, while becoming the highest-paid athlete in the world.
Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), a 36-year-old southpaw known for his speed, power and aggressive style, became the only boxer in history to win world titles in eight weight divisions -- flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight -- while also generating hundreds of millions of dollars and being elected to congress in his native Philippines, where he is a national icon.
"The reason I like my guy's chances so much is because of his speed, the tremendous number of punches he throws, the quality of his punches and the fact that he is left-handed," Arum said. "Top Rank promoted Floyd Mayweather for 10½ years and we recognized that he had difficulty handling a speedy, left-handed fighter and that he and his father (and trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr.) were insistent that we not match Floyd with a southpaw. I remember two fights he had with southpaws who didn't have the ability Mann has but who gave him trouble -- (DeMarcus) 'Chop Chop' Corley, who buzzed him and had him in real trouble and Zab Judah."
Said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's Hall of Fame trainer: "Floyd should enjoy being the A-Side while he can because on May 2 Manny is going to put him on his backside."
Since 2009, Mayweather-Pacquiao has loomed as boxing's biggest fight, but it took all these years to make it a reality.
Mayweather, who turned pro in 1996 after receiving an Olympic bronze medal, ended a brief retirement in September 2009 by easily outpointing Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao's biggest rival.
Two months later, Pacquiao, who turned pro in 1995, ruthlessly destroyed Miguel Cotto in a 12th-round knockout victory to claim a welterweight title.
It was at that point that Mayweather and Pacquiao were clearly the two best fighters in the world pound-for-pound, in whichever order one wanted to place them.
But a big knockout is unlikely. The last time Pacquiao stopped anyone via KO was Cotto in 2009, while Mayweather has only knocked out one fighter in the last eight years -- Victor Ortiz in September 2011.
They were both with HBO when their representatives began to negotiate the fight intensely at the end of 2009 and into early 2010.
All of the deal points were agreed to for a March 13, 2010 fight -- including a 50-50 financial split -- except for one: the method of drug testing in the lead up to the fight. Mayweather, ahead of his time, demanded random blood and urine testing and Pacquiao declined to accept the specific protocol Mayweather wanted.
The deal fell apart and both moved on to other opponents. Pacquiao also sued Mayweather for defamation for accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs; the case was eventually settled out of court, but the bad feelings remained on both sides.
While the world waited to see them fight each other, Mayweather and Pacquiao beat a who's who of their era as they faced one common opponent after another, including De La Hoya, Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Marquez and Shane Mosley.
Since the initial negotiation broke down in early 2010 there were other attempts to make the fight, including in 2010 when then-HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg served as a go-between in the negotiations between Arum of Top Rank and Mayweather adviser Al Haymon.
Those negotiations failed also and Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, denied a negotiation had even taken place despite Greenburg and Arum saying they had.
In early 2012, another attempt was made to put the fight together when Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz, who was visiting Mayweather in Las Vegas, put him on the phone with Pacquiao. Mayweather offered Pacquiao a $40 million flat fee for the fight.
Pacquiao, seeking to share in the overall revenue, not surprisingly declined.
The fight looked dead in recent years. Pacquiao suffered back-to-back losses in 2012 -- a massively controversial split decision to Timothy Bradley Jr. and a sixth-round knockout loss to rival Marquez in their fourth fight, and then took off 11 months.
While Pacquiao was out of action, Mayweather jumped from HBO to Showtime for a six-fight contract, seemingly making the prospect of a deal even more remote.
Pacquiao returned in late 2013 and has won three fights in a row, a near-shutout of Brandon Rios followed by his regaining his welterweight title by soundly outpointing Bradley in their rematch last April.
In November, Pacquiao authored a one-sided defense against Chris Algieri, whom he knocked down six times in a virtual shutout decision.
Mayweather, meanwhile, fought four of the fights of his Showtime deal, wins against Robert Guerrero, Alvarez and two against Marcos Maidana.
But other than Mayweather's blockbuster pay-per-view against Alvarez, the numbers for Mayweather and Pacquiao began significantly decline as the public grew tired of buying expensive pay-per-view to watch them fight anybody but each other.
But after Mayweather outpointed Maidana in their September rematch, he opened the door for the fight saying at the postfight news conference, "If the Pacquiao fight presents itself, let's make it happen."
Two months later, Pacquiao, during the lead-up to the fight with Algieri, called out for a Mayweather fight and continued to do so after his dominant performance.
Pacquiao even filmed a television commercial for athletic apparel retailer Foot Locker in which he mocked the fact that Mayweather had yet to agree to fight him. In the spot, Pacquiao overheard two boxers in the gym working on the heavy bag while discussing their excitement about a Foot Locker promotion.
Pacquiao, working mitts in the ring, walked over to the ropes and shouted at the boxers: "Wait, wait! So the thing the people wanted is finally happening?" One boxers answers, "Yeah," and shrugged.
Pacquiao broke out into an epic celebration in the ring, shouting, "Yes!!! He's going to fight me!"
Meanwhile, Arum, who promoted Mayweather before an acrimonious split in 2006, was negotiating the fight with Leslie Moonves, the CEO of Showtime parent company CBS, who served as the go-between on behalf of Mayweather and adviser Al Haymon, Arum's bitter enemy (although they did have at least two face-to-face meetings at Moonves' Los Angeles home during the talks).
The networks also got serious about making a deal with high-ranking company executives -- HBO chairman and CEO Richard Plepler and HBO Sports president Ken Hershman and Showtime chairman and CEO Matt Blank and Showtime Sports Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza -- meeting face-to-face in New York in mid-January.
Excitement that the fight would be made ratcheted up on Jan. 27 when Mayweather and Pacquiao, coincidentally both sitting courtside in Miami for a Heat game against the Milwaukee Bucks, met face to face briefly at halftime, exchanged cell phone numbers and shared a brief embrace. After the game, Mayweather met with Pacquiao and Koncz in Pacquiao's hotel suite for about an hour to discuss some of the issues he had with the deal being negotiated.
The talks dragged out for nearly another month until they reached an accord and signed the contracts this week.
Yes, the bout that looms as one of the most anticipated in boxing history is finally on.
For more than five years sports fans have clamored for a summit meeting between the two best fighters in the world and after various failed negotiations -- and a protracted and difficult effort to make the fight in recent months -- they will get it on May 2 to unify their welterweight world titles at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The showdown is a lock to be the richest in boxing history and will, barring a draw, settle the issue that has been debated for years: Who is the No. 1 fighter in boxing and who is the king of their era?
[+] EnlargeFloyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao
Issac Baldizon/NBAE/Getty Images
Excitement ratcheted up on Jan. 27 when Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, both sitting courtside at a Miami Heat game, met briefly at halftime and after the game privately.
Mayweather made the announcement on Friday afternoon on a social media platform called Shots, of which he is an investor.
"I am glad my decision to meet with Manny and discuss making this fight happen helped get the deal done," Mayweather said, referring to a chance Jan. 27 meeting with Pacquiao at a Miami Heat game followed by a private discussion after the game. "Giving the fans what they want to see is always my main focus. This will be the biggest event in the history of the sport."
In addition to the future Hall of Famers finally hammering out a deal for their welterweight title unification bout -- one that will see Mayweather receive the lion's share of a 60-40 money split in a fight that could gross around $400 million -- rival premium cable networks Showtime, which has Mayweather under contract, and HBO, which has a deal with Pacquiao, went through a brutal negotiation.
The networks resultingly will come together to produce and distribute a joint pay-per-view telecast, which is expected to cost a record-high $89.95 (and probably $10 more for high definition).
"I am very happy that Floyd Mayweather and I can give the fans the fight they have wanted for so many years," Pacquiao said. "They have waited long enough and they deserve it. It is an honor to be part of this historic event. I dedicate this fight to all the fans who willed this fight to happen and, as always, to bring glory to the Philippines and my fellow Filipinos around the world."
Many involved expected the announcement to come on Thursday but Mayweather was upset because Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter, was leaking word of the impending announcement and Mayweather wanted it to be a surprise.
"Boxing fans and sports fans around the world will witness greatness on May 2," Mayweather said. "I am the best ever, TBE, and this fight will be another opportunity to showcase my skills and do what I do best, which is win. Manny is going to try to do what 47 before him failed to do, but he won't be successful. He will be number 48."
According those familiar with the agreement, the contract Mayweather signed for the fight gave him the right to be the one to announce the fight, even though he was obligated to notify Top Rank of when he would do it.
On Friday afternoon, Top Rank was notified and Mayweather made the announcement about an hour later, though the deal had been done for a couple of days with both sides having signed the paperwork. Contracts were also signed by broadcasters HBO and Showtime, who will team for a historic joint pay-per-view.
"It's hasn't been easy," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com. "But I think in some strange way the inability to get the fight done before now enhances its value and this is one event that the public all over the world has been talking about and discussing for years. The interest in the fight will be absolutely red hot. I've been promoting boxing for nearly 50 years and there is nothing that has come close to this because there has been nothing that has been so difficult to come to fruition. As interest is concerned, this is akin to the first (Muhammad) Ali-(Joe) Frazier fight.
"You have to be grateful that this is finally happening. You can't bemoan the false starts and the inability to do this before. It's here now."
The fight is expected to shatter every revenue record in boxing history, including the pay-per-view buy record of 2.4 million generated by Mayweather's 2007 junior middleweight championship fight against Oscar De La Hoya; the all-time pay-per-view revenue record of $150 million generated by Mayweather's 2013 junior middleweight championship fight against Canelo Alvarez; and the all-time gate record of $20,003,150.
"Everyone involved, including Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, knows this fight simply had to happen," said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports. "All of us are thrilled to be able to deliver this event to boxing fans around the world.
"Now, for the second time under his current deal with Showtime Networks, Floyd Mayweather has agreed to fight an opponent that many people thought he'd never face. We set an all-time pay-per-view record with the first event back in September 2013 (with Alvarez) and we look forward to another record-breaking performance on May 2."
Said HBO Sports president Ken Hershman, "Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have been the two most prominent fighters in the sport of boxing for the past decade, and fight fans around the world have been clamoring for them to face each other.
"And now, on May 2nd, in what everyone believes will be the biggest boxing event of all-time, fight fans have been granted their wish. May 2nd will be a signature moment for the sport of boxing and HBO Sports is thrilled to be a part of this spectacular event. I know the fighters and their teams will be primed to excel and we plan to work closely with everyone involved to deliver the same level of performance from a broadcast perspective."
It is only the second time Showtime and HBO have made such a deal. The first time was for the highly anticipated 2002 fight between then-heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, who was with HBO, and former champion Mike Tyson, who was with Showtime.
For years, Mayweather and Pacquiao have been the two best fighters in the world, fighting in the same weight class but having not faced each other despite constant public demand.
Both have been considered the pound-for-pound king at various times, with Mayweather having held that mythical position for the past few years with Pacquiao right behind him for most of that period.
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and living in Las Vegas, "Money" Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs), who turns 38 on Tuesday, has won world titles in five weight classes, mainly with his defensive brilliance and speed, while becoming the highest-paid athlete in the world.
Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), a 36-year-old southpaw known for his speed, power and aggressive style, became the only boxer in history to win world titles in eight weight divisions -- flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight -- while also generating hundreds of millions of dollars and being elected to congress in his native Philippines, where he is a national icon.
"The reason I like my guy's chances so much is because of his speed, the tremendous number of punches he throws, the quality of his punches and the fact that he is left-handed," Arum said. "Top Rank promoted Floyd Mayweather for 10½ years and we recognized that he had difficulty handling a speedy, left-handed fighter and that he and his father (and trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr.) were insistent that we not match Floyd with a southpaw. I remember two fights he had with southpaws who didn't have the ability Mann has but who gave him trouble -- (DeMarcus) 'Chop Chop' Corley, who buzzed him and had him in real trouble and Zab Judah."
Said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's Hall of Fame trainer: "Floyd should enjoy being the A-Side while he can because on May 2 Manny is going to put him on his backside."
Since 2009, Mayweather-Pacquiao has loomed as boxing's biggest fight, but it took all these years to make it a reality.
Mayweather, who turned pro in 1996 after receiving an Olympic bronze medal, ended a brief retirement in September 2009 by easily outpointing Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao's biggest rival.
Two months later, Pacquiao, who turned pro in 1995, ruthlessly destroyed Miguel Cotto in a 12th-round knockout victory to claim a welterweight title.
It was at that point that Mayweather and Pacquiao were clearly the two best fighters in the world pound-for-pound, in whichever order one wanted to place them.
But a big knockout is unlikely. The last time Pacquiao stopped anyone via KO was Cotto in 2009, while Mayweather has only knocked out one fighter in the last eight years -- Victor Ortiz in September 2011.
They were both with HBO when their representatives began to negotiate the fight intensely at the end of 2009 and into early 2010.
All of the deal points were agreed to for a March 13, 2010 fight -- including a 50-50 financial split -- except for one: the method of drug testing in the lead up to the fight. Mayweather, ahead of his time, demanded random blood and urine testing and Pacquiao declined to accept the specific protocol Mayweather wanted.
The deal fell apart and both moved on to other opponents. Pacquiao also sued Mayweather for defamation for accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs; the case was eventually settled out of court, but the bad feelings remained on both sides.
While the world waited to see them fight each other, Mayweather and Pacquiao beat a who's who of their era as they faced one common opponent after another, including De La Hoya, Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Marquez and Shane Mosley.
Since the initial negotiation broke down in early 2010 there were other attempts to make the fight, including in 2010 when then-HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg served as a go-between in the negotiations between Arum of Top Rank and Mayweather adviser Al Haymon.
Those negotiations failed also and Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, denied a negotiation had even taken place despite Greenburg and Arum saying they had.
In early 2012, another attempt was made to put the fight together when Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz, who was visiting Mayweather in Las Vegas, put him on the phone with Pacquiao. Mayweather offered Pacquiao a $40 million flat fee for the fight.
Pacquiao, seeking to share in the overall revenue, not surprisingly declined.
The fight looked dead in recent years. Pacquiao suffered back-to-back losses in 2012 -- a massively controversial split decision to Timothy Bradley Jr. and a sixth-round knockout loss to rival Marquez in their fourth fight, and then took off 11 months.
While Pacquiao was out of action, Mayweather jumped from HBO to Showtime for a six-fight contract, seemingly making the prospect of a deal even more remote.
Pacquiao returned in late 2013 and has won three fights in a row, a near-shutout of Brandon Rios followed by his regaining his welterweight title by soundly outpointing Bradley in their rematch last April.
In November, Pacquiao authored a one-sided defense against Chris Algieri, whom he knocked down six times in a virtual shutout decision.
Mayweather, meanwhile, fought four of the fights of his Showtime deal, wins against Robert Guerrero, Alvarez and two against Marcos Maidana.
But other than Mayweather's blockbuster pay-per-view against Alvarez, the numbers for Mayweather and Pacquiao began significantly decline as the public grew tired of buying expensive pay-per-view to watch them fight anybody but each other.
But after Mayweather outpointed Maidana in their September rematch, he opened the door for the fight saying at the postfight news conference, "If the Pacquiao fight presents itself, let's make it happen."
Two months later, Pacquiao, during the lead-up to the fight with Algieri, called out for a Mayweather fight and continued to do so after his dominant performance.
Pacquiao even filmed a television commercial for athletic apparel retailer Foot Locker in which he mocked the fact that Mayweather had yet to agree to fight him. In the spot, Pacquiao overheard two boxers in the gym working on the heavy bag while discussing their excitement about a Foot Locker promotion.
Pacquiao, working mitts in the ring, walked over to the ropes and shouted at the boxers: "Wait, wait! So the thing the people wanted is finally happening?" One boxers answers, "Yeah," and shrugged.
Pacquiao broke out into an epic celebration in the ring, shouting, "Yes!!! He's going to fight me!"
Meanwhile, Arum, who promoted Mayweather before an acrimonious split in 2006, was negotiating the fight with Leslie Moonves, the CEO of Showtime parent company CBS, who served as the go-between on behalf of Mayweather and adviser Al Haymon, Arum's bitter enemy (although they did have at least two face-to-face meetings at Moonves' Los Angeles home during the talks).
The networks also got serious about making a deal with high-ranking company executives -- HBO chairman and CEO Richard Plepler and HBO Sports president Ken Hershman and Showtime chairman and CEO Matt Blank and Showtime Sports Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza -- meeting face-to-face in New York in mid-January.
Excitement that the fight would be made ratcheted up on Jan. 27 when Mayweather and Pacquiao, coincidentally both sitting courtside in Miami for a Heat game against the Milwaukee Bucks, met face to face briefly at halftime, exchanged cell phone numbers and shared a brief embrace. After the game, Mayweather met with Pacquiao and Koncz in Pacquiao's hotel suite for about an hour to discuss some of the issues he had with the deal being negotiated.
The talks dragged out for nearly another month until they reached an accord and signed the contracts this week.
Floyd Mayweather Trying to Rally Americans vs. Manny Pacquiao
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has decided he needs a little more support in this pesky war he’s waged against Manny Pacquiao, Top Rank and the like. So, who is he bringing in for reinforcements? 50 Cent? Floyd Mayweather Sr.?
Unfortunately, no. Mayweather’s vision is much grander than that. He wants America on his side. Yes, America.
Speaking with ESNNewsReporting.com recently, here is what Mayweather had to say:
“I’m an American citizen and I want the American citizens to stand behind me. If you are the best, step up and take the test. That’s all I’m saying. If you don’t have nothing to hide, take the test. I represent this country and I want this country to get behind me. There’s no country like America, so whoever’s facing Floyd Mayweather, tell them they have to step up and take the test.”
One of the more fascinating subplots of this endless Pacquiao v. Mayweather rivalry has been the level of support that both sides have gotten. Pacquiao, of course, has gotten unwavering devotion from his cult of loyal followers. He’s an international icon, politician and widely respected by most, so it was to be expected that he would have more support.
Mayweather, on the flip side, experienced support in waves throughout this whole painful process. First, he had adamant boxing fans who may not even have been his fans (but respected his in-ring ability) who defended his right to challenge Pacquiao’s stance on performance-enhancing drug (PED) testing. Then, when Pacquiao agreed to Mayweather’s requirements and the latter still found a reason not to agree, the support began to waver.
And, finally, over the last year and change when Mayweather consistently found time to run his mouth, but couldn’t find the time to work out the kinks to a possible fight, the support largely dissipated.
Pacquiao has always been very Philippines-oriented. He often makes mention of his home country and the adoration he has for it. He frequently speaks in his native language. It’s known and accepted. But this is the first time that Mayweather has opted to invoke any sort of reference to America, though. The undefeated superstar has never been one for heavy patriotism in his speech so, why now?
Maybe Mayweather is finally feeling the sting of zero support. Perhaps he now realizes that even certain people -- those who appreciated him from a distance despite the black hat he often chose to wear for his “Money” Mayweather brand -- have finally grown tired of his antics. It’s tough being the heel. It’s even tougher being the heel when you can’t even get the folks who go against the grain and root for whoever everyone else isn’t rooting for on your side.
This America-first approach feels like a last ditch attempt. Mayweather has already lost the PR war against Pacquiao, Arum and Co., but he doesn’t realize it yet. He thinks that maybe, by playing off the patriotism in the U.S., he can drum up a little support at home.
Sorry, Floyd – no go.
Floyd Mayweather Jr & Sr: Keep Those Cameras Rolling!
I like watching the “Mayweather-Ortiz 24/7″ episodes because unlike a lot of reality programming you see, you really get to catch these guys in a more natural environment. Sure, there are some staged events, but I don’t think the argument that took place between Floyd Jr. and Floyd Sr., his father and former trainer, was for the cameras.
In fact, I’m wondering whether he would have preferred that it NOT be in front of a viewing audience.
Then again, I could be very, very wrong.
To call the two “estranged” from each other might be either an understatement or an exaggeration, depending on what time frame you were looking at. There have been plenty of stories written about it, as the father was the manager at first, before the son decided he didn’t want to act like someone who wanted to take orders anymore. The father established a reputation that he would use to hook on with other fighters, the most notable being Oscar De La Hoya.
I can tell you that the father would have gotten into De La Hoya’s corner when he was fighting his son, had he been paid enough (allegedly $2 million). In other words, for the right money he was ready to create a family melodrama. But he got turned away by Oscar, which, well, sent him back into his son’s gym.
I also know that the son was fully intent on throwing the father out of that gym, and hurled all kinds of insults at him; I’m not sure which one hurt the most, but I bet that it was the assertion that Roger Mayweather (Floyd Sr.’s brother and Floyd Jr.’s uncle) was a better trainer, even as he is being “tamed” by anger management counseling. LOL!
Yeah, Floyd Sr. was probably incensed by all that because he really believes that he is the best trainer in the world. Who knows – he might be. It is very hard to tell about any of this these days, as “trainers” of all kinds piggy-back onto the careers of other fighters and get credit for their success, even after the fighters have achieved ten-round status and even a championship belt (or two). You can hear the son clearly, when his verbal jabs move find their range as he points out that De La Hoya was already a champion when the father came onto the scene.
However, to be fair, all indications are that both Floyd Sr. and Roger (who won titles in two different weight divisions) had a hand in shaping Floyd into a highly-skilled boxer. Floyd Sr. gets the most credit for the gene pool, and his son acknowledges that. He also admits, “It all started with my father.”
Things can turn explosive in an instant, as we have seen. Obviously when the son says “You can’t train nobody when you’re locked up,” you can tell that he’s a little hurt that his father wasn’t around during the formative years when Floyd Jr. was moving through the amateur ranks and into the Olympics, having been locked up for a drug offense.
I don’t think the son has ever stopped making the father pay for that. Even though Roger himself got locked up for six months on assault charges, he essentially assumed his position as head trainer when he got out, while Floyd Sr. was given his walking papers. And the relations were strained all over again.
I don’t know who feels less of a bond to the other, although Mayweather Sr. has never been shy about the insinuations that Manny Pacquiao, who represents the big cloud that looms over Floyd Jr., is a beneficiary of performance-enhancing drugs. When it comes down to it, a father is going stick with his own blood, or at least we know that’s the case when someone else is training the other fighter.
Is blood thicker than money? The son called Floyd Sr., who most notably fought Ray Leonard in 1978 (losing on a tenth-round TKO) a “cab driver” as a fighter, and that “There are two Mayweathers that count,” meaning him and Roger. Ouch – that hurts too.
And the “youngster” wants to make another thing crystal clear.
“Motherf***er, I’m not no Junior.”
Don’t you wish they could keep those cameras rolling year ’round?
WBC Welterweight Title
September 17 – Las Vegas
The Charles Jay Line
Floyd Mayweather -700
Victor Ortiz +600
Draw +4000
Fight goes full distance -160
Fight ends inside distance +150
MAYWEATHER RIPS PACQUIAO OVER DRUG TESTING, LAWSUIT, FIGHTING 'LEFTOVERS'
During an hour-long conference call Wednesday promoting his upcoming clash with WBC welterweight titleholder Victor Ortiz on Sept. 17 in Las Vegas, unbeaten six-time, five-division titleholder Floyd Mayweather Jr. addressed a number of topics, the most riveting of which was eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao.
Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts) ripped Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) as having faced his "leftovers," referring to the fact that Pacquiao defeated Ricky Hatton and Shane Mosley after they already had already lost to him.
Mayweather, 34, took shots at Pacquiao's lawsuit against him seeking compensatory and punitive damages for defamation of character, claiming that Mayweather has insinuated that the Filipino superstar's success over eight weight divisions is owed to performance-enhancing drugs.
Pacquiao, who has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, names in the lawsuit Mayweather Jr. his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., and his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, for having "conducted a campaign in a set of interviews to make people think he used them."
Mayweather also addressed Pacquiao's upcoming Nov. 12 defense against RING, WBO and WBA lightweight titleholder Juan Manuel Marquez, who was considered too small when Mayweather beat him.
Mayweather also discussed why he chose to face Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs), whom he watched dethrone Andre Berto (28-1, 22 KOs) as titleholder by a unanimous decision in April.
Below are Mayweather's responses to various topics.
On Pacquiao, a southpaw, and trainer Freddie Roach saying he is fighting Ortiz, a southpaw, to prepare for Pacquiao:
"On one note, they're trying to take me to the court room. I prefer to hold court inside the squared circle. America's the country that I live in, and I'm all about being fair. If you truly believe that you're the best, then take the [drug] test.
On one note, Freddie Roach and Team Pacquiao don't want me to speak on them at all. So, if you're at a [Juan Manuel] Marquez press conference, why is Floyd Mayweather's name coming up?
"Unless you think you're on the same level as a Floyd Mayweather? That's all that I'm saying. Of course, as long as he attached to my name, he's going to make great pay days."
On the notion that Pacquiao has faced his "leftovers:"
"As long as he can keep fighting Floyd Mayweather's leftovers, or a fighter that has already been beaten, then the media has to really pay attention to this. They say Shane Mosley looked the best when he beat Antonio Margarito.
"His next fight was against Floyd Mayweather. I'm only fighting him when they say that he was coming off of his best performance. So after I beat Shane Mosley, then he gets a draw. Like I said, fighters are never the same once they face me.
"So then he fights Pacquiao. Once again, I beat him first. After Antonio Margarito gets beat by Mosley, then Pacquiao fights Margarito. Margarito cheats and beats Miguel Cotto and then, that's when Pacquiao says I want to fight Cotto.
"I beat Hatton when he's undefeated, and then he goes and fights Hatton after I already beat him. He wasn't the same. Now, Marquez called me out. Once again, I took the Marquez fight, the guy that they had rated No. 2 pound-for-pound, after I had taken two years off.
"Now they say that Floyd Mayweather is too big for Marquez, but he's not too big for Pacquiao, but they're the same size."
On Pacquiao's increase in size and power:
"It's okay for him to go from 105 to 154 and he gets knockouts, and they say, 'You know what? It's all natural. But if I went from 147 to heavyweight and was knocking out heavyweights, would that be all natural? That's what you've got to ask yourself at the end of the day.
"Like I said before, I never accused anybody of doing anything. If anything, it's obvious that you must be hiding something. If I say I'm the best and you say you're the best, we're fighting for the best belts, we're fighting for the best titles in the world, and we're fighting in the best country in the world.
"So you have to have the best testing, and that's all that I ask. And the thing is this, I'm not just picking on one guy. Everybody that I face has to take the test. Because this sport is a little different from how it used to be. It's tainted. So that's all I'm saying."
On Pacquiao's lawsuit.
"Once again, the guy says, 'I'm suing Floyd Mayweather for saying that I've done this or I've done that.' But you're still attaching your name to me, and you all are still speaking on me. You all are speaking on me, but you don't want me speaking on you guys at all."
On whether Mayweather-Pacquiao will come off:
"I'm not going to speak on this again. It's useless. If the guy wanted the fight, he could have been had the fight. You all know this. Where was the guy in '97? Where was the guy in '98?"
On his health:
"My health is more important than money."
On the critics of his boxing skills:
"Certain individuals call themselves boxing experts. But I feel like what better fighter if you want to build a fighter or pattern his style, what better fighter to use than Floyd Mayweather?
"And that's not bragging or boasting, I just feel that I have the remedy and I know how to win, whether it goes the distance or it's a knockout. The main thing about life is winning in life.
"...I've been dominating the fight game since Victor Ortiz was nine years old until now, and I'm still sharp."
On the importance of retiring undefeated?
"I feel like anything can happen on any given night. But, you know, if anything, if a fighter beats me, I want him to do it the honest way. The fair and honest way.
"Because I've done it the fair and honest way for 16 years. No matter how much Floyd brags or boasts and no matter how much he talks about his money, when it's all said and done, I'm fair. So the only thing that I want to do is that I want to be treated fairly. That's all."
On why he performed so well in knockout victories over Genaro Hernandez, Diego Corrales and Ricky Hatton:
"They came to fight. Genaro Hernandez came to fight. We were banging toe-to-toe. I think he approached it like the best man was going to have to win.
Hatton always approached fights like I'm going to win, and either you're going to get me or I'm going to get you. I think that even after Hatton faced me, I don't think that he was ever right again.
"He was never the same. Same thing with Corrales, he was never right again once he faced me."
On aging:
"They say I'm still looking sharp, and they say that I'm still looking you...I still feel strong and I still feel sharp. When I get to the gym, once I get started, I'm a little different than ever other fighter.
"I don't shadowbox. When I get to the gym, I just put my wraps on and get right into the ring and start sparring. So I'm a little bit different than any other fighter. Of course, I run at three or four in the morning.
"I don't think as far as me deteriorating or losing skills, I think I'm still very, very sharp and still strong. The reason why is because I don't think that I've been in any toe-to-toe wars.
"When a fighter gets into a lot of toe-to-toe wars, it's wear and tear on your body. I haven't taken no abuse, so I think God for blessing me with this great defense."
Mayweather vows legal fights won't distract him
Unbeaten Mayweather, 41-0 with 25 knockouts, will face American southpaw Ortiz, 29-2-2 with 22 knockouts, on September 17 at Las Vegas for Ortiz's World Boxing Council welterweight crown.
"I'm aggressive. I'm coming straight ahead," Mayweather said Wednesday. "I'm looking for the knockout. He's looking for the knockout. I can guarantee it won't go the distance."
What has gone the distance are the court cases involving Mayweather, who faces up to 34 years in prison if convicted on all charges in a domestic violence dispute from last September involving former girlfriend Josie Harris.
Pacquiao, 32, is suing Mayweather for defamation, saying the American dubbed him a dope cheat when pushing for extra blood tests for a much-awaited showdown that fell through when contract talks broke down in 2008.
"I never accused nobody of doing anything," Mayweather said, although he later cited Pacquiao's reluctance to take the test and rise to power by saying, "it's obvious you must be hiding something.
"If a fighter beats me, I want him to do it the fair and honest way.
"If you're the best, take the test."
A fight fan and a housing community security guard also have suits against Mayweather, who shrugged off the distractions.
"I keep a clear head. I don't focus on nothing," Mayweather said.
"Things happen in life. It's a roller coaster ride. Everything happens for a reason. Certain obstacles are put in front of me. I just feel no one can stop me."
What could stop him are felony counts of grand larceny, coercion and robbery from an altercation with his former girlfriend.
Mayweather said Harris claimed she was punched, stomped and beaten by him but added, "We're yet to see photos", and indicated drugs and alcohol could have been involved in perceptions of the incident.
"There's a difference between holding somebody's hand and restraining someone," Mayweather said.
Mayweather said he had "spoken enough" about whether or not he still wanted to fight Pacquiao, even as critics have charged he used the blood tests as a way to avoid a fighter who might beat him.
Mayweather talked about how boxing was tainted by doping then how Pacquiao started rising among the ranks of top fighters later than some other fighters.
"Let's make this make sense," Mayweather said. "I was born at night but not last night. I was born in the day but not yesterday. My health is more important than money."
Mayweather said Pacquiao keeps talking about Mayweather and fighting foes whom Mayweather has already beaten because it makes the Asian star more money.
"As long as he's attached to Floyd Mayweather, he's going to make great paydays," Mayweather said. "As long as he's fighting Floyd Mayweather's leftovers he's going to look great. Fighters are never the same once they face me."
Mayweather said he would fight England's Amir Khan, provided Khan first beat undefeated American Jesse Vargas, who fights on the Mayweather-Ortiz undercard.
"He's got to earn it," Mayweather said. "If Amir Khan gets past Jesse Vargas, Amir Khan has a fight with Floyd Mayweather."
Ortiz, 10 years younger than Mayweather at age 24, offers Mayweather a southpaw in his prime, what many see as a perfect tuneup fight for Pacquiao but what Mayweather calls a solid test of his conditioning and skills.
"That's why this has been my longest training camp thus far, because we wanted to make sure we're ready for a guy that is 10 years younger," Mayweather said. "We will be ready."
Mayweather has not fought since stopping Shane Mosley in May of 2010 and has fought only twice since stopping Britain's Ricky Hatton in December of 2007.
"I haven't showed (ring rust) thus far. I just try to focus on doing my job," Mayweather said. "I try to be disciplined. I keep myself in shape."
Mayweather is engaged to model Shantel Jackson, saying her strength has helped him through the tough times.
"Going through everything, it's nice to have a strong lady behind you," said Mayweather. "She has never judged me. She says we live and learn. She doesn't judge me. She is very important in my life."
After the Dust Has Settled – Pacquiao Still in Control
Right now, boxing fans are feeling like a victim of Ashton Kutcher’s old television show Punk’d.
Since Nov. 14, better known as the night that Manny Pacquiao scored an electrifying 12th- round TKO win over Miguel Cotto, anybody that follows the sport has had their appetite whetted by the mouth watering prospect of seeing a showdown between the world’s two top pound-for-pound boxers – Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
But with the negotiations for that fight now having imploded like the demolition of The Sands Casino in Las Vegas, boxing fans are left with nothing more than a cloud of dust as they try to make sense of what it all means and what will be next for both Pacquiao and Mayweather.
By any measure one wishes to use, there is no doubt that Pacquiao and Mayweather are ranked #1 and #2 – in that order.
Pacquiao is the best boxer on the planet and Mayweather is further down behind him – lower on the list in second place.
Never mind that Pacquiao is ranked #1 in the ratings by every reputable boxing publication or Internet boxing Web site in existence and that he has been honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America as the fighter of the year for the past two years in a row.
What is probably more important is that Manny is also #1 at the box office. And in the sport of boxing, better known as the business of boxing, that is his most significant achievement.
It is Pacquiao that draws fans in droves to his live events. For comparison purposes, Pacquiao’s recent bout against Miguel Cotto attracted a standing room only crowd of over 16,000 to the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. Less than two months earlier, Mayweather met Juan Manuel Marquez at the same venue and they failed to draw a paid attendance of 13,000 to a relatively subdued affair.
Ticket brokers and scalpers were able to charge upwards of ten thousand dollars for one Pacquiao vs. Cotto ringside ticket. The Mayweather-Marquez fight was lucky to get half that amount for the same seat. The MGM Grand was forced to offer special packages to attract customers to the Mayweather vs. Marquez fight – everything from discounted fight tickets, free meals and free limousine rides to and from McCarran International Airport. On the other hand, Pacquiao vs. Cotto was sold out weeks in advance and the night of the fight brought the city of Las Vegas to a virtual standstill.
Mayweather calls himself "Money" – but it is Pacquiao that attracted more fans this year to Las Vegas. It is also Pacquiao that caused more fans to push the pay-per-view buy buttons on their television remote control. His fight against Cotto earned nearly $14 million more in pay-per-view revenue than Mayweather’s fight against Marquez.
So, since boxing fans will not have the matter settled as to who the best boxer on the planet is with a match-up of skills between Pacquiao and Mayweather – the only other measurable manner available to them is the rankings of the various organizations that keep track of such things - and the latest box office receipts.
Using both of those measuring sticks, it is Pacquiao that easily comes out on top.
Mayweather and his supporters will point to his 2007 fights against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton as evidence of his supremacy on the pay-per-view front. However, the De La Hoya fight was nearly three years ago. The world was a different place then; money and credit were easy come and easy go. People thought nothing of making a weekend trip to Vegas or dropping a Grant on the pay-per-view. In the world economy of 2009, where funds were sparse, and folks searched for value in their entertainment dollar, they spent more in person and via their TV screens to see Manny Pacquiao.
Promoters spent an astonishing $20 million on marketing costs for the Mayweather vs. Marquez fight. The fight was also broadcast in 170 movie theaters around the country – yet Pacquiao still attracted more fans.
In the day and age of the Internet, any Web-site publisher will tell you that when a Manny Pacquiao news item or feature appears on their site, it is a good day for them in terms of the all important page views. Ask a boxing magazine publisher who sells more copies when Pacquiao or Mayweather appear on their cover and they will tell you that the Pinoy idol is "bank".
Mayweather and his backers will counter with the argument that both of his fights against De La Hoya and Hatton drew more than Pacquiao’s did – but again – we’re talking about numbers going on nearly three years ago.
Boxing would probably best be known as a sport of "What have you done for me lately?"
Using that simple question, it is Pacquiao that is clearly the more personable fighter/celebrity. Devoted fans flock to him, they smile, they pose, they rush to get an autograph or a picture.
Mayweather’s highly publicized open workout at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood in the days before his bout against Marquez barely drew a crowd of 200 people. On the other hand, in the same town, just around the corner and down the street, Pacquiao attracts that many people every single day to watch him simply walk in and out of Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym.
Whether one wishes to blame the non-happening of the Pac-May fight on Pacquiao’s refusal to submit to Mayweather’s demand for the unheard of Olympic style drug testing is their prerogative. However, they should remember that based on the most recent accomplishments it is Manny that is universally regarded as the best boxer on the planet, Manny that is the more popular person with the public and Manny that is the recent box-office champion.
Based on all of that – it is Pacquiao that was clearly in the drivers’ seat of the failed negotiations. It is also Pacquiao that clearly sits atop the boxing world as 2010 gets underway. For Mayweather to lay claim to anything he will have to get in the ring, fight and beat a contender of consequence and perhaps win a title. It will be the only way to turn the tide in his favor.
In the Corners
The latest news is that Pacquiao will likely face the always tough, durable and rugged Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Texas. The Ghanaian is perhaps the toughest and one of the most avoided welterweights in the world. I will say that unless Pacquiao is totally focused he will not beat Clottey, who is a larger man who can take a great punch. Clottey will likely be a middleweight by the time he steps into the ring on fight night and he has a tight defense...Meanwhile, rumors persist that Mayweather will meet the smaller and light punching Paulie Malignaggi - or even worse – Matthew Hatton, the limited younger brother of Ricky. My view is that since Mayweather needs to make a statement of supremacy and gain more leverage in any potential future negotiations for a Pacquiao fight, that he should face the winner of the Jan. 30 Shane Mosley vs. Andre Berto title fight…Nice to see the return of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights as well as the upcoming new series on FOX Sports. Who says boxing is dead?
Since Nov. 14, better known as the night that Manny Pacquiao scored an electrifying 12th- round TKO win over Miguel Cotto, anybody that follows the sport has had their appetite whetted by the mouth watering prospect of seeing a showdown between the world’s two top pound-for-pound boxers – Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
But with the negotiations for that fight now having imploded like the demolition of The Sands Casino in Las Vegas, boxing fans are left with nothing more than a cloud of dust as they try to make sense of what it all means and what will be next for both Pacquiao and Mayweather.
By any measure one wishes to use, there is no doubt that Pacquiao and Mayweather are ranked #1 and #2 – in that order.
Pacquiao is the best boxer on the planet and Mayweather is further down behind him – lower on the list in second place.
Never mind that Pacquiao is ranked #1 in the ratings by every reputable boxing publication or Internet boxing Web site in existence and that he has been honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America as the fighter of the year for the past two years in a row.
What is probably more important is that Manny is also #1 at the box office. And in the sport of boxing, better known as the business of boxing, that is his most significant achievement.
It is Pacquiao that draws fans in droves to his live events. For comparison purposes, Pacquiao’s recent bout against Miguel Cotto attracted a standing room only crowd of over 16,000 to the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. Less than two months earlier, Mayweather met Juan Manuel Marquez at the same venue and they failed to draw a paid attendance of 13,000 to a relatively subdued affair.
Ticket brokers and scalpers were able to charge upwards of ten thousand dollars for one Pacquiao vs. Cotto ringside ticket. The Mayweather-Marquez fight was lucky to get half that amount for the same seat. The MGM Grand was forced to offer special packages to attract customers to the Mayweather vs. Marquez fight – everything from discounted fight tickets, free meals and free limousine rides to and from McCarran International Airport. On the other hand, Pacquiao vs. Cotto was sold out weeks in advance and the night of the fight brought the city of Las Vegas to a virtual standstill.
Mayweather calls himself "Money" – but it is Pacquiao that attracted more fans this year to Las Vegas. It is also Pacquiao that caused more fans to push the pay-per-view buy buttons on their television remote control. His fight against Cotto earned nearly $14 million more in pay-per-view revenue than Mayweather’s fight against Marquez.
So, since boxing fans will not have the matter settled as to who the best boxer on the planet is with a match-up of skills between Pacquiao and Mayweather – the only other measurable manner available to them is the rankings of the various organizations that keep track of such things - and the latest box office receipts.
Using both of those measuring sticks, it is Pacquiao that easily comes out on top.
Mayweather and his supporters will point to his 2007 fights against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton as evidence of his supremacy on the pay-per-view front. However, the De La Hoya fight was nearly three years ago. The world was a different place then; money and credit were easy come and easy go. People thought nothing of making a weekend trip to Vegas or dropping a Grant on the pay-per-view. In the world economy of 2009, where funds were sparse, and folks searched for value in their entertainment dollar, they spent more in person and via their TV screens to see Manny Pacquiao.
Promoters spent an astonishing $20 million on marketing costs for the Mayweather vs. Marquez fight. The fight was also broadcast in 170 movie theaters around the country – yet Pacquiao still attracted more fans.
In the day and age of the Internet, any Web-site publisher will tell you that when a Manny Pacquiao news item or feature appears on their site, it is a good day for them in terms of the all important page views. Ask a boxing magazine publisher who sells more copies when Pacquiao or Mayweather appear on their cover and they will tell you that the Pinoy idol is "bank".
Mayweather and his backers will counter with the argument that both of his fights against De La Hoya and Hatton drew more than Pacquiao’s did – but again – we’re talking about numbers going on nearly three years ago.
Boxing would probably best be known as a sport of "What have you done for me lately?"
Using that simple question, it is Pacquiao that is clearly the more personable fighter/celebrity. Devoted fans flock to him, they smile, they pose, they rush to get an autograph or a picture.
Mayweather’s highly publicized open workout at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood in the days before his bout against Marquez barely drew a crowd of 200 people. On the other hand, in the same town, just around the corner and down the street, Pacquiao attracts that many people every single day to watch him simply walk in and out of Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym.
Whether one wishes to blame the non-happening of the Pac-May fight on Pacquiao’s refusal to submit to Mayweather’s demand for the unheard of Olympic style drug testing is their prerogative. However, they should remember that based on the most recent accomplishments it is Manny that is universally regarded as the best boxer on the planet, Manny that is the more popular person with the public and Manny that is the recent box-office champion.
Based on all of that – it is Pacquiao that was clearly in the drivers’ seat of the failed negotiations. It is also Pacquiao that clearly sits atop the boxing world as 2010 gets underway. For Mayweather to lay claim to anything he will have to get in the ring, fight and beat a contender of consequence and perhaps win a title. It will be the only way to turn the tide in his favor.
In the Corners
The latest news is that Pacquiao will likely face the always tough, durable and rugged Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Texas. The Ghanaian is perhaps the toughest and one of the most avoided welterweights in the world. I will say that unless Pacquiao is totally focused he will not beat Clottey, who is a larger man who can take a great punch. Clottey will likely be a middleweight by the time he steps into the ring on fight night and he has a tight defense...Meanwhile, rumors persist that Mayweather will meet the smaller and light punching Paulie Malignaggi - or even worse – Matthew Hatton, the limited younger brother of Ricky. My view is that since Mayweather needs to make a statement of supremacy and gain more leverage in any potential future negotiations for a Pacquiao fight, that he should face the winner of the Jan. 30 Shane Mosley vs. Andre Berto title fight…Nice to see the return of ESPN2 Friday Night Fights as well as the upcoming new series on FOX Sports. Who says boxing is dead?
Sizing up Joshua Clottey as Manny Pacquiao’s next foe
Late last night news broke via Top Rank’s facebook page that the next opponent for Manny Pacquiao would be former IBF Welterweight champion Joshua Clottey. Upon hearing the news I was quite surprised, as I didn’t expect Pacquiao to face off with such a formidable challenge following the Mayweather fallout. I have to tip my hat to Manny; if the Clottey fight goes through I think he deserves credit for not opting for a safer touch. Joshua Clottey is no pushover.
It’s somewhat fascinating to me when I analyze a Pacquiao-Clottey matchup. There is a lot to take in because of the contrast in styles. While Pacquiao relies on his work rate, endurance, and placing his power punches from a variety of angles, Clottey is a completely different mold of fighter. The Accra, Ghana native is as strong and sturdy as they come and he possesses excellent stamina, a compact defense, a menacing jab, and a physical nature that has lead him to having a 35-3 record while being regarded as one of the top five or six Welterweights in the world.
When thinking of the matchup further, here is my take on Clottey and how he matches up against his Filipino foe.
Making Ghana proud
Hailing from Accra, Ghana, Clottey comes from a country known producing gritty, tough, and proven combatants. In somewhat recent years Azumah ‘The Professor’ Nelson and Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey have represented the country proud by becoming quality champions inside of the ring.
Nelson had great longevity and was a threat in the lower weight classes from the early 80’s to mid 90’s. He fist broke on the scene as a newcomer in 1982, losing a tremendous battle to the late Salvador Sanchez. When it was all said and done Nelson won titles at 126 and 130 pounds, defeating the likes of Wilfredo Gomez, Juan La Porte, Jeff Fenech, Gabriel Ruelas, and Jesse James Leija. Nelson was crafty, durable and extremely consistent throughout his hall of fame career.
Ike Quartey won the WBA Welterweight title in June of 1994 by stopping Crisanto Espana in the 11th round. Quartey was known best for his tremendous physical strength, his potent and deadly jab, and stout chin. He bested the likes of Vince Phillips and Oba Carr while losing a close and some say controversial decision to Oscar De La Hoya in February of 1999 after a 16 month layoff. Quartey would return well over a year later and lose a clear but competitive decision to Fernando Vargas in April of 2000 after moving up in weight.
Quartey disappeared from the scene after that before returning in 2005. He finished his career by defeating Verno Phillips and Carlos Bojorquez while losing a disputed match to Vernon Forrest and a lopsided decision to good friend Winky Wright. While some say that Quartey’s true potential was never realized, as he was the victim of repeated spells of inactivity, he certainly was regarded as one of the world’s top three Welterweights in the late 90’s alongside De La Hoya and Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad.
In seeing Clottey in the ring you can see shades of both Quartey and Nelson, as he attacks with a high and tight guard while always pressing forward and looking to force the action. As was the case with Quartey, Clottey is a physical powerhouse on the inside and his tight-knit defense makes it extremely hard for opponents to break through.
Clottey’s early 2010 gift
2009 must certainly have been considered a downer for Clottey. He only fought once the entire year, suffering a very close split decision to Miguel Cotto. It was a very eventful bout, as Clottey was dropped early before regrouping and working his way back into the fight. Cotto suffered a huge gash above his left eye from an accidental head butt in the third and showed his warrior’s spirit, fighting Clottey tit for tat as the middle rounds approached.
Just when it looked at those Joshua was running out of steam he would regroup, as was the case in the seventh round when he unloaded on Cotto to turn the tide of the fight. The fight was back and forth from that point forward. In the twelfth round Clottey was grazed with a punch behind the head and seemed to overact to the punch, turning around as though he was in severe pain. Cotto would close the show strong and go on to win a split decision, with 116-111 and 115-112 tallies going in favor of the Puerto Rican while Judge Tom Miller sided with the Ghanaian fighter 114-113.
The loss to Cotto didn’t drop Clottey’s stock tremendously because he fought on nearly even terms with a fighter of Cotto’s class. The remaining months of the year had to be terribly frustrating, however, as proposed bouts with Carlos Quintana and Sergio Martinez never came to fruition. Clottey was recently scheduled for a January 16th appearance at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas against Michael Rosales and apparently turned the fight down due to his desires for a bigger fight. It doesn’t getting any bigger than facing Pacquiao and right now Joshua Clottey must be happy with the new opportunity on his horizon. This is the exact opportunity he was looking for.
Clottey at his best
When looking at Clottey’s career in recent years there are several fights and moments that stand out where the former champion was at his best.
In July of 2006 he showed tremendous stamina and a great work rate in winning a convincing and entertaining decision over then-undefeated Richard Gutierrez. Clottey’s air-tight defense negated anything that the Columbian had to offer as he pulled away late in the fight.
Clottey was also impressive against both Zab Judah and Diego Corrales. Against Corrales, who was moving up two weight classes for the bout, Clottey was too strong and efficient for the late Diego to handle, dropping him twice late in the fight on his way to a near shutout win. Clottey defeated Judah in August of 2008 by simply applying pressure and staying consistent. Clottey wasn’t fazed by Judah’s speed and had great success working the body and using his physical strength on the inside as he walked away with a nine round technical decision win.
Even in losing to Cotto and Antonio Margarito, Clottey more than held his own during long periods in each fight. Both of those contests were nip and tuck affairs in which Clottey showed much worth while falling just short. Against Cotto he seemed to ease off the gas pedal when having his best moments and that came back to hurt him. He started strong against Margarito but a reported injury to his left hand in the 4th round lulled his momentum.
Sizing up Pacquiao vs. Clottey
For as much success as Pacquiao has had in recent years I personally feel that Clottey is a tremendous and underrated threat to him. The matchup in styles pretty contrasting and it will be interesting to see whether Pacquiao’s speed and power or Clottey’s aggression and physical strength prove to be the key factors.
One thing I notice is that while both Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto were physically imposing opponents, they both had suspect defense, as seen in previous fights. Clottey’s defense is very sound and it will be interesting seeing how exactly Pacquiao goes about trying to break him down. If Clottey can find a way to get on the inside consistently and force the action he could have great success.
If I had to pick a winner right now I would side with Pacquiao because it’s hard to deny the success he has had. Blowout wins over Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto in succession don’t come around too often and Pacquiao is a primed and well oiled machine at the moment. Clottey will definitely come into the fight with high hopes but he has shown in the past that he can be complacent and inactive during key stretches of a fight. I think Pacquiao’s speed and activity will be the key factors on his way towards winning a competitive but clear decision win.
It’s somewhat fascinating to me when I analyze a Pacquiao-Clottey matchup. There is a lot to take in because of the contrast in styles. While Pacquiao relies on his work rate, endurance, and placing his power punches from a variety of angles, Clottey is a completely different mold of fighter. The Accra, Ghana native is as strong and sturdy as they come and he possesses excellent stamina, a compact defense, a menacing jab, and a physical nature that has lead him to having a 35-3 record while being regarded as one of the top five or six Welterweights in the world.
When thinking of the matchup further, here is my take on Clottey and how he matches up against his Filipino foe.
Making Ghana proud
Hailing from Accra, Ghana, Clottey comes from a country known producing gritty, tough, and proven combatants. In somewhat recent years Azumah ‘The Professor’ Nelson and Ike ‘Bazooka’ Quartey have represented the country proud by becoming quality champions inside of the ring.
Nelson had great longevity and was a threat in the lower weight classes from the early 80’s to mid 90’s. He fist broke on the scene as a newcomer in 1982, losing a tremendous battle to the late Salvador Sanchez. When it was all said and done Nelson won titles at 126 and 130 pounds, defeating the likes of Wilfredo Gomez, Juan La Porte, Jeff Fenech, Gabriel Ruelas, and Jesse James Leija. Nelson was crafty, durable and extremely consistent throughout his hall of fame career.
Ike Quartey won the WBA Welterweight title in June of 1994 by stopping Crisanto Espana in the 11th round. Quartey was known best for his tremendous physical strength, his potent and deadly jab, and stout chin. He bested the likes of Vince Phillips and Oba Carr while losing a close and some say controversial decision to Oscar De La Hoya in February of 1999 after a 16 month layoff. Quartey would return well over a year later and lose a clear but competitive decision to Fernando Vargas in April of 2000 after moving up in weight.
Quartey disappeared from the scene after that before returning in 2005. He finished his career by defeating Verno Phillips and Carlos Bojorquez while losing a disputed match to Vernon Forrest and a lopsided decision to good friend Winky Wright. While some say that Quartey’s true potential was never realized, as he was the victim of repeated spells of inactivity, he certainly was regarded as one of the world’s top three Welterweights in the late 90’s alongside De La Hoya and Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad.
In seeing Clottey in the ring you can see shades of both Quartey and Nelson, as he attacks with a high and tight guard while always pressing forward and looking to force the action. As was the case with Quartey, Clottey is a physical powerhouse on the inside and his tight-knit defense makes it extremely hard for opponents to break through.
Clottey’s early 2010 gift
2009 must certainly have been considered a downer for Clottey. He only fought once the entire year, suffering a very close split decision to Miguel Cotto. It was a very eventful bout, as Clottey was dropped early before regrouping and working his way back into the fight. Cotto suffered a huge gash above his left eye from an accidental head butt in the third and showed his warrior’s spirit, fighting Clottey tit for tat as the middle rounds approached.
Just when it looked at those Joshua was running out of steam he would regroup, as was the case in the seventh round when he unloaded on Cotto to turn the tide of the fight. The fight was back and forth from that point forward. In the twelfth round Clottey was grazed with a punch behind the head and seemed to overact to the punch, turning around as though he was in severe pain. Cotto would close the show strong and go on to win a split decision, with 116-111 and 115-112 tallies going in favor of the Puerto Rican while Judge Tom Miller sided with the Ghanaian fighter 114-113.
The loss to Cotto didn’t drop Clottey’s stock tremendously because he fought on nearly even terms with a fighter of Cotto’s class. The remaining months of the year had to be terribly frustrating, however, as proposed bouts with Carlos Quintana and Sergio Martinez never came to fruition. Clottey was recently scheduled for a January 16th appearance at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas against Michael Rosales and apparently turned the fight down due to his desires for a bigger fight. It doesn’t getting any bigger than facing Pacquiao and right now Joshua Clottey must be happy with the new opportunity on his horizon. This is the exact opportunity he was looking for.
Clottey at his best
When looking at Clottey’s career in recent years there are several fights and moments that stand out where the former champion was at his best.
In July of 2006 he showed tremendous stamina and a great work rate in winning a convincing and entertaining decision over then-undefeated Richard Gutierrez. Clottey’s air-tight defense negated anything that the Columbian had to offer as he pulled away late in the fight.
Clottey was also impressive against both Zab Judah and Diego Corrales. Against Corrales, who was moving up two weight classes for the bout, Clottey was too strong and efficient for the late Diego to handle, dropping him twice late in the fight on his way to a near shutout win. Clottey defeated Judah in August of 2008 by simply applying pressure and staying consistent. Clottey wasn’t fazed by Judah’s speed and had great success working the body and using his physical strength on the inside as he walked away with a nine round technical decision win.
Even in losing to Cotto and Antonio Margarito, Clottey more than held his own during long periods in each fight. Both of those contests were nip and tuck affairs in which Clottey showed much worth while falling just short. Against Cotto he seemed to ease off the gas pedal when having his best moments and that came back to hurt him. He started strong against Margarito but a reported injury to his left hand in the 4th round lulled his momentum.
Sizing up Pacquiao vs. Clottey
For as much success as Pacquiao has had in recent years I personally feel that Clottey is a tremendous and underrated threat to him. The matchup in styles pretty contrasting and it will be interesting to see whether Pacquiao’s speed and power or Clottey’s aggression and physical strength prove to be the key factors.
One thing I notice is that while both Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto were physically imposing opponents, they both had suspect defense, as seen in previous fights. Clottey’s defense is very sound and it will be interesting seeing how exactly Pacquiao goes about trying to break him down. If Clottey can find a way to get on the inside consistently and force the action he could have great success.
If I had to pick a winner right now I would side with Pacquiao because it’s hard to deny the success he has had. Blowout wins over Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto in succession don’t come around too often and Pacquiao is a primed and well oiled machine at the moment. Clottey will definitely come into the fight with high hopes but he has shown in the past that he can be complacent and inactive during key stretches of a fight. I think Pacquiao’s speed and activity will be the key factors on his way towards winning a competitive but clear decision win.
PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER: Fight is off!
What was billed as the “Fight of the Century” between two finest pound-for-pound fighters on earth – Filipino Manny Pacquiao and unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr.-- is not going to happen.
This was revealed by Bob Arum himself, head man of Top Rank Promotions and Pacquiao’s promoter, Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila)
The epic encounter, which, undoubtedly would have brought the sports of sweet science back to its popularity of years ago, according to Arum, quoting federal judge Daniel Weinstein, whom both the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps chose to mediate to save the multi-million fight.
"The mediator called me [before 8 p.m.] and told me the fight was off," Arum said as told to the Los Angeles Times. "The fight's off, Mayweather never wanted it. Manny wanted the fight. He was agreeable to terms."
A source who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the mediation proceedings said Pacquiao had agreed to submit to a blood test 24 days before the fight -- a concession from his prior stance of no closer than 30 days -- and to another blood draw immediately after the bout.
Pacquiao’s concession was to Mayweather, who reportedly declined to accept those terms.
One other source said though that all’s not over yet and that both camps could still strike a deal before what he termed a "business deadline," adding that the press conference where Pacquiao and Mayweather will appear is scheduled next week yet in New York and Los Angeles.
Arum has said he'll work to arrange an alternate fight for Pacquiao against newly crowned super-welterweight champion Yuri Foreman in March, which would allow the Filipino ring icon to further etch his name in the annals of professional boxing by claiming a record eight world titles in as many weight divisions. .
"I am disappointed in the sense this fight will not happen," Arum said. "I'm not surprised. I always knew Mayweather would kill it because he didn't want it. He didn't want to lose."
Arum traced the history of Floyd Mayweather Jr's mental state, which he said is coward's mental state, adding Mayweather will never agree to take a tough fight where he stands any chance of losing reason many of best fights in the welterweight division never took place.
He points out how Mayweather walked away from a very lucrative rematch with Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. De La Hoya gave Mayweather a very tough fight in 2007.
"Floyd Mayweather walked away," Arum said to USA Today. "Our guy was agreeable, Mayweather wasn't. It's not surprising. I always felt that he wasn't going to do the fight. He knows Manny will beat him. Mayweather's never stepped into the ring with a guy he had any question but that he was going to beat."
"That's why there's never been a (Shane) Mosley, there's never been a (Antonio) Margarito, there never was a (Miguel) Cotto, and there's no Pacquiao. Floyd Mayweather is a coward. He will never fight anyone that will remotely give him a tough fight. Here's a guy who, the rematch with (Oscar) De La Hoya was a huge fight, it would've made millions and millions, and he walked away from it.. .. I'm not disappointed in the sense that I always knew it was going to be this way."
This was revealed by Bob Arum himself, head man of Top Rank Promotions and Pacquiao’s promoter, Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila)
The epic encounter, which, undoubtedly would have brought the sports of sweet science back to its popularity of years ago, according to Arum, quoting federal judge Daniel Weinstein, whom both the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps chose to mediate to save the multi-million fight.
"The mediator called me [before 8 p.m.] and told me the fight was off," Arum said as told to the Los Angeles Times. "The fight's off, Mayweather never wanted it. Manny wanted the fight. He was agreeable to terms."
A source who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the mediation proceedings said Pacquiao had agreed to submit to a blood test 24 days before the fight -- a concession from his prior stance of no closer than 30 days -- and to another blood draw immediately after the bout.
Pacquiao’s concession was to Mayweather, who reportedly declined to accept those terms.
One other source said though that all’s not over yet and that both camps could still strike a deal before what he termed a "business deadline," adding that the press conference where Pacquiao and Mayweather will appear is scheduled next week yet in New York and Los Angeles.
Arum has said he'll work to arrange an alternate fight for Pacquiao against newly crowned super-welterweight champion Yuri Foreman in March, which would allow the Filipino ring icon to further etch his name in the annals of professional boxing by claiming a record eight world titles in as many weight divisions. .
"I am disappointed in the sense this fight will not happen," Arum said. "I'm not surprised. I always knew Mayweather would kill it because he didn't want it. He didn't want to lose."
Arum traced the history of Floyd Mayweather Jr's mental state, which he said is coward's mental state, adding Mayweather will never agree to take a tough fight where he stands any chance of losing reason many of best fights in the welterweight division never took place.
He points out how Mayweather walked away from a very lucrative rematch with Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. De La Hoya gave Mayweather a very tough fight in 2007.
"Floyd Mayweather walked away," Arum said to USA Today. "Our guy was agreeable, Mayweather wasn't. It's not surprising. I always felt that he wasn't going to do the fight. He knows Manny will beat him. Mayweather's never stepped into the ring with a guy he had any question but that he was going to beat."
"That's why there's never been a (Shane) Mosley, there's never been a (Antonio) Margarito, there never was a (Miguel) Cotto, and there's no Pacquiao. Floyd Mayweather is a coward. He will never fight anyone that will remotely give him a tough fight. Here's a guy who, the rematch with (Oscar) De La Hoya was a huge fight, it would've made millions and millions, and he walked away from it.. .. I'm not disappointed in the sense that I always knew it was going to be this way."
Megafight off; Pacquiao very mad
Manny Pacquiao was disenchanted and enraged when told that Floyd Mayweather Jr. decided to walk away from their March 13 super fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I am very disappointed that we could not make this fight for the fans and I am angered because of the false accusations from Golden Boy and the Mayweather camp that I used some type of drugs and that is why I have instructed our American lawyers to proceed with the lawsuit to clear my name,” said Pacquiao in a statement released shortly after it was announced that the fight is off.
After Pacquiao’s promoter Top Rank and Mayweather’s representatives – Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) – failed to reach an accord during mediation talks on Tuesday, the arbiter, retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein, gave the two sides until the following day to come to an agreement.
But Mayweather simply did not accept a compromise that would have mandated Pacquiao to be tested for blood 24 days before the fight and immediately after the bout.
Bob Arum was furious, declaring that Mayweather “is scared to death of Pacquiao.”
Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz said “the whole blood testing issue that Mayweather wants from Manny is just a façade to get Mayweather out of this fight.”
“I believe that Floyd did not want to tarnish his perfect record and used this blood testing as an excuse to get out of the fight because he knew Manny would never do it. Floyd being the coward found a way out and he did not care if he tarnished another man’s reputation,” added Koncz.
Mayweather had demanded that Pacquiao undergo Olympic-style (random) drug-testing but the Filipino fighter vehemently rejected the proposal and was later incensed that Mayweather and even GBP officials went to the extent of accusing him of having taken performance-enhancing drugs.
Pacquiao has never failed a drug test in all of his close to 20 fights on American soil.
Had both sides agreed on the terms, Pacquiao and Mayweather would have made $25 million apiece plus a hefty share in the pay-per-view, gate receipts, and closed-circuit viewing.
Now that Mayweather is out of the picture, Arum is eyeing reigning World Boxing Association super-welterweight titlist Yuri Foreman, a Belarus-born Israeli now living in Brooklyn, New York.
If Arum picks Foreman for a March 20 date at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Pacquiao will be gunning for his eighth world title.
While a Foreman fight is a landmark bout for Pacquiao, another fight that looks much more attractive is a third fight with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, a pairing that Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach wants.
“I am very disappointed that we could not make this fight for the fans and I am angered because of the false accusations from Golden Boy and the Mayweather camp that I used some type of drugs and that is why I have instructed our American lawyers to proceed with the lawsuit to clear my name,” said Pacquiao in a statement released shortly after it was announced that the fight is off.
After Pacquiao’s promoter Top Rank and Mayweather’s representatives – Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) – failed to reach an accord during mediation talks on Tuesday, the arbiter, retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein, gave the two sides until the following day to come to an agreement.
But Mayweather simply did not accept a compromise that would have mandated Pacquiao to be tested for blood 24 days before the fight and immediately after the bout.
Bob Arum was furious, declaring that Mayweather “is scared to death of Pacquiao.”
Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz said “the whole blood testing issue that Mayweather wants from Manny is just a façade to get Mayweather out of this fight.”
“I believe that Floyd did not want to tarnish his perfect record and used this blood testing as an excuse to get out of the fight because he knew Manny would never do it. Floyd being the coward found a way out and he did not care if he tarnished another man’s reputation,” added Koncz.
Mayweather had demanded that Pacquiao undergo Olympic-style (random) drug-testing but the Filipino fighter vehemently rejected the proposal and was later incensed that Mayweather and even GBP officials went to the extent of accusing him of having taken performance-enhancing drugs.
Pacquiao has never failed a drug test in all of his close to 20 fights on American soil.
Had both sides agreed on the terms, Pacquiao and Mayweather would have made $25 million apiece plus a hefty share in the pay-per-view, gate receipts, and closed-circuit viewing.
Now that Mayweather is out of the picture, Arum is eyeing reigning World Boxing Association super-welterweight titlist Yuri Foreman, a Belarus-born Israeli now living in Brooklyn, New York.
If Arum picks Foreman for a March 20 date at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Pacquiao will be gunning for his eighth world title.
While a Foreman fight is a landmark bout for Pacquiao, another fight that looks much more attractive is a third fight with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, a pairing that Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach wants.
THE SUPER FIGHT IS OFF; MAYWEATHER CHICKENS OUT
The planned March 13 super fight between boxing hero and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and former No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr is off after Mayweather chickened out despite Pacquiao accepting a compromise proposal to bring the blood test closer to the fight date from his original 30 day cutoff period to 24.
The Mayweather camp had demanded that Pacquiao undergo random blood tests to be conducted by the US Anti Doping Agency following unsubstantiated allegations that he was on performance enhancing drugs. The Pacquiao camp originally indicated it was ready to submit to blood tests one day before the kickoff press conference, 30 days before the fight and immediately after the fight in his dressing room stating that if Pacquiao was on any illegal substance it would surely show up in the post-fight test.
After the Mayweather handlers claimed Pacquiao had blood extracted from him 14 days before the Ricky Hatton fight in May 2009 as shown on the HBO 24/7 pre-fight series to put holes in his position of a 30-day deadline, Rick Reeno of boxingscene.com produced documents to show the blood test shown on HBO was actually done 24 days before the fight which Pacquiao agreed to as a compromise to help get the fight done.
Despite the mediation efforts of retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein who spent nine hours with both parties on Tuesday, nothing was apparently achieved except that both sides were placed under a gag order which prevented them from talking.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has steadfastly refused to divulge details of what transpired behind the closed doors of Judge Weinstein’s Santa Monica office except to confirm on Thursday (Manila Time) that the fight was off even as he blamed Mayweather for the collapse of a fight which millions of boxing fans around the world wanted.
Arum maintained that Mayweather’s refusal “established what I have always believed and that is that Mayweather never wanted to fight Manny because he was scared to death” which is what trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza had said from the very beginning when they claimed Pacquiao would give Mayweather “a bad beating.”
Arum revealed that Pacquiao is likely to fight for his eighth world title in an eighth weight division against 154 pound champion Yuri Foreman. The renowned promoter who handles Foreman said “Yuri is ready and I’ll check to get confirmation with Manny,” indicating that should it push through the fight would be held on March 13 or 20 also in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz said that the immensely popular Filipino southpaw who has won every conceivable award in boxing and was recently featured on the cover of Time Magazine with a five-page spread said he was “disappointed at not being able to give the fans what they wanted and claimed Mayweather used this (blood testing) as an excuse to get out of the fight and we’ll just have to move on.”
Koncz himself posed the question “how does Mayweather go around claiming he is the best pound-for-pound fighter and the best fighter if he is not willing to engage the people’s choice as the best fighter?” noting that Pacquiao has also been endorsed by Ring Magazine and numerous other boxing publications and internet sites as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today. Koncz added “this is all a sham.”
Pacquiao’s concern over blood being extracted too close to the fight stems from his experience before the first fight with Erik “El Terrible” Morales in March 19, 2005 when he was forced to have a blood test a couple of days before the fight after his medical records were allegedly lost in transmission.
However, a video tape from our personal archives of a heated discussion on the issue showed that the Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission at that time, Marc Ratner, pointed out that the blood test submitted had been taken in January which was too long before the fight and the NSAC commission set a cut-off of 30 days and emphasized that if Pacquiao refused to take the blood test the fight would have to be called off. Pacquiao reluctantly took the test and later said he had a headache and felt dizzy and attributed that to the extraction of blood too close to the fight which he lost on points.
It appears that Pacquiao’s original 30-day cut-off jibed with the requirements of the NSAC which has jurisdiction over the fights in Las Vegas and whose authority Pacquiao and his handlers want respected, which Mayweather, by demanding that the USADA undertake the tests refuses to do. Koncz pointed out that even when the chairman of the NSAC asked Pacquiao to take a urine test in the Philippines over which the Commission has no jurisdiction he took the test which was done by a doctor of the Philippine Olympic Committee, accredited by the World Anti Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee.
www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today, Viva Sports and boxingscene.com understand that the Mayweather handlers led by Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and Mayweather’s top adviser Al Hayman had tried to convince the fighter to agree to the 24-day blood test proposal which Pacquiao had agreed to and which medical experts had said was more than sufficient to detect any traces of performance enhancing drugs, but they were turned down by Mayweather resulting in the fight being called off.
The Mayweather camp had demanded that Pacquiao undergo random blood tests to be conducted by the US Anti Doping Agency following unsubstantiated allegations that he was on performance enhancing drugs. The Pacquiao camp originally indicated it was ready to submit to blood tests one day before the kickoff press conference, 30 days before the fight and immediately after the fight in his dressing room stating that if Pacquiao was on any illegal substance it would surely show up in the post-fight test.
After the Mayweather handlers claimed Pacquiao had blood extracted from him 14 days before the Ricky Hatton fight in May 2009 as shown on the HBO 24/7 pre-fight series to put holes in his position of a 30-day deadline, Rick Reeno of boxingscene.com produced documents to show the blood test shown on HBO was actually done 24 days before the fight which Pacquiao agreed to as a compromise to help get the fight done.
Despite the mediation efforts of retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein who spent nine hours with both parties on Tuesday, nothing was apparently achieved except that both sides were placed under a gag order which prevented them from talking.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has steadfastly refused to divulge details of what transpired behind the closed doors of Judge Weinstein’s Santa Monica office except to confirm on Thursday (Manila Time) that the fight was off even as he blamed Mayweather for the collapse of a fight which millions of boxing fans around the world wanted.
Arum maintained that Mayweather’s refusal “established what I have always believed and that is that Mayweather never wanted to fight Manny because he was scared to death” which is what trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza had said from the very beginning when they claimed Pacquiao would give Mayweather “a bad beating.”
Arum revealed that Pacquiao is likely to fight for his eighth world title in an eighth weight division against 154 pound champion Yuri Foreman. The renowned promoter who handles Foreman said “Yuri is ready and I’ll check to get confirmation with Manny,” indicating that should it push through the fight would be held on March 13 or 20 also in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz said that the immensely popular Filipino southpaw who has won every conceivable award in boxing and was recently featured on the cover of Time Magazine with a five-page spread said he was “disappointed at not being able to give the fans what they wanted and claimed Mayweather used this (blood testing) as an excuse to get out of the fight and we’ll just have to move on.”
Koncz himself posed the question “how does Mayweather go around claiming he is the best pound-for-pound fighter and the best fighter if he is not willing to engage the people’s choice as the best fighter?” noting that Pacquiao has also been endorsed by Ring Magazine and numerous other boxing publications and internet sites as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today. Koncz added “this is all a sham.”
Pacquiao’s concern over blood being extracted too close to the fight stems from his experience before the first fight with Erik “El Terrible” Morales in March 19, 2005 when he was forced to have a blood test a couple of days before the fight after his medical records were allegedly lost in transmission.
However, a video tape from our personal archives of a heated discussion on the issue showed that the Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission at that time, Marc Ratner, pointed out that the blood test submitted had been taken in January which was too long before the fight and the NSAC commission set a cut-off of 30 days and emphasized that if Pacquiao refused to take the blood test the fight would have to be called off. Pacquiao reluctantly took the test and later said he had a headache and felt dizzy and attributed that to the extraction of blood too close to the fight which he lost on points.
It appears that Pacquiao’s original 30-day cut-off jibed with the requirements of the NSAC which has jurisdiction over the fights in Las Vegas and whose authority Pacquiao and his handlers want respected, which Mayweather, by demanding that the USADA undertake the tests refuses to do. Koncz pointed out that even when the chairman of the NSAC asked Pacquiao to take a urine test in the Philippines over which the Commission has no jurisdiction he took the test which was done by a doctor of the Philippine Olympic Committee, accredited by the World Anti Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee.
www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today, Viva Sports and boxingscene.com understand that the Mayweather handlers led by Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and Mayweather’s top adviser Al Hayman had tried to convince the fighter to agree to the 24-day blood test proposal which Pacquiao had agreed to and which medical experts had said was more than sufficient to detect any traces of performance enhancing drugs, but they were turned down by Mayweather resulting in the fight being called off.
Mayweather spurns compromise; Pacquiao to face different foe
The megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. won’t take place in March, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said Wednesday.
Mayweather refused to accept a compromise agreement struck during Tuesday’s marathon mediation session in Santa Monica, Calif., according to an anonymous source with knowledge of those talks. At issue was Pacquiao’s refusal to submit to random blood tests as part of prefight drug testing for the bout that had been tentatively scheduled for March 13.
Arum said he is still under a gag order from the mediator, retired judge Daniel Weinstein, regarding the situation. But Arum said he expects to announce today plans for a March 13 or 20 fight in Las Vegas between Pacquiao and WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman.
When asked if the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is indeed off, Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer said: ''I’m not going to confirm or deny anything. At this point, we have no comment.’’
The sides met with Weinstein for nine hours Tuesday but did not meet with him Wednesday.
Instead, the fighters were given the revised proposal, the contents of which remain unknown. Pacquiao apparently agreed to the deal, but Mayweather did not.
If Pacquiao fights Foreman, he would be going for an unprecedented eighth title in eight weight classes. Pacquiao fought at 147 pounds, the heaviest of his career, when he stopped Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in his most recent fight.
The loss of the March 13 date does not necessarily mean Pacquiao-Mayweather is dead forever. They could meet in the fall, perhaps in September.
In the meantime, Mayweather could take another tuneup fight for an eventual meeting with Pacquiao. It has been rumored Mayweather might keep the March 13 date at the MGM and fight Paulie Malignaggi. But Schaefer would not comment about that possibility.
Attempts to reach Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s co-manager, were unsuccessful Wednesday.
Tne possible reason the fight was scuttled is Pacquiao’s pending lawsuit against Mayweather. Pacquiao filed a defamation suit in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas last week against Mayweather, his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., his uncle Roger Mayweather, Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya and Schaefer.
Mayweather refused to accept a compromise agreement struck during Tuesday’s marathon mediation session in Santa Monica, Calif., according to an anonymous source with knowledge of those talks. At issue was Pacquiao’s refusal to submit to random blood tests as part of prefight drug testing for the bout that had been tentatively scheduled for March 13.
Arum said he is still under a gag order from the mediator, retired judge Daniel Weinstein, regarding the situation. But Arum said he expects to announce today plans for a March 13 or 20 fight in Las Vegas between Pacquiao and WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman.
When asked if the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is indeed off, Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer said: ''I’m not going to confirm or deny anything. At this point, we have no comment.’’
The sides met with Weinstein for nine hours Tuesday but did not meet with him Wednesday.
Instead, the fighters were given the revised proposal, the contents of which remain unknown. Pacquiao apparently agreed to the deal, but Mayweather did not.
If Pacquiao fights Foreman, he would be going for an unprecedented eighth title in eight weight classes. Pacquiao fought at 147 pounds, the heaviest of his career, when he stopped Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in his most recent fight.
The loss of the March 13 date does not necessarily mean Pacquiao-Mayweather is dead forever. They could meet in the fall, perhaps in September.
In the meantime, Mayweather could take another tuneup fight for an eventual meeting with Pacquiao. It has been rumored Mayweather might keep the March 13 date at the MGM and fight Paulie Malignaggi. But Schaefer would not comment about that possibility.
Attempts to reach Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s co-manager, were unsuccessful Wednesday.
Tne possible reason the fight was scuttled is Pacquiao’s pending lawsuit against Mayweather. Pacquiao filed a defamation suit in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas last week against Mayweather, his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., his uncle Roger Mayweather, Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya and Schaefer.
Olympic Tests Have Never Detected HGH in an Athlete: USADA Backs Urine
The biggest fight in the history of boxing is in danger of not happening because Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants his opponent Manny Pacquiao to agree to random Olympic-style blood tests.
The only problem is that these random blood tests have never—yes that's right—never found Human Growth Hormone in any Olympic athlete that has ever been tested.
Interesting, huh?
Mayweather somehow believes that if his opponent Pacquiao who has never failed a drug test, refuses to take a test that has never caught anyone, then this fight can't happen.
How does this make sense? It doesn't. No wait, maybe Mayweather knows something the rest of us don't...no wait, maybe Mayweather is just trying to avoid the best fighter he has ever met.
But hold on, it gets even better.
Mayweather's camp has somehow wrangled the alliance of Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, to try and spin this whole charade of events in their favor.
Tygart has told Yahoo Sports! that Pacquiao's resistance to submit to the blood tests "would provide a huge loophole for a cheater to step through and get away with cheating.”
Please explain yourself Mr. Tygart, how can a test that's never caught anybody possibly provide a "loophole" for a cheater to step through?
It seems like the test itself is a loophole.
And if you don't think this sequence of events can get even more interesting, it can.
Listen to this.
USADA announced last year that they were funding a company that has developed a test to detect HGH in urine. And Pacquiao, as everyone knows, has agreed to submit to as many random urine tests as the Mayweather camp would like.
Tygart even told USA Today last year that the developers, Ceres Nanosciences, "have developed an outstanding technology. And we're looking forward to helping them develop it further so it can have a practical use in anti-doping efforts."
Yesterday, Ceres Nanosciences launched the first release of that new technology, NanotrapTM ESP Particles.
These particles are designed to improve complex biofluid sample processing allowing for the detection of low-abundance proteins that would not otherwise be detected and also uses existing medical equipment.
What this means, simply, is that HGH use is now detectable through testing of urine samples and the breakthrough technology is officially ready to "Rock-and-Roll."
Now we'll find out if Mayweather is ready to do the same.
Pacquiao certainly is.*
The only problem is that these random blood tests have never—yes that's right—never found Human Growth Hormone in any Olympic athlete that has ever been tested.
Interesting, huh?
Mayweather somehow believes that if his opponent Pacquiao who has never failed a drug test, refuses to take a test that has never caught anyone, then this fight can't happen.
How does this make sense? It doesn't. No wait, maybe Mayweather knows something the rest of us don't...no wait, maybe Mayweather is just trying to avoid the best fighter he has ever met.
But hold on, it gets even better.
Mayweather's camp has somehow wrangled the alliance of Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, to try and spin this whole charade of events in their favor.
Tygart has told Yahoo Sports! that Pacquiao's resistance to submit to the blood tests "would provide a huge loophole for a cheater to step through and get away with cheating.”
Please explain yourself Mr. Tygart, how can a test that's never caught anybody possibly provide a "loophole" for a cheater to step through?
It seems like the test itself is a loophole.
And if you don't think this sequence of events can get even more interesting, it can.
Listen to this.
USADA announced last year that they were funding a company that has developed a test to detect HGH in urine. And Pacquiao, as everyone knows, has agreed to submit to as many random urine tests as the Mayweather camp would like.
Tygart even told USA Today last year that the developers, Ceres Nanosciences, "have developed an outstanding technology. And we're looking forward to helping them develop it further so it can have a practical use in anti-doping efforts."
Yesterday, Ceres Nanosciences launched the first release of that new technology, NanotrapTM ESP Particles.
These particles are designed to improve complex biofluid sample processing allowing for the detection of low-abundance proteins that would not otherwise be detected and also uses existing medical equipment.
What this means, simply, is that HGH use is now detectable through testing of urine samples and the breakthrough technology is officially ready to "Rock-and-Roll."
Now we'll find out if Mayweather is ready to do the same.
Pacquiao certainly is.*
De la Hoya ego bruised: Arum throws tantrum, 86'd from talks
Update: A phone call answered by Bubbly Bob Arum at 3:57 pm EST was brief.
"I can't talk," Arum said.
Then I heard that familiar clicking sound.
My train then pulled out of New Haven bound for Manhattan. Is the boxing train pulling out of the station without Mayweather versus Pacquiao?
I don't think so or they never would've come back for Round 2 of mediation.
But what do I know?
Warning: All contents below are R rated, the letter standing for rumors as they are flying fast and furious from the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao mediation in Santa Monica.
INJURY: Doctors are not sure yet what the extent of the damage is but a persistent rumor has it that bombastic Bob Arum, his former promoter, had the nerve, the audacity, the utter gall to yell across the table at Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya during Tuesday's session in front of former state judge Daniel Weinstein.
Word has it that, like a child throwing a temper tantrum, the 78-year-old head of Top Rank was ejected from the room and made to sit in a corner for a lengthy "time out." Other than a slightly bruised ego, Oscar appears to be fine according the guy who delivered the lunchtime sandwiches and coffee.
NO SUBSTITUTES: Both host MGM Grand and TV partner HBO are said to be turning a deaf ear -- no, make that two deaf ears -- to any chatter about Floyd fighting Paulie Malignaggi and Pacman fighting Yuri Foreman. Despite what I wrote this morning, I now am convinced that neither of the tune-ups, which could easily become tune outs, will happen before Floyd-Manny occurs (in May).
Arum has not talked to Foreman's crusty manager, Murray Wilson, in a few days and a source in the Philippines said that someone in Manny's inner orbit passed on word to the Foreman camp that he is not interested in fighting the rabbinical student due to a four or five inch heigh difference and Foreman's techbnical boxing style. Pacman is not looking to chase the WBA junior middleweight champ for a fight or during a fight.
Chasing Mayweather around the ring for $40 million makes more sense than chasing Foreman for 25 percent of that. So, despite Arum's barking, Pacman really has no viable foe for an interim bout.
If HBO chief Ross Greenburg has his way, with his powerful corporate checkbook, the next fight for Manny and Floyd is only against each other.
YESTERDAY I LIED, TODAY I AM TELLING THE TRUTH: Cutie pie Arum told me Tuesday night the opposing sides would not meet today (Wedneday). Guess what, he lied through his teetth as the camps are back in Weinstein's JAMS offices right now. Wedneday may be a make a deal or else situation and I say they make the deal, albeit for May rather than March.
MARCH OF TIME: Could they stick to March 13 with a 65 or so day window? At the box office, surely, because this will be an instant sellout and the ticket scalpers will go wild regarding the 18,000 or so seats at the MGM Grand Arena. March or May is likely a call that the MGM and HBO will make and that the promoters will bow to.
More to come as the rumor will works overtime...
"I can't talk," Arum said.
Then I heard that familiar clicking sound.
My train then pulled out of New Haven bound for Manhattan. Is the boxing train pulling out of the station without Mayweather versus Pacquiao?
I don't think so or they never would've come back for Round 2 of mediation.
But what do I know?
Warning: All contents below are R rated, the letter standing for rumors as they are flying fast and furious from the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao mediation in Santa Monica.
INJURY: Doctors are not sure yet what the extent of the damage is but a persistent rumor has it that bombastic Bob Arum, his former promoter, had the nerve, the audacity, the utter gall to yell across the table at Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya during Tuesday's session in front of former state judge Daniel Weinstein.
Word has it that, like a child throwing a temper tantrum, the 78-year-old head of Top Rank was ejected from the room and made to sit in a corner for a lengthy "time out." Other than a slightly bruised ego, Oscar appears to be fine according the guy who delivered the lunchtime sandwiches and coffee.
NO SUBSTITUTES: Both host MGM Grand and TV partner HBO are said to be turning a deaf ear -- no, make that two deaf ears -- to any chatter about Floyd fighting Paulie Malignaggi and Pacman fighting Yuri Foreman. Despite what I wrote this morning, I now am convinced that neither of the tune-ups, which could easily become tune outs, will happen before Floyd-Manny occurs (in May).
Arum has not talked to Foreman's crusty manager, Murray Wilson, in a few days and a source in the Philippines said that someone in Manny's inner orbit passed on word to the Foreman camp that he is not interested in fighting the rabbinical student due to a four or five inch heigh difference and Foreman's techbnical boxing style. Pacman is not looking to chase the WBA junior middleweight champ for a fight or during a fight.
Chasing Mayweather around the ring for $40 million makes more sense than chasing Foreman for 25 percent of that. So, despite Arum's barking, Pacman really has no viable foe for an interim bout.
If HBO chief Ross Greenburg has his way, with his powerful corporate checkbook, the next fight for Manny and Floyd is only against each other.
YESTERDAY I LIED, TODAY I AM TELLING THE TRUTH: Cutie pie Arum told me Tuesday night the opposing sides would not meet today (Wedneday). Guess what, he lied through his teetth as the camps are back in Weinstein's JAMS offices right now. Wedneday may be a make a deal or else situation and I say they make the deal, albeit for May rather than March.
MARCH OF TIME: Could they stick to March 13 with a 65 or so day window? At the box office, surely, because this will be an instant sellout and the ticket scalpers will go wild regarding the 18,000 or so seats at the MGM Grand Arena. March or May is likely a call that the MGM and HBO will make and that the promoters will bow to.
More to come as the rumor will works overtime...
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