Watch Philippine Television Online

Television in the Philippines

2010-11-27T02:54:00.000-08:00

About the Channels

The televisions are my presents to my relatives, friends, former schoolmates and former officemates who are outside the country.

These channels are the ff:

FAQ:
1. why is it buffering?
answer:
* your internet connection is slow.
* maybe the traffic.

2. why sometimes not showing?
* try refreshing.

3. why is it sometimes blurred?
*coz of low stream..

Roach: Pacquiao-Marquez will be at 147, No catch-weight!

2010-11-27T02:52:00.001-08:00

According to trainer Freddie Roach, any fighter who wants to face Manny Pacquiao from the junior welterweight division, or below, will have to move up the full welterweight limit of 147-pounds.

Roach will not agree to any catch-weight between 140 and 147. If Juan Manuel Marquez, Devon Alexander or Timothy Bradley want Pacquiao, they must agree to 147 or the fight won't happen.

"We would have to fight at 147, or else, those fights won't happen. I'm not going to let Manny fight below welterweight. It's 147, we found that when Manny can eat, he's comfortable and doesn't have to worry about making weight. Manny weighed in at [144.6] for his fight with Margarito, and I know that," Roach said.

"But I'm not going to have him struggle to make any weight. So he's going to fight at 147, that's now his natural weight, and that's where we're going to campaign at."

When sizing up the different alternatives to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roach still believes the best fight possible would come against Juan Manuel Marquez, who already faced Pacquiao twice in the past. Roach has several reasons for wanting Marquez over other options like Andre Berto and Shane Mosley.

"Because they have history between them. You know, they've fought twice, and they were close fights. They were very good fights for boxing and very competitive. Manny beat him and fought him to a draw, and Marquez knows Manny and knows what gives Manny trouble," Roach said.

"Marquez has proven that in two fights. Both fights went the distance. Marquez has been down four times in the two fights, but he's gotten up and made the fight. Marquez is a very durable guy and he's got an audience and a fan base behind him. So he's marketable."

Pacquiao's take: At least $20M - Arum

2010-11-26T16:53:00.000-08:00

On paper, before taxes and all the other deductions, Manny Pacquiao can get as much as $25 million for his recent fight against Antonio Margarito.

“It could be between $20 million to $25 million,” Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, told The STAR over the phone yesterday.

“But at least $20 million,” added the ageless promoter who should be as happy as his prized fighter.

In pesos, it would amount to close to a billion, which should be enough to buy a hundred F430 Ferraris.

Again, on paper, Pacquiao could earn close to $2 million or P86 million for each of the 12 rounds against the proud Mexican warrior.

That would also translate to $694,000 per minute or $11,574 per second. Or $52,742 for each of the 474 punches he landed on Margarito.

Pacquiao was guaranteed $15 million for the Nov. 13 fight at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas, just the same amount he got for his 2008 dream match with the legendary Oscar dela Hoya.

Pacquiao’s income for his most recent fight, however, got a big boost from the huge pay-per-view sales.

The other day, HBO released the official pay-per-view numbers for the explosive 12-round encounter for the vacant WBC super-welterweight crown.

The fight was beamed live to a total of 137 countries, and when the final tally came in it was 1.15 million PPV hits for a sales of $64 million.

It marked the third time that Pacquiao breached the one million mark in PPV sales, making him one of the most bankable figures in the sport. He did 1.25 million against Dela Hoya in 2008, and 1.20 million against Miguel Cotto last year.

More pro players for PHL cage team — Uichico

2010-11-25T05:58:00.001-08:00

Jong Uichico has been to two Asian Games — 1994 in Hiroshima and 2002 in Busan — as well as to the FIBA Asia Championship in 2007, as a member of the coaching staff and as head coach.

And the multi-titled PBA mentor has seen the trend of having professional players suiting up for major Asian basketball tournaments through the years.

“There’s nothing wrong in sending professional players to international tournaments," said Uichico. “We’re not the only one doing that. In fact, most countries do. Japan, China, Korea are countries which have their own professional leagues and they keep sending professional players to international tournaments."

“So, I don’t see any reason why PBA players won’t be joining our national team. Before, when they established the program for Smart Gilas, they (SBP officials) were saying they will represent the country in future international tournaments, but they keep on going back to the old process, which is tapping PBA players."

For Uichico, head coach of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the PBA, a young team like Smart Gilas will definitely need reinforcement.

Mayweather remains a candidate — Arum

2010-11-24T05:28:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao’s much-awaited ring return could be in May next year, according to the Filipino fighter’s Hall of Fame promoter.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum told fight scribe Michael Marley that while he hasn’t talked it over with Pacquiao and is only planning to do so when he visits the Philippines in mid-December, May looks like it.

Pacquiao is coming off a brutal win over the Mexican giant Antonio Margarito and immediately after the victory, he said he will take a break from boxing for the next six months so he could relax a bit.

Arum said several marquee names are on the list but Floyd Mayweather remains on top.

But owing to Mayweather’s legal troubles, Arum said he has several backup plans, naming Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez as candidates.

Mosley appears ot have the inside track since Arum had started talking with Mosley and his representative, James Prince.

As Arum was presiding over the Pacquiao-Margarito post-fight press conference at Cowboys Stadium in Arlingotn, Texas, last Nov. 13, Mosley was at the sidelines holding court with reporters.

Last Monday, Pacquiao said he prefers Mosley over Marquez because the promotion might lose money if he fights Marquez for the third time.

Arum plans to stage two Pacquiao fights next year.

DiBella to Arum: "Let's make Pacquiao-Martinez at 155"

2010-11-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

Promoter Lou DiBella has responded to the recent comments that were made by Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank.

During a recent interview with BoxingScene.com's Lem Satterfield, Arum said that he believed Manny Pacquiao would beat Sergio Martinez, but his fighter would be putting himself at a great disadvantage with respect to the difference in size and weight.

"Even if he beat Martinez, which I believe that he would, and even if he turns it into a fairly easy fight, because he's fighting someone who is a much bigger, stronger guy, he could get hurt like he did in there against Antonio Margarito. You can get him hurt once in a couple of years, but you can't keep getting him hurt every fight and expect him to continue fighting," Arum said.

Although Pacquiao's last fight took place at 154-pounds, he only weighed 144.6 at the final pre-fight weigh-in. According to DiBella, his side is willing to split the difference. Martinez, the WBC champion, would agree to a catch-weight of 155-pounds. The catch-weight for Pacquiao's last fight, with Margarito, was 150-pounds.

"If Bob feels that way, let's make the fight at 155. I know the fight won't happen next. Manny will have his fight. Sergio's next fight is going to be on HBO. Let's build the fight and make it happen next year. I think Sergio is the best fighter in the world. I know Pacquiao won't duck any challenge. We'll make the fight at 155, and frankly Sergio would have to kill himself to get there," Dibella said.

Pacquiao vs Berto: DiBella 'I'm all ears if Manny wants it'

2010-11-22T05:47:00.001-08:00

You can add WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto to the list of fighters eager to face the newly crowned WBC junior middleweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

That's what Berto's promoter Lou Dibella said just hours before his Saturday evening promotion between middleweight champ Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams in Atlantic City, NJ. Dibella's fighter Martinez eventually won by knockout in the second round.

"If [Top Rank CEO Bob Arum] is interested in a Pacquiao-Berto fight, I'm all ears," said the CEO of the New York-based promotional organization Dibella Entertainment.

"Generally when Bob and I talk, within an hour we can figure out if we can make a deal or not. Manny makes his own decisions. It’s not if Berto wants to fight Manny that makes the difference, it's whether Manny wants to fight Berto that makes the difference.

"If that’s what Manny wants to do, I’m all ears."

Berto, 26-0 (20 KO), of Winter Haven, FL joins a list that includes lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley. Any chance of these fighters getting in there with the eight division world titlist would be contingent upon Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. once again failing to come to terms for a third time.

Berto first must get past Freddy Hernandez, 29-1 (20 KO), next Saturday in Las Vegas, NV. Berto is heavily favored over Hernandez, whose biggest wins have come against badly diminished former champions Mike Anchondo and Demarcus Corley.

Mosley, 46-6 (39 KO), was on hand at the press conference to throw his hat into the ring as well. Mosley stated "Pacquiao has fought everybody except for me and Floyd,” adding “I see some openings [in Pacquiao] that I can exploit."

Dibella, a former HBO exec, scoffs at the idea that the 39-year-old Mosley, who registered a draw against Sergio Mora and a lopsided decision loss to Mayweather Jr. in his two most recent fights, can give Pacquiao a serious fight. And yes, he feels that his 27-year-old charge can.

"I personally think it’s more saleable because as big a name as Shane Mosley is, after what happened between Mosley and Mayweather, and also frankly after how Margarito looked against Pacquiao, I don’t think there are a lot of people that will think Mosley has a snowflake’s chance in hell.

"I think that Berto is new blood even though Pacquiao would be favored."

Dibella also mentioned Floyd Mayweather Jr. as another fighter Berto could face, though the possibility is slim considering that advisor Al Haymon represents both.

Dibella concedes that Pacquiao and Mayweather have the bargaining power in this fight. That won't stop him from making his intentions known, however.

"Clearly Floyd and Manny are the boss. They’re in the position that they dictate who they’re gonna fight, not the other way around. Am I gonna offend anybody? No, but is Berto going to make it very clear that he would love the opportunity to fight the very best? Yeah."

"Berto has been dealt a lot of unfair criticism, but I can tell you for a fact that he's willing to fight anyone. Who is there to fight at 147 if you’re not getting a shot at Pacquiao or Mayweather? It’s slim pickings. You have foreign champions that no one knows in the United States [Vyacheslav Senchenko and Jan Zaveck].

"No offense to Mike Jones, we’ll fight Mike Jones if someone wants to pay for it. But I don’t see a difference between Mike Jones and the other challengers like Freddy Hernandez. I had the [Jesus] Soto Karrass fight an even fight."

9 things never to say to a woman

2010-11-21T01:05:00.000-08:00

Women, it's difficult to understand them.

One moment they are so loving and coy that they make you feel like a giant grizzly, who should protect them from this big, bad world; and the next they are bored and spat venom at whatever you may say. But try to imagine a woman who would always do what you asked her to do, said the right things, loved you for whatever you are worth – wouldn't it be a tad boring?

Before you say 'no', I would like to remind you that you fell for the woman because of her fire, her nastiness, her love and of course, the passion she always displays. But to stay on her right side, you have to know what not to say to her ever. And she will love you forever.

1. May I kiss you?
You are a man who she is out on date with. By asking such a question you are putting yourself in jeopardy. A man should never 'ask' for a kiss as it goes against everything a woman is looking for in a man. You may as well just tell her right there that you are a boy. Eight times of out nine, she is likely to say 'no' – so why even say it in the first place? If you so want to kiss her, grab her and plant a passionate one on her lips and watch her expression – she is going to love you forever!

2. May I take you out on a date?
Women like men to lead, to be in control. When you say something like this, like the above number 1, you lead her to believe you want to follow her. She is not looking for a wimp – but a man to be in control. Ask her out, but in a confident manner, something like, “Hey let's meet up for some drinks tonight?” Be specific, not wishy-washy, tell her the venue and time. And also tell her you'd like her to be punctual. C'mon, there is no harm in coming across as no-nonsense. It might win you brownie points. At least she will open her eyes and look at you.

3. I have it all
Anything about your car, job or house that sounds like you are trying to impress her, should not be talked about. Do you know what kind of guys brag about their cars, jobs and houses to women? Well, the truth is a lot of different kinds of guys, but women put them all in one category: guys who have nothing else to offer. Ask any attractive woman about this and she'll agree. Sure, you may attract some women, but even those women will be far more impressed by your material possessions if you don't mention them in conversation

4. What do you want to do?
There is a saying that a woman likes a 'man with a plan' and it is absolutely true. When you call a woman to hang out, make sure you have a game plan. Don't put the burden on her or she won't see you as the type of guy who can show her a good time.

5. How do you feel about me?
The fact that she is willing to go out with you, is indication enough. Don't ask obvious questions. You not only sound under-confident but also come across as someone who needs constant reassurance. And this can be very tedious. So don't ask, just assume she likes you, and go from there. Why shouldn't she like you?

6. I called, but you didn't call me back
If she doesn't bring up the matter, don't say anything about the call you made which she didn't return or the message she didn't reply to. Think it never happened and proceed forward. By asking her this there are two things 1. Showing that you care that she didn't return it. And it's too early for you to care buddy; 2. Giving her a guilt trip, which women see as insecurity.

7. How many men have you dated before me?
How do you care how many men she has dated before you? As long as she is nice with you and you two are having fun, it is okay. Remember to give a relationship enough time before asking personal or intimate questions. By asking such questions, you may be sealing your own fate. What if she never calls you after this date? You wouldn't want that to happen. It is okay if she brings it up. But trust me, you don't want to be the one to start this conversation. You can only lose.

8. Let's go bowling tomorrow
This is date number one. You don't know about date number two. So don't even hint about it by saying 'Let's eat Thai food next time.' Stop, stop, stop, stop! While this sounds good in theory, you must remember that women not only want but need a guy who is somewhat of a “challenge.” You may want to do some fun activities together, but don't let her know that she has “won you over” too quickly or you'll come off just like every other guy she's gone out with that is ready to “put a ring on it” after date No. 1.

9. I know what we should do
While on the phone, avoid saying tomorrow or next time we'll go there' as you are killing any spontaneity by being predictable. Second, you are also killing any chances of her calling you, as she has to now wait for your call or risk looking desperate. Not good.

Pacquiao laughs off 'Afro-American challenge'

2010-11-20T14:54:00.000-08:00

Newly-crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao laughed off a report that he has long been eluding African-American fighters.

“Tayo naman ‘di tayo tanghalin na pound-for-pound king kung may pinipili tayong laban,” the 8-dvision world champion said in a press conference at the NAIA Terminal 2 on Saturday.

(I wouldn’t be chosen pound-for-pound king if I have been cherry picking my opponents).

Pacquiao issued his reaction after arriving from the US on Saturday following his conquest of Antonio Margarito of Mexico last Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

The Filipino boxing hero said he has never backed down from any challenge and is willing to fight anyone.

“Kahit sino, basta boksingero... [kahit si] Mosley, Mayweather (I’ll fight any boxer… even if it’s Shane Mosley or Floyd Mayweather Jr.),” said Pacquiao.

That my idol. I'm proud to be Pinoy.

10 do's and don'ts for a healthy skin

2010-11-19T06:10:00.000-08:00

Has your skin lost the shine? Here are the do's and don'ts to curb your complexion crimes.

1. Taking hot showers
We all love languishing in a steamy shower but hot water can damage delicate facial skin.

"If you're prone to redness the heat can weaken capillaries making redness worse so aim for a tepid temperature," the Daily Express quoted Shula Starkey, founder of Ark Skincare, as saying.

2. Stressing out
It's well known that stress has a negative effect on health but it adversely affects your skin too. Try yoga and deep breathing techniques and treat your skin to a destressing product.

"The stress hormone cortisol is your skin's worst ageing enemy and as we age levels rise.

"Avoid coffee and alcohol to relieve stress as it will only ramp up cortisol levels," said Starkey.

3. Rushing your cleansing routine
The new trend of cleansing in a hurry using packet wipes has many skin experts cringing.

"Inadequate cleansing can lead to bacteria build-up and skin break-outs," she said.

4. Dieting
Sticking to a strict low-fat diet can age and dull skin. Good fats are crucial for skin health, repair, moisture and flexibility.

"Essential fatty acids from oily fish, eggs, flax seeds, walnuts and dark green vegetables are particularly important," said dietician Tanya Haffner, spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association.

5. Eating sugary snacks
Too much sugar in the bloodstream widens your waistline and can result in wrinkles.

"Glycation is a process where sugar in the bloodstream reacts with collagen in the skin and changes its structure from springy and stretchy to hard and brittle and can lead to premature skin ageing," said nutritionist Melanie Flower (natural-healthcare).

The process is accelerated in people with poor insulin control but Melanie advises cutting back on sugar.

"Snacks containing protein are the best option when cravings strike, especially nuts and seeds because they contain skin-friendly oils."

6. Not wearing sun protection
If you slather on SPF protection only when the sun is shining you're not doing enough, dermatologist Dr Stefanie Williams (eudeloboutique) said.

She suggests using a broad-spectrum sun protection moisturiser with SPF 30-50 under make-up all year round.

7. Neglecting your neck
"You should care for your neck exactly as you do your face so apply all your facial skincare products from the hairline right down to the neck and décolletage," said Williams.

"Use an antioxidant serum under your sun protection moisturiser every day."

8. Not protecting against pollution
"Exposure to environmental pollution plus passive exposure to tobacco smoke can cause oxidative stress and damage to skin," said Williams.

"Pollutants can also make the skin more sensitive to the harmful effects of UV exposure."

9. Drinking too much
Alcohol dilates the capillaries and over time can lead to broken veins and flushing of the face, deplete the body of vitamin A, an important antioxidant for skin elasticity, and dehydrate leaving your skin more prone to wrinkling.

So drink water alongside alcohol and make sure you are getting enough daily fluid, advised Tanya Haffner.

"Six to eight glasses will give your skin the necessary moisture for a dewy look and help flush out toxins," she said.

If you are sipping cocktails on your night out forego the straw as the sucking effect encourages wrinkles to form round the mouth.

10. Not sleeping enough
Skin regenerates at night so make sure you get eight hours.

"Studies have shown lack of sleep can increase cortisol levels, which is associated with acceleration of the ageing process, reduced collagen production and increased collagen degradation," said Williams.

When you are asleep your skin is better able to absorb products so slather on a rich, soothing night cream with a calming aroma.

Pacquiao still willing to rumble after 8th title

2010-11-17T04:59:00.000-08:00

Despite scoring successive victories in the last 5 years, Manny Pacquiao remains hungry to win and still wants to fight.

“Ready tayo lumaban kahit sino man (I’m ready to fight anyone),” the new World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight king told ABS-CBN's Dyan Castillejo in Texas.

Pacquiao, heralded as Fighter of the Decade, pummeled Mexico’s Antonio Margarito for his 8th world title in front of thousands of spectators at the Cowboys Stadium over the weekend.

The Filipino champion has not been beaten since being outpointed by Mexican legend Erik Morales in 2005. He avenged his defeat and then scored a string of victories against the likes of David Diaz, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto en route to 8 title wins.

When asked to pick between American Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez for his next fight, the pound-for-pound king said: “Pangit naman kung pumili tayo ng kalaban. Kung sino man ang mag-close ng deal at readyng lumaban sa akin ay pagbibigyan natin.”

(It would not look good to pick opponents. Whoever closes the deal and whoever is ready to fight, I’ll fight.)

My idol does it again... Goodluck on your next fight..

Referee: I was very close to stopping Pacquiao-Margarito

2010-11-16T06:42:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday at Cowboys Stadium, Antonio Margarito took a vicious twelve round beating at the hands of Manny Pacquiao.

By the ninth round, Antonio Margarito's eyes were nearly swollen shut. As a result of the punishment, Margarito will be hospitalized at least until Wednesday with a broken right orbital bone that will require surgery to repair on Tuesday.

Some ringside observers have been very critical of Margarito's corner, and referee, Laurence Cole, for not stopping the fight. Most believe the fight should have been stopped around the eight or ninth round. Cole admits that he was very close to stopping the fight in the tenth and eleventh rounds, but every time he was looking for a reason to stop the fight - Margarito would fire back punches.

In my own opinion, the ref should have stopped the fight. The injury to his right eye would not have been severe....

Pacquiao’s record haul lifts Pinoy spirits

2010-11-15T06:36:00.000-08:00

"Manny made all of us proud by punishing Margarito with body punches and jabs to his face," Pedro de Jesus, a 62-year-old taxi driver told Reuters as he left a park in Manila’s slums after the bout.

"He was not only a great boxer but he was also a very humane fighter. He was asking the referee to stop the fight because he doesn’t want to hurt Margarito further."

"Go, Manny, go!" could be heard every time Pacquiao’s left hand connected to Margarito’s face, the crowd egging him to finish off the Mexican in the 11th round when his opponent, bloodied and face swollen, was no longer fighting back.

Stick to game plan, make it easy ---- Roach tells Pacquiao

2010-11-13T04:39:00.000-08:00

The fight’s going to be easy only if Manny Pacquiao sticks to the game plan. Freddie Roach is keeping his fingers crossed that Pacquiao does.

Because if he doesn’t, one can expect the unexpected on Saturday night at the Cowboys Stadium.

Roach said Friday he never told anyone that all Pacquiao needs to win this one is to show up on fight night.

“I said this is an easy fight for us if we stick to the game plan,” he told Pinoy scribes before a light, fun workout by Pacquiao in one of the giant exhibit halls of the Gaylord Texan Hotel here.

He continued by saying that with just hours separating Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito, the Filipino ring sensation has the blueprint to victory in his mind.

“He knows what to do in any situation,” said Roach.

Pacquiao: This won’t be my last fight

2010-11-11T22:10:00.000-08:00

MANNY Pacquiao’s fight against Antonio Margarito this Sunday at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas won’t be his last.

In an interview with Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, Pacquiao said he has "two to three fights" left, a statement bolstered by his promoter, Bob Arum, who said he’ll explore possible fights against Shane Mosley and Andre Berto or junior-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.

Freddie Roach, however, said that if Floyd Mayweather Jr. doesn’t come to the negotiating table next year, "I think this could be it."

"Where else do we have to go? Without Mayweather, there’s no challenge," Pugmire quoted Roach as saying.

Roach also scoffed at Mosley, saying the 39-year-old "needs to retire."

Mayweather is set to appear before a Las Vegas court January next year to face a criminal case that and Arum said he can’t arrange anything until they know what’s going to happen.

"I can’t put millions of dollars in the hands of a judge who may set a trial date in September," Arum said.

Pugmire said a legal source in Clark County (Nevada.) has told The Times it’s possible a Mayweather trial for domestic violence won’t even be conducted in 2011. That would allow a super-fight to proceed in the May-June window promoter Arum would like.

Pacquiao’s business manager, Michael Koncz, said he and Pacquiao will not start negotiations this time.

"It’s up to Mayweather," Koncz was quoted as saying. "He either wants the fight or not."

Koncz repeated an oft-suggested theory that Mayweather will not be interested in the fight because "his bragging rights about being unbeaten are more important than boxing. He wants to say he’s the best because he’s unbeaten. Twenty percent of people will believe him, and he’s content with that.

"He’s not going to take that fight until he sees a downside with Manny."

'Miller Time' sparks Kings' triumph over streaking Beermen

2010-05-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

'Miller Time' finally put an end to the longest winning streak in the PBA Fiesta Cup.

Willie Miller played his best game in a Barangay Ginebra uniform, scoring 26 big points and guiding the Kings to a rousing 104-90 victory over defending champion San Miguel Wednesday night before a huge crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.

The only guard to win the MVP title twice, Miller presided over a strong Barangay Ginebra start, and then bailed the team out of danger when the Beermen threatened for the last time coming home.

After Dondon Hontiveros put San Miguel to within 88-91 with a booming three-pointer inside the final five minutes, Miller strung up five straight points, including a quick-released three-point shot off a Mark Caguioa assist, that stretched the Ginebra lead to eight.

Milton Ambres then decided the outcome of the bruising game with another trey for a 99-88 count with 81 seconds left to play.

Acquired in a blockbuster, one-on-one trade with Alaska for Cyrus Baguio, Miller went 10-of-14 from the field and was 4-of-5 from three-point range. He also had eight assists.

"His teammates are always urging him on the offensive end, kaya sana nga mag-tuluy-tuloy na ito," said coach Jong Uichico in the post-game press conference.

Ginebra's eight win in 12 outings put back the league's crowd darling in solo third place.

The loss ended the nine-game winning run of the Beermen, who prior to the setback, last suffered defeat at the hands of Coca-Cola, 108-98, last March 28.

But the reigning champion remained on top with a 10-2 slate.

"We played the no.1 team, so it was really a hard-fought game. Good thing, we came up with a win tonight. Hopefully, we've gone over the hump," Uichico added.

Miller scored half of his total output in the opening half. His soft jumper following a behind-the-back dribble off Alex Cabagnot gave the Kings the first of their two 14-point leads in the second quarter, 60-46.

But the champion that they are, the Beermen bounced back in the third period, outscoring the Kings in the first six minutes of the second half, 19-4, to take the upperhand, 67-66.

The Kings, however, regained the lead at 78-77, entering the final quarter.

Ambres added 16 points, Eric Menk had 14 and Caguiao chipped in 12 as the Kings won for the third straight time.

Gabe Freeman, recipient of a flagrant foul courtesy of Enrico Villanueva in the third period, finished with 19 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Beermen, while Santos had 16, the last of which broke San Miguel's silence in the stretch run but not enough to turn the game around, 101-90, with less than a minute remaining.

Jay Washington, engaged in a jawing incident with Willie Wilson in the final 3:54, and Hontiveros each had 12 for the defending champion. - RCJ, GMANews.TV

Roach: Pacquiao Will Knock "No Legs" Mayweather Out

2010-05-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

source: Ruslan Chikov | boxingscene.com

The trainer of several past and present boxing champions is not going down the road of helping fighters involved in different combat sports.

Freddie Roach spoke with Golzka about helping U F C welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre with improving his ability to box. Roach's work with fighters like Manny Pacquiao and James Toney has attracted atheletes from other sports who want to improve their shape and fighting ability.

In the same interview, Roach was asked about a possible fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. In past interviews Roach was not confident about Pacquiao beating Mayweather by knockout. He saw changes to Mayweather in the victory over Shane Mosley. The issues he saw have changed his mind. He doesn't think Mayweather will see a decision.

"He slowed down a little. He used to be a faster fighter. He doesn't move like he used to. He fights more flat-footed. He changed his style [against Mosley] because he can't use his legs anymore....his legs are not there. Mosley hurt him in the second round but he couldn't finish [him]. I expected more [from Mosley]. Pacquiao is faster than Mayweather and he's a stronger fighter. I think Pacquiao will knock Floyd out," Roach said.

Wait is on for free agency, Lakers-Celtics finals

2010-05-21T05:54:00.000-07:00

source: The Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) – Doc Rivers knows his Boston Celtics aren't the NBA's biggest story right now.

Take a back seat, Celtics, despite being on the cusp of another trip to the NBA finals. Same for you, defending champ Lakers. The Magic and Suns, well, they're basketball afterthoughts right now as well.

Unless you're in Los Angeles, Boston, Orlando or Phoenix, the NBA's final four might almost be like a forgotten four.

Welcome to LeBron Watch 2010, simultaneously going on alongside D-Wade Watch, Bosh Watch ... oh, yeah, and sweeps month in the NBA playoffs. The calendar still says May, the finals start in June, yet with the Celtics and Lakers up 2-0 in the conference finals and three of the previous four series ending in sweeps, there seems to be more interest in waiting for the free-agency window to open.

"It's the biggest story I can remember since I've been in the league," said Rivers, the Celtics' coach.

Indeed, it overshadows all right now, and even NBA commissioner David Stern isn't downplaying the significance of what looms at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, when some of the game's biggest stars like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will have their cell phones ringing like mad with potential suitors on the other end of the line.

"It actually shows the importance, I guess, to the culture that that's a subject of some discussion that will continue to be heated as we head to July 1 and beyond," Stern said. "That just shows what a fixture the NBA has become, and that the comings and goings of our players have become stories unto themselves."

Not just stories.

They're the story.

"It's overshadowing world hunger and the oil spill and everything else," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said sarcastically. "It's the biggest story in the United States right now — where LeBron is going to play. You know, health care? Oil spill? But LeBron, we gotta know where he's going to play.

"I guess a lot of people must be very interested in it."

Face it, many of the playoff series so far haven't exactly been scintillating battles — half of the 12 series completed so far have ended in either four or five games. There's been only one Game 7, and the way things look right now, the conference finals could end fairly quickly on both coasts. If both end in sweeps, there would be a week off before the finals start.

And that's another problem: Fast-ending series have given some teams long breaks between rounds, lulls that just let all the storylines surrounding free agency pick up even more steam.

Celtics guard Ray Allen acknowledged free agency is a big story, adding "but we're here. This is what we're talking about now."

For his part, the commissioner also insists he's still fixated on the Lakers-Suns and Celtics-Magic series.

He and Allen might be in the minority.

In Ohio, Gov. Ted Strickland was part of a song written in James' honor and sung to the tune of "We Are the World," the lyrics begging the two-time MVP to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In Miami, a website the Heat put up about how to keep Wade in South Florida crashed hours after launch because it was getting 300 hits per second. In New York, it's almost like a LeBron-or-bust campaign is going on, with both the Knicks and Nets hoping.

"Come July 1, just about everything goes. Before July 1, nothing goes," Stern said. "I suppose if the governor wants to sing a song to the tune of 'We Are the World' or New York Magazine wants to do a cover with LeBron in a Knick uniform, the last time I looked, my jurisdiction had its limitations and it doesn't include those two instances. So it's kind of interesting and some fun. "

Two years ago, all the rage at this point in the conference final round was the potential for another Lakers-Celtics matchup in the finals, East vs. West, storied franchise vs. storied franchise.

It could happen again next month.

No buzz this year, at least, not yet.

No, the rage is all about James, who won't play another game that matters to the NBA for about 5 1/2 months. It's all about Wade, too, and whether he'll leave the Heat. And then there's Bosh, whose decision whether or not to stay with the Toronto Raptors may influence what James and Wade choose to do with their next contracts.

"Sports in general is politics, especially at the professional level," said Jared Dudley of the Phoenix Suns. "Brett Favre, is he playing or not? I think it's good for the NBA, them talking about that."

James is the biggest domino out there, of course.

"That guy is a franchise changer," Rivers said. "And if he decides to leave, it's going to change two franchises. If he decides to stay, it changes one or it continues one, so it's a huge story. ... It would be like if Michael Jordan had become a free agent and decided that he was going to leave. That story would have been just as crazy, so it deserves what it gets."

It's only going to get better — or worse, depending on perspective — in the coming days.

"I am seriously sick of talking about LeBron James — every little whim, dissecting everything he says," NBA legend and analyst Charles Barkley said on ESPN radio.

Get used to it, Chuck.

"The only thing that is worse," Van Gundy groaned, "is the lead-up to the NFL draft."

Some players who are still playing this season don't seem all that interested, either.

"We've got our hands full with what we're trying to do," Lakers guard Derek Fisher said. "And anything else would be a distraction for us."

James is dominating headlines almost everywhere, even with both conference finals going on without him. Wade, who has been in court in Miami for the past week because two ex-partners are suing him for $25 million in a failed restaurant deal, gets about as many questions at that courthouse about free agency than his legal issues. Bosh has surely picked up more Twitter followers in recent days, especially after he used his feed to ask the world if he should stay in Toronto or leave.

All attention is good attention, Rivers thinks.

"I've got to think it's good for our league overall," Rivers said. "When they're leading off talking about the NBA over the NFL on most nights, that's pretty good. And so I think it's probably good for us."

Pacquiao willing to take random dope test

2010-05-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

source: Nick Giongco | mb.com.ph

Here’s a piece of good news to Floyd Mayweather Jr. As part of efforts to agree on a November 13 fight, MannyPacquiao said he is amenable to undergo random drug and urine testing 14 days before the fight.

“As long as they’re not getting a large amount of blood, I am willing to give out blood as close to two weeks before the fight,” Pacquiao told the Bulletin late Wednesday night during a lull in shooting a Ginebra commercial in Makati.

Pacquiao said he will not hesitate to be tested provided that the amount to be taken would be minimal, noted the 31-year-old fighter, gesturing with his pointer and index fingers a measurement equivalent to a short syringe.

Pacquiao and Mayweather had agreed in principle to face off but a last-minute demand by Mayweather for Olympic-style testing did not augur well with Pacquiao’s handlers, saying they would not be bullied into accepting his seemingly-outlandish terms.

Pacquiao narrated the incident during the first fight with Erik Morales in March 2005 when a large amount was taken from him on the eve of the fight that he eventually lost by unanimous decision.

“I felt very weak after they got the blood,” said Pacquiao, motioning with his fingers once again the size of the syringe that was used in extracting blood from his arm.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao, has his schedule all figured out: Congress in the daytime and gym in the afternoon.

Pacquiao said he can handle the role of being fighter and lawmaker and that “time management” is the key to getting things done.

“I will attend sessions in the morning until afternoon then I go to the gym around 4 or 5 p.m.,” said Pacquiao, who will take his oath as congressman of Sarangani on June 30.

“I will stay in the country during training camp then with two weeks before the fight, I will fly to the US,” said Pacquiao, stressing that during his absence, his staff will assume his countless responsibilities.

As in previous training camps, there would still be the usual early-morning roadwork then gym work in the afternoon, according to the reigning World Boxing Organizationwelterweight king.

“Nothing’s going to change as far as my training is concerned even though I am now a congressman because I will carefully map out my schedule. I will still wake up early because I have to run in the morning.”

The past few days, Pacquiao has been busy consulting with his political advisers so he can easily adjust to his new role by July.

Next month, Pacquiao will leave for New York to personally receive the Fighter of the Year award – his third – that will be given out by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

“I am truly honored by this award that I am about to receive,” said Pacquiao, whose trophy chest also includes numerous plaques and trophies given by the Philippine Sportswriters Association, the oldest media organization in the country that carefully tracked the boxer’s rise to fame and fortune.

Congressman Pacquiao hopes to fight Mayweather

2010-05-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

By OLIVER TEVES, Associated Press Writer

MANILA, Philippines (AP)—Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring in November, that much is certain. Who the opponent will be is still very much undecided.

The welterweight champion and newly elected congressman was planning his victory party in the Philippines after his rival conceded the race on Wednesday, while promoter Bob Arum and his advisers were ready to begin the tough task of negotiating a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

It has the potential to be the most lucrative fight in boxing history.

“The people are requesting that I fight Mayweather before I retire,” Pacquiao told The Associated Press. “If I ever fight again, I think I will give in to the request of the people.”

Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s chief adviser, said no opponent has been selected, but that Nov. 6 and Nov. 13 have been set aside for the fight at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys are on the road Nov. 7 and Nov. 14.

“There is no named opponent yet, but that is certainly when we will fight,” Koncz said.

Discussions have not yet started with Mayweather or any other rival of Pacquiao, who won Monday’s vote in his southern Sarangani province. Among the other names that have been discussed are Antonio Margarito and the winner of a June 5 bout between Yuri Foreman and Miguel Cotto.

“If there are negotiations happening, it’s news to me,” Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions said this week. Schaefer is expected to negotiate on behalf of Mayweather.

Pacquiao said the decision to return to the ring was up to his mother, Dionisia.

“It’s OK now,” he said, “but just one fight.”

Anything less than a clash between Pacquiao and Mayweather is sure to disappoint fans. The two nearly came to terms earlier this year, even agreeing to split the payday 50-50, but the fight fell through when Pacquiao refused drug-testing conditions set by the Mayweather camp.

“If Mayweather wants to fight Manny, then no problem, provided he doesn’t try to bully us into terms and conditions,” Koncz said.

Mayweather has insisted that all of his opponents, beginning with his recent victory over Shane Mosley, will be required to undergo Olympic-style blood testing. Koncz said Pacquiao will fight under the rules of the commission of the state where the fight is held, which usually requires only urine tests in the weeks leading up to the bout.

Pacquiao believes that giving blood too close to a fight makes him weak.

According to Koncz, the “television date and the venue are the two most important things” in setting up a fight, even before an opponent is identified, as was the case when Pacquiao fought Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in March. Pacquiao won by an unanimous decision.

The 31-year-old Pacquiao spent most of Wednesday resting after a night of monitoring results from the congressional race that pitted him against businessman Roy Chiongbian, a 61-year-old scion of a politically powerful and wealthy family.

“Pacquiao is leading by a big margin and it looks like a landslide,” said Michael Abas, regional director for the Commission on Elections.

In a statement broadcast on radio stations in Sarangani on Wednesday, Chiongbian conceded to Pacquiao and congratulated the champion. Pacquiao plans to hold a victory celebration Saturday at a convention hall in a mall in southern General Santos City.

“I am very happy because of the trust that the people have bestowed on me,” Pacquiao said. “I will serve the people faithfully.”

“Pacman” was soundly defeated when he first ventured into politics in a run for the House of Representatives in 2007, but his worldwide profile has grown exponentially since then.

Campaigning last month, Pacquiao described his platform as “very simple, very basic.”

He said the first bills he will file in Congress will be to provide government-financed livelihood projects for farmers and fishermen and benefits for athletes, not just boxers, who have given honor to the country.

“He wants change,” his trainer, Freddie Roach, told AP this week. “It’s genuine. People see that he wants to help his country, and that’s why they’re voting. That’s why they support him.”

AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta in New York contributed to this report.

Rankings: Mayweather rises to the top

2010-05-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports

Now that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has dispatched of Shane Mosley and risen to the top of the May Yahoo! Sports rankings, attention once again has focused on getting Mayweather and Congressman-elect Manny Pacquiao into the ring with each other. And like the negotiations for an aborted March 13 bout, which began in November, both sides are saying all the right things.Despite the positive vibes coming from the early days of the talks in November, though, participants were soon at each other’s throats, lawsuits were filed and the bout wasn’t consummated.

A disagreement over Mayweather’s demand for “Olympic-style” random blood and urine testing ultimately torpedoed attempts to make the match the first time around.

Pacquiao went on to rout Joshua Clottey on March 13 to win the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt in front of a crowd of 51,000 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Mayweather blew out Mosley on May 1 in a match that drew an $11 million paid gate and which sold 1.4 million pay-per-view units.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum held a conference call with reporters on Wednesday in which he said he would not negotiate in the media but expressed optimism that a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather could be made.

“Manny is definitely going to fight in November,” Arum said, noting Nov. 13 as the likely date and the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and Cowboys Stadium as the likely venues. “It’s amazing how many people came up to me as I was leaving the Philippines and asked me, ‘When is the Mayweather fight going to happen?’ That’s the fight people want to see.

“That’s the fight that I’m going to do my darndest to make happen. I don’t want to discuss any of the issues involved in making that fight because we are going to be involved in negotiations and my first goal and Manny’s first goal is to make that fight happen. But we are not going to negotiate this thing in the press, because given the egos of all the camps, it would never happen.”

Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, who represented Mayweather in the talks last time and likely will do so again, made a pact with Arum in November to keep negotiations private.

Of course, it wasn’t long before Schaefer and Arum were bickering publicly and Golden Boy released a statement to the media in December that essentially killed the fight. Hopefully, both sides have learned from their mistakes the last time around, but I have my doubts.

There are many thorny issues that could again prevent the bout the world wants to see from happening. A compromise is needed on the drug testing issue and personality clashes between Arum and many on the Mayweather side, including Mayweather himself, made the prospect of reaching a deal dicey.

An even bigger issue looms, though, that may be insurmountable: The split of the money.

Mayweather made around $40 million for the Mosley fight. Pacquiao is a bigger attraction than Mosley, so he’ll demand, and require, a more substantial cut of the revenue.

Mayweather was guaranteed $22.5 million, so if he wound up making an even $40 million for the Mosley bout, he landed an additional $17.5 million in pay-per-view money.

HBO Pay-Per-View announced that the bout generated $78.3 million in pay-per-view revenue. So cut that in half, because the cable and satellite companies generally take 50 percent off the top, and now you’re working with $39.15 million to divvy up on the boxing side.

Subtract Mayweather’s $17.5 million from the $39.15 million and there is $21.5 million left. Expenses have to be paid out of that. Mosley, HBO and Golden Boy have to get their cuts out of that.

Of course, there are plenty of other revenue streams: Site fee, merchandise sales, foreign broadcast rights, replay rights, closed circuit, etc.

But a potential Mayweather-Pacquiao fight would have to do far, far better than the Mayweather-Mosley fight did in order to make it financially feasible. Count on the pay-per-view price rising from the $54.95 it was for Mayweather-Mosley (The $10 surgcharge for the high definition broadcast goes directly to the cable or satellite companies) to $59.95 or even $64.95.

Hopefully, Arum, Schaefer, Pacquiao advisor Michael Koncz, Mayweather advisor Al Haymon and Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe can work out a deal to make it happen.

It’s going to be more difficult than it looks, however. With that, let’s check out this month’s Top 10 as voted upon by an elite panel of boxing writers from around the world:

Mayweather

1. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Points: 317 (20 of 33 first-place votes)
Record: 41-0 (25 KOs)
Title: None
Last outing:: W12 over No. 9 Shane Mosley on May 1
Previous ranking:: 2
Up next: Perhaps late fall bout against No. 2 Manny Pacquiao
Analysis: Showed complete game in convincing win over Mosley.

Pacquiao

2. Manny Pacquiao
Points: 310 (13 of 33 first-place votes)
Record: 51-3-2 (38 KOs)
Title: WBO welterweight champion
Last outing:: W12 over Joshua Clottey on March 13
Previous ranking:: 1
Up next: Perhaps late fall bout vs. No. 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Analysis:Newly elected Filipino congressman may fight three more times.

Williams

3. Paul Williams
Points: 234
Record: 39-1 (27 KOs)
Title: None
Last outing:: TD4 over Kermit Cintron on May 8
Previous ranking:: 4
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis:Didn’t help cause for fight with Mayweather or Pacquiao with lackluster performance.

J.M. Marquez

4. Juan Manuel Marquez
Points: 159
Record: 50-5-1 (37 KOs)
Title: WBA, WBO lightweight champion
Last outing:: L12 to No. 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Sept. 19
Previous ranking:: 5
Up next: Vs. Juan Diaz on July 31 in Las Vegas
Analysis: Needs big win to reinvigorate his career.

Dawson

5. Chad Dawson
Points: 156
Record: 28-0 (17 KOs)
Title: Interim WBC light heavyweight champion
Last outing:: W12 over Glen Johnson on Nov. 7
Previous ranking:: 6
Up next: Vs. Jean Pascal on Aug. 14 in Montreal
Analysis: Hasn’t faced fighter younger than 39 in more than two years.

Martinez

6. Sergio Martinez
Points: 137
Record: 45-2-2 (24 KOs)
Title: WBC, WBO middleweight champion
Last outing:: W12 Kelly Pavlik on April 17
Previous ranking:: 8
Up next: May be in mix for bout against No. 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Analysis: Skilled boxer and entertaining fighter.

W. Klitschko

7. Wladimir Klitschko
Points: 92
Record: 54-3 (48 KOs)
Title: IBF, WBO heavyweight champion
Last outing:: TKO12 over Eddie Chambers on March 20
Previous ranking:: 7
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: In talks for bout with WBA champion David Haye.

Bradley

8. Timothy Bradley
Points: 70
Record: 25-0 (11 KOs)
Title: WBO super lightweight champion
Last outing:: W12 Lamont Peterson on Dec. 12
Previous ranking:: 10
Up next: July 17 vs. TBA in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Analysis: Solid all-around fighter in a tough division.

Mosley

9. Shane Mosley
Points: 51
Record: 46-6 (39 KOs)
Title: WBA welterweight champion
Last outing:: L12 to No. 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 1
Previous ranking:: 3
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Looked all of his 38 years vs. Mayweather.

Lopez

10. Juan Manuel Lopez
Points: 47
Record: 28-0 (25 KOs)
Title: WBO featherweight champion
Last outing:: TKO7 over Steven Luevano on Jan. 23
Previous ranking:: NR
Up next: vs. Bernabe Concepcion on July 10 in Puerto Rico
Analysis:Eyeing showdown with WBA featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa.

Others receiving votes: Vitali Klitschko, 42; Bernard Hopkins, 40; Ivan Calderon, 26; Lucian Bute, 22; Nonito Donaire, 19; Chris John, 13; Celestino Caballero, 12; Fernando Montiel, 11; Andre Ward, 11; Miguel Cotto, 10; Yuriorkis Gamboa, 10; Devon Alexander, 6; Israel Vazquez, 5; Andre Berto, 4; Tomasz Adamek, 4; Arthur Abraham, 3; Ponsaklek Wonjongkam, 2.

Voting panel: Raul Alzaga, Primera Hora; Ron Borges, Boston Herald; Steve Cofield, Yahoo! Sports; Dave Cokin, ESPN Radio 1100, Las Vegas; Andrew Eisele, About.com; Doug Fischer, Ring; Scott Fyfe, Sunday Post, Scotland; Thomas Gerbasi, Boxingscene.com; Carlos Gonzalez, Primera Hora; Lee Groves, BoxingScene.com; Thomas Hauser, Seconds Out.com; Keith Idec, Herald News, New Jersey; Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports; Max Kellerman, HBO; Scott Mallon, Boxing Digest; Rich Marotta, Fox Sports; David Mayo, Grand Rapids Press; Franklin McNeil, ESPN; Gunnar Meinhardt, Die Welt; Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News; Marty Mulcahey, MaxBoxing.com; Kieran Mulvaney, Reuters; Peter Owen Nelson, freelance; Brett Okamoto, Las Vegas Sun; Santos Perez, Miami Herald; Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports; Michael Rosenthal, Ring; Lem Satterfield, Fanhouse.com; Tim Smith, New York Daily News; T.K. Stewart, Boxingscene.com; Dave Weinberg, Press of Atlantic City; John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News; George Willis, New York Post.

Manny Pacquiao: The Perpetual Underdog

2010-04-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

source: Dennis "dSource" Guillermo | examiner.com

Funny as the notion might sound, truth be told, Manny Pacquiao will forever be an underdog until the day he walks away from the sport of boxing.

Despite his stature as the best pound for pound fighter and his record-breaking seventh world title in as many different weight classes, American media like HBO commentator Max Kellerman still hails Floyd Mayweather Jr. as 'the face of boxing'.

Never mind that he defeated bigger opponents and overcame odds when he upset the much bigger Oscar De la Hoya, annihilated Europe's best in Ricky Hatton, battered Puerto Rico's finest Miguel Cotto and shut out Joshua Clottey, there's always a way to discredit him.

Run the full gamut. I've heard it all. His opponent was shot, over trained, under trained, he had diarrhea, he was dehydrated, constipated, his opponent was a 'vagina'... everything!

But the lowest blow and the biggest stain that Pacquiao has had to sustain thus far, isn't even something he can prove inside the boxing ring- Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s steroids accusations.

See, Pacquiao isn't like majority of these fighters that got hyped before he actually accomplished much. He had to do things the hard way and defy odds and silence critics time and time again to get to the point where he's at right now.

And quickly as mainstream media and fans jumped on the Pacquiao bandwagon after his sensational performances when Mayweather took his hiatus, they jumped on him like ants over honey when the flimsy PED issue was raised against him.

Backed to a corner like a kid having to defend his lunch money, Pacquiao took low blows from former foes and the media alike. Don't get me wrong, some of them were in bounds. But the likes of Oscar De la Hoya who ripped him and Teddy Atlas who threw his reputation under the bus without presenting evidence, on top of the Mayweathers who repeatedly told their story to anybody willing to listen, remindedPacquiao and his fans that the reverie of a Filipino on top of the world of boxing won't be had without much exasperation. Several of his haters came out of the woodwork after months in hiding, finally finding new ammunition to shoot him with.

They must not have heard Roger Mayweather's story about bullets bouncing off Filipino soldiers' a$es who allegedly took the same substancePacquiao is on some 500 years ago.

As written by our astute colleague in New York, Michael Marley, the world will believe Tiger Woods regarding his denial of PED use, in fact, nobody is really talking about it despite Tiger having more inclinations with people involved with PED thanPacquiao. Why is that? I got my ideas. You tell me.

But despite all the chaos and controversy that surrounds him, Pacquiao placidly breezes through it all with grace and poise. He is after all used to the role of being the doubted, questioned and maligned underdog.

It's quite amusing really, seeing the lengths a man has gone to, through his hard work and dedication, only to be put into question by questionable characters. It's amusing to me because I have done much research. It may not be funny to somePacquiao fans and Filipinos, but really, I just laugh it off. It's almost like placing a straight up bet against an unknowing fan for a fighter that's actually a 20-1 favorite. We know the facts. So regardless if Pacquiao keeps getting his back pinned to the wall, we know the truth. And the truth is, Pacquiao will simply be the perpetual underdog in this American media driven world of ours. And you know what? That's not really such a bad thing. Everybody loves an underdog after all.

Shane Mosley vows to retire Floyd Mayweather

2010-04-08T05:23:00.000-07:00

source: Lem Satterfield | fanhouse.com

On May 1, at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, unbeaten Floyd "Money" Mayweather "is going to be the hardest fight that he has ever had in his life."

"Everybody else Floyd has been 135 pounds or at around 140. He's not fought any real 147 pounders, other than Oscar de la Hoya, who gave him a lot of trouble," said Shane Mosley, from his training camp in the mountains of Big Bear Lake, Calif., on Tuesday.

"Right now, my weight is great. I'm probably weighing around 152-ish when I leave the gym. I look at Floyd as a natural welterweight -- a real 147-pounder. In fact, Oscar de la Hoya is the biggest guy that he's fought that was a big welterweight, and Oscar did well against him," said Mosley, who will face Mayweather live on HBO pay per view.

"I'm pretty sure that Floyd will feel more power in this fight that he will have ever had to feel," said Mosley. "And if I can get that knockout, if I get that one shot, and if I can get him hurt, then I'm going to be all over him."

That's how confident the 38-year-old Mosley (46-5, 39 knockouts) was feeling about defending his WBA welterweight (147 pounds) title against the 33-year-old, unbeatenMayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) after having showered up following a morning workout just priot to shaking out with trainer, Naazim Richardson.

"I was 38-0 with 35 knockouts when I stepped into the ring and lost for the very first time, wo when you say 40-0, that doesn't mean a thing to me," said Mosley, referring to a January, 2006, unanimous decision to the late Vernon Forrest.

"All that it means is that I'll be the one giving him his first loss," said Mosley. "No disrespect, but I really don't think he's been in there with a fighter like me. I believe that when I beat Floyd, I will send him into retirement. May 1 will beMayweather's first loss."

Mosley has owned a home in Big Bear since 2000, and has trained there since 1996.

"I've been training in Big Bear, now, for the last 10 years, so this would be my spot. I've been sparring, I've been working with Brother Naazim on different things, strategies and stuff on how to approach the fight," said Mosley.

"I've been doing nine to 12 rounds. Usually, I can do 12 at the beginning of camp, because, basically, I'm always pretty much in shape. Today, I did a little bit of running, and I kind of shook out a little bit," said Mosley. "I had a pretty good session with Brother Naazim today for, like, hitting mits and stuff like that. I probably won't spar today. I don't spar everyday."

But when Mosley has sparred, lately, it has been with a versatile group such as 24-year-old, junior welterweight (140 pounds) Karl Dargan (7-0, three KOs), of Philadelphia.

Another goer has been 29-year-old Enrique Ornelas (29-6, 19 KOs), a durable fighter who has gone at middleweight (160 pounds), supermiddleweight (168 poounds), and, even at light heavyweight (175 pounds), and, whom Mosley calls, "a big body to punch on."

"We've got a couple of guys coming in there for speed. We're doing a couple of things, and we're getting him a few different looks. Dargan imitatesMayweather really well, but nobody actually fights like Mayweather. If they did, they'd be in their own camps getting ready to defend their belts," said Richardson, who also trains legendary middleweight and light heavyweight king, Bernard Hopkins.

"We're trying to get Shane in the best shape that we can, and if we get the best Shane Mosley, that should be enough to carry out our best plan," said Richardson. "Right now, I feel like Shane's really adopting what we're trying to get into, and he's so confident that I think we'll be in good shape."

Mosley believes that he is ready for anything that Mayweather has to offer.

"I expect him to expect him to fight in the center for a little while and to see what he can do with that, and I expect him to fight off of the ropes a little bit. I expect him to do whatever he can to try to disrupt and upset my rhythm," said Mosley.

"For a while, I think that we're both going to be playing the same game, but if I have an advantage of outboxing him, then I'll outbox him," said Mosley. "If I have an advantage of being stronger than him, then I'll use that. Whatever is at my advantage, I'll do."

Could Mosley's strategy involve being "a dictator" of the action, as he was against Margarito?

"Style-wise, Floyd just doesn't really like to engage in a fight until he's ready to engage. He has to be forced to engage in a real fight, which makes him different. Other fighters will try to engage and try to knock you out early and really fight you, where Floyd kind of boxes around, moves, touches, taps," said Mosley.

"Floyd is the type of fighter who, if he doesn't feel comfortable or confident, he's not going to fight you. So I have to be ready for that type of mentality that he has of touching and moving, touching and moving. I have to make it difficult for him to just touch and move," said Mosley. "So that's going to be one of the assignments is to make it harder for him to get his shots off so that he fights me a little bit. When he fights me, that will open him up for my speed and power."

A solid body attack could also be critical, said Mosley, adding, "But you just can't do one thing" against Mayweather.

"With Floyd, you have to focus on everything. You have to have a broad picture," said Mosley. "Maybe a couple of rounds, I'll focus on a body attack, and spend another round focusing just attacking. It will be a total package of things that I will want to do in there."

Not only will Mosley be fighting for only the third time in 30 months when he enters the ring against Mayweather, but he will also be ending a nearly 16 month ring absence since his last fight -- a January, 2009, ninth-round knockout victory which dethroned Antonio Margarito as WBA super world welterweight champion.

After losing his, November, 2007 bid for Miguel Cotto's WBA crown by 12-round, unanimous decision, Mosley rose to junior middleweight (154 pounds), where he stopped former world champion, Ricardo Mayorga, in the 12th round in September of 2008.

Still, Mosley contends that neither age, nor ring rust will be a factor against Mayweather, a man who, himself, will have fought once in 29 months -- September's lopsided, 12-round unanimous decision over Juan Manuel Marquez that ended a 21-month span between his December, 2007 10th-round stoppage of Ricky Hatton.

"Fortunately, I'm a guy who loves the boxing game and who loves to fight," said Mosley. "If I wasn't, then maybe the layoffs would have affected me if I wasn't into boxing the way that I am. I just like to train, and I just like to go tothe gym."

Having been scheduled to face WBC king, Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KOs), on Jan. 30 before the latter pulled out of the fight amid distress for his Hatian relatives who were killed in a mid-January earthquake that rocked that island nation, Mosley said he was never far from being in fighting condition.

"I prepared myself for the Berto fight. The only thing that I didn't get to do was to get into the ring and fight. But I did an entiretraining camp getting ready for Andre Berto, which was a tough fighter -- very fast and quick," said Mosley.

"It may be considered a layoff, maybe, because of the people outside didn't get a chance to see me fight, but I was in great shape," said Mosley. "I was in training camp shape. And before that, I fought Antonio Margarito, and that was a great training camp."

Among the aspects that assists with Mosley's motivation, he said, is the presence of his son, 19-year-old Shane Mosley Jr. A 6-foot-1, 19-year-old, Mosley Jr. is a budding amateur who competes at 152, and, could soon rise to 165.

"My son has been with me since before the Margarito fight, and I think that my son being in boxing kind of helps me stay around the gym more, training him, showing him different things. I just want to show him the ropes, and show him the way that a boxer is supposed to behave," said the elder Shane Mosley.

"It's all about the mentality, because I believe that boxing is from the mind, not so much, how fast and how strong you are, but where you are mentally and how you focus and the determination and the will," said Mosley. "It's how you get into certain positions, and why you're in those positions, and why you throw those shots, and why you move your feet that way, and why you move your feet this way, why you're ducking, and why don't lean back."

Shane Mosley Jr., said the father, often spars with the same fighters as dad.

"When he gets in there sparring, I'm in there sparring too, with the same guys I'm sparring with. So he's learning very fast," said the elder Mosley. "I mean, I started at around 8 years old, but the knowledge that I have with him just being here and me watching him, it's making him get better and better faster and faster. And after I finish my duties shocking the world, I'll go ahead and give all of this to my son."

The one man who could beat Floyd Mayweather

2010-04-07T14:55:00.000-07:00

source: Lorne Scoggins | examiner.com

To say Mayweather is a great fighter is an understatement. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a boxing genius. It makes absolutely no difference if you like him or not. It's the truth. Who else can avoid punches as effectively as Mayweather? He makes them miss, then he makes them pay.

His punching accuracy is nothing less than phenomenal. He doesn't take chances and you'll never see him willingly engage in a toe-to-toe slugfest. For the most part, his brilliance lies in his defensive mastery. He doesn't mind aggressive fighters and he doesn't mind backing up and waiting patiently for the right moment to strike.

If he's facing a boxer who is less aggressive, he lures them in—daring them to take a shot by dropping his left hand and leaning his head in their direction. Attempts to capitalize on the perceived opportunity are almost always futile. That dangling left hand can pop his opponent with a jab in the twinkling of an eye.

If you blink, you’ll have to wait for the replay.

It's not unusual for him to lay on the ropes and allow his opponent to land combinations for extended periods. Although this usually generates some excitement for those who are rooting for his foe, Mayweather's left shoulder and right glove absorb most of the punches.

While Shane Mosley will probably be Mayweather's greatest challenge since he's been a welterweight, many experts are dismissing Mosley's chances of winning.

Boxing Examiner, Michael Marley has said that Mosley has “zero chance” of winning. Floyd Mayweather will be chilling like villain in Shane Mosley ambush

While I can't agree that Mosley has no chance at all, I do agree that a Mosley win is unlikely.

If Mayweather does reign victorious over the number 3 ranked Pound for Pound fighter in the sport, is there anyone who can beat him?

Paul Tompkins of Bentonville said. “Mosley has a slight chance to beat Mayweather. But most likely, if there's anyone who can do it, it's Manny Pacquiao.”

Mayweather is no greater a defensive master than Pacquiao is an offensive genius.

Pacquiao's style is completely inimitable. I once heard someone say that no boxing trainer will ever say "Fight like Manny Pacquiao." Emmanuel Steward once commented that Manny’s style is a gift that can’t be taught.

One thing is certain; Mayweather has never stepped into the ring with anybody near the caliber of fighter as Manny Pacquiao. Will he ever?

Pacquiao is so unorthodox that boxers who have looked great against other opponents tend to look sloppy against him. He instinctively finds the holes in his opponents’ defenses. His ability to capitalize on the other guy’s mistakes is unparalleled. Most fighters look about 2/3s as good as they usually look when they face off with Pacquiao. Could he have this effect on Mayweather?

Pacquiao can land punches from virtually any and every angle imaginable. Mayweather has never had to contend with anyone with that ability.

Pacquiao throws relentless, blindingly quick combinations that seem to go on for days. He is an absolute buzz-saw—a Tasmanian devil that never tires. Mayweather wouldn't have the luxury to wait for Pacquiao to get tired.

In the event of another Mayweather victory on May 1, the world will find quickly find out if Mayweather really wants to fight Pacquiao. Does the self-proclaimed greatest Pound for Pound boxer really want to face the official Pound for Pound king?

There will be no long, drawn out negotiations. Pacquiao has already said that he doesn't need Mayweather and it's obvious that he'll be perfectly content to fight someone else.

If Mayweather wants to fight, he'll agree to drop the nonsense. If he's scared, he'll resume the random blood testing facade and Pacquiao will move on.

It's as simple as that.

LeBron James 'probably not playing' for USA this summer

2010-04-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

source: The Associated Press

CLEVELAND – LeBron James has a busy summer ahead. Maybe too busy to play basketball. Cleveland's superstar said Wednesday night that he's "probably not playing" for Team USA this summer in the world championships in Turkey.

James, who was a captain on the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the Beijing Games in 2008, is eligible for free agency after the season and is scheduled to film a movie.

His crammed itinerary may make it impossible to play for his country for the third time. James also was a member of the 2004 Olympic team in Athens — and choosing not to take part thissummer could jeopardize his chances of playing in London in 2012.

"I got a really, really, really, really, really busy summer," James said about an hour before tip-off against the Milwaukee Bucks. "I would love if I had the opportunity and the time to play to represent my country and go out there and do that. But there's a lot of things I need to take care of first."

So will he play?

"It's very, very shady right now," he said. "I'm probably not playing. There are a lot of decisions I need to make this summer before I decide to get back out on the court."

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said he won't worry about who is playing until July, when the Americans report to training camp. He was already aware that players such as James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh might be unavailable while dealing withfree agency.

However, Colangelo also warned that blowing off the world championships without a good reason and then playing in the Olympics wouldn't be allowed, just as it wasn't last time around.

"Same thing has to apply here," he said.

"If someone chooses not to play this summer just because he chooses not to play, there's no guarantee he'll be in London."

James was one of the few Americans to play all three summers from 2006-08, but Colangelo said there are "no free passes, regardless who it is." Colangelo said he hadn't heard from James, but doesn't need to right now.

"Why speculate now when it's still too early?" he said. "I don't even care at this point. I'll care when we get to July." - AP

Oscar looks for way out of Manny lawsuit

2010-03-31T06:15:00.001-07:00

source: Abac Cordero | philstar.com

Oscar dela Hoya is trying to wiggle out of the lawsuit filed by Manny Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Philboxing.com yesterday reported that New York-based lawyer Judd Burstein, who helped Pacquiao in his case against his ex-promoter, Murad Muhammad, in 2005, will make sure the Golden Boy does.

Burstein is seeking relief from Dela Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, and Richard Schaefer, the CEO. But it doesn’t mean that Burstein is also working for the dismissal of the case against Mayweather.

Pacquiao was accused by the Mayweathers, the boxer, his father and uncle, of using illegal performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), and the undefeated American called for a random blood-testing before he could agree to fight the Filipino icon.

But Pacquiao answered the accusations with a lawsuit that was filed by his lawyer, Dan Petrocelli, in Nevada last December, right after negotiations for the super-fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather officially broke down.

The reigning pound-for-pound champion filed charges of defamation against the Mayweathers, and included Dela Hoya and Schaefer in the lawsuit that may result to damages in excess of $5 million.

Burstein, according to the report, will try to get Dela Hoya and Schaefer out of the lawsuit, and that the statements made by the Golden Boy big bosses regarding Pacquiao’s alleged PEDs were just “opinions.”

And that they were “reasonable questions based on the facts that lead to suspicion that Pacquiao is using illegal PEDs.”

Burstein could be the man who can wiggle the Golden Boy out of the lawsuit. And he’s not new to boxing, having made previous representations for Don King, Lennox Lewis and Pacquiao, and non-boxing figures like Donald Trump and The Backstreet Boys.

The bitter dispute regarding the blood-testing prevented the super-fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather from happening. And unless they agree somewhere, the fight will never happen at all.

Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach, however, said the other day the fight may push through if Mayweather drops his demand for the blood-testing andPacquiao drops the lawsuit.

But Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, shot it down, saying it’s not going to happen.

Koncz spoke to The STAR the other day, and said the only way the lawsuit would go away is if Pacquiao is “compensated monetarily or the Mayweathers are punished by the court and asked to pay millions or if there’s an off-the-court settlement.”

“I’m sure Manny won’t change his position because we’re not spending thousands and thousands of dollars for the lawsuit just to use it as a bargaining chip for a fight. No way,” added Koncz.

“It was never our intention to file the lawsuit and use it later on as a bargaining chip for a fight,” he added.

“That’s ridiculous,” Koncz said.

Pacman: No tradeoff

2010-03-30T06:20:00.000-07:00

source: Abac Cordero | philstar.com

Manny Pacquiao will never use the lawsuit, which he filed against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and company as a bargaining chip for his highly-anticipated super-fight with the undefeated American.

“That was never the intention,” said Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, yesterday after reports came out that the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight could take place if both sides reach a compromise.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, was quoted the other day as saying the fight could happen if Mayweather drops his demand for random blood-testing, and Pacquiao drops the lawsuit.

The Filipino champion has beaten anybody thrown at him, at any weight over the last five years, prompting Mayweather to accuse Pacquiao as taking illegal performance enhancers.

Pacquiao hurled Mayweather to court, saying the accusations have damaged his reputation, and included Floyd Sr., the uncle, Roger, and his promoters from Golden Boy in thelawsuit.

But Pacquiao, said Koncz, has no plans of dropping the case just to get the fight on. Besides, Pacquiao said he’s ready to retire, and not unless he gets what he wants he may never ever fight Mayweather.

“It’s Floyd who needs me. I can retire now if I want to,” said Pacquiao.

“Why do we need to use the lawsuit as a bargaining chip? That’s ridiculous,” Koncz told The STAR from General Santos City where Pacquiao is busy campaigning for the May 10 elections.

“Manny’s reputation has been tarnished. And we just talked to our lawyers in Los Angeles the day before yesterday. It’s full steam ahead as far as the lawsuit is concerned,” said the Canadian adviser.

Koncz stressed that the only way the lawsuit would go away is if Pacquiao is “compensated monetarily or the Mayweathers are punished by the court and asked to pay millions or if there’s an off-the-court settlement.”

Koncz said not even a public apology from the Mayweathers and their promoters can clear the air.

“Manny has said time and again that the fight is going to happen only if Floyd Mayweather lets the commission do what it’s supposed to do,” said Koncz, referring to the old drug-testing procedure.

Pacquiao said it’s always been the commission that has done the testing, through urine tests and blood tests before and after the fight, but not too close to the fight, and it should be the same way.

The Filipino pound-for-pound champion said Mayweather’s demand for random blood testing, which could happen the day before or even closer to the fight, was the American’s only way out of the fight.

“I’m sure Manny won’t change his position because we’re not spending thousands and thousands of dollars for the lawsuit just to use it as a bargaining chip for a fight. No way,” added Koncz.

“It was never our intention to file the lawsuit and use it later on as a bargaining chip for a fight,” he added.

A Pacquiao vs Mayweather could generate revenues of more than $100 million and the fighters could earn $40 million to $50 million each on their purse, pay-per-view sales, television rights, merchandise and ticket sales.

However, many believe that Mayweather was not yet ready to face Pacquiao after a retirement that lasted almost two years. So, he fought Juan Manuel Marquez instead, and will climb the ring against Shane Mosley in May.

“The damage to his reputation and lost business opportunities could be in the tens of millions of dollars,” Pacquiao’s American lawyer, Dan Petrocelli, said in a previous interview.

Pacquiao filed the suit in a U.S. District Court in Nevada against the Mayweathers and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, alleging that they made false and defamatory statements accusing him of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Floyd-Shane winner can’t stop Pacquiao, says IBA champ

2010-03-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

source: abs-cbnnews.com

It doesn’t matter who wins between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley on May 1 as long as Manny Pacquiao keeps fighting, according to a world heavyweight champ.

James Toney, the reigning International Boxing Association (IBA) heavyweight titlist, said neither Mayweather nor Mosley would dare mess with the Filipino boxing star in his peak.

“They aren’t f--king with Pacquiao right now, man,” Toney told Percy Crawford of FightHype.com while referring to Mayweather and Mosley.

Mayweather and Mosley will be slugging it out on May 1 for the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title.

Toney, however, thinks the two pound-for-pound contenders are no better than World Boxing Organization (WBO) title holder Pacquiao.

“Pacquiao's on fire,” he said in the report posted on FightHype.com. “Mayweather gives angles but not the odd and awkward angles that Pacquiao gives. As far as work rate and activity, forget about it.”

Toney said Pacquiao’s edge over his opponents is the volume of punches he can throw in a fight.

“Combinations! That's something you see a lot of smaller guys getting away from, but Pacquiao throws a shit load of combinations, punches in bunches, and from all angles,” he said.

During his fight with Clottey, Pacquiao released 1,231 punches in 12 rounds and landed 246.

The Compubox numbers also cited that the Filipino outpunched Clottey by 832 punches

Manny Pacquiao Puts the Heat on Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

2010-03-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

source: bleacherreport.com

When word came down today from HBO that the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight did 700,000 buys, you could hear Leonard Ellerbe smashing furniture in his office in Las Vegas all over the country.

That's because there's no way his fighter Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will be able to demand a 65-35 split in a proposed fight with Manny Pacquiao in the fall without coming across as a chicken. And Floyd has already declared that that's what he will be looking for in any contract negotiations in the future.

Of course, that demand was predicated on Money's belief that he would crush Pac-Man in PPV buys this spring, something that is very debatable now.

Any fighter who can get 700,000 pay per view buys against a virtual no name like Josh Clottey is a big-time draw. An Oscar De La Hoya draw.

Mayweather's demand was also based on what he believes will be stellar numbers for his PPV showdown with Sugar Shane Mosley in May, something that I believe might not happen based on several factors.

Those factors are:

1. Mayweather's own lackluster performance against Juan Manuel Marquez last September. It was a real stinker.

2. Shane Mosley's less than stellar ability to put any fannies in the seats during his career. Sugar Shane only draws when he's matched with someone who draws.

3. The lack of any either fighter to excite some of boxing's core audience groups. Like any kind of entertainment boxing has certain age and ethnic groups who make up its core audience.

Neither Mayweather nor Mosley regularly bring in Latino, Asian, or English fans unless they are fighting Latino, Asian, or English fighters. Those are three very big audiences that will be MIA for their bout in May.

Mayweather better pull out all the stops in the upcoming 24/7 series. Because even with all its hype, Mayweather-Mosley will be lucky to edge out Pacquiao-Clottey in terms of PPV buys.

That will not be enough to make any great demands on Pacquiao's camp during negotiations.

Which means if Mayweather ends up demanding 65-35, he'll end up losing the battle with Pac-Man in most people's eyes. Even if the two fighters never square off in the ring.

Pacquiao: Mayweather needs to challenge me

2010-03-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

By HRVOJE HRANJSKI, Associated Press Writer

MANILA, Philippines (AP)—Manny Pacquiao is still open to fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr., but is waiting for the challenge to come from the other side and for promoters to iron out a spat over drug testing.

“I came this far in my boxing career without Mayweather, so I see no need to call him out,” Pacquiao told reporters Monday. “He needs me to bolster his career.

“I am open to him fighting me anytime he wants to.”

Pacquiao returned to thousands of cheering fans in Manila to celebrate his latest victory over Joshua Clottey in Dallas. He’ll now focus on a bid to enter politics, campaigning for a seat in the Philippines’ House of Representatives in the May 10 national elections.

Mayweather’s insistence on Olympic-style testing was the primary reason negotiations fell through in January for a megafight against Pacquiao. Mayweather wanted blood tests up to 14 days before the fight, while Pacquiao claims he feels weak after drawing blood and would not agree to testing within 24 days.

The negotiations quickly deteriorated, and Pacquiao signed to fight Clottey while Mayweather turned his attention to welterweight champion Shane Mosley.

Mayweather will face Mosley in Las Vegas on May 1 after both agreed to undergo an unlimited number of unannounced blood and urine tests before and after the fight.

“He should win against Mosley. If not, Mosley and I will fight,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao is now concentrating on the national elections. His 2007 campaign fell short, but this time Pacquiao said he is better prepared.

“I have prepared for my political plans even before I faced Clottey last week,” he said. “I am ready to campaign.”

The two-month campaign starts later this week. Apart from running for his own seat in southern Sarangani province, Pacquiao is also campaigning for presidential aspirant Manny Villar, a senator and the richest politician in the country.

Villar raised Pacquiao’s hand after welcoming him at a hotel Monday, before the boxer headed for a church service and a courtesy call in the presidential palace.

Asked if he plans to retire from boxing if he wins at the election, the 31-year-old Pacquiao said he was undecided.

“My own mother asked me to stop boxing. We’ll talk about it,” he said.

Roach Favors Adding Drug Testing but "There's no way in the world Floyd's going to run the show."

2010-03-23T05:51:00.000-07:00

source: Peter Czymbor | examiner.com

With Olympic style drug testing for the Shane Mosley - Floyd Mayweather May 1 welterweight title fight beginning this week, I thought I'd share a conversation with Manny Pacquiao trainer and Massachusett's native Freddie Roach on this subject that I had with him last month.

Of course, negotiations between his charge Pacquiao to fight Mayweather broke down over steroid testing talk. Mayweather, encouraged by steroid accusations towards Pacquiao from his father, demanded Olympic style drug testing. Pacquiao, apparently superstitious and afraid of needles declined the demand. No compromise was reached and no fight has not taken place between the two yet.

"Fighter's don't make the rules. Commissions make the rules and we go by commission rules only", Roach said, "There's no way in the world that Floyd's going to run the show. I'm not going to let that happen."

But what if boxing commissions move towards using more Olympic style drug testing? Right now, most commissions require urinalysis for drug testing and do not draw blood. Despite was Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum says, experts agree that blood testing is far more effective than urine testing when it comes to finding banned substances in someone's body.

"I would favor it", Roach said of Olympic style drug testing being implemented by boxing commissions, "I think it's good for the sport but I don't think theres a lot of steroids in boxing to be honest with you. Not like other sports like baseball and football that are much more contaminated I feel.

"The tests they have now are pretty accurate. The thing is they do a urine test before and after the fight. Blood and urine show the same thing. Clear and HGH can't be detected by any tests they have right now but I did hear that there might be a new test out there that can detect HGH."

Some people, like Roach, feel Mayweather is demanding these additional drug tests as a way to avoid fighting Pacquiao.

"I respect Floyd as a fighter", said Roach, "I don't respect that he's afraid to fight Pacquiao."

Nevertheless, it'll be interesting to see if Mayweather's influence evantually leads to more drug testing in boxing.

Storey with happy ending?

2010-03-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

source: Joaquin Henson | philstar.com

For Barangay Ginebra import Awvee Storey, life on the basketball court is like an unfolding tale that he hopes will have a happy ending.

In the PBA Fiesta Conference, Ginebra coach Joseph Uichico would like nothing more than a Storey-book championship finish.

“Awvee’s asset is his work ethic,” said Uichico. “He rebounds and defends. As for our team, we are all healthy at last, hoping to remain healthy. I’m not used to having these many bodies for quite a long time and am adjusting myself.”

Uichico referred to Mark Caguioa, Jay-Jay Helterbrand, Junthy Valenzuela and Eric Menk who’ve been in and out of the lineup because of injuries the last several conferences.

Aside from reactivating the often-injured stars, Uichico recently picked up Yancy de Ocampo and John Ferriols to bolster the Kings’ roster. Rudy Hatfield’s return next month will be another boost. However, working De Ocampo and Ferriols into Ginebra’s system may take some time, admitted Uichico, as “both of them just came in.”

But in a conference where imports take center stage, the focus of Uichico’s attention is Storey – just like it was Chris Alexander when Ginebra bagged the 2008 title and David Noel when the Kings took runner-up honors last season.

Storey, who turns 33 on April 18, played three years for Arizona State, the school that produced the likes of San Miguel team consultant Alton Lister, former PBA import Mario Bennett, Byron Scott, Lionel Hollins, Fat Lever and “Jumpin’” Joe Caldwell. A varsity teammate was Eddie House, newly acquitted by the New York Knicks.

Storey is the only import in town with NBA credentials. He has suited up for the New Jersey Nets, Washington Wizards and Milwaukee Bucks in three seasons, averaging 2.4 points in 60 total games. The 6-5 3/16 guard-forward from Chicago has played in leagues all over the world – in Germany, Korea, Venezuela, Australia, NBDL, CBA and USBL. What sets him apart from most globetrotting cagers is his college diploma – Storey earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies, majoring in communications and sociology, at Arizona State. In 2001, he worked for the Fox Sports network as a production department intern, preparing for a life after hoops.

At the moment, Storey is still doing what he does best – play the game that he loves with a passion.

At Arizona State, Storey gained a reputation as a bruising defender and a versatile scorer. “He’s a difficult cover for guys who are big because of his quickness and for guys who are smaller because he can take them inside and overpower them,” said his varsity coach Rob Evans. “He’s going to give you 15 to 18-foot range and he takes advantage of his abilities which are attacking the basket, rebounding and defending. He’s a tremendous talent. He’s strong, tough physically and mentally. He can get to the basket and create his own shot.”

When the Bucks signed up Storey, then-general manager Larry Harris described him as “a hard-nosed, aggressive player who brings depth to our roster at the guard and small forward positions – he’s an excellent athlete and a solid defender.”

As an Arizona State senior in 2001-02, Storey sat out three games because of bleeding behind a swollen retina but came back to score 29 points against University of Nevada at Las Vegas in his final collegiate game. In 85 career games at Arizona State, Storey posted 16 double-doubles.

Two tainted chapters in Storey’s basketball life involved a misdemeanor arrest and a punching incident at practice. In 2006, Storey and Washington teammate Gilbert Arenas were arrested for disobeying police orders at a riotous Memorial Day celebration of hip-hop music and urban beach culture in Miami Beach. Storey was arrested for blocking traffic in the middle of a street and got off the hook with a $250 donation to the local police assistance trust fund. He was one of 557 arrested during the festivities. That same year, Storey was suspended and eventually cut by Dakota in the NBDL for punching Lithuanian 7-2 teammate Martynas Andriuskevicius at practice. Andriuskevicius was hospitalized with a severe concussion, a minor fracture of the skull and a bruise on the left side of the brain.

A Storey facet is his never-say-die attitude, which fits right in with Ginebra’s philosophy.

When Storey red-shirted for Arizona State in 1998-99 after transferring from Illinois, he was extremely vocal about how the varsity team played in losing to New Orleans in the dugout. “He’s a potential leader, having directed a fierce dressing room tirade at his teammates after a loss to New Orleans – as a redshirt, no less,” reported Jeff Faraudo in the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. “No one challenged his right to do so.”

Before moving to the PBA, Storey played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian league. He played only nine games for the Breakers. Coach Andrej Lemanis said Storey “acted like a true professional” but was released because “things weren’t working out and we needed to make a change.”

In 2005, Storey led the Wonjun TG Sambo Xers to the Korean league championship. That’s the kind of finish Uichico is expecting from Storey in the PBA and if that happens, it’ll be the “Greatest Storey Ever Told.”

Pacquiao-Clottey: Largest Boxing Crowd in U.S. Not Featuring an American (Prelude to Mayweather?)

2010-03-21T01:40:00.000-07:00

source: Steve Lewis | boxingnews24.com

As already announced, the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey bout was the third largest indoor crowd for a U.S. boxing event, tallying a total of 50,994 spectators at the opulent Cowboys Stadium.

It is however, the largest indoor crowd for a U.S. boxing event NOT featuring an American fighter. The largest U.S. crowd, with 63,350 spectators, was the 1978 rematch between Americans Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome, while coming in second, at 59,995, was the 1993 controversial draw between American whiz Pernell “Sweetpea” Whitaker and Mexican icon, Julio Cesar Chavez, held at the Alamodome.

Who would have thought that a Filipino and a Ghanaian would draw the third largest crowd in Arlington, TX, during a time when boxing is trying to regain the level of popularity it once held? That Pacquiao drew close to 51,000 spectators against a relatively unknown commodity (though quite familiar to those of us who closely followboxing) is even the more astounding and a testament to the drawing power of Pacquiao.

It is too bad, given the backdrop, that only Pacquiao came to fight.

If the Pacquiao-Clottey fight was considered “boring,” and there are some fans out there that have characterized it as such, one can only imagine how things would have turned out ifPacquiao , the ever-moving whirlwind, were taken out of the equation and a counter-puncher or “defensive specialist” was inserted in his place instead. Sounds like the makings of “Must-See-TV.”

Perhaps Pacquiao-Clottey served as a preview of a potential Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather match-up? Of course, Mayweather would not be as stationary and would probably have his gears on reverse for the majority of the fight. At least you can expect more movement in that regard. And there would probably be more punches of the pitty-pat variety being thrown towardsPacquiao, which would be more than the occasional thunderous uppercuts thrown by Clottey.

As the Clottey fight demonstrated, you need some offense to score points and win rounds. Mayweather will need to throw some punches. AndPacquiao, as seen during the Miguel Cotto and Clottey fights, is willing to absorb punishment to get an opponent to engage with him. And if he was able to withstand firepower from both Cotto and Clottey, he should also be able to weather through a Mayweather patty-cake attack.

Pacquiao detractors will say, “If you can’t even put away a stationary target like Joshua Clottey, how are you even going to knock out a moving and shifting Floyd Mayweather?” Well, first of all, Clottey was not exactly opening himself up, and would not engage with Pacquiao. So if even bigger welterweights who have engaged a more aggressive Clottey cannot knock him out (and no one has), how is a smallerPacquiao suppose to do that to a non-engaging shell? If you have to commend Clottey for something, he made it difficult for Pacquiao to land a clean shot! And Clottey must have had iron ribs, because he sure took his fair licks to the body and did not wilt.

Which leads us back to Pacquiao-Mayweather: If Mayweather is too busy defending from a buzzsaw attack, and Pacquiao can withstand the counter-punches from Mayweather, can Mayweather garner enough points to beat Pacquiao? Some judges favor the busier, forward-moving aggressor over the defensive back-peddler who throws single counter pecks at a time, even if those single pecks are landing.

The Pacquiao detractors will once again chime in with, “Well, it worked for Juan Manuel Marquez, and Mayweather is of an even higher caliber than Marquez.” That’s why Marquez has zero wins to show for. And before people start arguing over subjective scoring, let us not confuse the Pacquiao at 130 with the Pacquiao at above 130. More weapons, improved defense, improved footwork, improved everything. Most people call that “development of skills.” Mayweather and Paulie Malignaggi call it “PEDs.” A newPacquiao was born after he left the super featherweight division, a division in which he won his first Fighter of the Year Award in 2006.

But will we even get to see Pacquiao-Mayweather later this fall, even assuming they get past the negotiations hurdle? Word has it that there is a rematch clause in the Mayweather-Shane Mosley deal. It is uncertain whether the clause can only be exercised by Mayweather, or if Mosley can exercise that option too. If both have that option, then a return match is very likely (unless the fighters allow the rematch to take place after the winner takes onPacquiao).

If the Nevada State Athletic Commission wants to avoid another negotiations impasse, then they should institute new rules regarding Olympic-style testing. As Pacquiao already stated, he is willing to abide by the NSAC’s rules, whatever they may be. But what he will not do is give in to baseless demands made by a reluctant opponent, one who apparently was OK with a 14-day testing window, when his primary concern was that PEDs can conceivably be used and flushed out of the system within a couple of days before fight night. How does the 14-day testing window really address his concern, if it wasn’t mere pretext and posturing in the first place?

With the cost of conducting Olympic-style testing, don’t count on the NSAC adopting it any time soon.

Why Pacquiao - Mayweather Is Important for Boxing

2010-03-20T18:05:00.000-07:00

source: Ryan Phillips | huffingtonpost.com

After watching Manny Pacquiao utterly dominate Joshua Clottey last Saturday, the sports world has turned it's attention to the future for the Filipino sensation.

Now that I've digested Pacquiao's performance - which more closely resembled a Class B Felony than a boxing match - I'm now convinced, more than ever, that he and Floyd Mayweather must enter the ring together sometime this fall. It just has to happen.

Right now, Mayweather is busy preparing for his May 1 bout with "Sugar" Shane Mosley, but he is never above discussing Pacquiao. If Mayweather bests Mosley - as virtually everyone agrees he will - the only fight of any magnitude left for either man is one that includes the other. Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach clearly want that fight, the sports world wants that fight and most importantly, boxing needs that fight.

Boxing currently lacks a wealth of marketable stars. A huge pay-per-view featuring its two biggest names and including an undercard stacked with a litany of young stars could expose the public to the best the sport has to offer. Plus, the matchup of "Money May" and "Pacman" is too irresistible not to happen.

The styles of the two fighters mesh perfectly. Mayweather has often been criticized for his tendency to run away and rely too much on his defensive ability and natural skill to out-point his opponents in decisions.Pacquiao on the other hand loves to fight. He takes the fight to his opponents and loves to brawl on the inside and push for knockouts. Pacquiao would force Mayweather to fight with him. He's fast enough that Floyd wouldn't be able to run away. On the other hand, Mayweather's incredible counter-punching ability would surely be the perfect antidote to Pacman's attacking style. It's almost too perfect.

A matchup of the two greatest fighters on the planet would be the biggest thing in boxing since Ali-Frazier I. It would also easily become the highest grossing fight in the history of the sport, would be watched by more people than any previous Pay-Per-View contest, make both men an enormous amount of money and quite possibly allowboxing to have the sporting event of the year for the first time in decades. The sport needs a pick-me-up and the matchup of two guys in their primes, who firmly sit among the top 25 fighters of all-time, would give the needed boost.

Unfortunately, to this point I'm not convinced Mayweather has any desire to step in the ring with Pacquiao. He tentatively agreed to the fight in December before he and his father began accusing Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs. His camp demanded Olympic-style testing of both fighters, with repeated, random blood tests despite the Nevada State Athletic Commission's already tough standards. Some feel Mayweather's camp was justified in its requests, others believe it was an excuse Floyd could use to get out of a fight he didn't really want. I'm firmly in the later camp.

When both sides met with a moderator to sort out their differences, Pacquiao's team gave considerable concessions on the drug testing front. They were willing to meet many of Mayweather's demands but Floyd wouldn't budge and the negotiations ended without a resolution.

Right now Pacquiao is the best fighter on the planet. He has emerged from the South Pacific like a typhoon to take the sport by storm over the past decade. He has wreaked havoc on the best boxing has had to offer, consistently fighting the biggest names available to him. I believe he sits among the top 10 men to ever put on gloves and enter a ring. If he were to beat Mayweather there is no doubt in my mind he would enter the top three, joining Henry Armstrong and Sugar Ray Robinson. For my money, Mayweather is currently in the top 25 of all-time, but a win over Pacquiao would put him firmly in the top 10 and assuredly make him the best of his generation.

I hope that type of motivation is enough for each man to put aside there differences and finally meet in the ring. Their fans, their critics, and their sport demand it.

After election, who's next for Manny?

2010-03-19T06:16:00.000-07:00

source: Dan Rafael | espn.go.com

Now that pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao has easily outpointed Joshua Clottey in a stunningly one-sided decision win on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium, he's headed back to the Philippines to run for congress.

The reason he insisted on fighting in March was so he would have enough time to campaign for the May 10 election, which he's apparently serious about.

"Now it is time for a more serious fight for me and that is my campaign for congress," Pacquiao said. "The people of my province are among the poorest. They have been underserved for too long. I want to give a voice to those too weak to speak. They deserve better schools and a higher standard of living. I know how my people have suffered because I have too. That is how I grew up and because I am one of the fortunate ones to have escaped poverty I am compelled to be a public servant for them. If my being in public office can attract new businesses to relocate to my province and to shine a light on the neglect my people have endured, I am only too happy to serve.

"One of the biggest advantages I have is that every fight is an opportunity to give honor to the Philippines. The Filipino people don't just give me their support, they also give me their strength, their pride and their love. Running for congress is a way for me to repay them."

Top Rank's Bob Arum anticipates Pacquiao's ring return in the fall, likely November, regardless of the outcome of the election.

So Arum is already looking ahead and thinking about possible fights for Pacquiao. Obviously, Pacquiao against the winner of the May 1 Shane Mosley-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight makes the most sense and is the most lucrative, by far. But Arum was quick to point out that if Mosley wins, it's an unlikely fight because Mayweather has a rematch clause in the contract.

"So any talk of Shane Mosley beating Mayweather and then fighting Manny is poppycock," Arum said, adding that he believed the rematch clause was "strong."

Of course, a Mayweather win would put the sides in the same position they were in a couple of months ago, when Pacquiao-Mayweather imploded over drug-testing procedures.

If Mayweather beats Mosley and there are again issues -- which you just know there would be -- Arum said he has three opponents in mind that he would give a shot at Pacquiao:

• Antonio Margarito, the disgraced former welterweight titlist who Arum anticipates will eventually get his license back after having it revoked for trying to fight Mosley with loaded hand wraps 14 months ago.

• Edwin Valero, the former lightweight titlist who is moving up to junior welterweight for his next fight. Valero, who has had licensing issues because of a past medical problem, is licensed in Texas, so maybe we'll see a return to Jerry Jones'Cowboys Stadium if that fight is made.

• Juan Manuel Marquez, the lightweight champ who would have to move up in weight. Marquez and Pacquiao have fought two memorable battles with Pacquiao going 1-0-1 in two terrific and close fights in which both decisions were highly controversial. If there is Pacquiao-Marquez III it would mean Top Rank would have to work with Golden Boy, Marquez's promoter, which is always a dicey proposition.

If you missed Pacquiao-Clottey, fought before a crowd of almost 51,000, HBO will replay the pay-per-view bout Saturday night (11 ET/PT).

The pay-per-view numbers aren't out yet because Arum and HBO PPV have totals from only the satellite services.

"All we have is the satellite numbers and they are very strong," Arum said. "We're not giving out any numbers yet because we have very little [information] from the cable systems, which you need. The cable numbers are very fragmented, so it could be a few days. But the number that you can't go any lower than is 650,000 for the fight. That is the worst it would do, but it should be a lot higher."

Cleveland Cavaliers clinch division title (video)

2010-03-18T05:29:00.001-07:00

source: The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) – LeBron James had 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers clinched their second straight outright Central Division championship and third in team history, beating Indiana 99-94 on Wednesday night.

Cleveland (54-15) is the first team this season to clinch its division.

After Cleveland's 18-point lead was cut to one, James had six points, two blocks, two steals and an assist in the final 4 minutes, including a nifty dunk behind his head after catching an alley-oop pass from Anderson Varejao. James fell a rebound and an assist shy of his second triple-double in two nights.

Troy Murphy had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Roy Hibbert had 20 points for the Pacers, who were without leading scorer Danny Granger. Granger, averaging 23.1 points a game, did not make the trip after spending the night in an Indianapolis hospital Tuesday. He took an inadvertent elbow to his upper right cheek inthe final minute Tuesday night against Charlotte. CT scans on his head and neck found no problems.

Coach Jim O'Brien is hopeful Granger can return quickly, particularly because Indiana's injury list is growing. T.J. Ford has missed the last three games with a sore groin, Tyler Hansbrough has missed two months with an inner ear infection, and Jeff Foster is out for the season following back surgery.

The Pacers have lost 13 of their last 17, including nine straight on the road.

Cavaliers vs. Pacers Highlights Video

James had 14 points and seven rebounds in the third quarter as Cleveland used a 16-2 run to start the second half to open a 66-50 lead. But the Pacers fought back, pulling within a point on a basket by Earl Watson with 4:52 left.

James refused to let the Pacers take the lead, blocking Brandon Rush's shot off the backboard on Indiana's next possession. James got A.J. Price with another block off the backboard inthe final minute to seal the victory.

Antawn Jamison had 17 points and nine rebounds, J.J. Hickson had 13 points and Anderson Varejao had 13 points for Cleveland.

Cleveland has won 16 of the last 18 meetings against the Pacers.

Pacquiao-Valero is what I want, not Margarito: says Roach

2010-03-17T05:45:00.000-07:00

source: Rick Reeno | boxingscene.com

BoxingScene.com spoke with trainer Freddie Roach about the possibility of Manny Pacquiao defending his WBO welterweight title against Antonio Margarito in November.

Roach is not even thinking about Margarito because the Mexican fighter has yet to obtain a license to box in the United States.

Last February, the California State Athletic Commission revoked Margarito's boxing license. Margarito was punished over an illegal substance being discovered in his handwraps moments before the fight with Shane Mosley on January 24.

Margarito is making a ring return on May 8 in Mexico. The former welterweight champion has the ability to request a new license, but there is no guarantee the California commission will grant his request. As an alternative to the problem, Roach was approached with the idea of holding the Pacquiao-Margarito fight in Mexico, which the trainer quickly shot down.

Roach views undefeated Edwin Valero as the best fight for Pacquiao in November. Valero is licensed to box in the state of Texas. If the fight is held in Cowboys Stadium, Roach believes the entire venue will be sold out. But, Valero has some issues of his own. In early 2009, Valero was busted in Texas for driving under the influence of alcohol. Because of the charge, he's been unable to obtain a visa to enter the United States. Roach is confident the visa issue will be cleared up.

"[Margarito] has no license. They said we could fight in Mexico but that's not going to happen. That would be a real bad move for MannyPacquiao - to slap the commissions in the face. I'm thinking about it and the number one contender in my mind right now is Valero, " Roach told BoxingScene.com.

"Valero is licensed in Texas. If we do Valero there, we could sell out the whole place. You don't have to close half of it down. I've been watching him a little bit. I know he's a big puncher. He's a southpaw and does pose some difficulties. He's better than just a guy who could punch but I think that's the best marketable fight out there for us."

I mentioned a few other possibilities like undefeated WBC/IBF 140-pound champion Devon Alexander and unbeaten WBO champion Timothy Bradley, who makes his HBO debut on June 26 - at welterweight. Once they become bigger names, Roach will consider them as opponents forPacquiao.

"Once they start selling tickets, and we could get them on pay-per-view and start making money - [then] we'll fight those guys," Roach said.

And of course there is the option of a trilogy fight with Juan Manuel Marquez - which is Freddie's personal favorite to take place.

"Personally, that's the fight I want. Nacho [Beristain] is a good trainer and we're competitive and I'd love for Manny to knock him [Marquez] out," Roach said.

All of the names previously mentioned are "Plan B" opponents. The immediate goal for Roach and Pacquiao is to fight the winner of Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Shane Mosley, taking place on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

SMB sends Custodio to SLR for Yeo

2010-03-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

San Miguel Beer continued to rebuild its aging lineup, acquiring Joseph Yeo from Sta. Lucia in exchange for Bonbon Custodio five days before the opening of the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen, who settled for third place after losing to the eventual champions Purefoods Giants in the recent Philippine Cup, have bolstered their backcourt rotation with Yeo’s acquisition, which came on the heels of an earlier trade deal involving Alex Cabagnot and Mike Cortez.

Yeo, a former La Salle standout, blossomed into a fine playmaker with Sta. Lucia after a forgettable stint with Coca-Cola in the 2006-07 campaign.

In his second season with Sta. Lucia last year, Yeo effectively played his off-the-bench role, winding up as the team’s second-best scorer behind Kelly Williams with a 13.5-point average.

He also normed 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in a remarkable season, prompting the team management to give him a three-year contract-extension worth the maximum pay allowed in the league.

Meanwhile, Custodio, a product of University of the East, is in his second year in the pro league, also playing the off-the-bench role creditably.

The only rookie in the star-studded, talent-laden Beermen squad last year, Custodio performed well to earn a spot on the All-Rookie selection by the PBA Press Corps. He played for San Miguel’s farm team in the PBL before being elevated to the pro ranks. He was the eighth pick in the 2008 annual draft. - www.philstar.com

Pacquiao pounds Clottey, calls out Mayweather

2010-03-15T01:42:00.001-07:00

By Kevin Iole

ARLINGTON, Texas – Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sees Manny Pacquiao as boxing’s version of Michael Irvin, the team’s Hall of Fame wide receiver, or perhaps Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.

Pacquiao certainly is the boxing equal of those legendary players, as he conclusively proved before a crowd of 50,994 on Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in a one-sided beatdown of a thoroughly outclassed Joshua Clottey.

Jones couldn’t rave enough about the Filipino superstar, who won every round on judge Duane Ford’s scorecard and won all but the third in the view of judges Nelson Vasquez and Levi Martinez. Yahoo! Sports also scored it a shutout, 120-108, for Pacquiao.

It was another magnificent performance in a string of them for Pacquiao, who fired an astronomical 1,231 punches at Clottey. Clottey kept his hands high in front of his face and rarely took a chance, fighting cautiously to avoid a knockout.

Pacquiao attacked Clottey’s body and dug hard hooks into his rib cage, occasionally making Clottey wince in pain.

“Part of the game plan was to go hard to the body and bring those hands down,” trainer Freddie Roach said.

Clottey wasn’t much of a challenge to Pacquiao, who was better in every phase of the game. Looming large over Pacquiao’s future, however, is the specter of unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.

And if Pacquiao is Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith, then Mayweather is, say, Jerry Rice and Walter Payton.

A Pacquiao-Mayweather bout would be a legitimate fight for the ages, a rare match that would be as even and compelling as any made in more than a quarter of a century.

Mayweather, who fights Shane Mosley on May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, could have and should have been Pacquiao’s opponent on Saturday instead of the stunningly passive Clottey. Because of an asinine dispute over a drug-testing regimen, however, what would have been the most lucrative fight in boxing history fizzled and failed to be made. Mayweather demanded random, Olympic-style blood and urine testing, which Mosley, an admitted steroids user, agreed to do. Pacquiao, though, declined to do it unless ordered by a state athletic commission and the dream fight fell apart.

If Mayweather holds up his end of the bargain, though, and wins against Mosley, neither Mayweather nor Pacquiao may have any other option but to fight each other. And that bout would pit a defensive genius with uncanny instincts and blazing-fast hands against an offensive savant who adds nuance to his game each time out.

It would have been ludicrous to compare Mayweather and Pacquiao circa 2005 because Mayweather would have won hands down.

Five years later, however, Pacquiao has more than closed the gap. He is at the very least Mayweather’s equal at this stage, and he’s as good defensively now as he is offensively. He has a complete arsenal of punches and has proven in wins over Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Clottey that he’s at no disadvantage when facing naturally bigger and, supposedly, stronger men.

Promoter Bob Arum signed Mayweather off the 1996 U.S. Olympic team and tried to develop him into the next Sugar Ray Leonard. Mayweather became every bit the fighter that Arum thought he would be, but the relationship between the two became incredibly bitter and the two now despise each other.

Don’t underestimate the significance that the hard feelings between the two will have on getting a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight being made. Arum, who called his willingness to negotiate the drug-testing terms in December a mistake, suggested that Pacquiao would be able to solve Mayweather’s defense.

“Manny will break down any defense because he throws a million punches,” Arum said. “He threw 1,200 tonight. If Mayweather doesn’t break out of the [defensive] shell, Manny would just pile up the points.

“Manny’s a buzzsaw. And when you’re in with a buzzsaw, it’s very, very difficult to do anything. Manny could always prevent Clottey from throwing his own. And he throws from so many different angles and with both hands, these unbelievable combinations, that you’re just defending yourself from getting knocked out.”

Mayweather is a far different, and far better, defensive fighter than Clottey. Clottey used the tortoise-shell defense on Saturday, where he held his arms in front of his chest and shoulders with his gloves protecting his face.

However, he was always straight in front of Pacquiao, who simply whipped hard hooks into his midsection, at one point making Clottey wince in agony and stumble back into the corner.

It won’t be so easy to get at Mayweather’s body, and not simply because Mayweather has a jab that he uses expertly to keep opponents at bay.

Mayweather is an expert at angles and blocks a lot of punches by using the shoulder roll, or using his shoulder to guard the vulnerable areas of his body.

“If we get that fight, I have no doubt in my mind that Manny would break through that defense by just pounding on his shoulder until it breaks,” Roach said.

Mayweather’s weakness has been against pressure fighters. The closest fight of his career was his first against Jose Luis Castillo in 2002. Castillo, who announced his retirement Saturday after a loss to Alfonso S. Gomez on the undercard, got in Mayweather’s face by pressuring him and forcing him back.

Pacquiao is an efficient pressure fighter and has the kind of sting on his punches that would bother Mayweather, should he land them.

“Manny Pacquiao is fast,” Clottey said. “He’s extremely fast. That’s the best thing about him, his speed.”

Mayweather has said he wants the fight and on Saturday, Pacquiao reiterated his desire to face Mayweather.

For a long time, as the public has begun to ask for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, Mayweather’s team has played a game of semantics and insisted that Pacquiao hadn’t called out Mayweather.

Of course it’s ridiculous and it’s taking advantage of someone who comes not only from a different culture but who has English as a second language.

Pacquiao, though, made it clear on Saturday that he wants to stand across from Mayweather the next time out.

“I want that fight, but it’s up to him,” Pacquiao said. “I’m ready to fight any time. Maybe if Mosley wins, I’ll fight him. Floyd’s style isn’t that difficult, though.”

There’s a long way to go before a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout could be realistically discussed. Mayweather, obviously, has to beat Mosley for talks to even begin.

Should it happen, it would not only become the richest fight in history, it would be one of the most intriguing, most closely matched bouts ever.

It’s an incredibly difficult fight to call and the difference between the men is slim. It’s hard to compare great stars like Smith and Payton, or Rice and Irvin, because they are all superb.

On Saturday, though, Pacquiao made a believer.

“Manny Pacquiao,” Clottey said after the fight, “is without a doubt the very best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”

Pacquiao rolls to another win in front of near-record crowd

2010-03-14T18:28:00.001-07:00

By Steve Cofield

Before the fight, Bob Arum called him a good loser and Freddie Roach said Joshua Clottey wasn't strong mentally. If we'd only listened to the guys closest to the situation before this supposed mega-fight. Instead over 50,000 at Cowboys Stadium and millions around the world watched Clottey play the role of heavy bag as Manny Pacquiao rolled to a near shutout victory. Pacquaio (51-3-2, 38 KOs) retained his WBO welterweight title in what had to be one of the most boring fights of his career via unanimous decision 120-108, 119-109 and 119-109.

Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs) is a defensive fighter who likes to counterpunch. But he was simply too passive throughout and was overwhelmed by Pacquiao's volume. Pacman threw 1231 punches while Clottey attempted just under 400. The crowd was silent for much of the middle of the fight. The 50,994 did get fired up in the final two rounds as Pacquiao pushed for a finish down the stretch.

Every time he came to the corner from sixth round on, Clottey's trainer Lenny DeJesus implored his fighter to pick it up. Clottey ignored him and chose the path of survival.

In the postfight, Arum again confirmed we were morons for buying the fight, "There was no way Clottey was going to beat this guy, even if he took off his gloves and fought him bare-fisted."

The Ghanaian landed just 108 shots the entire fight. Pacman matched that total in just body punches landed.

After the fight, things turned immediately to the fight that was supposed to happen between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Instead, Shane Mosley meets Mayweather on May 1. If Mayweather wins, Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said that's the fight his guy needs.

"It’s a fight the world wants to see. Me and Manny want to see it," said Roach. "I mean Floyd, let the commissions do their jobs. Let them run the rules. Get in the ring and fight us!"

The 50,994 was the third biggest crowd to view a fight in the United States just behind 63,350 for Muhammed Ali versus Leon Spinks at the Superdome in Sept. of 1978 and 59,995 for Julio Cesar Chavez against Pernell Whitaker at the Alamodome in 1993.

Promoter's anger at MGM/Mirage could keep Manny Pacquiao out of Las Vegas

2010-03-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

source: Lance Pugmire | latimes.com

The animosity that exists between Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s camp extends to MGM/Mirage, the company that operates the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

That arena will be dark Saturday night, when it could have been the site of Pacquiao's world welterweight title defense against Joshua Clottey.

In an interesting column Thursday by The Times' Bill Dwyre, Arum addressed his anger at Mayweather promoter Golden Boy Promotions and at MGM/Mirage, which has staged several of Oscar De La Hoya's bouts as a fighter and as a promoter, including the upcoming April 3 fight between Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. and the May 1 Mayweather-Shane Mosley bout.

In January, Arum said he extended MGM/Mirage the opportunity to host Pacquiao-Clottey, while Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones bid to do the same. During that period, Arum said he had a discouraging conversation with MGM/Mirage President Richard Sturm, while checking to see if Pacquiao could fight at the MGM Grand for a fourth consecutive time, after bouts against De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.

“They said the date’s booked,” Arum said, referring to a prior request filed to the Nevada State Athletic Commission by Golden Boy Chief Executive Richard Schaefer to keep the March 13 date open for Jones-Hopkins first, then Mayweather-Pacquiao.

"Golden Boy had told me at the time that they planned to bring in Mayweather versus another opponent -- [Paulie] Malignaggi at the time," Sturm toldThe Times on Thursday. "It's industry practice to honor whoever has the first hold on the date. Bob called me, I explained that situation, and the rest is history."

When Mayweather ultimately opted to fight Mosley May 1 at MGM Grand, the March 13 request was dropped.

The MGM explanation, as Arum said he interpreted it, was that the company had more loyalty to Golden Boy fighters than Arum’s.

Last week, at a lunch with The Times, Arum said this: “We’ll never have Manny fight at MGM again. Manny brings in more business to Las Vegas than any other boxer, more than anyone since [Mike] Tyson. Manny’s a boon to the gaming tables. A casino guy once told me, ‘Manny’s Frank Sinatra times 20.’ So MGM just [hurt] themselves, and all the other casinos in Vegas.”

Sturm said he hopes that's not true.

"We had no idea March 13 was going to open," Sturm said. "Had I known, I'd be more than excited to have Manny come back here, and I'd love to have him back."

Sturm said he plays no favorites among promoters.

"We don't book promoters; we book fights," he said. "Bob is entirely wrong to say there's anything more to our relationship with Golden Boy than that."

For now, however, Arum is talking of taking his business elsewhere.

After Dallas, Arum said he is going to stage light-middleweight world champion Yuri Foreman’s first title defense against ex-welterweight champ Miguel Cotto June 5 at the new Yankee Stadium, and he’s promising another Dallas show later this year, along with a spring 2011 event at the new Meadowlands in New Jersey.

On Thursday, Arum mildly softened his stance to say he'd "never say never" to another Pacquiao fight at the MGM Grand.

"But Pacquiao is disillusioned after the way they disrespected him," Arum said.

Sturm said he's willing to extend an olive branch.

"I wouldn't have a problem picking up the phone and expressing my interest in having Manny back here soon," Sturm said.

Pacquiao calm, confident in fight vs Clottey

2010-03-11T04:02:00.000-08:00

source: The Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas — Manny Pacquaio arrived at Cowboys Stadium on Wednesday in a bus covered with his likeness, the seats filled with members of his entourage.

He walked into the formal part of his appearance wearing a straw hat and a dark blazer. He quickly swapped the sports coat for a red jacket featuring his MP logo in golden thread.

He talked about his upcoming election for Congress in his homeland, the Philippines.

He talked about singing — rehearsing with his band the night before, with another session later Wednesday night, all in preparation for a performance at the after-party following his fight Saturday night.

Oh, yeah. The fight.

Billed as "The Event," Pacquiao is facing Joshua Clottey on Saturday night in boxing's debut at the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium.

It's an intriguing matchup perfect for a football stadium — Pacquiao's furious offense against Clottey's dedication to defense — and it'll look amazing on giant video boards towering over the ring.

A sellout crowd of 45,000 is expected, with the attendance possibly soaring if Cowboys owner Jerry Jones decides to sell standing-room-only tickets. And, of course, there's the pay-per-view audience that promoter Bob Arum said is likely to top the hoped-for total of 700,000.

Put the pieces together, and it all makes perfect sense: The WBO welterweight champion — already considered the best fighter in the world, pound for pound — is treating this entire week as one bigperformance, especially if he wins that election and decides to devote more time to politics than pugilism.

"I'm inspired to give a good show, to do my best," Pacquiao said, smiling. "To impress the people, you have to make your best (effort)."

Then trainer Freddie Roach jumped in, cranking up the hype.

"There's no stage big enough for Manny Pacquiao," Roach said. "He loves it, and I love it. He's going to perform for the crowd. He'll entertain all 45,000. He'll entertain everybody."

Roach said the adrenaline surge that's going to come from walking into the ring in these surroundings already has been factored into the game plan. That likely means even more punches from Pacquiao (50-3-2), who is already known for throwing plenty.

Then again, Clottey (35-3) is known for blocking punches. The 32-year-old Ghana native also has never been knocked out — he's been knocked down only once.

"Blocking punches doesn't win fights," Roach said. "I think we can stop him in the late rounds. The accumulation of punches he'll be taking in this fight he's never seen before. ... I don't think he'll be able to handle it."

Clottey is taller and with a longer reach. He's never been stopped cold, with his few losses including a disqualification in 1999 and a split decision to Miguel Cotto in his last bout, in June.

Clottey was given this opportunity against Pacquiao when the proposed megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell through. He's very appreciative for this opportunity and has nothing but nice things to say about Pacquiao.

It's Roach who rankles him, from the predicted result to talk of a head butt being one of Clottey's best punches.

Clottey's prediction?

"I'm predicting a win," he said.

Clottey's trainer is Lenny De Jesus, who spent a few years as Pacquiao's cutman. Clottey went with him after his preferred trainer was denied a visa.

Something else missing from his preparation: film sessions, at least not any featuring Pacquiao.

"I don't like doing that," Clottey said. "I know his style, I know the way he moves, the way he throws punches, so it doesn't matter.

"I study myself," he added. "I watch my own fights. I know what I have to do."

As for Pacquiao's future, Arum laughed off any chance that his ace would walk away at the top of his career. He said he keeps hearing about it from Roach, but never from Pacquiao.

All Pacquiao said about it Wednesday was, "I don't know." - AP

Pacquiao could put Cowboys Stadium on boxing's map

2010-03-10T14:34:00.000-08:00

source: The Associated Press

DALLAS – Take the best fighter going and put him in the fanciest new stadium. There's no telling what kind of bout it will produce.

But having Manny Pacquiao as the headliner for the first fight at the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium sure offers the kind of mystique promoters love.

"I have never had an experience where the venue has played such a paramount role in the promotion," said Bob Arum, who is putting on the fight along with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "It's helped us sell the tickets, helped us get the publicity. ... Whatever works."

About 41,000 tickets have been sold for the bout between Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey on Saturday night. A sellout would be around 45,000 — which isn't even half the capacity of this facility, the home of the NFL'sDallas Cowboys.

The ring will be on the star logo at the 50-yard line. The world's largest high-definition television screen will loom above, giving people in the worst seats a close-up look at every bead of sweat and drip of blood.

"This is going to be big time," Jones said Tuesday during a conference call with reporters. "I'm going to over-deliver what it means to (fans) to be involved in this stadium. ... That does enhance the competition, help the sport. You're not going to need any incentive to get these fighters to compete."

Having already hosted the NBA All-Star game, and with the Super Bowl coming in February 2011, Jones wants Cowboys Stadium to be a prime destination for boxing, too.

That's why it was so important for him to get Pacquiao for the debut.

"You don't want to deal with anything but the top," Jones said. "This says everything to have Manny Pacquiao and this competition. It says everything I want."

Kelly Pavlik, Miguel Cotto and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. are among the boxers Arum is bringing in for a ringside view. He expects them to go away eager to become the next headliners here.

Jones, meanwhile, hopes to pack the high-dollar seats with his running buddies — all sorts of current and former Cowboys greats, including former coach Jimmy Johnson.

"It's no accident there are going to be many football players here," Jones said. "There is a crossover of interest. That really excites me. I'm not trying to be presumptuous but we all know how popular the NFL is right now. That raises all boats. That's a big thing to me."

If Cowboys Stadium can land two or three big fights per year, as Jones hopes, that would put him in competition with Las Vegas.

But Jones again invoked the "rising tide" notion, believing that the popularity of fights at his building will generate "more interest and more visibility for fighting."

Arum agrees.

"I love Las Vegas, I live in Las Vegas," he said. "But the tickets are limited by the size of the arena and they generally go to the high-rolling casino customers. Here, the sales pitch is about the public. ... You cannot be a major sport if all your big events are in one city where people have to come from all over to attend the event.The Super Bowl wouldn't be as big, in my opinion, if it had to be held in the same city every year."

As for planning the next fight here, stay tuned.

"We want to get this one over first," Arum said. "Once we get this one over ... we'll sit down and plot the future." — AP

Clottey not predicting outcome of fight

2010-03-09T04:42:00.000-08:00

source: Tobia Xavier Lopez | star-telegram.com

GRAPEVINE -- Joshua Clottey quietly entered the Gaylord Texan exhibit hall Monday dressed in a black track suit and took a jog uninhibited by boxing fans.

Meanwhile, superstar Manny Pacquiao was scheduled to arrive late Monday night in a chartered airplane, custom-decorated with Pacquiao's likeness and holding 178 members of PacMan's traveling party.

The unassuming Clottey worked out for about 45 minutes then met the media in advance of Saturday's matchup against Pacquiao, the 147-pound division champion.

"The Event" offers Clottey a shot at Pacquiao's World Boxing Organization world welterweight title at Cowboys Stadium.

The right handed Clottey (35-3) said fighting the southpaw Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) presents an interesting matchup.

"I have a sharp right hand, a sharp right hand," Clottey said. "I can throw a sharp right from far, so that's always dangerous."

Pacquiao takes his turn in front of the cameras at 1:30 p.m. today in a workout open to the public at the Gaylord.

Clottey, a natural welterweight, said he's already at 148 pounds, which means he'll have no trouble making the 147-pound limit.

The Ghana-born Clottey didn't return the verbal jabs from Pacquiao's trainer, Freddy Roach, who predicted a knockout.

"I have no way of predicting the fight," Clottey said. "I know how it is in boxing and I always say let's see what happens."

Jerry's view

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took in Clottey's session and said reaching the Hispanic community with boxing and promoting the Cowboys offers a side benefit to the bout.

"We have all the incentive in the world to make this a great experience," Jones said. "But just as important, as Bob [Arum] pointed out, Tex Schramm told me not two days after I bought the Dallas Cowboys that the NFL cannot become a studio game. It needs the pageantry of the crowd. It needs the pageantry of the Coliseum of Rome. That can come across on television and there will be millions of people watching it on pay per view, but millions and millions watch it worldwide, so we want our stadium to help makethe event."

Arum says more for less

Promoter Bob Arum said the 45,000 seats allotted for the fight means a cheaper ticket for boxing fans. Tickets start at $50 and top out a $700 rather than the $1,200 for ringside in Las Vegas.

"I would swap a lesser gate to get more people," Bob Arum said. "Because to get more people and have people witness boxing live and in person only grows the sport. And if we go back to Vegas all the time and we put these fights before the casino customers, we're not expanding the base.

"We're not doing really anything to grow the sport. And it's as ludicrous as having the Super Bowl in the same city every year. The Super Bowl wouldn't be the Super Bowl if it was played in the same arena year in and year out. Boxing does itself no favors bringing every big fight to Las Vegas. That's no good for the sport."

4th Adgitize Payment

2010-03-08T05:52:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Clottey: Cowboys Stadium (video)

2010-03-07T01:37:00.000-08:00

Hear from Jerry Jones as he talks about the new stadium. Pacquiao vs. Clottey will be held at Cowboys Stadium, the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Watch the video below..

Pacquiao vs Clottey: Cowboys Stadium

Caught on tape: Mayweather punches Pacquiao t-shirt (video)

2010-03-06T03:17:00.000-08:00

source: Marv Dumon | examiner.com

With Floyd Mayweather, Jr's (40-0) hostile and light scuffle with Shane Mosley (46-5) in New York earlier this week, "Money" took his offensive combinations to Manny Pacquiao today at a Los Angeles press conference.

Courtesy of ESNews, and on the video's 1:17 mark, Mayweather was shown throwing several punches at a defenseless Pacquiao t-shirt for several seconds.

The Filipino Pacquiao (50-3-2), who is preparing for a tough fight against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey (35-3) may perhaps answer Floyd inside the ring later this year.

For now, Pacquiao is training hard for his March 13th bout with Clottey in Cowboys Stadium.

Ahh, but for now, talk is now mixed with physical action. At least on Mayweather's side.

Skip to 1:17 - Mayweather beats up Pacquiao (t-shirt)

The pre-fight contrast between the two could not be more starker. Last night, Pacquiao sang George Benson's "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live.'

Popular celebrity site TMZ recently snapped a video of "Money May" in New York amassing a pile of cash inside his tour bus in front of loud fans.

Continuing the theme of contrasts, Ghana-native was recently quoted that he liked Pacquiao because he was a nice person.

While this appears to be a genuine expression of mutual and friendly affection by the African, the principles of warfare mandate that you do not infuriate the enemy prior to battle. Why make an opponent angry?

From his actions, Floyd Mayweather does not believe in Sun Tzu's lesson. Should Pacquiao and Mayweather get inside the squared circle, one can only wonder how the Filipino boxer would attack his loud pugilistic opponent.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was caught on tape punching a Pacquiao t-shirt.

Clottey: “I Like Pacquiao, He Is So Nice!”

2010-03-05T19:27:00.000-08:00

source: Scoop Malinowski | boxinginsider.com

Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey are on extremely good terms as they gear up for their March 13 showdown in Dallas. The two gentleman champions haven’t said a bad word about each other during all the pre-fight hype.

I asked Clottey at his media workout in New York City on Thursday if there was anything he dislikes about his arch-rival?

“No, no. I don’t hold no grudge with any opponent. That’s how I am, I respect everybody I fight. I respect everybody here. That’s me. I know he’s a celebrity star – I don’t know anything about that. The only thing I know is I’m here and he’s here to take care of business. That’s what I expect. So Irespect everybody. I respect him so, so, so, so much. The only fighter that disrespect me that I disrespect back was Zab Judah. But I respect everybody. When I Corrales, he was so nice. After we punch each other in the body and the head we still have to be like brothers.”

Clottey is a good-hearted, well liked friendly character who always has time for fans and media alike. Clottey is similar to Shane Mosley, Arturo Gatti, Tito Trinidad, universally liked by just about everyone associated with the sport. I ask Clottey, Is it hard to fight someone like Pacquiao with full intensity that he personally likes and respects so much? You and Cotto were very respectful to each other also.

Clottey replies, “After the fight Cotto don’t like to mingle, he don’t like to talk to people. It seems like he don’t want to be your friend. But Pacquiao is so nice. He even asked me (at one of the press conferences), Did you see my last fight? I said, Which fight? (He said) The Cotto fight? I said Yes. (He said) I beat him up for you [laughter]. I like that guy. I like him. But I want to beat him. I want to be the winner.”

Manny Pacquiao gearing for last fight?

2010-03-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

source: Greg Beacham | The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The frantic ferocity of Manny Pacquiao's training camps at the stuffy Wild Card Gym clearly indicate he feels every fight could be his last.

This time around, Pacquiao knows he really might be done with boxing -- for a while at least.

Pacquiao is training in Hollywood for his March 13 fight against Joshua Clottey while simultaneously running for a congressional seat in his native Philippines. It's the latest move in his exhaustive quest apparently to become all things to all people in a homeland that already has embraced him as a boxing champion, a commercial pitchman, a movie star, a singer and its most famous person.

But if he beats Clottey on March 13 and then gets elected eight weeks later, as many expect, how can he balance a burgeoning political career with the months of intense training necessary for a former flyweight to survive bigger opponents such as Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya, and Clottey?

"I don't know, but I can still fight,'' the 31-year-old Pacquiao said Wednesday while getting his hands wrapped in a cramped back room. "Boxing is different than politics. Politics is more in service... I want to be a good public servant. I want to help people.''

Promoter Bob Arum understands the lure of public service after working as a lawyer in the Justice Department during the Kennedy administration, but Pacquiao's determination to join Congress at the height of his athletic career is perplexing to the man who shepherded Pacquiao from obscurity.

"I can't figure it out,'' Arum said. "I tried very lightly to dissuade him this time. I know people around him have tried also. He's determined to do it.''

If Pacquiao is elected this spring after his bout in Dallas, trainer Freddie Roach and Arum have come to terms with the possibility that the combination of Pacquiao's political responsibilities and his struggle to land a megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. could keep him out of the ring for a while – perhaps permanently.

"It could be our last fight, sure,'' Roach said. "I don't think it will, but it could definitely work out that way.''

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), generally considered the world's top pound-for-pound fighter, will meet Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs) at Cowboys Stadium in front of a huge crowd lured by Pacquiao's star power and reasonably priced tickets -- a bonus that particularly appeals to Pacquiao, who rose from abject poverty to the pinnacle of his sport.

Arum said Pacquiao feels deeply compelled to give back to his country for his good fortune. Even after giving away millions of his boxing winnings to charities, family, friends and strangers who stand outside his house in the Philippines waiting days to catch a glimpse of him, he seems to believe the best way is through elected office – even if many of his Filipino fans apparently disagree.

Mayweather: Don't touch me!

2010-03-03T04:25:00.000-08:00

source: espnstar.com

Bullish boxers Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley locked horns at their opening press conference.

In what may well have been a staged incident, the two fighters began to scuffle after Mosley put his hands on Mayweather when they posed for pictures head to head in Times Square, New York.

"Our noses touched," said Mayweather. "I don't like nothing but the ladies. I don't mind the trash talking but he grabbed my hands. I said, 'Don't put your hands on me.' I pushed him away."

Several members of both entourages were involved, with Mayweather's Lenny Ellerbe reported to have come off worst.

Once it was over, Mayweather focused on criticising Mosley for taking a position as vice president of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.

"He fought Oscar twice, now he works for Oscar," added Mayweather. "But only I make $40 million in 30 minutes. I gave 30 years of my life to my sport, to boxing.

"All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather. Oscar, Zab Judah and now Mosley ... they all get their biggest paydays against Mayweather."

The sellf-styled "Money man" (40-0 25 KO's) then ominously predicted he will be at his best when he faces Mosley in Las Vegas on May 1.

"Ever since I came back to the sport I said I only wanted to fight the best and Shane Mosley is one of the best," said Mayweather, 33, who beat Juan Manuel Marquez in his last fight in Sepetember.

"Not only does he have the skills, but he is also fast, strong and a very tough competitor.

"But his speed and power won't mean much that night against my will and determination to dominate him inside the square circle.

"When I compete against the best, I am always at my best; so on May 1 the fans will see one great performance."

Five-time champion Mosley (46-5 39 KO's) is desperate to claim a sixth belt and prove he is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world after having ruled the lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight divisions over his storied 16-year career.

"I have always wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather and now that dream is finally coming true," said 38-year-old Mosley.

"Floyd is excellent at what he does, but my past record of beating the best competition and other great champions shows that he is just another one of my opponents I intend to beat.

"He has never faced anyone like me before and I think that will be a big factor on May 1 when I plan to show him just what it means to meet a true champion in the ring."

2nd Neobux Payment

2010-03-02T04:19:00.001-08:00

Pacquiao vs. Clottey – A Breakdown

2010-03-01T03:54:00.000-08:00

source: Ryan Dunn | boxingnews24.com

Joshua Clottey is a bruiser. He’s a solid fighter with a tight stance, and a tendency to bull rush his opponents with intentions of body shots and uppercuts.

Sometimes this style yields opportunities to land his power shots, but other times it can set up his blind hooks that cause head butts. Don’t rule out an early cut as Clottey tries to prove his worth against the pound-for-pound king. If a surprise knockdown of Pacquiao is going to happen for Clottey, it’s going to be in the early rounds.

And for those who think Clottey fades late, I’ll say this: Clottey will continue to throw punches at the same rate and speed for all 12 rounds. However, his bulldog, high-gloved defense will grow a little lax as those mammoth arms get heavy.

Late in the Cotto fight he began to get tagged more frequently with left hooks as a result of arm fatigue.

Another point I wanted to make: Clottey is no chump. He steamrolled Diego Corrales, gave Miguel Cotto a run for his money, and while he couldn’t overpower the brick-fisted Antonio Margarito, he showed flashes of brilliance in the fight as well. Add to that list his impressive effort against Zab Judah, and a TKO of Jose Luis Cruz (something neither Sharmba Mitchell nor Shane Mosely managed to do), and you have a strongfighter with top-contender credentials.

He’s not the type of fighter you necessarily want to step in the ring against. He’s a strong, intimidating guy who looks like just about the last person you’d want to meet in a dark alleyway. He can hurt you with the uppercut, cut you with his bull-rushes, and wear you down with powerful body work. But as we’ve seen with other fighters, a ripped body with huge arms and shoulders doesn’t usually translate to unstoppable force or blazing handspeed. It’s often times just the opposite.

In Manny Pacquiao you have a more complete fighter. Before Freddie Roach got him into his gym, Manny was a one-dimensional, one-handed, but naturally gifted puncher. His repertoire seems to grow with every fight, as though a new weapon is honed and perfected with every bout he trains for. He has an unbelievable talent for putting torque on his punches from odd angles, creating opportunities for power punches when another fighter would simply be off balance and ineffective.

Roach has mentioned body punching will be a focal point of their training regime, but I have a feeling this fight will come down to Manny inciting a war, and finishing what he starts every single round. He will sap the willpower from Clottey bit by bit, until frustration leads to rash decisions like when Hatton fought Mayweather. This can lead to bad things, and I don’t see this fight being any different.

If Clottey is to stand a chance it will be on textbook counter punching. He can’t mess up or he’s going to get caught with Manny’s undetectablepower shots . He isn’t going to get to Manny first, and by the time he gets his shots off, his target will most likelt have moved on to his next combination. Clottey is a lunger, and with those broad shoulders he’s able to put power into those shots. But even that can be neutralized if Manny takes a step outside and times a counter to Joshua’s exposed chin.

Manny should also be training against the uppercut, which is Clottey’s stock and trade. But the thing about Clottey’s inside work is that it’s usually pretty telegraphed, and easy to time if you’ve got the handspeed. Look at the Margarito fight, where he would crouch, lean in, block a blow, then deliver his uppercut.

I don’t believe Pacquiao will fall for that move more than once or twice. In fact, it’s possible he might use that weapon against Clottey. With dedicated body work, Manny can bring Joshua’s gloves down, and set up his patented hooks (both fists now, mind you). It’s worth noting, also, that Clottey has fairly inadequate head movement, which is a terrible characteristic against a speedyfighter like Pacquiao.

Some have reported Manny’s been training in the orthodox stance in training camp. I wonder if this is to throw the rhythm of the fight off in case Pacquiao is unable to circle Clottey like he did Cotto. It doesn’t seem like a problem against Joshua, however, who (when he’s not lunging) tends to riff off his opponent and play the counter-shot game.

There’s one move that hasn’t been talked about much, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it put into play in Manny’s game plan, and that is the feint. It worked to put Marquez on the ground, and it could work against Clottey, who likes to set his feet and throw counters. Head feints always seem to work well against counter punchers, for obvious reasons.

I just think Manny has all of the weapons, all of the answers needed to assuage the onslaught from Clottey in the early rounds. Manny might take some punishment in order to suss out Clottey, the same way he did against Cotto, as a way to see what adjustments the Ghanan Grand Master might have made in training camp. But in the end he should be able to figure his opponent out and maintain productive rounds early on, with a high likelihood with a stoppage in the middle to late rounds.

Most of this sounds academic, and fairly obvious, but I say it because I think there is less subtlety between these two styles, and most of what I believe will happen is based on some fairly predictable behavior by Joshua, and some fairly reliable expectations of Manny.

If you watch a highlight reel of Clottey’s KO’s however, you will realize quickly that he has a strong punch. He has the strength to hurtPacquiao, about ten times more so than earlier fighters in Manny’s career like Barrera or Morales.

But in the end, as has been the case ever since Manny moved up in weight, speed kills. Many of these welterweights aren’t used to seeing hands as fast as Manny’s. I would argue that Manny’s hands are faster than Mosley’s, and he can throw combinations as effectively as Mayweather when he’s in his rhythm. If you read any review of Manny’s fights starting with David Diaz, you’ll see the familiar line: “the opponent never saw thepunches coming.” And it’s true, they don’t.

Also, if an opportunity to put Clottey away early presents itself, don’t expect Manny to hold back. He might say he’s looking to entertain the fans with a late round stoppage, but he takes whatever openings his opponents give him, as anyfighter should. Clottey’s never really been hurt in his fights, and with opponents like Cruz, Corrales, Cotto and Margarito, he’s been in the ring with his fair share of strong fists. Something tells me this fight will be different for Clottey. Worse for him.

I want to close this article with a note to the ongoing feud between Pacquiao and Mayweather fans. There is room in this sport for more than one great fighter. Let’s just agree that both of these guys are fantastic for their own reasons. You can put one or the other up against a bum and the bum could upset them. That’s what makes this sport so exciting. Mayweather has won all 40 of his professional fights with some of the slickest boxing the game has ever produced. Pacquiao has knocked out or outclassed some of the best fighters of our time, and continues to knock out opponents despite going into just about every fight the smaller guy.

The next fight up is Pacquiao vs. Clottey. Let’s all enjoy what this fight has to offer, two brawlers who love to go toe-to-toe and test their opponent’s mettle. And then come May, we can watch two of the fastest punchers in the sport trying to outsmart, outwit, and outlast one another inside the blue island they callthe ring.

Dallas buzzing ahead of Pacquiao’s arrival

2010-02-28T03:34:00.000-08:00

source: Nick Giongco | mb.com.ph

Despite the forecast of cold weather in the next two weeks, Dallas is going to be scorching hot with the arrival there of the stars of the March 13 show at Cowboys Stadium.

Expected to be there first is Ghanaian Joshua Clottey, who lands at Dallas-Fort Worth International from New York on a commercial flight this Sunday, a full day ahead of his Filipino foe Manny Pacquiao, who will be brought there by a private jet on March 9.

Top Rank, which is staging the event in partnership with Texas billionaire Jerry Jones, said Dallas is going to be buzzing with activity as soon as they get there with Clottey penciled for an open media workout at 1:30 p.m. on March 9.

Pacquiao will hold his own the following day at the same time.

A makeshift gym will be built at the basement of the Gaylord Texan so the two fighters can train there instead of driving for 30 minutes to reach the nearest gym.

The press conference for Pacquiao and Clottey will be held at the Cowboys Stadium on March 10, while the undercard fighters will have their day the following day at the Gaylord Texan, the official residence of the promotion.

The official weighin – always on the eve of the fight – will also be staged at the Cowboys Stadium at 5 p.m.

Pacquiao and Clottey will answer the opening bell at 10 p.m. (12 noon in the Philippines of March 14) before an expected sellout crowd of 40,000 and a worldwide TV audience. The first fight will be at 5 p.m. after the gates to thestadium start to receive fight fans an hour earlier.

Clottey is in the final phase of his training in Florida and is going to make a side trip to New York to fulfill some promotional obligations like the hosting of a workout for the Big Apple press at Kingsway Gym on March 4 before heading to Dallas.

Pacquiao is also hosting his own workout at the Wild Card on March 3.

Clottey trainer: Floyd dodged Pacquiao

2010-02-27T17:12:00.001-08:00

source: Jun Medina | manilatimes.net

Joshua Clottey trainer Lenny “The Locksmith” DeJesus believes that Floyd Mayweather Jr. deliberately dodged fighting Manny Pacquiao because of fear of being knocked out by the Pinoy power puncher.

DeJesus, 64, a veteran of 75 world title fights told American boxing writer Michael Marley that Mayweather used the disagreement over random blood testing as a way out from fighting Pacquiao, a devastating puncher who knocked out four bigger champions in succession.

“It’s two things with Mayweather,” DeJesus said from the Clottey training camp in Fort Lauderdale. “One thing is his precious undefeated record. Floyd doesn’t want to lose that.”

“Let me be blunt, I think he rejected a Manny fight because he wants to make sure he stays undefeated and because he’s worried that he could getknocked out.”

DeJesus asked: “If not for those worries, why wouldn’t Floyd take the fight and, whatever happens in the fight, he goes to the bank laughing with $40 million?”

Quoting heavyweight legend Joe Louis’ dictum, “you can run but you can’t hide, DeJesus said no matter the defensive skills of Mayweather, Pacquiao’s power would eventually find him and hurt him.

“Floyd could be jumping around like a jackal but somewhere in the fight he would feel Manny’s power and that’s what boxing is all about, hurting power. That’s the game of boxing,” DeJesus said.

He thinks that Mayweather, a champion in five different weight classes, must have had “an eerie feeling that Manny Pacquiao could take him out.”

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said in a separate interview that defensive fighters like Mayweather tend to be scared of strong and aggressive opponents for fear of being hurt.

Roach said Pacquiao has not lost any of his big fights, and his four most recent wins all ended in knockouts—David Diaz (ninth round), Oscar De La Hoya (eighth), Ricky Hatton (second) and Miguel Cotto (12th). These devastating wins, he added, probably instilled fear in Mayweather’s mind.

DeJesus observed that the mark of a great champion is not measured in never losing, but in coming back to win as the great fighters did—Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Wilfredo Gomez, who he worked with.

He said Team Clottey is thankful to Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach for taking the fight, adding in jest—for Mayweather not taking the fight.

DeJesus, who was Pacquiao’s cutman in six different fights in the past, said he is confident about Clottey’s chances in their March 13 welterweight title fight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

He said Team Clottey has a lot of respect for both Pacquiao and Roach and have trained very hard for the coming fight.

“But we’ll see in Dallas, at the end of the day, who’s done the better job of preparing his fighter, me or Freddie,” DeJesus said. “Joshua didn’t have that extra oomph he needed to beat Cotto but I was in a different role then.

Clottey plan: Attack early

2010-02-26T05:08:00.000-08:00

source: mb.com.ph

Joshua Clottey is going to fight Manny Pacquiao on March 13 as though a cab would be waiting outside Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

Speaking from his training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Thursday, Clottey said he will wage a war right away in the hope of catching the Filipino boxing icon flat-footed.

“I plan to go right at him. There’s no way he’s chasing me around,” said Clottey, the heavy underdog going into the 12-round World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight.

Guided by New York-based Puerto Rican Lenny De Jesus, who served as Pacquiao’s cutman from 2003 until 2005, the Ghanaian slugger bragged that he has the Filipino all figured out.

“I already know what he’s all about. He’s a great champion. This is a difficult fight. But I am going for the win right away as soon as the bell rings,” added Clottey.

According to Lee Samuels, the award-winning publicist for Top Rank, Clottey is breaking camp in Florida and returning to New York early next week in time for an open media workout at Kingsway Gym on March 4.

“After a couple of days, Team Clottey will depart for Dallas on March 7,” said Samuels.

Clottey has entered the fourth week of training in Florida and is said to be in tremendous shape.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao went 10 rounds during Tuesday’s sparring session at the Wild Card in Hollywood, shrugging off earlier complains of pain in his leg.

Pacquiao will wind up his preparation at the Wild Card on March 8, the day he and his team travel to Dallas on a private plane that Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum will send to Los Angeles to pick up the pound-for-pound king.

Before leaving for Texas, Pacquiao will once again appear on the popular late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live on March 3.

Joshua Clottey: 'I Won't Run, I Will Attack Manny Pacquiao'

2010-02-25T13:58:00.000-08:00

source: boxingscene.com

Challenger Joshua Clottey said he plans to charge and attack early when he takes on 'Fighter of the Decade' Manny Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13.

"I plan to go right at him. There's no way he's chasing me around the ring," Clottey said at his training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Clottey revealed he doesn't have a single boxing video of Pacquiao in camp.

"I already know what he's all about. He's a great champion. This is a difficult fight. But I am going for the win right away, as soon as the bell rings," Clottey said. "I know personally he talks about me all of the time and there is a lot of concern in his camp."

Pacquiao vs. Clottey is promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions and Tecate. Pacquiao vs. Clottey 'The Event' will be available on HBO Pay Per View.

Pacquiao wants Mayweather so badly, says Roach

2010-02-24T04:37:00.000-08:00

source: Mark Vester | boxingscene.com

Trainer Freddie Roach says WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao wants a piece of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the worst way.

Pacquiao wants to pay Floyd back for all of the comments the Mayweather clan had made that attacked his characted by connecting him to performance enhancing drugs.

"Manny is really upset about what Mayweather said about him. He tried to defame his character. I've never seen Manny dislike somebody before in my life. He shows me how he'd beat Mayweather. He immitates Mayweather. He knows what he's all about and Mayweather I don't see it he was great at one time but he's slipped alot. He struggled with Oscar. He struggled for 6 rounds with Ricky Hatton.Pacquiao destroyed both guys and didn't lose a second of either round, I just don't see it. ," Roach told the Leave it in The Ring Radio Show.

Roach told the radio hosts a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will happen, but only if Floyd drops his demand for Olympic style drug testing. Pacquiao has to beat Joshua Clottey on March 13. Mayweather has to beat Shane Mosley on May 1.

"He wants Mayweather so badly. They both have to win their fights of course. The thing is we're not gonna give Mayweather any edge at all though. He wants Olympic style drug testing, all this bulls**t. We're not gonna give him nothing because if you give him something he become bigger than the commision, bigger than the sport, it's like giving the first 2 rounds away," Roach said.

"We'll go by the Nevada Comission rules, by the sanctioning body rules and that's the rules we're gonna go by. If he doesn't want to fight us [under] those rules then he can go fight some girl."

Joshua Clottey: "I Will Wear Manny Pacquiao Down"

2010-02-23T06:59:00.000-08:00

source: Mark Vester | boxingscene.com

Former champion Joshua Clottey has no idea what all the fuss is about. He had a few setbacks against fighters like Carlos Baldomir, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. He doesn't think about those defeats.

He still views himself as an unbeaten fighter. Clottey tells Lem Satterfield of AOL FanHouse that he won't view a win over Pacquiao as an upset, but just another win in the bank. Clottey faces Pacquiao on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

"I've never left the ring feeling like I lost. I feel like I'm undefeated. If I win this fight against Manny Pacquiao, I will never feel like I beat the best fighter in the world," said Clottey. "I will feel like I had a fight with Manny Pacquiao, the best fighter out there, and I won," said Clottey. "So even if I beat Pacquaio, and people talk about it like it's a big upset, I'll say, 'It's not an upset, but a win.'"

Some people treat Manny Pacquiao like a super hero. Not Clottey. He sees him as just another fighter and plans to beat him as such.

"Manny Pacquiao is a human being, like everyone else. He's just a really good fighter who is out there now who is No. 1 now," said Clottey. "I don't know how he's coming to fight me, but I can tell you that I'm a different fighter altogether than anyone else that he's faced. I'm a really difficult fighter, you see."

Clottey understands what he brings to the table, and what Pacquiao brings to the table. Pacquiao has the big advantage in speed. Clottey plans to stay in there and work Pacquiao over to wear him down. He wants to punish the Filipino fighter enough to slow him down.

"Pacquiao is coming from a smaller weight to welterweight, and he's going to have an advantage in speed already because he's a smaller guy. I can't throw a lot of punches likePacquiao will do. But I will connect enough to make him slow down and wear down, and bring his speed down, " said Clottey.

Joshua Clottey: 'If I Beat Manny Pacquiao, It's Not An Upset'

2010-02-22T06:04:00.000-08:00

source: Lem Satterfield | boxing.fanhouse.com

A native of Ghana who is preparing for a March 13 challenge for the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown held by seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 knockouts) of the Bronx, N.Y., spoke to FanHouse recently from his sleeping quarters near his training facility at Fort Lauderdale's Contender Gym in Florida.

This is the first of four diaries for Clottey that will appear regularly on FanHouse as the 32-year-old Clottey enters the most lucrative and biggest fight of his career.

It's 8 p.m. on Thursday evening, Feb. 18. Joshua Clottey is sleeping. Or he was sleeping. Clottey was rustled into consciousness by the third of four calls from media specialist Ed Keenan, insisting that he had to do a telephone interview.

Speaking through a hoarse voice that struggles against his desire to return to slumber, Clottey says, "Okay, I have to do this, so let's go." Clottey knows by now what's coming, and he's growing more and more tired of hearing the same questions.

Questions such as those about Godwin Nii Dzanie Kotey, who was to work Clottey's corner for the first time were it not for visa problems that prevented him from coming to America. In place of Kotey is Lenny DeJesus, under whom Clottey's strategy has been worked out over the past three weeks at the Florida-based gym owned by former two-time world champion, John David Jackson.

"I went to Ghana to try get a visa for my trainer, and it didn't work out for Godwin Kotey. I think that was three weeks ago, and I've moved on. I'm training with Lenny DeJesus, we're training hard, and we're very happy," said Clottey.

"I can't tell you my strategy. I can't and will not tell you what I'm going to do to Manny Pacquiao," said Clottey. "But I'm coming to fight -- I will tell you that. This, I do know: Manny Pacquiao is not that different from anyone else that I've fought."

Pacquiao is, however, a southpaw who has gotten more-and-more powerful as his weight has risen, having gone 11-0, with eight knockouts since his last loss by unanimous decision to Erik Morales in March 2005 as a super featherweight (130pounds).

Pacquiao has stopped his past four opponents, David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and, Miguel Cotto, respectively, while weighing 134, 142, 138, and, 144 pounds.

The most notable southpaw Clottey has fought was Zab Judah, against whom Clottey won a dominant, technical decision.That bout, in August 2008, earned the IBF title for Clottey.

Cotto was coming off of June's split-decision victory over Clottey when Pacquiao dethroned him in the 12th round.

"Manny Pacquiao is a human being, like everyone else. He's just a really good fighter who is out there now who is No. 1 now," said Clottey. "I don't know how he's coming to fight me, but I can tell you that I'm a different fighter altogether than anyone else that he's faced. I'm a really difficult fighter, you see."

Clottey enjoys the fact that, unlike Cotto and De La Hoya, he will be allowed to fight at the 147-pound weight limit rather than being contracted by Pacquiao to fight at catch weights of 145 pounds like Cotto and De La Hoya.

"It is good for me to be at 147. I'm a very big welterweight, so it's not really easy to make 147. I'm going to be big," said Clottey, beginning to warm up. "But I'm going in there and taking it like, 'I'm just going to go in there and do my thing and make people happy.'"

Clottey said that he did not do that with Cotto, against whom he failed to cut off the ring and to take advantage of a fighter who, at times, appeared to be dazed by the challenger's punching power.

"Cotto is a very tough fighter. He had been beating guys and knocking guys out before I fought him. There are people who think that I got robbed. That's because I'm a big welterweight who doesn't necessarily throw a lot of punches, but I throw good punches that are going to connect," said Clottey.

"I felt like I threw more punches that connected well than Cotto did. You don't have to throw a thousand punches that miss a lot. I don't miss punches. I throw punches that land," said Clottey. "I don't throw punches that get blocked. I don't respect that. I want to connect good. After the fight, Cotto's face showed who won and who lost. That's the way I'm comingto fight Manny Pacquiao."

But will those punches be appreciated against a Manny Pacquiao, whose activity level alone could earn a momentum and favor with the crowd and the judges -- perceived or otherwise?

"Pacquiao is coming from a smaller weight to welterweight, and he's going to have an advantage in speed already because he's a smaller guy. I can't throw a lot of punches likePacquiao will do. But I will connect enough to make him slow down and wear down, and bring his speed down," said Clottey.

"I will also rely on my pressure. But I don't know what Pacquiao is coming to do, so I have to use my head. I don't know if he's planning to move around. But I'm not going to make him chase me. I will be right there," said Clottey. "I want to make this fight so exciting that the fans will have something to talk about. I don't run. I'll keep coming. I'll be there."

Clottey's three losses were to former world champions Carlos Baldomir, Antonio Margarito and Cotto. Clottey led against Baldomir when he was disqualified for head-butting, and was also in front against Margarito before havingto fight the final eight rounds with injuries to both hands.

"I've never left the ring feeling like I lost. I feel like I'm undefeated. If I win this fight against Manny Pacquiao, I will never feel like I beat the best fighter in the world," said Clottey.

"I will feel like I had a fight with Manny Pacquiao, the best fighter out there, and I won," said Clottey. "So even if I beat Pacquaio, and people talk about it like it's a big upset, I'll say, 'It's not an upset, but a win.'"

Clottey has heard what Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, has said that the Filipino superstar has planned for him -- and that's a knockout, as in Pacquiao will be the first man to stop Clottey.

"That's okay by me. Because anything Freddie Roach has said, Pacquiao has done. I have respect for him for that. And if I get into the ring, and, the big guy that I am, Pacquiao beats me so bad that he knocks me out, then that says something about Pacquiao," said Clottey.

"But trust me: My training is going very well for this one. I work out in the morning, running from here to the beach. I run on the beach. I go to the gym. I spar," said Clottey, adding that one of his sparring partners has power, and another moves around and boxes.

"Today, I sparred 10 rounds with four-minute rounds and a 30-second rest in between. I'm not really even tired after I'm finished," said Clottey. "I'm in shape. I want to prove to the whole world that this a fight that I can win, and that they should be careful not to write me off."

Do the public perceive Clottey as a big enough challenge for Pacquiao?

2010-02-21T00:08:00.000-08:00

source: Scott Heritage | examiner.com

One of the biggest factors when it comes to selling a fight is whether people think the fight will be a close, competitive encounter.

Despite the fact that he has never been stopped, Joshua Clottey is regarded by many as being not enough of a challenge for Pacquiao at this stage. The fact is that he is a credible threat, although of course perception is everything when it comes down to the all pay per view sales.

There are plenty of people who will buy a Pacquiao fight no matter who he faces. As one of the most exciting fighters in the game today, there is rarely any disappointment with one of his fights win or lose. But there are others who will only pay to watch something which they think will becompetitive.

Austin Bailey, Pittsburgh PA: "Is Clottey out of his depth or has he just been unlucky when he's fought the best fighters?"

Well the short answer is probably both, while he was unlucky against Cotto and Margarito, (his other loss being a disqualification to Carlos Baldomir), that doesn't mutually exclude the fact that he might look out of his depth againstPacquiao. Miguel Cotto who beat Clottey in a close fight last year had nothing for Pacquiao, and he was regarded as the man to beat in the division. As good as Pacquiao is at the moment, there might not be many people outside someone like Floyd Mayweather who can give him much trouble.

With Floyd Mayweather recently stating that he deserves a bigger share of the purse if he and Shane Mosley sell more than Manny and Clottey, pay per view sales are more important as ever for Top Rank. If they sell less, then Mayweather will have a built in excuse for not making the fight happen. The reason being that it's very unlikelyPacquiao would accept the smaller cut of the purse than Mayweather.

Therein Floyd Mayweather and his May dance partner Shane Mosley might have a distinct advantage. While most experts think Pacquiao will have too much for Clottey in the later rounds, opinions are more divided on Mosley being outclassed by Mayweather.

The Cotto fight by contrast was intriguing because there was the fact that Pacquao was moving up in weight and facing a genuine champion, and not everyone was sure he could do it. He'd beaten Oscar De La Hoya, but many regarded the ultra popular Golden Boy promotions founder to have passed his best.

During the training camps for March 13th's 'the event', Pacquiao has been described by various figures from within his inner circle as being close to ready a month ahead of fight time. At the same time Clottey was struggling with snow and visa issues in his New York training camp. Neither will probably amount to much difference at fight time, but it certainly can't be good press to make the fight seem one sided.

Perhaps Top Rank thinks that fans of the sport will know how good Clottey really is regardless of whatever happens i the background. Similarly they might also be hoping that fans ofPacquiao will buy any fight he's in and that the opponent isn't that important.

Pat Harris, Pittsburgh PA: "Do you think this pay per view stuff from Mayweather is just his usual bluster and a play for more money, or another excuse for him not to fight Pacquiao?"

It could well be both, if there's one thing Floyd Mayweather likes its getting richer, and fighting Manny is the quickest way to make that happen. In the end though, probably only a 50/50 split will have much chance of making the fight happen.

Les Brightmore, Pittsburgh PA: "Surely Clottey's a step down from Miguel Cotto who he beat and this win doesn't do much for Pacquiao?"

Well in terms of rankings Clottey is a step down from Cotto, but pretty much everyone would have been excluding Shane Mosley who was already fighting. What Clottey does bring to the table is a stylistically difficult fight forPacquiao , who does his best work against aggressive fighters. Compare the Juan Manuel Marquez fights to when he fought either Hatton or Cotto and its easy to see which type of fighterPacquiao struggles more against.

Has Pacquiao’s training sessions become ‘The Event’ that everyone wants to see?

2010-02-20T18:11:00.000-08:00

source: Rick Rockwell | examiner.com

With each week of training, comes more excitement and amazing news from the Wild Card Gym. In addition to the amazement of Pacquiao’s current level of conditioning, there’s a continual flow of Hollywood stars visiting and some top notch sparring partners.

Has Pacquiao’s training sessions become “The Event” that everyone wants to see?

Pacquiao’s Conditioning

With Pacquiao already in “fight night” shape, the buzz coming out of the Wild Card Gym is deafening. Check out what they are saying:

“Manny is ready to fight this Saturday, He did 15 rounds in the mitts without even a sip of water,” Alex Ariza, Manila Bulletin

“No problem, I feel very good, “After only two weeks in the gym, I already felt great” Manny Pacquiao, Manila Bulletin

“He’s getting rave reviews on his performance in the gym, and everybody is saying they can’t believe how great he’s looking. He can [even] fight tomorrow.” Bob Arum, ABS-CBN News

Sparring Partners

With his conditioning level already being high, Manny has been able to take on some top notch sparring partners who have also marveled at his abilities.

“He's got the power, the speed… He never gets tired,” Abdullai Amidu, ABS-CBN News
Abdullai Amidu is an undefeated welterweight from Ghana who 18-0 with 17 wins coming by way of knockouts.

According to ABS-CBS News, Steve Forbes will be coming in next week to spar with Manny. Forbes was the former sparring partner for Oscar De La Hoya who also took Oscar to the distance when they fought in 2008.

For more on his precious sparring partners - Will Pacquiao’s dominant sparring sessions transfer over to the Clottey fight?

More Hollywood Stars

Jackie Smith Sacramento, CA “Isn’t it exciting to see all these Hollywood stars show up?”

It’s very exciting for all Pacquiao fans to see the respect and admiration he gets from other celebrities. The Wild Card Gym is turning into the Hollywood Walk of Fame with all the stars that are showing up to see Manny “Mr. Hollywood” Pacquiao in action.

The latest star to appear was Academy Award winner Robert Duvall best known for his roles in “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now”. Duvall was taken back by Manny’s skills, “He’s very focused in a tranquil way.”

Actor Robert Duvall watches Manny Pacquiao practice (video)
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Roach: Opening rounds hard for Pacquiao, Clottey

2010-02-19T01:33:00.000-08:00

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Although boxing coach Freddie Roach is confident that Manny Pacquiao will demolish Joshua Clottey, he sees a very hard fight for both boxers.

The prized trainer said he thinks the March 13 bout between reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champ Pacquiao and challenger Clottey might even turn out just like the Miguel Cotto fight last November.

“Just like the Cotto fight... the first half of the fight will be really, really hard for both guys,” Roach said in an interview with FightFan.com.

Roach, who oversees Pacquiao’s training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California, acknowledges Clottey’s durability.

He, however, said the Ghanaian’s defense leaves much to be desired so he expects his Filipino ward to assert himself by the middle rounds.

“We will take over in the middle or late rounds,” said Roach.

Passive defense

Roach said he has patterned some of Pacquiao’s strategies against the Ghanaian’s “amateurish” defense.

“He's passive, he's way too passive,” he said while describing Clottey’s defensive stance. “That works in the amateurs. There's no counter punching in that defense. He waits for you to finish your combinations then he throws.”

Roach said the only way Clottey would be effective against Pacquiao is if the Ghanaian engages the Filipino into a full fight.

This means Clottey would have himself get hit before he can tag Pacquiao with power punches.

“For him to be effective, he has to hit while we're engaging also for him to land that power shot, but he seems like he doesn't do that a lot,” said the boxing coach.

Waiting for Pacquiao to get tired would only bring Clottey more trouble.

“[Because] Pacquiao… doesn't get tired,” said Roach.

Clottey: "Pacquiao First, Mayweather-Mosley Winner Next"

2010-02-18T00:44:00.000-08:00

source: Ryan Burton | boxingscene.com

Welterweight Joshua Clottey puts aside some time to speak with BoxingScene.com about his training camp to prepare for the biggest fight of his career.

He faces WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on March 13 in Texas. Clottey says that everything is running very smooth and he is confident of victory in this exclusive interview. He also touches on the significance of this fight in his native Ghana, Mosley vs. Mayweather and more.

BoxingScene.com: How is training camp going so far?

Joshua Clottey: Everything is good. Everything is fine. We are working hard and just getting ready for the fight on March 13th.

BoxingScene.com: Are you looking good weight wise?

Joshua Clottey: Oh yeah. That won't be a problem. I train hard and always come in on weight. That is something I really haven't ever had a problem with.

BoxingScene.com: What exactly happened with your trainers not getting their visas?

Joshua Clottey: I can't really get down or be too disappointed about it. Life always has to go on and I still have to train. I guess these things happen for a reason. I am working hard and will be ready for the fight. I still have a good team around me and am confident I will come out victorious.

BoxingScene.com: How is sparring going? I assume your team found some short quick southpaws?

Joshua Clottey: Sparring is going just fine. I am sparring with these two guys, real good fighters but I can't remember their names. Both undefeated guys. We brought in one who is real fast and he is shorter so I can get ready for the speed and the other one is big and has the power to help me prepare.

BoxingScene.com: Obviously this is the biggest fight of your career. Most of the experts are picking Pacquiao to win. What do you have to do to make sure you come out with the win?

Joshua Clottey: I have all my plans and that is what I am training for right now. I need to practice them so I can execute them when I step in the ring. I have all my plans in my head. He and his team is saying they are going to knock me out and really I don't mind them saying that. They can say whatever they want to say. I already know in my head whatI am going to do and how I am going to win.

BoxingScene.com: Pacquiao hasn't said much but I have read articles where Freddie Roach said that he thinks Pacquiao will knock you out. Do you feel they are disrespecting you?

Joshua Clottey: Well you know I am not taking it like they are disrespecting me or taking me lightly. I always feel like I am getting respect from Roach. Whenever I see him or have spoken to him he talked to me with respect. Whatever he says is fine by me. He is hyping up the fight you know. He has every right to talk. It is a free country and he can speak his mind and say what he wants to say.

BoxingScene.com: How big is this fight in your native Ghana? What is the buzz like there?

Joshua Clottey: Everybody back home is real excited about this fight. I told them that they shouldn't worry because we always are hoping and trying to improve our lives. We keep trying and good things will come.I am going to go out there and fight my best and try to come out with the win. I am confident and my people are confident .

BoxingScene.com: If you pull off the upset and come out victorious what do you want to do after that?

Joshua Clottey: If I win the fight and beat Manny Pacquiao, the number one pound for pound fighter ,my country will be so proud. I would like to fight the Mosley-Mayweather winner. You know one thing about me Ryan. I will fight anybody. If I win this fight I will be ready and willing to fight anybody.

BoxingScene.com: Paul Williams is still looking for an opponent. I know you wanted to fight him in the past. Would you fight him?

Joshua Clottey: If he wants to fight me I can fight him. I will fight anybody who wants to fight me.

BoxingScene.com: Who do you think wins the Mayweather vs. Mosley fight?

Joshua Clottey: It is a very tough fight. Shane Mosley is going to come out ready and hungry because he has wanted this fight for a long time. He has wanted a big fight for a long time. Now that he has one he will come in prepared and giveMayweather everything he has but Mayweather is a very smart guy who has a great defense and is a great boxer. This is a very tough one to call so I can't really pick a winner.

BoxingScene.com: Do you have a message for the fans?

Joshua Clottey: Well I just want to tell everybody that I am going to fight with the best fighter in the world and I am going to come in the ring prepared and do something that no one thinks I can do. That is the only thing I can say now. I have a plan and I will make it a good fight.

Dallas Ready for Pacquiao-Clottey

2010-02-17T00:21:00.000-08:00

source: Mico Halili | gmanews.tv

Dallas is on a roll. Racing from Mavericks town to Cowboys territory to NBA All-Star state, Dallas heads the Texas offensive like Carl Lewis on the US 4 x 100 meter relay team.

The finish line, though, is far from sight. That suits Dallas just fine. It’s having too much fun turning the Lone Star State into a global sports hub.

After hosting a record-breaking NBA All-Star Week, Dallas prepares for the big fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey on March 13. By all indications, the Dallas area and its fans are ready to host another grand event and all-set to watch Pacquiao deliver another knockout show.

“I can’t wait to see Pacquiao in action here in Dallas," exclaimed Ronald “Popeye" Jones, former 11-year veteran for the Mavericks turned Mavericks Player Development Coach. “You see that burning fire in Pacquiao to win, to be successful. It’s the same fire that Michael Jordan had."

Perhaps that’s what drove Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones to aggressively lure Pacquiao away from the bright lights of Las Vegas and into the first-rate amenities of Cowboys Stadium. Jones really wanted to host Pacquiao versus Mayweather. Mayweather has cemented his place in boxing history. Pacquiao has done likewise while turning himself into one of the hottest commodities in professional sports.

It makes perfect sense, therefore, for Jones to unite the Michael Jordan of contemporary boxing with the Hercules of football stadiums. Jones wanted to bring boxing’s pound-for-pound king into the newest sports capital of Texas. Even former Maverick and Pacquiao fan Steve Nash was impressed with Jones’ sports cathedral. “People (who watched the NBA All-Star game) felt they were in the coolest sports bar of all-time with the biggest wide screen TV in the world."

Last week, tall buildings and posh hotels in Dallas were covered with gigantic billboards promoting the NBA All-Star game. In the coming days, however, expect Pacquiao’s intense face to replace oversized action shots of Nowitzki, Bryant, James and Garnett. And fans are eager to turn Dallas from All-Star town to Pacquiao city.

“I paid extra to make sure I’ll watch Pacquiao from a nicer seat," James Farias, 26, Texas-native and food server for a popular Tex-Mex restaurant in the Dallas area, said. “I just hope Pacquiao doesn’t beat Clottey too easily. After all, I’m paying to see Manny not Clottey."

There’s a Pacquiao-Clottey billboard on the freeway and excited fans on the streets. On this trip, we met Mavericks/Cowboys fans who have become Pacquiao believers. Tickets for Pacquiao-Clottey were reportedly sold out as early as three weeks ago. A ticket was said to cost anywhere from 50 USD to 700 USD. Fans still without tickets have no choice but to purchase them from third-parties.

It’s a problem basketball Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman, a boxing fan since the glory days of her good friend Muhammad Ali, won’t have. She made sure she got her VIP tickets weeks ago. “Pacquiao will be fighting here in Dallas and I’ll be there for the fight." - GMANews.TV

Pacquiao is NBA All-Stars’ Choice

2010-02-16T03:16:00.000-08:00

source: Mico Halili | gmanews.tv

DALLAS, Texas - The stars came out for the Lone Star State for the 59th NBA All Star Game last Sunday (Monday morning in Manila). Celtics legend Bill Russell, hip-hop mogul P. Diddy, comedian Chris Tucker, rapper Drake, Knicks die-hard Spike Lee and actress Gabrielle Union dotted the glitzy landscape.

During the game, another star quietly entered Cowboys Stadium. He strolled with his entourage and looked for his VIP seat.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. made a nondescript entry into the scene. Cowboys Stadium was set aside for Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather said, “No thanks." Then, those who wanted to watch Floyd and Pacman in the ring, including many of the 2010 NBA All-Stars, retorted, “No way."

“Oh, I was very, very disappointed that the fight didn’t push through," West All-Star Chauncey Billups, a fan of Pacquiao, admitted. “I love Manny Pacquiao. He’s one of the greats. I love his heart. I love his passion out there and he fights to the end."

Many of the 2010 NBA All-Stars believe Pacquiao knocks out opponents the way LeBron James slams the ball. Successful athletes, after all, recognize skill and resolve the way Simon Cowell identifies talent. They also recognize a missed opportunity forMayweather to test his greatness against Pacquiao.

“Pacquiao’s just tenacious," West All-Star Brandon Roy said. “I mean he goes in there and not only gives a great show but a great fight, that’s why you really want to see him in boxing. He’s just a great athlete, a great competitor and he fights at a high level every night."

“I’m very impressed with Manny Pacquiao," 1st time All-Star Deron Williams added. "He’s arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter and the way he has been beating people has been ridiculous."

Billups, Roy and Williams refused to predict a winner in a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout. They all agreed, though, that a showdown would feature two great fighters.

“I don’t know who’ll win that fight," 5-time All-Star Chris Bosh said. “That’s why it’s going to be a great fight. No one knows what’s going to happen."

Mayweather still has loyal fans. 1st time All-Star Derrick Rose is one of them. Still, if Mayweather slid into Sunday’s game with little fanfare, Pacquiao blasted the boxing scene like a Dwight Howard two-handed slam. Pacquiao, who’ll face Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium on March 13, didn’t quietly enter the consciousness of the NBA’s boxing fans, he rocked their world.

“I’m just a big fan of boxing so I would love to see both those guys get in the ring together but just because it didn’t push through now doesn’t mean it won’t push through," an optimistic Roy said. “I still have high hopes that it will push through eventually."

“I love Manny Pacquiao," West All-Star starter Amare Stoudamire asserted. “He’s a great boxer. He was totally ready to fight Mayweather. I was waiting to see that fight but it didn’t happen."

When asked who would win the bout between Mayweather and Pacquiao, Stoudamire had one, clear choice.

“Pacquiao."

More hypocrisy and discrimination from the Mayweathers and Golden Boy Promotions toward Pacquiao

2010-02-14T16:49:00.000-08:00

source: Rick Rockwell | examiner.com

Over the last week the Mayweathers and Richard Schaefer have continued their discrimination and hypocrisy toward Manny Pacquiao.

Apparently, they forgot that there’s a defamation suit against them. Each party of interest, named in the law suit, has made comments in the last week that were either blatantly discriminating toward Manny or hypocritical to what they have previously said or done in the recent past. Let’s examine this hypocrisy and discrimination through their own words.

Richard Schaefer

* March 25th 2008: “Mosley will agree to any tests required by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Whatever tests they want them to take, Shane will submit to that. We are not going to do other tests than the Nevada commission requires.”
* December 26th 2009: “It does not make sense for this to become a commission matter. This is a contractual matter. The commission did not decide the weights or the purse split or how the foreign television rights would be sold.”
* February 13th 2010: "I do believe the time is here to introduce blood testing to the sport of boxing but it's not up to me. I'm not the commissioner. If a fighter asks for a specific contractual deal terms as far as blood testing or the size of the ring or the gloves they basically become contractual deal points," source: Michael Marley, Examiner.com

At first, Schaefer is for the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s drug testing and authority when it involves Shane Mosley. Then when it comes down to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Schaefer doesn’t want the Nevada State Athletic Commission to control the matter. And now, Schaefer is back to putting the responsibility back on the Commissioner when asked about blood testing for the Hopkins vs. Jones fight.

Floyd Mayweather Jr

* February 8th 2010: “The only thing that I’m trying to do is clean up sports period. Out with the old and in with the new. We have to change. Everything has to change.” FMJ, ESPN 980 Washington DC
* February 12th 2010: To my knowledge, he hasn’t. They (Floyd and Manny) both fought here last fall and neither side brought up any issues with the testing.” Keith Kizer, Executive Director for the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Floyd wants to clean up the sport but he doesn’t want to go through the legitimate channels to petition a change. If you truly want to clean up a sport then it starts with changing how the commissions or governing bodies regulate and governthe sport . There’s no real change if all you do is make demands in the media. For more on this latest issue with Floyd, check out my article “Floyd Mayweather Jr wants to ‘clean up Boxing’, but he doesn’t want to do it the ‘right way' “

Oscar De La Hoya

* December 23rd 2009: “Now I have to wonder about him. I’m saying to myself, “Wow. Those Mosley punches, those Vargas punches and those Pacquiao punches all felt the same.” I’m not saying yes or no [about whether Pacquiao might be taking performance-enhancing drugs]; I’m just saying that now people have to wonder: “Why doesn’t he want to do this? Why is it such a big deal? We can paint ourselves as the cleanest sport by doing this test. Why don’t you want to do it? C’mon. It’s only a little bit of blood. If you have nothing to hide, then do the test.” .. source: Ringtv.com
* February 8th 2010: “For Oscar to make his comments. Remember I was De La Hoya's promoter. I know what the history is. When [Thomas] Hauser says “sign the waiver or shut up”, Hauser knows exactly what he is alluding to. I'm not going to say much about it but remember I was De La Hoya's promoter. I know when it happened and how many times it happened. If you remember there was a grace period that when they tested fighters for steroids.”… Bob Arum, Boxingscene.com
* February 12th 2010: To my knowledge, he hasn’t. They (Floyd and Manny) both fought here last fall and neither side brought up any issues with the testing.” Keith Kizer,Executive Director for the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Now, Oscar insinuates that Pacquiao is hiding something and demands that Pacquiao take the test if he has nothing to hide. But, when Bob Arum and Thomas Hauser insinuate that Oscar De La Hoya took something in his past, Oscar refuses to cooperate by signing a waiver to release all medical records into the public and prove that he was always clean.
Also, if Oscar and the rest of Golden Boy Promotions were really concerned with the way the Nevada State Athletic Commission does their drug testing, then why didn’t they bring it up to the NSAC when Floyd Mayweather fought Marques last September? Why hasn’t anyone from the GBP petition the NSAC for a change?
For more on the Oscar De La Hoya PED waiver controversy, check out my article: “If Oscar De La Hoya is guilty of taking PEDs then where’s the proof?”

Floyd Mayweather Sr

* February 9th 2010: They’re gonna fight. They’re not gonna take much blood out of you, talking that he gonna get weak before the fight. You’re gonna get weak after he tapped that as* so that’s what he is scared about.“Who wouldn’t fight for that kind of money, unless they’re dumb, stupid and crazy. I think it was $40 million, something like that. They will both get that kind of money.” Mayweather Sr (source: ABS CBN News)

I really don’t know why anyone even interviews this guy anymore. It’s really becoming one personal attack after another on Pacquiao. For more on these latest comments from Floyd Mayweather Sr, check out my article: “Is Floyd Mayweather Sr dipping in the ‘cocaine cookie jar’ when he says Manny is ‘scared' & ‘stupid'”

……………………………………………………. Q & A

Frankie James Sacramento, CA “Rick, do you think that the Mayweathers and GBP have singled out Pacquiao?”

Frankie, I absolutely believe they have singled out Pacquiao. All you have to do is just monitor their comments and over time you will see how much they contradict themselves and how much they attack Manny. They don’t come out and put this much time, effort, and comments toward any other boxer inthe sport. This is clearly a personal attack.

Sarah Conley Rocklin, CA “Is there any latest news on Pacquiao’s defamation suit?”

Sarah, I have contacted Pacquiao’s attorney for the defamation suit. I am waiting for a response. However, with continual attacks by the parties named in the suit; I believe that Manny would win his case with a KO. I will follow up with another phone call on Tuesday toPacquiao’s attorney.

Eric Weston Folsom, CA “Why do you think the Mayweathers keep attacking Pacquiao?”

Eric, I believe it’s because they are jealous of Manny’s success. I also believe that they are selfish and insecure. They find joy in trying to destroy other people. It's really sad.

Roach: We'll get Clottey at the ropes

2010-02-13T01:04:00.000-08:00

source: Abac Cordero | philstar.com

Freddie Roach said there’s only one way for Joshua Clottey to last the distance against Manny Pacquiao: Stay out of the ropes.

“He’s dangerous and he’s strong. He’s a durable guy,” said Roach of Clottey, who challenges the Filipino megastar for his WBO welterweight crown on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Roach said Clottey likes to come forward but sometimes stays on the ropes as much as he did in his 12-round loss to Miguel Cotto last year. And it’s where the 33-year-old challenger from Ghana gets in trouble.

“I figured it out that he’s getting lazy or resting because he sometimes punches himself out. But if he goes to the ropes and puts up that type of defense against us, we’re gonna kill him,” Roach told fightfan.com.

Clottey took a first-round knockdown against Cotto but survives all of 12 rounds. It was a gallant fight from both fighters althouth many believe that it could have really gone either way.

Roach acknowledged that Clottey has never been knocked out in his career, winning 35 fights and losing three controversial ones. But there’s always a first time, and if he doesn’t get lucky, he will get it.

Roach had said a few weeks ago that they’re going for a knockout, but in his very recent interview with fightfan.com he said he’s now looking at a decision. It’s the first time in a while that he’s said that.

“He’s never been stopped. So, if a knockout comes it will be a bonus. I’m not looking at a knockout. I’m looking at a 12-round decision right now,” said Roach, so impressed with Pacquiao’s training that he has ordered the number of sparring rounds slashed.

Pacquiao had done close to 150 rounds of sparring for his previous fights, but Roach said a hundred or just a little over than that should be enough to carry him past Clottey.

Pacquiao has four weeks left to train and by the time he leaves his base in Los Angeles for Texas on March 8 he should he ready to take on anyone.

“He’s punching very f____g hard. I wear the body suit but it doesn’t help much he’s killing me,” said Roach, who also warned Clottey of the type of body punches he could take from the 31-year-old champion.

“He has a good chin and so forth but no one has tested his body as we will,” he said.

Pacquiao invites Van Damme to Texas brawl

2010-02-12T01:22:00.000-08:00

source: Abac Cordero | philstar.com

This time it’s Jean Claude Van Damme dropping by just to get a glimpse of the Filipino icon.

Yes, the Wild Card Gym buzzed with unusual activity yesterday when the Belgian martial arts expert and Hollywood action star came in and joined Manny Pacquiao up in the ring as he was about to begin his daily workout.

Danny Trejo, another screen star who’s so good playing the role of a bad guy, was also there to catch Pacquiao in person.

Van Damme, according to Dr. Ed dela Vega, a Los Angeles-based orthodontist who provides the Filipino boxer with his customized mouthguards, was invited by Pacquiao to come to Texas and watch his March 13 fight.

The 50-year-old Hollywood superstar, who starred in big hits like Bloodsport, Universal Soldier and Timecop, just couldn’t say no, and should be one of the many stars to watch Pacquiao fight Ghana’s Joshua Clottey.

It’s now a common sight Hollywood stars calling on the reigning pound-for-pound champion, undeniably the greatest and most exciting boxer of his era, and not the other way around when Pacquiao was a fan in awe of these stars.

A week ago, Steven Seagal visited Pacquiao in his $2 million home in Larchmont, just a few blocks off Hollywood, and they talked about the possibility of making a movie together, whether in the US or back in the Philippines.

In his previous fights, Pacquiao has attracted some of the biggest celebrities, including Oscars winner Denzel Washington who came to see the Ricky Hatton fight, and got to the dressing room way ahead of Pacquiao after the quick fight.

Those who have previously visited Pacquiao in the gym are Lou Diamond Phillips and Mark Wahlberg. For the Miguel Cotto fight last November, it was Mickey Rourke, another great star and ex-boxer, who came to visit.

According to Pacquiao’s official autobiographer, Winchell Campos, a few other stars have come out and sent feelers on how to get a hold of Pacquiao, including American actor and comedian Eddie Murphy and talk show host Arsenio Hall.

Campos said Tobey Maguire, the Spiderman, once had a chance to rub elbows with Pacquiao on the poker table, as well as the lovely Jennifer Love Hewitt who admitted to being a “great fan” of the 31-year-old Filipino superstar.

Count heartthrob Mario Lopez, The Entourage mainstay Jeremy Piven, the great Yankee, Derek Jeter, Celtics stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, and Mike Tyson among the Pacquiao rooters.

And the list would just go on and on and on.

P4P king Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (L) shakes hands with martial arts expert and movie star Jean Claude Van Damme at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood Wednesday afternoon after Van Damme paid a surprise visit to Pacquiao who is deep in training for his fight against Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega | Philboxing.com)

Mosley thrilled to take on Mayweather

2010-02-11T00:53:00.000-08:00

source: The Associated Press

Shane Mosley bopped around the Super Bowl media center last week, chatting with anyone who wanted to listen about his upcoming fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. He seemed positively giddy as he stopped by radio row to talk about the serendipitous opportunity.

And after he departed sunny Miami for frigid New York, the smile still hadn't left his face.

"This is not going to be personal for me, this is going to be fun for me," he said Tuesday over lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. "This is like when I fought Oscar (De La Hoya) the first time. People told me, 'Oh, you're going to be afraid. Are you scared?' No, no, this is what I want.

"It's not going to be personal, I'm not going to be upset," Mosley said. "I'm going to have fun. I'm going to have fun beating Mayweather."

Two of the best 147-pounders in the world will meet May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, in what is easily the biggest fight in boxing that doesn't involve a Filipino fighter named Manny.

Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) is a five-division champion whose flamboyance has made him a crossover star, with interests as diverse as WWE's "Wrestlemania" and "Dancing With the Stars." He's been involved in some of the richest fights in boxing, but is still hounded by critics who claim he's never fought a true welterweight in their prime.

Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) is a three-division champion who has pursued Mayweather since the late 1990s, when they were both in lighter divisions. He's faced just about every big name available, fromDe La Hoya to Antonio Margarito, but has dealt with his own critics after admitting to unknowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.

"It won't be the fight of my life, but I just want to make a point that I'm the best fighter," Mosley said. "There's not a welterweight out there who can beat me. I don't just want to talk about, I want to do it."

After years or negotiations and the fight repeatedly falling through, Mosley and Mayweather wound up together in a sort of fortunate accident.

Mayweather was left looking for an opponent after acrimonious negotiations to fight Manny Pacquiao fell through and the pound-for-pound king signed to fight Josh Clottey instead. Mosley was supposed to face Andre Berto in a unification bout on Jan. 30, but Berto withdrew after the earthquake in Haiti killed several family members.

Even though Mayweather took his time signing the contract — leaving Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions on edge — everything officially came together last week.

"He was waiting for that opportunity for so long and finally it's here. He couldn't be happier," Schaefer said. "Sometimes with those big fights, when you don't try too hard they happen, and when you try too hard they don't. You just have to let things fall into place."

Another issue that needed to be overcome was the protocol for drug testing, which scuttled the proposed fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style testing and refused to budge off blood tests two weeks before the fight, while Pacquiao claimed he feels weak when he gives blood and refused to do so less than 24 days out.

Mosley readily agreed to blood testing, which is far more extensive than the normal urine tests that are required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

"The people have in their mind that it's Manny Pacquiao, it's Mayweather, and everybody's focusing on that," Mosley said. "I'm coming through the backdoor and I'm going to make sure they know I'm here. This is my era, and I'm not going to let nobody take that from me."

Sure, Pacquiao is considered by many the best fighter in the world regardless of weight. And others believe Mayweather is even better than him. But there is little disputing the resume that Mosley has put together, especially over the past few years.

After dropping a pair of close decisions to Winky Wright, Mosley rattled off five straight wins, beating Fernando Vargas twice and Luis Collazo for an interim belt. After losing another close decision, this time to Miguel Cotto, Mosley stopped Ricardo Mayorga to set up a showdown with feared puncher Antonio Margarito.

Mosley looked nothing like a 39-year-old fighter at Staples Center that night, battering Margarito from post to post before ending the fight in the ninth round.

"Put the guys I fought against the guys he fought and what happens?" Mayweather said, joining in the criticism of Mayweather's opposition. "I fought guys that come into the ring at 172 (pounds), he fought guys that don't even reach the 147-pound limit. I'm fighting guys that are taller and bigger than me in every way, and knocking them out."

Considered one of the most affable fighters in the game, it's little surprise that Mosley has trouble wiping that smile from his face. He stops mid-sentence to sign autographs and take photographs with fans, then gets right back to answer whatever question he was asked.

All the while, he wears a giant grin on his face.

And it's never been bigger.

"He was down there for two days meeting with the media," said HBO Sports vice president Mark Taffett, referring to the Super Bowl festivities in Miami. "He was simply phenomenal. He has the energy of a 20-year-old." - AP

3rd Easyhits4u Payment

2010-02-10T01:27:00.000-08:00

2nd Easyhits4u Payment

2010-02-10T01:25:00.000-08:00

Will Pacquiao’s dominant sparring sessions transfer over to the Clottey fight?

2010-02-09T01:43:00.000-08:00

source: Rick Rockwell | examiner.com

If his sparring sessions are any indications, Manny Pacquiao looks scary and dominant. A warning to all potential sparring partners, Pacquiao will hurt you and this should also be a serious concern for Clottey and any future opponent of Pacquiao.

Not only is he in great shape, but he is also completely focused. But, will his dominance in the sparring sessions transfer over to the Clottey fight?

Bryan Brooks
Pacquiao’s first sparring partner, Bryan Brooks, took such a beating in 4 rounds of sparring that Freddie Roach said he won’t be bringing him back.

* “[Pacquiao] did really well. He’s already following the game plan. This was a good sparring partner for Shane Mosley but I don’t think I’m going to bring him back… he got hurt a few times. Manny was too much for him. He did whatever he wanted too. He was playing with him a little bit. He likes to play with his audience a little bit.” Source: ABS CBN News

Joseph Benavidez
Joseph is a 2009 National Golden Gloves light-welterweight champion who just turned pro. He’s 17 and stands at 5’11”. He went two rounds with Pacquiao, According to reports, Manny just toyed with him the whole time.

* “He toyed with the guy. He was supposed to be a phenom,”.. Winchell Campos, Philstar.com

Mike Dallas
Dallas is an undefeated light-welterweight with a record of 11-0-1. He’s 23 yrs old and came out of his sparring session with Pacquiao beaten and almost knocked out twice.

* “Dallas was groggy in the second round as Manny was really going after him. While he (Dallas) was a lot slower than Pacquiao, he was coming forward and getting hit and nearly knocked him out” .. ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo

Others
Pacquiao has also beaten up on long-time sparring partner Ray Beltran. Coming in shortly, will be Abdullai Amidu, the welterweight from Ghana who is undefeated in 18 fights with 17 wins coming by way of knockouts.

Shannon Brown Sacramento, CA “Do you think that Pacquiao’s sparring dominance reflects of what he will do to Clottey?” Shannon, yes I do. What this tells me is that Pacquiao is in tremendous shape. He’s mentally and physically focused on beating Clottey. Make no mistake about it, Pacquiao isn’t looking to outpoint Clottey, he’s looking to knock him out.

Nicholas Barnes Rancho Cordova, CA “Should Clottey be scared of how good Pacquiao looks in training?” Clottey should have been concerned in the first place for having to face the best boxer. But, now he should be absolutely terrified because Manny is so dialed in and physically dominant right now. He’s taking good sparring partners and destroying them. He’s toying with them. He’s “firing on all cylinders” which should scare any man especially his opponents. I have absolutely no doubt about it, Pacquiao will dominate Clottey come March 13th.

Let’s close the article with the following quote from Alex Ariza, Pacquiao’s fitness guru:

* “He looked phenomenal today. He looked the best that I’ve probably seen him. His footwork, speed, power was unreal.”… source: Boxingscene.com

Size doesn’t make Clottey unbreakable

2010-02-08T01:08:00.000-08:00

source: Nick Giongco | mb.com.ph

Being big, strong and durable do not make Joshua Clottey unbreakable. This is the belief of trainer Freddie Roach, who tries to steer Manny Pacquiao to another victory on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Acknowledging that Clottey could pose problems with his physique, strength and his chin that is said to be made of anvil, Roach said the Ghanaian banger “makes too many fundamental mistakes,” lapses that Pacquiao is sure to take advantage of come fight night.

Speaking to fightnews.com, Roach is confident Pacquiao will become the “first” fighter to knock the African out in their 12-round welterweight match before an expected sellout crowd.

Clottey has fought 38 times and despite losing three times on points, the 32-year-old has never been stopped although he suffered a flash knockdown in the first round against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in June last year.

Pacquiao is in the thick of training at the Wild Card in Hollywood, California, and had logged his 32nd round of sparring Saturday afternoon, racking up four rounds each with Ray Beltran and Mike Dallas Jr.

“There’s not even a small problem as far as Manny’s preparation is concerned,” said the fighter’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz Sunday after handing the two sparmates their weekly pay.

This early, Team Pacquiao is finalizing the travel arrangements for the trip to Texas.

“Manny said he would like to travel to Dallas after he spars for the last time on the Monday before the fight,” said Koncz.

“I told him that it would be much better if we travel on Sunday, which is his day-off, but he told me it’ll be Monday.”

Pacquiao will likely be billeted at the Gaylord Texan Hotel – the official hotel of the Dallas Cowboys – in the city of Grapevine.

Mayweather takes verbal shots at Pacquiao & Mosley

2010-02-07T00:47:00.000-08:00

source: Mark Vester | boxingscene.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is all over the place; doing promotional work to hype the May 1 mega-fight with WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley. During a recent radio interview with ESPN 101, Mayweather spoke about the negotiations falling apart with Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather claims to have agreed to all of Pacquiao's terms, but the Filipino fighter did not agree to his terms. Mayweather wanted random blood tests, which Pacquiao was willing to take, but not under the timeline proposed by Floyd. Mayweather wanted the testing to continue until 14-day before the fight.Pacquiao wanted the tests to continue until 24-days before the fight.

"Mayweather was supposed to face Manny Pacquiao. There was a clause in my contract that said both fighters need to take random blood tests because not everything shows up in a urine test. His clause of the contract was for every pound that I weigh over 147, I have to pay $10 million dollars. I agreed but he didn't agree to my terms," Mayweather said.

Mayweather doesn't think Pacquiao is unbeatable. He said the Filipino champion needs to fight him, but the situation is not the same in the other direction. Mayweather says that he doesn't needPacquiao.

"How can you be indestructible with three losses and he's been knocked out twice?
The new Pacquiao? The one who don't want to take the test? All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather. I don't need Manny Pacquiao. For him to get his biggest payday he needs me. With or without Pacquiao I will make $200 million easy, with or without him," Mayweather said.

The hype for Mayweather-Mosley began last September during Mayweather's fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins rushed the ring in the post-fight. Mosley and Mayweather had words before a live pay-per-view audience. Mayweather is not made at Mosley. He said Mosley is not the person to blame. He called him the puppet of Bernard Hopkins, who Mayweather feels was the actual person who instigated that entire situation.

"He can't be disrespectful by getting inside the squared circle like that. That's going outside the line. Getting inside the ring like that can get your @ss smacked. But I respectShane Mosley. Shane Mosley didn't want to do that. If he's Bernard Hopkins' puppet then I understand. If Shane is Bernard's puppet then I understand, " Mayweather said.

Clottey deep in training; Pacquiao KO win seen

2010-02-06T02:22:00.000-08:00

source: Nick Giongco | mb.com.ph

Vinny Scolpino, manager of Joshua Clottey, assures everyone that the Ghanaian slugger “is not sitting on his *ss” as they prepare for the thundering fists of Manny Pacquiao.

Clottey broke camp two weeks ago when he rushed back to the capital of Accra to attend to the visa woes of his long-time trainer Godwin Dzanie Kotey, who was denied a visa renewal by the US Embassy there.

“Joshua’s training hard and everything’s great about his preparation,” Scolpino said Friday from New York, less than six weeks before Pacquiao and Clottey face off at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

While in Ghana, Scolpino said Clottey did not waste time wandering around.

“He trained while he was over there.”

Clottey returned to New York last Tuesday and has since reported for training at the John’s Gym in his new home in the Bronx.

“Joshua’s training hard because he’ll be fighting the best fighter in the world,” said Scolpino, adding that a conditioning coach and a nutritionist will accompany Clottey to a training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this Saturday.

Scolpino politely declined to reveal if Clottey was able to bring in Kotey to the US or is tapping somebody else to call the shots duringtraining.

“Joshua’s coming out with announcement soon,” added Scolpino.

Meanwhile, top orthodontist Ed De La Vega, who customizes Pacquiao’s mouth guard, marveled at the way the Filipino lefty conducted his business during a workout held Wednesday.

“He has not lost a beat,” reported De La Vega from Hollywood. “The speed is amazing and the power is awesome.”

De La Vega noted that Pacquiao sent Freddie Roach’s mitts “flying” and that “I am betting that he (Clottey) will get knocked out for the first time in his career.”

Pacquiao will fight Mayweather-Mosley winner, says Roach

2010-02-05T00:34:00.000-08:00

source: Mark Vester | boxingscene.com

Trainer Freddie Roach says Manny Pacquiao, should he beat Joshua Clottey on March 13, will be more than happy to fight the winner of May's mega-bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley. Roach sees the winner of Mayweather-Mosley as the best candidate for Pacquiao's next fight.

Roach told BoxingScene.com that Mayweather should win the fight but it's going to be very tough for him.

"I like Shane. He's a good guy but I think Mayweather will outbox him. I think Mayweather will win that fight but it's a very competitive, good fight and I would like to see that fight," Roach told BoxingScene.

If Mayweather wins, Roach says a fight with Pacquiao will only happen under the rules of the governing commission. They will not agree to Mayweather's demand for unrestricted random drug testing. Pacquiao did tell BoxingScene's Robert Morales that he would consider taking random drug tests if the contract called for the random tests to stop 30-days prior to the fight. Pacquiao would also take a blood test immediately after the fight was over.

Mayweather is more concerned about the testing that takes place inside the 30-day time period. Mayweather has placed the test demands on Mosley, who accepted the terms. Mayweather and Pacquiao were unable to agree on the drug testing terms when they were negotiating for a tentative fight in March. Roach does think Mayweather fight will happen but under the right circumstances.

"When Mayweather loses a little more money gambling and he needs it, I think he'll fight us. I would like to see Pacquiao fight him under the commission rules and the counseling bodies but not under Floyd Mayweather's rules because who the f**k is he? We don't work for him," Roach said.

Mosley will be an easier fight to make because he doesn't care about random drug testing. He will fight Pacquiao with or without a clause that calls for random testing. Roach would love to have Pacquiao take that fight if Shane pulls off the upset.

"Shane would love to fight Manny. If he beats Mayweather...if he wins, we will fight him and that will be a great fight. Shane is a very good fighter and I respect him quite a bit," Roach said.

Demand strong for Pacquiao fight tickets

2010-02-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

source: Nick Giongco | mb.com.ph

The most expensive ticket for the March 13 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey in Dallas – selling for just $700 – is selling for as much as ten times its retail price on the Internet.

Top Rank began releasing tickets to the public on Jan. 23 and hours after it was made available, 25,000 were gobbled up and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said he expects to announce a sellout soon.

The cheapest ticket is $50, while other seats sell for $500, $400, $300, $200 and $100.

The Cowboys Stadium, which can accommodate as much as 100,000, will be reconfigured to 40,000 come fight night. This will be the first time the stadium will play host to boxing.

The on-line seller StubHub lists the $700 ticket on front row at $7,500, while other low-priced seats are selling more than their retail price.

“I don’t care,” Arum said when asked about the prohibitive prices being peddled on the Internet. “We’re selling it on retail (price).”

The fight will also be available on pay-per-view.

The $1.2-billion Cowboys Stadium is actually located in the city of Arlington, which is on the outskirts of Dallas.

Pacquiao vs Clottey frenzy hits Mexico

2010-02-03T05:34:00.000-08:00

source: James Blears | boxingscene.com

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Top Rank’s Bob Arum have teamed up and come on down to Mexico City to promote the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey fight, dubbed “The Event” on March 13th at that brand new glittering stadium.

Mr. Jones has also revealed that following this sporting extravaganza, he wants to be right up there in the fray of competition for the chance to hold the Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr, should the blood, sweat and tears of negotiation prove fruitful. He stressed:

“I want to earn that, and want to earn that with boxing and with the fans of boxing. I appreciate what Las Vegas has meant to boxing, and it’s been special. But fights of this stature can be shown when you have four or five times the amount of people and you can get the atmosphere too.

“The NFL - as great a game as it is on television, and it was built for television, would be nothing if it didn’t have the pageantry and crowds of the stadium. The crowds and the fan experience that comes your way through television are important to enjoy that game. You and I want to know they’re playing before thousands and thousands of people. Boxing can have that and we can have that at the cowboys stadium!”

Mr. Jones explained his pride and love in sports and determination to put on the best show with Manny and Joshua, who are prepared to throw the kitchen sink into this clash. He put it this way:

“I dug deep when I bought that stadium because of the pride that I have of being a man of sports and being associated with the Cowboys. I dug very deep when I bought the Team. I paid more than anyone in the history of the world for the Dallas Cowboys.”

Jerry Jones also explained about the unsurpassed financial commitment in building the new stadium. The final cost was 1.15 billion dollars. He said: “The bottom line- I emptied my bucket to build that stadium. Before they play, I tell the team, empty your bucket today. We have emptied our bucket to have Manny Pacquiao be the first fight in that stadium. We will do everything we can."

“We will take that huge screen that makes him seventy two feet tall, and we’ll hang it thirty feet above their heads. And when they’re in there competing and fighting, every fan in the stadium, will feel as if they’re in there with them!”

There’s an impressive undercard featuring John Duddy and Salvador Sanchez - the nephew of the great one. But perhaps the most interesting bout will be between Alfonso Gomez, the WBC Welterweight Intercontinental belt holder ,and ring legend Jose Luis Castillo, who says that after this bout, he’ll probably fight at 140.

The young whippersnapper told the audience how he’s looking forward to being featured larger than life on the “Jerrytron” and also impressed with a ditty about his upcoming clash with Jose Luis. mentioning his youth and vampire like qualities. It drew roars of laughter from everyone including Jose Luis who added that another of his opponents- Juan Lazcano had come up with a neat poem, but lost in the ring.

Pinoy cue artists strike in Germany

2010-02-02T01:22:00.000-08:00

source: gmanews.tv

HANNOVER, Germany – The Philippine pool team competing in the first-ever World Team Championship served notice of its title aspirations by whipping Great Britain II, 4-0, in Round 1 Sunday.

The Philippines beat Britain in two 8-Ball pair events.

First to showcase their wares was the combo of double world champion Ronnie Alcano and former Asian snooker titlist Marlon Manalo, who earned the victory the hard way over their British rivals, 6-5.

The other Pinoy pair of Lee Van Corteza and Warren Kiamco pulled off a 6-4 triumph over another British duo.

Alcano and veteran campaigner Antonio Lining also made good account of themselves in the individual matches to keep the Filipinos winning.

Alcano, the only Filipino to win the World 8-Ball and World 9-Ball titles, nipped Michael Valentine, 8-6, while Lining whipped Chris Meiling, 8-4.

Because the Pinoys had already secured four matches against the British, the 10-Ball games between Dennis Orcullo and Mick Hill and Corteza versus Craig Osborne, were no longer played. - GMANews.TV

Cleveland scores 46 in 1st quarter, routs Clippers

2010-02-01T04:36:00.000-08:00

source: The Associated Press

CLEVELAND — When LeBron James hit his fourth 3-pointer of the first quarter — from 30 feet away — Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy sat silent in his chair while the sold-out crowd roared around him.

There was little Dunleavy or his team could do to stop the Cleveland Cavaliers during their 114-89 win Sunday night.

James scored half of Cleveland's 46 points in the first quarter and the streaking Cavaliers tied an NBA record with 11 3-pointers in the opening period of their season-best eighth straight victory.

The whole spectacle left Dunleavy stunned.

"I've got money that I'll put them in the gym naked, nobody else on them, and they probably can't make 11 out of 13 again from the same spots," Dunleavy said. "They hit some shots in that first quarter that I know in 30 years of being in the NBA that I've (never) seen a team make."

The 46 points tied a franchise mark for most in a quarter, and Cleveland's 16 3-pointers fell one shy of the team record for a game.

The leader, as usual, was James. He made his first seven shots and finished with 32 points and 11 assists. His five 3-pointers in the first equaled the team's mark for most by a player in a quarter.

The hotter James got, the deeper he started firing — shots he playfully refers to as "heat checks." By the end of the first quarter, the Q was sizzling with a 46-20 Cleveland lead.

James heaved baskets from 30 and 28 feet as the Cavaliers made 3-pointers on seven consecutive possessions in the period.

"There's no description of a player getting into the zone like that. It just happens," James said. "And when it happens, everything you put up, you feel like it's going in."

Early on, that was true. Anderson Varejao appeared to toss an alley-oop to Jamario Moon in the second quarter, but ended up making the basket when his lob sailed high. Varejao had 11points and seven rebounds off the bench.

All of Cleveland's first-quarter 3-pointers came within the flow of the offense — either Shaquille O'Neal passing out of the post or James passing out of double teams.

James had four 3s during the streak, Daniel Gibson added two and Anthony Parker started it with one 4 minutes into the game.

The long-range shooting extended a 9-7 lead to 30-11 in a little more than three minutes. The Cavaliers shot 16 of 21 in the quarter, including 11 of 13 on 3-pointers.

Baron Davis had 30 points for the Clippers, who have dropped four straight and are 1-5 on this eight-game road trip. Los Angeles was again without center Chris Kaman, who has missed consecutive games with a sprained left ankle. Eric Gordon had 12 points and DeAndre Jordan added 11 for Los Angeles.

O'Neal had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, which kicked off a seven-game homestand with an easy win. Gibson had 14 points and Jawad Williams added 12 off the bench.

"I've got some of the best shooters in the game on my team," O'Neal said. "That was hot. It was a very impressive first quarter. Very impressive."

The lead swelled to 31 late in the second before Los Angeles cut it to 92-81 with 6:52 left. The Cavs responded with two dunks from O'Neal and one by James to thwart any chance of a Clippers comeback.

Cleveland coach Mike Brown liked the first quarter shooting display, but was even more impressed by the way James commanded the huddle during timeouts in the second half. James and his teammates realized the momentum and the lead were slipping away, but fought to keep the margin in double figures. Brown said that is the type of self-coaching the Cavaliers will need to do in the postseason.

"We let the game slip away a little bit, and once we realized it, I didn't have to say much," Brown said. "The win is great, but for me, that was the most exciting part — listening to my players in the huddle. That gets the little hairs on my head standing straight up." - AP

Wesley So closes Corus B campaign with a draw vs.Anna Muzychuk

2010-01-31T18:52:00.000-08:00

source: Rene Bonsubre, Jr. | philboxing.com

GM Wesley So played with the white pieces in his thirteenth and final round game against WGM Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia in the Corus B Tournament in Holland.

The Filipino prodigy opened with 1.d4 and Muzychuk responded with the Nimzoindian defense.

Muzychuk’s games database in the website chessgames.com shows that in her games as black against d4 she uses the Dutch defense or a Queens pawn game.

She sacrificed a pawn on her 15th move for open files and piece activity. So castled on his queenside on his 20th move. Muzychuk lined up her rooks on the open b file targeting the Filipino’s king.

She sacrificed another pawn on her 28th move to deflect So’s pieces away from defending the b-file and the king. With the Slovenian getting good counterplay and attacking chances, So decided to go for perpetual check and the game ended in a draw after 38 moves.

The 19 year old Muzychuk was born in the Ukraine and is currently living in Slovenia where she has been a member of their women’s team to the Chess Olympiad. She earned the Women’s Grandmaster title in 2004. In 2005 she won the Girl’s Under-16 world championship and in 2007 she won the European Women’s Blitz championship.

The 16 year old So won Corus C last year. For this Corus B tournament he won three games against Tomi Nyback, Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu and Dimitri Reinderman. He suffered a loss against Anish Giri of Holland in an important 11th round game that cost So his chances of winning the tournament. So also nine draws for a total of 7.5 points.

So was 5th in this 14 player field going into Sunday’s final round. Giri won the tournament after drawing his last round game and wound up with 9 points. Other players were still playing as of this writing. Whatever So’s final placing in this tournament will be, he already did the country proud once again and we expect him to bounce back in subsequent international outings.

Wesley So is the youngest Filipino to earn the international master and grandmaster title. His recent exploits especially during the last Chess World Cup woke Pinoy chess fans from their slumber.

Mayweather's Adviser: Floyd Coming For All Top Welters

2010-01-31T02:45:00.000-08:00

source: Mark Vester | boxingscene.com

Leonard Ellerbe, adviser to Floyd Mayweather Jr., says his fighter returned from retirement to clean house. Mayweather wants the big events and the big names at welterweight. He plans to start his quest with WBA champion Shane Mosley on May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Mosley has signed the contract, which includes a rematch clause and calls for both fighters to take part in random drug tests.

“Floyd tried to fight the guy everyone thought was the best guy available and we couldn’t get that fight done, so we went to the next guy on the list,” Ellerbe said to Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports. “As I’ve said many times, when Floyd decided to come back to boxing, he did it to be in major events. He’s going to face all of the top welterweights and one by one, knock them all off.”

Ellerbe told Iole the contracts were being drawn up and Mayweather will sign as soon as his contract is ready. A press conference to announce the fight is expected to take place in New York in the next days.

Bata rules Fat Boy 10-ball tilt

2010-01-30T06:32:00.000-08:00

source: Francis Santiago | mb.com.ph

Efren “Bata” Reyes finish his final match against hometown bet Brandon Shuff into a virtual workout as he sped away, 15-8, late Friday to snare the Fat Boy 10-Ball Challenge at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Indiana, USA.

Save for some anxious moments in the homestretch, the 55-year-old Hall of Famer was in full control of the duel, taking a commanding 6-0 lead on the way to ruling the event that made him $6,500 (roughly P310,000) richer.

Living up to his tag as “The Magician,” Reyes displayed one spectacular shot after another as he finished the 16-player, single elimination round event, undefeated.

The former Virgina state champion Shuff actually launched a small comeback and made it 5-13, but that was the best he could do as Reyes got into the hill in the next rack before sealing the win.

On the way to the final, Reyes has beaten a lot of marquee names, including his fellow world champion and billiards great from the United States Johnny Archer, 15-9. Shuff settled for $3,250 (P156,000) runner up purse.

The win was a great follow up to Reyes’ bridesmaid finish in the 9-ball banks event three days ago in the ongoing 12th Derby City Classic held in the same venue.

A native of Angeles City, Reyes is also competing in the 9-ball division of the Derby City Classic.

Reyes will go up against Bernie Collins of the USA while stablemate and former World No.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante will meet Sylver Ochoa of Mexico.

Also competing in the 9-ball competition is veteran pool player Rodolfo “Boy Samson” Luat.