Saturday, February 20, 2010

Pacquiao's Last Fight could be Clottey, Roach said..

Pacquiao vs ClotteyCoach Freddie Roach has predicted that the Filipino welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao may retire after he will fight Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Dallas.

Manny Pacquiao, is a seven-weight world champion, was originally planned to face Floyd Mayweather Jr, but discussions broke down following Pretty Boy’s demands for Olympic style blood tests, which many feel was his own way of getting out a fight he didn’t want.

Road to Dallas - Pacquiao vs Clottey HBO March 6, 2010

Pacquiao vs Clottey
HBO Sports® will present “Road to Dallas: Pacquiao vs. Clottey,” a thirty-minute special analyzing the upcoming welterweight title showdown between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and challenger Joshua Clottey that will mark the first-ever pro boxing event at the landmark $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex. The intriguing fight will take place on Saturday, March 13 and be televised on HBO Pay-Per-View ®...

Friday, February 19, 2010

Disqualification case against Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao
Prohibition case filed by political party in Sarangani can bring to an end boxing icon Manny Pacquiao from focusing on his clash with Joshua Clottey of Ghana planned next month in Cowboys Stadium, Dallas.

“I do not believe on it since my lawyers in Manila are taking care of that issue,” said Manny Pacquiao Friday from Los Angeles, where he has been preparing the last four weeks for the March 13, 2010 fight at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Joshua Clottey reveals game plan to pound Manny Pacquiao

Joshua Clottey

Not frightened by the disappointment of his long-time coach to move toward to the United States for the reason of visa problems, Clottey still believes he has a “game plan” to defeat Pacquiao in their March 13, 2010 world welterweight title fight.

“I am effective and will be prepared for the clash. I still have a first-class team around me and am sure I will come out triumphant,” Joshua Clottey told Ryan Burton of BoxingScene.com in a restricted discussion.

Pacquiao's Training Camp

Pacquiao vs Clottey
By means of folk melody piercing on the surroundings, Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao, the present pound for pound king of boxing, spoke the words of self-belief Thursday moment after an extra tough day at the Wild Card Boxing society, his preparation command center for the March 13 fight with Joshua Clottey in Cowboys Stadium, Dallas.


“No trouble, I sense very well,” Pacquiao told The Bulletin after having his splendid meal at a Thai food restaurant positioned a few steps from the gym. "Inform our people that there's not anything to be bothered as I am preparing to be strong."

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Pacquiao must attack Clottey's Body

Clottey vs PacquiaoFreddie Roach the trainer of Pacquiao has arrived with a different masterly strategy for his student the WBO Welterweight Champion Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao in his future fight on March 13th, 2010 against Joshua Clottey. In a piece at Fight Fan, Freddie Roach said that “He’s [speaking clottey] got a good chin and so forth, but no one chins don’t always take it into the body.” You think? Thank you saying me something I do not know, Freddie. As troubles taking shots to the body in his fights alongside with Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto.

List of Fighters - March 13, 2010 [Pacquiao-Clottey]

Complete list of Fighter who will fight on March 13, 2010 in Cowboys Stadium Dallas.

Pacquiao vs Clottey

THE CARD

March 13, Cowboys Stadium in Arlington

Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) vs. Joshua Clottey (35-3, 21 KOs)

Humberto Soto (50-7-2, 32 KOs) vs. David Díaz (35-2-1, 17 KOs)

José Luis Castillo (60-9-1, 52 KOs) vs. Alfonso Gómez (21-4-2, 10 KOs)

Michael Medina (22-1-2, 17 KOs) vs. John Duddy (28-1, 18 KOs)

Roberto Marroquín (12-0, 9 KOs) vs. TBA

Salvador Sánchez (18-3-2, 8 KOs) vs. TBA

• Michael Farenas (26-2-3, 23 KOs) vs. TBA

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Pacquiao vs Clottey Prediction

Joshua ClotteyDue to the fall of negotiation between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Joshua Clottey is now ready to face the pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao in Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

This is a very important fight said Jerry Jones in Yahoo Sports during the telephone interview. From the time we began work on the stadium, I imagined bringing out boxing here. I’m very happy that the fight will happened thanks to Top Rank.

Pacquiao in concert

Manny PacquiaoManny Pacquiao, regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, is coming to the Waikiki Shell on March 21—but not to box.

The current World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, Ring Magazine light-welterweight champion and recipient of the Fighter of the Decade Award by the Boxing Writer’s Association of America, is coming to O’ahu to perform with the MP Band and Filipina star Madona Decena, Big Ben Entertainment, Island Fire Productions and Cox Radio Hawaii announced.

The champion is fighting Ghanaian challenger Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, just a week before the MP Band’s gig.

The Final Score: Dallas Ready for Pacquiao-Clottey

Pacquiao-ClotteyDallas 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.

Clottey laments lack of government support

Pacquiao vs ClotteyJoshua Clottey believes his native Ghana is not fully behind him in his bold bid to kick Manny Pacquiao out of the pound-for-pound throne.
Speaking to Ghanaweb over the weekend, Clottey, who battles Pacquiao on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, said Ghanaian boxing officials and the government itself have not been very helpful in his request that Godwin Dzanie Kotey be given a hand in applying for a renewal of his US visa.
Clottey has been in training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the last two weeks under the guidance of a substitute trainer who the African fighter is not accustomed to.
"I am with a trainer but not the one I want and you know it so don't ask me because you know I came to Ghana to bring Alloway (Kotey's nickname) with me to come with him so I will do my best," said the 32-year-old Clottey, who now lives in the Bronx in New York.
"I am fine," said Clottey sarcastically.
"Tell Ghana that they've disappointed me by not giving my trainer visa to come here with me."
Clottey had to break training camp last month when Kotey was denied a visa and while he was in the capital of Accra, Ghana officials said they will help Kotey apply and succeed in getting a renewal, forcing the boxer to head back to the US again to renew his preparation.
Coupled with Pacquiao's status as the world's No. 1 puncher, Clottey's dillema is only making it easy for oddsmakers to justify the overwhelming betting line in favor of the Filipino. On-line betting has Pacquiao a huge 5-1 favorite over Clottey.
Over at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, Pacquiao's workouts have been fast and furious, according to his handlers.
In the next two weeks, Pacquiao's sparring sessions will reach its zenith with as many as 12 rounds of banging bodies with his sparmates in just one day on tap under the watchful eyes of Freddie Roach.
Team Pacquiao leaves for Dallas on a private plane courtesy of Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum on March 8.

Source: mb.com.ph

Is Manny Pacquiao Too Good For His Own Good?

Pacquiao vs ClotteyIn less than a month, Manny Pacquiao will square off against Joshua Clottey in Jerry Jones' spectacular new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

I predict the fight will be an action packed affair with the rugged Clottey giving it everything he's got.

It won't be like Pac-Man's fight with Ricky Hatton when "The Hitman" was so scared he almost collapsed entering the ring. (I hadn't seen anyone that scared since Frank Bruno entered the ring against Iron Mike Tyson back in the early '90s.)

Clottey will show up, which is why the first few round should be very entertaining.

I just don't think Clottey has the stuff to handle Manny's combinations, combinations that come from angles most boxers have never seen before in their entire careers.

That's the thing about Manny. He not only has incredible speed and power, but under Freddie Roach's tutelage, he has learned to let his hands go from any and all angles.

Oscar De La Hoya said it best in his own ring blog last August when he remarked that Pac-Man had the quickest hands he'd ever seen. According to Oscar "His punches don’t come from your basic boxing style; they come from all sorts of weird angles. That’s what makes him difficult.”

Clottey's tough, and he gave Cotto all he he could handle. But look what happened when Cotto faced Manny.

I see this fight going maybe eight or nine rounds before Clottey gets worn out and goes down for the count.

Then what?

Manny's at that stage where each of his fights are what you call legacy fights. No one will want him to get in the ring unless the money is right. And there aren't a lot of those fights out there for someone as good as Manny.



He will probably wait until after the Mayweather-Mosley fight and try to negotiate with the winner. But who know how that will go.

I don't think fight fans can assume Manny automatically fights the winner between Mayweather and Mosley, no matter who wins.

If Mayweather, wins there will be a lot of pressure on both fighters to make the mega-fight happen. But with all the bad blood between the two camps, that's certainly not a sure thing.

If Sugar Shane wins, there might not be enough money in that fight to make it worthwhile, especially since Mosley will not want to go back to the 65-35 split that he has agreed to for this bout.

Most likely Mosley will ask for a 50-50 split, and Arum's not likely to give that kind of split to a fighter who's never shown an ability to put fannies in the seat. Shane's more likely to get that in a rematch with Money May.

That leaves Pacquiao with two options. He can fight talented up and comers, guys like like stablemate Amir Khan, Edwin Valero, and Paul Williams. Unfortunately, none of these fighters would add considerably to Manny's legacy or his bank account.

Or he could fight inferior fighters for paychecks and until those top contenders fight each other, hoping one of them rises to the top of the heap.

But with convincing wins over several Hall of Famers already under his belt and political aspirations back in the Philippines, I don't really think that would interest him. There's just not enough up side for a fighter like Manny.

When you're as good as Manny Pacquiao, there's no reason to hang around and tarnish your legacy, which is why we might be seeing one of his last fights.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Roach should get a lot of credit for Pacquiao’s success

Freddie ROachBy Dave Lahr: Ever since Manny Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Marquez by a questionable 12 round decision in March 2008, he’s been in a series of fights with either older guys like Oscar De La Hoya, fighters that have been recently beaten like Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton.

I give a lot of credit to Pacquiao’s eagle-eyed trainer Freddie Roach for spotting beatable opponents for Manny. Roach reminds me of an old lion who knows how to spot a lame antelope that’s unable to keep up with the herd. Roach spots an opponent an opponent like De La Hoya, who at 35, was at the end of his career and had been beaten in half of his last six fights going into the Pacquiao fight.

Roach was brilliant with his trained eye, seeing that De La Hoya had slipped a notch and then going after him for a fight against Pacquiao. This was pure genius by the old lion Roach. Those eagle eyes could see what other boxing fans couldn’t when looking at De La Hoya. And then going after Cotto rather than Shane Mosley. Again, great thinking on Roach’s part. Previous to being selected for Pacquiao to fight, Cotto had taken a severe beating by Antonio Margarito in July 2008, in a 11th round stoppage loss.

Cotto didn’t look the same in his fight after the loss to Margarito, struggling to beat Joshua Clottey last year in a 12 round decision that could have gone either way. Roach, being an astute judge of talent, went after Cotto for a fight against Pacquiao. I couldn’t have a better choice myself. Why go after Mosley when you have Cotto, who had just taken a beating not too long before, was available for the pickings?

Source: boxingnews24.com

Pacquiao-Clottey: This fight has mismatch written all over it

By Chris Williams: In looking at the March 13th fight between Joshua Clottey and Manny Pacquiao it doesn’t seem likely that Clottey is going to be able to pull off a win over the faster Pacquiao. This fight appears to have everything in Pacquiao’s favor. You name it, Pacquiao is the much superior fighter. I got to give credit to Top Rank, the promotional team for Pacquiao, they found the perfect opponent for him to not only get a win again but also have a good chance to look against.

However, is Clottey really the best opponent for boxing fans if they wanted to see Pacquiao tested? I mean I’m alright with watching a mismatch every now and then, but I prefer to not know ahead a time about how bad of a mismatch it is so I can save my time and money watching the thing. But this fight has mismatch written all over it from the word go, and it’s somewhat unsettling that the fight is being put on pay-per-view and placed in a huge stadium like the Dallas Cowboy stadium, in Arlington.

It seems to me that those kinds of things should be put aside for fights that are actually supposed to be a competitive afraid, not an organized slaughter. In match making, I know they want to make sure they put Pacquiao in fights that they know he can win, hence Pacquiao not being matched up against the likes of Paul Williams.

It’s about match making and keeping your fighter in fights that they can actually win, but for me, I hate the idea of watching a fight that’s a mismatch going in. What’s the point if you know one of the fighters has basically no chance of winning. Yeah, I know Clottey technically has a slight chance of beating Pacquiao, but I see it as being so small that it’s not even appealing.

If I wanted to see a slaughter, I’d watch one of the free fights that they show on one Friday nights where they match a top prospect against a scrub fighter. It’s about as interesting watching those fights as it will probably be to watch Pacquiao beat up on a vastly over-matched Clottey. Again, I don’t mind seeing a mismatch, but not one that I have to pay to see. And when you look at how crummy the undercard is, it makes it even worse.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Monday, February 15, 2010

Pacquiao vs Clottey Tickets

Pacquiao vs Clottey Tickets
Pacquiao vs Clottey Tickets


Venue Zone Price Range

Ringside
- $834 - $15000
Floor
- $300 - $1950
Risers
- $575 - $880
Club Hall of Fame
- $399 - $999
Hall of Fame
- $181 - $536
Club Main
- $237 - $450
Main
- $139 - $312
Club Mezzanine
- $139 - $350
Mezzanine
- $73 - $199

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The Final Score: Pacquiao is NBA All-Stars’ Choice

Pacquiao vs ClotteyDALLAS, 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 for Mayweather 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.

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/183981/the-final-score-pacquiao-is-nba-all-stars-choice
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 for Mayweather 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.

Source: gmanews.tv

Manny Pacquiao: Violently Graceful

Pacquiao vs ClotteyBoxing is a very violent sport, bloodshed is a common scene in a boxing match. Most of the time, boxers seem to be like wild, hungry beasts release to unleash horror. Pain in inevitable. Danger is always around, but just like any other sport, boxing is also a display of the extremes of human body's performance. Boxers are poets in action. Even though it is a bloodied sport, it is a sight to be hold.
A lot of boxers can punch hard, be agile and tireless. But only a handful have all of the three. One of them is Manny Pacquiao. Skills mesmerize the fans. From the die hard boxing fan to the casual boxing viewers, most people who watch boxing want to see something amazing. Something out of the ordinary. Something that can take your breath away and keep you at the edge of your seat for the whole 12 rounds. That is where Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao comes in.
Manny started in the lower divisions in his native country (The Philippines). Since boxing was his way of living, he didn't have enough resources to give him an advantage. He used his determination and hard work to survive in a cruel sport. He has come a long way since then, but one thing stayed consistent. Since the bell rang in his first ever match as a professional boxer, Manny has captured the attention of those who watched him. He defied the odds of poverty to be the best that he can be. He didn't mind being cheated as long as he plays the game with all his heart and believing that God is with him.
If there are great poets who captures our hearts with their poems, there are boxers like Pacquiao who do the same with their fists. But with Pacquiao, you will love him with or without gloves on. He smiles a lot out of the ring. He loves to joke around and even though he doesn't have an "American idol-type" of voice, he will serenade you with a song from his heart. He is as gentleman as a guy a can be. He doesn't talk bad against his foes. Win or lose, he's thankful he was able to share the ring with a fellow fighter.
Inside the ring, Manny is still a gentleman, but he's a gentleman who plans on inflicting pain. His hands are like dynamite wrapped in leather. He bounces off the canvass like its his own playground. His punches are so fast and so many that its like pellets coming out of the shotgun's barrel.
He gets inside and out so easy he's like a member of the Jabbawockeez. He trades punches like there's no tomorrow and the best of all, he always puts on a show no matter who he is fighting. With Pacquiao, there are no easy fights. It will only seem to be one sided after the bout.
Outside of the ring he's a funny guy, in the ring he's as scary as it gets. I understand why some boxers choose to avoid him. It's not easy being a boxer, let alone being on the opposite side of the ring with Manny Pacquiao. Just like what Muhammad Ali said: "Fly like a butterfly, Sting like a bee", the Pacman is just violently graceful.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Antonio Margarito no longer on Pacquiao-Clottey undercard

The Tijuana Tornado, Antonio Margarito, was supposed to fight Carson Jones in Dallas, Texas on March 13, under the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey Pay-Per-View but Bob Arum, Margarito’s Promoter, decided not to add Margarito to the card anymore.
Margarito hasn’t fought since losing to Sugar Shane Mosley by TKO on Jan. 24, 2009, a fight which was struck with scandal when Shane Mosley’s trainer Nazim Richardson noticed a plaster-like substance on Margarito’s hand wraps while Margarito’s trainer, Javier Capetillo, was wrapping his hands before the fight.
A few weeks after the fight with Mosley the California State Athletic Commission revoked the licenses of Margarito and his trainer Capetillo for a year for trying to use illegal hand wraps before the Mosley fight. After a year, Margarito and Capetillo would be able to reapply for a license in the United States which Margarito recently for the state of Texas. Margarito’s application is still pending and under review.
The Association of Boxing Commissions, Board of Directors, felt that Antonio Margarito should not be licensed at this time without a public hearing first due to the seriousness of his revocation.
Replacing Antonio Margarito vs. Carson Jones is Humberto Soto vs. David Diaz for the vacant WBC lightweight title.
Bob Arum plans on having the former welterweight champion fight in Mexico sometime in May, a decision that would not sit well with the U.S. regulators because Margarito would be going against a U.S. revocation and fighting in another country during revocation would likely be frowned upon by the regulatory bodies.

Source: nowboxing.com

Pinoy Nate Robinson captures NBA Slam Dunk

MANILA, Philippines – While Filipino fighters were slugging it out against Latinos in Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the NBA All-Star Saturday Night (Sunday in Manila) took place in Texas.
Nate Robinson, whose maternal great-grandfather is pure Filipino, ruled the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest to become the first-ever three-time Slam Dunk winner.
The 5’9’’ New York Knicks guard stunned the crowd at the American Airlines Center in Dallas with his alley-oop dunks.
His final dunk kicked off with an alley-oop thrown off the board. He caught the ball and turned in the air before nailing a two-handed reverse dunk.
He won 51% of the fan vote in the finals against DeMar DeRozan (49%) of the Toronto Raptors, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Robinson’s feat of becoming a three-time Slam Dunk champion was not even reached by NBA greats Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins.
The Slam Dunk king, who also won in 2006 and 2009, said that this year’s contest is his last.
Pierce, Nash rule
Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce, meantime, ruled the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout.
He made 20 points in the finals to defeat Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (17 points) and Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets (14 points).
Aside from the Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Shootout, other All-Star Weekend side events include the Haier Shooting Star Competition, H.O.R.S.E Competition and Taco Bell Skills Challenge.
Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns won the Skills Challenge for the second time. He first won the event in 2005.
Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City Thunder successfully defended his H.O.R.S.E. Competition title against Boston’s Rajon Rondo and Omri Casspi of the Sacramento Kings.
Texas, meanwhile, triumphed over Los Angeles, Atlanta and Sacramento in the Shooting Star Competition. The team was composed of Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Silver Stars and retired cager Kenny Smith of the Houston Rockets.
The All-Star Game will take place on Sunday (Monday in Manila) at the Cowboys Stadium. The venue is where 7-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and Ghanaian Joshua Clottey will clash on March 13. – With reports from NBA.com, Agence France-Presse and TJ Manotoc, ABS-CBN News

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Exclusive Pacquiao and Roach Coverage is Coming

In just a few weeks this writer, along with my colleagues at www.8countnews.com and www.nesportstv.com, will be traveling west to Hollywood to spend a few days in the training camp of pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao (50-3, 2, 38 KO's) at Freddie Roach's famed Wild Card Gym.
While in Hollywood, we'll chat with Pacquiao and Roach and bring you exclusive coverage of Pacman's preparation leading up to his March 13th title defense against Ghana native Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO's). Be sure to check www.8countnews.com and nesportstv.com for exclusive articles, interviews & video coverage.
While in Hollywood, we'll also chat with Roach about some of his New England boxing memoroes. Roach is a native of Dedham, Massachusetts and was the New England featherweight champion long before he retired as an active fighter and became a trainer to the stars. We'll get Roach's memories and bring you New England excluisve articles right here on the New England Boxing Examiner web page.
So for your New England boxing fix, remember to continue to visit http://www.examiner.com/x-34564-New-England-Boxing-Examiner and for exclusive Pacquiao articles and videos, visit www.nesportstv.com and www.8countnews.com.

Source: examiner.com

No Margarito return on Pacquiao card

Top Rank has scrapped its plan for disgraced former welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito to make his comeback March 13 as the co-feature on the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey pay-per-view undercard at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Last month, Top Rank signed Carson Jones to a contract to face Margarito in a planned 10-round bout at 155 pounds, pending Margarito being licensed in Texas. That fight has been canceled, Jones manager Bobby Dobbs told ESPN.com.

"[Top Rank] said the fight is off. It's dead. I didn't ask exactly why," said Dobbs, who said Top Rank told him not worry about Margarito being licensed when they signed the contract. "I don't know if Texas made a public announcement or just told Top Rank, but Margarito isn't going to get a license and he's not going to fight Carson at this time. I don't care about the specifics of why, I just know he's not fighting.

Margarito
Margarito

"We're heartbroken. Carson has been training for five week for the fight and didn't even get any training expenses for it," Dobbs said. "He was trying to get in the best possible shape for a fight that isn't going to happen now."

Although Top Rank did not mention Margarito, it announced on Friday that Humberto Soto and David Diaz would meet for a vacant lightweight belt in the March 13 co-feature.

Top Rank president Todd duBoef said the company had no comment regarding the change in plans or on Margarito.

Before the new fight was announced, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN.com that he would put Soto-Diaz on the card "if it looks like we're having problems" with Margarito's license. Arum also said before Soto-Diaz was announced that if Margarito wasn't licensed in Texas, he would likely make his comeback on a May 8 pay-per-view card Top Rank is planning in Mexico, which is under no obligation to recognize punishments handed out by regulators in the United States.

However, if Margarito fights in Mexico while under a revocation in the U.S., it could severely impact his ability to be relicensed in America, because regulators would not look kindly on a fighter who went around a U.S. revocation.

In one of boxing's most significant scandals in recent years, Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) had his license revoked by the California State Athletic Commission last February for attempting to fight Shane Mosley with illegal pads coated in a plaster-like substance that were placed inside his hand wraps.

Mosley trainer Naazim Richardson objected to how Margarito's hands had been wrapped. And when the commission cut off his gloves minutes before he was to walk to the ring for the Jan. 24, 2009 fight, the illegal inserts, which had escaped notice of the commission inspector overseeing the hand-wrapping process, were discovered.

Margarito's hands were re-wrapped and Mosley dominated him before knocking him out in the ninth round to win a welterweight championship at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

At a hearing a few weeks later, the California commission voted 7-0 to revoke the licenses of Margarito and trainer Javier Capetillo. Margarito pleaded ignorance and Capetillo said the illegal pads must have been used by accident, but few believed either explanation.

The vote effectively barred Margarito and Capetillo from boxing in the United States, because commissions honor revocations and suspensions doled out by other jurisdictions. Both were eligible to reapply for licenses after one year, which Margarito did in Texas in advance of the possible March 13 fight.

The Association of Boxing Commissions, a national non-profit organization that represents state and Native American tribal boxing commissions, acknowledged in a Jan. 29 letter to Texas regulator Dickie Cole of the state's combative sports division, which is overseen by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, that Texas was within its rights to license Margarito now that the terms of his revocation has expired.

However, in the letter from ABC president Tim Lueckenhoff, he added that there should be a public hearing regarding Margarito's request for a license in Texas and that the "the ABC Board of Directors also opined that Mr. Margarito should not be licensed at this time due to the seriousness of the violations surrounding the revocation of Mr. Margarito's license by the CSAC."

Margarito could not be reached for comment.

Although Top Rank no longer plans to put Margarito on the Pacquiao-Clottey card, his license application is still pending in Texas, Susan Stanford, the public information office for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, told ESPN.com.

"The status of Mr. Margarito's application is that it is still under review," Stanford said. "That means we are reviewing it to see if it's complete or not, and if we need more information.

"He is revoked in the state of California. We will review the application and the applicable state and federal laws. In this case, the federal law with the Muhammad Ali Act is that all regulating states will honor suspensions and revocations in other regulating states."

Stanford said Texas made no assurances to Top Rank or anyone else that Margarito would be licensed if he applied.

"That was their prerogative to file the application," she said, adding that his past behavior in California would be taken into consideration when his application is reviewed.

Dobbs said Top Rank promised him that if Margarito-Jones didn't happen because of a licensing issue, that it would at least give Jones a spot on the untelevised undercard against another opponent. However, Dobbs said Top Rank is now balking at that promise.

Jones (24-7-1, 15 KOs), who notched an upset third-round knockout victory against previously unbeaten Tyrone Brunson on Dec. 4, was due to make a career-high $50,000 purse to fight Margarito.

"Now, we'll just see what's out there," Dobbs said. "He's in great shape and we have nowhere to go. I'm hoping one of these miracle phone calls come through like happens in boxing and we get something."

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Joshua Clottey still upset with coach’s no-show

Joshua ClotteyJoshua Clottey has yet to forgive Ghanaian boxing officials and even government for their inability to help him secure visa for his preferred trainer to travel with him to the USA. With exactly a month to go for his big chance against Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao in Dallas on March 13, Clottey is preparing without Godwin Dzanie Kotey.

The Ghanaian trainer popularly called Alloway’s absence in his training camp continues to be a worry for 32 year old Clottey.

And he is talking tough on the failure of the powers that be in Ghana to work out the visa problem when it is for a fight the whole world knows about. “I am with a trainer but not the one I want and you know it so don’t ask me because you know I came to Ghana to bring Alloway with me but they didn’t help me to come with him so I will do my best. I am fine but tell Ghana that they’ve disappointed me by not giving my trainer visa to come here with me,” a disenchanted Joshua said in a chat from the US.

But like the true warrior that he is, Joshua Clottey, 35-3 (20K0s), remains unruffled and has vowed to give off his best, even with the odds heavily stuck against him. No matter the problems surrounding his preparations, expect Clottey to be ready when he steps into the ring against Pacquiao for the WBO Welterweight title.

“The only thing I can tell you is everything is fine with me and I’m ready to fight if the government can’t help because it’s my life on the line,” Joshua stated.

Source: ghanaweb.com

Antonio Margarito won’t be fighting on Pacquiao-Clottey card – News

By Eric Thomas: Antonio Margarito, the former World Boxing Association welterweight champion, won’t be fighting on the March 13th Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey fight card, the Los Angeles Times is reporting. Margarito was supposed to be fighting Carson Jones on the undercard at the Dallas Cowboy stadium. Now, however, Margarito will be fighting instead on May 8th, in Aguascalientes, Mexico. There were hopes that Margarito would be able to received his boxing license by the Texas Athletic Commission so that he could fight on the Pacquiao-Clottey undercard.

Instead, Margarito will have to settle for fighting in Mexico, where any types of suspensions from the United States don’t apply. Margarito, 31, was suspended last year after plaster kind of substance was found in his hand wraps before his January 2009 fight against Shane Mosley. The California Athletic Commission subsequently suspended Margarito’s license for one year.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is working on getting Margarito’s suspension lifted in California. In place of Margarito-Jones fight, former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz will be facing Humberto Soto. That fight could end up being a poor replacement for the Margarito bout, because Soto is very talented and Diaz appears to be over his head in this fight.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey Fight Preview and Prediction

On March 13, Manny Pacquiao will defend his WBO Welterweight Title against Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Obviously, the boxing world was hoping to see Pacquiao face Floyd Mayweather, but this is at least a reasonable replacement. Clottey is a top welterweight and a tough out for any fighter at this weight. Having the bout take place in a football stadium adds a little something extra to this fight. It will be nice to see the sport take center stage in a U.S. city other than Las Vegas, NYC, or Atlantic City. The stadium setting allows fans to hearken back to a time when boxing was big enough to pack the biggest stadiums in the country. It will be a big event.

Pacquiao vs. Clottey Preview

Manny is a sizable favorite in this bout and for good reason. His entrance into the welterweight ranks has seen him pick apart his opponents. De La Hoya and Cotto never looked to be winners in their fights with Pacquiao. Many are not surprised that Manny has been able to succeed at welterweight, but it’s safe to say the manner in which he has blitzed through his competition has left fans slack-jawed in admiration of this great little warrior from General Santos City.

Pacquiao and Clottey are what you would call young veterans. 2010 marks the 16th year of both men’s professional careers. Pacquiao and Clottey are only 31 and 32, respectively. In other words, they know what they’re doing and still have plenty of youth to do something about it.

There is no secret what Pacquiao brings to the table at this point. A super-fast and concussive puncher, Manny has added a few new wrinkles to his game since coming up in weight. He moves beautifully, rarely leaving himself in a vulnerable spot for too long. He has improved his right hand to the point where it is a formidable weapon in its own right. Perhaps even more impressive is his advanced vision of what happens in the ring. It has been enough to make him the best fighter in the sport.

What can Clottey bring to the table to counteract this?

Size: Clottey, while only about 2 inches taller than Pacquiao, is a bigger man. He always seemed to be a welterweight a little on the big side. He has been fighting in the 140’s ever since he turned pro. He looked bigger than Cotto when he fought him. When Pacquiao was still fighting at flyweight, Clottey was already a welterweight.

Durability: Clottey’s bread and butter. 15 years in the game, and I’ve never seen him in danger of being stopped. Usually, top fighters with such a long career behind them have showed a time or two when they were on the verge of being stopped. Clottey, however, has been able to survive his bouts with such offensively explosive fighters as Antonio Margarito, Zab Judah, and Cotto without ever being seriously hurt. He is a rare case—a hard nut to crack.

Defense: Clottey is not an easy guy to land clean shots on when he goes into a defensive posture. He can hide behind his arms and gloves well and knows how to ride out the storm. Manny’s recent opponents have been easy to find. Perhaps, Clottey has the right mix of defense and durability to give Pacquiao a difficult night.

Bad Signs for Clottey

Power: Clottey looks like a power puncher and sometimes throws punches that would lead one to fancy him a hard hitter in the ring. It is therefore a bit surprising to reflect on the fact that he has scored only one KO since 2004, spanning 11 fights. Those are bad numbers for those banking on Clottey’s strength to win the day.

Work Rate: There have been times when Clottey doesn’t move his hands enough. With dwindling power numbers, Clottey will have to escalate this part of his game to stand a chance with Pacquiao. Sometimes, it appears that Clottey is either on the offensive or the defensive. He will have to be able to do both at the same time if he hopes to threaten the pound-for-pound number-one guy in the game.

Ring IQ: Not to question the man’s ring smarts, but there have been times when his strategic outlook hurt him more than anything his opponent was doing. In the Cotto fight, it appeared Clottey was gaining a strong foothold in the middle rounds. He was troubling Cotto greatly. As the bout went into its final few rounds, Clottey inexplicably took his foot off the gas and let Cotto sweep the final stanzas to earn a controversial, but well-deserved split decision. One can never tell exactly what is going on in the mind and body of a fighter in a demanding fight, but it seemed Clottey had enough in the tank to close the show, but he didn’t do it for some reason.

The “Book” on Clottey

He is a very good fighter, but he is not great. There’s a little something extra that separates the very good from the great and Clottey has not showed it yet. The greats find a way to win, especially when they are in imminently winnable situations. Clottey has not yet answered the call for greatness. He was ahead against Margarito before hand problems rendered his offense non-existent. Then against Cotto, he again found himself in a fight he could win, and at the end of the day, he didn’t get it done.

Intangibles

Will Manny suffer a letdown? After being so close to fighting Mayweather, is there a chance for Manny to let his focus slip a bit here? Will he be overlooking Clottey as if this is just a stay-busy fight? Can Clottey find that something extra? Knowing that he isn’t getting any younger, will the severity of the situation give way to a renewed spirit? Fighters can sometimes rise to the occasion when their careers are on the line. Clottey surely knows that he is not likely to receive any further opportunities like this one. The now or never scenario might just light a fire under him.
Pacquiao vs. Clottey Prediction

There is almost nothing in Manny Pacquiao’s career to suggest he will be anything but peak for this mega event at Cowboys Stadium. There is still work for him to do in the sport. He wants to leave an indelible stamp of greatness on the sport. He has a vision of what he wants to accomplish. It seems almost inconceivable that he would somehow phone this one in, being on the cusp of not only fighting Floyd Mayweather, but also being so close to establishing an all-time great legacy worthy of being in the top pantheon of all-time greats.

Clottey is not going to go quietly and meekly, however. I think Manny’s speed and movement will give him an incredibly difficult evening. I see Clottey able to get some bodywork done and drive home a series of meaningful shots on Pacquiao in the form of uppercuts and straight rights. Clottey will be pumped up. He will feel a greater urge to let his hands go to curtail the fury of the Filipino juggernaut.

At some point in the middle rounds, Clottey will begin to incrementally lapse into a more defensive posture. He will remain dangerous and continue lashing out with enough menacing punches to keep Manny honest. As the late rounds approach, the only suspense remaining will not be whether Clottey can pull out the win, but whether or not he can last the full route.

A late stoppage is not an unlikely result. The feeling here is that Clottey’s grit, chin, and defense will be enough to see him through to the final bell. In a dominating performance, Pacquiao will win 10-11 rounds for a resounding decision victory.

Source: proboxing-fans.com

Roach says he never considered Malignaggi for Pacquiao fight

Pacquiao vs ClotteyBy William Mackay: In an interview at Fightfan, Freddie Roach, the trainer for Manny Pacquiao, has some harsh words about former International Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi. Roach says “We have to fight challengers out there. Mayweather didn’t happen and we couldn’t pick Paulie Malignaggi. You know he’s a little stiff.” Roach probably wasn’t referring to the way that Malignaggi fights when he said “he’s a little stiff.” In translation for fans that don’t understand what Roach might be saying when he mentions Malignaggi being stiff. What he’s saying is that Malignaggi isn’t that good a fighter.

In the same interview, Roach says this: “Malignaggi is one of those little guys with big mouths but can’t fight. We have to fight a quality opponent.” Roach and Top Rank were forced to look for another opponent for Pacquiao after his talks with Floyd Mayweather Jr. collapsed because of the struggle over the random blood tests. A number of names were mentioned immediately in the media as potential opponents to step in for Mayweather against Pacquiao. One of the names mentioned was Malignaggi.

If Roach and Top Rank had settled on Malignaggi as being the ultimate replacement for Mayweather, there likely would have been a huge amount of criticism by boxing fans, because many of them would see Malignaggi as having little chance against Pacquiao. As it is, the ultimate selection of Joshua Clottey hasn’t been well received either, considering that Clottey was recently defeated in his last fight against Miguel Cotto.

However, Malignaggi, a light welterweight who has lost two out of his last four fights and struggled to beat fighters like Herman Ngoudjo and Lovemore N’dou, it would have likely angered a lot of fans if Malignaggi was selected to fight Pacquiao.

Malignaggi was stopped in the 11th round by Ricky Hatton in 2008, and was beaten last year by Juan Diaz in a 12 round decision loss. Malignaggi gave Cotto some problems in a 12 round decision loss in 2006, but he still ended up losing and taking a great deal of punishment in the process. If Cotto had been able to do that kind of damage to Malignaggi, one could only guess how badly Pacquiao would have beaten him if the two had fought.

It wouldn’t have been entertaining unless you like to watch a slaughter. Pacquiao might have some problems catching up to the Malignaggi, but sooner or later he would have found him and give him a ferocious beating.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Mayweather-Mosley and Pacquiao-Clottey analysis

By By Benjamin Dover: I have been thinking hard about the two bouts coming up and i’m going to start with the main one. On May 1st you have Mayweather-Mosley, a fight boxing fans have been waiting and waiting for and now it’s finally happening. You have Floyd Mayweather 40-0 (25 KO’s) and Shane Mosley 46-5 (39 KO’s.)

I see this fight being a close one for the first 4-5 rounds with Mosley looking to pressure Floyd and trying to make him fight. I see Shane throwing a lot but not landing many along the way, similar to the De La Hoya-Mayweather fight.

I see Mayweather using the shoulder roll and the defensive genius when Mosley has him on the ropes and when Mosley gets him too the centre of the ring, Mayweather will be using that whiplash like jab and printing it on Mosley’s already very flat nose. Shane has a lot of power and can trouble Floyd if he can connect but how can you hit a guy who is so technically smart and has the skills and IQ that Mayweather has. It’ll be a great fight between two of the greatest fighters of their era’s but in the end I see Mayweather winning around an 8 rounds to 4 decision. Mosley has a lot of power and speed but he does throw wild at times and he does have trouble with boxers and there isn’t no better boxer than Floyd Mayweather.

On March 13th we have Pacquiao-Cottey, a completely different fight compared to Mayweather-Mosley. I see Pacquiao-Clottey being more of a brawl in a sense that Pacquiao will be using his speed and angles to hit Clottey. I think Clottey is a tough welterweight and a good fighter but he is tailor made for Pacquiao. He doesn’t move and has the tendency to stop throwing in the last few rounds and just stand there taking shots, against a fighter who throws and pressures like Pacquiao, this isn’t a smart move. I see Pacquiao winning a clear decision or maybe being the first person to stop Clottey in the later rounds. It all depends on Clottey, he needs to cover up well and use his boxing skills and power, because he does have that in his locker. He just has the tendency to take his foot off the gas I think it’s a stamina and weight issue because he does struggle to make weight limits.

After both of these bouts I see Mayweather and Pacquiao both coming out on top and again everyone will be talking about who’s better than who and debating the two fighters. Hopefully after May 1st were talking about Mayweather-Pacquiao once again.

Source: boxingnews24.com

Controversial Cole out of Pacquiao bout

MANILA, Philippines - Laurence Cole, who called a slip a knockdown and a knockdown a slip when Manny Pacquiao fought Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio in 2003, will not be on the ring when the Filipino ring master takes on Joshua Clottey.

It was announced a few days ago that Cole, who normally gets the assignment during big fights in Texas, would officiate the coming bout, but yesterday it was reported that Rafael Ramos has been designated as the referee.

The Examiner’s Michael Marley described Ramos, who officiated the 2009 Fight of the Year between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz, as “a respected referee and allows for action if there’s going to be action.”

While there were concerns when Cole’s name came up as the referee for the Pacquiao-Clottey fight, there seemed to be no official protest coming from the Pacquiao camp or if there was any, such move was kept under wraps.

Cole was the third man on the ring during the first Pacquiao-Barrera showdown at the Alamodome almost seven years ago. And many believed that Cole leaned toward the Mexican assassin during the fight.

In the 2:32 mark of the first round, Pacquiao landed a lead left on Barrera’s face, and as the Pinoy icon moved to his side, the Mexican stepped on his right foot, forcing him to sway back and hit the floor.

Cole ruled it as a knockdown, and Pacquiao was just as surprised as ring analyst Larry Merchant who then said, “I’m not sure if Cole saw a punch and I’m not also sure if there was a punch” landed by Barrera.

Pacquiao knocked Barrera down in the third round, and with 10 seconds left in the sixth, he caught the Mexican with a good, short punch. Once again Barrera went down. But Cole was quick to rule it as a slip.

Again, Merchant said, “that sure looks more like a knockdown than in the first round.”

That won’t happen on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as Ramos, and not Cole, has been assigned to handle the fight where Pacquiao will put his WBO welterweight championship on the line.

It will be the first time since 2006 that a Pacquiao fight will not be officiated by Kenny Bayless, Tony Weeks or Vic Draculich who have alternated in the pound-for-pound champion’s last eight fights.

“The best news, of course, is this means that oft-derided Texas referee Laurence Cole won’t be the third man, which was feared by most the minute this fight was announced,” Marley wrote yesterday.

Source: philstar.com

Manny Pacquiao: You've Got the Love

Manny PacquiaoI'm going to hold my hands up striaght away and admit that I've had more than a few Guinness to drink this evening.

The unheralded heroes of Bleacher Report, the editorial team, might have their hands full with this effort of mine. It will be even more incoherent than anything in my "archive." And that's saying something.

I was listening to the song "You've Got the Love" by Florence and the Machine on my way home from the bar, or pub if you are a fellow Irishman, tonight. And it finally hit me.

Manny Pacquiao is awesome. He is just so damn good. Simple as that.

I joined this website a few months ago as a strong Floyd Mayweather fan. I have continued my support for the American throughout my, for want of a more appropriate turn of phrase, Bleacher Report "career." As I absent-mindedly type out these words, I would still class myself as a huge fan of Mayweather's. More and more these days, it seems like such a being is a rarity.

But I am writing now about Manny Pacquiao. I will hold my hands up again and say that this 'article' is a contradiction to what I have I have said in the past. I could not understand why so many people were worshipping this guy. Literally.

At this point, if I was more sober, I would attempt to provide a link to an article that was published here comparing Pacquiao to an angel of God. If the author of that piece is reading this, do not hesitate to post a link to it in the comments section. In it, I think you'll find a rather crass response from myself. I'm sorry about that.

For whatever reason, as I was listening to my ipod, I started to think about Manny Pacquiao. I started to smile to myself.

I thought about his victories over Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. I thought about how he beat those two guys up. And not just any guys either. These were fighters that have commanded serious respect in the sport of boxing over the past decade. Fighters that have won belts in multiple weight classes, and have squared off against the very best in the business.

Manny Pacquiao destroyed both of these two fighters. I recalled both the fights to my memory. I smiled.

And then I remembered his fight against Miguel Cotto. I had to say it to myself twice. Miguel. Cotto.

Two years ago, I thought this Puerto Rican pugilist was unbeatable. Only Floyd Mayweather would be able to mix it with him. Overlooking his now dubious defeat to Antonio Margarito, how wrong was I?

Pacquiao, combining speed and power, defied my expectations and taught him a boxing lesson. It was a joy to behold. On reflection, it is a fight that I will never forget.

The opening three rounds of the bout were some of the best I have ever seen. The remaining nine were memorable for a different reason. It marked the dawn of a new era in boxing.

The era of Manny Pacquiao.

It made me smile.

I have condemned people on this website for glorifying Pacquiao. Article after article has been written about the man. The fiasco with Mayweather has only added to the blog traffic dedicated to him.

I have finally given in to my steadfast Pacquiao-worship virginity. We all give it up at some stage.

Not dissimilar to my actual virginity, I will probably forget this in this morning. But Manny Pacquiao will continue to make people smile.

And that is testament to what a great man he is, both inside and outside the ring.

He's got my love.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Roach: Paulie 'little stiff'' for Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines -- Manny Pacquiao’s outspoken trainer Freddie Roach took a swipe at Italian-American boxer Paulie Malignaggi, who slammed the Filipino champ for allegedly using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

In an interview with FightFan.com, Roach threw a verbal jab against the “Magic Man” while explaining Pacquiao’s decision to face challenger Joshua Clottey of Ghana.

“We have to fight challengers out there. [Floyd] Mayweather [Jr.] didn't happen and we couldn't pick Paulie Malignaggi… you know he's a little ‘stiff’,” said the American trainer.

Pacquiao was supposed to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title. But when talks collapsed between the two camps, the Filipino decided to take on Clottey.

Roach said he never considered Malignaggi as a “quality opponent”.

“[Malignaggi is one of] those little guys with big mouths but can't fight. We have to fight a quality opponent,” he said.

Malignaggi has been echoing Mayweather’s allegation that Pacquiao’s recent victories might have been helped by PEDs.

In an interview over Boxing Truth Radio with Ricardo Lois and John Chavez, Malignaggi claimed that Pacquiao is too small to crush “world-class killers.”

“He gets a broken eardrum [after Miguel Cotto] and yet, he is walking around afterwards like he was dodging spit balls. There are things out there that can do that,” said the Italian-American.

“You’re hiding under a rock if you can’t see what I am talking about. This is a guy who was life and death with Juan Manuel Marquez at 120 pounds and now, he’s got 15 to 17 pounds of muscle on him. Look at how short he is. He didn’t get taller, did he?” Malignaggi added.

Although he won his last bout over Juan Diaz via a unanimous decision, Malignaggi has lost 2 of his last 4 matches.

The Italian-American boxer lost to Britain’s Ricky Hatton by technical knockout (TKO) in 2008 before winning over Christopher Fernandez of the US in 2009. Four months later, he lost to Diaz by points before exacting revenge on the Mexican-American late 2009.

In contrast, Pacquiao has demolished his last 4 opponents.

Before beating Miguel Cotto by TKO last November, Pacquiao knocked out Hatton in 2 rounds. The Filipino also outpunched boxing great Oscar de la Hoya in 2008 after stopping David Diaz 6 months earlier.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com
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