Timothy Bradley's rumored $10 million purse demand for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao could be the reason why Arum is stalling on the overdue decision to officially announce the fight.
Bradley is the frontrunner in the selection of opponent for Pacquiao's next fight set for April 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The official announcement for the Pacquiao-Bradley rematch has remained pending for no apparent reason as the other candidates for Pacquiao's next fight that include Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather Jr., have been taken out of the shortlist.
Mayweather is returning to MGM Grand on May 3 possively with British idol Amir Khan, who is getting very impatient for having waited too long for Mayweather's signature on the contract that he already signed and forwarded back to Mayweather for his own signature.
Marquez has opted out of the Pacquiao sweepstakes. saying he there is nothing more to prove in another Pacquiao rematch following his stunning knockout decision win over the Filipino star in December 2012. Read more.
But some boxing observers and fans believe that Marquez is just acting like a diva, sending a message to his promoter Bob Arum to raise his guaranteed purse before having a serious talk with Pacquiao for what appears to be his most lucrative fight ever.
The other remaining contender aside from Bradley is Pacquiao's former sparring partner Ruslan Provodnikov, who is also being trained by Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach.
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/sports/op-ed-timothy-bradley-s-huge-purse-demand
Cotto, Martinez set for June showdown
Monday, February 24, 2014
For once, two top-notch fighters got what they wanted. They got a shot at each other.
Former three-division champion Miguel Cotto agreed last week to move up in weight to face undersized middleweight champion Sergio Martinez June 7 at Madison Square Garden. It is a fight each had long publicly said they wanted. It figures to be one of the year’s biggest fights and one of the most popular among Hispanic fight fans.
The HBO pay-per-view show will be held on the weekend of one of New York City’s biggest events, the annual Puerto Rican Day parade. Cotto has fought on that weekend several times and sold out the Garden, but never against an opponent as significant as Martinez.
Martinez was so anxious to make the match he agreed to fight at a catch weight of 159, a pound below the division limit to accommodate the former junior middleweight champion. But that does not put Martinez at a disadvantage because he has seldom come in at 160 and his promoter, Lou DiBella, has long claimed Martinez would gladly fight at the 154-pound junior middleweight limit if the fight was the right match.
The fighters announced the deal Thursday on their personal Twitter accounts rather than wait for a more formal pronouncement of what could become an historic moment for Puerto Rican boxing.
If Cotto can defeat the Argentine, he would become the first Puerto Rican to win world titles in four weight classes, having already worn title belts at junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight. Although middleweight knockout artist Gennady Golovkin may be the hottest name in the division and holder of the WBA title, it remains Martinez who wears the linear title, as well as the WBC belt and remains the more universally legitimate champion.
That is especially true because the WBO version now held by Peter Quillen was stripped from Martinez without proper reason and without opportunity to defend it in the ring.
Cotto (38-4, 31 KOs) lost back-to-back junior middleweight title fights to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Austin Trout in 2012 and appeared to be nearing the end of the line himself before stopping journeyman Delvin Rodriguez in three rounds Oct. 5. That fight was his first working with new trainer Freddie Roach, a shift in approach Cotto believes has revived his career at 33.
After two recent knee operations, the 38-year-old Martinez (51-2-2, 28 KOs) understands he is most certainly approaching the end of his career and is looking to turn his seventh title defense into a major payday. He will have not fought since outpointing Martin Murray a year ago in a fight in which he was knocked down and barely held on to win in front of a rain-soaked hometown crowd of nearly 50,000 in Buenos Aires.
It was the second consecutive fight in which Martinez had been dropped, the other coming in the final round of what was a one-sided victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., but one Martinez barely held on to win after going down twice in the final round (one was not called a knockdown). It is fair to say he staggered to the finish after administering a boxing lesson for 11 rounds.
Martinez injured his right knee in both fights, the first time when he fell haphazardly after Chavez drilled him two years ago. The combination of those injuries, the stunning end to the Chavez fight and the resulting subpar performance vs. Murray will add an air of mystery to this bout, not that it needs any extra drama.
More
Former three-division champion Miguel Cotto agreed last week to move up in weight to face undersized middleweight champion Sergio Martinez June 7 at Madison Square Garden. It is a fight each had long publicly said they wanted. It figures to be one of the year’s biggest fights and one of the most popular among Hispanic fight fans.
The HBO pay-per-view show will be held on the weekend of one of New York City’s biggest events, the annual Puerto Rican Day parade. Cotto has fought on that weekend several times and sold out the Garden, but never against an opponent as significant as Martinez.
Martinez was so anxious to make the match he agreed to fight at a catch weight of 159, a pound below the division limit to accommodate the former junior middleweight champion. But that does not put Martinez at a disadvantage because he has seldom come in at 160 and his promoter, Lou DiBella, has long claimed Martinez would gladly fight at the 154-pound junior middleweight limit if the fight was the right match.
The fighters announced the deal Thursday on their personal Twitter accounts rather than wait for a more formal pronouncement of what could become an historic moment for Puerto Rican boxing.
If Cotto can defeat the Argentine, he would become the first Puerto Rican to win world titles in four weight classes, having already worn title belts at junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight. Although middleweight knockout artist Gennady Golovkin may be the hottest name in the division and holder of the WBA title, it remains Martinez who wears the linear title, as well as the WBC belt and remains the more universally legitimate champion.
That is especially true because the WBO version now held by Peter Quillen was stripped from Martinez without proper reason and without opportunity to defend it in the ring.
Cotto (38-4, 31 KOs) lost back-to-back junior middleweight title fights to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Austin Trout in 2012 and appeared to be nearing the end of the line himself before stopping journeyman Delvin Rodriguez in three rounds Oct. 5. That fight was his first working with new trainer Freddie Roach, a shift in approach Cotto believes has revived his career at 33.
After two recent knee operations, the 38-year-old Martinez (51-2-2, 28 KOs) understands he is most certainly approaching the end of his career and is looking to turn his seventh title defense into a major payday. He will have not fought since outpointing Martin Murray a year ago in a fight in which he was knocked down and barely held on to win in front of a rain-soaked hometown crowd of nearly 50,000 in Buenos Aires.
It was the second consecutive fight in which Martinez had been dropped, the other coming in the final round of what was a one-sided victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., but one Martinez barely held on to win after going down twice in the final round (one was not called a knockdown). It is fair to say he staggered to the finish after administering a boxing lesson for 11 rounds.
Martinez injured his right knee in both fights, the first time when he fell haphazardly after Chavez drilled him two years ago. The combination of those injuries, the stunning end to the Chavez fight and the resulting subpar performance vs. Murray will add an air of mystery to this bout, not that it needs any extra drama.
More
Pacquiao camp eyes ex-Bradley opponent
Thursday, February 20, 2014
The stage is set for Manny Pacquiao’s training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood and a fighter who nearly knocked out Tim Bradley is being lined up to serve as a sparring partner for the Filipino puncher.Pacquiao and Bradley are squaring off for the second time on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz said Kendall Holt, who floored Bradley twice when they fought in 2009, will likely be tapped to help during training camp.
A native of New Jersey, Holt, 32, has a 28-6 win-loss card with 15 knockouts and his remarkable showing against Bradley five years ago is the reason why he is being signed up as one of Pacquiao’s sparmates. Despite the two knockdowns, Bradley won the fight on points as he dominated the 12-rounder.
Unbeaten Lydell Rhodes (19-0 with nine KOs) is also being eyed to become a part of the sparring and he is already in General Santos City to pay homage to Pacquiao.
Koncz could not say yet exactly when Team Pacquiao is heading to the US to begin the most crucial phase of the buildup but should have an idea after he gets back from Macau this weekend.
Koncz will meet up with Wild Card guru Freddie Roach, who will be working the corner of Chinese Olympic legend Zou Shiming at the CotaiArena, to finalize the timetable.
Pacquiao, 35, is a slim 2-1 favorite to exact payback against Bradley, who was awarded a 12-round split decision in their first meeting in June 2012.
Bradley, 30, stung by claims that he was the recipient of a lucky decision, has vowed to prove his detractors wrong this time.
More
Pacquiao-Bradley rematch April 12
Friday, January 24, 2014
Unless Floyd Mayweather Jr. has an epiphany – which is highly unlikely – the stage is set for Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley to settle their unfinished business on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, an industry source told the Bulletin yesterday.
The formal announcement will be made next week and a whirlwind press tour will follow in the first week of February with Los Angeles as the first stop on Feb. 4 and New York on Feb. 5.
A visit to Philadelphia for a similar gig is also on the calendar as Top Rank is determined to drum up interest for Pacquiao’s much-awaited return to the US.
Pacquiao only fought once last year and it took place in the gambling haven of Macau against Brandon Rios.
The last time US fight fans saw the Filipino icon in the flesh, it was against Mexican maestro Juan Manuel Marquez in Nov. 2012 and the 35-year-old fighting congressman has been terribly missed over there.
While everyone is wishing that Pacquiao and Mayweather get to face each other, the choice of Bradley as a backup opponent is still an attractive alternative since there is bad blood between them.
Bradley was awarded a controversial 12-round split decision against Pacquiao in June 2012 and just about everyone who saw it live and on television around the world thought Bradley was more than fortunate to have been awarded the verdict.
But since then, the 30-year-old Bradley has distinguished himself after withstanding the all-out assault of Russian slugger Ruslan Provodnikov and outsmarting Marquez.
Bradley (31-0 with 12 KOs) is now regarded as a worthy entrant in the mythical pound-for-pound Top 10.
Pacquiao (55-4-2 with 38 KOs) resurrected his career following his masterful win over the rugged Rios and he was successful in proving to everyone that it was premature to count him after the Marquez knockout.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz is returning to the country from the US this weekend with all the paperworks for the Bradley fight.
Koncz also flew to the US early this month to attend to Pacquiao’s tax woes, something the fighter’s Canadian right-hand man said are being handled properly by their lawyers.
With Koncz setting foot in Manila soon, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum will have a few days to come up with a catchy one-liner to hype the rematch.
But knowing that Pacquiao is going to be the headliner, Arum should have no problems crafting one.
Source: http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2014/01/pacquiao-bradley-rematch-april-12/#.Ut6mRUBPuQ8
The formal announcement will be made next week and a whirlwind press tour will follow in the first week of February with Los Angeles as the first stop on Feb. 4 and New York on Feb. 5.
A visit to Philadelphia for a similar gig is also on the calendar as Top Rank is determined to drum up interest for Pacquiao’s much-awaited return to the US.
Pacquiao only fought once last year and it took place in the gambling haven of Macau against Brandon Rios.
The last time US fight fans saw the Filipino icon in the flesh, it was against Mexican maestro Juan Manuel Marquez in Nov. 2012 and the 35-year-old fighting congressman has been terribly missed over there.
While everyone is wishing that Pacquiao and Mayweather get to face each other, the choice of Bradley as a backup opponent is still an attractive alternative since there is bad blood between them.
Bradley was awarded a controversial 12-round split decision against Pacquiao in June 2012 and just about everyone who saw it live and on television around the world thought Bradley was more than fortunate to have been awarded the verdict.
But since then, the 30-year-old Bradley has distinguished himself after withstanding the all-out assault of Russian slugger Ruslan Provodnikov and outsmarting Marquez.
Bradley (31-0 with 12 KOs) is now regarded as a worthy entrant in the mythical pound-for-pound Top 10.
Pacquiao (55-4-2 with 38 KOs) resurrected his career following his masterful win over the rugged Rios and he was successful in proving to everyone that it was premature to count him after the Marquez knockout.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz is returning to the country from the US this weekend with all the paperworks for the Bradley fight.
Koncz also flew to the US early this month to attend to Pacquiao’s tax woes, something the fighter’s Canadian right-hand man said are being handled properly by their lawyers.
With Koncz setting foot in Manila soon, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum will have a few days to come up with a catchy one-liner to hype the rematch.
But knowing that Pacquiao is going to be the headliner, Arum should have no problems crafting one.
Source: http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2014/01/pacquiao-bradley-rematch-april-12/#.Ut6mRUBPuQ8
Bob Arum: Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley ‘not done’
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Although Top Rank CEO Bob Arum acknowledged that negotiations are ongoing for a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the 82-year-old promoter vehemently dismissed reports that a deal has been reached.
"That's the one that we're working on now, and it may not be the one that takes place. Although I believe that the issues are being narrowed down, and I'm optimistic," said Arum. "But this process takes time and you can't just make it happen. Obviously, if I didn't think that it had a possibility of happening, then I wouldn't bother negotiating."
Pacquiao, who turned 35 in December, is coming off November's unanimous decision over Brandon Rios, who made his welterweight debut in the bout.
In victory, Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 knockouts) rebounded from a sixth-round KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in December of that year. He had lost a controversial split decision to Bradley last June.
The 30-year-old Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs) won his last two fights by rising from a 12th-round knockdown to unanimously decision Ruslan Provodnikov last March before earning a split-decision over Marquez last October.
Provodnikov, 30, is another fighter who has been considered to be in the mix to face Pacauiao. A former sparring partner of Pacquiao's, Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KOs), bounced back with two knockdowns during a 10th-round stoppage that detehroned Mike Alvarado as WBO's junior welterweight titleholder.
"I've been involved in this business for so long that I know that until everything is agreed to, then there's no fight. If it ends up blowing up in our face, and he ends up fighting Provodnikov, then you look like a horse's ass. So the process is ongoing. It's not done. These things take a long time to finish the negotiations," said Arum.
"Now, are we talking to the fighters about that fight and trying to get everything done? Yeah. But it's not done yet, and it will never get done if we don't reach an agreement with those fighters. There are all of these points and all of these side issues, and you've got to sort through it all and hopefully, eventually, it will get done. There's no guarantee."
Source: http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/313681-bob-arum-manny-pacquiao-tim-bradley-not-done
"That's the one that we're working on now, and it may not be the one that takes place. Although I believe that the issues are being narrowed down, and I'm optimistic," said Arum. "But this process takes time and you can't just make it happen. Obviously, if I didn't think that it had a possibility of happening, then I wouldn't bother negotiating."
Pacquiao, who turned 35 in December, is coming off November's unanimous decision over Brandon Rios, who made his welterweight debut in the bout.
In victory, Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 knockouts) rebounded from a sixth-round KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in December of that year. He had lost a controversial split decision to Bradley last June.
The 30-year-old Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs) won his last two fights by rising from a 12th-round knockdown to unanimously decision Ruslan Provodnikov last March before earning a split-decision over Marquez last October.
Provodnikov, 30, is another fighter who has been considered to be in the mix to face Pacauiao. A former sparring partner of Pacquiao's, Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KOs), bounced back with two knockdowns during a 10th-round stoppage that detehroned Mike Alvarado as WBO's junior welterweight titleholder.
"I've been involved in this business for so long that I know that until everything is agreed to, then there's no fight. If it ends up blowing up in our face, and he ends up fighting Provodnikov, then you look like a horse's ass. So the process is ongoing. It's not done. These things take a long time to finish the negotiations," said Arum.
"Now, are we talking to the fighters about that fight and trying to get everything done? Yeah. But it's not done yet, and it will never get done if we don't reach an agreement with those fighters. There are all of these points and all of these side issues, and you've got to sort through it all and hopefully, eventually, it will get done. There's no guarantee."
Source: http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/313681-bob-arum-manny-pacquiao-tim-bradley-not-done
Rumors Abound: Pacquiao-Bradley II Is Set
Their first fight was mega controversial, with the majority of watchers coming away believing that Manny Pacquiao had beaten Timothy Bradley. But the judges, two out of three, said different. Duane Ford and the egregiously flawed CJ Ross gave Bradley, a California-based boxer who used movement and volume to impress the arbiters, the victory on June 9, 2012 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, it looks like, will get a chance to scrub that stain, and show fight fans and Bradley that the loss was an aberration, a mistake of monumental proportions, as the Congressman has chosen Bradley as his next foe, in a rematch to be held April 12 in Las Vegas.
So says the rumor mill, though official word hasn't come from Team Pacquiao or Pacman's promoter, Top Rank.
I reached out to a publicist who does work for Top Rank in the late AM, and that person said that bout wasn't set to his/her knowledge. Pacquiao advisor Michael Koncz, via text, said the bout wasn't official, either. "Cannot confirm that yet," he said. But word has leaked out, and tellingly, I'd say, the lack of a refutation from Top Rank or Team Pacquiao is telling.
Bradley's star has grown brighter since that first Pacquiao tangle, as he got a W over rumbler Ruslan Provodnikov last March, and followed that with a masterful effort against Juan Manuel Marquez last October, handling him with relative ease comparing to how Pacquiao has dealt with the Mexican counter-puncher.
Bradley is now 31-0, with 12 KOs, and there will be a solid minority of fightwatchers who will tab him the favorite against Pacman, with their reasoning being that at 30, he's a bit fresher than the 54-3-2 Pacman, who turned 35 on Dec. 17. Then again, Manny worked all the angles and his hand speed and stamina looked spot on in his last effort, a wide UD12 over Brandon Rios in Macau on Nov. 23.
Readers, your thoughts please. Do you like the choice of Bradley over Pacman pal Provodnikov, if indeed rumor turns to fact? Is Manny the odds on favorite here or are you picking Bradley? Weigh in!
Source: http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/articles/17882-rumors-abound-pacquiao-bradley-ii-is-set
So says the rumor mill, though official word hasn't come from Team Pacquiao or Pacman's promoter, Top Rank.
I reached out to a publicist who does work for Top Rank in the late AM, and that person said that bout wasn't set to his/her knowledge. Pacquiao advisor Michael Koncz, via text, said the bout wasn't official, either. "Cannot confirm that yet," he said. But word has leaked out, and tellingly, I'd say, the lack of a refutation from Top Rank or Team Pacquiao is telling.
Bradley's star has grown brighter since that first Pacquiao tangle, as he got a W over rumbler Ruslan Provodnikov last March, and followed that with a masterful effort against Juan Manuel Marquez last October, handling him with relative ease comparing to how Pacquiao has dealt with the Mexican counter-puncher.
Bradley is now 31-0, with 12 KOs, and there will be a solid minority of fightwatchers who will tab him the favorite against Pacman, with their reasoning being that at 30, he's a bit fresher than the 54-3-2 Pacman, who turned 35 on Dec. 17. Then again, Manny worked all the angles and his hand speed and stamina looked spot on in his last effort, a wide UD12 over Brandon Rios in Macau on Nov. 23.
Readers, your thoughts please. Do you like the choice of Bradley over Pacman pal Provodnikov, if indeed rumor turns to fact? Is Manny the odds on favorite here or are you picking Bradley? Weigh in!
Source: http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/articles/17882-rumors-abound-pacquiao-bradley-ii-is-set
One of boxing's best has his sights set on Manny Pacquiao
Mikey Garcia is unquestionably one of the world's greatest fighters, but it seems like he's walking into a trap.
He'll face the 30-1-2 Juan Carlos Burgos on Saturday for the WBO super featherweight title in the main event of an HBO-televised card at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
But little talk is centered on Burgos, who after winning 30 of his first 31 fights has, oddly, drawn the last two.
Rather, much of the pre-talk conversation about Garcia has been about big fights down the line, primarily one against Manny Pacquiao.
It's not out of the question that Garcia, 33-0 with 28 KOs, could wind up facing Pacquiao later this year or early next. Pacquiao is having difficulty finding an opponent for his April 12 date in Las Vegas, and assuming he wins against whomever he fights, it won't be easy to match him when he opts to fight again.
Though Garcia is fighting at just 130 pounds now and Pacquiao is at welterweight, Pacquiao himself has proven it is possible to make that jump.
On March 15, 2008, Pacquiao edged Juan Manuel Marquez in a bout at 130. He moved to lightweight to defeat David Diaz in June, and then in December, he utterly destroyed Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight.
There's an eerie similarity between the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight in 2008 and a potential Garcia-Pacquiao bout in late 2014.
In 2008, Pacquiao was the rising fighter who was opening eyes and zooming up the ratings. He was facing the veteran De La Hoya, who had been in decline and was looking for one final big payday.
Now, the roles are reversed. It is Pacquiao who is much closer to the end than the prime of his career, and it is Garcia who is making the big name for himself and is looking to move up in weight.
Read More: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/one-of-boxing-s-best-has-his-sights-set-on-manny-pacquiao-190235166.html
He'll face the 30-1-2 Juan Carlos Burgos on Saturday for the WBO super featherweight title in the main event of an HBO-televised card at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
But little talk is centered on Burgos, who after winning 30 of his first 31 fights has, oddly, drawn the last two.
Rather, much of the pre-talk conversation about Garcia has been about big fights down the line, primarily one against Manny Pacquiao.
It's not out of the question that Garcia, 33-0 with 28 KOs, could wind up facing Pacquiao later this year or early next. Pacquiao is having difficulty finding an opponent for his April 12 date in Las Vegas, and assuming he wins against whomever he fights, it won't be easy to match him when he opts to fight again.
Though Garcia is fighting at just 130 pounds now and Pacquiao is at welterweight, Pacquiao himself has proven it is possible to make that jump.
On March 15, 2008, Pacquiao edged Juan Manuel Marquez in a bout at 130. He moved to lightweight to defeat David Diaz in June, and then in December, he utterly destroyed Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight.
There's an eerie similarity between the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight in 2008 and a potential Garcia-Pacquiao bout in late 2014.
In 2008, Pacquiao was the rising fighter who was opening eyes and zooming up the ratings. He was facing the veteran De La Hoya, who had been in decline and was looking for one final big payday.
Now, the roles are reversed. It is Pacquiao who is much closer to the end than the prime of his career, and it is Garcia who is making the big name for himself and is looking to move up in weight.
Read More: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/one-of-boxing-s-best-has-his-sights-set-on-manny-pacquiao-190235166.html
ANDRE WARD: “GOLOVKIN’S WHOLE REPUTATION IS BUILT ON BEING THIS FEARLESS PUNCHER, THIS GUY WHO WILL FIGHT ANYBODY, ANYTIME, BUT NOW THEY SAY THEY WANT TO STAY AT 160!"
When pound for pound talk starts, there is one fighter that everyone has at the top of their list, the being Floyd Mayweather Jr. When it comes to the second best, there is just as little debate, as Andre ‘S.O.G’ Ward has fought the very best in his weight class and remained undefeated while doing it. The only debate revolving Ward is whether or not the best fighters below his weight class should come up in weight to face him.
In part 1 of my interview with Andre Ward, I get his thoughts on 2013 in which he made his comeback to the sport and ask him about when he thinks he will be returning to the ring. I also talk with Andre about his promotional issues that have caused him to file suit against his promoter and could effect his ring return. Additionally I speak to Andre about possible fights with both Carl Froch and Gennady Golovkin, and which of those fights is more likely. Here is what Andre Ward had to say.
JENNA J:
Andre, you had just 1 fight last year, how did it feel to return against Edwin Rodriguez?
ANDRE WARD:
My 2013 was rough, but you can’t just take the peaks, you gotta take the valleys too, and a lot of times with years like I had last year in 2013 from a physical stand point, a business standpoint, that just made me stronger.
I learned a lot, I matured a lot, and it really stretched me and my faith in God and the things that I talk about. I actually had to walk them out because we had some rough challenges in 2013, but we got through it.
I fought only once, but I physically in the ring, I felt great. I appreciate all the positive feedback that I got, but let me tell you, we’re working to turn that up and take that to another level. What people saw in my last fight, we’re getting ready to turn it up in 2014.
JENNA:
So when will fans see you return to the ring?
WARD:
We’re in the process of trying to lock down a date and as a team figure out what the next move is gonna be. You know there’s always periods before a fight is made where there are several options, several dates, several directions we can go.
We gotta eliminate what’s not realistic and focus on what is realistic. That’s what we’re in the process of doing. As always, as soon as something becomes solid and as soon as I’m able to talk about it, the fans will be the first to know.
JENNA:
Edwin went in with the style to try to rough you up, similar to what Sakio Bika did. What allowed you to be prepared for what he was gonna do in the ring, and why didn’t it give you troubles like it did with Bika?
Read More: http://otrboxingradio.com/?p=2921
In part 1 of my interview with Andre Ward, I get his thoughts on 2013 in which he made his comeback to the sport and ask him about when he thinks he will be returning to the ring. I also talk with Andre about his promotional issues that have caused him to file suit against his promoter and could effect his ring return. Additionally I speak to Andre about possible fights with both Carl Froch and Gennady Golovkin, and which of those fights is more likely. Here is what Andre Ward had to say.
JENNA J:
Andre, you had just 1 fight last year, how did it feel to return against Edwin Rodriguez?
ANDRE WARD:
My 2013 was rough, but you can’t just take the peaks, you gotta take the valleys too, and a lot of times with years like I had last year in 2013 from a physical stand point, a business standpoint, that just made me stronger.
I learned a lot, I matured a lot, and it really stretched me and my faith in God and the things that I talk about. I actually had to walk them out because we had some rough challenges in 2013, but we got through it.
I fought only once, but I physically in the ring, I felt great. I appreciate all the positive feedback that I got, but let me tell you, we’re working to turn that up and take that to another level. What people saw in my last fight, we’re getting ready to turn it up in 2014.
JENNA:
So when will fans see you return to the ring?
WARD:
We’re in the process of trying to lock down a date and as a team figure out what the next move is gonna be. You know there’s always periods before a fight is made where there are several options, several dates, several directions we can go.
We gotta eliminate what’s not realistic and focus on what is realistic. That’s what we’re in the process of doing. As always, as soon as something becomes solid and as soon as I’m able to talk about it, the fans will be the first to know.
JENNA:
Edwin went in with the style to try to rough you up, similar to what Sakio Bika did. What allowed you to be prepared for what he was gonna do in the ring, and why didn’t it give you troubles like it did with Bika?
Read More: http://otrboxingradio.com/?p=2921
Ring Ratings Update: Jean Pascal climbs light heavyweight rankings
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Former light heavyweight champ Jean Pascal made a large leap up THE RING’s 175-pound rankings following his unanimous decision over Lucian Bute. The magazine’s Ratings Panel also saw fit to update and reshuffle the light heavyweight top 10.
Here is the summary of this weekend’s ratings:
Light heavyweight: No. 10-rated Pascal (29-2-1, 17 knockouts) mostly dominated Bute, the No. 3-rated super middleweight, for the first 11 of the 12 rounds of their Montreal showdown. Pascal, who was dropped from the ratings due to inactivity caused by injuries, re-entered at the bottom of the top 10 late last year, following a victory over a journeyman. However, with a good performance against a world-class fighter (Bute), his history – such as winning THE RING title from Chad Dawson, scoring two victories over former contender Adrian Diaconu and being competitive in two bouts vs. Bernard Hopkins – merited a move up the rankings. Pascal landed at No. 3, while Nathan Cleverly, Dawson and Tavoris Cloud – the previous Nos. 3-, 4- and 5-rated contenders – all of whom suffered KO losses in their last bouts, were dropped several spots. The new ratings in the light heavyweight division are as follows:
Champion: Adonis Stevenson (23-1, 20 KOs)
Super middleweight: Since Bute (31-2, 24 KOs) has fought his last two fights at light heavyweight, he will be dropped from the 168-pound division ratings. Everyone previously rated below Bute will move up one spot and former title challenger Marco Periban (20-1-1, 13KOs) will move into the No. 10 spot.
Middleweight: Darren Barker (No. 5) announced his retirement due to a recurring hip injury. He will be removed from the ratings and everyone below elevated a spot, with Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam (28-1, 17 KOs) returning to the list at No. 10.
Junior bantamweight: No. 9-rated Felipe Orucuta (29-2, 24 KOs) was busy with a 10th-round stoppage over unrated Gabriel Pena. No changes.
Source: http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/313613-313613#/slide/1
Here is the summary of this weekend’s ratings:
Light heavyweight: No. 10-rated Pascal (29-2-1, 17 knockouts) mostly dominated Bute, the No. 3-rated super middleweight, for the first 11 of the 12 rounds of their Montreal showdown. Pascal, who was dropped from the ratings due to inactivity caused by injuries, re-entered at the bottom of the top 10 late last year, following a victory over a journeyman. However, with a good performance against a world-class fighter (Bute), his history – such as winning THE RING title from Chad Dawson, scoring two victories over former contender Adrian Diaconu and being competitive in two bouts vs. Bernard Hopkins – merited a move up the rankings. Pascal landed at No. 3, while Nathan Cleverly, Dawson and Tavoris Cloud – the previous Nos. 3-, 4- and 5-rated contenders – all of whom suffered KO losses in their last bouts, were dropped several spots. The new ratings in the light heavyweight division are as follows:
Champion: Adonis Stevenson (23-1, 20 KOs)
- Bernard Hopkins (54-6-2, 32 KOs)
- Sergey Kovalev (23-0-1, 21KOs)
- Jean Pascal
- Beibut Shumenov (14-1, 9 KOs)
- Juergen Braehmer (42-2, 31 KOs)
- Chad Dawson (31-3, 17KOs)
- Tavoris Cloud (24-2, 19 KOs)
- Nathan Cleverly (26-1, 12 KOs)
- Tony Bellew (20-2-1, 12 KOs)
- Isaac Chilemba (21-2-2, 9 KOs)
Super middleweight: Since Bute (31-2, 24 KOs) has fought his last two fights at light heavyweight, he will be dropped from the 168-pound division ratings. Everyone previously rated below Bute will move up one spot and former title challenger Marco Periban (20-1-1, 13KOs) will move into the No. 10 spot.
Middleweight: Darren Barker (No. 5) announced his retirement due to a recurring hip injury. He will be removed from the ratings and everyone below elevated a spot, with Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam (28-1, 17 KOs) returning to the list at No. 10.
Junior bantamweight: No. 9-rated Felipe Orucuta (29-2, 24 KOs) was busy with a 10th-round stoppage over unrated Gabriel Pena. No changes.
Source: http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/313613-313613#/slide/1
Is Floyd Mayweather running scared from Gennady Golovkin?
IT was interesting to read in the current edition of Boxing News that the team picked Floyd Mayweather v Gennady Golovkin as the fight it would most like to see in 2014, ahead of quite a few potential classics.
Which fight fan wouldn’t want to witness Mayweather’s super slick skills tested by the relentless controlled aggression of “GGG”? There’s more than a few who suspect the Kazakh’s power might enable him to inflict a first professional to defeat on “Pretty Boy Floyd”.
Leaving aside that they box for different promoters and are aligned with different TV companies, there’s one other stumbling block: Mayweather has made it pretty clear he doesn’t want to tackle a full middleweight like Golovkin. He has a strong case in that he is the sport’s biggest star, and the one who will bring most money to the table in the event if the match being made. In other words, Golovkin should shed a few pounds to even up their chances.
But hold on a minute. If Floyd were to delve in to the history of the sport that has rewarded him so handsomely, he would see there have been precedents for welterweights biting the bullet and going up to full middleweight.
In 1974 Jose Napoles was an outstanding world champion at 10st 7lbs/147lbs, who had reigned since 1969 (with a six-month interruption in 1970-71 caused by a cut-eye loss to Billy Backus, subsequently avenged). He could have gone on making good money against a crop of solid challengers; instead, the Cuban-born Mexican tested himself in the hardest way possible, stepping up two weight divisions to challenge Carlos Monzon.
The Argentine hardman was equally dominant in his class (11st 6lbs/160lbs), having reigned since 1970 with an awesome blend of strength and power. No doubt Napoles was tempted as much by a substantial payday as by writing a page in the history books; this was professional boxing after all.
But when considering Mayweather’s excuses about Golovkin’s greater size we should consider the size of the task Napoles faced. He had first reached world class at lightweight back in the mid-1960s and had scaled as light as 144lbs for some defences. Monzon, meanwhile, had been a middleweight since turning in pro back in 1963.
As it turned out, the 5ft 7 1/2ins Napoles came in at 153lbs, one pound inside the light-middleweight limit, for their February 1974 clash in the Paris suburbs. Monzon, a listed 5ft 11 1/2ins, scaled 11st 5 3/4lbs and was simply too big for poor Jose, who after receiving a pasting failed to come out for round seven.
There was no shame in the defeat, with Carlos continuing to reign until retiring undefeated in 1977 and going down as one of the top middleweights in history. But the fact remains, Jose Napoles made a bold bid to add to his legacy as a boxer rather than merely his bank balance – does Floyd Mayweather really want to end his career without making a similar attempt?
Source: http://boxingnewsonline.net/latest/blog/is-floyd-mayweather-running-scared-from-gennady-golovkin
Which fight fan wouldn’t want to witness Mayweather’s super slick skills tested by the relentless controlled aggression of “GGG”? There’s more than a few who suspect the Kazakh’s power might enable him to inflict a first professional to defeat on “Pretty Boy Floyd”.
Leaving aside that they box for different promoters and are aligned with different TV companies, there’s one other stumbling block: Mayweather has made it pretty clear he doesn’t want to tackle a full middleweight like Golovkin. He has a strong case in that he is the sport’s biggest star, and the one who will bring most money to the table in the event if the match being made. In other words, Golovkin should shed a few pounds to even up their chances.
But hold on a minute. If Floyd were to delve in to the history of the sport that has rewarded him so handsomely, he would see there have been precedents for welterweights biting the bullet and going up to full middleweight.
In 1974 Jose Napoles was an outstanding world champion at 10st 7lbs/147lbs, who had reigned since 1969 (with a six-month interruption in 1970-71 caused by a cut-eye loss to Billy Backus, subsequently avenged). He could have gone on making good money against a crop of solid challengers; instead, the Cuban-born Mexican tested himself in the hardest way possible, stepping up two weight divisions to challenge Carlos Monzon.
The Argentine hardman was equally dominant in his class (11st 6lbs/160lbs), having reigned since 1970 with an awesome blend of strength and power. No doubt Napoles was tempted as much by a substantial payday as by writing a page in the history books; this was professional boxing after all.
But when considering Mayweather’s excuses about Golovkin’s greater size we should consider the size of the task Napoles faced. He had first reached world class at lightweight back in the mid-1960s and had scaled as light as 144lbs for some defences. Monzon, meanwhile, had been a middleweight since turning in pro back in 1963.
As it turned out, the 5ft 7 1/2ins Napoles came in at 153lbs, one pound inside the light-middleweight limit, for their February 1974 clash in the Paris suburbs. Monzon, a listed 5ft 11 1/2ins, scaled 11st 5 3/4lbs and was simply too big for poor Jose, who after receiving a pasting failed to come out for round seven.
There was no shame in the defeat, with Carlos continuing to reign until retiring undefeated in 1977 and going down as one of the top middleweights in history. But the fact remains, Jose Napoles made a bold bid to add to his legacy as a boxer rather than merely his bank balance – does Floyd Mayweather really want to end his career without making a similar attempt?
Source: http://boxingnewsonline.net/latest/blog/is-floyd-mayweather-running-scared-from-gennady-golovkin
The King of Laval: Jean Pascal W12 Lucian Bute
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
There was plenty to fight for but very little fighting last night, as Jean Pascal scored a 12-round unanimous decision over Lucian Bute at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.
While billed by some as a Superfight (!), many of the characteristics of such an event were missing from Pascal-Bute. Neither man, for example, had any momentum heading into the bout. Pascal’s last big fight was in May, 2011, when he was mind-melded and tamed in a rematch against Bernard “Ancient Alien” Hopkins; and Bute, pounded out in five rounds by Carl Froch in May, 2012, spent the last 14 months on the shelf with a hand injury. These were not two locomotives colliding so much as a couple of rusty Saturns jockeying for a parking space. Nor was there anything like a mandate for the fight outside of Quebec: Pascal-Bute took place in a division whose intrigue lay in other fights and other fighters (and that remains the case after Saturday night).
But a Superfight (!) is also supposed to resonate with the paying public. Pascal-Bute, as shown by the almost 21,000 fans who churned the turnstiles in the Bell Centre, certainly did that. A Superfight (!) should be a high stakes affair, and with both men fighting not only for the distinction of being the best fighter in Laval, Quebec—a title that matters in the province’s rich fighting culture—but for relevance in a division passing them by, the stakes could hardly be higher. Finally, a Superfight (!) should deliver a violent and dramatic spectacle. Unfortunately, as far as entertainment goes, Pascal-Bute was anything but “super.”
A member of the generation that grew up idolizing Roy Jones, Jr., Pascal, left hand dangling at his waist, right hand cocked just above his sternum, began the fight leaping in with lead rights to the body and spastic flurries upstairs. Bute did little more than paw timidly in response, and even in those moments when he scored, any retaliation—effective or otherwise—forced him to bail and reset. Yes, it made sense that Bute—schooled at catching opponents coming in—would look to maintain distance; but from the beginning he was timid. Counterpunching demands a degree of danger, a willingness to bait and linger, and Bute showed very little interest in doing either.
Did Pascal’s awkwardness unnerve Bute? Was there still water in Bute’s lungs from being waterboarded by Froch? These are questions only Bute, Laval, Quebec, via Romania, can answer. That he looked decidedly less confident than the fighter who subdued the awkward and dirty Sakio Biko, however, is impossible to deny. Anxious and inactive, Bute allowed Pascal’s sparse but earnest blows to carry the action.
Notorious for gassing in fights, Pascal, Laval, Quebec via Haiti, showcased improved conditioning over the late rounds, which reflects both the level of comfort he found against Bute and the calming presence of Jones in his corner. Pascal’s activity picked up with his confidence, and while he was hardly going for broke, he was controlling the fight and firing back whenever Bute found the mark. Already leery of engaging, this threat of recompense seemed to diminish the already shrinking Bute further. That Pascal, 175, could strike his opponent with lead right uppercuts, that he could throw both fists at Bute simultaneously like the Drunken Master, and execute these brazen moves without ceding the least penalty, showed just how lost Bute was.
Implored by his corner to pursue the knockout he so obviously needed, Bute, 173 1/2, charged out for the twelfth, pinned Pascal in the corner, and lashed away. Despite looking wobbly, Pascal managed to spin out and return the favor. Asked whether he was hurt in the only heated exchanges of the night, Pascal demurred, saying that he chose to look vulnerable to help sell a rematch (perhaps determining that twelve more rounds with Bute are preferable to a scheduled twelve with Adonis Stevenson or Sergey Kovalev). Offering far too little, far too late, Bute, now 31-2 (24), dropped a unanimous decision to Pascal by scores of 116-112, 117-110, 117-111.
Now the boxing king of Laval, Quebec, Pascal, 29-2-1 (17), having staved off the ever-creeping promise of irrelevance, was pressed about his future plans, and specifically a fight with fellow transplanted Haitian, Adonis Stevenson. Rather than entertain participating in yet another Superfight (!), one that would rival Pascal-Bute for glory in Quebec and outdo it in action (though not duration), Pascal merely praised Stevenson for his recent success. Sergey Kovalev, another HBO-friendly fighter whose stock rises with every fallen opponent, was not even mentioned. Make of that what you will.
Source:http://thecruelestsport.com/2014/01/19/king-laval-jean-pacscal-w12-lucian-bute/
While billed by some as a Superfight (!), many of the characteristics of such an event were missing from Pascal-Bute. Neither man, for example, had any momentum heading into the bout. Pascal’s last big fight was in May, 2011, when he was mind-melded and tamed in a rematch against Bernard “Ancient Alien” Hopkins; and Bute, pounded out in five rounds by Carl Froch in May, 2012, spent the last 14 months on the shelf with a hand injury. These were not two locomotives colliding so much as a couple of rusty Saturns jockeying for a parking space. Nor was there anything like a mandate for the fight outside of Quebec: Pascal-Bute took place in a division whose intrigue lay in other fights and other fighters (and that remains the case after Saturday night).
But a Superfight (!) is also supposed to resonate with the paying public. Pascal-Bute, as shown by the almost 21,000 fans who churned the turnstiles in the Bell Centre, certainly did that. A Superfight (!) should be a high stakes affair, and with both men fighting not only for the distinction of being the best fighter in Laval, Quebec—a title that matters in the province’s rich fighting culture—but for relevance in a division passing them by, the stakes could hardly be higher. Finally, a Superfight (!) should deliver a violent and dramatic spectacle. Unfortunately, as far as entertainment goes, Pascal-Bute was anything but “super.”
A member of the generation that grew up idolizing Roy Jones, Jr., Pascal, left hand dangling at his waist, right hand cocked just above his sternum, began the fight leaping in with lead rights to the body and spastic flurries upstairs. Bute did little more than paw timidly in response, and even in those moments when he scored, any retaliation—effective or otherwise—forced him to bail and reset. Yes, it made sense that Bute—schooled at catching opponents coming in—would look to maintain distance; but from the beginning he was timid. Counterpunching demands a degree of danger, a willingness to bait and linger, and Bute showed very little interest in doing either.
Did Pascal’s awkwardness unnerve Bute? Was there still water in Bute’s lungs from being waterboarded by Froch? These are questions only Bute, Laval, Quebec, via Romania, can answer. That he looked decidedly less confident than the fighter who subdued the awkward and dirty Sakio Biko, however, is impossible to deny. Anxious and inactive, Bute allowed Pascal’s sparse but earnest blows to carry the action.
Notorious for gassing in fights, Pascal, Laval, Quebec via Haiti, showcased improved conditioning over the late rounds, which reflects both the level of comfort he found against Bute and the calming presence of Jones in his corner. Pascal’s activity picked up with his confidence, and while he was hardly going for broke, he was controlling the fight and firing back whenever Bute found the mark. Already leery of engaging, this threat of recompense seemed to diminish the already shrinking Bute further. That Pascal, 175, could strike his opponent with lead right uppercuts, that he could throw both fists at Bute simultaneously like the Drunken Master, and execute these brazen moves without ceding the least penalty, showed just how lost Bute was.
Implored by his corner to pursue the knockout he so obviously needed, Bute, 173 1/2, charged out for the twelfth, pinned Pascal in the corner, and lashed away. Despite looking wobbly, Pascal managed to spin out and return the favor. Asked whether he was hurt in the only heated exchanges of the night, Pascal demurred, saying that he chose to look vulnerable to help sell a rematch (perhaps determining that twelve more rounds with Bute are preferable to a scheduled twelve with Adonis Stevenson or Sergey Kovalev). Offering far too little, far too late, Bute, now 31-2 (24), dropped a unanimous decision to Pascal by scores of 116-112, 117-110, 117-111.
Now the boxing king of Laval, Quebec, Pascal, 29-2-1 (17), having staved off the ever-creeping promise of irrelevance, was pressed about his future plans, and specifically a fight with fellow transplanted Haitian, Adonis Stevenson. Rather than entertain participating in yet another Superfight (!), one that would rival Pascal-Bute for glory in Quebec and outdo it in action (though not duration), Pascal merely praised Stevenson for his recent success. Sergey Kovalev, another HBO-friendly fighter whose stock rises with every fallen opponent, was not even mentioned. Make of that what you will.
Source:http://thecruelestsport.com/2014/01/19/king-laval-jean-pacscal-w12-lucian-bute/
Manny Pacquiao Tries New Strategy to Smoke out Floyd Mayweather
No more Mister Nice Guy. That’s Manny Pacquiao’s new message to Floyd Mayweather. If the Philippines Congressman can’t entice the champ out of his hole with the fragrance of fresh currency, he’ll set a brushfire and try to smoke him out.
Since Floyd says he refuses to do business with Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, said Pacquiao, then why not take business out of the equation entirely and fight for charity? That’s a scenario he posed to The Inquirer, a Philippines news outlet.
Floyd was off his verbal game this week because he was touring South Africa on a goodwill tour, which left him wide open to questions from members of the South African news media trailing after him. When Mayweather is back in the States he and his handlers take questions only from carefully selected people who basically agree with everything he says.
So when Floyd got caught flat-footed by new queries about his reluctance to fight Pacquiao, he responded by saying Pacquiao wants the fight because he’s desperate to solve his financial problems. His Philippines bank accounts have been frozen by the government there, which is run by his political opposition. The government claims the step was necessary in order to investigate Pacquiao’s tax situation.
“All of a sudden, he loses to Timothy Bradley, he loses to Marquez … he has tax problems now,” Mayweather told reporters in South Africa. “So, two losses and tax problems later, now he all of a sudden wants to say: ‘You know what? I’d do anything to make the fight happen,’ when he’s really saying, ‘Floyd, can you help me solve my tax problems, get me out of debt?’”
Pacquiao, hearing the accusation, shot back that he’d be willing to forego any purse whatsoever if Floyd will do the same. “I’m not desperate to fight him just for the sake of money or material things,” he told The Inquirer. “I’m not the one seeking this fight. Rather, it’s the boxing fans all over the world.”
He added, “I am ready to submit myself to any kind of stringent drug testing. Above all, I challenge him to include in our fight contract that both of us will not receive anything out of this fight. We will donate all the proceeds of the fight – guaranteed prize, should there be any, gate receipts, pay-per-view and endorsements – to charities around the world.”
He strongly hinted that if Mayweather, who owns pieces of both the welterweight and super welterweight world titles, won’t fight him under these conditions he has clearly run out of excuses and must be “afraid.”
Pacquiao, 55-5-2 (38 KOs), who in recent years appears to have taken Christian teachings to heart, has been going to great lengths to say nothing negative about anybody, including Floyd. He even congratulated Timothy Bradley on a questionable split decision victory over him in June 2012 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao refused to say anything derogatory about judges Duane Ford or C.J. Ross, who both scored it for Bradley. Jerry Roth had it for Pacquiao. The WBO later had the decision reviewed by a five-judge panel. All five judges scored it for Paqcuiao, but the Las Vegas decision was allowed to stand.
Read More: http://www.boxinginsider.com/columns/manny-pacquiao-tries-new-strategy-smoke-floyd-mayweather/
Since Floyd says he refuses to do business with Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, said Pacquiao, then why not take business out of the equation entirely and fight for charity? That’s a scenario he posed to The Inquirer, a Philippines news outlet.
Floyd was off his verbal game this week because he was touring South Africa on a goodwill tour, which left him wide open to questions from members of the South African news media trailing after him. When Mayweather is back in the States he and his handlers take questions only from carefully selected people who basically agree with everything he says.
So when Floyd got caught flat-footed by new queries about his reluctance to fight Pacquiao, he responded by saying Pacquiao wants the fight because he’s desperate to solve his financial problems. His Philippines bank accounts have been frozen by the government there, which is run by his political opposition. The government claims the step was necessary in order to investigate Pacquiao’s tax situation.
“All of a sudden, he loses to Timothy Bradley, he loses to Marquez … he has tax problems now,” Mayweather told reporters in South Africa. “So, two losses and tax problems later, now he all of a sudden wants to say: ‘You know what? I’d do anything to make the fight happen,’ when he’s really saying, ‘Floyd, can you help me solve my tax problems, get me out of debt?’”
Pacquiao, hearing the accusation, shot back that he’d be willing to forego any purse whatsoever if Floyd will do the same. “I’m not desperate to fight him just for the sake of money or material things,” he told The Inquirer. “I’m not the one seeking this fight. Rather, it’s the boxing fans all over the world.”
He added, “I am ready to submit myself to any kind of stringent drug testing. Above all, I challenge him to include in our fight contract that both of us will not receive anything out of this fight. We will donate all the proceeds of the fight – guaranteed prize, should there be any, gate receipts, pay-per-view and endorsements – to charities around the world.”
He strongly hinted that if Mayweather, who owns pieces of both the welterweight and super welterweight world titles, won’t fight him under these conditions he has clearly run out of excuses and must be “afraid.”
Pacquiao, 55-5-2 (38 KOs), who in recent years appears to have taken Christian teachings to heart, has been going to great lengths to say nothing negative about anybody, including Floyd. He even congratulated Timothy Bradley on a questionable split decision victory over him in June 2012 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao refused to say anything derogatory about judges Duane Ford or C.J. Ross, who both scored it for Bradley. Jerry Roth had it for Pacquiao. The WBO later had the decision reviewed by a five-judge panel. All five judges scored it for Paqcuiao, but the Las Vegas decision was allowed to stand.
Read More: http://www.boxinginsider.com/columns/manny-pacquiao-tries-new-strategy-smoke-floyd-mayweather/
What We Learned From Canada’s Mega Fight: Bute-Pascal
Going into the fight between Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal there were many questions about both fighters that needed to be answered and while some of the questions were answered other questions arose.
Lucian Bute and his future had to be the biggest question going into the fight. After suffering a devastating knockout loss to Carl Froch in 2012 Bute’s career was in jeopardy. Could his chin take a punch and could he still compete at the top level and could he continue fighting on as a top seeded fighter?
In the loss to Pascal some questions were answered. His chin could take the blows from the heavier Pascal but had Pascal of been more active could he have of finished the fight on his feet? Bute was able to compete at times but his confidence in himself is not there. He could still possibly fight top ten fighters at 168 pounds but not against Andre Ward or Carl Froch and he seems too small for light heavyweigt. He can continue to fight but now he is more just a name until he can rid himself of his self doubt and pick up a couple credible wins.
For Jean Pascal the biggest qestions going into the fight was his activity and his conditioning. He has been known to gas out and was making weight for light heavyweight getting to be too much for him?
Pascal looked to be in terrific shape but that is just part of the battle. The lack of activity and the punch output from the Haitian born fighter won’t sell any more tickets for his next fight even though he was victorious. One week prior to the weigh-in he seemed well off enough that making weight would not be an issue. The biggest question that arose from Pascal came after the fight and it was a question that he avoided. Is Adonis Stevenson next for Pascal? The victory over Bute should say yes but does Pascal really want it or will he move up in weight because he claims it is difficult to make weight?
One question that can apply to both fighters, “was two million dollars too much for each fighter to receive?”
Had the fight taken place anywhere else in the world there is no way in hell that either of them would have been paid that type of money.
Source: http://thaboxingvoice.com/what-we-learned-from-canadas-mega-fight-bute-pascal/21714
Lucian Bute and his future had to be the biggest question going into the fight. After suffering a devastating knockout loss to Carl Froch in 2012 Bute’s career was in jeopardy. Could his chin take a punch and could he still compete at the top level and could he continue fighting on as a top seeded fighter?
In the loss to Pascal some questions were answered. His chin could take the blows from the heavier Pascal but had Pascal of been more active could he have of finished the fight on his feet? Bute was able to compete at times but his confidence in himself is not there. He could still possibly fight top ten fighters at 168 pounds but not against Andre Ward or Carl Froch and he seems too small for light heavyweigt. He can continue to fight but now he is more just a name until he can rid himself of his self doubt and pick up a couple credible wins.
For Jean Pascal the biggest qestions going into the fight was his activity and his conditioning. He has been known to gas out and was making weight for light heavyweight getting to be too much for him?
Pascal looked to be in terrific shape but that is just part of the battle. The lack of activity and the punch output from the Haitian born fighter won’t sell any more tickets for his next fight even though he was victorious. One week prior to the weigh-in he seemed well off enough that making weight would not be an issue. The biggest question that arose from Pascal came after the fight and it was a question that he avoided. Is Adonis Stevenson next for Pascal? The victory over Bute should say yes but does Pascal really want it or will he move up in weight because he claims it is difficult to make weight?
One question that can apply to both fighters, “was two million dollars too much for each fighter to receive?”
Had the fight taken place anywhere else in the world there is no way in hell that either of them would have been paid that type of money.
Source: http://thaboxingvoice.com/what-we-learned-from-canadas-mega-fight-bute-pascal/21714
Alvarez excited to face Angulo
Monday, January 20, 2014
Former junior middleweight titlist Saul "Canelo" Alvarez said Friday he is putting his September defeat against pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. behind him and is anxious for his March 8 ring return against brawling Mexican countryman Alfredo Angulo.
"This is a great fight for me and for the fans and I can't wait to get back in the ring on March 8," said Alvarez, of the fight that will headline a Showtime PPV card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. "Angulo is a true warrior and I have to be alert every second of every round when I fight him. I expect that we will put on a fight no one will ever forget."
Angulo is also coming back from a loss -- a 10th-round TKO against Erislandy Lara on June 8 in a fight in which he suffered a badly damaged orbital bone – and looking to re-establish himself.
"Canelo is a great young fighter who has earned his way to the top," Angulo said. "That being said, I know I'm hungrier than he is right now and I will take him to places he has never been. Our fans in Mexico and around the world will see what we're all about when we fight."
Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer and Alvarez's team talked about various opponents, including junior middleweight titleholder Carlos Molina and interim titlist Lara. But Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KOs) picked Angulo (22-3, 18 KOs), the opponent Golden Boy was pushing for.
Read More: http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/7170/alvarez-excited-to-face-angulo
"This is a great fight for me and for the fans and I can't wait to get back in the ring on March 8," said Alvarez, of the fight that will headline a Showtime PPV card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. "Angulo is a true warrior and I have to be alert every second of every round when I fight him. I expect that we will put on a fight no one will ever forget."
Angulo is also coming back from a loss -- a 10th-round TKO against Erislandy Lara on June 8 in a fight in which he suffered a badly damaged orbital bone – and looking to re-establish himself.
"Canelo is a great young fighter who has earned his way to the top," Angulo said. "That being said, I know I'm hungrier than he is right now and I will take him to places he has never been. Our fans in Mexico and around the world will see what we're all about when we fight."
Golden Boy promoter Richard Schaefer and Alvarez's team talked about various opponents, including junior middleweight titleholder Carlos Molina and interim titlist Lara. But Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KOs) picked Angulo (22-3, 18 KOs), the opponent Golden Boy was pushing for.
Read More: http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/7170/alvarez-excited-to-face-angulo
Mexican Superstar Canelo Alvarez Returns on March 8 To Face Countryman Alfredo Angulo at MGM Grand, Live on SHOWTIME PPV
Former World Champion and Mexican boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez returns to the ring on Saturday, March 8 to face the fierce and rugged Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo in the headline attraction of a stacked four-fight event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, presented live on SHOWTIME PPV®.
Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, the pay-per-view card offers matchups that promise to be exciting, all-action bouts. The most anticipated match of the night features Canelo, as he looks to reassert himself as the best young fighter of this era. Rounding out the card are two outstanding 12-round fights: Two-Division World Champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz (27-0-1, 15 KO’s) will defend his WBC Super Bantamweight World Title against former Two-Time World Champion Cristian “El Diamante” Mijares (49-7-2, 24 KO’s); exciting young star Omar “Panterita’’ Figueroa (24-0-1, 17 KO’s) will risk his WBC Interim Lightweight Title against Canelo’s brother Ricardo “Dinamita” Alvarez (23-2-3, 14 KO’s) and former Two-Time World Champion Jorge “Niño de Oro” Linares (35-3, 23 KO’s) will face Nihito Arakawa (24-3-1, 16 KO’s) in a lightweight clash.
Tickets are on sale and are priced at $600, $400, $200, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
March 8 is a hallowed date in boxing history as in 1971; “Smokin” Joe Frazier first met Muhammad Ali in the ring to begin their epic series. Now, eight fighters, including two of the most exciting Mexican stars of today, will attempt to do their part to add to its lore.
“This is a great fight for me and for the fans and I can’t wait to get back in the ring on March 8,” said Canelo, who will be making his first ring appearance since his mega-fight with pound-for-pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather last September. “Angulo is a true warrior and I have to be alert every second of every round when I fight him. I expect that we will put on a fight no one will ever forget.”
“Canelo is a great young fighter who has earned his way to the top,” said Angulo. “That being said, I know I’m hungrier than he is right now and I will take him to places he’s never been. Our fans in Mexico and around the world will see what we’re all about when we fight.”
“When we presented opponents to Canelo for his return fight, he immediately took the man who he expected would give him the toughest challenge in the ring and who also would help him give the fans the most exciting fight possible,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Alfredo Angulo fits the bill on all counts and this will not only be a stern test for Canelo, but I know fight fans are going to see all action from start to finish. I can say that about all the fights on the card, and in keeping with Golden Boy Promotions’ promise to fans, we're making sure to deliver the most competitive and compelling matchups that we can."
“We are very excited to welcome back Canelo Alvarez to MGM Grand for what’s sure to be a fierce battle with Alfredo Angulo,” said Richard Sturm, president of sports and entertainment for MGM Resorts International. “These two fighters are sure to bring their best performances to the MGM Grand Garden Arena for a thrilling evening of epic boxing.”
“This is the type of stacked, all-action fight card that SHOWTIME has become known for,” said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president and general manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “We are proud to present this excellent main event and compelling co-features on our preeminent platform, SHOWTIME PPV. Last year, this network emerged as the premiere destination for boxing’s biggest events and most competitive fights. The men and the matchups on this fight card embody our commitment to deliver the best the sport has to offer.”
A superstar in his native Mexico who has gone international with his appeal over the last two years, Canelo Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KO’s) is a former super welterweight world champion whose talent, fighting style and charisma is likely to keep him on top for years to come. Only 23 years of age, the Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico native turned pro in 2005 and he hasn’t looked back since he defeated the likes of Jose Miguel Cotto, Carlos Baldomir, Lovemore Ndou, Matthew Hatton, Ryan Rhodes, Alfonso Gomez, Kermit Cintron and Sugar Shane Mosley. In 2013, Canelo packed nearly 40,000 fans into the Alamodome in San Antonio for a win over Austin Trout to unify 154-pound titles. Canelo’s last fight, the main event bout vs. Mayweather, shattered pay-per-view revenue records, largely due to the growing popularity of the bright Mexican star. On March 8, Canelo is back.
A vicious puncher with a crowd-pleasing and aggressive style, Mexicali Baja California, Mexico native Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (22-3, 18 KO’s) produces exciting fights every time he steps through the ropes, as evidenced by knockouts of Gabriel Rosado, Joel Julio and Joachim Alcine, as well as his classic 2011 showdown with James Kirkland. Owner of 2012 wins over Raul Casarez and Jorge Silva, the 31-year-old appeared to be on his way to his first world championship in June 2013 when he knocked down Erislandy Lara twice in their interim WBA title fight. However, a controversial stoppage due to an eye injury postponed Angulo’s ascension to the top, something he hopes to rectify starting with his bout against Alvarez.
More: http://philboxing.com/news/story-91171.html
Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, the pay-per-view card offers matchups that promise to be exciting, all-action bouts. The most anticipated match of the night features Canelo, as he looks to reassert himself as the best young fighter of this era. Rounding out the card are two outstanding 12-round fights: Two-Division World Champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz (27-0-1, 15 KO’s) will defend his WBC Super Bantamweight World Title against former Two-Time World Champion Cristian “El Diamante” Mijares (49-7-2, 24 KO’s); exciting young star Omar “Panterita’’ Figueroa (24-0-1, 17 KO’s) will risk his WBC Interim Lightweight Title against Canelo’s brother Ricardo “Dinamita” Alvarez (23-2-3, 14 KO’s) and former Two-Time World Champion Jorge “Niño de Oro” Linares (35-3, 23 KO’s) will face Nihito Arakawa (24-3-1, 16 KO’s) in a lightweight clash.
Tickets are on sale and are priced at $600, $400, $200, $100, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes, with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
March 8 is a hallowed date in boxing history as in 1971; “Smokin” Joe Frazier first met Muhammad Ali in the ring to begin their epic series. Now, eight fighters, including two of the most exciting Mexican stars of today, will attempt to do their part to add to its lore.
“This is a great fight for me and for the fans and I can’t wait to get back in the ring on March 8,” said Canelo, who will be making his first ring appearance since his mega-fight with pound-for-pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather last September. “Angulo is a true warrior and I have to be alert every second of every round when I fight him. I expect that we will put on a fight no one will ever forget.”
“Canelo is a great young fighter who has earned his way to the top,” said Angulo. “That being said, I know I’m hungrier than he is right now and I will take him to places he’s never been. Our fans in Mexico and around the world will see what we’re all about when we fight.”
“When we presented opponents to Canelo for his return fight, he immediately took the man who he expected would give him the toughest challenge in the ring and who also would help him give the fans the most exciting fight possible,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Alfredo Angulo fits the bill on all counts and this will not only be a stern test for Canelo, but I know fight fans are going to see all action from start to finish. I can say that about all the fights on the card, and in keeping with Golden Boy Promotions’ promise to fans, we're making sure to deliver the most competitive and compelling matchups that we can."
“We are very excited to welcome back Canelo Alvarez to MGM Grand for what’s sure to be a fierce battle with Alfredo Angulo,” said Richard Sturm, president of sports and entertainment for MGM Resorts International. “These two fighters are sure to bring their best performances to the MGM Grand Garden Arena for a thrilling evening of epic boxing.”
“This is the type of stacked, all-action fight card that SHOWTIME has become known for,” said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president and general manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “We are proud to present this excellent main event and compelling co-features on our preeminent platform, SHOWTIME PPV. Last year, this network emerged as the premiere destination for boxing’s biggest events and most competitive fights. The men and the matchups on this fight card embody our commitment to deliver the best the sport has to offer.”
A superstar in his native Mexico who has gone international with his appeal over the last two years, Canelo Alvarez (42-1-1, 30 KO’s) is a former super welterweight world champion whose talent, fighting style and charisma is likely to keep him on top for years to come. Only 23 years of age, the Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico native turned pro in 2005 and he hasn’t looked back since he defeated the likes of Jose Miguel Cotto, Carlos Baldomir, Lovemore Ndou, Matthew Hatton, Ryan Rhodes, Alfonso Gomez, Kermit Cintron and Sugar Shane Mosley. In 2013, Canelo packed nearly 40,000 fans into the Alamodome in San Antonio for a win over Austin Trout to unify 154-pound titles. Canelo’s last fight, the main event bout vs. Mayweather, shattered pay-per-view revenue records, largely due to the growing popularity of the bright Mexican star. On March 8, Canelo is back.
A vicious puncher with a crowd-pleasing and aggressive style, Mexicali Baja California, Mexico native Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (22-3, 18 KO’s) produces exciting fights every time he steps through the ropes, as evidenced by knockouts of Gabriel Rosado, Joel Julio and Joachim Alcine, as well as his classic 2011 showdown with James Kirkland. Owner of 2012 wins over Raul Casarez and Jorge Silva, the 31-year-old appeared to be on his way to his first world championship in June 2013 when he knocked down Erislandy Lara twice in their interim WBA title fight. However, a controversial stoppage due to an eye injury postponed Angulo’s ascension to the top, something he hopes to rectify starting with his bout against Alvarez.
More: http://philboxing.com/news/story-91171.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
