Sunday, 31 January 2010
Shane Mosley Signs Deal To Fight Mayweather Jr.
Shane Mosley's attorney has confirmed that a contract to fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr has been signed by his client, with Mayweather's signature to come "in the next two days".
Mosley has agreed to fight Mayweather on May 1, with the MGM Grand Garden Arena the likely venue. Attorney Judd Burstein insists he has the word of Mayweather's lead advisor, Leonard Ellerbe, that the fight will happen.
"It's a fight people have wanted to see for a long time, but never happened for whatever reasons," Burstein told the Los Angeles Times. "Now that it's going to happen, Shane is looking forward to doing what he and many of his fans have long thought he would do."
Mosley had initially been scheduled to fight Andre Berto on Saturday night, but his opponent understandably had to withdraw for personal reasons following the Haiti earthquake, where members of his family are located. The bout has now been scrapped for the foreseeable future.
Now Mosley's attentions will turn to Mayweather (40-0), although confirmation is yet to arrive as to whether "Sugar" Shane's WBA welterweight belt will be on the line. However, Burnstein did reveal that Mosley has agreed to Mayweather's stipulations for random drug-testing, which was the reason Manny Pacquiao recently pulled out negotiations with the Mayweather camp.
Both Mosley and Mayweather have accused each other of ducking one another during their careers. This time, it seems nothing stands in the way of the latter putting pen to paper on the bout. (source: espn)
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Ring Hails Pacquiao As Decade's Best
The Ring magazine has named Manny Pacquiao as the best boxer of the 2000s.
In its March 2010 issue, Pacquiao was listed on top ahead of Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Juan Manuel Marquez, Winky Wright, Shane Mosley, Marco Antonio Barrera, Rafael Marquez, and Israel Vazquez.
Eric Raskin, The Ring’s contributing editor, wrote that “as far as we’re concerned, Manny Pacquiao is the only choice for number one.”
“In terms of quality of opposition and success across a broad spectrum of weights, nobody else comes close,” wrote Raskin, noting that in the division rankings,
Pacquiao rated No. 2 at super-bantamweight (122 lbs) and feather (126), first at super-feather (130), fourth at super-lightweight (140), and third at welter (147).
The mere fact that Pacquiao was even voted Fighter of the Year thrice (2006, 2008 and 2009) by The Ring and was 23-1-2 in the 00s, is more than enough to name him as the recipient of the accolade.
“And to name anybody else Fighter of the Decade would be unfathomable,” said Raskin.
Pacquiao’s biggest wins during the decade were those over Barrera (twice), Erik Morales (twice), Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto.
Pacquiao is revving up for a March 13 defense of his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Joshua Clottey of Ghana at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.(source: Nick Giongco/mb.com.ph)
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Cotto vs Foreman Set For June 12 @ The Garden
New York City, N.Y. -- (L-R) Three-time world champion Miguel Cotto, five-time world champion Felix Trinidad and WBA Super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Yuri Foreman, the 154-pound World Boxing Association champion, will make his first title defense against Miguel Cotto on June 12 at Madison Square Garden, the promoter Bob Arum said. It will be Cotto’s first fight since his loss to Manny Pacquiao. Foreman (28-0, 8 knockouts) is from Brooklyn and has a large New York City following, as does the Puerto Rican Cotto (34-2, 27 knockouts). (Source: philboxing.com)
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Monday, 18 January 2010
Berto Withdraws From Mosley Fight - Mayweather vs Mosley On May 1?
Andre Berto withdrew on Monday from his scheduled fight with Shane Mosley on Jan.30 due to family matters relating to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Berto's birthplace. He lost eight relatives and one of his sisters and family were left homeless. Berto's withdrawal would pave the way for the possible Mayweather-Mosley fight which is rumored to be on May 1st.
Is Mayweather now ready to face Mosley after years of avoiding him? Mayweather's fight with Manny Pacquiao was called off because of steroids issue against Pacquiao but Mosley used to be a steroid user. Is Mayweather a hypocrite if he challenges drug-user Mosley? Let's wait and see. -grsg03/boxlink
Friday, 15 January 2010
I'll Shock The World -Joshua Clottey
Ghana's Joshua Clottey has promised to shock the world by knocking out the world's best pound-for-pound fighter Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao, when the two clash on March 13 in Dallas.
Speaking in an interview with East Side Boxing of the USA, Clottey 35-3 (20) whose last fight was a loss to Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, said he had always dreamt about fighting the best boxer and therefore the fight against Pacman is a dream-come-true.
“Yes, this is the fight I have always wanted. I've always wanted fights like this - against the best fighters in the world,” he told the renowned East Side Boxing.
He explained: “I really want to prove my point in this fight; prove to the whole world that I am the best. I'm so happy to get this fight with the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”
Clottey, who jetted to the USA on Tuesday to sign for the bout, said he had started some light training, jogging in the morning and in the evening.
On who to spar with since Pacquiao is a southpaw, Clottey said he would think about it later.
“But one thing about me is I know how to handle southpaws easy. Miguel Cotto switched to southpaw in the fight and it was no problem. So I'm not concerned about Pacquiao's stance. I can handle that good.”
He commended Top Rank for arranging the biggest fight of his career. (By Charles Nixon Yeboah)
Mayweather To Face Cintron Next?
According to Michael Marley from the Examiner, Floyd Mayweather Jr. could be facing former International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Kermit Cintron (32-2-1, 28 KO’s) next on March 13th.
If this turns out to be the case, this would be a huge departure from the past for the 32-year-old Mayweather, who lately has preferred to fight smaller opponents. At 5’11”, Cintron is three inches taller than Mayweather and has a two inch reach advantage as well.
But even better than that, Cintron is a huge puncher, a lot more powerful than Mayweather or even Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent Joshua Clottey. If Mayweather wants to take away some of the excitement from the Pacquiao-Clottey fight, then Cintron is the right opponent to do that.
I see this as a better fight than the Pacquiao-Clottey bout, because at least Cintron can punch and wouldn’t just be a sitting duck covering up on the ropes all night long like Clottey. Ideally, Mayweather should wait for the Andre Berto vs. Shane Mosley winner to get free and then take that fight. But if Mayweather is determinedto fight on March 13th, then Cintron is a good choice. He’s ranked #2 in the WBC, #2 WBO and #3 in the IBF light middleweight division. Cintron has been stopped twice by Antonio Margarito, most recently in April 2008. In February 2009, Cintron fought to a controversial 12 round majority draw with Sergio Martinez in a fight that Cintron appeared to have been stopped.
I’d rate Cintron as a better opponent than two of Mayweather’s other potential opponents for March, Nate Campbell and Paulie Malignaggi. Cintron is much bigger and stronger than those two, and he punches like a mule. Cintron may not have Mayweather’s blazing hand speed, but if he can catch Mayweather with a big shot, Cintron can end the fight at a moments notice. He not only hits hard, but he’s much improved in terms of boxing skills. Cintron recently defeated top light middleweight prospect Alfredo Angulo, out-boxing Angulo over 12 rounds last year in May. It was a great performance from Cintron, who boxed at times and threw heavy leather at others. Although Cintron has been fighting as a light middleweight recently, he seems more at home as welterweight.
Cintron appears to be the much bigger puncher than Clottey with either hand. Clottey punches well with his left hand, but his right is weak and he has only one knockout in the past five years. That doesn’t say much for Clottey’s power. Clottey’s last knockout was against a fighter by the name of Jose Luis Cruz in 2008. His next knockout win before that was way back in 2004 against a fighter by the name of Christopher Henry.
“There is no bigger fan of Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s talent than myself,” said Cintron. “But the whole world wants to see Floyd fight a big, strong welterweight, and that’s where I step in. Everyone knows I can punch and Alfredo Angulo will tell you I can box, too. If Floyd wants to prove he’s a legit welterweight, I’m the guy he needs to fight.” (source: eric thomas/boxingnews24.com)
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Team Pacquiao To Push For Catchweight vs Clottey
MANILA, Philippines – A member of Team Pacquiao revealed their plan to propose a catchweight for the March 13 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey, after it was earlier reported that trainer Freddie Roach said there will be no catchweight.
“We will push for the 145 [lbs.] catchweight,” Pacquiao’s lawyer, Jeng Gacal, told ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda.”
According to Gacal, the fight deal is sealed, save for the possible catchweight. Pacquiao and Clottey are slated to fight at 147 lbs.
“Ilalakad po natin tulad po sa nangyari sa [Miguel] Cotto fight na 145. Talagang mas malaki ang mga taong ito,” said Gacal, referring to Clottey and Cotto who were naturally bigger fighters than Pacquiao.
Roach, on the other hand, earlier said that the Filipino boxing superstar was comfortable with fighting at 147 lbs.
“It will be at 147. There’s no catchweight,” Roach told FightHype.com. A catchweight describes the weight limit for a fight that does not fall in traditional limits for weight classes.
Pacquiao will put his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title at stake when he faces Ghana’s Clottey, the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion, at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Feather in cap
Gacal went on to disclose Pacquiao’s plans for his training camp.
“Sa America po [ang training] ang plano ni Manny. Ngayong Linggo, maaaring lumipad kami patungong America.”
As for the purse split, Gacal stated: “Maganda po ang hatian sapagkat ito’y natural na mas pabor ito kay Manny Pacquiao sapagkat alam naman po natin na ang alas dito ay si Manny Pacquiao.”
The lawyer also commented on Pacquiao’s upcoming debut at the Cowboys Stadium.
“Sa sitwasyon pong ito, talagang yung may-ari ng stadium na si Mr. Jerry Jones, talagang gusto niyang makuha si Manny Pacquiao na mapanood sa kaniyang lugar. Ito po ay ika nga, feather in his cap."
“At maganda naman po ang naging offer ni Mr. Jerry Jones so ito po ay makakabuti rin sa dalawang boxer at para mabago rin ang venue. Medyo lagi nalang sa Vegas,” noted Gacal.
Post-Clottey
The seven-division champion was supposed to fight Floyd Mayweather, Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The much-anticipated bout, however, was called off because the boxers’ camps disagreed on the drug testing protocol.
“Hindi ko alam kung mangyayari pa,” Gacal said of the Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight. “Siguro kung magbabago ang takbo ng pag-iisip ni Floyd ay maaring mangyayari.”
He also mentioned that there are other plans lined up for Pacquiao if ever he wins over his Ghanaian foe.
Meanwhile, Gacal said the Clottey fight will not get in the way of Pacquiao’s political plans of running for the Saragani Province congressional seat in May.
He believes that Pacquiao’s two-month absence from the local scene, as he will be training and fighting in the US, will not affect his political campaign.
“Hindi pa naman puwede mangampanya sapagkat ang pangangampanya ng local officials ay magsisimula sa March 26. Mahaba-haba na rin yung preparasyon ni Manny sa kaniyang pagtakbo. He started almost a year ago.” (source: abs-cbn news)
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