Marquez, Diaz clash in title rematch

Watch the fight at BOXING LIVE

MANILA, Philippines - Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz slug it out in a title rematch of their 2009 Fight of the Year.

The two warriors went at each other Feb. 28 of last year at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, in a virtual slugfest filled with furious exchanges. Marquez came back from a slow start and pummeled Diaz later in the fight to score a ninth round technical knockout.

At the time referee Rafael Ramos stopped the fight, Marquez was ahead in one of the judges’ scorecard (77-75), while Diaz got the nod of the other one (77-75). The third judge had it tied at 76-76.

The dramatic ending and the explosiveness that typified each round earned it the 2009 Fight of the Year honor from the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA), ESPN.com, and the Ring Magazine.

One of Mexico’s legendary warriors, Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KOs) has won world titles in the featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight divisions over the course of a 17-year pro career bound for the Hall of Fame.

Winner of six of his last eight bouts, the only losses coming at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Filipino Manny Pacquiao, Marquez remains on top of his game even at the advance age of 36.

On the other hand, Diaz has been fighting as a pro at the age of 16.

At 26, Diaz (35-3, 17 KOs) has practically grown up in the fight game and held the world lightweight title from 2004 to 2007.

A native of Houston Texas, he’s now looking to regain the crown in Las Vegas, where he has been unbeaten in four fights.

Source: philstar.com

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Floyd Mayweather’s camp says it never agreed to details of Manny Pacquiao fight

In response to deadline, Mayweather’s advisor says sides had never agreed to meet on Nov. 13

Floyd Mayweather's camp issued a statement Monday afternoon regarding recent comments made by Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum.

At 11:59 p.m. on July 16, Arum held a conference call to inform media members that although both sides of the potential megafight had basically agreed on all points of a contract to meet Nov. 13, Mayweather's hesitancy to sign off on the deal had forced Top Rank to seek a new opponent for Pacquiao.

In a statement released Monday, Mayweather's advisor Leonard Ellerbe said that a deal between the two sides never was made as Arum had suggested.

"Here are the facts," the statement said. "(Mayweather's manager) Al Haymon, (Golden Boy Promotions CEO) Richard Schafer and myself speak to each other on a regular basis, and the truth is no negotiations have ever taken place, nor was there ever a deal agreed upon by Team Mayweather or Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao Nov. 13."

It was the first statement made by anyone on Mayweather's side since negotiations reportedly began following Mayweather's latest win over Shane Mosley on May 1. If it happens, the Pacquiao fight is expected to be the richest in boxing history with each fighter making as much as $60 million.

Both sides were put under a gag order by HBO during negotiations, a request that ended when Arum leaked to certain news sites that the deal was close in late June.

In his July 16 conference call, Arum admitted he hadn't been in direct contact with Mayweather's camp and that all negotiations were being relayed through HBO president Ross Greenburg.

Ellerbe's statement verified as much, saying that either Greenburg or Arum was lying about the negotiations. Not surprisingly, Ellerbe hinted that Arum, who once promoted Mayweather before the two had a falling out, was the culprit

"Either Ross Greenburg or Bob Arum is not telling the truth," Ellerbe said. "But history tells us who is lying."

Pacquiao is expected to now face either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13. According to Arum, a deal with either of those two could be made as quickly as next week.

source: Brett Okamoto | lasvegassun.com

It's Pacquiao's pick: Cotto or Margarito

MANILA, Philippines - Unless Floyd Mayweather Jr. interferes, Manny Pacquiao
will soon have to choose between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito

“I have to discuss with Manny who he prefers then get everything put together,” said Top Rank chief Bob Arum during Friday’s teleconference, portions of which were relayed to The STAR by top-shelf publicist Fred Sternburg.

Arum said it’s all up to Pacquiao whether he wants to face Cotto a second time or take on Antonio Margarito for the first time. Either way, he gets a crack at an eighth world title in eight different weight divisions.

“It will be Manny’s decision.I do not have a preference.I do not want to prejudice the situation.I want Manny to decide,” said Arum, adding that a deal with either Cotto or Margarito could be made in 10 days.

But Arum made it clear that in that short period, Mayweather can still come up and say he wants the Super Fight with Pacquiao. But that’s as long as Arum can wait because there are certain time limitations to consider.

“He (Pacquiao) is a very intelligent guy and knows what the considerations are and whomever he selects is who we will go after and make the fight,” said Arum, generous enough to give Mayweather until last Friday to decide.

“Because I am dealing with another situation.I am representing a fighter who is also a congressman.He has legislative duties and commitments in the Philippines and I have really short windows to do various aspects of the promotion,” said the legendary promoter.

Read more at: philstar.com

No one can beat Pacquiao – Roach

source: NICK GIONGCO | mb.com.ph

Regardless of who it’s going to be for Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 – Mexican Antonio Margarito or Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto – top trainer Freddie Roach believes the Filipino star will win hands-down.

“A hundred percent,” Roach told The Ring magazine’s on-line edition when staffer Michael Rosenthal suggested that the Mexican warrior charging into Pacquiao “would be as if Margarito would be walking into a meat grinder.”

Roach prefers to pit Pacquiao against Margarito simply because Cotto had already tasted the fury of Pacquiao’s punches last year.

“I just think Manny has his (Cotto) number,” said Roach, who guided Pacquiao to a smashing 12th-round stoppage over the Puerto Rican.

“I think Margarito would be more interesting for the fans. They’ve already seen Cotto,” he said. “Cotto was in the fight for about four rounds and that was about it. Margarito has been a pretty dominant fighter, except for the (Shane) Mosley fight. Cotto is at a higher weight now. And maybe there’s some interest because of the world title. And, who knows, maybe having Emanuel Steward in his corner will make a difference. That might add some interest.”

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is looking at either Cotto or Margarito as Pacquiao’s next foe after efforts to tap Floyd Mayweather the last several weeks proved futile.

Arum, however, said Saturday that Mayweather has another 10 days or so to make a contact while he talks with other fighters.

Arum said the Mayweather fight is not dead but now he must start making plans for the Asian superstar's next bout.

Possible Pacquiao-Floyd bout dead, says Arum

The clock – and not Manny Pacquiao – finally caught up with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Top Rank Promotions chairman Bob Arum said that Mayweather has failed to meet the Friday night deadline (Saturday in Manila) on whether or not to accept a lucrative November 13 showdown with the Filipino boxing superstar.

"(The Pacquiao-Mayweather bout is) dead when we conclude a deal with an opponent for Manny’s fight in November," Arum said.

Arum held a midnight conference call from Las Vegas to inform the world that he failed to hear anything from Mayweather regarding the latter's interest to go inside the ring with the fighting congressman from Sarangani.

"Floyd, for whatever reason, didn’t want to commit," said the 78-year old Harvard-schooled Arum, who promoted some of the richest bouts in boxing history, including the epic "Thrilla in Manila" and the super-fight pitting Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Tommy "The Hitman" Hearns.

"I’ve had no negotiations or discussions with any other fighter," Arum added. "This Friday was the end of the exclusivity agreement."

The 31-year old Pacquiao was hardly bothered by the failure to lure Mayweather in the ring for the second straight time.

"It’s okay with me if he doesn’t want to fight me. I’m always ready for any challenger," said Pacquiao, who attended the birthday party of chief of staff Jake Joson Friday night at The Republiq.

The Top Rank big boss made it clear however, that he’s not conceding about making the fight the world wants to see hopefully by next year. "He’ll (Pacquiao) look to do a fight with Floyd next year," Arum said.

The long-time boxing promoter doesn’t want to second-guess why Mayweather, for the second time in a row, refused to do a fight guaranteed to net him and Pacquiao at least $50 million each.

But he did mention that the coming August trial of Roger Mayweather, Floyd’s uncle and chief trainer, may have something to do with it.

The elder Mayweather is going to trial following a battery charge filed against him by a female boxer he once handled.

"I'm trying to rationalize it, and if it's because he may be reluctant to fight now because of the problems his uncle (and trainer, Roger Mayweather) has, then I understand it," Arum said.

"I know Manny would not want to go into a fight without the services of Freddie Roach. Presumably, Floyd feels the same way about going into a big fight like this without the services of his Uncle Roger."

The Top Rank chief revealed that he never negotiated with anybody from the Mayweather camp, but discussed the matter with Ross Greenberg, president of HBO sports, who acted as the sole intermediary between the two parties.

After Greenberg held a series of talks with both Arum and Mayweather’s adviser, Al Haymon, it appeared that both parties had come up with an acceptable offer, including the drug-testing issue that derailed last year’s initial negotiations for the fight, and a resolution seemed close to being reached.

Unfortunately, Mayweather would have none of it.

"Without knowing, I am sure that there is a very, very good reason that Floyd Mayweather has for not committing to a fight at this time," Arum said. "I really and truly believe that." Continue reading here...

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Pacquiao promoter unveils countdown timer for Mayweather

Pacquiao promoter unveils countdown timer for Mayweather

source: Dino Maragay (philstar.com)
MANILA, Philippines – The clock is literally ticking for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to make up his mind and fight Manny Pacquiao

Top Rank Inc., which promotes Pacquiao, has set up a timer on its official website that acts as a countdown for Mayweather to agree on facing Pacquiao.

The countdown timer, labeled as “’Money’ Time: Mayweather’s Decision,” has been placed on the topmost part of Top Rank’s website. As of posting time, Mayweather has one day and one hour to decide whether to face Pacquiao.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum said when the deadline lapses, he will look for other fights for Pacquiao, possibly against Antonio Margarito or a rematch with WBO junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto in November.

Arum earlier said Pacquiao has already agreed to the terms for the Mayweather bout, adding that it is now up to the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based boxer to give his nod of approval to finalize the fight.

Negotiations for a Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown, which is expected to be the richest fight in boxing history, had been hounded by issues on blood-testing protocol, with Mayweather insisting for random, Olympic-style blood testing.

Pacquiao reportedly already agreed to take the tests. 

Pacquiao happy for Floyd's ESPY win

source: abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines -- World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao said he is happy for American Floyd Mayweather Jr. for winning this year's Excellence in Sports Performance of the Year (ESPY) for Best Fighter Award.

The boxer-turned-Sarangani congressman said Mayweather deserves to win the honor as he is a good boxer.

“I'm happy for him na pinili siya ng ESPN. Siguro hindi naman siya masamang boksingero,” said Pacquiao.

He added that he is not really concerned about being edged by Mayweather for the ESPY plum this year since he has garnered numerous awards in his colorful boxing career.

“As a boxer, nakuha naman natin ang lahat ng mga award at siyempre ‘yung pinakamataas na award na nakuha natin 'yung Fighter of the Decade,” said Pacquiao.

Aside from winning the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) Fighter of the Decade award (2000-2009), he also won the BWAA Fighter of Year Award 3 times (2006, 2008 and 2009), Best Fighter ESPY award (2009) and the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year award 3 times (2006, 2008 and 2009).

Pacman-Floyd in 2010 getting slim

Meanwhile, Pacquiao said the chance of having a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight on November 13 is getting slim.

He echoed the sentiments of his promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.

Arum told Bob Velin of USA Today that he's frustrated with the negotiations with Golden Boy, which represents Mayweather.

"But I'm trying to rationalize it, and if it's because he may be reluctant to fight now because of the problems his uncle (and trainer, Roger Mayweather) has, then I understand it," Arum said in the report.

Roger is set to go on trial in August for a battery charge involving a female boxer he once trained.

"We have heard nothing from (Floyd)," Arum said. "But hey, it's not the end of the world. If it doesn't happen this year, hopefully it will happen next year."

Arum is also working out a possible Pacquiao fight against either former world champion Antonio Margarito or World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight king Miguel Cotto.