Manny Pacquiao-Amir Khan: Fun idea but won't happen

It's a fun idea, a novelty act. Put it in the same category of my continual pushing for a Klitschko vs. Klitschko bout.

That's right, put it under the heading of cocktail conversation, yes, but an actual event, no.

Unless Coach Freddie Roach, who can do many wondrous and unusual things, can split himself in halfd like an atom, it will never transpire.

I speak of newly crowned Roach pupil Amir Khan, UK's new boxing standard bearer, fighting Manny Pacquiao, Roach's summa cum laude student

They're both junior welterweights but my sometimes foggy crystal ball--I bought it cheap, slighly used from the also slightly used psychic Madame Auring--looks clear on this question.

i ask the glass globe which foretells the fistic future quite simply, will Megamanny ever do more than spar with Kid Khan?

Nary a milisecond later, faster than even Bernie Vee can post a pedantic comment under one of my examples of timeless literature here, comes back the reply in captal letters.

The message is so direct and unvarnied that even Professor Dumbledore could comprehend it.

FORGET ABOUT IT, FORGET ABOUT IT.

So I will and you shall but it';s harmless for chit chit on a slow Saturday night.

Roach could pull an Angelo Dundee and swtich corners like the great trainer did when Jimmy Ellis fought Muhammad Ali in the Astrodome. This was as close to an intramural fight as you could get and i was there in Houston taking a much needed break from my tough courses at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Dundee was Ellis' manager so he worked Jimmy's corner that night. Ali took no offense. It was sort of like a WWE scripted event except the fight was real. Ellis and Ali had already fought three times in the amateurs back in Louisville and had sparred hundreds of rounds together.

One gray day in Toronto, before the first George Chuvalo bout, I saw Ellis floor Muhammad with a left hook. Ali was so upset, he got up and whaled on Ellis. Dundee screamed, "Time!" and Ali ignored him, still whaling away on his sparmate and friend.

Ali handled the smaller Ellis easily. And Dundee took off his Jimmy Ellis sweater and put his Ali vest back on.

The fight was not memorable. But two things about the promotion were.

One, they had a disco fashion show at the Astroworld Motel which drew every pimp and hooker within 1,000 miles.

Second, and perhaps more striking, was that I saw Bert Sugar with no hat. Having no hat, I saw that he had no hair.

I snapped a picture of Sugar's dome. I am sure it would go for big bucks on Ebay if I could find it.

Khan versus Pacman will forever remain what it is, a fantasy fight.

Maybe I can find the Sugar sans chapeau pic and show it to Madame Auring.

Now that could be a fasinating reading.

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Pacquiao the boxer draws praise from UFC supremo Dana White

Filipino phenomenon Manny Pacquiao, it seems, is part of the fighting world’s stream of consciousness at present. And high in the mind of those in Las Vegas, now his home from home from home – after General Santos City and Los Angeles.

In the past ten days, all of which I spent in Vegas, the major sport on the horizon was the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was celebrating its centenary event, and some spectacle it was.

Mixed Martial Arts and boxing are having their own warring dance at present, at least the principal movers and shakers are, punch and counter punch attempting body blows in a rivalry which is fatuous and not fitting. Boxing and mixed martial arts have no bearing, suffice to say that boxing is suffering a financial slump where MMA is clearly, commercially on the rise. Cagefighting is big bucks at present, nowhere more so than Las Vegas.

UFC 100 is expected to draw in 1.3 million pay-per-view buys, was broadcast to 75 countries, and the ticket sales drew 5.1 million US dollars. Oh, and the tickets sold out in three hours. That said, behind the press ranks, I did see a smattering of a couple of dozen seats empty. Always inexplicable, that.

Yet the major commercial growth in the UFC is staggering, given that we are in a global recession. Zuffa, the company, which owns the UFC, grossed over 270 million US dollars in 2008. This year, that growth is estimated to increase to 300 million US dollars.

Boxing could take a leaf out of the way of the UFC’s book, and study some of their smart moves. Significant, then, that during the  UFC 100 build-up, Pacquiao was a name on people’s lips on several occasions. One, I imagine because Pacman has a strong foothold on the Las Vegas billboard landscape, but also because he is admired by fighting men the world over.

Michael Bisping, the British mixed martial artist, devastatingly knocked out by Dan Henderson – in a style reminiscent of Ricky Hatton at the hands of Pacquiao in early May – told me he would like to see more of Pacquiao.

And, in the main news conference in the UFC 100 build up, when asked if MMA was now bigger than boxing, UFC CEO Dana White was generous in his answer. “Look, man, we are looking at different things here. The UFC is bringing in 400 million US dollars a year into Las Vegas. Does that make us bigger than boxing ? Who knows ? I keep hearing people saying that boxing is dying. I’m a fan of boxing. There are great fights out there. Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter and there are some great fights to be made with him…”

There were plenty of nodding heads in the press ranks. Because everyone knows that Pacquiao comes to fight. And against Miguel Cotto on November 14, he will have one hell of a scrap. I’m backing him from this juncture to beat Cotto, regardless of what weight they are to meet at. My theory is that they should have met at 147lbs. I think Pacquiao will make Cotto, a great warrior, look slow.

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Boxing – Mosley Willing to Fight Pacquiao at 140

By Manuel Perez: In a sign of how interested World Boxing Association welterweight champion Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO’s) is in fighting Manny Pacquiao, Shane has challenged Manny to meet him at 140 for Pacquiao’s obscure IBO light welterweight title. Mosley is clearly putting the pressure on Pacquiao, because the Filipino star and his trainer mastermind Freddie Roach has been real big on making fighters melt down in weight to fight at catch weights.

The theory is by making his opponents melt down in weight, it leaves them too weak or dehydrated to fight at their optimal ability, softening them up just enough for Pacquiao to beat them. Naturally, many fighters want no part of catch weight fights if it means that they’ll have to be the ones moving down in weight.

But this is why it seems so strange for Mosley to be taking the reverse course by daring Pacquiao to fight him at not just 142 or 143, which is what Pacquiao and Roach have been dreaming up for Miguel Cotto, but at 140. The move is a bold one by Mosley, and it shows clearly his desperation in getting a fight with Pacquiao. But unfortunately it’s a wasted gesture on Mosley’s part, because Pacquiao and his team want no part of fighting Mosley.

I don’t think it matters a hill of beans what weight that Mosley comes in at, Pacquiao and Roach would still likely prefer the much easier pickings of fighting Cotto, who looks very beatable at this point in his career. Cotto was ripped apart and softened up for Pacquiao by Antonio Margarito last year in July and then Cotto took an additional beating in winning a controversial 12-round split decision against Joshua Clottey recently on June 13th.

I saw the fight several times and the best that I can give Cotto is four rounds. If I were to have mercy on Cotto, I would score it a draw but I’d have to have slept through several of the rounds where Cotto was running all over the ring and doing nothing but bleeding all over the place. Faced with a fight against a dangerous opponent like Mosley, who stopped Margarito in the 9th round in January, and Cotto, who is going through some hard times in his career, it’s painfully obvious who Pacquiao is going to face.

Just looking at Pacquiao’s track record of fighting a shot Oscar De La Hoya, war ravaged Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Ricky Hatton, it’s obvious that Pacquiao won’t even be considering taking on Mosley. Forget it, there’s no way Pacquiao would break the mold that he’s set in his career when choosing opponents and suddenly start fighting good fighters for a change.

Mosley can talk until he’s blue in the face about this weight or that weight he’s willing to fight Pacquiao, but it isn’t going to happen. I don’t know why Pacquiao is considered to be the top pound for pound fighter. I’ve lost complete respect for that title now that Pacquiao is mentioned in the same breath.

Here’s the deal: Once Pacquiao finishes off Cotto and sends him along his way, Pacquiao will probably go after another soft touch, someone like Amir Khan or Andre Berto. It won’t be Mosley, so he needs to get that through his head and quit wasting time calling out Pacquiao. This is about finding beatable – read: easy opponents – and fighters like Mosley need not apply. This shouldn’t be news for Mosley, because he’s been calling Pacquiao out for ages now. 

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Shane Mosley willing to go down to 140 pounds to fight Pacquiao

Shane Mosley just called me to elaborate on a news statement that he's willing to go down to 140 pounds to fight Manny Pacquiao in the fall.

"This will put a lot of things to rest," Mosley told The Times. "I don't think [Miguel] Cotto can even make 145, and now I'm saying I'm willing to fight Pacquiao at his weight. I'll do that and go back up to welterweight and fight Floyd Mayweather Jr."

There's been a noticeable delay before what was expected to be a routine negotiation to pit Pacquiao against his Top Rank stablemate, Cotto, in November. Promoter Bob Arum has been on vacation and is expected to update the situation Monday in L.A.

But Mosley is working to further complicate the delay by renewing his offer to land a payday against Pacquiao that is far more lucrative than an alternate bout against Andre Berto.

"What else can be said?" Mosley asked, referring to potential reasons the Pacquiao camp may settle on choosing to fight Cotto.

Pacquiao's response could come later today. I ran Mosley's 140 pitch past a close Pacquiao friend in the U.S., and he responded, "Wow! That's some news."

-- Lance Pugmire

Photo: Shane Mosley celebrates after beating Antonio Margarito on Jan. 24, Credit: Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times

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Manny Pacquiao's Coach: Freddie Roach To Be On HBO's Real Sports

The Emmy Award winning HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel returns Tuesday July 21st, exclusively on HBO.

This installment of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel will feature a segment titled: *All the Right Moves featuring the hottest trainer in the fight game three time trainer of the year, Freddie Roach.

Roach started off as a journeyman fighter who fought with tremendous heart, going toe- to-toe never backing down. His famous Wild Card gym has trained some of the biggest names in boxing and he is most proud of his current prized student sensation Manny Pacquiao.

Roach has come from a hard troubled childhood and is currently fighting every day with Parkinson's Disease. He has often stated that by training his fighters so intensely six days a week for twelve hours a day, is his personal way of combating Parkison's.

Freddie's mother has profoundly influenced him by two major rules to live by:

1.) Always brush your teeth  

2.) Never get married.

At the age of 49-years-old, Roach is still single and often considers his many fighters within his stable, to be his children. From the fighters I have talked to they can all confirm that Roach indeed cares and treats every  single one of them as if they were his own kids.

I personally agree with the Roach's rules. Some of my friends have had root canals recently and they tell me it is hell on earth. I have my spin tooth brush and no incentive to get married especially when I see these losers sometimes two time, three time losers and all the world of wrong that they go through.

This will be the 148th edition of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel , available in HDTV, debuts TUESDAY, JULY 21 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT), exclusively on HBO.
            HBO On Demand availability:   July 27-Aug. 17

 

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Mosley Willing to Drop to 140 for Pacquiao Fight

"Sugar" Shane prepared to join the junior welterweight division for the first time.

Shane Mosley, the WBA 147-pound champ today stated that he is ready and willing to drop down to 140 pounds to make a fight with champion Manny Pacquiao.

"There is unfinished business to take care of. I have never fought at junior welterweight, but I'm ready to fight at 140 now," said Mosley. "I am coming after Pacquiao's belt."

"This is the fight the fans want and I'm prepared to give it to them. It's up to Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao to stop running from me and step up to the challenge. Let's meet in the ring at 140."

In 2000, Shane Mosley relinquished his lightweight title to move directly to welterweight, skipping the junior welterweight division to take on Oscar De La Hoya for the first of their two bouts in Los Angeles, where Mosley would go on to win an exciting decision win.

Now with a major matchup with Manny Pacquiao on his sights, Mosley is looking to enter junior welterweight for the first time.

Mosley has been inactive since January after he knocked out Antonio Margarito for the WBA welterweight crown at the Staples Center but wants the two biggest names in the sport.

"First Pacquiao, then Mayweather - I'm ready to put all of the naysayers to rest. "

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Mosley Challenges Pacquiao To Meet At 140

Los Angeles, CA July, 17 2009—WBA Welterweight Super Champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley announced today that he is ready to go after Manny Pacquiao’s IBO Junior Welterweight Championship belt and for the first time in his illustrious career , is prepared to fight at 140 pounds. In a statement, Mosley said: “There is unfinished business to take care of. I have never fought at t junior welterweight, but I’m ready to fight at 140 now. I am coming after Pacquiao’s belt.

This is the fight the fans want and I’m prepared to give it to them. It’s up to Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao to stop running from me and step up to the challenge. Let’s meet in the ring at 140.

I want to reclaim the title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. First Pacquiao, then Mayweather—I’m ready to put all of the naysayers to rest. .“

Mosley last faced Antonio Margartio in January 2009 and delivered a ninth-round knockout. He is the current WBA Welterweight Super Champion and has held titles as a lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight. Pacquiao is coming off a second-round knock-out victory over Ricky Hatton in May. 

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The Curse of Being Manny Pacquiao and the Ungrateful Miguel Cotto

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao is the undisputed 140 pound champion and P4P King. Six time champion in five divisions and winning a record breaking four lineal championship in the process.

Awarded two time Boxer of the Year by the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America. He was included in the Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People and in the Top six Sports Money Earner of Forbes.

Recently he was chosen as the Best Fighter at the ESPYs.

He practically ended the career of future Hall-of-Famers, boxing greats, and box office kings: Oscar dela Hoya, Eric Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Ricky Hatton. He was involved in two of the most memorable and controversial bouts with Juan Manuel Marquez.

A date in the ring with Pacquiao would be the ultimate dream of almost any boxer today.

However, Pacman's current negotiation with WBO Welterweight Champion, Miguel Cotto, for their upcoming November fight earned an unprecedented criticism from Pachaters and Pacfans alike. 

Here's what they're saying about the 143 catch weight that Team Pacqiao is insisting:

"What would beating-up a reluctant and drained Cotto at 143 do? He's already the Pound-For-Pound king, why would he want to be called the Drain-Your-Pounds King?"—Dennis Guillermo

"If Pacquiao is really the one insisting that he won’t fight Miguel Cotto above 143 pounds, then he should be ashamed. If he’s the force behind this silly argument, then he is taking the “Man” out of “Manny.”...It demeans Pacquiao, especially his well earned status as the world’s best pound for fighter, to be quibbling over two measly pounds concerning this Nov. 14 bout. Does Pacman wish to look like a bully outside of the ring? Methinks not but he is."—Michael Marley

"First thing's first, Miguel Cotto 

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PACQUIAO WATCH: 1.28M PPV buys

THIS column recently chanced upon Michael Koncz inside the coffee shop at the NAIA airport.

Koncz, along with Manny Pacquiao and lawyer Jeng Gacal, just arrived from the United States where the Filipino pound for pound boxing king shot a commercial with Las Angeles Laker’s Kobe Bryant and was on his way to General Santos.

After exchanging greetings, I asked him if the Pacquiao-Cotto is already a go.

No luck. Despite all the hype, no contract has been signed between Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto and Pacquiao.

The catch weight has become a thorny issue.

Cotto wants it done at 145-lb while Manny insists on 143-lb as the official weight.

Koncz says the two camps may eventually settle at 144.

As usual, Konz was coy about the fine prints of the contract.

That includes the guaranteed prize, the upside of the pay-per-view proceeds and other collateral income of the blockbuster fight.

With Cotto already a permanent fixture in the US professional boxing scene with a strong fan base in his adopted home city of New York, the fight, if it pushes through, should be a good bet to score pretty good at the box office.

But there should be no question as to who will get the bulk of PPV proceeds.

A 65-35 share – 70-30 even – in the PPV buys in favor of Manny should not be a problem.

This time, Manny’s camp should stand its ground as far as PPV proceeds are concerned.

When Manny fought Ricky Hatton, he was made to believe that Hatton will pull numbers in his native country England that could equal if not surpass the US PPV market.

Manny had to settle for a 50-50 split with the additional two percent, according to reports, coming from Top Rank’s Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions’ share from the PPV to sweeten the Filipino’s fight purse.

As it turned out, Manny got shortchanged in the deal.

According to Koncz, the US PPV buys for the Pacquiao-Hatton fight that ended in two rounds reportedly reached 930,000 while the UK proceeds was a “dismal” 350,000 bringing the total to 1.28 million buys.

The Pacquiao-Cotto fight should easily top the 750,000 mark.

It is essential, therefore, for Manny to get a guaranteed purse not lower than his last fight with Hatton. He should also gross no lower than US$15 million after all figures are added in.

Forget about Floyd Mayweather Jr., that superfight may not come at all before Manny plunges into politics next year.

This corner will be disappointed if Manny’s team cannot get the best in the deal.

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Silva, Machida fall short in ESPY Award voting, Pacquiao wins "Best Fighter" category

Boxing reigned supreme over mixed martial arts. For one night, anyway.

Despite solid past years for UFC champions Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida, neither won the 2009 ESPY for "Best Fighter."

At an awards ceremony held at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, boxer Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao earned the combat-sports award, which has never gone to an MMA fighter.

MMAjunkie.com reported last month that the three combat-sports stars, as well as boxer Shane Mosley, had earned nominations in the "Best Fighter" category, which the ESPY Awards added in 2007.

The awards, founded in 1993 by ESPN, honor the best achievements, moments and leading athletes of the previous year. The awards show, filmed Wednesday in L.A., debuts July 19 on ESPN with Samuel L. Jackson as host.

The online voters ultimately went with Pacquiao, who defeated Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton to pick up titles in a record six different weight classes. The two fights were some of the biggest boxing events of the past few years and won "Pacman" nearly ever major boxing award of 2008.

Machida's resume included wins over Tito Ortiz, Thiago Silva, and most recently, Rashad Evans to win the UFC's light-heavyweight title. Machida (15-0 MMA, 7-0) has now won 15 consecutive fights with stoppages in three of his past four.

Silva, meanwhile, is 3-0 over the past year with a non-title win over James Irvin and title defenses over Patrick Cote and Thales Leites, all in main event fights. Silva (24-4 MMA, 9-0 UFC) remains undefeated in the UFC.

Past MMA nominees have included Randy Couture and Quinton Jackson (2007) and Georges St-Pierre (2008).

U.S. Olypian Michael Phelps was the night's big winner at the 2009 ESPYs. He won the award in a variety of categories, including Best Male Athlete, Best Record-Breaking Performance, Best Championship Performance and Best Male Olympian. He was also honored with a group of Olympic swimmers who won the Best Moment category for the men's 4×100 metre medley relay.

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Manny Pacquiao To Put A Ring Around The 'Mosley'?

Manny Pacquiao To Put A Ring Around The 'Mosley'?:

Team Pacquiao has gone back and forth with Miguel Cotto over the specific terms to be granted for the scheduled November 14th showdown between the two, but the point of contention that no one seems to have an answer for is the weight issue. Team Pacquiao is steadfast on the 142/143lb range, while Team Cotto won't budge from the 145lb limit. With neither side willing to budge on the issue, Team Pacquiao is apparently open to budging in another way, of sorts. Unfortunately for Cotto, is 'budge' will be a swift move from one opponent to the next, as their seems to be an underground rumbling about Shane Mosley slipping back into the mix. Mosley has already agreed to take the fight at 143lbs and even conceded to accept the smaller purse. What else could a (pac)man possibly ask for? Cotto struggled mightily at 140lbs, so for him this may be a wise decision, but his indecisiveness may teach him quickly that 'weight' always seems to break the wagon. The clock is running out for Team Cotto. It'll be pretty interesting to see who ends up getting the nod. 

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Cotto Continues To Pursue 145-Pound Catch Weight In Pacquiao Fight

Though Pacquiao has insisted that he deserves the right to negotiate the megafight with Miguel Cotto on his terms, Cotto belives he has some pull, too.

In early July, the Puerto Rican WBO welterweight champion insisted that he would not go below a 145-pound catch weight in negotiations for the megafight with Manny Pacquiao proposed to come this November.

He's not backing down.

"My petition is the same," Cotto said recently in the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia.

Though both camps insist that the much-anticipated fight is practically agreed upon, no one is denying that negotiators still must agree on the ever-important catch weight along with the revenue splits.

Pacquiao would prefer to have the fight at a 143-pound catch weight since he is not a true welterweight. The Filipino superstar weighed in at 138 last May against Ricky Hatton. However, many analysts say this catch weight would still benefit the Filipino superstar since Cotto is currently much more used to fighting around 147 and up.

Still, Cotto belives that going below 145 pounds is more than just a disagreement.

"I am not going to risk my health. The [catch] weight of 145 pounds is final and firm," Cotto said earlier in July. Beyond those discrepancies, Pacquiao has said that the fight is, "80 percent [done]." 

“A pound or two will not stop this fight (from happening),” said Top Rank publicist Lee Samuels.

 

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Floyd Mayweather Jr's 1 million dollar plan for a Manny Pacquiao fight Now!

Floyd Mayweather Jr. faces Juan Manuel Marquez on September 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas , NV. On a confrence call on Tuesday to help hype the fight, Floyd Mayweather Jr. also discussed Manny Pacquiao.

During the conference Floyd Mayweather Jr. stated he didn't have anything bad to say about Manny Pacquiao, because Pacquiao has never called him out. "I don't have anything bad to say about him (Pacquiao) because he's never called me out," stated Mayweather Jr., who went on to add to his statement: "He’s never said he wants to fight me."

Mayweather Jr. then went on to say that if Manny Pacquiao really did want to fight him, that step aside money of 1 million dollars could be offered to Marquez.

Mayweather stated: "You don’t hear fighters calling me out and if they do it’s because they only want a payday. If Manny really does want to fight me all he’s got do to is say it. We can pay Marquez to step aside, we can pay him $1 million. Is you ready? Let me know.”

Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Juan Manuel Marquez will be shown live on HBO Pay-Per-View® on September 19th starting at 9pm ET/6pm PT. For more information and prices for the event, check with your local cable provider or satellite receiver.

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Manny Pacquiao beats Machida and Silva for 'Fighter of the Year'

It looks like UFC 100 didn't have any effect on ESPY voting as Manny Pacquiao beat out fellow boxer Shane Mosley and two UFC champions to win 'Fighter of the Year' at last night's ESPY awards. 

The widely considered best pound-for-pound boxer was the favorite going into the ESPY's and with two marquee wins, the most recent being over Ricky Hatton, coupled with wide known name recognition it was no wonder his odds were -300. 

This year did make history for mixed martial arts as Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva were nominated for the award. This was the first time multiple MMA fighters were nominated for the award. Last year Georges St. Pierre broke the barrier being the first ever MMA fighter to be nominated for an ESPY, St. Pierre didn't win. 

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Cotto now-or-never at 145 lbs vs Manny

Final and non-negotiable.

That’s what Miguel Cotto said when asked about the catch weight of 145 lbs for the proposed November 14 showdown with Manny Pacquiao as the Puerto Rican puncher reiterated that he is not risking his health by going way down to the welterweight limit of 147 lbs.

“No voy a poner en riesgo mi salud. Es peso de 145 libras es final y firme (I am not going to risk my health. The (catch) weight of 145 pounds is final and firm),” Cotto told the newspaper Primera Hora.

Pacquiao has insisted that he deserves the right to dictate the terms owing to his stature as boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound and that since he is not a legitimate welterweight, having scaled in at 138 lbs in his last fight versus Ricky Hatton on May 2 and 142 lbs against Oscar De La Hoya late last year, he ought to be given some leeway.

Pacquiao said he’ll only agree to fight if it is at 143 lbs although when interviewed some weeks back, he told a handful of scribes that the weight is the least of his concerns, saying “whatever” to a question about the catch weight.

Owing to the sudden change in Pacquiao’s disposition, there’s been a ruckus lately concerning the catch weight and the fact that Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is still on vacation has made it even more disturbing.

Arum, however, is upbeat that everything’s going to be ironed out once he returns to the US and that will be early next week.

Arum, whose outfit Top Rank promotes Pacquiao and Cotto, wants the slugfest to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“A pound or two will not stop this fight (from happening),” said Top Rank publicist Lee Samuels over the weekend.

Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz said he hasn’t talked about the Cotto fight with his boss because of too many commitments.

“He’s always busy and I am waiting for the right time to present it to him,” said Koncz Thursday as he was waiting for Pacquiao to wind up his TV appearance over a popular noontime show on GMA-7.

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Why Manny Pacquiao's guru and Amir Khan look a knock-out for the WBA title

After THAT knockout at the hands of Breidis Prescott 10 months ago, Amir Khan turned to the expertise of Manny Pacquiao’s trainer – Freddie Roach.

Click here to buy tickets to Amir Khan v Andreas Kotelnik

It may prove a seminal moment in the Bolton boy’s career. The 54-second debacle saw his status with the British boxing public suffer a severe dent and was a far cry from the adulation he received after returning from the Olympic Games in Athens with a silver medal.

Since ditching Jorge Rubio and appointing the former lightweight boxer as his trainer, Khan has recorded victories over Oisin Fagan and an ageing Marco Antonio Barrera.

While Naseem Hamed’s conqueror was a legend in his time, Barrera is clearly not the indomitable force he once was and only time will tell how significant that victory really was.

Still, Roach has confidence that his charge will become WBA light-welterweight champion after his fight with Andreas Kotelnik on Saturday, and who are we to argue?

Roach’s list of fighters reads like a who’s who of great boxers from the last 20 years.

Pound-for-pound king Pacquiao may well be the highest-profile boxer currently training in his Wild Card gym but plenty of other names of similar calibre have strode through those doors, such as Bernard Hopkins, Oscar De La Hoya, Steve Collins and even the iron man himself, Mike Tyson.

Such is Roach's versatility and world renown that he also trains mixed martial artists – albeit concentrating on their stand-up skills.

Chuck Liddell – the UFC poster boy for the last decade and recently inducted into their Hall of Fame – was one such client and Freddie has also advised the greatest MMA practitioner currently plying his trade, middleweight Anderson Silva.

Roach has also recently worked with Britain’s Dan Hardy, whose rise up through the welterweight division is gathering pace.

What marks Roach out is his keen technical eye as well as being tactically astute.

He told the press for months that he had spotted a flaw in Ricky Hatton’s technique and that Pacquiao would finish the fight within the first three rounds. Hatton’s noted durability and warrior spirit made many laugh that suggestion out of town, but it was the Filipino’s trainer who was smiling at the end of round two.

It was clear from the Prescott defeat that Khan had to work on his defence, especially seeing as he appears to have a chin forged in the glassworks of Pilkington.

The youthful enthusiasm shown in his amateur bouts must be tempered in order to succeed at the sharp end of the sport and a canny operator such as Roach should be able to iron out the openings in his aggressive style.

If he can’t turn Amir Khan into a world champion, then Frank Warren will be looking for another fighter to top the bill in the future because – as far as trainers go – there is no higher authority than Freddie Roach.

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Mosley’s Last StandMosley’s Last Stand

Is patience a virtue? I’ve never been able to stay in one place long enough to find out however long time boxing Superstar “Sugar” Shane Mosley 46-5-0 (39) may soon receive his just due according to the boxing roosters scratching around the proverbial rumor mill.

Shane Mosley revitalized his career twenty four days into 2009 with a magnificent 9th round stoppage of Cotto conqueror Antonio Margarito. He effectively destroyed the master of his tempest, virtually nullifying the significance Shane’s very close decision loss to Cotto in the minds of the impartial. A notorious distinction of the evening was the discovery by alert Mosley handlers of a foreign substance on Margoritos wraps that presumably would have hardened into a cast-like hammer. Cotto fans have every reason to speculate that it was undiscovered versus their hero thus leading to Cotto’s devastating defeat in an initially competitive bout. Loaded gloves, however, do not help a fighters chin or mental state. Cotto landed some absolutely monstrous missiles on Margo’s beard and the man just…kept…coming. If Margo’s gloves were indeed loaded it would obviously have had an enormous impact on Cotto’s head and body. Regardless, the results of their respective bouts are in the history book and their journeys continue from there.

It has been widely reported that the next fight for the theoretical pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao 49-3-2 (37) is to be at an unpopular catch-weight bout against Puerto Rican hero Miguel Cotto. It now appears that this match is at a stand still. Through tense negotiations the line has been drawn in the sand. Overachiever Manny Pacquiao demands a fight at a catch weight of 143 and the naturally larger Cotto will concede to a weight no lower that 145. Pac’s attorney Franklin Gecal commented “…we will not agree to 145 (lbs) and if Cotto insists we will go for Mosley”. It is a matter of history that if you choose to fight within a certain weight class that when you assume the responsibility and risks of your challenge. If you can’t compete in that weight class than don’t enter that realm (see heroes Billy Conn, Henry Armstrong etc…)

At 37 years old Mosley is justifiably calling for the biggest fights available, but his calls are falling on deaf ears. Despite the cries from the diminishing pool of die-hard fans

Unfortunately boxing politics, infighting and a general desire to minimize Mosley has forced him away from the green grass of prosperity of Pac and Mayweather and into the dry hay of Kermit Cintron and Andre Berto. It is not how boxing should be however Mosley is in danger of becoming a gate-keeper because he is simply too good. By all accounts Mosley is very financially secure after his divorce to former wife and manager Jin Mosley. Sugar Shane fights on not for money but for legacy; boxing history. This is a refreshing change to the current tide of tyranny and hand picked, so called manditories amid a cesspool of titles littering the boxing landscape like drive-by garbage on the side of the highway. Shane is a rare view of a true champion who just wants to fight the best with no strings attached. We don’t have to be nostalgic when we have the genuine article in front of us here and now.

All things considered all time great lightweight Mosley is better much suited to meet Pac at the lighter weight than Manny demands of Cotto. Pac wants Cotto at a low weight because Miguel has an almost cult like following which would obviously result in huge numbers and has rumored trouble of making the 147 limit. Arguing over 2 lbs may not seem like much but it certainly can affect the outcome (see Pac-DLH, Gatti v Gamache and countless other gaffes).

The fight to be made for boxing is “Sugar” Shane Mosley v Manny Pacquiao. Enough of the politics please….Lets box… 

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Mayweather says money dispute foils Pacquiao fight hopes

LAS VEGAS - Unbeaten US star Floyd Mayeather Jnr declared himself fit to fight after a rib injury delayed his comeback but says money demands have foiled a possible showdown with Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather dismissed Pacquiao's claim to the world pound-for-pound throne Mayweather vacated by retiring in December of 2007, saying, "It's like a T-Bone steak. After I eat all the meat off the steak, they throw him the bone."

Mayweather, 39-0 with 25 knockouts, will fight Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, 50-4 with one drawn and 37 knockouts, on September 19 after this Saturday's planned date was scrapped over an injury whose origin Mayweather kept secret.

"It didn't come from sparring," Mayweather said Tuesday. "Freak accidents happen in training. It was just a freak accident.

"I tried to work through it but then it happened again and I'm like, 'I can't be a superhero. Take a little time off.' I healed. Now I'm ready to rock and roll. I can't wait to get back out there."

Mayweather will fight for the first time in 21 months, since a 10th-round stoppage of England's Ricky Hatton, who was flattened in the second round last May by Filipino star Pacquiao.

Interest is great for a Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown but Mayweather said the bout is unlikely because Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum seeks a 50-50 split of profits rather than a 60-40 break in Mayweather's favor.

"He wants a 50-50 split. That's never going to happen. If Bob Arum wasn't trying to be so greedy, that fight would happen," Mayweather said. "It still is a business even if it is a sport."

Mayweather's past two fights, with Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya, enticed 3.5 million US pay-per-view purchases, said Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer, while Pacquiao "did a little bit more than half of that" against the same foes.

"It's difficult for Floyd to say it should be 50-50 because it really shouldn't be 50-50," Schaefer said. "Both fighters have a certain market value and they should get compensated accordingly."

While Mayweather said he has no grudge against Pacquiao, he neither has any great desire to fight him if the price is not right.

"Pacquiao is a good fighter. I don't take nothing from him," Mayweather said. "He hasn't done nothing I haven't done.

Where was he when I was dominating in the '90s? He hasn't called me out. I'm not hard to find.

"I ain't worried about him. With or without him, I'm comfortable. I'm happy. He don't make me (nothing). I don't chase opponents. Opponents chase me. The biggest fight in boxing is Mayweather versus anybody."

Mayweather and Arum had a bitter breakup and Mayweather said Pacquiao loses 27 percent of his paydays.

"Manny Pacquiao has the worst contract in boxing with Bob Arum right now - 27 percent," Mayweather said. "I keep 100 percent of my money. Are you serious - 27 percent? Arum tells Manny Pacquiao the same bull he used to tell me."

Marquez rallied from being sent to the canvas three times in the first round to draw Pacquiao in 2004 and lost a controversial split decision to him in 2008 but Mayweather rates Marquez a better rival than Pacquiao.

"I would have to rate him ovr Manny. For a guy to knock him down three times in the first round and he comes back to get a draw, we know who lost," said Mayweather, who has recently healed strained relations with father Floyd Snr.

Fight co-promoter De la Hoya, who lost to Pacquiao last December, said that Mayweather deserves the pound-for-pound crown, not Pacquaio.

"I'd have to go with Floyd. I felt more skill coming out of Mayweather than I did with Pacquiao," de la Hoya said. "The winner between Mayweather and Marquez is the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet."

Marquez dismissed Pacquiao as well, saying, "Mayweather is the best. He retired undefeated. When I fought Manny I thought I beat him both times."

De la Hoya tossed another dig at "Pac-Man", saying, "The fans are the ones who speak and we all know Marquez beat Pacquiao."

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Roach on the offensive

Freddie Roach insists Amir Khan has the key to break down WBA light-welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik's tight defence.

Khan will step up to the 10st division for the first time on Saturday night as he bids to wrest the title from his Ukrainian opponent.

Cagey, counter-puncher Kotelnik is expected to prove a stiff test for the 22-year-old in Manchester, but Khan's trainer is convinced his charge has the qualities to succeed.

"Kotelnik does have a very good defence, he's very hard to crack, but it's a passive defence," Roach told Sky Sports News. "He's a very straight-up, European-style fighter.

"Kotelnik fights in straight lines, though, so if you use lateral movement with him and keep him picking his feet up he'll never be able to punch because he's always resetting his feet and Amir's foot speed is where the advantage is.

"Kotelnik wins a lot of fights because he lets people wear themselves out on his gloves. It's why he starts slowly because he wants you to punch yourself out and then he comes on in the later rounds.

"But if you're landing combinations and getting out of the way when he throws back you're not going to be there. That's how we're going to win the fight."

Mindset

Roach, who also trains pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, feels Khan will benefit from the extra weight as well.

"I don't want him getting hit but it's part of boxing and at 140lbs he's more resilient," Roach added.

"At 135 he was draining himself even though he knows how to make weight. He still had to dehydrate his body and then try to rehydrate so you're not fully prepared.

"At 140lbs he's going to have breakfast the day before the weigh-in, he's going to be strong and he's going to be mentally and physically a much better fighter.

"Fighting at your natural weight you're going to be much stronger and a much better fighter. I learned that with Pacquiao.

"When Pacquiao has breakfast on the morning of the fight he's happy, when he doesn't he's a miserable guy, so a happy guy is going to fight better."

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No doubt on bout as Arum proclaims: Cotto-Pacquiao, 145

Some people think a little “birdie” spoke to Miguel Cotto as they played golf on a fancy course in Puerto Rico.

Some cynical people, my favorite kind, think the little “birdie” goes by the name of Oscar…De La Hoya…and that the little “birdie” told Cotto to demand that Manny Pacquiao fight him at the 147 pound welterweight limit or, barring that, at least at 145 pounds.

o stick with golf parlance, it would be “par for the course” for one fight promoter to stick his sand wedge in where it doesn’t belong, particularly given the history of bad blood between Oskie and his former promoter and Pacman promoter Bob Arum.

Meanwhile, respected journalists Recah Trinidad in steamy Manila and Housecat Matt Stolow in steamy Dallas are rattling their chains about the issue, implying that he would be taking “the Man” out of “Manny” if the Pinoy Idol continues to demand that Nov. 14 opponent Cotto agree to a contractual weight limitation of 143 pounds. Our Indy based Fight Sports Examiner Dennis Guillermo has also questioned how macho such a demand really is.

That could be cool so soon after Halloween, seeing Pacman assaulting a scarecrow.

To throw more gasoline on the growing bonfire, Pacquiao lawyer Franklin “Jeng” Gacal, also known as The Jackal, took to the radio airwaves in the Philippines to state emphatically that, unless the Cotto camp says yes to 143 pounds,

Sugar Shane Mosley will be called forward from the “on deck circle” that Arum banished him to.

In other words, Oscar’s Golden Boy would replace Arum’s own Boricua Bomber.

PACLAND IN TURMOIL!

I just spoke to jet setter Arum, though, interrupting his Lake Como-Lake Garda Northern Italy vacation, and the Top Rank honcho laid down the law.

“I don’t know why Gacal would say that. Where did he say that?” Arum said. “Look, one thing we are not going to do is jeopardize any fighter’s health. I gave a contract to Michael Koncz for Manny to sign and it has a 145 pound limit. Miguel agreed to two pounds less than the welterweight limit.

“The fight is going to happen at 145 pounds. Forget all this talk because that is what it’s going to be.”

Arum hinted that Gacal’s saber rattling might not be overly serious.

Arum told me he will not interrupt his Mediterranean holiday excursion and will stick to an itinerary that his him landing back in Los Angeles on Sunday for a Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. press conference on Monday.

It is my understanding that Manny will sign the contract and I will get it back when I return,” Arum said. “I don’t see a problem here, I really don’t.”

I was about to ask old duffer Arum about the golfing tete a tete on Isla Encanta when the phone clicked off.

Parsimonious but always harmonious Bob may have thought I was calling collect. Maybe he's got a prepaid mobile phone, I don't know.

Looks like another tempest in a teapot in Pacland.

Who in their right mind would walk away from a $12 million guarantee to take a tougher opponent for what could well be less money?

Oh, you’re right. Pacquiao is a fighter. How could he be in his right mind?

All this smoke and steam, you ask?

It’s coming out of the teapot.

Make mine green tea as it is a health elixir.

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Manny Pacquiao’s Most Effective Techniques part 4: Manila Ice: The right hook!

Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton, 2 minutes 31 seconds left in the first round…”Bam!” right hook to the face of Hatton. Hatton clinches…2 minutes and 10 seconds left in the first round and “Bam!” again, right hook to Ricky Hatton’s face. Ricky Hatton presses forward with his usual rough-housing tactics. Clinching and hitting while in the clinch. Manny Pacquiao circles away from Hatton’s clinch and positioned himself on the outside at the center of the ring. Ricky Hatton tries to fire a one-two combination. Pacquiao ducks Ricky’s punches. Pacquiao fires his own one-two and misses. Hatton seems to be aware of Pacquiao’s deadly left straight. 1 minute 29 seconds remaining in the first round and Pacquiao hit Ricky Hatton with a right hook while Ricky Hatton was coming in! Ricky clinches again. Referee Bayless breaks the clinch…Ricky continued to push forward, stalking, throwing one-two combination again…Manny Pacquiao evades those
punches and throws his own one-two, while Ricky ducks and clinches again. Referee bayless breaks the clinch and Pacquiao hit Ricky Hatton with another right hook! And followed it up with three punch combination! Ricky seems to be hurt and now holding on to Manny Pacquiao’s waist. Ricky clinches again….and Referee Kenny Bayless breaks the clinch. Pacquiao hits Ricky with a four punch combination….Ricky backs up a bit…Ricky Hatton was about to throw his left hook…but Manny Pacquiao connected first with his own right hook! The punch hit right on the button on Ricky Hatton’s chin. Down goes Ricky Hatton for the count!

Which brings us to Manny Pacquiao’s Most Effective Techniques part 4: Manila Ice: The right hook!

It was Pacquiao vs Morales 1, a classic fight between two legends. It was a battle from start to finish. But on the 5th round, a head butt cut Manny Pacquiao above the eye that hinders his sight, which was ruled by Referee Joe Cortez as a “punch”. The cut bothered Pacquiao all throughout the fight. Coach Freddie Roach was supposed to train Pacquiao the “Manila Ice” for this fight, or the “right hook”. And it was apparent that Pacquiao has not perfected it yet. Pacquiao lost that first fight with Erik Morales via unanimous decision. When coach Freddie Roach was asked about the fight, he said “Pacquiao has been too “left hand happy”. Evidently, Pacquiao was too much dependent on his “bullet” straight left hand. And Morales was wise enough to watch out for that left hand in this fight. He was also intelligent enough not to brawl with Pacquiao all the way, but to mimic Marquez’ counter-punching style.

Pacquiao learned a lot from that first fight. Coach Freddie Roach continued to train Manny with the “Manila Ice”. The training was long and repetitious… I once heard Manny Pacquiao say “Sometimes I get bored doing the right hook over and over again…but that’s just the way it is. Now I don’t need to think about my right hook. Its already there when I need it.”

The right hook can be employed in many different situations. Manny Pacquiao usually throw the right hook when his opponents are coming in with a left jab. He slide his right foot to the right, and slightly leaning his body to the right side, letting the opponents’ left jab slip in front of him, then from the legs the twisting motion shall begin, and the movement shall travel towards his hips, going to the torso, all the way to Manny’s shoulders and right arm; and with a powerful circular motion, his arm shall pass right above his opponents’ extended left arm. The movement shall be punctuated with his right fist hitting his opponents’ face. All these movements happen in less than a split of a second. His opponents usually won’t see the punch coming. And as they say, “the punch that you don’t see is the punch that usually knocks you out!”.

After some long hard training, trying to perfect the right hook…After the first Morales fight… Manny Pacquiao was pitted against a dangerous opponent, Hector Velasquez. Velasquez at that time had never lost a fight in 8years. He was in his winning streak. And he was taking his chances against one of the best punchers in the business, Manny Pacquiao.

And as always, Manny Pacquiao brought an exciting show against Hector Velasquez. Velasquez for the full fight had a hard time finding the speedy Manny Pacquiao. And from the beginning of the fight, Manny peppered Velasquez with super fast combinations and some taste of those hard straight lefts. But it seems that Velasquez was one tough customer. Even though he’s received some good punches, Hector kept swinging. Then on round 6, 49seconds left in the round…Hector Velasquez was coming in with his lead right…then “Bam!” Manila ice executed to perfection. It stunned Hector Velasquez. Manny Pacquiao’s killer instincts kicked in! Pacquiao rained power punches on Velasquez. Hector Velasquez went down for the count! Game over for Velasquez.

Pacquiao vs Morales 3. Exciting fight! Just as you expect from two ring legends who gave us two other equally thrilling fights. Furious exchange of punches from the first bell! Second round, Erik Morales was chasing Pacquiao against the ropes, when Pacquiao caught Morales with a hard left hand to his right ear that knocked down Erik Morales. Erik Morales got back up and furious fighting continued. Fierce exchanges again happened on round 3. Then 1minute 35seconds left on the third round, Erik Morales was coming in with his long left jab at Pacquiao….”Bam!” Manila Ice: The right hook, hit Morales at the side of his head. Erik Morales was stunned! Manny Pacquiao rained punches on Morales. And Erik Morales’ warrior spirit just couldn’t back down. Morales kept throwing straight punches at Pacquiao. But Manny Pacquiao felt that right hook land, and he can smell the end for Morales. Super hard and fast combination connected by Pacquiao on Morales!
Morales was retreating…Pacquiao was chasing…then a left straight connected by Pacquiao that sent Erik Morales falling to the other side of the ring! Erik Morales was down for the count. He shook his head saying he’s had enough. The fight was over! Manny Pacquiao knocked out Morales for the second time.

From a one armed left handed fighter, now Pacquiao can knock his opponents out with his right fist!

That’s double trouble for any future Manny Pacquiao opponents! 

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Shane Mosley Back In The Picture To Fight Manny Pacquiao?

Shane Mosley is apparently back in the picture in terms of fighting Manny Pacquiao. With Miguel Cotto being adament in his desire to fight Pacquiao at 145 pounds, Pacquiao's lawyer Jeng Gacal says that the fighter may now consider a fight with Mosley at a catchweight of 143 pounds. Mosley has already stated that he'd be willing to fight Pacquiao at a catchweight of 144.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has said in the past that a fight with Mosley may only be possible if Mosley agrees to move down to 143.

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Taking the 'man' out of 'Man-ny' Pacquiao

Unless Manny Pacquiao is secretly crippled, he needs to throw away his crutch.

I mean his weight crutch. The Pinoy Idol can easily toss it aside as it only weighs two pounds.

If Pacquiao is really the one insisting that he won’t fight Miguel Cotto above 143 pounds, then he should be ashamed.

If he’s the force behind this silly argument, then he is taking the “Man” out of “Manny.”

If it’s just trainer Freddie Roach playing protective Mother Hen and attorney Franklin Gacal backing up Roach, then they are in the wrong here.

It demeans Pacquiao, especially his well earned status as the world’s best pound for fighter, to be quibbling over two measly pounds concerning this Nov. 14 bout.

Does Pacman wish to look like a bully outside of the ring? Methinks not but he is.

Team Pacquiao is trying to give Cotto, a respected fighter and a world champion also, the treatment that superstar Sugar Ray Leonard gave Canadian “Golden Boy” Donnie Lalonde back in 1988. Lalonde was made to agree to pare off five and ½ pounds to get his $5 million jackpot purse against the charismatic Leonard at Caesars Palace in a bout, which oddly enough, was promoted by WWE wrestling impresario Vince McMahon.

More on Lalonde, who was a worthy and hard hitting light heavyweight champion in a minute.

I spoke to Bob Arum, cavorting with his wife on a lakeside vacation in scenic Northern Italy, earlier Tuesday and he told me, as far as he is concerned as the promoter of both Pacman and Cotto, the bout would go on with a 145 pound weight limit agreement.

I know I am perceived as a Packy backer and a Pacmaniac and bodily organ hugger but…right is right and wrong is wrong.

Megamanny is the King of the Mountain so he can’t be stressed out over two mere pounds. A compromise between the camps making the weight 144 wouldn’t disturb you, me or the horses in Southern Nevada either but the older Cotto coming down two pounds from the welter limit is enough already.

All you Pacmaniacs who will curse me on this, don’t be hypocrites.  If it was Floyd Mayweather Jr. doing this you would be going crazy.

Pacquiao is not going to lose this fight if the limit is 145. Ditto if the limit is 143 or 144 but the difference is Manny will make himself look like a contractual bully for no good reason.

Now back to suicide blond Lalonde (hair dyed by his own hands).

The Winnipeg fighter had real talent. He decisioned ruffian Mustapha Hamsho (at 170) and then beat rugged Eddie Davis (173 ¼) to win a light heavyweight crown. He stopped Davis and then stopped Leslie Stewart (weighing 172 ½). Both those fights were in Stewart’s native Trinidad.

Cleverly handled by the late manager Dave Wolf, who had Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini previously, Lalonde was no figment of the imagination. He could punch as Leonard found out when he was decked before stopping Lalonde.

Lalonde weighed 165 pounds when he fought Leonard or seven ½ pounds less than he had against Stewart. Leonard came in at 165 pounds, his heaviest ever.  It was Leonard who called the piper as to weight because he had the drawing power.

 

Wolf would’ve been a fool to refuse and Wolf, who wrote a wonderful book about basketball star Connie Hawkins, was nobody’s fool.

 

Quick story 1: Teddy Atlas trained Lalonde and their split was not amicable. Atlas rang me up with a quote as to Wolf and the fighter which I ran in The New York Post. Referring to their hair, Atlas chirped:

“One dies it, the other one buys it.”

Wolf wore a constantly shifting toupee.

Quick story 2: One night, Team Lalonde was in Ashland, Ky., for a non TV fight and the chosen “tomato can” did not show up. O a 24-2 Lalonde blasted out Frank Walters, a guy out of Minot, ND., who made his pro debut and never fought again.

Atlas didn’t like it but Wolf okayed the mismatch. Walters was not a fighter but was part of the Lalonde entourage.

It’s something I don’t believe Atlas has ever since discussed.

This weight thing has become a crutch for Pacquiao. In this instance, I cannot agree more with fellow Examiner, Dennis dSource Guillermo.

Let me also plug our Dallas Examiner, Housecat Matt Stolow, who urges Manny to man up!

If he wants the two pounds so badly, let Pacman pay more money to Cotto like the always slick Leonard and lawyer Mike Trainer did to persuade Marvin Hagler to agree to 12 rounds and not 15, to a smaller ring and to the brand of gloves Leonard wanted.

Those concessions were stupidly made and may have cost Hagler a victory in the April 6, 1987, Superfight but they were paid for by Leonard.

Three more rounds with nine minutes of action and a smaller ring might have changed the result although I still regard the Leonard decision victory as repugnant.

I hope we don’t discover that Manny is playing the diva.

Pound for pound kingpins don’t need crutches, Manny.

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Mark Wahlberg 'Imitates' Manny Pacquiao

California - Bringing his own blue collar upbringing to his role as famous Boston-based boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward, actor Mark Wahlberg struts around the film set on July 13, 2009. Stepping out of the makeup trailer with some artificial boxing injuries, Wahlberg was dressed in an outfit indicative of the film’s early 1980’s theme. Later, he walked out in costume in a smart vest, reminiscent of his early days as Marky Mark.

Wahlberg once told the press that he's a huge fan of the Philippine boxer. To show his overwhelming support, Wahlberg attended Pacquiao's fights and trainings, and what a coincidence that Wahlberg now plays the role of a boxer.

Photo Credit: Fame Pictures

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Boxing News: Gatti, Pacquiao, Mosley and more...

Manny Pacquiao: The Manny Pacquiao/Miguel Cotto saga continues, as all details have been hashed out, with the exception of the most necessary ones. Weight and money. The money issue, relative to PPV buys is still unresolved, and word has it that neither side is willing to budge on the weight issue, with Pacquiao demanding 141lbs to 143lbs, while Cotto is dead set against anything below 145lbs. Critics of Pacquiao continue to point to the fact that he was able to face ODH at '47 without losing a step, while critics of Cotto feel he has to concede to the bigger name. Politics continue to take a grip on the sport and with promoter Bob Arum quickly running out of answers, one can only imagine what will take place in the end. Arum has recently stated that in order to get an adequate promotion going and have time for quality fight camps, the two fighters will have to come to terms sooner than later. We know Pacquiao is the naturally smaller fighter, but when it comes to putting aside the fight stalling antics, one has to wonder should Cotto be forced to infact be the 'bigger' man? If he wants the payday and opportunity to do something grand, he may not have a choice. Cotto weighed in against Clottey at 146lbs in June and that was after vigorous training. Can he legitimately get any lower? Good question. How effective he'll be if he does?...Better question. Only time will tell.

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