Punch stats: Pacquiao lands fewer punches than Thurman in tough win

MANILA, Philippines—Manny Pacquiao’s split decision victory over a tough Keith Thurman for the WBA super world welterweight title saw him absorb more punches than he landed.

According to the punch stats released by Compubox, the Filipino boxing champion connected on fewer punches than Thurman, 210-195, but it was still the Pacquiao, showing no signs of slowing down at 40, who was the more effective of the two and landed the harder hits.


Pacquiao knocked Thurman down with a right hook in the first round proving that he still holds power despite using his non-dominant hand.

The Filipino, who came out the busier fighter with 57 thrown per round compared to Thurman’s 48, also delivered a liver blow in the 10th that nearly prompted referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight.

Thurman, though, backed up all his tough talk heading into the fight and gave Pacquiao all he could handle, making history with his landed power punches.

Compubox said that Thurman’s 192 is the most punches landed of any of Pacquiao’s opponents in the past 43 fights tracked by organization.

Pacquiao, a known power puncher, was able to utilize his jab effectively despite a two-inch reach disadvantage, 67 inches to Thurman’s 69, with an 82-18 advantage.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Manny Pacquiao, Keith Thurman make weight ahead of welterweight clash

LAS VEGAS—Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman made weight Friday ahead of their welterweight world title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Both Pacquiao and Thurman, the WBA (Super) champion, hit the scales at 146.5 pounds for their showdown on Saturday night.

“It’s my time. This is “One Time” and still champion by tomorrow night,” Thurman said during the official weigh-in. Manny Pacquiao ain’t doing nothing to me baby.”

“It’s gonna be a good fight because I wanna prove something and I’m so focused for this fight,” said the 40-year-old Pacquiao, who is looking to turn back the clock again as he appears in his 71st professional fight.

The weigh-in was open to the public and Filipino fans made sure to make their presence felt, waving the Philippine flag and cheering wildly every time the eight-division champion’s name was mentioned.

The boxing stars such as Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter, Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia and Nonito Donaire Jr. were also in attendance as well as Pacquiao’s family including his wife Jinkee and mom Dionisia.

The undefeated Spence, who is the reigning IBF welterweight champion, and Porter, the current WBC titleholder, are scheduled in a clash of their own on September 28 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The winner between the two could potentially meet the victor of the Pacquiao-Thurman bout.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Thurman says ready to ‘crucify’ Pacquiao

BEVERLY HILLS, United States – Keith Thurman vowed to retire Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday as the two fighters traded verbal jabs ahead of the World Boxing Association battle for welterweight supremacy.

The undefeated Thurman, 30, takes on Pacquiao in Las Vegas on July 20 in a contest that pits the WBA’s “super world champion” against the body’s secondary “world” champion.

Thurman (29-0, with 22 knockouts) returned from a near two-year layoff to retain his title with a 12-round majority decision over Josesito Lopez on January 26.

Eight-division champion Pacquiao, who last fought in a one-sided demolition of Adrien Broner in January, is 10 years older than his American opponent.

And as the two men came face to face at a press conference in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, Thurman vowed to make the age difference count.

“Pacquiao’s last fight, Pacquiao’s last fight,” Thurman said, while pledging to “dismantle” the 40-year-old Filipino icon.

“I’m destroying the legend of Manny Pacquiao,” Thurman said. “His legacy ends on July 20. He’s had a wonderful career, and been an inspiration. We all love him and respect him. And I’m respectfully going to kick the shit out of him.

“This is a big fight as far as the stage. But it’s a big fight against a little guy. I’ve dismantled veterans in the past, and throughout my career. I would have destroyed him five years ago.

“He’s never fought a fighter like me with the lateral movement, speed, power. He’s never fought anyone this young, strong and hungry and I’m coming for him.

“I know he likes to quote Bible verses so I’ll let you know — he’s getting crucified.”

Pacquiao, who mixes a political career as a senator in the Philippines with professional boxing, laughed off Thurman’s threats of annihilation.

“All I can say is that most of my opponents say things before a fight,” Pacquiao said. “That’s what I hear from them – ‘I’m easy to beat’. But when we get into the ring it changes. We’ll see who’s young in the ring on July 20.

“I don’t like trash-talking before a fight. I’m going to let my fists do the talking.”

Pacquiao plans to split his training camp between the Philippines and Los Angeles, wrapping up his preparations under the watchful eye of long-time trainer Freddie Roach, who is back in his corner.

“Manny Pacquiao is the best fighter in the world to work with,” Roach said Wednesday. “His work ethic is unbelievable. We’ve studied Thurman and come up with a game plan. And we’re going to destroy him.”

Pacquiao meanwhile insisted that his advancing years had not diminished his enthusiasm or energy for boxing.

“At age 40, I feel like I’m 29,” he said. “This is fun. I’m enjoying it. I’m excited to go back to the Philippines and go straight back to the gym.” /cbb

source: sports.inquirer.net

‘Aggressive but careful’ Manny Pacquiao cruises to victory

MANILA, Philippines—There’s no denying that Manny Pacquiao is far from his loose canon self when he was in his 20s and early 30s during his illustrious boxing career.

Pacquiao was a mad typhoon atop the boxing ring during his days as a flyweight throughout lightweight only slowing down, in his own way, when he became a welterweight in 2009.


And part of him slowing down was also being more careful atop the ring, that was what trainer Buboy Fernandez constantly reminded during the fight against Adrien Broner for the WBA World welterweight title on Sunday (Manila time) at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“My trainer Buboy said not to be careless, just take your time, and that’s what I did,” said Pacquiao during his post-fight interview with Showtime’s Jim Gray.

Pacquiao scored an easy unanimous decision win over Broner that saw the Filipino launch an offensive attack in the seventh and ninth rounds comparable to his days when he was still between 112 to 140 lbs.

The aggressiveness, however, came at a price when Pacquiao fought Juan Manuel Marquez for the fourth time in 2012 at welterweight.

Pacquiao cornered Marquez and attempted to launch one final attack before the end of the sixth but the Mexican landed a marvelous right overhand that knocked the Filipino out.

“Although I want to be more aggressive my coach told me not to be careless,” said Pacquiao (61-7-2). “Aggressive, but not careless.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

UFC star Cody Garbrandt wants to fight Manny Pacquiao

Mixed martial arts star Cody Garbrandt doesn’t mind seeing MMA and boxing crossover fights.

In fact, Garbrandt wants to figure in such, saying he’s willing to fight Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao.

“I would love that fight. Yeah, I would love that,” Garbrandt told TMZ Sports.

The former UFC bantamweight champion won his first 11 fights but has lost his last two bouts both against TJ Dillashaw.

Pacquiao, who turns 40 in December, on the other hand, showed he still has it after scoring a TKO win over Lucas Matthysse of Argentina in July, his first stoppage since 2009.

Garbrandt also thinks a potential crossover fight between UFC lightweight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov and former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be a “great fight” with both fighters staking their undefeated records in the boxing ring.

Last year, Mayweather came out of retirement to stop MMA superstar Conor McGregor in the 10th round.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Resurgent Pacquiao wants second crack at Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao has called on Floyd Mayweather to come out of retirement for a rematch, saying “let’s do a second one” after powering to his first KO win in nine years.

The fighting Philippines senator known as “Pac-Man” took on the dangerous Argentine WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday knowing a defeat could have lowered the curtain on one of the greatest careers in boxing history.

Instead, he opened a glorious new act in a 23-year story that has seen him become the only man to move up through eight weight divisions and win world titles in all of them.


Despite racing towards his 40th birthday, Pacquiao looks like he is back to being the devastatingly quick and ruthless power-puncher who earned the sobriquet of world’s “best pound-for-pound fighter” between 2000 and 2010.

In 2015 Pacquiao, with a win-loss-draw record of 60-7-2, lost a unanimous points decision to the unbeaten Mayweather (50-0) in one of the richest fights in boxing history, but then needed surgery on a damaged shoulder that he claimed had restricted his movement and punching power.

After rolling back the years to pummel Matthysse into seventh-round submission, the Filipino legend is already considering the options for his next fight, which could take place as early as November or December.

“Mayweather? If he decides to go back to boxing then that is the time we are going to call the shots,” an effervescent Pacquiao told reporters at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur after his stunning win.

“I have the belt, so it’s up to him. If he wants to come back in boxing let’s do a second one,” he grinned.

‘Addicted to boxing’

Pacquiao also highlighted British former light welterweight world champion Amir Khan as a potential opponent.

“My next fight, I want to defend my belt,” Pacquiao said.


He also said he would carry on fighting past his 40th birthday in December, despite the demands of juggling life in the ring with a political career outside it.

“If boxing is not my passion, I would not fight again,” Pacquiao said.

“It’s like I’m addicted to boxing and I really love to fight and bring honor to my country.”

Three-weight world champion Terence Crawford is another possible money-spinning bout, as is a rematch with Jeff Horn, who wrested the WBO belt from Pacquiao in an ugly contest in Brisbane a year ago.

Veteran promoter Bob Arum has also talked up a superfight with his Top Rank stable’s three-belt lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, but that would necessitate Pacquaio dropping back down from 147 to 140 or 135 pounds, weight divisions he has not fought at for 10 years.

But for now, the man who one day may run for president in the Philippines — where he is worshipped — will return to his day job in the Senate’s legislative department where his inbox has been filling up while he was away in training camp.

“There’s going to be a lot of work in the office,” he said with a grin.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Matthysse on KO defeat to Pacquiao: It was my turn to lose

Gracious in defeat, Lucas Matthysse acknowledged that his fight against Manny Pacquiao was his to lose.

“Sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some, it was my turn to lose,” said Matthysse through a translator after he lost the WBA World welterweight title Sunday at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Matthysse (39-5) lost via technical knockout after referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight 2:43 into the seventh round.


Pacquiao connected with a left uppercut that sent Matthysse to the canvas for the third time.

Matthysse, though, did not harbor any ill will after the fight and praised Pacquiao for his 60th win.

“He’s a great fighter and a great legend,” said Matthysse who dropped to 1-3 in World title fights. “I lost to a great fighter and a great legend.”

Matthysse first dropped to his back side midway through the third round after taking a couple of head shots from Pacquiao.

And in an unbelievable turn, he took to one knee five seconds left in the fifth round after absorbing a right cross to the temple.

“I lost, but I walk away with my head raised. I’m sorry to Argentina, but I’m fine. Thank you for all the love and support, and we’ll be seeing all my family and friends soon.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Rage against ‘The Machine’: Pacquiao puts career on line

Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao challenges Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse for the World Boxing Association welterweight belt on Sunday knowing defeat could lower the curtain on one of the greatest careers in boxing history.

Pacquiao, 39, faced calls to retire from friends, family and even his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach when he lost the WBO belt to journeyman Australian Jeff Horn a year ago.

A second successive defeat, this time against the dangerous Argentine at Kuala Lumpur’s Axiata Arena on Sunday, could see the veteran “National Fist” hang up his gloves for good.



But victory for Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs), who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions in a glittering 23-year career, would extend his legendary status and his life in the ring beyond his 40th birthday in December.

“I am not saying it will be the last (fight), but it will be the basis to think about (whether) to continue or not,” Pacquiao told AFP at his training camp.

But PacMan’s conditioning coach Justin Fortune thinks the world will see “the old Pacquiao” return and silence those who question whether his aging body still has the ability to compete against the world’s best.

Pacquiao is going for his 60th victory since turning pro in 1995, but despite winning 38 of his first 47 fights by knockout, he has not stopped an opponent in nine years.

“He looks like the old Pacquiao,” declared Fortune of the boxer who is also an elected senator in the Philippines and is tipped one day to run for president. “His metabolism is ridiculous. He’s a freak.”

Matthysse (39-4, 36 KOs) paid tribute to Pacquiao but warned that his admiration for one of the world’s greatest pound-for-pound fighters would not stop him from taking his belt back to South America.

“He is a great champion but he still hasn’t faced ‘The Machine’,” Argentina’s Matthysse told a pre-fight press conference.

“If he decides to retire after I beat him then that is his decision. I am here to defend my title.”


Ali vs Bugner 

Knock-out specialist Matthysse has finished 36 of his 39 wins inside the distance and took the vacant WBA belt after an eighth-round stoppage of Thailand’s Teerachai Sithmorseng in January.

The Malaysian metropolis is hosting world championship boxing for the first time since heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Bugner over 15 rounds in 1975.

And like buses, you wait 43 years for one world title fight and then four come along at once.

The undercard will see the interim World Boxing Association featherweight belt on the line when Mexico’s Edivaldo Ortega (26-1-1, 16 KOs) fights unbeaten Filipino Jhack Tepora (21-0, 16 KOs).

Experienced South African Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane (35-2, 24 KOs) defends his International Boxing Federation flyweight title against the unbeaten, but inexperienced, Pakistani Muhammad Waseem (8-0, 6 KOs).

Carlos Canizares of Venezuela (20-0-1, 16 KOs) puts his WBA light flyweight title on the line against Chinese rookie Lu Bin (1-0, 1 KO), who will make history if he wins.

Lu, 23, is a former youth world amateur champion bidding to become the first boxer to win a world title in his second professional fight.

The record for fastest to a world title, in terms of number of fights, is jointly held by Thai super lightweight Saensak Muangsurin and Ukrainian lightweight Vasyl Lomachenko, who both won championships in their third pro bouts.

source: sports.inquirer.net

NBA players, US celebrities upset over Horn win, say Pacquiao ‘robbed’

Jeff Horn came away with a unanimous decision victory over Pacquiao on Sunday to claim the WBO welterweight title before a boisterous crowd at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

Horn’s upset win, however, didn’t sit well with NBA stars and Hollywood celebrities, who did not hold back on social media in venting out their disappointment over the shocking turn of events.

“Uhhhhhhh, can U Say Bulls**t??!!Manny got F****d!!! That’s the Face of a Winner??!” posted the award-winning actor Samuel L. Jackson on Twitter referring to Horn, whose face was swollen and had a cut above the right eye after taking a punch in the second round.

“Boxing is wack!!!! Pac-man got robbed again…This is why MMA is so big now..SMH,” said retired NBA player Chauncey Billups, who was the Finals MVP during the Detroit Pistons’ championship run in 2004.

In 2012, Pacquiao also suffered a controversial loss to Timothy Bradley by split decision in a bout where he yielded the same welterweight crown. Pacquiao regained the belt two years later in a one-sided rematch.

Shortly after controversial decision was made, Kobe Bryant posted a GIF showing a shocked close-up of rapper and actor Ice Cube on Twitter that has been retweeted and liked for over 30,000 times as of posting.

Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves also had the eight-division champion’s back.

“Disrespected @mannypacquiao like he not a legend. #PacquiaoHorn.”

The numbers also showed Pacquiao got the better of Horn and DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors let the people know about it, tweeting a post with a photo of the punch stats.

“The sun must’ve been in the judges faces,” said the athletic swingman.

Horn threw 52 more punches with 625 but Pacquiao landed 90 more shots with 182.

Pacquiao landed 32% of his 573 total punches and also hit 123 power punches as compared to Horn’s 73.

source: sports.inquirer.net

No fireworks, but Pacquiao, Horn promise a good bout for fans

BRISBANE, Australia— Both appeared dapper and dignified in their expensive suits and exchanged no harsh words during the press conference of “Battle of Brisbane” Wednesday.

For Manny Pacquiao, the Fighting Senator, and Jeff Horn, the fighting school teacher, their tussle for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on Sunday is but a job they have to do to please the fans.

Even the face-off produced no sparks as the protagonists simply looked at each other with Pacquiao needing to look up at Horn, who is three inches taller.

Being an 11-time world champion, Pacquiao is used to the occasion, while Horn is trying to cope with the whirlwind changes in his ring career.

From a virtual unknown, Horn suddenly found himself thrust into the limelight with a global icon—earning a shot at instant superstardom, money and glory.

Informed that attendance at Suncorp Stadium could reach 60,000 for Australia’s biggest ever boxing event, Pacquiao said fighting before such a huge crowd heightens his excitement.

And even if the fans will root for Horn, Pacquiao said he wouldn’t mind as it’s but natural for Aussies to be patriotic and side with their own.

Against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003 in San Antonio, Texas, Pacquiao joked that there were only five fans, including trainer Freddie Roach, rooting for him. The rest were booing him. But Pacquiao turned the jeers into a source of inspiration to stop the Mexican great.

For his part, Horn swore he’s trained the hardest ever to make the most of the golden opportunity to attain his dream of becoming a world champion.

“Though Pacquiao is the smaller man, he’s the biggest mountain I have to climb,” said Horn, who’s unbeaten in 17 fights against opponents nowhere near Pacquiao’s level.

While Pacquiao said he had no premonition of what will happen on Sunday, Horn bared he had a dream or a picture of himself “rising in that ring with the belt in my waist.”

While Pacquiao and Roach chose to be guarded on the outcome of the fight, to be beamed live in the US via free TV on ESPN, Horn’s trainer, Glenn Rushton, and fight promoter, Dean Lonegan of Duco Events, boldly announced that Horn will overwhelm Pacquiao.

“Manny’s time has come,” said Lonegan, adding it’s Horn’s turn to be a boxing champion.

Referring to Horn as a very competitive guy with a heart as big as Suncorp, Rushton said Pacquiao is in for the toughest fight of his life.

“It will be like 100 angry hornets surrounding you (Pacquiao),” he said.

While Roach refused to predict a knockout at the podium, he later told Filipino sportswriters that he sees Pacquiao finally ending his eight-year knockout drought in three rounds—especially if Horn chooses to engage Pacquiao toe-to-toe as he promised.

“If our opponent comes out, we’re gonna fire back,” said Roach.

source: sports.inquirer.net

PacMay 2 ahead? Mayweather at ringside in Pacquiao’s return bout

Floyd Mayweather Jr. was among the thousands in attendance when Manny Pacquiao reclaimed the WBO Welterweight title in a dominating performance against Jessie Vargas at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Mayweather arrived during the World Title bout between Oscar Valdez and Hiroshige Osawa, just before the main event featuring his longtime rival.

As Mayweather , who turns 40 in three months, was shown on the screen watching at ringside with his daughter, talks of a potential rematch with Pacquiao resurfaced.

And it didn’t stop there.

Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports! said the two legends even had a little interaction that could go a long way.

“Pacquiao wins, climbs the ring ropes and smiles down at Mayweather. Mayweather congratulated him. Pacquiao grinned and said, ‘Thank you,'” Mannix, who covered the bout in Las Vegas, posted on his Twitter account.

The 37-year-old Pacquiao,reportedly even smiled at the retired Mayweather late in the fight.

“RD 11: @MannyPacquiaoTR sees @FloydMayweather at ringside and smiles at him. #PacVargas #TeamLegend,” Top Rank tweeted.

Mayweather immediately left the venue after Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision win to claim the WBO welterweight crown and didn’t grant any interviews, but some were able to catch up with the undefeated former champion.

“Mayweather asked what he thought of the fight: ‘Not bad,'” Mannix said.

Mayweather beat Pacquiao by unanimous decision in May last year.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Bradley ‘loses’ memory of two knockdowns

LAS VEGAS — Timothy Bradley needed to watch a video replay to remember the two times Manny Pacquiao dropped him to the canvas.

Bradley candidly told HBO’s Max Kellerman in an interview at ringside that he couldn’t recall the two defining moments of the fight, which drew 14,665 at MGM Grand Garden Arena here.

“Honestly man, I can’t remember,” Bradley said, eliciting a laugh from the audience.

Kellerman showed him a replay of the two knockdowns to refresh his memory. After watching the first, Bradley said it wasn’t a pure knockdown, adding that he got pulled down by Pacquiao after getting hit.

The second knockdown, however, stole the words from his mouth.

“Oooh!” Bradley said, as if the memory also made him remember the pain of the vicious punch that sent him tumbling, literally, backwards in the ninth round.

Despite the twin knockdowns and loss, the American boxer was in good spirits, refusing to be broken by his failure to conquer the eight-division champion on his third try.

“You win some you lose some. I’m okay. I’m happy,” Bradley said in the post-fight presser.

The Californian warrior, who still has a lot left in the tank at 32 years old, is not turning his back on boxing just yet.

“I got beat by a legend, but I’ll be back. This is not going to stop me.”

However, he has has no plans of a stepping back in the ring anytime soon after the two-month gruelling build up for this fight, which had him away from his family.

“I wanna take some time off. I’m gonna enjoy my family. I wanna enjoy my beach house in San Diego. I wanna relax, kick my feet up before thinking about what’s next, that’s what we’re going to do.”

Once his memory of the knockdown is fully restored, he’s probably not going to use the phrase “kick my feet up” too much though.
RELATED VIDEO

source: sports.inquirer.net

Arum: Pacquiao doesn’t need KO to impress

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao need not knock Timothy Bradley out to be impressive Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

All the Filipino ring icon must do is dominate Bradley in the same manner that he demolished Chris Algieri, according to Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

“There’s no need for that (knockout),” said Arum. “If he can stagger Bradley or put him down several times like what he did to Algieri, then that’s impressive.”

If that happens, Arum is ready to begin the long road to convincing Pacquiao to put off his retirement plans or at least consider a comeback next year.

Arum, who initially was adamant that Pacquiao wouldn’t retire after the Bradley fight, started hedging on his belief Friday.

“I can feel that he is really serious about retirement,” Arum told Manila-based sportswriters in an interview at the press center of Pacquiao-Bradley III at MGM Grand Garden.

“There’s no more hunger and he is focused on what he’s going to do for his country and family after leaving boxing.”
“If before he was joking as to who he wants to fight next, he’s not mentioning anything to me now,” added the 84-year-old Arum.

If Pacquiao succeeds against Bradley and Arum can convince the Filipino champion to fight on, the promoter insists the next bout should be against a top-tier opponent like the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez in April next year.

“There’s no ordinary Pacquiao fight if ever, it should be against Mayweather.”

Arum is holding hope that a resounding win by Pacquiao will catch Mayweather’s attention and lure the unbeaten American to come out of retirement.

“A grudge rematch between the most recognizable fighters of their generation should be huge,” said Arum, a Harvard-educated lawyer who’s been involved in boxing for 50 years.

Mayweather-Pacquiao shattered several boxing records, including the pay-per-view buys (4.5 million) and live gate receipts ($72 million), last May 2 and if the second edition did half as well, then Arum would be happy.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Pacquiao attacker references LGBT controversy

HOLLYWOOD—Security is going to be tight for Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas from now on after a man attacked the eight-division champion at a parking lot of a Japanese restaurant Sunday afternoon.

Pacquiao had just finished lunch at Kabuki Restaurant on Vine St., here and greeted well-wishers before heading for the parking lot where his Ferrari was stationed. According to some witnesses, all of a sudden, a tall, decently dressed man around 35 to 40 years old lunged at the boxer and tried to throw a punch.

Fortunately, Edward Lura, Pacquiao’s longtime friend, was able to ward off the Caucasian-looking attacker.

Other members of Pacquiao’s security detail joined the fray and subdued the man, according to David Sisson, Pacquiao’s personal assistant, who witnessed the incident that occurred around 3 p.m.

The attacker continued screaming at Pacquiao, referencing the LGBT controversy he sparked with his comments about same-sex marriage.

“F**k you, f**k you Pacquiao. You homophobic…”

Pacquiao remained calm and told his security not to hurt the man.

“Let him go. Don’t hurt him.”

Other eyewitness accounts, however, said the attacker merely verbally abused Pacquiao before he was whisked away by security personnel.

Security personnel heeded his call and just pushed the man away as Pacquiao left the premises of the Japanese restaurant where members of his entourage usually had lunch after attending church service.

Sisson, son of American missionaries based in General Santos City, added that Johnny Bantilan, a former boxer and Pacquiao’s friend, had to be restrained from going after the attacker.

The commotion, which drew the attention of restaurant personnel and customer, was apparently an offshoot of the LGBTbrouhaha involving Pacquiao last February.

Pacquiao remained calm throughout the incident and even joked that the attacker was not an enemy but a fan.

“He’s a fan. He was saying Pacquiao, not f**k you,” Sisson quoted Pacquiao as saying.


source: sports.inquirer.net

‘Pacquiao greatest fighter of his era’

NEW YORK City—When Manny Pacquaio retires, what will be his boxing legacy?

The world’s only eight-division world champion, Fighter of the Decade for 2000 to 2009, or perhaps pound for pound king.

Trainer Freddie Roach feels his prized ward deserves a more encompassing accolade.

“Pacquiao is the greatest fighter of his era thus far,” Roach said in an interview after the second press conference of Pacquiao versus Timothy Bradley III at Madison Square Garden Thursday afternoon.

Roach may be biased, but certainly Pacquiao’s reign starting in the flyweight division up to the junior middleweight class will be beyond reach of any of his contemporaries or other rising stars.

In an illustrious career spanning 21 years, Pacquiao also won the super-feather, lightweight, super welterweight, super-welterweight (WBC), super-bantam (International Boxing Federation), feather, super-lightweight and welterweight titles.

Pacquiao’s record went 24-1-2 during the decade, winning six of his eight world titles, while emerging as the pound-for-pound king.

In addition, Pacquiao became a box-office sensation, (raking in millions of dollars) in gate receipts and pay-per-view buys.

That was Pacquiao at the top for a long time.

He was so dominant that whenever he fights, Roach will always predict a knockout victory.

And Pacquiao, almost always, will deliver.

He knocked out David Diaz, Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14, 2009.

Since then, however, Pacquiao has failed to stop 10 of his last opponents and even incurred three losses, including a disputed split-decision loss to Bradley on June 9, 2012.

That’s why, Roach, a seven-time trainer of the year, isn’t announcing a knockout prediction yet on Pacquiao-Bradley III on Aprl 9 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Roach told Manila-based sportswriters, however, that for the first time it was Manny who first talked about knocking out Bradley this time.

For his part, Roach would settle for any form of farewell victory.

“A win is a win, but I expect Manny to be at his best this time,” Roach added.

Roach, however, wouldn’t stand in the way of Pacquiao’s retirement plants, which he reiterated in the second stop for their two-city promotional tour that kicked off at Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

“It’s really hard to be a boxer and senator at the same time,” added Roach. “There are more responsibilities than being a congressman.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

‘Mayweather won with hugs’– boxing fans

For Ferdinand Piñol, municipal administrator of Mlang town in North Cotabato, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won because he “threw 265 hugs and ran 15 miles.”

In the frustration of some of those who watched the fight at the Kidapawan City gym, they threw the monobloc chairs.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, who watched at fight at MGM Arena, said although Pacaquio lost, “we enjoyed” watching the game.

In Pacquiao’s home province of Sarangani, Jeffrey Abellanosa, who watched the fight at the Alabel gym, said their congressional representative should have won.

“The score did not reflect what I saw during the fight — that Manny won,” Abellanosa said.

For the Zamboangueños, Floyd Mayweather was “maru,” which meant “clever” in Chavacano. They also called the American judges “hecho” or game fixers.

John Amin, one of those who watched the fight inside the Western Mindanao Command headquarters, said Mayweather “hardly delivered a punch, and kept on running around and embracing Pacquiao.”

For Mayor Joel Lopez of Sta. Cruz town in Davao del Sur, Pacquiao and the boxing fans “deserve a rematch.”

In Tagum City seconds into the eighth round, the huge LED screen set  up near the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Mankilam  village here went dark.

It was an ominous for the thousands of fans as they  failed to catch two rounds of the fight that saw Pacquiao losing to Mayweather by unanimous decision.

“It was disappointing,” said Jerwin Libre, a 37-year old habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) driver who was among the thousands who squeezed into the packed roofed venues near the Pasalubong Center in Tagum City.

A sports official from Western Visayas participating in the Palarong Pambansa that would officially open on Monday said he was a bit disappointed, not by Pacquiao’s loss, but by the live telecast’s brief interruption.

“Floyd was piling up points in the early rounds,” said the sports official.

Sofonias Gabonada, provincial information officer, said it was vthe cable provider, whom he did not identify, who was in-charge of the  telecast.

But for many who watched the fight, Pacquiao did everything to win it.

“Mayweather kept on running away and avoiding Pacquiao,” said Ruel Dagsangan, an announcer of a Tagum-based radio station.

(With reports from Julie S. Alipala, Williamor Magbanua, Frinston Lim, Alan Nawal, Orlando Dinoy, Eldie Aguirre and Charlie Señase, Inquirer Mindanao)

source: sports.inquirer.net

Roach vs Floyd Sr.: Trainers’ trash talk heats up

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have toned down the trash talk during the events leading up to Saturday’s super fight but the verbal exchange between trainers Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr. is heating up.

Roach offered a few words for Mayweather Sr., who had been constantly referring to the Hall of Fame trainer as a “joke.”

“He’s never beat me ever. I mean, he never will. So I’m not really worried about him,” Roach told Filipino reporters of Mayweather.

Roach fired back after Mayweather Sr. had called him “a joke with no hope” during a media scrum Thursday afternoon.

“He’s never come close [to winning Trainer of the Year]. He’s a joke. I mean, let’s face it,” added Roach, who is a seven-time Trainer of the Year. “He calls me the joke but Roger’s a better trainer than him. He knows it and he shouldn’t be in the corner.”


Roger Mayweather, the uncle of the pound-for-pound king, normally serves as the chief trainer but health issues prevented him from assuming the position this time, pushing Floyd Sr. in charge of his son’s corner.

“He can’t even get his message across because he gets so nervous in the corner he stutters the whole time. You can’t even understand him. Floyd’s training himself. That guy has nothing to do with nothing,” Roach said.

The trash talk between the two coaches had been going on for months now with Floyd Sr. even hitting below the belt when he referred to Roach’s battle with Parkinson’s Disease in an interview last month.

So while the two welterweight champions set for a Saturday showdown have remained subdued over the course of the buildup to their megafight, the verbal war between Roach and Floyd Sr. doesn’t seem to be headed for a ceasefire anytime soon.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Pacquiao as ‘Kid Kulafu’

Who can blame the sports media if none of them is too excited over the prospects of another Manny Pacquiao bio flick?

Personally, I’ve seen a couple of these films—one produced by an American, the  other produced locally. None of these movies on Pacquiao’s life turned out to be a box-office hit. Whoever invested in these two films must have lost money.

When I was asked for a critique by the producers, I said the ordinary moviegoer and Pacquiao fan might actually enjoy the   movie, directed by Paul Soriano, because it  would remind them of the Pambansang Kamao’s moments of greatness.

* * *

Last Monday, during the press conference for “Kid Kulafu,” Soriano said, as if in answer to a question I wanted to ask, “What makes the film different from the others is that the boxing icon will be shown in a different light.

“This is the untold story of our People’s Champ, way before the fame, fortune, championships. It goes way before the time he started to wear boxing gloves,” Soriano added.

“It is not about his career as a professional boxer, it is an in-depth look into his  early years, from his birth up to his teenage life.”

Portraying Pacquiao’s parents Dionisia  and Rosalio are Alessandra De Rossi and Alex Medina. In the trailer, Mommy D is the third wife of Rosalio. The two later separated, with Rosalio opting to live in  the mountains.

Mommy D never wanted his son to be a boxer. She wanted him to be a priest, would you believe?

She would give him a good whipping everytime she caught him roughing it up  with the other boys in the neighborhood.

“Viewers will discover in the film how hard life was for Manny as a kid in General Santos. They will get to know a young  boy who had nothing but attitude, passion and a strong fighting spirit to face   every challenge head  on,” said Soriano, who, incidentally, is set to marry actress Toni Gonzaga this year.

“You be the judge of the film,” said Soriano who worked on the film for three years.”

“Kid Kulafu,” starring Buboy Villar in the title role, will be shown in cinemas  starting April 15.

Pacquiao got this monicker as a young boy because he collected bottles of this  dark-colored, extremely bitter alcoholic drink also known as Sy Hoc Tong (syoktong, in local parlance) to sell.

Kulafu is also said to induce women’s monthly period.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Showtime makes a trailer for Mayweather-Pacquiao

Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Manny Pacquiao is so big it needed an Oscar-worthy red carpet just for the pre-fight press conference.

So big in fact that Showtime decided to make a trailer out of it.

Showtime posted the two-minute video on its Facebook page late Friday evening and basically showed video clips of Mayweather training for the May 2welterweight unification fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

As Mayweather’s stable, Showtime’s “trailer” has Mayweather all over it with a few seconds of Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach.

Kinda biased isn’t it?

source: sports.inquirer.net

It’s on: Mayweather says he and Pacquiao to fight May 2

LAS VEGAS — The Fight is finally on.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. will meet Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in a welterweight showdown that will be boxing’s richest fight ever. Mayweather himself announced the bout Friday after months of negotiations, posting a picture of the signed contract online.

The long anticipated bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas will almost surely break every financial record ever, and make both boxers richer than ever. Mayweather could earn $120 million or more, while Pacquiao’s split of the purse will likely be around $80 million.

The fight, which matches boxing’s two biggest attractions in recent years, has been in the making for five years. It finally came together in recent months with both fighters putting aside past differences over various issues — including drug testing and television rights — to reach agreement.

“I promised the fans we would get this done and we did,” Mayweather said.

While the fight rivals the 2002 heavyweight title bout between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson for interest, it comes more than five years after the first real effort to put the fighters together in their prime. Most boxing observers believe both have lost some of their skills, though Mayweather remains a master defensive fighter and Pacquiao showed in his last fight against Chris Algieri that he still has tremendous quickness in his hands.

Still, Pacquiao is 36 and has been through many wars in the ring. And while Mayweather has been largely untouched in his career, he turns 38 on Tuesday.

Pacquiao was sleeping in the Philippines when the fight was announced, but his camp issued a statement saying the fans deserve the long awaited fight.

“It is an honor to be part of this historic event,” Pacquiao said. “I dedicate this fight to all the fans who willed this fight to happen and, as always, to bring glory to the Philippines and my fellow Filipinos around the world.”

As part of the agreement, Mayweather insisted on having the right to announce the bout. He also won concessions from the Pacquiao camp on who enters the ring first, what type of gloves are used, and a number of other issues, including a reported 60-40 split of the purse.

But it didn’t take long for Pacquiao’s camp to start talking, either. Promoter Bob Arum expressed his elation in making the fight, while trainer Freddie Roach predicted a big win for his fighter.

“Floyd should enjoy being the A-Side while he can because on May 2 Manny is going to put him on his backside,” Roach said.

Arum, who has promoted some of the biggest fights in history, said this one would be bigger than them all.

“This boxing match will have the interest in the U.S. of a Super Bowl,” Arum told The Associated Press. “I think it will set all kinds of pay-per-view records and gate records. It will be the biggest boxing event of all time.”

Both fighters will bring 147-pound titles into the ring, but the fight is about far more than belts. Mayweather, who is unbeaten in 47 fights, wants to stake his claim as one of the greatest fighters ever, and remove any doubts about his legacy by fighting the boxer who is thought to be the greatest challenge of his career.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, will try to show that a knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012 and a disputed decision loss to Timothy Bradley should not define a remarkable career that began 20 years ago in the Philippines

Don’t tune in looking for a big knockout, either. The last time Pacquiao stopped anyone was in 2009 when he finished off Miguel Cotto in the 12th round, while Mayweather has only stopped one fighter (Victor Ortiz) in the last eight years.

Oddsmakers have already posted their opinion on the bout, making Mayweather a 2 1/2-1 favorite in betting parlors in this gambling town. The fight is expected to draw record betting, with tens of millions wagered in Nevada’s legal sports books.

Another record which will almost surely be set will be the pay-per-view price to watch the fight at home. The fight will be televised as a joint venture between competing networks Showtime and HBO, which will share announcers with Jim Lampley and Al Bernstein reportedly handling the task at ringside.

source: sports.inquirer.net