WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao takes part in a Q&A session with HBO, discussing various topics as he prepares for his upcoming fight with undefeated WBO junior welterweight king Timothy Bradley on June 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

At this point, what is keeping you and Floyd Mayweather Jr. from climbing into the ring together? Will the fight ever happen? How Important is to you being considered one of the best of all times when you career is over? What’s that your goal when you started fighting 8 divisions below?

“The only thing preventing a fight between Floyd Mayweather and me is Floyd Mayweather. He no longer wants to split the pay-per-view revenue with me equally, something he agreed to in our first negotiation. Will the fight ever happen? It’s up to Floyd. I hope it does. I’m a competitor and I enjoy a challenge. I know the fans want to see us fight. I think it would be good for boxing. As long as I continue fighting I will remain hopeful that the fight will take place.”

“To be considered an all-time great is very important to me. Hopefully my story can inspire people to achieve their dreams. When I was growing up, watching Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr, and Larry Holmes fight inspired me to work harder and to become better. They still do inspire me. They were great. They were my heroes.

“I never dreamed that I would achieve as much as I have. I wouldn’t even dare to dream of winning world titles in eight different weight divisions. My goal when I began boxing was to earn enough money for my family to make their lives easier and to win a world title – to be considered the best in my weight division. But as opportunities presented themselves – world title fights at higher weights against superstars – I worked harder and studied harder.”

“Every victory was an incentive to do better in my next fight. I believe it is the responsibility of every boxer to put on a good show for the fans and themselves. It’s the only way to grow and invest in the sport. Making boxing fans happy is a legacy that would make me proud.”

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=53252

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Hollywood, Ca.  — Superstar Manny Pacquiao hits the speed bag during training at the Wildcard Boxing Club Monday in preparation for his upcoming World Welterweight title mega-fight against undefeated Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy “The Desert Storm” Bradley Jr.. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, Pacquiao vs Bradley will take place, Saturday, June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on HBO Pay Per View. — Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank

 

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One key thing I was able to take away from my time in Timothy Bradley’s camp down in Indio, California was the reality that the high-level of confidence he has been exuding is no mirage. A 3-1 underdog heading into his June 9th challenge of Manny Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight belt, Bradley is the epitome of an athlete coming into his prime physically and mentally.

Bradley, an undefeated junior welterweight champion moving up in weight for the Pacquiao fight, showcased all of his talents and nuances during seven lively four-minute rounds of sparring against a trio of partners on Friday afternoon. Putting in work with Bradley on this day was Houston, Texas native and World Series of Boxing competitor Eric Fowler, junior welterweight prospect Andre Sherard, and former lightweight champion Julio Diaz, who is the younger brother of Bradley’s trainer Joel.

For twenty-eight minutes in the ring, Bradley showed off all of his abilities, from deft movement, sharp counterpunching, a rough infighting ability, and a punishing body attack that had one of his sparring mates taking a knee after a well-placed shot.

Offering up the most resistance to Bradley was Diaz, who switched to southpaw, a trick he has shown throughout his respected professional career, and gave Tim several angles to work off of. It was during these moments that Bradley had to slow his attack down briefly as he had to do a little more thinking, yet he still controlled the action.

All in all the sparring was wildly entertaining and revealed just how primed Bradley is getting with the Pacquiao fight still six weeks away.

By: Chris Robinson

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=52288

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BAGUIO CITY – After logging 70 rounds of punching the mitts and 210 minutes of road work, World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao declared himself ready to move into the more grueling and tedious aspect of his high altitude training here.

Pacquiao, who is putting his 147-pound plum on the block against undefeated American junior welterweight kingpin on June 9, asked chief trainer Freddie Road to advance the sparring in his preparation two days ahead of schedule and the Hall of Fame guru obliged.

For the first time since his last fight November last year, the eight-division belt-owner will have the taste of how it is to trade blows with an opponent today when he mixes it up with Russian junior welterweight prospect Ruslan Provodnikov.

Roach scheduled only four rounds of sparring in order not to preserve the gains the camp had attained in almost two weeks here and a fortnight each in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and General Santos City.
“Manny personally asked me to advance the start of sparring session Thursday and I consented,” Roach told Business Insight after the training session last Tuesday. “That only means one thing, Manny is fit and ready to move into the next level of preparations.”

“Only four rounds. I don’t want him rush things up, especially at this stage of readiness program. However, if he asked to, say two round more, why not,” Roach said.

“As I have been saying, Manny knows Manny. Only he knows what to do and what not to do as far as his physical status is concerned. That’s what differs him from the other fighters, Roach explained,” Roach said.

“I approved of advancing the sparring because I know he’s already ready to stand the rigor of that part of training,” the 52-year-old Hall of Famer assured.

The start of the sparring session was originally scheduled Saturday, the day Pacquiao would have completed his first two weeks of altitude training in this, the country’s summer capital.

“Okey na ako, ready na for sparring,” Pacquiao said. “Maganda ang simula ng camp at so far, na-accomplish na ang dapat ma-accomplish, so there’s no need to wait for another two days.”
“Mas inspirado ako mag-train ngayon kasi nandyan si Madam,” he said with a wide smile in reference to wife Jinkee who arrived here Monday night and watched, along with her 15-man retinue , the entire training session Tuesday training ast the Shape Up Gym in Cooyeesan Hotel.

Both Pacquiao and Roach agreed the fighter is far from reaching his fighting form and that there are still many things to accomplish.

“Marami pang dapat gawin, but I feel I am already 50 percent ready to fight,” the 33-year-old Pacman said. “Pero hindi kami aalis ditto (Baguio) na hindi ako 100 percent.”
“Yeah, we are still at the halfway mark of preparations,” Roach butted in. “We still have some five weeks to go.

Provodnikov,with lightweight compatriot Rustam Nugaev, a former Pacquiao sparmate, tagging along set foot in this city Monday night after a long 15-hour plane trip from their hometown Beryosovo, Russia. Nugaev is not new in the Philippines having been Pacquiao’s mate twice, the first during the Filipino hero’s preparations in his second fight with Erik Morales and during the fine tuning program against Oscar Larios.

Only Provodnikov though will serve as the Filipino’s mate at the Baguio training camp. Provodnikov said he had watched some of Pacquiao’s fight but expressed amazement seeing Pacquiao did the mitts with Roach.

“He’s very powerful and fast,” he said through Nugaev, who servers as his interpreter. “I am honored for inviting as Manny’s sparring partner and I’m ready to provide him all he needs in his training.”

Provodnikov and Nugaev joined Pacquiao in the latter’s roadwork at the Philippine Sports Commission training camp oval inside the Teachers’Camp

Eddie Alinea

http://philboxing.com/news/story-69204.html

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From the moment he officially signed on to face Manny Pacquiao, there has been an unwavering sense of confidence coming from the camp of Timothy Bradley. An unbeaten titleholder in the junior welterweight class, Bradley will be moving up in weight to challenge Pacquiao for his WBO welterweight crown inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 9th.

Bold proclamations and heavy bravado are familiar traits of underdogs in boxing but there are times when you can sense a genuine beleif coming from a fighter and his team. Such is the case with Bradley’s head trainer Joel Diaz, a man who has been guiding Tim’s career since his professional debut against Francisco Martinez in August of 2004 in Corona, California.
 
While other trainers may either be more outspoken or have collected more accolades than Diaz, who was a former title challenger and came from a fighting family, he seems content on staying away from the spotlight and focusing on honing Bradley’s skills as the Pacquiao clash inches closer.

I caught up with Diaz recently and got some updates on Bradley’s camp in Palm Springs, California.
 
Whether discussing how Bradley is looking thus far in camp, admitting that it will be quite the chore trying to find future sparring partners, or revealing a little bit of his blueprint as far as how to fight Pacquiao, Diaz spoke with a candid tone that couldn’t fully mask the eagerness he too carries.
 
In his own words, this is what Diaz had to share…
 
Positive vibes…
“Everything’s going real good. We’re ahead of schedule and everything is moving along real, real well. It’s just all positive vibes. Everything around the camp, everything is positive. And a lot of hype. Everybody around the team is very excited, because we see the improvement in Tim. His hand speed, we see everything that he’s been doing. Of course, it’s a good feeling and we feel we’re going to be victorious on June 9th.”
 
Maintaining Bradley’s progress in camp…
“I have to keep my schedule of workouts and maintain it, as well as the rest of the team. They have to do their job as far as keeping in touch with how he’s doing and what he’s doing. He’s been training already for a month and a half, but for three days a week. This week we started camp officially, every day, since Monday. [Wednesday] was his second day of sparring and he looked really, really good. As a matter of fact, for being the second day, he looked spectacular. That was something that that got everybody got excited. As soon as he finished his sparring, that’s all he did, because the day before he put in his gym work and then he did his conditioning. To me, it was basically focusing on sparring. He wanted more, but I had to cut the work.”

Keeping Bradley moving…
“But he’s complying pretty good and he’s not saying ‘No’ to what we decide, especially when I tell him, we’re still quite a ways ahead. I don’t want him to be burned out. Because he started his conditioning training, his running, and all that stuff he started a month ago. When it comes to coming down to the gym and I was like ‘No, no, no. We’re just going to come to the gym three days a week for now’. We have to watch his training and that’s my job. He looked good in sparring and tomorrow we’ll focus more on what happened today. On Saturday, it depends how he’s feeling. I might have him move in the ring with a southpaw, somebody who can keep him busy, keep him moving.”
 
The sparring partners in camp…
“These kids we’re sparring now, they’re good fighters but I don’t think they’re going to last. We got a couple of them already, they came down and sparred. Real good fighters, real strong kids, but after today, they can probably finish the week and then I got to send them back and get some other sparring partners. Because he’s dialed them in right away and all they do is they just become another opponent. And I don’t want nobody to get hurt. Right now, with Timothy’s hand speed, his movement, and his strength is becoming a big factor. I’m looking for another two or three sparring partners for the following week.”
 
The difficulty in recruiting future sparring mates…
“Let me tell you one thing; watching Manny Pacquiao, you cannot find sparring similar as Manny. That is very hard. What I am focusing on is just having some young, fresh fighters. I’m not looking for veteran fighters, old fighters. Because old fighters have a slow pace, they’re more experienced type of fighters. I want fighters that are aggressive, fast, and they’re constantly throwing punches. That’s the reason why I have two, three, even four sparring partners in line, because I’m switching them every two rounds. I’m switching them, I’m starting guys fresh, from the beginning. I don’t want to have a kid go four, five rounds by himself, because Tim, after the second round, he will start breaking him. So after the third round, they’re just taking a beating. My strategy right now is to have four fighters on standby and keep throwing them in there after every two rounds.”
 
Not concerned about Bradley’s weight…
“As far as his weight, that’s not even an issue. He’s walking around right now at 155 [pounds]. He says ‘You know what coach? By the end of May, I want to be at 148. I want to be slim and fast and strong’. I told him ‘You don’t have to. I need you to be at 150, 152’. And he says ‘Coach, for that fight I’m going to come in at 145, 146’ and I asked ‘What for? I want you at 147’. He goes ‘Because I want to be solid muscle. Fast, solid muscle’. With his diet and the way he runs, he’s always looking really, really good. The way he’s working out, he’s generated a lot of hand speed. He’s faster, he’s stronger, his movement, everything. We’re putting everything together. We’re putting the whole package together.”

Why you have to take risks against Manny Pacquiao…
“Look, me as a trainer, my plan goes in different stages. Early, middle, and end. And that’s the way it’s going to be. At the same time, it’s not going to be a game of chess. It could be, early in the rounds, early in the fight. Because we have to study the fighter, we can’t just get in there reckless. But it’s going to be a very exciting fight, because Tim wants to win it. I want to win. If you want to win against Manny Pacquiao, you’ve got to take risks. You’ve got to take risks, but smart risks. You can’t just get reckless. At the same time, you can’t just let Manny unload all the time. You have to take risks no matter what. Early in the fight, due to the fact that you have to study your opponent, of course it’s going to be a game of chess early in the fight. But after that, by the middle of the fight, I think it’s going to be a fight.”

 

By Chris Robinson

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=52030

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Tim Bradley recently visited with us on The Boxing Lab, BoxingScene.com’s official audio show. The undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion said that part of the reason why he is an underdog is because a lot of the general public doesn’t really know much about him. He went on to say that he is a very confident fighter and the fans will see that when he sets foot in the ring.

“The confidence is there. I know how hard I work. The fact is that no one knows me. No one really understands what I bring. All I hear is I’m a high pressure volume puncher and I’m like wow,” said a bemused Bradley.

The Palm Springs, CA native said that he keeps reading that he will go out similarily to the way former lineal junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton went out against Pacquiao. Hatton was iced in the 2nd round of their May 2009 fight.
 
“They say it will be like the Ricky Hatton fight. That (style) is what I have been showing in maybe my last 3 fights because my opponents couldn’t handle it but I can adjust in the ring. I laugh when I hear it,” stated Bradley. “If they think that’s all I am they are in for a surprise. Go back and look at the Lamont Peterson fight,” he continued as he referred to when he outboxed Peterson and gave him his only loss to date.

Bradley said that he has the ability to adjust to whatever his opponent does in the ring. He also said that people don’t realize how high his ring IQ is until they see him spar.

“I can adjust to pretty much any style. I’ve faced so many different styles. A lot of people come to my camp and expect one thing and are like ‘dude you are smart’ when they see what I do. I don’t get credit for my smarts. You have to see me spar to see that,” he explained.
 
You can hear the Tim Bradley interview in its entirety by clicking this link: http://tobtr.com/s/2997117

 

By Ryan Burton

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Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao began training yesterday for his June world title defence against US challenger Timothy Bradley, saying he has God in his corner.

Reciting biblical passages as he shadow-boxed in a park, Pacquiao said finding God earlier this year had not deprived him of the devastating speed and power that earned him eight world titles in as many divisions.

“Nothing has changed. I am still fully focused on training, although now I am happier because I have God,” he told reporters in the northern mountain resort of Baguio, where he undergoes altitude training ahead of all his fights.

Regarded by many in the sport as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, Pacquiao, 54-3 with two draws, stakes his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against the undefeated Bradley in Las Vegas on June 9.

Some feared the 33-year-old’s conversion would extinguish his killer instinct in the ring and bring his glittering career to an abrupt halt.

The left-hander, who has translated his sports fame into huge riches, a movie career and election to parliament, announced in January that he had become a changed man after a religious vision.

Formerly a heavy gambler fond of late-night parties, Pacquiao said he had been chosen by God to use his fame to spread the Christian message.

He told a Manila radio station last month that God had told him in a dream to retire soon, but did not say when.

His American coach Freddie Roach has brought up to Baguio a team of sparring partners headlined by Briton Amir Khan, one of the world’s highest-ranked light-welterweights, Pacquiao aide Buboy Fernandez said.

“Bradley has his own moves. He’s good at head movement and we have to pay attention to that. He can also bend the rules to his advantage,” Fernandez said.

 

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Pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao demonstrated incredible hand speed and amazing power Tuesday during a workout at  his MP Towers Gym which sits on the old L&M Gym site where he trained as a young aspiring boxer in the mid 90’s.

Pacquiao ripped into the punch-mitts and drove longtime friend and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez to claim that in all the years he has worked out with Pacquiao he has never felt such power.

Fernandez said he was surprised that after one week’s training in General Santos City he saw a “huge difference between the Manny Pacquiao of his previous fights and a very different Pacquiao today. He is like the hungry teenaged fighter who first came to Manila. He’s hungry again. It’s the old Manny.”

He explained that this is because of a dramatic change in Pacquiao’s lifestyle with “no late nights and no problems to think about. His only mission is to study the Bible. When you see that he is known the world over and is a congressman  and you see him in front of you explaining the scriptures no matter who you are, your hair will stand on end.”

While recalling the many who criticized Pacquiao’s performance in his more recent fights with Shane Mosley and his controversial decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in their third fight, I will tell you now after what I witnessed this afternoon I am sure he will drop Bradley. I feel there is someone guiding him.” 

Fernandez remarked that Pacquiao was once again a hungry fighter and with his current condition he is confident that undefeated light welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley will be staring at a knockout.

He said “I am big but if he connects with one shot it will be an early night for me, which will be the same for Bradley.”

Fernandez added that “when Manny gets to Baguio, Freddie Roach will be stunned to see what shape Pacquiao is in.”

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said they are not underestimating Bradley because “he’s a young fighter with an opportunity to prove himself to the world. Manny was the same way many years ago. I’m sure Bradley will come prepared in the best shape he cam be in and will give it all he has that’s why I believe its going to be a very exciting fight with a lot of punches thrown .”

However Koncz said he is confident that Pacquiao “is going to prevail. I’m sure how long the fight will last but it will be a very good fight. Manny knows that because of his showing in the last fight  he needs to add an exclamation mark to this fight so I think he’s going to  go out there and try to end it early and the fans will win again.” 

Unknown to many, Pacquiao has been training in General Santos City to get into shape when his Baguio City training camp opens tomorrow with trainer Freddie Roach and strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza who have been in Baguio since over a week ago training former WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan for his rematch with Lamont Peterson, the fighter who took the title away from Khan in a controversial decision.

 

by Ronnie Nathanielsz

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=51876

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Manny Pacquiao will begin training in Baguio City on April 16 for his WBO welterweight title defense  against Timothy Bradley scheduled for the MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that he had been instructed to represent Manny at the red carpet, black tie  launch of  Manny’s new Hennesy Brandy commercial in New York on Thursday.

Pacquiao shot the commercial some weeks ago in Manila and the sponsors were very pleased with the end product.

Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza who arrived last week together with former WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan was followed on Wednesday by trainer Freddie Roach.

Ariza told BoxingScene/Standard he didn’t think “its too late to begin straining on April 16”  but that he that he wants to talk to Pacquiao about “a training game-plan.”

The strength and conditioning guru who teamed up with Roach some weeks before Pacquiao’s demolition of WBC lightweight champion David Diaz in nine rounds said the fight against undefeated Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley “is going to be a war.”

He emphasized that Pacquiao “needs to prepare physically” pointing out that “its not going to be a fight of technique.”

Ariza reminded Pacquiao that Bradley “is young and strong” and is usually in great shape for his fights.

 

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=51490

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SAN FRANCISCO  – On May 18, undefeated NABO light welterweight champion, Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield (15-0-1, 9 KOs), headlines ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” when he defends his title against Philadelphia’s Raymond Serrano (18-0, 8 KOs) at the Exhibition Hall at The Times Union Center in Albany, New York. Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing in association with Prize Fight Promotions will promote the 10-round bout.

Mayfield, a San Francisco native, is no stranger to fighting on the east coast. Recently, he was in Philadelphia sparring with Danny Garcia in preparation for Garcia’s fight with Erik Morales. On October 1, 2011, Mayfield dominated Patrick Lopez (20-5, 12 KOs) winning a unanimous decision to capture the vacant WBO NABO light welterweight title.

“I’ve been in the ring with Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito, Robert Guerrero and many other world class fighters,” Mayfield said. “I know I got the talent to become a world champion.  I’m in great shape and I’m always ready to go in case a fight comes up.  I’ve been in the gym working hard and my timing is on point.”

“Virgil Hunter, who’s one of the best trainers in the world, will be working my corner. He’s guided me to victory before and I know together, we’ll come up with a masterful game plan.”

“This is a big opportunity for Karim to show the world he’s an elite fighter,” said Prize Fight promoter Brian Young. “This will be the first time Mayfield headlines a nationally televised main event and we believe he has all the talent to become a world champion.  If he’s victorious, we want to push for a title shot by the end of the year.”

This is a big opportunity for Serrano, who is seeking his first regional title.  He’ll be fighting close to his hometown of Philadelphia where he’s fought most of his career.

“Serrano is a tough guy with a good record and I’ll be going into his backyard for this fight,” Mayfield said. “But I’m on a mission to get that world title shot and I’m not going to let anyone stop me.  I’m just going to keep winning and let my management and promotional teams do their jobs.  I’m taking on all comers but my focus right now is strictly on Serrano. I’ts an honor to be fighting as the main-event on ESPN.  It’s my time to shine.”

 

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Timothy Bradley isn’t the slightest bit intimidated as he prepares to begin the harder portions of training camp for the biggest fight of his career.

Bradley realizes how upsetting Manny Pacquiao could completely change his life, but the unbeaten junior welterweight champion will take the same aggressive approach to this training camp that this tireless worker usually takes.

“It doesn’t matter,” Bradley said. “Manny Pacquiao is the biggest name in boxing, next to Floyd Mayweather. But it’s a name. He’s a fighter. He’s a human being. He has skill; I have skill.

“I’m not like in awe when I see Manny Pacquiao. It’s another fight to me. Take away all the cameras, all the attention, the media, put us in the ring and it’s a fight. It’s a fight to me.”

Bradley expects, though, that facing an opponent as good as Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) will enable him to put on a special performance in their 12-round fight June 9 in Las Vegas for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title.

“I know what I’m capable of doing because I have been pushed to that edge, to that limit,” Bradley said. “I know what I’m capable of doing. I know that I can compete with this guy. I think that he’s going to bring the best out of me.”

That hasn’t always happened when Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs, 1 NC) faces foes who can’t compete near the Palm Springs, Calif., native’s level, much less in the space Pacquiao occupies.

“One of the problems I always have with my trainer [Joel Diaz],” Bradley said, “is he always says, ‘Why do you fight to the level of your opposition? I know you can do more. I know you can get this guy out of here a lot sooner than that.’ I say, ‘I really don’t know why.’ But [for] Manny Pacquiao, I’m going to have to bring my ‘A’ game. It’s going to come out. It has to come out.”

 

By Keith Idec

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=51138

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Former IBF Welterweight champion Jan Zaveck will face WBO Africa champion Bethuel Ushona for the WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight title tomorrow In Manibor, Slovenia. Zaveck, 35, wants to pick up this minor strap before reloading for another world title shot. The fight will be streamed live in the WBO WEBSITE for all countries expect Germany, Albania, and Slovenia; which will be shown on live German TV (Das Vierte). The fight card will begin at 7:00pm CET.

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“All strenghes are on my side and with my fans in the back I’ll beat Ushona”- former world champion Jan Zaveck will show his world champion ambitions against Betuel Tyson Ushona

Slovenian national hero returns March 24th against Ushona from Namibia

The fight will be shown on live TV on “Das Vierte” (8.15pm MEZ)

A press conference was held today in the Primus Hotel Ptuj / Maribor, Slovenia for Saturday’s clash between Slovenian national hero and former IBF welterweight champion Jan Zaveck (31-2-0 (18)) and WBO Africa beltholder Bethuel Tyson Ushona (25-1-0 (8)) from Namibia. The Tabor-Arena in Maribor with over 5.000 seats is completely sold out.

Jan Zaveck: “In my preparation time, we focused deliberately on my strengths. Ushona is a good fighter, of course, WBO African champions and now he’s the current WBO number 5. He is also very awkward to box, but I’ll deal with that with my strengths: better boxing technique, better stamina and, of course, my wonderful fans backing me. I will win!”

 

Bethuel Tyson Ushona: “We have the same dreams. Jan Zaveck wants once again to be and I want to be world champion. But, I have boxed and defeated anyone who stood in the way for my dream. It will be the same for Zaveck!”

 

 

 

SES-Trainer Dirk Dzemski: „The fans would be können sich am Samstag auf ein großartiges Erlebnis freuen. Jan Zaveck is well prepared on the point. With this fight and a noticeable win we’ll show up for a new chance to get a world title bout. To be world champion is a must for Jan Zaveck!“

 

 

Ushona coach Tobias Nashilongo: „We’ve a lot of respekt for Jan Zaveck. But God will give, that  Ushona will win here in Slovenia!“

 

SES Boxing

Photo credit: bostjansfoto.com

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Light heavyweight Denis Simcic (27-1, 14 KOs) has been added to the March 24 boxing card in Maribor, Slovenia headlined by former world champion Zan Zaveck against Betuel Tyson Ushona. Simcic will face unbeaten Czech Adam Hubinger (14-0, 10 KOs) in a clash for the WBO European belt.

SES Boxing has also announced an exclusive TV deal with Germany’s “Das Vierte” network. “In the current media landscape you must always open up new doors and build new partnerships,” said promoter Ulf Steinforth. “After very good meetings and negotiations with Das Vierte, I am very optimistic that we are now working to build a new power for ‘Live Boxing.’ For our attractive sport, for the boxing fans, for our great boxers, and also for our business partners and sponsors, this added TV platform is an acknowledgment of the good work in recent years and an important new building block for the future. We welcome everyone to the huge ‘Live Boxing’ premiere with Das Vierte on March 24 live from Maribor.”

 

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/simcic-hubinger-added-ses-boxing-lands-new-tv-deal-110361

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Team Sauerland regrets to inform boxing fans that the March 17 show at Arena Nord in Frederikshavn has been postponed to April 21 after WBO / WBA / WBC Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus has been flattened by tonsillitis. While preparing for the hotly-anticipated showdown with French power-puncher Anne Sophie Mathis, the “First Lady” fell sick.

“We are very sorry we have to postpone the second Nordic Fight Night but unfortunately things like this happen in boxing,” promoter Nisse Sauerland said. “Cecilia is taking antibiotics and cannot train for eight days, which is impossible to make up for in such a crucial period of the preparation. The only positive note today is that we have already confirmed April 21 as the new date together with Viasat and Arena Nord. The card will remain the same, with Braekhus-Mathis and Nielsen-Vega the headliners. Torben Keller, Reda Zam Zam and Erik Skoglund will also be in action.”

Said Braekhus: “I am very sorry for all my fans who have already bought tickets. I would have loved to fight on March 17 but the doctors would not allow me to train for eight days. That is a huge blow for me because I was really looking forward to March 17. I know that so many fans from Norway have already bought tickets to support me in the biggest fight of my life. I am glad that Team Sauerland has already found a new date. I will return to training as soon as possible and then be in top shape on April 21.”

Speaking from her training base in Nancy, Mathis stated: “I wish Cecilia a speedy recovery. I was ready to beat her on March 17 and I am ready to beat her on April 21. It gives her five more weeks to look at the titles before I take them to France.”

Patrick Nielsen will now have to wait until April 21 to take on Gaston Vega in a clash for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Middleweight Title. “I feel sorry for Cecilia and hope she gets well soon,” he said. “Personally, I don´t mind whether I win the WBA Intercontinental Title
on March 17 or April 21. The more time I spend in the gym, the better I get. This is bad news for Vega. He is going down.”

All tickets purchased for March 17 remain valid for April 21 but can be returned by email ( info@arenanord.dk ) or by phone (+45 9845 9191).


http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50118

 

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New York, N.Y. —   (L-R)  Superstar Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy “The Desert Storm” Bradley Jr. pose during a press conference in New York City Thursday during their cross-country media tour for their upcoming World Welterweight title mega-fight. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, Pacquiao vs Bradley will take place, Saturday, June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on HBO Pay Per View.  — Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank.

 

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49904

 

 

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Beverly Hills, Ca. (L-R)  Superstar Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy “The Desert Storm” Bradley Jr. pose during the first stop in Los Angeles of their cross-country media tour to announce their upcoming World Welterweight title mega-fight. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, Pacquiao vs Bradley will take place, Saturday, June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, live on Pay Per View. Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank and Media View.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, tickets to Pacquiao vs. Bradley go on sale This Friday!  February 24 at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT, and are priced at $1,200, $900, $600, $400, and $200.  Ticket sales at $1,200, $900, $600 and $400 are limited to 10 per person and ticket sales at $200 are limited to two (2) per person.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000.  Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49834

 

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LAS VEGAS, NEV – Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO and TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY, JR. will embark on a two-city, coast-to-coast media tour, beginning in Beverly Hills, Calif., Next Tuesday!  February 21, to announce and celebrate the Pacquiao vs. Bradley World Welterweight Championship.  Pacquiao and Bradley, who have won 11 world titles between them, will go toe-to-toe for Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship on Saturday, June 9, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.  The fight will be broadcast Live on Pay-Per-View.  Joining Pacquiao and Bradley on the tour will be their respective trainers, Freddie Roach and Joel Diaz, and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Tecate, AT&T and MGM Grand, tickets to Pacquiao vs. Bradley will go on sale Next Friday!  February 24 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT, and will be priced at $1,200, $900, $600, $400, and $200.  Ticket sales at $1,200, $900, $600 and $400 are limited to 10 per person and ticket sales at $200 are limited to two (2) per person.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000.  Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com .

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 – Open to the Public!

Chelsea Piers at Pier 60 – THE LIGHTHOUSE

23rd Street and the Hudson River

New York, NY 10011

Noon ET – News Conference

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49638

 

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The next opponent for Manny Pacquiao looks to be set, as WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley finds himself with his biggest opportunity to date as a professional.

The two men actually shared a ring this past November at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas when Pacquiao edged out Juan Manuel Marquez over twelve spirited rounds while Bradley scored a lopsided and uneventful 8th round TKO over faded champion Joel Casamayor in the evening’s chief support bout.

The fight is set to go down June 9th at the same venue but it’s worth noting that while Bradley has signed on for the contest, Pacquiao has yet to his ink his contract to make the fight official.

Giving his take on that little piece of news, Bradley’s trainer Joel Diaz feels the Filipino icon has his reasons for such reluctance, bringing his debatable decision over Marquez three months back into the equation.

“I don’t blame him,” Diaz said during our conversation. “A lot of people underestimate Tim. But Timothy is a lot faster than Marquez. He has faster feet and faster hands. He might not have the punching power, but he has faster movement. To me, Marquez won that fight. If Pacquiao has not signed, it’s because he has a little bit of doubt.”

An essential reason for tracking Diaz down was to get his take not just on Pacquiao, but also of some noise coming from his corner, specifically his trainer Freddie Roach and his strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, as it appears the pre-fight gauntlet is already thrown around.

I crossed paths with Roach earlier this month in San Antonio, Texas at the final press conference for the February 4th HBO twin bill headlined by his fighter Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. successfully defending his belt against Marco Antonio Rubio.

Roach was asked about a possible Bradley fight at the time and offered up the following on the Palm Springs, California charge.

“He’s a dirty fighter, well, he’s a physical fighter,” Roach would say. “He uses his head, elbows, so forth. Manny does have some trouble with that because Manny can’t retaliate. I tell Manny that if a guy hits you low, hit him back low, but he won’t do that. So, the thing is, it could pose a bit of a problem.”

Asked whether he took offense to Roach’s remarks, Diaz admitted that it dug him a little deep.

“Oh, definitely,” said Diaz. “I think that’s very offensive, because I was a fighter myself [and] when I train a fighter, I train him to fight clean. Never, from day one, has our intention been to be dirty, because that’s just not me. That’s not my nature. That’s very offensive for me. If I ever see my fighter or my fighter ever has any intentions of using dirty tactics, believe me, I’ll bring it up to his attention because that’s not me.

“I don’t like to have that reputation as a trainer, to have a fighter who uses intentional head butts,” Diaz continued. “It’s just bad luck. It’s just [Bradley’s] style, maybe the way he steps in. But never in my years that I have trained Timothy, has he ever mentioned using his head intentionally. Unfortunately Timothy had a few incidents that ended up a head-butt but it’s not because he does it on purpose. That’s just his style.”

Ariza took things further yesterday during a conversation with Ben Thompson of FightHype.com, showing disinterest in the Bradley fight, claiming that Pacquiao’s sparring partners at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles were even better than him.

Yet again, Diaz would stand up for his fighter.

“Alex Ariza can say whatever he wants,” Diaz said firmly. “He doesn’t even know Tim Bradley. He’s never been in camp with Tim Bradley. He hasn’t even stepped in the gym to see Tim Bradley train. I mean, I can say the same thing. I can open my mouth to the world and say ‘In my gym I have better fighters than Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. I have better fighters than Manny Pacquiao’. But who’s going to believe me?”

Diaz then asked a few simple questions of his own.

“I give every fighter his respect,” Diaz explained. “I cannot compare any fighter to Tim Bradley. Let me just tell you, if he has better fighters in his gym, better fighters than Tim Bradley, how comes nobody knows them? How come they’re not world champions?”

Last topic to touch on with Diaz was of the recent ‘early’ retirement talk coming from Pacquiao, as he recently mentioned that he could be walking away from boxing as early as next year. A congressman in the province of Sarangani in the Philippines, Pacquiao has been spreading himself a bit thin with his obligations in recent years and some question whether his heart is still in the sport.

Hearing such talk coming from one of the world’s finest athletes causes definite suspicion for Diaz.

“When your mind and your plans are in retirement mode, it’s because somewhere inside your heart, you don’t feel the hunger anymore,” Diaz claimed. “Let me tell you something, Manny Pacquiao’s been in this business plenty of time already. He’s been at the top of his game for many years. After a while, his mind and his body gets tired.

“If he’s thinking about retiring after this fight or the next, it’s because somewhere in his mind, he just doesn’t feel that passion for the sport anymore.” Diaz added. “Because if he really felt the passion for the sport, he’d look ahead.”

 

By Chris Robinson

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49598

 

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Juan Manuel Marquez, the world lightweight champion of the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization is gearing up to return to the Romanza Gym in Mexico. He plans to return on April 21 in Mexico City, possibly against former champion David Diaz – but makes it clear that his April fight with Diaz is far from done. He wants to secure a fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao in the fall and says “I will not wait forever.”

Pacquiao recenty signed to defend his WBO welterweight title against Timothy Bradley on June 9 in Las Vegas.

If Pacquiao does not give him a fight in the fall, Marquez plans to close out his career in 2012.

“My plans are already set. This is my last year in boxing, and if the fight with Pacquiao gets done, the that’s great, but I will not wait around until he chooses to do it. If we fight, fine. Otherwise, my retirement has already been decided,” Marquez said.

“It’s possible that my next fight will take place on April 21 in Mexico City against David Diaz, but that is still only a possibility.”

Nacho Beristain, Juan’s manager and trainer added – [Pacquiao’s stock] plunged after what Juan did to him. I think that he wants the fight against.

 

By Ernesto Castellanos & Miguel Rivera, notifight.com

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49575

 

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WBO junior welterweight Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12KOs) is very, very determined to become the first boxer to defeat Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs) since 2005. Last week, Bradley signed a contract to challenge Pacquiao for the WBO’s welterweight title on June 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Bradley sat down with BoxingScene.com to discuss the biggest fight of his career.

BoxingScene.com: You’ve noticed Pacquiao having some issues in his last couple of fights. Do you believe that he’s finally slowing down?

Bradley: I don’t know if he’s slowing down, but he’s had a lot of complications and excuses the last couple of times. Everybody is pointing fingers and saying ‘Pacquiao didn’t do this’ or ‘Pacquiao didn’t listen to this.’ I’m really curious though. I’m real curious [to see] if that’s true or not.

I think right now is the best time to face Pacquiao, [who is] coming off a kind of controversial win with [Juan Manuel] Marquez. Marquez is a great fighter, a great counter-puncher and just a great fighter – but he’s 38-years-old. He’s not like he used to be 38. He’s not fresh like he used to be, when he was in his 20’s.

BoxingScene.com: The qualities that you bring to the fight.

Bradley: I’m very young, determined. I’m the young lion. I can box, as well as brawl, and I can counter-punch as well. I love to counter-punch. I’m quick; I can get in and out from danger. I have great defense. I feel like I’m a major step for Pacquiao. I think it’s a winnable fight for me.

BoxingScene.com: Last year, everybody gave you a lot of heat for taking a pass on the Amir Khan fight. And now you’ve landed one of the two biggest names in the sport, for considerably more money than what you would have made for Khan.

Bradley: I’m excited that he’s decided to challenge me. I’m excited that my manager Cameron Dunkin, the best manager in the game hands down – he definitely delivered. And of course I thank my wife and Team Bradley for always believing in me and always pushing me hard in training camp. We knew what we were trying to do. We always had a goal and that’s to face the best in our minds. And I stuck to it and now look at this. Everyone was giving me [hell] about the Amir Khan thing. You know what, this is the real deal right now and we’re fighting the best fighter in the world, Manny Pacquiao.

BoxingScene.com: Pacquiao seems to struggle with pure counter-punchers. That’s not really your style of fighting. Do you believe that you might have to counter-punch more often in this fight?

Bradley: I really don’t know. I haven’t been in the ring with him yet. I really don’t know exactly on how it’s going to go. It all depends on how Pacquiao comes out and then I’ll make my adjustments in there. I already have a couple of game plans in my mind. When I get into the fight, I should prevail, I should definitely prevail…land shots on Pacquiao that other fighters didn’t land and get out of trouble….counter-punch when I need to. I know Pacquiao likes to come forward and likes to bang as well.

BoxingScene.com: Thoughts on Pacquiao’s power.

Bradley: If he catches me on the chin flush and I don’t go anywhere – it’s going to be a long night baby. I have a really good chin. I have a solid chin. I’ve been down officially one time. I don’t count that second knockdown with Kendall Holt. I don’t count that bro. I didn’t even go down. The first knockdown of course, a punch that I didn’t see. He has power. I know he has 13 knockouts or so, but he has power. I don’t know if Manny can hit harder than that. Honestly, I don’t know. Kendall is a big guy, naturally bigger than Manny and he’s very strong. When I fought him he was primetime. We’ll have to see. After the first round…I’ll know what I can do after the first round.

Boxingscene.com: When you previously made a move to welterweight in 2010, against Carlos Abregu, most people felt that you didn’t look the same as you usually do at 140-pounds. Was there anything that you did wrong, maybe with bulking up, that you plan to change for this fight?

Bradley: At that time, I worked on one game plan for Abregue and he came in with a whole different strategy. I thought he was going to be aggressive and that he was going to come forward and bang me out, but then he came with a whole different strategy. He was the bigger guy, but he laid back and was trying to lure me in. I was like ‘man, we didn’t train for this.’

Abregua was trying to box a little bit. He was using his jab and trying to set me up for counters and jabs. I was amazed. It kind of threw me off. When I watched tapes, he came in like a wildman with other guys. I think by that, coming in and having to make the adjustments in the ring – it kind of threw me off. He was also a little awkward to hit, to catch his timing.

 

By Rick Reeno

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49560

 

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TEAM SAUERLANDis delighted to announce that the Nordic Fight Night will hit Frederikshavn on March 17, featuring the very best of Danish boxing as well the biggest fight in women´s boxing.

At the Arena Nord, highly-rated WBA & WBC & WBO Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus (19-0, 5 KOs) and top-ranked contender Anne-Sophie Mathis (26-1, 22 KOs) will determine the undisputed pound-for-pound queen.

A full Danish card as well as a Danish main event will be announced shortly. “We are thrilled to come to Frederikshavn,” promoter Nisse Sauerland said. “We will present an unforgettable night of exciting, high-class and dramatic boxing action”.

In one of the main fights of the night, Braekhus, the 30-year-old “First Lady” from Norway, and Mathis, the famed and feared French power-puncher with a KO record of over 80 percent, will battle out supremacy in women´s boxing. With unbeaten Braekhus holding three major titles and Mathis having destroyed pound-for-pound queen Holly Holm in December, the two are widely considered the best female boxers on the planet. “This is the fight the world wants to see,” Braekhus said. “It´s the biggest challenge of my life. Mathis clinched a spectacular victory against Holm but her winning streak will come to an end when we meet on March 17. Only one of us can be the number one and that will be me”.

Braekhus will be counting on the home support of her Norwegian fans. “This is the closest I have fought to my home country and I expect many, many fans to come over by ferry from Oslo and support me,” she added. “This will be a home match for me”.

Mathis, who travelled all the way to Albuquerque to knock Holm out cold, is ready for another spectacular victory. “I have knocked out Holm in her backyard and I will also defeat Braekhus, no doubt about it,” she said. “It will be the first loss for the First Lady. I will show the world that I am the best”.

Tickets are on sale at www.arenanord.dk.

 

http://boxeomundial.net/boxeo.php?category=english&id=27561

 

 

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Last week, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao chose undefeated Tim Bradley to be his next opponent.  The undefeated junior welterweight champion was selected from a list of four fighters that also included Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto and Lamont Peterson.  During the selection process, Pacquiao received criticism for having two junior welterweights in Bradley and Peterson on his short list of opponents.  Some critics said that those fighters would be too small for Pacquiao even though the Filipino icon typically weighs in far below the welterweight limit and seems to be a natural junior welterweight himself.

BoxingScene.com recently caught up with Bradley to get his opinion on moving up in weight to face Pacquiao.  Bradley immediately debunked the theory that he will be too small for Pacquiao and said that there is a good chance he will be the heavier man on fight night.

“When I enter the ring I will probably be 150 or 151 pounds, give or take a pound or two,” Bradley told Boxingscene.com.

The Southern California based Bradley also said that he regularly fought in the 152 pound weight class in the amateurs and that he will have more power as a welterweight.  In July of 2010 Bradley soundly defeated Luis Carlos Abregu in his HBO debut in a fight fought at the welterweight limit.

“147 is my natural weight.  People don’t know but in the amateurs I fought at 152 pounds,” stated Bradley.  “People say I don’t have power but it is a real struggle to get down to 140.  I walk around at 160 or more.  I will be a lot more comfortable and have more pop at 147.  People will see that on June 9th,” he continued.

Pacquiao-Bradley takes place on June 9th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV and will be broadcast by HBO pay-per-view.

 

By Ryan Burton

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49507

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Slovenian national hero and former IBF welterweight champion Jan Zaveck (31-2, 18 KOs) will return to the ring on March 24 against WBO #7 Bethuel Tyson Ushona (25-1, 8 KOs) from Namibia in a battle for the WBO Inter-Continental championship on March 24 in Maribor, Slovenia. 14 camera teams and over 50 media representatives were on hand at Friday’s press conference to announce the event.

Jan Zaveck: “I’m really fired up for this fight. It’s a tough test on the way back to the world title. Ushona is WBO African champion and the current #7 in the WBO rankings. He’s significantly younger than me and very, very hungry to get even closer to the top. But I will prove to all boxing fans that I am clearly pursuing my goal to become world champion again. It’s nice to box again in my own country. Maribor is so close to my hometown of Ptuj, and here I’m able to celebrate my first big success as a boxer. I look forward to a ‘hot dance’ in Maribor!”

Promoter Ulf Steinforth: “I am always overwhelmed by the huge resonance for Jan Zaveck and boxing here in Slovenia. Of course, the arena will be sold out again in a flash and the support for Jan is unsurpassed, so it’s always something special for SES Boxing to promote here in Slovenia.”

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