Bradley looks ahead

When 2011 began, Timothy Bradley was primed to take his craft to the next level. The undefeated WBO light welterweight champion was set to face Devon Alexander for his WBC title with a plush HBO deal in place and the opportunity to prove his supremacy at 140lbs.

However, the fight with Alexander was far from the barnburner that fight fans wanted to see. Instead, Bradley walked away with an unsatisfying 10th round technical decision in a relatively inactive affair. Despite the win, Bradley wasn’t happy with his performance and even more dissatisfied with the prospects in front of him. In a bizarre sequence of moves, Bradley turned down a $1.4 million payday to face fellow titleholder Amir Khan on July 23rd, was stripped of his WBC title and was embroiled in a breach-of-contract lawsuit from his now former co-promoters Gary Shaw and Ken Thompson.

It was certainly a dark time for a fighter with such a bright career ahead of him.

But now Bradley (27-0, 11 KOs) is seeing greener pastures as he has inked a deal with Bob Arum and Top Rank promotions and will face Joel Casamayor on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao – Juan Manuel Marquez PPV card on November 12th. The opportunity for Bradley to pick up the momentum that he built before the Alexander fight is detrimental to his boxing career. He knows that more eyes than ever will be watching him on November 12th and he must perform.

“It is very important for me to put on a great show,” Bradley told FightNews. “I wasn’t happy with the performance against Devon Alexander. I couldn’t make that guy fight and sometimes that happens.” Bradley cites the one-sided affairs that Manny Pacquiao faced against Joshua Clottey and Shane Mosley as well as the recent snoozer when Nonito Donaire couldn’t get Omar Narvaez to come out of his shell. The fighter known as “Desert Storm” understands that a dynamic performance on a night where fireworks are sure to be set off between Pacquiao and Marquez will thrust him into bigger fights. However, he’s also aware that he’s never been much of a knockout artist. Bradley has only finished eleven of his opponents out of his 27 wins and hasn’t scored a TKO since April 2007 when he stopped Nasser Athumani in the fifth round. Against the crafty, yet much older, Casamayor, Bradley promises not to fight out of character.

“I can’t go out there and try to be something that I’m not – to go for the knockout and get myself knocked out,” the 28-year-old says flatly. “I am going to follow the game plan and look spectacular and that’s what it’s going to boil down to. It is in the back of my head that I have to put on a great show because this is a great opportunity and I know that I will because I have prepared myself very well for this fight.”

An impressive victory will place Bradley in talks to face stiffer competition which will certainly provide a bigger payday. The names Mayweather and Pacquiao roll off of Bradley’s tongue when discussing what’s next, but he has also considered the unfinished business he has with Amir Khan. He also doesn’t want people to get his shrugging off the bout with Khan as some sort of fear; rather, this was a business move. As a matter fact, Bradley is quick to point out that Khan originally ducked him back in 2009.

“Criticism doesn’t pay the bills,” Bradley says about his naysayers. “One day Amir Khan and I will get in the ring and settle it. I was actually supposed to fight Amir Khan after I fought Lamont Peterson then he went on to sign with Golden Boy and Golden Boy didn’t want any part of it.”

But for now the business at hand is against the 40-year-old Casamayor. Getting his career back on track is what is important. He knows he has the talent, and this brief speed bump has allowed him to refocus and pursue what he has always wanted to achieve: greatness. Whether it is dusting off the rest of the 140 pounders or bumping up to 147 to trade punches with Mayweather and Pacquiao (“For greater opportunities, I would move up to 147. 140 is getting kind of tight for me to make the weight.”) Bradley is ready to face all comers. He won’t promise knockouts, but he will promise that a much improved fighter will step into the ring on November 12th and grab everyone’s attention.

“We’ve been doing great things in camp and we see the results in the sparring sessions. My whole team sees the difference from all the hard work I have done over the last couple of months. You are going to see a different Tim Bradley in there on the 12th. I am going to be fast, explosive and punching hard.”

Story by Andreas Hale
Photos by “Big” Joe Miranda

http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/2011/11-bradley.htm

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has never looked so motivated to trainer Freddie Roach as he has in training to fight Juan Manuel Marquez next week and silence the Mexican fighter’s taunts.

Pacquiao defends his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Marquez on November 12 at Las Vegas, the third fight in a trilogy that began with a 2004 draw and continued when “Pac-Man” won a 2008 split decision.

With one point on one judge’s scorecard all that has separated the fighters through 24 rounds, Marquez has long argued he beat Pacquiao twice, even wearing a shirt that said, “I beat Pacquiao twice” to a pre-fight appearance in Manila.

“He’s claiming he was robbed in the last two fights. This third fight will be the answer to all of that,” Pacquiao said Wednesday.

“I’m not saying I’m going to knock him out but I have trained very hard for this fight. Whatever comes will come now. I have put in the hard work. I’m ready for this fight.”

A photograph of Marquez adorns a wall behind the punching bag at the Los Angeles-area gymnasium where Pacquiao works out, a constant reminder and motivating force for the Philippines Congressman.

“I’ve never seen him as motivated as I have for this fight,” Roach said. “Marquez went to the Philippines and embarrassed him, said a few things. That has pushed him to work harder in training camp.

“Manny Pacquiao is on fire right now. He’s training very well. He has a little spark.”

Pacquiao, 53-3 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, has won 14 successive fights and seven in a row since his narrow decision over Marquez, the closest fight of his current run that has seen victories over Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Shane Mosley.

And the southpaw star expects this fight with Marquez to be more intense than the previous thrillers.

“I believe this fight will be a much more exciting fight,” Pacquiao said. “His style and mine are very similar. There is going to be a lot of boxing in the ring. I use my power better. He is improving. So it’s going to be better.”

“I never underestimate Marquez. I train hard for this fight. I feel strong. In the last four years I’ve changed a lot.”

Marquez, 53-5 with one drawn and 39 knockouts, is 5-1 since losing to Pacquiao, the only loss coming by unanimous decision to unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather in 2009 in Marquez’s only prior welterweight outing before Pacquiao.

“He looks like he’s working hard. He’s bigger and stronger,” Roach said. “He has changed his style a little bit. He needs to because we’re working hard to beat him. Manny is ready. If he wants to come at him, we’ll be ready.”

Pacquiao has juggled his lawmaker responsibilities with singing, boxing and promotional appearances, but swears he has not been distracted from his goal of proving once and for all he is superior to Marquez.

“It’s a good example to boxers. I can balance it,” Pacquiao said. “I feel I can focus and concentrate hard for this fight. I have to sit outside all of the distractions.”

Roach has seen “Pac-Man” flip the switch when he straps on his gloves.

“Once he comes in the gym door, it’s nothing but work, work, work,” Roach said. “If he wants to go sing after that, I have no problem with that at all. That’s Manny Pacquiao.”

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gdEepoyEFwt6fKxXW_coDhePZ2sg?docId=CNG.26bc83977035bf2ff78eb8c05acb1811.5c1

By Miguel Rivera

The winner of the lightweight battle between Ricky Burns and Michael Katsidis, will fall in line for a shot at WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. The sanctioning body issued a ruling at their annual convention in Puerto Rico, that Marquez would have to face the Burns-Katsidis.

The fight depends on the outcome of Marquez’s trilogy bout, set for November 12 in Las Vegas, with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. It also depends on whether or not Marquez, win or lose with Pacquiao, returns to the lightweight division.

Burns and Katsidis will battle for the vacant WBO interim title on November 5th at Wembley Arena in London. If Marquez decides to continue his career above 135-pounds, the winner of Burns-Katsidis would become the full champion.

Marquez already faced Katsidis in 2010, where the Mexican boxer got off the floor in the third round to stop the tough Australian in the ninth.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=45479

WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel today announced the referee and judges who will work bantamweight clash of champions between Nonito Donaire and Omar Narvaez in New York City. The referee is Benjy Esteves and judges are Julie Lederman, Thomas Schreck and Steven Weisfield. Supervisor is Richard de Cuir.

Valcarcel also announced the officials for WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck’s defense against Rogelio Rossi in Ludwigsburg, Germany. The referee will be Paul Thomas from the United Kingdom. Judges are Carlos Colon from Puerto Rico, Denny Nelson from Uunited States and Matteo Montella D’Airola from Italy. WBO Supervisor for this fight will be Edoardo Ceccoli.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/donaire-narvaez-officials-99198

Juan Manuel Marquez Fight Blog – Part 1

Judging from the first two fights, what aspect of Pacquiao’s game poses you the most danger heading into the third bout?

“I believe that Manny Pacquiao has become a much complete fighter, but his speed and power are still his most dangerous attributes”

Do you really believe you won the first two fights? Are you planning anything different in your approach to Pacquiao this time, especially given your belief that you won the first two fights?

“I don’t believe I won the first fight, I am sure I won them both, I just did not get the decision. I will do the same that I have always done against him, fight with intelligence, paciencen and counterpunch. My preparation will be different because I will fight at a higher weight. I have to make some changes in my diet and make sure I can still have speed and conditioning at the higher weight”

Training in Mexico City in the renowned Romanza Gym, where so many great Mexican fighters have come from, the three-time world champion Juan Manuel Marquez is getting ready for the biggest fight of an already stellar career.

HBO®’s Emmy® Award-winning all-access series “24/7” premieres an all new edition when “24/7 Pacquiao/Marquez” debuts Saturday, Oct. 22 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The four-part series will air for three consecutive Saturday nights before the finale airs the night before the championship showdown in Las Vegas.

The Pacquiao-Marquez III world championship telecast, which begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 92 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao-Marquez III fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com

http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-fight-blog-juan-manuel-marquezs-camp-part-1–45077

Manny Pacquiao Fight Blog – Part 1

Judging from the first two fights, what aspect of Marquez’s game poses you the most danger heading into the third bout?

I know what Juan Manuel Marquez is capable of. He is one of the toughest opponents I have ever fought and I have a great deal of respect for his abilities. He is always in shape and very strong. He is the only fighter who has ever figured out my style of fighting

I cannot worry about his preparation or what he brings to the fight though I do study his fight films and do my homework on him. My main concern is how I prepare for this fight. How I can be better and different from my previous fights with him. In that respect the biggest danger I face is not doing everything I can do to win this fight.

Do you like to be called the Mexican Executioner?
I do not like the name Mexicutioner. I love the Mexican boxing fans and that name does not reflect my true feelings about Mexico and its people.

Are you planning anything different in your approach to Marquez this time, especially given how close the decisions were in the first two fights?

I am planning to be different for this third fight because I am a different fighter from our two previous fights. I move better laterally in both directions than before. I am more comfortable using my right hand. Before I was left-hand happy. Now I am more confident in using my right hand as an effective weapon. It’s a lot stronger then the last times we fought. I am so focused for this fight. I will bring a lot more intensity to this battle.

HBO®’s Emmy® Award-winning all-access series “24/7” premieres an all new edition when “24/7 Pacquiao/Marquez” debuts Saturday, Oct. 22 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The four-part series will air for three consecutive Saturday nights before the finale airs the night before the championship showdown in Las Vegas.

The Pacquiao-Marquez III world championship telecast, which begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 92 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao-Marquez III fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com

http://www.boxingscene.com/photos-fight-blog-manny-pacquiaos-camp-part-1–45087

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is promising a more serious approach to his trilogy bout with Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. After going to a controversial draw in 2004, and winning a controversial split decision in 2008, Pacquiao wants to erase any possible doubts.

His trainer, Freddie Roach, is advising him to leave compassion at the door. Roach wasn’t happy with Pacquiao’s “good guy” approach in his recent fights with Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley. For the last few years, Marquez led a widespread campaign with claims of being robbed by the judges in their two previous fights. Pacquiao wants to shut Marquez’s mouth for good.

“This time I have less compassion for my opponent. Yeah this is a kind of personal,” Pacquiao said to the New York Daily News. “But you still have to do your job. I have to prove that I’m doing right in my job.”

One of the main differences in their fight is not the higher weight limit of 144-pounds. The right hand, says Pacquiao, is the big difference. In their two prior meetings, Pacquiao was left-hand happy and rarely used the right.

“After the Marquez fight I fought with [David] Diaz,” Pacquiao said. “After the Diaz fight we planned to fight in another weight division and moving up. We began to think about how to improve my style and improve my power. So we developed the right hand so we can use it against a big opponent.”

By Edward Chaykovsky
http://www.boxingscene.com/pacquiao-less-compassion-marquez-its-personal–45003