Fotos: Conferencia de Prensa López-Salido II

            SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – El dos veces campeón del mundo Juan Manuel “Juanma” López buscara recuperar el campeonato mundial de peso pluma de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) cuando se enfrente al monarca Orlando “Siri” Salido el sábado 10 de marzo en el histórico Coliseo Roberto Clemente de San Juan, Puerto Rico.

López (31-1, 28 KO’s) de Caguas, Puerto Rico buscara vengar la derrota que sufrió ante el mexicano Salido (37-11-2, 25 KO’s) de Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México en abril del año pasado quien le arrebato su corona en Bayamón, Puerto Rico en una aguerrida batalla.

La pelea que será televisada en vivo por Showtime durante su gustado programa “Championship Boxing” es una promoción de Top Rank en asociación con PR Best Boxing Promotions, Promociones Zanfer y el Municipio de San Juan.

“Esperamos otra gran noche de boxeo en Puerto Rico. Sabemos que Orlando Salido quiere demostrar su calidad de campeón y que Juanma viene con todo para recuperar  su campeonato mundial. Es un combate muy atractivo y de mucha acción” , dijo Bob Arum de Top Rank.

Salido quien llego como retador el pasado mes de abril sorprendió al mundo del boxeo con su categórica victoria sobre el ídolo de Caguas y ahora tratara de repetirle la dosis al ex campeón mundial.

“Cuando vine el pasado mes de abril a Puerto Rico pocos pensaban que podría ganar la pelea, pero yo sabia que tenia el poder para hacerlo y le volveré ha ganar aquí en Puerro Rico”, dijo Salido.

López quien fue monarca pluma jr de la OMB estaba intentando hacer la tercera defensa titular del campeonato pluma ante Salido cuando perdió la corona ante el mexicano.

“Voy a demostrar que mi derrota ante Salido fue solo una mala noche, pues quiero darle a mi gente de Puerto Rico que no ha dejado de respaldarme una gran victoria para celebrar el próximo 10 de marzo en el Coliseo Roberto Clemente en donde estoy muy contento de pelear”, dijo López.

Salido conquisto el campeonato mundial pluma de la FIB el 15 de mayo del 2010 en Ciudad Obregón, Sonora al derrotar por puntos a su compatriota Cristóbal Cruz y lo perdió en la bascula antes de enfrentar a Yuriorkis Gamboa el 11 de septiembre del 2010 en Las Vegas.

Salido de 30 años, se ha enfrentado a los ex campeones mundiales Alejandro González, César Soto, Robert Guerrero y Cristóbal Cruz, Juan Manuel Márquez y Yuriorkis Gamboa.

El mexicano ha hecho una exitosa defensa de su corona mundial ante Kenichi Yamaguchi el pasado 23 de julio y en su más reciente pelea el pasado 17 de diciembre se levanto dos veces para noquear al filipino Weng Haya en un combate no titular. Ambas peles fueron en Ciudad Obregón.

López conquisto su primer campeonato mundial en Junio del 2008 al fulminar en un asalto a Daniel Ponce de León en Atlantic City e hizo cinco exitosas defensas de ese título de las 122 libras, incluyendo victorias sobre Gerry Peñalosa en Puerto Rico en Abril del 2009 y ante Rogers Mtagwa con quien se enfrascó en un duelo para el recuerdo el 10 Octubre del 2009 en Nueva York en el que demostró todo su talento, coraje y más que nada la habilidad de superar momentos difíciles sobre el ring.

El 23 de enero del 2010, López ascendió a las 126 libras para enfrentar a Steve Luevano, un campeón mundial con cinco defensas titulares reconocido como uno de los mejores pesos plumas del planeta, pero con una de sus mejores actuaciones como profesional López le arrebató el campeonato al californiano al noquearlo en el noveno asalto.

López hizo dos exitosas defensas de ese cinturón.  El 10 de julio del 2010 en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico se levantó de la lona para noquear al filipino Bernabe Concepcion y el 6 de noviembre en Las Vegas venció por KOT al doble campeón mundial Rafael Márquez.

En su más reciente actuación el pasado mes de octubre en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, López noqueo en dos asaltos a Mike Oliver.

En la otra pelea que será televisada el clasificado mundial invicto de peso pluma Miguel Angel “Mikey” García (27-0, 23 KO’s) de Oxnard, California expondrá sus títulos de peso pluma de la NABO y de la NABF ante el fuerte ponchador filipino Bernabe Concepcion (31-4-1, 17 KO’s) quien es manejado por el mejor boxeador libra por libra del mundo, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

García esta actualmente clasificado número uno por la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo (AMB), número dos por el Consejo Mundial de Boxeo (CMB), número tres por la OMB y número ocho por la Federación Internacional de Boxeo (FIB) en peso pluma.

FOTOS CORTESÍA PR BEST BOXING PROMOTIONS/JOSÉ PÉREZ

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – Mexico’s Orlando Salido arrived in Puerto Rico this afternoon and immediately started to  train at a local gym. This coming Saturday Salido will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title against hometown hero Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Showtime and Showtime Extreme will extreme. Last April Salido stopped Juanma in eight rounds to capture the title.

Salido (37-11-2, 25 KOs) was accompanied by his coach Jose Santos Moreno, and his team, doing floor exercises, several rounds on the heavy bag, hitting the pads, showing speed and a good physique.

“I’m in the best condition, better than the previous fight,” said Salido. “We are prepared, I have no pressure whatsoever. I will do my job as always. I know who Juanma Lopez is.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50347

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

New York, N.Y.  —  Undefeated Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy “The Desert Storm” Bradley Jr.(R) arrives in New York late Tuesday night with his trainer Joel Diaz(L) on the cross-country media tour to promote his upcoming World Welterweight title mega-fight against superstar Manny Pacquiao. Bradley is in town for a Thursday press conference at Chelsea Piers-Pier 61.  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.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49856

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

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

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

WBO Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has agreed to terms to defend his welterweight title against junior welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr. on June 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser, told ESPN.com on Monday.

The Bradley side still needs to finalize its deal with promoter Top Rank.

“From our end, the fight is done,” Koncz said. “I just got off the phone with (Top Rank’s) Bob Arum and Manny, so we’re done. I don’t assume there will be a problem from the Bradley side. We came to terms with Top Rank on the fight and Manny has approved everything. This morning I had a number of conversations with Bob negotiating the June 9 fight and I relayed everything to Manny.”

Top Rank president Todd duBoef told ESPN.com that he is still working to finalize Bradley’s end of the deal.

“We are going to be having further conversations with Bradley and his management early this week and hopefully finalize the deal,” duBoef said. “But the truth is my (promotional) agreement with Bradley lays out certain parameters for a Pacquiao fight, so there is a framework already.”

The hopes for a long-anticipated Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight ended last week when, after the sides once again did not come to terms, Mayweather announced he would challenge junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto on May 5. Cotto had also been in the running to face Pacquiao in a rematch, but Pacquiao and Cotto could not agree on the weight for the fight. Pacquiao wanted the 147-pound welterweight limit, which Cotto said was too low for him, and he accepted a deal from Mayweather.

The other names in the running to face Pacquiao in the pay-per-view fight were junior welterweight titlist Lamont Peterson and Juan Manuel Marquez, who is 0-2-1 in three incredibly close and exciting fights with Pacquiao, including a majority decision loss to him in November.

Bradley would move up in weight to challenge Pacquiao for his title.

“We’ve been talking about this for over a month and we always had a Plan B in case Mayweather didn’t happen,” Koncz said. “Last time I went to the Philippines, I took Manny tapes of all of the opponents we were talking about and he watched them with his wife, Jinkee. Bradley was one of them, as everybody knows.”

There is a chance Marquez will fight Peterson next, with the winner of that bout getting a fall match against Pacquiao if a Mayweather fight still is not made.

Koncz flew to San Antonio last weekend to meet with Arum, who was there promoting Saturday night’s Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Marco Antonio Rubio middleweight title fight at the Alamodome, about the Bradley fight. Cameron Dunkin, Bradley’s co-manager, was also in San Antonio and met with Arum.

Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs), 28, of Palm Springs, Calif., does not have the kind of profile as the other opponents who were in the running, although he is widely considered one of the top 10 fighters in the world even though his most recent fights have not been hits.

Thirteen months ago, he won a sloppy, head butt-induced 10th-round technical decision in a heavily hyped junior welterweight unification fight against Devon Alexander. It did poorly at the gate and did not come close to the ratings expectations HBO had hoped it would achieve, despite spending millions on the fight and its marketing.

Then Bradley rejected a July fight he had called for with Amir Khan to further unify the 140-pound division, even though Khan, who brought far more economic muscle to the fight, offered him a 50-50 deal.

Bradley then split with co-promoters Gary Shaw and Ken Thompson and, despite litigation, signed with Top Rank, knowing a Pacquiao fight was possible.

Top Rank gave Bradley the high-profile co-feature slot on the Pacquiao-Marquez III pay-per-view card in November. Bradley stopped faded former lightweight champion Joel Casamayor in the eighth round of an uncompetitive, foul-filled fight.

But Bradley is in his prime, fast and experienced against good opponents, and he could give 33-year-old Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) a competitive fight.

“Bradley is a young, undefeated fighter who deserves a chance,” Koncz said. “Manny is excited. Until we name an opponent, boxing is out of Manny’s mind. He’s busy working in (the Filipino) congress. But he gets interested in boxing again when he has an opponent and a fight. Now we know we have a date (and) an opponent and he’s excited.”

Koncz, who lives in Southern California, said he is flying to the Philippines on Tuesday night to meet with Pacquiao and go over logistics for the media tour for the fight.

Dan Rafael is a boxing writer for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter @danrafaelespn.

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/7547798/manny-pacquiao-agrees-terms-fight-timothy-bradley-jr

San Antonio, Texas —  “VAZQUEZ HITS SAN ANTONIO” —  Former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez,Jr.  arrives in San Antonio,Texas from Puerto Rico with his trainer and father Wilfredo Vazquez Sr., Tuesday night for his upcoming WBO Jr. Featherweight title fight against superstar three-time world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Saturday,Feb. 4, televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing from the Alamodome in San Antonio,Texas. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions,All Star Boxing and Tecate, Donaire battles Vazquez Jr. in this double-header blockbuster event and undefeated WBC World Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. defends his title against Marco Antonio Rubio in the other main event. — Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49142

Michael Koncz, the advisor to WBO welterweight beltholder Manny Pacquiao, told RingTV.com on Monday that he is in Las Vegas to speak with Top Rank Inc. CEO Bob Arum about Pacquiao’s next opponent.

Although WBA junior middleweight beltholder Miguel Cotto appears to be the current frontrunner, Koncz told RingTV.com that WBC welterweight titleholder Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not yet out of the picture.

Koncz would not confirm or deny whether or not he expects to meet with Mayweather, who lives in Las Vegas.

“I am in Las Vegas right now having various discussions and meetings with different people, and we have not closed the door on Floyd Mayweather,” said Koncz.

“I’m here in Las Vegas pursuant to Manny’s instructions trying to finalize his next bout. No doors have been shut on any of our options to this point.”

Pacquiao has been targeted for a return bout on June 9 in Las Vegas at either the Thomas & Mack Center or the MGM Grand, with the possibilities being Cotto, Mayweather, RING lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez IBF/WBA junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson or WBO junior welterweight beltholder Tim Bradley

Cotto’s advisor, Gabby Penagaricano, has confirmed to RingTV.com that there have been talks with both Pacquiao and Mayweather, the latter regarding a fight on May 5.

Koncz and Mayweather have been in personal communication since late-November, when Koncz made a visit to the unbeaten fighter at his Las Vegas-based gym.

Last week, Pacquiao confirmed to the Filipino TV network ABS-CBNthat Mayweather had called him in the Philippines from Las Vegas and that they spoke by telephone

The conversation with Mayweather “went OK, the talk about the negotiation proceeds forward,” said Pacquiao, adding, “I said that the 50-50 was approved and there’s no problem. Anytime. It’s in your hands. We’ll just wait if it’s OK with you.”

Mayweather’s version of the conversation differed a bit.

“He asked about a 50/50 split and I told him no, that can’t happen, but what can happen is you can make more money fighting me than you have made in your career,” said Mayweather.

“I also let him know I’m in control on my side, but he needs to get on the same page as his promoter so we can make this fight happen.”

Mayweather is slated to begin an 87-day jail sentence staring on June 1, and has targeted May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for his next bout.

But Arum and Koncz have dismissed that date for Mayweather-Pacquiao, citing their camp’s desire to construct a 40,000-seat, temporary outdoor venue near the Las Vegas Strip in late May or early-June to maximize revenue.

Pacquiao’s selection process began on January 10 in his native Philippines, when Koncz and Arum presented the candidates to him.

Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank Inc.

Photo by Tom Hogan, Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions

by Lem Satterfield

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/171215-pacquiaos-advisor-

WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26KOs) is apparently not on board with WBO king Manny Pacquiao’s request for a 50/50 revenue split, which pertains to a potential May 5th mega-fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. As previously reported, Mayweather recently made a direct phone call to Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz, who placed Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs) on the phone with the undefeated star from Las Vegas. Pacquiao told Mayweather that a 50-50 split would seal the deal on a possible May fight.

But, during the latest episode of ESPN’s Sportscenter, Mayweather was quoted as saying the following:

“He asked about a 50/50 split and I told him no, that can’t happen, but what can happen is you can make more money fighting me than you have made in your career. I also let him know I’m in control on my side but he needs to get on the same page as his promoter so we can make this fight happen.”

If Mayweather does not agree to a 50-50 split, then Pacquiao will likely return on June 9th at temporary outdoor venue near the Las Vegas Strip.

Expect more in the coming days..

By Chris Robinson

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48745

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao has chosen his next opponent, and it’s not Floyd Mayweather. In an interview at his office Wednesday, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Pacquiao has chosen his next opponent — whom Arum would only divulge was one of the four previously reported candidates, Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley, Miguel Cotto or Lamont Peterson — and plans to make his return to the ring on June 9 at a new outdoor facility off the Strip.

Arum reiterated that the problem with making a May fight with Mayweather was the timing. Mayweather has insisted that the fight take place May 5, tweeting Tuesday that “the date can’t change.” Arum says construction on a 38,000-seat temporary facility cannot be completed until later in the month. On Wednesday, Arum said he met with construction officials as well as officials from the Wynn and Sands Hotel. Arum also visited the construction site, a 40-acre plot jointly owned by the two hotels.

“To be safe, they said they needed until the end of May to get it done,” Arum said. “Economically, it’s a problem that Floyd created. The amount that would be lost by moving it up to May 5^th is enormous. The fight is not going to happen on May 5^th. We’ll do the fight in November. There is no real magic in doing it in May.”

Arum says he plans to move forward with building the outdoor facility and test it out in Pacquiao’s next fight. Arum added that he and Pacquiao were on the same page as far as Pacquiao’s future.

“He realizes that economically the May 5^th date is not smart,” Arum said. “If you postpone it two or three weeks, you can make so much more money. Mayweather told the court he was committed to fight on May 5^th. I think they lied and said Pacquiao was ready to fight him. Now they are saying the judge ordered them to fight on May 5? Was the MGM behind this? If the judge says you have to surrender yourself on June 1^st, what the f— does it matter to the judge if you fight on May 5^th or two weeks later?”

A call and text message to Mayweather’s adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, was not immediately returned.

Chris Mannix

http://mma-boxing.si.com/2012/01/18/arum-pacquiaos-next-fight-will-not-be-against-mayweather/

By Michael Collins: Someone needs to tell Bob Arum that WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is saying his cut is okay and he’s ready to take on WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. because Arum is still going on the belief that Pacquiao needs more time for his cut to heal. Arum is meeting with Pacquiao today in the Philippines to assist him in picking out his next opponent.

If Pacquiao really wants the Mayweather fight, then something productive should come from this meeting. If not, then you’ll have to assume that Pacquiao really didn’t want the Mayweather fight.

Pacquiao told Manila Standard writer Ronnie Nathanielsz “There is a possibility of fighting Mayweather in May and I’ll discuss what is best for us to do…[the cut is] fine and there’s no problem.”

Arum has an issue with the size of the MGM Grand, which is where Mayweather wants the fight to take place. The Grand only seats around 16,800 fans, and Arum wants to have a bigger arena that seats 45,000. Arum figures that $20 million will be lost if he agrees to let Pacquiao fight Mayweather at the MGM Grand rather than a larger venue.

Of course, Arum doesn’t seem to recognize that even more money will be lost if never takes the leash of Pacquiao and lets him fight Mayweather. The fight will generate huge profits on pay per view, both at home and in small theaters nationwide. Holding back on the fight just because the venue isn’t big enough is a narrow way of looking at the fight. Pacquiao won’t make anywhere near the kind of money he’ll make for a Mayweather fight if he goes ahead a takes on one of the four opponents that Arum has selected for him.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=30310&more=1

El campeón mundial welter del Consejo Mundial de Boxeo (WBC), el invicto estadounidense Floyd Mayweather Jr., ha comenzado a desafiar al campeón mundial welter de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), el filipino Manny Pacquiao. A través de su cuenta de la red social Twitter, retó al “Pacman” para que lo enfrente el próximo 5 de mayo, noche en que sus manejadores han reservado el MGM Grand en Las Vegas, para que realice su próximo combate ante un rival por confirmar.

Si bien “Money” Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs) ya cuenta con la confirmación de su siguiente aparición, mientras que Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) había sido mencionado para regresar a la actividad el 9 o 16 de junio. Más allá de fechas, el filipino debía decidir quién sería su rival luego de la reunión que mantendrá con su promotor y titular de Top Rank, Bob Arum. El mismo Arum había señalado que sería Manny quien decidiera sobre las opciones del mexicano Juan Manuel Márquez (cuarto duelo), el puertorriqueño Miguel Cotto, o los estadounidenses Timothy Bradley y Lamont Peterson.

Pero en los últimos días, el astro filipino señaló que no tendría inconvenientes en enfrentar a Mayweather. Incluso advirtió que estaría dispuesto a realizarse las pruebas antidopaje que tanto reclama el equipo de su potencial oponente. “Si el combate no se realiza, no es por nosotros”, había remarcado. Y la respuesta de Floyd no tardó en llegar.

“Manny Pacquiao, te estoy convocando públicamente. Peleemos el 5 de mayo y démosle al mundo lo que quiere ver”, escribió Mayweather hoy en su cuenta de Twitter.

“Mi sentencia de prisión fue postergada porque la fecha (5 de mayo) está cerrada. Anímate, idiota“, agregó.

El viernes pasado, Mayweather recibió la noticia de que no irá a prisión hasta el 1º de junio, a pesar de que había sido sentenciado el 21 de diciembre a entregarse el 6 de enero, luego de que fuera condenado a seis meses de cárcel (90 días efectivo y 90 en suspenso) en conexión a una causa abierta en la que afronta cargos menores por agresión y violencia doméstica, según decidió la jueza de Paz de Las Vegas, Melissa Saragosa, en la Corte Suprema del Condado de Clark.

Saragosa señaló que dio lugar a los pedidos del abogado del boxeador, en torno a las obligaciones contractuales ya asumidas y que deben ser cumplidas. En tal sentido, el abogado del campeón, Richard Wright, había solicitado a la jueza permitir a su representado cumplir con sus obligaciones en torno al combate, enfatizando el beneficio económico hacia Las Vegas cada vez que Mayweather pelea.

http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Reporte_7/Mayweather_desaf_a_a_Pacquiao.php

“I‘ve said this over and over before and I’m saying this again,I want Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be my next opponent and I haven’t changed my choice despite recent developments.”

Thus World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao declared by way of reacting to reports in media partly blaming him should the projected mega-fight not materialize.

“I am meeting with my promoter, Bob Arum on Tuesday and I will insist that the fight with Mayweather be given the preference than the four others in the list I will fight next,” Pacquiao told this writer in Tagalog in a long distance telephone conversation yesterday from General Santos City.

Asked where and what time his meeting with Arum, will be held, except to say that the American Hall of Fame promoter is arriving today .

“It’s not really fair for some quarters to blame me if, in the long run, the fight wouldn’t push through,” the 33-year-old RING MAGAZINE pound-for-pound best quipped. “As I have also been saying many times before, I fight for the fans. I want the fans to be happy always.”

“Whoever the fans want me to fight, I will face him atop the ring. I don’t choose fight. It is my promoter who does because it’s his job. My job is to fight, everybody must realize that,” Pacquiao, a lawmaker, a singer, movie actor, television host and a columnist, emphasized.

“Whoever says I’m ducking this fighter or that fighter, doesn’t know me, or just plainly wants to put me in bad light,” he surmised. “I never dodged from fighting anybody. If I did, I won’t be where I am now.”

The Pacquiao-Mayweather confrontation, the fight all of the boxing world wants to see, looked to have cleared of the impediments that aborted previous tries for it to materialize after Nevada Justice of the Peace Judge Melissa Saragosa deferred the unbeaten American welterweight 90-day incarceration she herself handed down shortly before year 2011 ended.
Statements coming from Arum though beclouded its realization in May as Mayweratherr himself wants leading every Tom, Dick and Harry to finger-pointing and blaming all those concerned, including the eight-division kingpin. The Harvard graduate Arum wants the Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown held in November instead.

One of the arguments Arum advanced was that since the fight could be biggest in the history of boxing in terms of economics, he wants the fight held in a bigger arena he’s proposing to be constructed in the sing city of Las Vegas rather than the MGM Grand the World Boxing 147-pound belt holder had, in fact, reserved.

“After we’ve met, there will be negotiations between my promoters and his counterpart in whoever I’m going to fight. And you and I know that many things can happen in a negotiation,” he related. “If we agree that I will face Mayweather, then my promoter will talk to his counterpart in the Mayweather camp.”

“When Arum sits in the negotiation table, he will be laying on the table all the conditions we want, which , everybody knew already are simple. That I will abide by his demand for drug testing. I am even agreeable to get lesser purse just so the fight would push through,” he recalled. “In other words, as far as my side is concerned, there will be no problem.”

“We know, too, that Mayweather has no promoter. He negotiates by himself. So if the fight won’t be realized, it’s no longer because of me,” Pacquiao said.

By Eddie Alinea

http://philboxing.com/news/story-65006.html

WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO’s) thinks Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO’s) needs to let Amir Khan cry and suffer a while before facing him again. Instead, Bradley thinks Peterson should fight him next before facing Khan in a rematch.

Peterson and Bradley fought two years ago in December 2009 with Bradley beating Peterson by a 12 round unanimous decision by the scores 118-110, 119-108 and 120-107.

Bradley told RingTV “I think he [Peterson] needs to leave Amir alone for a while and let him whine a little bit and let him feel it, because you know Amir don’t give nobody a rematch. I think that Lamont Peterson should come and see Tim Bradley, man and get some revenge.”

hat sounds like a good idea, because Khan will still want to fight Peterson again whether he loses to Bradley or not. Peterson could get two title fights under his belt instead of just one. If he loses to Khan, then a Bradley fight will likely not happen. It might be a better option to take a payday fight against Bradley, if Peterson believes he can truly beat him this time. As soundly as Bradley defeated Peterson two years ago, I’m not so certain that Peterson would do any better in a rematch. Bradley really his number in that fight and hurt him on a couple of occasions.

Bradley is right about Khan not giving rematches to guys that he head. He doesn’t do it. Khan didn’t even do it when he was destroyed in one round by Breidis Prescott in 2008. Peterson is obviously a different story for Khan, because he can’t punch like Prescott, and is thus a less dangerous option.

Bradley signed with Top Rank recently and fought for the first time for them last month, stopping 40-year-old Joel Casamayor in the 8th round. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is grooming Bradley for a big money in house fight against WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in the near future.

By William Mackay

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2011/12/timothy-bradley-peterson-needs-to-let-khan-whine-and-suffer-and-fight-me-instead/

LA PELEA entre el bayamonés Wilfredo ‘Papito’ Vázquez y el filipino Nonito Donaire, de la que se viene hablando hace unos meses, ya tiene fecha.

El combate, por el campeonato supergallo (122 libras) de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) se celebraría el 4 de febrero en una transmisión de HBO en una sede por designar.

La cartelera sería estelarizada por una defensa del campeón mediano del Consejo Mundial de Boxeo (CMB), el mexicano Julio César Chávez, Jr., ante un rival por anunciarse luego. Y entre los lugares que se consideran para montar la cartelera, están Las Vegas y alguna ciudad en los estados de California y Texas. Ésta sería la pelea preparatoria de Chávez Jr. antes de medirse en el verano al boricua Miguel Cotto.

“Es la fecha que nos dieron y esperamos cuadrar todo eso en los próximos días. No hemos firmado nada, pero sí esa es la fecha de la que se está hablando con Chávez, Jr. como estelar”, le dijo a El Nuevo Día, Félix ‘Tutico’ Zabala, promotor de Vázquez.

“Esa fecha está bien para Papito. Él está entrenando, así que no lo va a tomar por sorpresa”, agregó Zabala desde Kissimmee, Florida donde participaba en el pesaje para la cartelera que montará hoy su empresa All Star Boxing donde reaparecerá el excampeón mundial Alex ‘El Nene’ Sánchez.

Ante Donaire, Vázquez (21-1-1 con 18 nocauts) estará buscando el cetro que perdió el 7 de mayo pasado al caer por nocaut técnico en el 12mo asalto ante Jorge ‘Travieso’ Arce. El mexicano renunció a ese cetro para bajar a las 118 libras, peso en el que se coronó el mes pasado.

Mientras que Donaire (27-1-0 con 18), ha sido campeón mundial en las 112, 115 y 118 libras. Ante Vázquez, estará debutando en la categoría supergallo.

POR HIRAM ALBERTO TORRACA / htorraca@elnuevodia.com

http://www.elnuevodia.com/vazquezenfrentaraadonaire-1139422.html

Sebastian Lujan, from Rosario, Argentina, put up a hard fight against rising star, the undefeated Mike Jones, 25-0 (18 KOs), but was ineffective and Jones had little trouble copping a unanimous decision and earning the right to face KO artist Randall Bailey for the vacant IBF Welterweight belt. He also successfully defended his NABO and NABA belts on the undercard of Cotto-Margarito at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Using his long arms and four inch height advantages to their fullest, Jones, a Philly fighter, completely dominated Lujan, 146 pounds, throughout except for the seventh when Jones appeared to take the round off.

Very simple; Jones, also 146 pounds, had too much of everything but courage over Lujan who never stopped trying. It wasn’t a beat down, but Lujan had little more the heart to fight the talented Jones.

Round after round Jones used jabs and uppercuts often throw from outside, to control and batter an ever pressing Lujan. Late in the eleventh Lujan, 38-6-2 (24 KOs), was hurt from a left hook/straight right combination. The bell sound right after Jones landed a similar combination again.

Lujan’s punches were wide and wild, so Jones found them easy to avoid and land his own, more accurate, punches. The referee was Steve Willis.

The scores of the officials were 118-110, and 119-109 twice, all for Jones on this Top Rank promotion.

By: SecondsOut

http://www.doghouseboxing.com/DHB/SOut1206e11.htm

FILIPINO three-division champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. will most likely aim for a fourth division crown sometime in February.

A report from the World Boxing Organization has stated they are about to declare a battle for the vacant superbantamweight crown between former champion Wilfredo Vazquez. Jr. of Puerto Rico and Donaire, their newly installed no. 1 contender.

Donaire recently gave up his WBO bantamweight crown, which was claimed by Mexican Jorge Arce just last weekend by decisioning Angky Angkota of Indonesia.

Before aiming for the title vacated by Donaire, Arce was the holder of the WBO 122-lb crown, which the Mexican also gave up.

It seemed apparent that both Donaire and Arce had a deal that would give both fighters momentous achievements without fighting each other.

In winning the bantamweight belt, Arce has laid claim to being the first Mexican to win five division world titles.

Donaire, meanwhile, will be gunning for his fourth division tiara that will be four short of current Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.

The 28-year-old Donaire has won crowns in the flyweight, superflyweight and bantamweight divisions.

Both Donaire and Arce are promoted by Top Rank big boss Bob Arum.

DOUBLE VENGEANCE. Revenge for both a compatriot and his father’s protégé may serve as a motivation for Donaire in facing Vazquez.

The once-beaten Vazquez crowned himself WBO superbantamweight ruler when he knocked out former WBO superflyweight champion Marvin Sonsona inside four rounds in February of last year in Puerto Rico.

When he fought Vazquez, Sonsona was also undefeated and lost his WBO 115-lb crown when he failed to make the weight in his first title defense that ended in a draw.

The 21-year-old Sonsona trained for the Vazquez bout under the guidance of Nonito Donaire, Sr.

“Back then, I took everything for granted and spent more time with my friends than inside the gym. I learned a lot from it and now I am determined to win another world crown,” said Sonsona.

October of this year, Sonsona went back to his winning ways by decisioning Mexican Carlos Jacobo in Cebu. The bookmaker also takes bets on tv exhibits like Psychic Challenge, What? Pay a visit to the brand’s website to look into 1xbet minimum deposit India. 1xBet pays also a special attention to India residents and offers an exceptional welcome bonus of 9750 Indian rupees. 1xBet Promo Code India Copy the About coupon code to get the first deposit bonus. 1XBET is a popular betting site among Indians when it comes to making bets on Cricket or other sports, and they offer 100% bonus up to ₹10400 for every India. Players can also enjoy the website in many other countries like Ghan

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideSportsop.htm?f=2011/december/2/dennisprincipe.isx&d=2011/december/2

Juan Manuel Marquez will not make a decision on his future for at least several weeks, but he expects to make an announcement within 20 days to a month. The Mexican boxer is still very angry with last Saturday’s twelve round majority decison loss to Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and his promotional team, Top Rank, are pursuing a fourth meeting with Marquez, but the Mexican champion is still unsure if he plans to continue his career. “Within 20 days or a month I will announce my decision whether I plan to retire or make a fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao. I have to consult my family first, then with my team. I proved that I’m the best fighter in the world. Everyone saw that Pacquiao is not the best fighter in the world. Bob Arum saw that he’s not the best fighter on the planet. [Pacquiao] says he won the fight, but I invite you to watch the video of the fight and see that he lost. Me and my corner were sure of victory, but when they announced the winner was [Pacquiao] I felt frustration,” Marquez said. “Fortunately, the best judges are the fans, the public, who condemned the decision. The match was viewed by the best audience in the world, the Mexican fans, and they rejected that verdict. As Mexicans we lose, but we also win. If I had lost in the ring, no Mexican fans would have said anything, and they would have accepted the reality. Decisions such as this stain boxing. If I decide to continue, [the fourth] fight will not be in Las Vegas. He can come to Mexico and do it on my terms.”

by Ernesto Castellanos, notifight.com

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=46074

Las Vegas, MGM Grand – As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Juan Manuel Marquez is contemplating retirement after claiming he was “robbed” in a majority decision loss to Manny Pacquiao in their WBO welterweight clash at the MGM Grand on Saturday. Pacquiao retained his title after earning the verdict from two of the three judges. The scores were 114-114, 116-112 and 115-113. They fought to a twelve round draw in 2004, and Pacquiao won a close twelve round split decision in 2008.

“For me, the best judge is the audience and they responded sensationally tonight,” Marquez said. “I would like to thank all the people that came to the arena. This time we not only beat him in the ring but also in the audience. The people were rooting for me and we are very happy for that.

“You need to win fights like this with intelligence and I was very intelligent tonight. Styles make fights and I think my style is complicated for his style. I think I won this fight again. What do I need to do before the judges give me the fight?

“What I need to do is sit down with my family and my camp and make a decision about continuing in this sport or just simply retire from the sport. It will be difficult. I have to decide, I have to see what happens. Maybe I will retire, maybe I won’t. Honestly, it’s a result of the fight. The thing that makes me think of retirement is because I have prepared myself so hard for 18 years. This was the biggest fight of my career.”

Marquez’s trainer Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Beristain was also angry.

“I feel that it is a joke for the people, for Manny and for Juan Manuel Marquez to have a type of decision like this,” Beristain said. “I felt very disappointed and frustrated. The real winner tonight I think is Juan Manuel Marquez, not Manny Pacquiao.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=45979

MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada –  A dejected Juan Manuel Marquez told the media that he doesn’t know what he needs to do to leave the ring a winner when he fights Manny Pacquiao. Before a soldout crowd, Pacquiao won a controversial twelve round majority decision over Marquez, with scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112.

“I don’t know what I need to do to convince the judges that I won,” said  Marquez.

Marquez feels that his performance in the third fight of their trilogy was a more definitive win than the first two fights which he feels he also won.  He feels he put on a great performance and should have been named the winner.

“I think I won this fight more clearly than the first two. I don’t know what I need to do to win.  I feel happy about my performance in the ring. I won the fight again.”

Marquez said that he is so disappointed that he is thinking of retiring.  He revealed that he will talk to his inner circle and shortly come to a conclusion on whether to continue his career.

“For the third time I feel like I won (versus Pacquiao). Right now I need to sit down with my family and my team and decide if I want to continue or hang up my gloves.”

By Ryan Burton

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=45975

A dejected Juan Manuel Marquez walked into the MGM conference room after a scene that was all too familiar to the proud Mexican champion. Another twelve rounds with Manny Pacquiao and another decision that didn’t go his way.

For Marquez, this was the Mexican painting a beautiful portrait only to see it thrown in the trash yet again by the judges. This time, there was an overwhelming air in the MGM Grand Garden Arena that Marquez would finally even the score. But after being an overwhelming underdog who executed a brilliant game plan that featured effective counterpunching that gave Pacquiao fits, Marquez had to listen to the judges’ scores of 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 to once again give Pacquiao the decision. Marquez is understandably sick of the same story being played out and uttered a statement to the media that was shocking but perhaps made perfect sense to a man who did all he could to see the rug pulled from under him again.

“Honestly, I don’t know what I need to do to change the minds of the judges,” Marquez (53-6-1) said. “I need to sit down with my family and figure out whether I will continue or retire from this sport.”

Retire? Although at first it sounds outlandish that a fighter who pushed the seemingly invincible Manny Pacquiao to the brink on three occasions would consider walking away from the sport, if you put yourself in Marquez’ shoes, it might make more sense.

At 38-years-old, Marquez has accomplished just about everything he could as a fighter. A former world champion, a pound for pound great and arguably one of the finest fighters Mexico has given to the sport. But despite all of the accomplishments, he can’t get over the hump known as Pacquiao. While the rest of the planet has bowed down to Pacquiao’s punching prowess, Marquez scoffs and has proceeded to bring Super Manny crashing back down to earth with his gloves laced with kryptonite. But what do you do when you have beat Pacquiao in the minds of many at least one out of three times but find yourself 0-2-1? Sooner or later the frustration sets in and you realize that nothing you can possibly do will put you in the win column.

“I thought I won this fight more clearly than the other two fights. I don’t know what else I can do,” Marquez said. “Honestly, the result of the fight has made me considering retirement. I worked very hard and ended up with this.”

However, despite the looming cloud of a superfight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Top Rank’s Bob Arum realizes that there’s unfinished business regardless of what the official scorecards say.

“Maybe one day this battle will get settled but this one sure didn’t do it,” Arum said. “I would advise both Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez to do this again in May.”
May? Isn’t that when Floyd Mayweather allegedly threw down the gauntlet for a proposed showdown with Pacqauiao? Well, it appears that nobody is comfortable with moving on to a fight with Mayweather if this Marquez business continues to linger.

Even Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach wasn’t too happy with the victory and knows that the third fight did less to close the book and instead added another chapter.

“This is a fight that I kind of don’t want to do again but I think we have to,” Roach said. “He’s given us problems three times and I do believe he deserve a rematch before we face Mayweather.”

A Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight may be the one the world wants to see, but boxing pundits know better. You have to finish your breakfast before moving on to dinner. And Pacquiao clearly hasn’t put away Marquez. Nobody seems comfortable with this win, well, maybe except for Pacquiao.

“I think I won pretty clearly,” Pacquiao (54-3-2) said after getting a laceration over his right eye stitched up. Although the words spilled out of his mouth with the usual Pacquiao confidence, his face told a different story. It wasn’t the world beater that we have come to know in the ring on Saturday night. This was a Pacquiao who had to gut it out against a man who certainly has his number. Pacquiao struggled mightily with Marquez’ counterpunching but was aggressive enough to convince the judges that this fight was his.

“Marquez always waits for me to create action so he can counter. It’s not easy to do that. I was very careful,” Pacquiao explained. “I have to accept that it’s not easy to fight Marquez”

No, it’s certainly not easy for Pacquiao to fight Marquez. Who knows what the future holds for these two fighters. Perhaps they will move on and eye a showdown with Mayweather and let the record books tell who won this trilogy. But maybe the truth that Marquez, not Mayweather, was the man that Pacquiao couldn’t get past will gnaw at him enough to give way to a fourth fight and maybe jeopardize the megafight. What if Marquez retires though?

There are tons of questions that need answering and the only thing that’s for sure after Marquez vs. Pacquiao III is that nothing is for sure.

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

Story by Andreas Hale
Photos by Chris Cozzone