Pacquiao is likely to fight Mayweather on March

Manny Pacquiao is likely to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on March 13 after agreeing to a proposal from promoter Bob Arum on Friday. Arum presented "what he thought was the best proposal he can bring" during a two-hour breakfast meeting with Pacquiao in Manila, said Michael Koncz, an adviser of the Philippine boxing idol. "Manny has some additional requirements, requests, which Arum didn't think was a problem," Koncz said. "The requests of Manny were so realistic that Arum doesn't feel it's a problem and it's pretty much a done deal." He said the contract still needs "fine tuning," declining to elaborate. "We all believe that it will be done," he said. In an interview with GMA television, Pacquiao said, "March 13 is OK." "The difference between Floyd and others I have fought is that Floyd makes a lot of trash talk that should not be imitated by young people," he said. Arum could not be reached for comment. Koncz, who is in charge of Pacquiao's boxing promotion company in Nevada, said Pacquiao is "very comfortable" with the date. Pacquiao is running for a congressional seat in May 2010 elections and official campaigning won't start before April. If the bout goes ahead, it will match two men regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighters. Boxing fans have been looking forward to a super fight between Pacquiao and the undefeated Mayweather after the Filipino champion defeated Miguel Cotto last month. The March 13 date comes four months after the Cotto fight — a shorter period of time than the six months after Pacquiao defeated Ricky Hatton. But Koncz said it will be enough time for Pacquiao to get back in shape. "Nobody knows his body better than Manny," he said. "If Manny feels that that's plenty of time to rest and recover, then you know, he has to do what he feels is right." He said Pacquiao "cannot train for more than seven weeks." If the fight is made, there would likely be a Jan. 11 press conference in New York to announce it. The bout could be the richest ever, assuming pay-per-view projections are accurate. Representatives of the Superdome in New Orleans and the new Dallas Cowboys' stadium have expressed interest in hosting the fight, as has the MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas, where the fighters have fought their biggest fights. There is also a proposal for a 30,000-seat temporary stadium on the Las Vegas Strip across from the Wynn resort. Oddsmakers are already taking bets on the fight, with most making Mayweather a slight favorite.

Read More

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Megabout

Promoter Bob Arum flew Wednesday to the Philippines with a proposed contract for a March 13 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The contract was agreed to by Mayweather's representatives, but the boxer has yet to sign. Arum was to present the proposal to Pacquiao, but there are no guarantees he will agree. Still, the fact Arum would make the trip to the Philippines to try and get his fighter to sign for the bout was an indication that the megafight was moving forward. It would match the two fighters regarded as the best pound-for-pound in the world in a bout at 147 pounds. The fight was originally projected for May, but Pacquiao's candidacy for Congress in the Philippines forced promoters to move it forward to March. The Philippine national elections are in May, and Pacquiao wanted to be at home to campaign. Promoters for both fighters had agreed to a blackout on negotiations for the bout, so no one would comment on the record. A person close to the promotion spoke on terms his identity would remain confidential. If the fight is made, there would likely be a Jan. 11 press conference in New York to announce it. The bout could be the richest ever, assuming pay-per-view projections are accurate. Representatives of the Superdome in New Orleans and the new Dallas Cowboys' stadium have expressed interest in hosting the fight, as has the MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas, where the fighters have fought their biggest fights. There is also a proposal for a 30,000-seat temporary stadium on the Las Vegas Strip across from the Wynn resort. Oddsmakers are already taking bets on the fight, with most making the undefeated Mayweather a slight favorite.

Read More

Danny Green scored a stunning first round TKO victory over American great Roy Jones

Australian titleholder Danny Green scored a stunning first round TKO victory over American great Roy Jones to retain his International Boxing Organisation cruiserweight world title here on Wednesday. Green put down the eight-time world champion with a well-timed right hand which sent Jones tumbling to the canvas midway through the opening round and then pummelled the American legend with a flurry of blows against the ropes. English referee Howard Foster called a halt to the fight at 2:02 into the first round. "I am just overwhelmed, this is all your victory, this is Australia's victory," Green screamed to the capacity home crowd. "He's one of the greatest fighters of all time and the opportunity to fight him in Australia, thanks Roy Jones Jnr. "I almost feel bad doing that, that almost most hurt me to do that to someone whom I aspire to look up to as a professional fighter inside and outside the ring. He's a bloody legend." Green left Jones disorientated with his shock right hand punch which connected high on the temple area of the American, leaving him struggling to get back to his feet. It was all downhill from there for Jones as the Australian 'Green Machine' went after the quick finish, throwing leather as the American superstar covered up under the onslaught before the referee's intervention. "It was a great performance tonight from Danny and we won't be making excuses," Jones said in the ring. "My hat goes off for Danny Green, he fought a wonderful fight." It was the 36-year-old Green's first defence of the title he won with a fifth round TKO against Argentina's Julio Cesar Dominguez in Biloxi, Mississippi last August. It was only the third time in his stellar 20-year fight career that Jones, 40, has been stopped in a fight and follows his earlier stoppages against Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson, both in 2004. Jones was bidding to become the first boxer to win all five divisions between middleweight and heavyweight, but he was overwhelmed by Green's first-round onslaught. Jones's record now stands at 54 wins (40 by knockout) with six losses in 60 bouts, while Green has won 28 (25 KOs) of his 31 fights since 2001. It was first time Jones, regarded as one of the great pound-for-pound fighters of the modern era, had fought outside the United States and may signal the end of his celebrated career. Jones is scheduled to fight American adversary Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas on March 13 next year. Jones also holds the distinction of becoming the first former middleweight champion to win a heavyweight world title in 106 years.

Read More

Boxing Mega-Fight between Pacquiao-Mayweather Nearly Finalized

It is a boxing mega-fight between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. According to the news, last Tuesday (December 1), Bob Arum flew to the Philippines to discuss a possible meeting between the two boxers in the near future. Mayweather has already agreed to some contractual details. However, further info was not revealed. "I'm going over there to figure it out," Arum told The Times just before departing. "Everything." Arum reportedly spent much of Tuesday resolving issues during negotiations with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who represents Mayweather, before taking off for the Philippines. He is expected back on Monday (December 7).

Read More

Manny Pacquiao: Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year

No athlete accomplished more in his or her sport in 2009 than Manny Pacquiao did in boxing. No athlete did more for his or her country in 2009 than Pacquiao did for the Philippines. No athlete in 2009 better exemplified the ideals of sportsmanship, grace under pressure and determination than Pacquiao. No athlete was a better choice in 2009 as Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year than Pacquiao. Alas, the magazine’s many esteemed editors and writers on Monday awarded the honor to New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who is one of the great players in history and a good guy on top of it. But it was Jeter who came to see Pacquiao compete and not the other way around. In May, Pacquiao scored a pair of stunning knockouts, stopping Ricky Hatton in the second round to become the linear super lightweight champion. He moved up again in November and knocked out Miguel Cotto in the 12th to win the World Boxing Organization welterweight title. If you’re counting, that’s five sanctioning body championship belts and two linear championships. As much as Jeter does for charity, can anyone with a straight face suggest he does more for his community than Pacquiao does for the Philippines, where he has become a national icon? When typhoons struck the Philippines as Pacquiao was preparing to face Cotto, he literally thrust himself into the eye of the storm to provide aid. No boxer has won the award since Sugar Ray Leonard in 1981 and a non-American hasn’t won since Sammy Sosa in 1998. That made Pacquiao something of a long shot. Derek Jeter was a good choice. Manny Pacquiao, though, would have been the perfect choice. With that, let’s hop right into the boxing mailbag as I answer your questions and comments.

Read More